Volvo XC60 Launched in India

Volvo has finally launched the XC60 SUV for the Indian market. A sibling of the larger XC90, the XC60 shares the same Scalable Product Architecture platform as the XC90. The XC60 is a part of Volvo’s 60 Series of cars. The 60 Series includes the likes of – S60, S60 Cross Country, V60, V60 Cross Country. The XC60 carries on Volvo family design elements – the Thor hammer inspired daytime running lights (DRL), the large chrome slatted grille. The XC60 might look very similar to the XC90 but the angled D-Pillar makes the car stand out. Like all Volvo’s the XC60 too is a sight to behold, will certainly turn heads wherever you go.

  Volvo believes in designing their cars with a simplicity, practicality and luxury in mind. What completes a Volvo car is the world-renowned safety systems deployed to protect the driver, passengers. The Volvo XC60 comes with a whole host of safety systems such as – Oncoming Lane Mitigation, Steering Assist Function, Blind Spot Detection, optional semi-autonomous driving assistance system etc. Volvo believes in designing a naturally beautiful interior for all their cars. The light and simple design coupled with open spaces, the rich and well-curated materials used to design the cabin create a perfect balance between simplicity and luxury. The icing on the cake is the wood panel that oozes class within the cabin. While you are lost in the lap of luxury provided by the Volvo XC60, be sure to notice the large 9-inch touchscreen Sensus touchscreen. The Sensus system controls all functions such as infotainment, navigation, air conditioning, car information etc. The interface is amongst the best around. The XC60 comes in only one variant – the XC60 D5 Inscription. A 2.0-litre diesel mill powers the XC60 to a powerful 233 bhp. The XC60 is a good driving companion, not for the enthusiast but very satisfying none the less. With air suspension on all 4 wheels suspension works brilliantly and glides over everything our Indian roads throw at it. Long journeys are always a comfortable experience in the XC60, the first in segment cooled/heated seat that is equipped with a massage function spoil the front passengers for comfort and luxury.

  The XC60 is in a very hotly contested segment with a lot of very good cars. It will go up against the likes of the BMW X3, the Audi Q5, Jaguar F-Pace, Lexus NX 300h amongst others. With prices starting at Rs.55.9 lakh the XC60 is priced well and provides an exciting proposition for buyers. We shall have to wait to see the impact she has on the market. 

Car Of The Week : Volvo V40

The daily commute can be challenging especially in metropolitan cities, lack of parking spaces and constant heavy traffic make driving in the urban environment a grueling task. With the increase in younger buyers and our disposable incomes, the demand for luxury cars is always increasing. As the global automobile industry progresses towards a modern and technology oriented era, the new age luxury cars are becoming more compact. The demand for a luxury compact car has surged and luxury car manufacturers have realized, capitalized on this. Luxury manufacturers the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW etc. have all got entry-level luxury cars in the Indian market aiming to get a slice of one of the fastest emerging markets in the world. The Swedish car maker Volvo has offered the V40 to the luxury compact segment.

  Introduced in 2012, the Volvo V40 was well received globally. The V40 continues the Volvo tradition of producing fine cars which are – premium, simple but sophisticated and oozes elegance. A premium hatchback with a low-slung body the V40 looks sleek and designed to perfection. The Thor inspired headlamps are just the cherry on the icing! One thing is certain, the Volvo V40 is a car which will draw eyeballs wherever you go. Volvo cars are amongst the best in the business when it comes to car design language. The interiors of the V40 are as impressive as the exterior, the cabin is decently spaced giving comfortable seating position all-round. The interiors of Volvo cars have never been as luxurious as their other European counterparts – Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, BMW & Audi. However, Volvo has been very successful in mastering the art of creating a car cabin which is both luxurious as well as practical. Indeed, the interior of the Volvo V40 is a pleasant place to be – knobs and buttons are just where you would want them to be, quality of the materials used is top-notch, infotainment and center console is very user-friendly, the digital odometer displays information very well. Volvo takes car safety very seriously, just like all its cars the V40 has a host of safety features to safeguard passengers, pedestrians and itself. Safety features such as multiple airbags, structural crumple zones, pedestrian safety systems, latest gen ABS, EBD, ESP and traction control systems work in sync always to keep people both inside and outside the car safe. Globally the V40 is powered by 2 petrol engines and 2 diesel engines. The Indian V40 is powered by 2.0 L turbocharged diesel engine producing 150 bhp. The V40 is a capable driver, well balanced and equally suited for both the city and the highway.

  The Volvo V40 is a car with a lot of potential and a true underdog in the Indian market. It is a case where the Volvo V40 is rather overlooked when compared to its other luxury competitors. Volvo is in the process of slowly but steadily building its brand image and creating more awareness in India. This further amplifies the potential of the V40. We definitely love the V40 and wish Volvo all the luck for a long and successful inning in India! 

Car Of The Week : Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is a part continues the naming tradition Toyota uses for its sedans (i.e. using names derived from the Toyota Crown). In Latin, the word ‘Corolla’ means ‘small crown’. Well…don’t let the name deceive you as the Corolla remains one of Toyota’s most prized possessions! Brand Toyota prides itself on customer satisfaction, reliability, efficiency and low ownership cost (including maintenance), quality products, practicality and best customer service (pre-sales, sales and after sales). The Toyota Corolla is the best example of a Toyota product embodying all these aspects.

 Toyota introduced the Corolla in 1966. After, 4 decades, 11 generations and 40 million+ Corollas sold the legend continues to live on strongly. The predecessor of the Corolla was the Toyota Publica, a small urban sub-compact car. The Publica was made on the lines of the national car concept by the Japanese government at the time. It was basically a sub-compact sedan perfectly suited for family and daily duties. The idea of the Corolla was conceived by the rising demand for a personal vehicle for the mass public which was both affordable and reliable. The first-generation Corolla was produced from 1966 to 1970, it was sold in three body types – 2 door coupe, 4 door sedan, and a 2 door wagon. Powering this generation Corolla was a 40 bhp 1.1 L petrol engine, given the weight and dimensions of the car this was sufficient enough. 1n 1968, Toyota started exporting the Corolla to global markets. With the USA being one of the most crucial markets abroad, the Corolla tasted great success there. The first imported Toyota Corolla in the USA was available for as low as $1400! To this day the Corolla remains one of the best-selling and most popular cars in the USA. In the 1970s as the Corolla gained popularity, Toyota started manufacturing the car in global markets too. The Toyota Corolla is not only the best-selling car in the world but, also the car with the maximum manufacturing locations worldwide – Toyota manufactures the Corolla in 15+ countries across the world. In 1974, the Corolla now in its 3^rd avatar was drastically styled when compared against its previous generations. The Corolla was heavier, more powerful, rounder. Made with safety and comfort in mind at the same time maintaining its family car roots. It now came with 5 different body variations. The 3^rd generation Corolla saw great growth in global markets including the all-important USA. 1983 brought in a new era for Toyota, the first FF (i.e. Front Engine Front Wheel) drive Corolla was introduced. This was very important as it laid down the foundation for generations of Corollas to come. The FF setup allowed for more space in the car, especially in the backseat. Though the Corolla had a boxy design, it was aerodynamic – this came at a time when Japanese manufacturers jumped on the aerodynamic bandwagon, to produce more economical and fuel-efficient cars. In 1991, Toyota introduced the 7^th generation Corolla. Quite a few critics have called this generation ‘the first modern Toyota Corolla’. Rightly so! The Corolla was now bigger, more spacious, more upmarket and came with an influx of technology such as audio systems; which was not introduced in the previous generations. Previous generations of the Corolla were classified as sub-compact cars, whereas the larger 7^th generation was moved into the compact segment. It was with this generation that the Toyota Corolla became the best-selling car in history, surpassing the VW Beetle with over 22.5 million units sold worldwide. There has been no looking back since! Though the 9^th generation Corolla was introduced in 2000 it began to be locally manufactured in India in 2003 after a facelift. This generation of the Corolla was designed to attract younger buyers. The team at Toyota wanted to create a Corolla to create value in the 21^st century. The Corolla was bigger than ever, more spacious, comfortable and more powerful with a 1.8 L petrol engine. With India being a traditionally chauffeur-driven market, space and comfort the Corolla offered became a hit with the Indian masses. It was just the car corporates and executives were looking for. In its current 11^th generation the Toyota Corolla is sleeker than ever, lighter and aerodynamic, more spacious and comfortable and keeping up with the times with respect to technology and gizmos. All in all giving the driver/owner a great motoring experience.

  The Toyota Corolla is a unique car which has been both evolutionary and revolutionary with each passing generation. Just as the pole star is a constant and unwavering presence in the night sky, the Corolla is the same for the automobile industry worldwide, always leading the way, creating new benchmarks and making it difficult for the competition to knock it off the throne of the best-selling car in the world. 

India At 70 : Celebrating 7 decades of the Indian Automobile Industry

India is a great land of heritage and modernization. In other words, our country has managed to pull off a great blend of cultural heritage at the same time keeping up with the world with respect to technology and modernization. India has achieved a great deal in numerous fields – business, science, culture etc. in a relatively short span of 70 years as a free and independent nation. With 65% of our population being under 40 years of age, India also has amongst the youngest population on earth. The sky is certainly the limit for what India can achieve! Just like countries worldwide cars are an important component of Indian culture. The Indian automobile industry began from humble beginnings to become one of the hottest and fastest emerging markets worldwide. Over the past 7 decades, the Indian automobile industry has evolved, seen a lot of successful cars, made great leaps in manufacturing and much more. On India celebrating 70 years as an independent nation, we take a trip down memory lane!

1.     1947-1957: The advent of independence made way for a great automotive opportunity for the Indian industry. Many of the cars in the country at that time were imported and assembled here. Hindustan Motors (HM) and Premier Automobiles Limited (PAL) were the big players in the domestic market during this decade. In 1949, HM introduced its first car the Hindustan 10, based on the British Morris 10. This was followed by the “Baby Hindustan” (Based on the Morris Minor), the Hindustan 14. It was in 1954 when the production of the HM Landmaster commenced. Meanwhile, PAL was assembling Dodge and Plymouth cars at its Kurla plant in Mumbai.
2.  1957-1967: 1958 saw the production of one of the most iconic Indian cars – The Hindustan Ambassador. This was based on the Morris Oxford of Britain. Known for its curvy design and great comfort; the Ambassador soon became a favorite in the industry. Later, the Ambassador became a symbol for politicians and bureaucrats. With the last Ambassador being produced in 2014, this car was one of the longest serving cars manufactured in India. Other notable cars from that era were the Standard 10, Pennant, Triumph.
3.  1967-1977: In 1973, PAL introduced the Premier Padmini. This car was based on the Fiat 1100, soon became very popular in the market. It remains iconic till today and can be seen on roads, used primarily as a taxi. As the market was dominated by the Hindustan Ambassador & Standard Triumph, the Premier Padmini was welcome competition. Other notable cars from this period were the Standard Herald.
4. 1977-1987: The 1970s saw no new cars introduced in the Indian industry. It was in 1984 when a true legend was born – The Maruti 800. Manufactured by the then government backed Maruti Udyog Limited (later became Maruti Suzuki as we know it) the 800 soon went on to become a favorite of the masses. This car is widely believed to be the most successful car in India as it is one of the best-selling cars to have graced our industry.
5. 1987-1997: This decade was the turning point in the Indian industry as it saw the beginning of a new, modern phase in the market. Asian giants such as Honda, Toyota and Hyundai started to enter the market by way of investments. The liberalization reforms taken by the government opened up the market to global players and saw a rise in investments, joint ventures with Indian companies.
6. 1997-2007: 1997 began with the introduction of the Tata Indica, the first indigenously manufactured car in India. This soon became one of the highest selling cars in India. Hyundai introduced the Santro in 1997. At the turn of the 21^st century, Mahindra introduced the Scorpio SUV. It went on to become the best-selling SUV manufactured by an Indian company. In 2003, a more updated model of the Hyundai Santro, the Santro Xing became an instant hit in the market raking in a lot of sales. Other notable cars of this decade were the Skoda Octavia, Toyota Qualis etc.
7. 2007-2017: The Tata Nano was introduced in 2008. The ‘cheapest car in the world’ this was Tata’s solution to solving our mass transport woes – an affordable car for every Indian. However, this did not quite live up to the hype but it did bring the notion of owning a car much closer to reality than it ever was. This era was dominated by foreign manufacturers the likes of Volkswagen Group, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota etc. As the Indian population became younger, disposable income increased the demand for tech-laden and luxury cars surged. This decade has also ushered in a demand for cars that are safer, reliable and of course value for money. Notable cars from this decade are – Honda City, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i10, Maruti Suzuki Swift etc.    

Car Of The Week : Skoda Octavia

Throughout the course of history, the automobile industry has given us numerous legends. There have been numerable great and extraordinary cars which have made a mark in the industry and have now gone down in the history books for eternity. These great cars are legends and titans of the car industry. Best selling cars, race cars, luxury, sports, mass movers, SUVs etc. as it goes with legends…they are all unique in their own way! Hailing from the Czech Republic the legend we shall be speaking about today is the Skoda Octavia.

  The original Octavia was first introduced in 1959 it was a 2-door car back then, known for its comfortable ride, good interiors and practicality. The first modern Octavia was introduced in 1996. This was after the VW group had taken over Skoda, making it the first Skoda Octavia under the leadership of VW. The Octavia introduced in 1996 shared a common VW group platform shared with the Volkswagen Jetta, hence there were quite a few commonalities. Many critics even said that the Octavia was a reshaped Jetta! However, this was not true. No car better defines the Skoda brand better than the Octavia. Skoda cars are known for their practicality, low cost, fuel efficiency, great driving dynamics and powerful engines.  Not many people know that the Octavia has been one of the highest-selling cars worldwide, with close to 5 million units sold worldwide. The Skoda Octavia was introduced in India in the year 2002. It became an instant hit with the masses. The Octavia helped the Skoda brand cement its place in the Indian market. The second generation modern Octavia’s was introduced in 2004, this was a much more refreshed car with respect to body design elements and an improved, updated interior. The Octavia was sold as the Laura in India. The third generation Octavia was introduced in 2014, a true gem of a car! This generation gave way to a new modern design language. The Skoda was now sleeker, more athletic, lighter with a better combination of engines and gearboxes, a beautiful cabin with all the bells and whistles you would need! At the same time being true to its Skoda DNA. The latest generation Skoda Octavia is probably one of the best cars manufactured by Skoda. It now includes features such as remote parking, HUD, Lane and safety assist features etc. Hence pushing the car more upmarket. To better understand what the Octavia means to a customer we spoke to Akshay Trivedi an automobile enthusiast and a long-time user of the Octavia. Akshay said “The Skoda Octavia has never let me down! For me driving and using the Octavia is an absolute pleasure. Been owning one for the past 10 years but still, it drives superb. Don’t get intimidated by its large and bulky size, once you get behind the wheel it is a gem of a machine! It is just a tank on the highway. The power, comfort and driving dynamics are top class. The practicality too is one thing I love about the Octavia”.

   Being an amazing package in all aspects of a car, the Skoda Octavia is quite simply a very well-rounded sedan making it equally capable both in the city and on the highway. The legend of the Skoda Octavia will live on for a long time and we are quite sure Skoda will satisfy the customers worldwide with even better generations of the Skoda Octavia. 

Jeep launches the Compass for India

Jeep has finally launched one of their most exciting and highly anticipated products for the Indian market – The Compass. When unveiled in April 2017, the Compass held a lot of promise by being the most affordable Jeep product for the Indian market. The other Jeep products in India namely the Grand Cherokee & the Wrangler are both very good products and have been quite successful on the global stage too. However, when introduced in India last year did not take off as they were priced very high. Jeep has a lot riding on the success of the Compass to drive the strategy for the brand in India.

    The Indian market is very price sensitive many good cars have failed to make a mark on the market due to an incorrect pricing strategy. The good news is Jeep has hit the sweet spot with the pricing, beating the initial estimated price range of Rs.16-22 Lakh – the Jeep Compass begins at a great Rs.14.95 Lakh (Ex-Showroom) with the top end around Rs.20.69 Lakh. This smart, bold pricing puts the Compass against the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Hyundai Tucson, Renault Duster, Mahindra XUV 500 at the same time also undercuts larger SUVs the likes of the Tata Hexa, Ford Endeavour. The introduction of the Compass has opened the small SUV market, giving customers a premium and quality Jeep product. The design of the Compass resembles the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is not a bad thing. With a bold stance, a go anywhere attitude and sharp character lines; the Compass is a smart and modern SUV. The LED projector headlamps, DRLs and a neat tail lamp cluster give the Compass a sophisticated appeal. On the inside, the Compass welcomes you with a very premium cabin. With a very good build, fit and finish making it a premium, safe, reliable place to be. The Compass comes with a host of safety features such as – ABS, EBD, Airbags, Hill Hold Assist etc. With all the bells and whistles you would need the Compass has you covered on the infotainment bit too! Coming with a 5-inch and 7-inch touch screen depending on the variant you choose. The Compass has 3 variants – Sport, Longitude, Limited having petrol and diesel engines. The engines of choice on the Compass are a 1.4 L Multiair petrol producing 160 bhp of peak power, a 2.0 L Multijet diesel engine producing 171 bhp of peak power. Both the engines have options of both manual and automatic transmissions. The Compass will also come with a 4X4 option along with the SelecTerrain 4 mode driving condition selections which allow the driver to navigate the car on – Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud. Hence, making the Compass a very capable car for off road adventures.

   With bookings having already amassed 5000 cars, the Jeep Compass is a Rockstar in the making and has everything to dominate the segment. This could very well be the product which makes Jeep a success in India!

Car Of The Week : Mazda MX-5

In today’s day and age, a good value for money, fun to drive, reasonable and practically made sports cars are a rarity. Finding a roadster which scores well on all the above-mentioned aspects is like finding a needle in a hay stack! Mazda seem to have just the car that fits the bill – Mazda MX-5. The MX-5 was launched in 1989, but the seeds for project development were sown in 1976. What began as a casual conversation between a journalist and the heads of R&D at Mazda, led to the creation of a brilliant Mazda roadster.

  The MX-5 has a conventional roadster body with sleek curves and is certainly a head turner while on the road. The MX-5 is based on the Jinba Ittai design language used by Mazda across all 4 generations of the MX-5. Jinba Ittai refers to ‘rider and horse as one body’ this simply means creating a compact car with great driving dynamics, at the same time also meeting global safety standards. The MX-5 is a rear-wheel drive, front engine roadster with the very crucial 50:50 front & rear weight distribution. This gives the MX-5 a very good balance and excellent driving dynamics. Mazda chose to go ahead with a wishbone or a multi-link suspension set up on all 4 wheels, hence giving the car superior grip and maximizing tire performance. The design of the first-generation MX-5 was highly inspired from the likes of the Lotus Elan. However, it has come a long way and now in its fourth generation looks stunning! The current generation Mazda MX-5 was launched in 2015, offered with 2 naturally aspirated direct injection petrol engines – 1.5 L & a 2.0 L producing 129 bhp & 158 bhp respectively. The car is offered both with a 6-speed manual as well as an automatic transmission. A manual transmission in today’s age? Vintage, isn’t it? Yes, driving the MX-5 in manual is just the thing dreams are made off! In a time when automatics are on the rise in cars across all segments, Mazda has made an awesome choice going ahead with the manual. The MX-5 is a car an auto enthusiast would cherish. With quick responsiveness, amazing ride and handling, power when you need it, and the manual transmission of course! Well the MX-5 is not as quick as the likes of the Porsche 911, but with a 0-100 km/h time of 5.8 seconds, it gets the job done impressively. The MX-5 is a 2-door coupe car which can seat only 2 occupants. In its latest avatar, the Mazda MX-5 RF comes with a retractable roof.

The MX-5 is one of the best and highest selling 2 door roadsters in history. It could well be classified as a more affordable alternative to the Porsche 911, with the MX-5 being priced at almost half! This truly is a legendary car, and one we certainly look forward to when Mazda enters India.  

BMW Launches the new 2017 5 Series in India

Let’s visualise a global sports tournament of the highest calibre, where cars are the athletes. Car brands the world over take part by fielding various entries (cars from their own model ranges) across many categories (car type/classification) – Family, SUV, Multi-purpose, Luxury, Business, Compact; to take part in the tournament. The best athletes in their own respective categories may be hotly contested. However, when it comes to the Business category things are quite different; there is one clear winner. This winner is the all-new 2017 BMW 5 Series. This remarkable car is truly a ‘Business Athlete’.

   BMW has finally brought the 2017 5 Series to India. Launched on 29^th June 2017, in grand fashion at an event in Mumbai, the 5 Series didn’t disappoint as it mesmerised the invited guests with its sheer brilliance. The 5 Series is one of the most important cars of recent times for BMW, its success in the fastest growing market is of paramount importance to BMW.  Being one of the best-selling luxury sedans of all time the 5 Series now in its latest 7^th generation has all the underpinnings to be a huge hit in the market. The newest 5 is an evolution rather than a revolution from its previous generations. The beauty and uniqueness of a BMW 5 Series are that it delivers a perfect combination of luxury and driving satisfaction. This perfect blend delivers sheer driving pleasure. The new 5 Series is now lighter, more athletic, more tech-laden, innovative, more fun to drive than the outgoing generation. The previous generation 5 Series, was criticised for missing out on the BMW DNA of offering great drivability and focusing more on luxury. With the new 5 Series, this is not the case! BMW has done a fabulous job in creating a complete package with an equal balance of both driving performance and luxury. There is a whole host of new technology and innovation such as – Gesture Control, Remote Parking etc.

 
Mr.Vikram Pawah,  Group President BMW India said that the new 5 Series is a dynamic game changer for the brand. Nowadays cars which offer the best of 2 worlds – performance & luxury are very rare. The 2017 BMW 5 Series is one of those rare gems. We shall have to wait and watch how the 5 Series performs, there are very exciting times ahead!

VW Tiguan - VW has the Indian premium segment in its sights!

Having entered the Indian market in 2007, Volkswagen did not take a long time to establish itself as an important player in the Indian landscape. The model range on offer at that time offered something quite different to the cars Indians were used to, and hence gained quite a bit of a fan following. The Polo, Vento etc. were heavier, more powerful, better in fit and finish great on overall quality when compared to their Asian counterparts. For a market dominated by Asian car manufacturers whose product offerings concentrated more on the efficiency, practicality, the overall ease of running and maintaining a car; this was a sudden but welcome change. VW has been renowned the world over for producing great family cars, they have created a good foundation in India effectively following the same strategy. With India being the fastest growing market VW now wants a slice of the premium and SUV segments. Back in 2008, VW introduced the Touareg SUV in India – a large SUV with a powerful V6 engine, lot of technology and a luxury appeal. However, due to the high pricing it did not gain a lot of traction in the market, was later discontinued in 2012.

   Fast forward to 2017, VW has introduced the Tiguan to the Indian market. This highly anticipated car has finally come to Indian shores, and VW has pinned their hopes on the Tiguan to make a good impression on the Indian market. The Tiguan is a mid-sized SUV based on the VW group’s MQB platform. The Tiguan is smaller in size when compared to the likes of the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavor, however, the compact design and slightly lower stance gives it a good road presence at the same time giving an elegant but sophisticated appeal. The front grille is bold with thick chrome slats and the LED headlamps complement them well. The rear headlamps are beautifully crafted and the way the shoulder line meets them is the icing on the cake! On the inside, the Tiguan comes with a familiar VW cabin with well-placed interiors having top-notch quality. Though the car is an SUV, the cabin gives the driver a feeling of driving a much smaller car. There is good visibility all-around and the seating position is high, hence giving a good command of the road ahead. There is a large touch-screen infotainment system with a good user interface. However, the absence of a navigation system is a letdown. The rear of the cabin is quite good offering decent legroom; however, a little wider cabin would have been great. Sitting 3 adults comfortably might be a squeeze. There is a tray table behind the seats in front offers added convenience while travelling. The backseats can slide forwards and backwards, they recline backwards to giving passengers added comfort. The boot space is quite generous and more than adequate for airport runs or a quick family getaway. In case you need more luggage space, VW has got you covered as you can flip the back seats with the pull of a lever. In order to open the boot, all you need to do is swing your leg under the rear left-hand side of the car, there is a sensor which swings open the boot for you. Closing the boot is all about pressing a button. Loading and unloading luggage into the boot is an easy and practical job, thanks to the well-designed boot lip. Now, the mechanicals; the Tiguan is powered by the workhorse of the – 2.0 L TDI Diesel engine, producing 140 bhp. This gem of an engine is mated to a 7 speed DSG gearbox. This combination makes driving the Tiguan effortless both in the city as well as on the highway. The steering wheel is light but evenly weighted, giving good engagement, feedback keeping the driver assured as always. Just like all the VW cars, the Tiguan is a very good highway cruiser offering good stability even at high speeds. Even around corners, the car drives well and is well-balanced thanks to its low centre of gravity, minimising body roll. The added benefit of a 4X4 system is that the Tiguan can comfortably go off the beaten path, whenever you are in the mood for adventure. The Tiguan is not an out and out adventure junky, but do not let the size and dimensions fool you! The Tiguan gets the job done. There is a terrain selector allowing you to select the kind of terrain the car is being driven over. The car computer will then adjust the 4X4 system accordingly.

   The Tiguan begins at an upwards of Rs.28 Lakh. Yes, this is quite a steep price for a VW car, especially in India. The market hasn’t yet perceived the VW brand to be at a premium level to command a high price for an SUV in the same segment as the Fortuner, Endeavor. Well…to put things into perspective, the real target for the Tiguan is not the customer who would buy a Toyota Fortuner or a Ford Endeavor but VW is targeting the customers who would consider buying the BMW X1, Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA. VW wants to move up to the pyramid and now has the premium segment in sights. With the Tiguan in its arsenal, it could be a very interesting and exciting proposition. We shall have to wait and find out how the Tiguan performs in the market.  

Car Of The Week : Maserati Levante

Performance SUV’s have been on the rise worldwide. Gone are the days when an SUV was only perceived to be a vehicle for utility, long drives on the highways etc. Car manufacturers have very successfully been able to shed the image of the SUV as a utility vehicle. In recent times, SUV’s world over has been an epitome of luxury and performance. The Land Rover Range Rover and the Porsche Cayenne are brilliant examples with respect to luxury and performance. Though the SUV remains extremely popular in India, the very niche market of the performance SUV has still to properly take off.

The combo of performance and an SUV is rather physics defying. SUV’s aren’t supposed to be flying around at supercar speeds, neither are they supposed to be flung around corners while being glued to the road! Porsche has been leading the way in this segment, one of the first brands to introduce a performance SUV with the Porsche Cayenne in 2003. Other brands have also followed suit. One such brand is an unexpected one – Maserati. The Italian luxury, supercar manufacturer is very underrated when it comes to supercar manufacturers hailing from Italy. Often overshadowed by its cousin Ferrari, Maserati produces brilliant cars too!

  The car we shall be focusing on today is the Maserati Levante. The Maserati Levante is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV based on the Kubang concept car. The name Levante is derived from Italian and means ‘East’ dedicated to the early history of Maserati. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016, the Levante is a beautifully designed car. An aggressive grille with the familiar Maserati trident, sleek headlamps, a coupe-like roofline which meets the rear of the car ever so well; the Levante just like the great Italian paintings is a masterpiece. Maserati has a pedigree for manufacturing beautiful Italian supercars – the Gran Turismo, Ghibli etc. are illustrious examples. Well…. the Levante is an SUV -  but it is one which is meant to be driven enthusiastically! Hence the low ground clearance and compact size, giving it a low centre of gravity; which is ideal for a sports car. The interiors are very well put together, they ooze luxury and sport. The Levante comes in 3 variants – Levante, Levante S, Levante Diesel. All 3 variants have a V6 engine producing – 350, 430, 275 bhp respectively. A 4-wheel drive set-up along with an 8-speed automatic gearbox is the configuration on offer. Maserati is also set to add a V8 variant producing a mammoth 580 bhp, by 2018. Do not underestimate the Levante, it is a very quick car! With very impressive 0-100 kmph times of about 6 seconds, pretty quick for an SUV.

   The Maserati Levante is in a league of its own with the likes of the Jaguar F-Pace and the Porsche Cayenne – a league of supercar SUVs. Though it is not on offer in India yet, it will surely be a very exciting prospect for this country. 

BMW ups the game with the 8 Series Concept

Concept cars are great mediums for car manufacturers to showcase their R&D efforts towards the various aspects of producing a car. The various aspects of car production or the various departments aiding toward final deliverance of a production ready car are – Design, Technology, Mechanical expertise (engine, powertrain related), alternative fuel based systems (hybrid, electric etc.). Many a time a concept car does not completely materialise as a finished product offered for purchase to the customers. But that’s is a given, as the objective of a concept car is not to increase sales but to showcase a future path for the car manufacturer and to act as a statement of intent by showcasing its manufacturing capabilities. Concept cars have throughout pushed boundaries of various car design aspects. Most of the times a concept car will be a precursor to the other future range of cars for the market or as an evolution of design language.

  BMW recently unveiled its 8 Series concept car. Hold on…. the 8 Series has not been launched yet this is again just a concept! There are many cars which bring to light the notion of love at first sight. The BMW 8 Series concept is one of them! To sum up the car in a few words – an illustration of sheer excellence and beauty. Concept cars are designed in a very radical, unorthodox and futuristic manner. They come across as bold, energetic, evolutionary, advanced and years ahead in the future. But the 8 Series concept is not your regular concept car. At first glance, it is a very clean car with respect to sculpture and design. There are very few lines on the car and clearly, BMW has emphasised more on car sculpture. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class; arch rival of the BMW 7 Series already has a coupe and a cabriolet variant. Since a long time, BMW has been searching for a good coupe and cabriolet car in the mould of the flagship 7 Series. They seem to have found a superb solution with the 8 Series. The 8 Series is in all essence going to be the coupe variant of the 8 Series. The official confirmation will have to wait until the unveiling of the production version of the 8 Series in September. BMW has done a fabulous job of integrating styling cues and elements from within its model ranges. Styling cues from the 6 Series, i8 and the all-important Vision Next 100 concept car are quite evident. The L-shaped tail lamps are just the icing on the cake! Well, no BMW can be completed without its distinctive kidney grille. The 8 Series gets a beautifully designed, large, conjoined kidney grille – a first for any BMW car. Being a car to continue the flagship heritage, the 8 Series will share a lot of engine and powertrain options as well as features with the current 7 Series. Expect the car to have a lot of space for both passengers as well as their luggage. Though BMW has not given any information on technical and mechanical details for the 8 Series, it is safe to assume that there will be a hybrid or electric variant of the car.

Yes, it did take BMW 19 years to revive the 8 Series, but it has been surely worth the wait. They have gone on to showcase one of the most spectacular concept cars in recent memory. BMW has certainly upped the game with the 8 Series!  

2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire - The Urban Legend Is Back In a New Avatar

The Maruti Suzuki Swift D-Zire was a very popular car when introduced. It was based on the Maruti Suzuki Swift, the ever-popular hatchback was a very good value for money packaged product, economical, reliable, overall easy on the pocket Another important factor to the great success of the Swift D-Zire was it enjoyed a first mover advantage in the compact sedan market of India. A first mover advantage is an advantage a product enjoys for being the first-of-its-kind product in a niche market. Maruti Suzuki was very quick and decisive to enter the compact sedan segment. When the Swift D-Zire was launched, no one had imagined the need for a compact sedan, however, the emergence of the cab aggregators such as Uber, Ola and the customers wanting a practical car in the urban environment, spurred the Swift D-Zire to glory. Being successful in the market is a feat but, sustaining the position of the undisputed leader for quite a few years is a whole other level of achievement. Sustaining the position of the undisputed market leader is something Maruti Suzuki knows a lot about, and the Swift D-Zire is evidence of that.

Well, Maruti has brought the undisputed market leader back in an all new avatar. Off late there seems to be a design revolution at Maruti Suzuki, both on exteriors and interiors of their recent cars. There was a time a few years ago where it seemed Maruti was not prepared to break the trend of designing trendy and more youthfully appealing cars. The likes of the Baleno, Ciaz, Ignis are some of their best-designed cars on the market today. The transition towards a more youthfully appealing style is a step in the correct direction. This most importantly highlights their plans for the Indian market. As recently as yesterday, Maruti brought back the Dzire in a swanky new avatar, fueling a life a modernism and excitement! The external design of the Dzire is more rounded and curvy than ever before, gone are the lines and sharp edges. Oh and yes……. the has been a change in the name of the car, it is no longer called the Swift D-Zire it is now the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. This has been done because Maruti wants to break the association of this car from the Swift hatchback, creating a new identity for the car. The large front grille surrounded with chrome makes the car look youthful and bold. The headlamps are now LED projectors with DRLs. The car is made on a new design architecture – HEARTECT. This as Maruti says has made the car safer, stronger, more rigid and most importantly a whole 105 kg lighter. Moving inside the cabin has been made more modern and contemporary. There is a new dashboard design and a new steering wheel which gives a sporty look. The old Swift D-Zire had championed space and practicality……the new Dzire continues the legacy. There is now even a rear passenger AC vent. With respect to the technology on offer, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, and a push button Start-Stop option are now made available. For an upmarket feel – wood and chrome inserts are also available. The same 1.2 L VTVT petrol and 1.3 L DDiS diesel engines do duty on the 2017 Dzire. Hence, offering assured fuel efficiency. These will be mated to a manual and automatic gear options. However, the automatic will be only offered on variants V upwards.

With prices beginning at 5.45 Lakh the new Dzire is quite competitive and more than capable of sustaining the competition. It should prove to be very crucial to the success of Maruti’s new age vehicles. 

Jeep Sends the Compass to India

Indians love their SUVs. This love affair has been going on for quite some time. Countrywide the number of SUV users is huge. Over the past 5-7 years, the number of SUVs used in the urban Indian environment has never been higher. This can be advocated our road conditions, higher disposable income, the need for a bigger family car etc. Nevertheless, an SUV has been a sort of statement of intent or a statement of achievement for a few in the society. When SUVs were introduced in India they did not have a great impression in the Indian market. This was mainly because they were diesel only cars, cumbersome to drive, lacked efficiency and maintenance a costly affair. Car manufacturers have managed to shed this image by offering vehicles easy to drive, efficient and easy on the maintenance. The major SUV manufacturers in India are – Mahindra, Tata, Toyota etc. (for passenger vehicles). The car manufacturers in the luxury segment are Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, JLR etc. The newest entrant to the Indian SUV scenario is Jeep. Jeep’s Indian journey began in 2016. The oldest manufacturer 4X4 utility vehicles had finally entered India. Jeep’s legacy of producing 4X4 vehicles extremely capable of taking you anywhere dates to 1941. The only brand capable of giving Jeep a run for its money with respect to 4X4 vehicles is – Land Rover. Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee & the Jeep Wrangler are excellent vehicles. However, they did not quite make a good first impression on the Indian market. This was mainly due to the pricing of both the cars with the Grand Cherokee & the Wrangler priced at an upwards of Rs.95,00,000 and Rs.70,00,000 respectively.

   12^th April 2017 – Jeep launched its third offering for India, the Jeep Compass. Jeep’s most affordable model yet! Promises to be a game changer for the brand in India. Based on its elder sibling – the Grand Cherokee, the Compass is a compact SUV perfect for the urban environment. What is more exciting is that the Compass comes with the world-renowned Active Drive Mode, Jeep’s own 4X4 management system. The Compass comes with a 4X4 option, but will also be offered with 4X2. On the exterior, the Compass has a bold, aggressive look with a modern flair to it. With a decent 178mm ground clearance, the Compass can take on our roads with ease. The iconic 7 slat Jeep grille gives the car a unique identity. The rear of the vehicle is designed well too with a beautiful integration of the tail lamps with the overall design of the car. The large wheel arches and the big wheels give the car a rugged look. Moving inside the cabin is large and spacious giving passengers an airy feel. The layout is practical, you will find the buttons, knobs, and switches exactly where you would want them to be. The rear of the cabin has generous space too, comfortable for 3 passengers to sit comfortably on long journeys too. The Compass will be powered by 2 engine options – the 1.4 L Multi-Air petrol engine producing 160 bhp & a 2.0 L ECO diesel engine producing 170 bhp. Both these engines will be mated to a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed automatic gearbox. The Jeep Compass comes with the Select 4X4 Management System – enabling the driver to select the condition of the terrain and environment the car is being driven in. This system has 4 modes: Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud. Each mode can change the power delivery to the front and rear wheels thus making the car very efficient in the respective driving conditions. The Compass will come with a whole host of safety features; ABS, EBD, Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, Hill Hold Assist, Airbags etc. The Jeep Compass is the first vehicle from the brand to be made in India. With heavy localization, the Compass is expected to be priced very competitively. We expect the price to begin at an upwards of Rs.17 lakh with the top end going till about Rs.26 lakh. With production at the new Ranjangaon facility expected to begin by June, the Compass shall hit the Indian roads by August.

   A great looking car, practical layout, good engine and powertrain, a world class 4X4 system and an offering form a legendary brand, finally, an excellent price – the Jeep Compass has all the requirements to be a superstar in the Indian car market. It will surely give competitors such as the Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano, Hyundai Tucson, Mahindra XUV 500 a run for its money. This should be a real game-changer for Jeep in India. 

Lexus Begins Indian Journey

Over the years, the word ‘Lexus’ in India is most commonly associated with the Toyota Land Cruiser. Quite a few Indians would have remembered seeing the word ‘Lexus’ or the L logo encircled on a Toyota Land Cruiser. Well, not many people in India know that Lexus is the luxury division of Japanese car giant Toyota. Toyota began work in 1983, on developing a new premium sedan code-named F1. In 1989 this led to the inception of the first Lexus product – the Lexus LS. Back in 2014 there was talk about Lexus entering India, however this did not materialize as the import duty and other taxes were too high. The wait is finally over! Lexus has entered India with a 3-model lineup which includes the RX 450h, ES 300h, LX 450d.

   The Indian luxury car market is dominated by the German auto giants – Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi with Mercedes-Benz leading the way. There are other players as well such as Jaguar Land Rover and Volvo. The luxury segment in the Indian market has been one where there is cut throat competition where car manufacturers are continuously pushing the boundaries of excellence with respect to technology, comfort, driving pleasure and last but not the least luxury. In such a competitive market, it is very difficult for any player to be it an existing or new to sustain and make a lasting impression. On the other hand, the Indian market is a very exciting prospect for luxury car buyers looking to have a slice of the market, because the Indian car buyer is becoming younger and at the same time more affluent. In the Indian scenario, Lexus’ competitors have been on the market for the considerably longer period this is a major advantage for the competition as they know exactly what the Indian customer is looking for. The Indian customers have been accustomed to cars which deliver both great luxuries and at the same time are great driving machines with a good balance of leisure and enthusiasm. Whereas Lexus is more inclined towards providing with comfort and efficiency. In the Indian luxury segment, there is a great demand for diesel cars, as most of the units sold are diesel powered; Lexus has a very limited range of diesel engines and the cars which are going to be offered here are going to be hybrids. Most of the German cars, JLR etc. are locally assembled, manufactured, Whereas Lexus will initially sell their cars only as a full import unit, making the cars considerably expensive. The RX450h is a crossover SUV powered by a 3.5L V6 direct injection petrol engine paired to an electric motor producing 305 bhp. The ES300h is the flagship sedan of Lexus-powered by a 2.5L petrol engine paired to an electric motor generating about 200 bhp.

  Toyota has never really intended to create a cash cow out of Lexus but to build and enhance its brand image, We shall have to wait and watch how the Indian journey of Lexus unfolds. 

Range Rover Velar - On Par With Excellence

Range Rover have been one of the most popular brands in the automotive world. Always striving to be on par with excellence. A sub-brand of Land Rover, Range Rover has been pushing the boundaries of luxury, technology and overall capability for the better half of 5 decades. The Range Rover has been known as the ultimate luxury vehicle to take you anywhere, and rightly so! The Land Rover brand as a whole has been a pioneer in the off-roading segment. The first Range Rover launched in 1970, left the world amazed by its off-road capabilities, even on the harshest terrain. Over since the years the Range Rover has evolved but has keenly continued the tradition of beautifully integrating luxury and driving capability. The world renowned and Land Rover patented Terrain Response system (off-road terrain management system) does duty on all Range Rovers. This system has won many accolades as the best all terrain or 4X4 (AWD) systems ever since its debut on the Land Rover Discovery 3. In 2005, Land Rover extended the Range Rover family with the Range Rover Sport. A mid-sized SUV positioned below the Range Rover, continued the same pedigree of the Range Rover with a sportier flair to it. The range topping Range Rover Sport SVR holds the distinction of being the most capable SUV of 2017. In 2011, to meet the demand for a compact SUV capable in the urban environment targeted towards the youth and the luxury car buyer Land Rover introduced the Range Rover Evoque. The design of this SUV was an awe inspiring one. Though it was a crossover it had the roofline of a coupe and the ruggedness of an SUV. This was one of Range Rover’s most loved products. The powertrain though subsided mainly for tax benefits, was unmistakably Range Rover. It still remains one of the best designed SUVs.

  All right enough of the glorious Range Rover history! Let us put that away for a while and dive straight into where the thick of the action is. Yesterday, Land Rover unveiled the curtains on the latest addition to the Range Rover family. At an event in London, the crowds gathered for witnessing a spectacle of automotive design, technology and innovation. This event was also streamed live across the world. The moment the curtains were lifted an epitome of automotive innovation and design was showcased, the Range Rover Velar was introduced! On stage Gerry McGovern - Chief Designer, JLR came on to give the crowd and worldwide viewers a brief about the car. McGovern, described how emotionally enriching and enchanting a car can be, and how important the collaboration of the design and engineering departments of a car manufacturer is to creation of an overall balanced product. The name, Velar is derived from a Latin word which means sail or veiled. The first 26 prototypes of the Range Rover were named Velar.  At a first glance the Velar is a very striking and appealing proposition. A completely new design for an SUV. The silhouette coupe inspired roofline flows beautifully over the car, giving it a very sleek and modern look. It is by far the sleekest Range Rovers of all time. The intricate matrix LED headlamps give the car a very futuristic, bold and aggressive look. The traditional honeycomb grille gives it a distinct Range Rover identity. There is a lot of attention to detail given to the car and this is evident in the fog lamp cluster as well as the front light bay. Aerodynamics play a huge role in the design of the Velar, with a drag coefficient of 0.32 it is the most aerodynamic Land Rover ever produced. The detailed copper inserts on the bonnet, and simple yet sophisticated character lines running across the body of the car all away to the rear. They beautifully integrate into the LED tail lamps. These tail lamps are to die for! The short overhangs in the front and a long tail section give the car a flair of elegance and stature. On the first glance you notice something peculiar……. where are the door handles gone?! Well the answer to this is quite simply innovation. The Velar uses flush door handles, which slide outside when in use and slide inside, camouflaging in to the body of the car when not in use.  The simplistic and modern nature of the design continues on the inside as well. You are welcomed by a brilliantly laid out cabin which is reminiscent of other Range Rovers, but with a burst of innovation and new technology. When you enter any car you tend to first get greeted by the familiar knobs, dials on the center console. But, in the Velar you do not! The center console has been replaced by 2 large touchscreens, one on the dashboard and another below traditionally where the gear is placed. There are 2 rotary dials on either side of the touchscreen below. What is more exciting is that when you enter the vehicle, the touchscreen at the top tilts in front towards the driver. Awesomeness personified. The new dual touchscreen system called the ‘Touch Pro Duo’ by Land Rover, aims to minimize switchgear and maximize a sense of engagement and personalization between the car and the driver. The touchscreen at the top is the primary infotainment center of the cars housing controls for the telephone, Bluetooth, music, SATNAV. The touchscreen at the bottom houses controls for car related systems, such as air conditioning, Terrain Response system, Seat controls, overall vehicle diagnostic settings. The steering wheel gets touchscreen buttons too. Both the touchscreens can be individually configured as the driver wishes to. There is a large panoramic sunroof which runs across both at the front and rear. The overall quality of the seats are top notch. This car can fit 5 people very comfortably. The boot space is a large 673 Liters with the added functionality of a 60/40 split. The Velar comes with a complete air suspension setup, rides quality is just brilliant. Another great innovation of this car is that it allows for the body to be lowered, so that the passengers can enter and exit the vehicle with ease.

One could argue that the Jaguar F-Pace and the Range Rover Velar are very similar cars, well apart from sharing the same platform and a few engine options the cars are radically different. While the F-Pace is a performance oriented SUV, the Range Rover Velar is still a family vehicle with a charm unlike any other. One thing is for sure there is quite a gap in price as well as size between the Range Rover Evoque & the Range Rover Sport. The gap is not too big any more, the Velar has come in to fill the void. An all-aluminum construction gives the Velar a light, safe and strong structure. The Velar will come with 6 engine options, 2 diesels and 4 petrol. All these will be mated to an 8 speed automatic transmission. There is no confirmation of a range topping SVR/SVO model. The Range Rover Velar will go up against more traditional SUV rivals like the Audi Q7, BMW Q5, Mercedes GLS, Volvo XC90 and also the performance powerhouse from Stuttgart – Porsche Macan.  The Range Rover Velar is a brilliant proposition unlike any other and has all the underpinnings to be a market mover. The search for excellence is often an impossible one, but it is not every day that we come across cars that are marvels of engineering, a treasure trove technology, ignited with innovation and last but not the least a masterpiece of design. Car manufacturers have always banked on such products for keeping them on top of the industry and being a canvas of inspiration for others to follow. Well Range Rover seemed to have found that in the Velar – a product that should keep them on par with excellence.  

5 Reasons Why A Mercedes Benz is One Of The Safest Cars On The Road

Safety is paramount to all living beings. No matter who you interact with, where you go, what you use for daily activities, how you travel and so on, safety or being in a safe ecosystem while carrying out any of these actions is a common denominator. Safety in a broader aspect of the term is a condition of being safe or protected from any harm or other undesirable outcomes. What safety also refers to is the recognition or awareness of various hazards which can cause the risk of harm or injury.  We live in a world where there is a lot of reliance or dependency for support and assistance on machines and technology for enabling us to carry out various activities/tasks. Cars are a very common means of travel for humans. The risks and hazards involved with car travel are infamous and common knowledge. While driving a car concentration and awareness of the one’s surroundings is imperative, the loss of attention even for a split second can lead to major consequences such as life-threating injuries and or death. With more and more cars being driven on the road and an influx of latest technology (for e.g. faster cars) the importance and emphasis on car safety has never been more important. With the advancement of technology cars are getting faster, more luxurious, smarter, more efficient and most importantly much safer. Though there is a lot more technology keeping us safe in cars than what was about half a decade ago, it is extremely crucial that we not only respect our other fellow drivers on the roads; but also that we respect our car equally.

Mercedes Benz has been a car manufacturer that has been admired and loved across the world ever since its inception in 1926. In the automobile world Mercedes has been an epitome for quality, luxury, cutting edge technology and unwavering reliability. Mercedes Benz has also been one of the pioneers for vehicle safety, striving for excellence in passenger and vehicle safety. As per their official website, with Mercedes Benz being inventors and innovators of the car, they claim to have a huge role and responsibility towards road and passenger safety. With over 80000 patents filled for safety innovations one can be rest assured that Mercedes Benz is playing a huge role in road and passenger safety. With many firsts in automobile safety such as the first company to perform Crash Tests to analyze the performance of cars in accident situations in 1958, the inventors of Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) along with Bosch in 1978 Mercedes Benz has been at the forefront of passenger and vehicle safety. Let us now look into the other safety and passenger protection systems developed by Mercedes Benz.

• PRE-SAFE:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Collision Avoidance Systems are very crucial to car safety. They are automobile systems designed to reduce the severity of a collision. PRE-SAFE is the collision avoidance system from Mercedes Benz. First introduced during the Paris Motor Show in 2003, this revolutionary system works with the assistance of a host of other systems such as the Electronic Stability Control (ECS), sensors measuring steering angle, acceleration and brake assist sensors (BAS) for detecting emergency braking and cameras placed around the vehicle. On anticipation and detection of a possible collision the PRE-SAFE system actively prepares the car, passenger by taking safety and preventive measures such as tensioning the seatbelts, raising the headrests forward to enable better support during impact, rolling up of the windows before an impending accident, closing the sunroof in case of a roll over situation. The PRE-SAFE Brake was later added to this system, this allows the car to monitor the traffic ahead with sensors and cameras and warn the driver 2.5 seconds prior to an impending collision and also waning the vehicle behind via the hazard lights. In case the driver does not react the car engages autonomous emergency braking.                                                                                                                                                                                              
• DISTRONIC PLUS WITH PRE-SAFE BRAKE:                                                                                                                                                                                                                Distronic Plus with PRE-SAFE Brake is a radar based adaptive cruise control system. An adaptive cruise control system which can be deployed from 20-120 mph, equipped with infrared sensors and cameras the Distronic Plus system actively scans the traffic ahead for possible collisions. As quite a few road accidents are rear collisions, Distronic Plus with PRE-SAFE brake aims to prevent them. The system actively monitors the distance between the vehicle ahead and itself till up to 650 feet. If the gap between the 2 vehicles reduces by more than 650 feet the Distronic Plus warns the driver by emitting audible and visual alerts. In case the driver fails to react the PRE-SAFE brake engages autonomous braking by calculating the braking force required to prevent the collision. Once the distance between the 2 cars is safe (>650 feet) the car again goes into cruise control mode at the desired speed set by the driver.                                                                                                                      

• ATTENTION ASSIST:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Driving can often be a tiring exercise often leading to driver fatigue, often experienced during long drives. This has led to numerous major accidents. Ever wondered if a system could warn you about fatigue whilst driving? Well…..Mercedes Benz has got you covered. The Attention Assist system, monitors the driving pattern of a driver and warns him of fatigue, sleep, tiredness symptoms. Within the first few minutes of driving the Attention Assist system makes an individual profile of the driver analyzing his driving pattern. Over 70 parameters actively monitor the driver over the duration of driving. When the system detects the signs of driver fatigue, sleep etc. it uses audible and visual signs to warn the driver. At the same time considering external conditions such as cross-winds, road surface etc.                                                                                                                    
•  ACTIVE LANE KEEPING ASSIST:                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Maintaining lane discipline is a very crucial element of safe driving. Accidents often occur when a driver fails to respect the lanes. In order to avoid this Mercedes Benz has developed the Active Lane Keeping Assist. This system continuously monitors the road ahead by a camera mounted on the windscreen. Many a times due to driver fatigue or loss of concentration the driver unintentionally lets the car drift outside his lane causing accidents. In order to prevent this the Active Lane Keeping Assist monitors the driving conditions looking out for signs where the driver has unintentionally let the car drift away from his lane. In case this happens the system warns the driver by vibrating the steering wheel. If the driver fails to react the system automatically breaks the wheels away from the road markers, bringing the vehicle back in its lane; hence avoiding an accident.                                                                                                                                                                                                           
• PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION:

The Mercedes Benz Pedestrian Protection system is designed to protect the pedestrians. It is noted that in most cases a head on collision can be fatal for a pedestrian. The Pedestrian Protection system uses an Active Bonnet. On impact with a pedestrian the rear of the bonnet is raised by about 50 mm. This raising of the bonnet reduces the injury impact on the pedestrian. 

This certainly reiterates the fact that Mercedes cars are among the safest on the road. Mercedes has been a guiding light for other car manufacturers and their safety innovations often continue to serve as a benchmark for the industry. 

MARUTI IGNIS - The Modern Urban Car For The 'New Age' Indian

By 2022, India is set to be the most populous nation in the world. With close to 60% of the population below the age 35 years, India is on track to become the youngest nation in the world. Firms in the Indian market are keeping a watchful eye, particularly on the millennial generation. Generation Y as they are more popularly known, refer to the people who are born between 1980s to the early 2000s. Currently India has about 356 million people who are in the age bracket 20-35 years. All the players in the Indian automobile market are just waiting in the wings to capitalize on this segment. Maruti  Suzuki has been a pioneer in the Indian market since a long time and is amongst the very few brands in the Indian market who know exactly what the Indian customers want and they seem to get their products spot on most of the times!

The Ignis, Maruti Suzuki’s latest offering for India is one of the most anticipated cars of 2017. Car manufacturers the world over are very keenly following the trend of crossovers or crossover inspired styling. A crossover with respect to cars is a car platform made by combining the features of an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) with the features of a passenger vehicle. Being a hatchback crossover, the Ignis has an upright stance and looks all set to take on all the Indian roads can throw at it! The first impression of the Ignis it seems the design team at Maruti, has taken the Wagon-R back to the drawing board and made a more modern avatar of it. Though it may resemble the Wagon-R…….it is huge leap in design from Maruti Suzuki. The front grille is bold and the neatly integrated LED headlamp with DRLs encompassing them is a beautiful piece of car design. The cladding at the front bumper, fenders and on the sides gives the car an SUV like look. The slightly slanted roofline of the car integrated with the boot looks a bit unorthodox to be honest especially for the Indian market. Nevertheless, it gives the car a good character. The design of the Ignis is quite revolutionary for Indian customers in this particular segment as they are quite used to more traditionally designed cars. The Ignis is a real good blend of retro and modern car design. The Maruti Suzuki Ignis ticks all the correct boxes to be a real head turner. Also a unique and neat touch is the 3 inclined lines in descending order at the C-pillar, giving the Ignis a distinctive identity. Step inside and one is welcomed by the Ignis nameplate, giving the car a premium touch. The cabin is modern and quite spacious, like all Maruti cars the Ignis is very practical. The Ignis is loaded with tech and features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, MirrorLink system etc. The new sporty steering wheel, switch controls for the AC, infotainment touchscreen are just a few elements which make the cabin feel a funky and nice place to be. The car is clearly designed keeping the millennial in mind. Maruti has been quite generous with the space in the backseat, the bench seat will allow for 3 passengers to sit comfortably. The boot is decent as well, allowing for good vertical luggage storage. The black alloy wheels also give a nice appeal to the car. The Igins is powered by the 1.2L K Series petrol unit and the Fiat sourced 1.3L Multijet diesel engine. These 2 units have been very reliable and are widely used across the Maruti range. Maruti could possibly introduce a 1.0L Boosterjet petrol engine for the Ignis. The transmission options will be a manual and an AMT (Automated Manual Technology) for both petrol as well as diesel. There are options to customize the interiors with an option of coloured door handles and different material for surrounding the AC vents.

       Having a wide price range starting from Rs.4.59 lac – Rs.7 lac, Maruti has priced the Ignis very aggressively. With the Mahindra KUV 100 and the Hyundai Grand i10 the closest competition the Ignis looks all set to take the market by storm! The Ignis is just one of those cars which either you love or you hate but you can definitely not ignore. It will take some time for the Indian car buyer to warm up to the revolutionary Ignis, but eventually it will be successful. With the introduction of the Ignis, Maruti has set the tone for the new age of cars for the urban modern Indian. We are extremely excited by the Maruti Suzuki Ignis are you?