2019 Hyundai Santa Fe : The Hyundai SUV Comes In An All New Avatar

The recently concluded 2018 Geneva Motor Show was a spectacle of automotive design and technology at its peak. Historically the Geneva Motor Show has been one of the most important events in the global car industry during the calendar year. The Geneva Motor Show represents a great opportunity for automobile enthusiasts to come and witness the latest in cutting-edge technology, futuristic designs etc. car brands across the world have to offer. This year the Geneva Motor Show was dominated by concept cars and electric vehicles along with the newly launched or updated models of conventional cars. South Korean major Hyundai also followed suit with concept cars and electric vehicles, however, they had an ace up their sleeve…they revealed the new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.

   The Hyundai Santa Fe is Hyundai’s range-topping model in its India line-up and has been around for quite some time now. Hyundai launched the Santa Fe with sights set on the premium SUV segment pitted against the likes of the Ford Endeavor, Toyota Fortuner etc. Off late, due to poor sales figures and excessive competition from the segment leaders Hyundai discontinued the Santa Fe in the Indian market. The recently launched 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is not your ordinary facelift, it is a complete makeover! The new Santa Fe comes with an all-new refreshed and practical avatar. For starters Hyundai has taken the wise decision to do away with the crossover design, making the new Santa Fe look more SUV. The front of the vehicle houses a huge new grille, flanked are beautiful DRLs which are a combination of LED lights and chrome strips. When you first look at the DRLs you wonder where are the headlights gone? Or has Hyundai created a new Audi inspired headlamp design? Well, we shall solve this mystery for you…the headlamps, turn signal indicators, fog lamps are now moved down to where the conventional fog lamps are present. Hyundai calls this new 2-tiered headlights design ‘Composite Light’. The exterior of the is dominated by bold character lines and sharp edges at the same time giving the Santa Fe a more muscular look, the Sonata-inspired tail lights do duty on the new Santa Fe and they look awesome! As you enter the cabin you are welcomed by a spacious and premium interior. The large seats get a better feel and finish, the use of premium upholstery is quite evident in the cabin. There is a refreshed central console that now gets a floating infotainment screen that controls the media, navigation etc. The instrument cluster now gets a more modern design which changes basis the driving modes. The most exciting thing about the interior from an India perspective is the fact that the Santa Fe will now be available with an optional third row as well. The new Santa Fe also gets a bunch of new features and tech too, such as – automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection systems, rear cross-traffic warning systems, a sensor to detect and warn the driver about occupants in the rear seat. Another nice touch is a system which protects the passengers by not allowing the doors to open in the event of traffic, pedestrians or even cyclists approaching the vehicle from behind…now that would be an awesome feature to have on Indian roads, wouldn’t it?

  The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe will be offered with 3 engine options – a 2.4 L petrol producing 183 bhp, 2.0 L turbocharged petrol engine producing 230 bhp and a 2.2 L diesel engine having a maximum power output of 188 bhp. Hyundai has yet to confirm its plans for introducing the new Santa Fe in the Indian market, we do not expect it to happen anytime soon. With the premium segment gaining popularity and becoming one of the hottest segments in the Indian markets, Hyundai has a very strong product which would spice up the market giving the Indian customers more options to choose from and would also a great comeback to India.  

              

Mini Cooper Convertible - India's Most Affordable Convertible Car

The British have contributed a great deal to the global car industry. Some of the most beautifully designed cars (the likes of Jaguar E-Type), benchmarks in car luxury (Bentley, Rolls Royce) and iconic car brands (Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mini Cooper etc.) have all been contributions made by the British. When it comes to iconic car brands, Mini Cooper is amongst the most popular worldwide. Mid-1960’s onwards Mini has not only been a widely regarded car brand but also a popular British cultural icon. The Mini story began because of the fuel crisis in 1956, which gave rise to the demand for a city car which was efficient and easy on the pocket. The Mini was launched in an era where the rear-wheel powered cars were the norm, the engineers at BMC (British Motor Corporation) challenged that norm by creating the first front-wheel drive hatchback with an engine mounted diagonally. This remarkable decision made the Mini lighter and more spacious, making it a comfortable, fuel-efficient and perfect car for the urban environment. The first Minis to hit the roads were sold as branded Austin (Austin Mini) and Morris (Morris Mini) cars. John Cooper at the Cooper Car Company realized the potential of the Mini in motorsports. This led to the creation of the Mini Cooper brand as we know it today. The famed Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S were launched in 1960’s and have been loved by car enthusiasts’ worldwide ever since. Mini Cooper is world-renowned for producing fun to drive cars, having a superior ride and handling, a good balance of retro design and modern technology, car customization etc. The BMW group took over Mini Cooper from the Rover group in 2000 and gave the brand a lifeline – BMW relaunched the Mini Cooper brand with a range of refreshed, new models. Amongst the new line up of Mini Cooper cars is the Mini Cooper Convertible.

   The Mini Cooper Convertible is a convertible roof variant of the Mini Cooper S hatchback. The Convertible is an ideal car for both city and highway drives with the added benefit of a convertible roof. Just like any Mini, the Convertible stands out and is a certain head turner wherever you go. With a distinctly retro design and curved body, you will surely be noticed in your Mini Cooper Convertible. The iconic racing stripes are an indication of the rich racing heritage the Mini Cooper brand is proud of. The retro theme continues as you move inside, unlike modern car cabins Mini has used a lot of buttons, knobs, and switches without compromising on luxury. The central console is a round screen housing all infotainment functions. Though it is a 2-door hatchback there is sufficient space at the back, but only for 2 adults. The big highlight of this car is its ride and handling. What makes a Mini so special is the driving pleasure it gives to anyone who drives it! Driving a Mini is like driving a go-kart, the perfect ride and handling of the Mini have made it a favorite amongst people who love driving. The low-center of gravity coupled with a very well-engineered suspension makes the Mini an effortless drive, it just doesn’t seem to leave the road! The Mini is one of those cars that just pushes you to your driving limit around corners at the same time hugging the road keeping you safe and high on confidence, finally – with a huge smile across your face! The Mini Cooper is a masterpiece not only to the eye but also when you drive it…giving the ultimate satisfaction. With a heavy but well weighted, balanced steering wheel the Convertible is a confidence and safety inspiring drive. The Mini Cooper Convertible is powered by a 2 L naturally aspirated engine producing a massive 189 bhp of max power output mated to a fine 6-Speed automatic gearbox. Now that’s some serious power for a hatchback! This engine makes the Mini Cooper one of the most powerful hatchbacks on the market. The true beauty of the Mini lies in the sport mode. Once you put the car in sport mode, you shall experience the joy of driving a powerful go-kart! With heightened responses and throttle inputs, driving the Mini just goes to a whole new level. Mini Cooper has been a brand that has always created products that can be fully customized for customers, offering over 600 odd customization options. If you are keen on something even more powerful, you can always opt for the JCW (John Cooper Works) package – this includes an engine tuned to more power, sportier body kit amongst other items.

   With convertible cars being very expensive in India, Mini Cooper has an awesome alternative to other German rivals. The Mini Cooper Convertible is available at nearly half the price! With prices starting at around Rs.37 L (Ex-Showroom, Mumbai) the Mini Cooper Convertible is the most affordable of its kind in the Indian market today. So…if you have always wanted a luxury convertible and love to drive, but do not want to spend a lot – the Mini Cooper Convertible is the best choice for you!

   

Tata Tigor AMT - Practical, Affordable, Value For Money

The automatic gear transmission is a real boon, more so in a country like India. The increasing number of cars, excessive congestion on roads, large-scale infrastructure projects, lead to snarling traffic jams. Car users would agree that the daily commute from home to the workplace, is a grueling affair both physically and mentally. While driving a manual car, the constant hold and release of the clutch take a toll physically. This is where the added convenience of the automatic car comes to the rescue. Most cars sold in India are manual transmission ones, automatics have always been less preferred. In a country where the value for money, low ownership and maintenance costs, fuel economy is critical – manual cars are preferred over their automatic peers. Automatic cars are more expensive to manual ones is a well-known fact. Add to this the lower fuel economy they provide – owning an automatic car could be an expensive proposition. This leads to uncertainty amongst buyers when it comes to purchasing an automatic car over a manual one. However, the modern Indian car buyer is moving away from this uncertainty, sales figures of automatic cars in India are soaring! India is an extremely price sensitive market finding an automatic car which is affordable, practical and most importantly value for money – is a task, isn’t it? Well…the Tata Tigor (AMT) is an option that fits the bill perfectly.

  The Tata Tigor is the compact sedan (sub-4m) cousin of the Tata Tiago, sharing a common platform with the hatchback. The Tigor looks just like the Tiago from the front. But, when you come around the back you realize that the design is a revolution. The way the roofline blends with the boot - giving the Tigor a coupe-inspired design is remarkable for a car in this segment. On the inside you are greeted by the modern interiors we have been accustomed to with current generation Tata cars. The cabin is modern, well equipped with a good balance of practicality. The cabin is spacious and a comfortable place to be while on long journeys as well. There is sufficient leg room and headroom at the back, allowing for a comfortable experience. Back in March 2017, when Tata Motors launched the Tigor in India – there were only petrol and diesel manual options, an automatic variant was not introduced at that time. In November 2017, Tata finally launched the automatic petrol variant with an AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) gearbox. The 1.2 L Revotron petrol engine does duty on the Tigor mated to a 5-speed AMT, producing 85 bhp of peak power. The Tigor AMT is a welcome addition to a segment where young, first-time car buyers are an important part of the target audience and at a time the demand for automatic cars in India is at its peak. With an increase in congestion on roads due to major infrastructure projects, bad road conditions, ever increasing traffic and a scarcity of traffic having a compact sedan with the convenience of an automatic gearbox is a massive advantage for the daily urban driver. The AMT gearbox is a little sluggish and lethargic, which can take some time to get used to. Once you are used to this driving around the city, be it in bumper to bumper traffic or on an open section of road will be a breeze. The Tigor AMT has an ace up its sleeve – the AMT gearbox in the Tigor comes equipped with a ‘CREEP’ function, this allows the car to slowly move forward reliving the driver while in bumper to bumper traffic conditions. The AMT gearbox on the Tigor comes with three distinct driving modes – Eco, City, and Sport. It should be noted that the Tata AMT gearbox is one of the best in the segment, being more responsive with respect to competitors.

  The Tata Tigor is one of the best-equipped cars in the segment, coming with most of the bells and whistles and a superb Harman Kardon ConnectNext infotainment system which has a fabulous sound quality as well as integrated navigation, Bluetooth etc. With prices starting at about Rs.5.83 lakh, the Tigor AMT is not only one of the most affordable automatic sedans in the market but also a true value for money product. So in case you are on the lookout for a small automatic sedan primarily for city duties and you do not want to compromise on features, looks and tech…then you should definitely consider the Tata Tigor AMT!

  

Ferrari 488 Pista - The Next Super Ferrari

Car brands take their heritage quite seriously, and rightly so…after all it is their brand heritage that differentiates, sets them apart in the market. Also, more importantly, it creates a fan following amongst customers, enthusiasts etc. across the world. Some great examples of brand heritage are – Land Rover is a pioneer in world class SUVs capable of conquering any terrain, Rolls Royce from the UK produces cars which are the very top of automotive luxury, the Italian powerhouse Ferrari has from its inception produced some of the finest race cars ever. In a world where technology, innovation, and product differentiation are the predominant factors, we witness cars that are technological marvels in themselves. The latest addition to the tech marvel club is the Ferrari 488 Pista.

   The 488 Pista is based on the Ferrari 488, however, is a more track-focused variant of it. In case you were wondering the word Pista in Italian means ‘track’- and that’s where it belongs! The new 488 Pista is aptly named as there is a huge influx of technology and innovation Ferrari has used from its expertise in motorsport racing. Ferrari has been a pioneer in motorsport by implementing their learnings, R&D from the Formula 1 circuit to other race cars and road legal sports cars. The Pista continues the lineage of modern super Ferraris - the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia, and 458 Speciale. Powering the 488 Pista is the most powerful V8 engine Ferrari has ever produced. The V8 engine of the regular 488 does duty on the Pista but with a twist…a twin-turbo is used. The introduction of the twin-turbo increases the power output by a whopping 50 bhp – this gives the 488 Pista a max power of 711 bhp. Now, that’s some serious power! What helps more is the weight saving materials, technology Ferrari has used on the 488 Pista allows 90 kg of weight to be reduced. The sheer power coupled with weight saving gives the 488 Pista a 0-100 kmph time of 2.85 secs with a top speed of around 340 kmph. It is interesting to note that the official 0-100 kmph time of the Ferrari LaFerrari is “just under 3 seconds”. Ferrari makes supercars, but every now and then they produce a super Ferrari – the Ferrari 488 Pista is the next super Ferrari.

  The Ferrari 488 Pista is expected to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March with prices yet to be announced. The latest Ferrari holds a lot of potentials to become the next big thing from the Prancing Horse.