Lamborghini Urus Launched For India

Italian supercar manufacturer Lamborghini has launched the Urus SUV for the Indian market. In December last year, Lamborghini took the automobile world by storm by unveiling the highly anticipated ‘Super SUV’. The Urus is quite literally the supercar of SUVs! Lamborghini Urus is in the league of luxury/ high-performance SUVs the likes of – Bentley Bentayga, Porsche Cayenne and the This is not the first time Lamborghini has tried their hand at manufacturing SUVs – the first being the LM002. The LM002 was more like a Hummer powered by a V12 petrol engine. Unlike the LM002 the Urus follows the design language of the current generation Lamborghinis i.e. Huracan, Aventador. The curved edges and sharp character lines make the Urus a brilliantly designed car. The design of the Urus may make the car look small, however; it is a large SUV, to say the least. The Urus can seat 5 people making it a versatile option with added practicality. The CEO of Lamborghini, Stefano Domenicali has rightly said – “It is a Lamborghini you can drive every day”.

   The Urus is powered by a twin-turbo V8 producing a massive 650 bhp. The Urus gets 4X4 along with adaptive air suspension, hence it is capable to take you anywhere you wish to go. As you step into the cabin, you are greeted by a sporty and luxurious interior inspired by an aircraft cockpit. The Lamborghini Infotainment System controls everything from the navigation, car setup, media and telephone. With a claimed 0-100 km/hr time of 3.6 seconds, the Urus is, without doubt, Urus is equipped with huge 400mm ceramic disc brakes at the front giving the driver loads of confidence. With prices starting at Rs. 3 crores for India, the Urus sits at the entry-level range of the Lamborghini lineup. This makes things even more exciting. We shall have to wait and see how the market receives the Urus. Great news being…the 2018 cars allotted to India are already sold out! 

the fastest SUV on the planet having a top speed of 305 km/hr. While driving at such high speeds, the

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!