BBC TopGear India 2013-08

DOES THE REFRESHED AUDI RS5 RETAIN EXCLUSIVE: ALL THAT THUNDER AND LIGHTNING?
PG 120
WWW.TOPGEAR.COM
AUGUST 2013
`120
VOLUME 8 ISSUE 11
GALLARDO INDIA SPECIALE

THEY MADE ONLY SIX. WE DRIVE ONE
ONLY IN TG
ALSO DRIVEN
OLD ROOTS, NEW LOOKS, MORE GOODIES
WE TAKE A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN ROLLS-ROYCE UP THE STELVIO PASS
GHOST CENTENARY
BY INVITATION ONLY
THE RAREST CARS IN THE WORLD ARE ALL COMMON THIS MONTH
A & B DIESELS, TATA NANO, TESTED MERC FIAT LINEA T-JET, THUNDERBIRD 350
ENTRY-LEVEL LUXURY. THIS TIME WITH A BOOT
NEW MERC E-CLASS
AUDI A3
YES , VOLVO IS SERIOUS ABOUT INDIA. HERES PROOF
V40 CROSS COUNTRY
MAGZTER COPY
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002 AUGUST 2013 TOPGEAR .COM
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IGNITION
INDIA IS A HOTBED FOR MOST CARMAKERS AND CONSIDERING THE POTENTIAL, NO ONE SEEMS TO BE GIVING UP THE FIGHT
MAGZTER COPY
Bigger is better. Or so they say. I recently had the opportunity to meet a bigwig from consultancy rm Deloitte. And he is probably the rst non-Indian who agreed when I said that while the world thinks Indians love small cars, they would prefer bigger ones if they could aord it. The resounding success of the new Ford EcoSport is proof. Its a relatively small car but it is an SUV, and when you can get an SUV at the price of a small car, why bother with the small car? And while the everyday car is going bigger, the rich mans car is getting smaller. Cars like the Merc A- and B-Class are perfect to give people a taste of luxury without intimidating them with the price of the badge. Audi too will join the bandwagon with the A 3, a proper small sedan at a price that would make the VW Passat look overpriced. Plenty of action then, even against the backdrop of dismal sales gures throughout the spectrum of car and bike manufacturers. But India is a hotbed for most, and considering the potential, no one seems to be giving up easily. Take Lamborghini, for example. Who would have ever thought that the legendary Italian marque would do a run of India Special Editions of the Gallardo? We got an exclusive run in the car and I am sure the story will blow your mind. And its not just supercar makers. Theres one more peoples car coming to India. Next year, well see the advent of the Datsun Go, a sub-`4 lakh car that Nissan hopes will give it the volumes that have so far been the privy of only Maruti Suzuki, and to some extent, Hyundai. Interestingly, Nissan itself is playing the price card very well now with the Micra Active, and if Datsun can oer the levels of renement that a similarly-priced Maruti Suzuki does, its got a ght on its hands. Of course, thats next year. Right now, in this issue, we also bring you another exclusive story on the new Audi RS5, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class and a World Exclusive a Jaguar that can strike fear into the hearts of a lot of supercar makers. Enjoy the issue. GIRISH KARKERA, EDITOR Twitter.com/karkeragirish
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TOPGEAR .COM AUGUST 2013 003 MAGZTER COPY
CONTENTS
60 AUDI A3
The German hatch grows a boot on its way to India. But how much longer before it gets here?
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78 CB TRIGGER vs FZ-S
Japan vs Japan heres the two-wheeled blockbuster monsoon release you were waiting for!
52
Lamborghini Gallardo
Independence Day is in August. Perfect time to take an extremely limited India Speciale out for a spin
84 JAGUAR C-X75
The 900bhp, 370kph hyperJag is o to the Great Big Car Park in the sky. But not before we weve ve driven it
Mercedes E-Class
Indias favourite luxury sedan gets a new look thats so good, its old underpinnings never show through
We take one of only 35 Ghosts up the Stelvio Pass. What? Youre still on this page?
Rolls-Royce Ghost
72
92 AUDI RS5
Our favourite car of 2011 gets some new bits. We nd out whats new and whats what s not
Aston Martin to Audi
Price
roa d) Ban gal ore Mu (onmbai roa d) Ch en nai En gin e De (onlhi
TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE

Numbers
arb Ma ox x. Pow Ma er x. (Bh Tor p) Ma que x spe (Nm 0-1 ed ) 00 (Kp h) Fue kp l eff h (se icie c) Air ncy bag (Kp AB s l) S
NEW CAR GUIDE TOP GEAR

Price Numbers
arb Ma ox x. Pow Ma er x. (Bh Tor p) Ma que x spe (Nm 0-1 ed ) 00 (Kp Fue kph h) l eff (se c) Air iciency bag AB s (Kpl) S Mu (onmbai roa d)
Audi to Bentley
Features
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Features
R at in g
the Pow r sea ts er win Allo dow ys s Fog lam ps
mo te Clim loc ate kin con g dio tro sys l Lea tem
Ch en nai
roa d) Ban gal ore
TG
De (onlhi
Audi continued
Aston Martin Dealers 1 Warranty 3yrs Website www.astonmartin.com

Company description: Arguably the UKs most desirable marque, currently going through a renaissance, thanks to genuinely good supercars. India sales in 2010: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
A8 : You cant ask for a more perfect car than this. Not for ordinary mortals. Build: Import TG Choice: No choice out here but we are not complaing, p g the 4.2 FSI If feels butter smooth. Downshift ft to get g the V8 to g growl.
L: 526.7cm, W: 194.9cm. Boot: 510 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: 12.4cm Also try: BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class
4.2 FSI Quattro 3.0 TDI na na 89* 76.85* na na 91.8* 76.85* 8cyl 4163cc 6cyl 2967cc 8A 8A 366 201 445 400 250 6.7 235 6.5 5.3 7.4
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
DB9: Overshadowed by the DBS and undercut by the Vantage, the DB9 is still the quintessential Aston. TG Choice: Well not the Volante. So that only y leaves the fixed fi head. Which will do nicely. y
DB9 6.0 V12 DB9 6.0 V12 Volante na na na na na na 190* 200* 12cyl 5935cc 12cyl 5935cc 6A 6A 470 470 600 600 304 4.6 304 4.6 na na
O O O O O O O O O O
Q5 : It may not have the panache of the Q7 that Bollywood loves, but the Q5 does mean business.
Build: Import
L: 462.9cm, W: 188cm. Boot: 540 litres, Fuel Tank: 75 litre, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: BMW X3, Mitsubishi Montero
O O O O O O O O
Build: Assembled
TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI Quattro, with the engine carried over from the Q7 but feels a whole lot quicker, thanks to half a tonne less weight
/10 /10 2.0TFSI Quattro 3.0 Tdi Quattro na na 39* 45* na na 51.25 58.42 4cyl 1984cc 6cyl 2967cc 7A 7A 155 240 350 500 222 8.89 na 225 6.5 12.2
L: 471cm, W: 188cm. Boot: 186 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari California and Maserati GranTurismo.
DBS: Bespoke tailoring for the Premiership, the DBS offsets engineering genius with very un-Aston bling. TG Choice: A Avoid void the Volante. And remember you are not James Bond
DBS 6.0 V12 2d DBS 6.0 V12 Volante na na na na na na 265* 275* 12cyl 5935cc 12cyl 5935cc 6A 6A 570 570 510 510 305 4.3 305 4.3 na na
O O O O O O O O O O
Build: Import
Q7 : Odd-looking and enormous seven-seat sports utility vehicle thatll put the frighteners on Mercedes and BMW. TG Choice: 4.2 TDI Quattro is big g on muscle and since its a diesel it wont burn a hole in y your p pocket.
O O
Build: Import
L: 509cm, W: 198cm. Boot: 755 litres, Fuel Tank: 100 litre, Ground Clearance: 20.5 cm Also try: BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover,
O O O O O O
/10 /10
4.2TDI Quattro 4.2FSI Quattro 3.0TDI Quattro
na na na
67* 66.5* 53.4*
na na na
67* 65.3* 54.4*
8cyl 4134cc 8cyl 4163cc 6cyl 2967cc
6A 6A 6A
322 345 230
760 441 500
231 6.4 244 7.4 210 9.1
5.5 7.4 9.6
O O O O O O O O O O O O
O O O
O O O
O O O
O O O
O O O
Rapide: A ball-aching beauty of a saloon and a proper poke in the eye for Porsches Panamera turbo. TG Choice: There is only y one and its got g a 470bhp p V12 with 600Nm torque. q So we ll take it.
Rapide 6.0 V12 4d na na na 220* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 470 600 295 5 na
O O O O O
Build: Import
RS 5: Artful lesson in understatement, the Audi A5 coupe does desirable minus the flash. Build: Import TG Choice: J Just ust hand us the keys to the 444bhp V8. Thank you.
L: 464cm, W: 186cm. Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 75 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMWM5
O
L: 502cm, W: 193cm. Boot: 317 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche Panamera, Ferrari FF, Maserati Quattroporte
O O O
/10
RS 5
na
76*
na
74.59*
8cyl 4134cc
7A
444
430
280 5.32 4.6
O O O O
O
O
O
O
O
Vantage : The car that took on the 911. And lost. But hey, its an Aston. Build: Import TG Choice: The full f 510bhp p V12 Vantage g experience p please, p with attendant terror. No latte drinkers need apply. pp y
L: 438cm, W: 187cm. Boot: 300 litres, Fuel Tank: 80 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche 911.
Vantage V8 4.7 Coupe Vantage 4.7 V8 Roadster Vantage 4.7 V8 420 Roadster V12 Vantage na na na na na na na na na na na na 155* 165* 152* 190* 8cyl 4735cc 8cyl 4735cc 8cyl 4735cc 12cyl 5935cc 6A 6A 6A 6A 430 430 420 510 361 361 346 570 302 4.7 302 4.7 288 4.7 305 4.2 na na na na
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
R8 : The supercar to have right now. Beautiful, sophisticated, quick as the wind and comfortable to boot. TG Choice: Buy y the V10 0, its borrowed f from the Lamborghini g Gallardo and sells at half f the p price.
L: 443cm, W: 190cm. Boot: 100 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911
/10 /10 /10 9/10 0 4.2 V8 FSI 5.2FSI V10 Spyder na na na 117* 127* 127* na na na 117* 127* 127* 8cyl 4163cc 6A 10cyl5204cc 6A 10cyl5204cc 6A 414 525 525 317 530 530 300 4.6 316 4.1 313 4.1 na na 7
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Build: Import
O O O
O O O
O O O
O O O
Virage: What do you get if you cross the DB9 with the DBS? Why, the Virage of course. TG Choice: Well take the Volante, which has lots of f leather.
Virage 6.0 V12 Standard Virage 6.0 V12 Volante na na na na na na 220* 230* 12cyl 5935cc 12cyl 5935cc 6A 6A 490 490 420 420 300 4.6 300 4.6 na na
Build: Import
Bentley Dealers 1 Warranty na Website www.bentleymotors.com

O O O O O O O O O O
O O O O O O O O
/10 /10
Company description: Has got a new lease of life with an injection of Volkswagen cash, but still as British as the monarchy.
India sales in 2010: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
Audi Dealers 13 Warranty 2yrs Website www.audi.in

Company description: Classy and understated alternative to the driver-oriented BMW and the staid Mercedes. Oozing Teutonic quality. India sales in 2010: 3003 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Design Awards 2009 Audi A4 Comes with LED lights that scream "A4" from a mile away. And the design language has spilled over on to the rest of the Audi group.
Continental: Sumptuous, superb over distances, with more appeal to younger millionaires. Build: Import TG Choice: The GT Super p Sports p s should be just j fine. fi It will be good g to the enviorment as it runs on ethanol too. Tree huggers, gg rejoice. j
L: 480.0cm, W: 274.5cm. Boot: 310 litres, Fuel Tank: 96 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Other Bentleys, really? Thats about it
GT GT Speed GT Super Sport Flying Spur GTC na na na na na 190* 200* 225* 165* 224* na na na na na na na na na na 12cyl 5998cc 12cyl 5998cc 12cyl 5998cc 12cyl 5998cc 12cyl 5998cc 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A 567 700 600 750 621 800 552 650 552 650 318 4.8 326 4.5 329 3.9 312 5.2 312 5.1 6.2 6 5.9 5.8 5.8
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
A4 : Design of the year was TG Gs vote, the new Audi design theme is absolute class - eye catching too. TG Choice: The 3.2 Quattro is a monster. Every y drop p of f fuel f that burns in the belly y of f this beast attains Nirvana.
L: 470cm, W: 183. Boot: 480 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C -Class
1.8 TFSI 2.0TDI 2.0 TFSI 3.0 TDI Quattro 3.2 FSI Quattro na na na na na 27.69* 29.6* 29.6* 37.7* 36.7* na na na na na 36.54 38.98 38.98 49.31 48.06 4cyl 1798cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1984cc 6cyl 2967cc 6cyl 3197cc 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A 160 143 180 240 261 250 218 8.6 320 210 9.4 320 226 8.2 500 250 6.2 330 250* 7.6 9.4 10 9 na 6.5
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Build: Assembled
O O O O O
O O O O O
O O O O O
O O O O O
6/10 5/10 6/10 6/10 4/10
Mulsanne : Replacement for the Arnage, and every bit as opulent. Build: Import TG Choice: D Depends epends on how you want to spec it. The rich are spoilt for choice (arent they always?).
L: 557.2, W: 192.6,cm. Boot: 443 litres, Fuel Tank: 96 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Rolls Royce Ghost, Megan Fox
Mulsanne na 290* na na 8cyl 6752cc 8A 505 1020 296 5.3 5.9
O O O O O O O O O
A6 : Good-looking, accomplished executive saloon now with that beardy front grille after the redesign.
TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI has loads of torque to play with, while still managing a figure of 9.6kpl
3.0 TFSI Quattro 3.0 TDI Quattro 2.8 TFSI 2.0 TDI na na na na 47 46.95 na na na na na na 55.02 54.96 46.79 44.23 6cyl 2995cc 6cyl 2967cc 6cyl 2773cc 4cyl 1968cc 7A 7A 6A 6A 300 245 207 177 440 500 280 380 250 6.68 8.69 250 6.98 9.9 240 7.7* na 240 8.2* na
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Build: Assembled
L: 491.5cm, W: 187.4cm. Boot: 546 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre, Ground Clearance: 11.8cm Also try: BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S80
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
/10 /10 /10 /10
A7 : Perfect mix of sportiness, comfort and styling evokes instant desire. Youll never feel youre in a four-door.
TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI Quattro, is powerful p f and sips p f fuel f frugally. g y
L: 496cm, W: 191cm. Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 75 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes CLS.
3.0 Tdi Quattro na 62.8* na 62.8* 6cyl 2967cc 7A 245 500 250 6.3 na
O O O O O
AD
Build: Import
O O O O
7/10
1 3 4 MARCH 2012 TOPGEAR .COM
No O Optional *Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai Yes O Gadgets & Safety Guide O
Q
*Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai O No O Optional Gadgets & Safety Guide Yes O
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TOPGEAR .COM MARCH 2012 1 3 5
105 CAR BUYERS GUIDE

Our comprehensive guide to cars and bikes
004 AUGUST 2013
TG
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S FFER O 012 MAGZTER COPY TOPGEAR .COM
CIAL N SPE RIPTIOG E UBSC ON PA
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14 BMW 4 SERIES
THE NEWS
CONTENTS
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW CARS THIS MONTH
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CLARKSON
The 3 coupe gets rechristened. World, welcome the new 4 series
18 VANQUISH VOLANTE 18 NISSAN TERRANO 17 FIAT 500
Thought the Vanquish couldnt look any better? Wait till you see the Volante Made to navigate the urban jungle, built on the Renault Duster template The 500 for The Great Indian Family. The Art of Living, Italian-style
14
17
I once met a chap whod driven 300km in a car that had no brakes
17 SUZUKI SWIFT
08
OPTIONS LIST
48 HTC ONE
OUR CHOICE OF THIS MONTHS TOP-SPEC STUFF
The superphone that doesnt need a giant screen to be the most premium-feeling handset in the market today Even 15 years since Gran Turismos inception, the game has it all to make it the best car simulation ever
Presenting the all-new Swift! Okay, not all-new, just new LEDs in front
20 DATSUN
PLANET TOPGEAR
18
STORIES FROM OUR WEIRD WORLD, WITH ADDED BITS FROM THE TELLY BOYS
The brand comes back to life at the global launch in India. What do we think?
23 ABHISHEK MISHRA
20
50 GRAN TURISMO 6
On the features that he thinks will show up on most cars in India in the next ve years
29 SRIRAM NARAYANAN
Match-xing and gambling are illegal but we gamble all the bloody time A reunion in the lap of the Himalayas, with Royal Eneld for company
49
24 HIMALAYAN ODYSSEY
36 VOLVO V40
FIRST DRIVES
THE CARS THAT MATTER. DRIVEN, TESTED AND RATED THE TOPGEAR WAY
36
48
Something for the BMW X1 to worry about. This time from Sweden
38 MERC B-CLASS DIESEL

Space, comfort and a practical approach to life. Welcome to Plan B
40 LINEA T-JET
Turbocharged engine, sharp handling, sorted ride. Whats new here, then?
42 MERC A-CLASS DIESEL
This amboyant looking hatch was already too tempting, and now its got a diesel
38
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TOPGEAR .COM AUGUST 2013 005 MAGZTER COPY
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Get in touch. Rant a bit. Feel better

It's good to hear our readers' opinions on our articles and features. Take Ashirbad here for example...
The July issue should be called Evolution Special. Take the example of the most eye catching S class ever! W222 probably stands for the number of Wonderful LEDs that have gone in! Yes, the design is a refreshing change and probably the most appealing (personally speaking) is the dash. BMW has now been left far behind in its evolution with the rearwheel drive X5; fewer LEDs here, though. And as far as the Japs go, well, someone in the design department at Toyota has woken up. There were many interesting reactions to this cars looks, but overall, not a bad job by Toyota. Theyve always wanted the Corolla looking not too dierent from its bigger siblings, and the rear treatment is a bit close, though the front and the dash look nice. Hopefully, they sacked the guy who worked on the tail lights of the existing Altis. Mahindras entry into hatches with the Verito Vibe was also expected. The buy-o of the Logan platform would have cost Mahindras design team loads of money. Maybe thats why, they might at best, play around with the lines, but they wont throw the boxy design into the bin and work on a fresh one. However, this car will surely sell. Finally, we also have a Mercedes that looks good in red, and its one that youd look better posing next to in tees and loafers than a pin-stripe suit. The A-Class is certainly stirring the same emotions in the aspiring buyer that the X1 and the Q3 did; however, given the appeal of the Merc badge, this one seems a bigger bang for your buck. Interesting times ahead! Ashirbad Praharaj, Chennai
Our feature on the Isuzu MU-7 got some interesting responses from you guys...
engines are very durable. Hope the rest of their package suits the engine.
Danny Singh: Made in Thailand, styled in the Philippines, used by Japan, destroyed by India. Sumant Maskey: Isuzu is quite famous here in Bhutan... and I love their cars and trucks. Awesome engines...
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FORD ECOSPORT VIDEO REVIEW
tinyurl.com/ecosport-video-tg
JAG F-TYPE vs PORSCHE 9111 vs BOXSTER
tinyurl.com/supercomparo
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AND MORE FROM CLARKSON, HAMMOND AND MAY

TOPGEAR .COM AUGUST 2013 007
JEREMY CLARKSON
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Britons lead the world in driving standards. This is good. But to keep it that way, says JC, we must take action...
here seems to be a great deal of debate at present about immigrants. Some say that if we dont welcome new arrivals from abroad, the fruit will remain unpicked this summer and a pot of raspberry jam will shoot up to `6.4 lakh. Others say the National Health Service is already bursting at the seams and simply cant deal with even one more new boy. The argument seems split, and both sides seem to have a point. Business says British people are now too busy watching Cash in the Attic on their state-sponsored plasma televisions to turn up for interviews, and that low income workers from Romania are essential. Schools say that while this may be so, the classrooms are already too full. It all seems to be based on the economy. We need new workers to help Britain thrive. Or we cant aord new workers in case they dont get jobs and end up on benets. Im sure these are jolly important issues. But nobody seems to be addressing the most critical issue: what will happen to the standard of driving if we turn our borders into a free-for-all? At present, Britain is home to the best driving in the world. Dont listen to the road-safety charities or the speed-camera enthusiasts. Take it from someone whos driven in more countries than pretty well anyone else: we are brilliant. Of course, there are exceptions and, at weekends when the Peugeotbefore setting o and accepted that if he had a head-on accident and was killed, it was my day to die. And the chap coming the other way? Well, he reasoned, it was his day to die as well. Its a logical argument I suppose, but is in no way a realistic replacement for the MOT test. In another part of India, I met a man driving a truck that plainly had a faulty radiator. So he had one of his sons sitting on the bonnet pouring water into the top, and another son fastened to the front bumper, catching it as it poured out of the bottom, and then passing it back up to his brother. It was working, no doubt about that. But would it work on the M4, I wonder? Moving on, to Uganda. You arrive at a dual carriageway and you want to turn right. But you cant. You have to turn left and drive for several miles in the wrong direction, until you reach a roundabout. Thats a waste of time and a waste of fuel. So what you do is simply turn right anyway, and drive against the ow of trac. Thats deemed acceptable there. Everyone does it. Which means Ugandans will do it when they get here too. In Bolivia, I drove a Range Rover that had no lights, no silencer, no wipers, broken power steering and suspension that had been jacked up in a shed the night before, past a policeman. He nodded approvingly. Over the border in Chile, I was stopped immediately. You cant drive that here, said the ocer. He was most insistent up to the point when he discovered I was British. Mrs Thatcher!!! he exclaimed before saluting and waving me on. In Vietnam, trac lights count down to the moment they change. This is brilliant. It lets pedestrians know how long they have to cross the road. Except that nobody pays the slightest bit of attention. Trac
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driving bridge-set head for the DIY superstore, things can be a bit wonky, but, for the most part, we understand lane discipline, we understand the importance of not going into a yellow box, we make allowances for cyclists and we dont routinely drive in bus lanes. Well, I do. But thats for personal, political reasons. It is emphatically not like this anywhere else. The French are belligerent, the Americans are hopeless, the Italians are mad, the Germans drive far too close to the car in front, the Australians are drunk, the Scandinavians crash constantly and the rest of the world hasnt got the hang of it at all. Not even slightly. Not even a tiny bit. Let me give you a recent example from Romania, a country that seems to be dominating the immigration debate at the moment. James May was lost, as usual, and threading his Lamborghini carefully, as usual, along a dusty track in the north of the country. From way o, we could see a local approaching, and he must have been able to see the Lamborghini. But for reasons known only to himself, he chose to drive into it. Perhaps he had no idea what the middle pedal in his car was for. Who knows? But, one day, its possible he will bring this driving style to a town or a village near you. Then, theres India. I once interviewed a very well-to-do chap who said he once drove 300km cross country in a car that had no brakes at all. He said he had prayed to his God
THE FRENCH ARE BELLIGERENT, THE AMERICANS ARE HOPELESS, THE ITALIANS ARE MAD, THE GERMANS DRIVE FAR TOO CLOSE TO THE CAR IN FRONT..
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lights in the Nam are simply decorative items. Tinsel. In Egypt, you drive without lights at night because it wears out the battery. In Jordan, you race every other car on the road. And then we get to California. You are in the middle lane of an interstate and signs are saying your turn-o is a mile away. So, you indicate to let the chap on your inside know you need to move over. He doesnt notice. Or he does, but chooses to do nothing about it. So you start to ease over a bit and he doesnt respond to that either. When the turn-o is inches away, you are forced to act and he responds as though youve goosed his wife and assaulted his dog. He goes mental. This is because when an American is in a car, nothing at all happens outside. Thats why, in LA, you can buy laptop cradles that attach to the steering wheel. But, for me, Rwanda takes the biscuit. In some kind of oil deal, the Chinese have built a spectacularly good new road that cuts the country clean in half. The asphalt is smooth, there are crisp white lines and even large viewing areas where drivers can pull over to admire the remarkable scenery. Lovely. Except its used by farmers, mostly, as a place where they can dry their crops. So. Lets just say the Department for Transport does build a new road to take the pressure o the M6. Its opened in 2019 and, immediately, all of the people whove moved here from Rwanda start using it as a giant radiator. Thats why I have a suggestion. At the moment, theres talk of introducing some kind of citizenship test to make sure the new arrivals have some inkling of what life is like in Britain and how they should behave. Hmmm. I wonder. Would it not be better to pop them behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Astra and ask them to drive round a roundabout? Because, lets be honest, if a few of them defraud the DWP out of a plasma television, thats not really the end of the world. But if they end up going north on the southbound carriageway of the M1, with their kids on the bonnet drip-feeding the engine with water that sort of is.
TOPGEAR TOPGEAR .COM .COM AUGUST JUNE 2013 009
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RICHARD HAMMOND
Truckers: not just Yorkie-eating suppliers of the essentials of everyday life, but also self-appointed moral guardians. Hmm
respect truckers. Its a dicult job, they drive millions of miles, their lorries ar re slow and they have to be very p patient as they deliver the essential ls that we all need in daily life. I kno ow all this. Truly, I do and I always b bear in mind when I get stuck beh hind one on the A40 that they are delivering the very things me and m my family need or, more likely, th hat we dont actually need but that my wife has ordered from Amazon n and expects to receive the next day y so she can get on with repackag ging it for return to China because its the wrong size/colour/ language e and leaving it by the front door, wh here it will remain forever because who the hell visits a post oce the ese days? Truckers do importan nt work, they are a necessar ry service and I respect them for r that. Also, as a biker, I like to think that I enjoy a privileged relations ship with them. The largest things on n the road are, it seems,
always ready to treat with care and consideration the smallest things on the road. And I have noticed on approaching lines of trac that it is always the lorry driver who spots me rst on my bike and is always the rst to move over or do what he can to accommodate me, like a hippo shifting a buttock to allow a mouse to pass. And thats all very nice. But something is going very, very wrong on the roads and Im sorry to say, that it is entirely the fault of an apparent vigilante group of those same bike-friendly, essential service providers. Twice this week when I used the motorways, I came up behind trac forming at the point where two lanes were ltered down to one. At least, it wouldve been forming at the point where the two lanes went to one but it was actually forming half a mile or so back from there because there was a lorry straddling both lanes, the driver placing his bulk in the way of cars in the right-hand lane so they couldnt
WHO IN HELL APPOINTED THE TRUCKERS AS GUARDIANS OF THE RIGHT-HAND LANE? POSSESSING A T-SHIRT AND AN EXTRA LARGE BOTTLE OF COLA DOES NOT MAKE YOU RIGHT
use the last half mile. I believe that they are doing this because they share the same indignation borne by the morons who, on seeing a sign telling them that two lanes will be reduced to one further down, pull immediately into the lane that will remain and get cross with anyone sensibly continuing to use the other lane up to the point where the two merge and we are supposed to lter in turn to form one line. It is, needless to say, an idiotic pursuit that only lengthens the trac jam, often extending back across a roundabout or a junction, causing more gridlock and mayhem. A couple of things bother me about this habit of truckers: Firstly, who in hell appointed them as guardians of the right-hand lane? Possessing a T-shirt and an extra large bottle of cola does not make you right. In fact, in this case, they are entirely wrong. The lorry driver sitting in the middle of the lanes indulging his Judge Dredd fantasies to uphold what he mistakenly saw as the law at the very start of the M50 last week lengthened the tailback so that it ran the risk of circling the roundabout at the junction behind him, from where the queue would eventually back up on to the M5 and risk complete and eternal gridlock for the West of England and all of Wales. And secondly, if truckers
want to uphold the rules, why focus their energies on this? Why y dont they go and inspect people es recycling bins, or spend the eir days o in parks, stopping peop ple littering, or go help the mu uch maligned highway trac ocers tidy up all the shredded lor rry tyres and shattered glass litterin ng the few stretches of motorway that t dont have roadworks on them with a lorry driver deciding its his duty to block a lane and protect the good people of wherever from ge etting to work or home or school on n time. There is only one way fo orwards: If nothing changes in two weeks, I suggest that we all call a str rike. Lorry driver strikes have devastating eect, bringing g untold inconvenience and misery y in the cause of healing the drivers s grievances. Fair enough, st triking is their right. But it is ours too o and think of the eect our strik ke would have on lorry drivers. I shal ll refuse to eat, wear, sit on, look at or otherwise consume anythi ing delivered anywhere by lorr ry for a month or until they stop th his habit. It will be tricky. I shall prob bably starve and my wife shall mo ourn terribly the lack of a daily parcel of horse equipment and child drens clothes but it shall work an nd we shall break them of it.
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JAMES MAY
hen I was younger, I craved the unqualied love of women, hedonistic experien nces and the odd supercar. But now w I realise that actually Id just like a another drink, and my only remainin ng ambition is to reach the end of m my life without running over anybody y. This ought not to be too dicult: : pay attention, and drive consider rately, following the only law that will be in force in Mays Britain; n namely, dont be a prat. So no ow, tediously and inevitably, we must t consider the issue of speed limits. I t think they tend to suggest themselv ves to a large extent. Slow is cool arou und towns and villages, because its full of people whom you migh ht run over. To be e honest, I dont even mind the odd 32 3 kph limit, especially during th he day 48kph down Hammer rsmiths high street is denitel ly too fast, because the people o of Hammersmith like to wander a around in the road and even
Road safety is just a case of common sense. So, says James, lets do away with speed limits and police ourselves
leap into it unexpectedly. But why shouldnt they? Its their road, and its my responsibility not to run over any of them. The motorway limit for modern cars should be 145-150kph, because, in fact, it is. Thats what people are doing, and the people police the law. We cant all be wrong about this. Finally, theres the countryside, which is for driving through and looking at, generally at high speed. Not the hamlets, of course, because there are people there whom you might run over, but, apart from that, the sticks are for speed. By going quickly, you see more of it and pass rapidly through the smelly bits, and everyday rural folk will be glad that youre gone sooner. So: speed cameras. I hate this subject, because the rst speed camera in Britain was on a route to work I took 20 years ago, and Ive been listening to people whine about them ever since. In my experience, the vast majority of permanent speed cameras are exactly where youd expect them to be, so avoiding a ne is just a matter of intelligence. Speeding is like farting you have to know when its inappropriate. However, Ive nd one camera truly unacceptable. Its on the A303 somewhere between Stonehenge and my mum and dads house, so thats beyond the stone age but not quite in the modern world. A bit of background: much of this road is single-le stu, but there is the occasional two-lane section so you can drop it down a couple and get past the Peugeot. One such section appears on a short uphill stretch. This was a good idea, especially if youre behind a lorry full of local produce being delivered somewhere else. The problem is that the road reduces to one lane again just over the brow of the hill, and it narrows from the right. To my mind, this is a truly criminal bit of road engineering, apparently designed with the express purpose of killing people. The answer, then, is to get past whatever is in the left-hand lane absolutely as quickly as possible. There may be others behind you wanting to do the same. They must be given a fair chance of survival. So, incredibly, there is a speed camera just before the top, the eect of which is to make people brake in a panic and crest th he rise on the wrong side of the ro oad and alongside a truckload of sh heep. Everyone behind has to bra ake as well. Each time I drive this bit of road, Im amazed when I do ont nd a massive heap of crashed cars to rival the ancient monumen nt further back. Its lethal. Well, some of you may be thinking, if whatever is in the lefthand lane is at or very near r the speed limit, just stay behin nd it. Rubbish. Im not going to drive to Devon behind a truckload of horse feed. Spoils the view. Whoever is responsible e for this nonsense has tempted us with a vital overtaking opportuni ity and then snatched it from us, putting the open jaws of a monster r just over the hill for good measure. They provideth, and they taketh h away, which is out of order, becau use theyre not God. Why not just put a speed hump halfway up an nd have done with it? Theres a good case here for a reverse speed camera it snaps anyone doing less than 145 5kph in the outside lane and bans them for a year. There should be a sign n at the bottom of the hill saying: Y You have 400 yards. Give it the berrie es! Or youll be staring into the ab byss of eternity with nowhere to go! Or something a bit more conc cise. Sometimes, speed saves.
THERES A GOOD CASE HERE FOR A REVERSE SPEED CAMERA IT SNAPS ANYONE DOING LESS THAN 145KPH IN THE OUTSIDE LANE AND BANS THEM FOR A YEAR
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THE NEWS
BMW 4 SERIES
PLUS
AM VANQUISH VOLANTE
P18 Still looks like an Aston Martin DB7, but we love it all the same
P14 I The new word for performance at BMW is 4. Picks up from where the 3 series coupe left o
Edited by ABHINAV MISHRA
P18 We got the sketch this month. The real thing is one festive season away
NISSAN TERRANO
FIAT 500L LIVING
P17 Like the 500, but need space for the wife, kids, dog and luggage? Get this
SUZUKI SWIFT
P17 Joins the me-too bandwagon, adds LEDs in front, calls it a refresh
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Whats in a name, you say?
The 3 series Coupe p has moved up p in life, , and it g goes by y a new name now the 4 series Coupe p
Words: Amaan Ahmed
BMW 3 SERIES COUPE this is your life

E21 (1975) This is when the 3 series moniker came into being, and the E21 was sold as a coupe only. A centre console angled towards the driver set the trend for future BMWs.
E30 (1981) The E30 was the rst 3 series to also be available as a four-door sedan the epic M3 was born, and the rest is history.
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THE NEWS
Wait, did I just step into a 3 series or 4?
Head on, youd probably be unable to tell if its the coupe or sedan
he BMW 3 series Coupe was, it goes without saying, a brilliant little thing. It always held its own, and had a near-cult following, despite always having lived in the shadow of its four-door sibling, much like a supporting actor. As they say, all good things come to an end, and the two-door 3er naturally had to follow. But the engineers sat down to decide what could be done with the 3 series Coupe, when some bright mind suggested a new name that would be in line with BMWs saloon-derived coupe naming habits (6 series based on the 5, the last 8 series based on the 7, probably a 1.5 series Coupe in the future). By that logic, this new twodoor 3 would be called yes, the new 4 series Coupe. And to think people call ze Germans unnecessarily complex. This time, BMW is making its intentions clear with the Four, at least when it comes to the cars stance. However, the Four is so close to its sedan sibling in terms of looks that youd probably be unable to
tell if its the coupe or the sedan, looking at it head on. It is based on the 3 series, like all 3 series-based coupes before, and yes, it does get a muscular new bumper with swoopy fog lamp housings. But if you dont notice that the Four sits lower on its wheels, aring its kidney-shaped nostrils a little more than usual, you might as well think of it as a 328i Sport Line. Which is not a bad thing actually, because the standard 3 series is a handsome-looking vehicle, all said and done. The Four is, as expected, lower, longer, with a stretched wheelbase, and considerably wider than its predecessor, to conrm its sporting pretensions. Moving towards the side, you nd, apart from the two-door layout, new drag-reducing air intakes behind the front wheel arches, called Air Breathers. The rear sports mildly redesigned tail-lamps (the dierence again would only be apparent to the sort of guy who spends his days sifting through BMWs media site). Apart from that, this is standard 3 series fare. Might distinguish itself on the inside, then?
E36 (1991) It so happened that the E36 was sold as a sedan rst, and the coupe came along later. The E36 M3 was also the rst four-door M3.
E92 (2006) The E92 coupe, apart from having its very own design, also had a convertible E46 (1999) sibling with a metal folding In LHD markets, the E46 ofroof. V8-powered M3 was a fered the option of four-wheel pocket rocket. drive, and the SMG gearbox that employed an automated clutch. Not an option wed tick
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THE NEWS
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automatic box if you want the six-speed manual, youll have to move to Europe. However, it is rear-wheel drive, gets four driving modes (including a thrifty Eco and a nifty Sport+), and has 50:50 weight distribution, which means you should feel the zz just about every time its determined snout gets a whi of twisty road. The Four, as the name suggests, is now the entry point to BMW coupe ownership, so when it does come to India sometime next year, itll cost less than a 6 series Coupe, but still truckloads more than the sedan it is based on. What the Four will also do is draw the curtains on a truly epic car of the Driving Enthusiast world the M3. Yes, there will be no M3, but an M4 is in the works. A disappointment for some, but hey, one of the worlds deadliest assault ries also goes by the same name, so at least you know what BMW is pointing at.
Well, yes and no. It retains most of the Threes interior elements from the dashboard and infotainment screen down to the steering wheel and instrument cluster. The iDrive controller is now touch-sensitive, and the Four gets snug, more driver-oriented seats, but you can also have the Four in Luxury Line and Modern Line guises with more relaxing interior ttings apart from the more in-your-face Sport Line and M Sport embellishments. The bit that sets the Four apart is that its a 2+2 seater, or a rather polite way of telling your friends to use public transport instead of hopping in for a joyride. There is a backseat, yes, but you wouldnt really want to put much more than a couple of kids, or if youre feeling suicidal, your mother-in-law back there. Initially, the Four will be available with a choice of three engines: the 3.0-litre, 302bhp in-line-six petrol with the 435i, the 242bhp 2.0-litre, four-pot petrol in the 428i, and a 420d, a diesel-propelled Four whose bonnet is home to a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder motor that churns out 181bhp. The petrols will crack the ton in under six seconds, while the diesel will do it in 7.5 seconds. We might just get all three engine options here in India, but when it comes to the drivetrain, well only get the eight-speed
Want a sixspeed manual? Well... move to Europe then
This is a 2+2, so joyriders are invited to take public transport
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A FEW SWIFT CHANGES

No, we arent kidding. This is the new Suzuki Swift. Seriously
The 500 was for chicks, the 500L for nuclear families. And now, the 500L Living, for typical Indian families
e all remember the iconic Fiat 500 as a small but quirky little hatchback from times gone by. It was quite a hit with the female driving fraternity. As the years passed, the cute little 500 grew bigger and bigger and bigger. First came the 500L, an extended version of the modern 500, with four doors and ve seats. And now we get the 500L Living, a seven-seater MPV, or as we would like to call it, the 500XL. At 4.35 metres, the 500L Living is 210mm longer than the 500L, which should now let you carry half of your kids cricket team in comfort and style. Comfort because it comes with 5+2 seating, plus extra luggage space. And style because its a derivative of the modern iconic 500, so good looks are a given. Under the hood, the Living will have a choice of two petrol units a 94bhp 1.4-litre, a 104bhp 0.9-litre TwinAir Turbo as well as two turbodiesels: a 104bhp 1.6-litre MultiJet II, and an 84bhp, 1.3-litre MultiJet II, the latter also with automatic transmission. Fiat claims its new MPV retains all the charm of the 500, the agility of a city car, the
THE 500 LIVES ON

W
dimensions and comfort of a small sedan, and the space and versatility of an MPV. Sounds a lot like something we Indians wouldnt mind looking at. The 500L Living will make it to Italian showrooms this month, followed by a restof-Europe debut. Its highly unlikely the extended 500 family will make it to India anytime soon. But who knows, seeing the way the Mini is lling its coers in India, Fiat may just pull this one out of its hat too.
Promises 500s charm, sedan comfort and MPV versatility
e wouldnt blame our readers for assuming we goofed up badly by publishing this new Suzuki Swift story two years after its launch. Let us clarify. This isnt an old news piece accidentally carried over from 2011. This is indeed the new Swift ocially unveiled by Suzuki. Since this is not a model change just a midlife refresh not much has changed inside out. No, dont jump with joy, you werent the only ones to spot the dierence. Yes, there are new LED daytime running lights integrated into the fog lamps and a slightly altered front bumper. And yes, the DRLs do strongly resemble the ones on the Hyundai i20. Since there are no styling tweaks to the prole and the rear, the overall look and feel remains the same. Not much new inside, either the change of colour on the instrument panel sums it up. For the European market, the engine options would be a carryover from the current model, which means a 94bhp, 1.2-litre petrol and a 75bhp, 1.3-litre diesel. While the diesel option is similar to the one running on our roads, we wouldnt mind the more powerful version of the 1.2 K-series motor making its India debut with the new model. The petrol motor also gets an automatic variant and its likely that the Indian version will get it too. Were expecting the refreshed Swift to come to India after its European launch by the end of 2013.
PHOTOGRAPHS: MANUFACT URERS
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BORDERING ON OBSCENE
f youve managed to take your eyes o the pictures and are actually reading this, congratulations youve got great control over your senses. This is the new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, and it is the automotive equivalent of Anne Hathaway in a Catwoman leather suit by her ankles. It is the rst Volante with full (read gorgeous) carbonbre skin, which also makes it the stiest open-top motor to have rolled out of AMs Gaydon HQ. The Volante keeps the hardtops bombastic 6.0-litre V12 that puts out 565bhp and takes it from standstill to 100kph in a little over four seconds.
The Vanquish makes jaws drop. The topless Volante makes sure they never slot back into place again
The light fabric roof is quick too, taking just 14 seconds to do its origami and disappear behind the tonneau cover. Roof or no roof, with that sonorous V12 and looks that could paralyse, youd still attract eyeballs by the hundreds, whether you chose to cruise through Las Vegas or Marine Drive.
In a mass-produced world, a tribute to the labour of human hands
BADGE IT UP R
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Its raining compact SUVs, people!

More a badge-engineered Duster than an outright new model, the Terrano will get a mildly redesigned front grille, while all the Renault badging will be replaced with Nissan. Engine options will be a carryover from the Duster, so expect the same 110bhp 1.5-litre diesel unit with a six-speed manual. And given RenaultNissans approach to pricing, expect the Terrano to be priced a bit more than the Renault Duster.
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emember your friendly neighbourhood municipal commission, which promises pothole-free roads every year before the monsoon? That promise may sound like a distant dream, but not if Indian carmakers have anything to do with it. After the Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport, Nissan is doing its bit for your back. Post-monsoon, Nissan plans to launch its mini SUV, the Terrano.
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PLANET TOPGEAR
STORIES FROM OUR WEIRD WORLD, WITH ADDED BITS FROM THE TELLY BOYS
P20 I India is the global capital for small and budget cars. Perfect location for the global relaunch, then
Edited by SRIRAM NARAYANAN
DATSUN IS REBORN
ABHISHEK MISHRA
P23 Cars have come a long way in 20 years. They have enough tech now to launch a shuttle P29 We Indians really know how to live life on the edge. Match-xing had to be our thing
PLUS
SRIRAM NARAYANAN
HIMALAYAN ODYSSEY
P24 Riding a Royal Enfield is always fun. With mountain terrain, it only gets better
DEEPA MALIK
P26 She is dierently abled. And very few have the guts to do what she does
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OF A GUN
DATSUN
You could say Datsun is the father of Nissan. And when the son grew big, the father was put to rest. But its back, as Nissans younger sibling. Meet Ashwani Gupta, Program Director for Global Datsun Business, and part of Nissans league of extraordinary gentlemen, tasked with making the brand successful. And more importantly, relevant.
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PHOTOGRAPHY NITIN ROSE
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The Datsun name has a lot of history to it. But this is a rebirth. What are the core values that will form its new DNA? Datsun cars were sold in 190 countries for 50 years. The original vehicles were developed as Durable, Attractive, Trustworthy. New Datsun oers a similar approach. Dream, Access and Trust reects the core brand values making the dream of rst-time car ownership a reality; providing access to the peace of mind that comes from worry-free car ownership; and delivering trust by ensuring transparency, sincerity and reliability. What were your major challenges in reviving an old brand that isnt necessarily well-known? When we decided to change the brand name to Nissan in 1981, the separate brand recognition of Nissan or Datsun became blurred. Establishing a strong brand identity has been, and will be, a key pillar of our activity. With three brands Datsun, Nissan and Inniti in place, we had to make clear the brand proposition of our products to serve dierent customer needs under dierent circumstances. Why revive a brand that was deliberately stopped? Datsun is a precious asset for our company, though we havent used it from the early 1980s. The brand represents the founding spirit of our company durable, attractive and trustworthy vehicles with modern styling. We were waiting for the right time to bring it back and capitalise on this asset. The world is rapidly changing with the emergence of very optimistic up-and-coming women and men in high growth economies seeking better value propositions in the products they choose. These products need to support not only their daily needs, but also fulll their hopes for a better tomorrow. Nissan aims to provide oerings that meet the needs of these people in line with the value we delivered with the Datsun brand to similarly optimistic customers in Japan, America and a large part of the world throughout most of the 20th century. So the decision to return Datsun was quite natural. You are making the car keeping in mind some very specic countries. All are big markets but arent they very dierent too? The markets are dierent, but in all those markets we see the emergence of a new group of the customers we call risers (including India). Although Datsun models will be individually developed for dierent markets, the products concepts will share a common inspiration. All Datsun models will oer an ownership experience that creates peace of mind and accessibility right and transparent pricing, and a competitive cost of ownership. The new Datsun oers an enhanced brand proposition accessibility, reliability and modernity, which is built on the foundation of its heritage. Renault-Nissan badge engineering is now well known. Will Datsun join the badge engineering party? There is no plan to have Datsun cars cross-badged with other brands. Low cost will be one of the major USPs of your cars. In todays India, with a growing emphasis on brand WOR DS:power, SR IR A M does a budget brand pose a problem? Denitely not. We brought back Datsun to oer value to customers currently constrained in choice. Datsun is a
THE REBIRTH
legendary brand of Nissan Motor Company, backed by 80 years of automotive experience. We also wanted to create a product suited to local needs and accessibility in terms of price, supply, market conditions and taste. That is why R&D and engineering were carried out at our local facilities in India, in close cooperation with local suppliers. Recently, weve seen models from even established and stronger brands fail because they didnt feel upmarket enough. What have you done to save Datsun this fate? The base principle for Datsun products is made local, sourced local, to ensure accessibility in terms of cost and supply, and also for local expertise. For up-and-coming Indians, buying a car is a strategic investment. We have devoted plenty of time and energy to listen to Indian customers we will be able to oer a modern and attractive product line-up as well as services. Will Datsuns run in India be shackled by price barriers, considering Nissan operates just above it? Vehicle pricing for Datsun has not been disclosed yet, but we can conrm the Datsun oering for India will be priced signicantly lower than `4 lakh. Our rst hatch is being developed for those aspiring to a premium rst purchase. The target audience for Datsun and Nissan are dierent in their needs, aspirations, and purchase patterns. Where has the car been conceived? While styling was done at our studio in Japan, the R&D and engineering was entrusted to our local engineering resources as well as suppliers to ensure the product suited local needs. The Datsun GO was fully engineered in India, by our RNTBCI engineers, led by a Chief Vehicle Engineer based in Chennai, in collaboration with locally established suppliers, as part of our sourcing and industrial strategy. Are you in a position to start production in India with zero imported parts? Our approach to developing new-gen Datsun cars has been to create vehicles for the local market. Were using local engineering and manufacturing to ensure maximum customer satisfaction, factory-to-market speed, and cost eciency. The buyer benets from local target customer insight, competitive technical discovery and the best industrialisation, including sourcing. The GO is fully engineered by our team in Chennai, along with 100 per cent locally-established suppliers. Will you have your own dealer network or will it be like Nissan? Were still in the preparatory stage and cannot talk about network strategy. We can conrm that existing highperforming Nissan brand dealers will get priority. Datsun cars will be sold in a fully branded environment. We will announce the marketing and sales plan and organisational details closer to the start of sales. What platform will Datsuns new India models use? TheR GO is an all-new NA AYA NA Nand specic vehicle development. How soon can we look at owning a Datsun? The GO will hit showrooms early 2014.
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I N T E RV I E W E D BY GI R I SH K A R K E R A
BUDGET BEGINNINGS
We all want more in life for less. With the Go, born-again Datsun is promising just that
The sub-` 4 lakh segment has enough Marutis and Hyundais to leave you a bit confused. Add a new name to that the Datsun Go. Nissan has resurrected the Datsun brand, and this time around, its focusing on the budget end of the Indian market. Were all familiar with the Datsun brand, but the Go is its rst car after its rise from the ashes. Nissan claims the Go is a completely indigenous model based on the previous-gen Micra (the B-platform). The Gos styling is completely new and Datsun seems to be trying to create an all new-design language. To snag the interest of its target audience rst-time buyers and the young the Go gets an aggressive front, with sharp-looking headlamps and a distinctive grille dominating the front. Fog lamps are missing (as a cost-control measure, we presume). The prole showcases a play of lines that complements the aggressive styling up in front. The rear is dominated by large tail lights on either side of the Datsun badge. In keeping with the hatchback trend, the number plate has been moved to the bumper. The design
WORDS ABHINAV MISHRA
looks much fresher than the current crop of cars that the Go will compete with, but broadly, the styling does echo the Micras, especially the front three-quarters. Inside, the colour of choice is beige, to lend some premium feel. The functional cabin is well laid out and comes with a holding slot for your phone. Adding an element of space, the front passenger gets a bench seat rather than a bucket, with the gear lever and parking brake integrated into the center console, to further free up legroom. We didnt get a chance to check out the plastics and legroom at the
The Go is its rst car after Datsuns rise from the ashes
back, but from outside, the sub-fourmetre Go does seem to be up to the job of ferrying four adults around in decent comfort. As for the mechanicals, the Go gets a 1.2-litre petrol motor. Datsun hasnt said anything about the power gures, but we reckon itll be the same three-cylinder motor found in the Nissan Micra but detuned here to make around 68bhp. As of now, diesel is not on the cards for the Go since pricing will be an issue as it always is. Dont lose hope though, because Datsun is planning 10 more models by 2016; expect the 1.5-litre diesel motor to make its way here in a few of those vehicles. The Datsun Go will be on sale by early 2014.
No glove box, but optimum use of space with the gear lever in the console
sharpthe middle of New badge in mps and distinctive grille la ad looking he
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ABHISHEK MISHRA
A few thousand rupees per car is all it would take for manufacturers to make their customers feel happier. And safer
ometime back in the 1990s, the only luxury a luxury car came with was a factory-tted air-conditioner. The 1.3-litre Maruti Esteem was launched with power nothing and even the fuel cap had a lock and key mechanism. The last 20 years have made things a lot more convenient for the Indian driver. Almost every car sold in this country comes with power steering you could count on your ngers the ones that dont. Today, cars like the Ford EcoSport come with an automatic emergency dial service that is activated in the event of an accident. And the Mahindra e2o lets you make good use of your smart phone to control pretty much every aspect of the car. Still, there are some gaps that need lling on all cars. So here are some features that I think will be oered (mostly as standard tment, denitely as options) on all cars in the next ve years. Rear-view cameras: Now how dicult is this to do really? Hyundai, of course, has made rear-view cameras standard across all Verna variants. And embedding the display in the rear-view mirror is a brilliant touch. Theyve oered this as an
option on the i20 as well. Rear-view cameras work much better than sensors because its always better to see rather than rely on beeps to tell you where the car is going. I see more and more cars coming with rear-view cameras and hope these manufacturers do as nifty a job of incorporating the displays as Hyundai has done. Cooled leather seats: I understand that leather seats in cars mean luxury for most people, but in a predominantly hot country like ours, theyre neither practical nor comfortable. If carmakers must oer leather seats and they really must, given how much customers love them the least they can do is make sure theyre ventilated and cooled. Fat cats will especially appreciate. If their car is parked in the sun even for a while, leather seats get really hot. And while the AC at full blast may cool the cabin quickly, theyll still get out with a sweat patch on their back. Again, ventilated seats are not something new. Lower-end luxury cars like the Hyundai Elantra and VW Passat already oer these on some variants. So Im sure cars costing more than `30 lakh will oer this as a standard feature too.
TYRE BURST-RELATED ACCIDENTS HAVE INCREASED BECAUSE OUR ROADS NOW ALLOW US TO TRAVEL FASTER FOR LONG PERIODS
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Tyre pressure monitors: This is a huge safety feature that Im surprised hasnt already made it to a lot of cars. The security of knowing that theres a system that continuously monitors tyre pressure is priceless. The number of accidents due to burst tyres has risen in the last 10 years or so because weve built roads that allow us to travel at high speeds for long periods of time. Warning systems like these could alert the driver before things get out of hand. Cars as cheap as the Mahindra Scorpio have oered this option for years now. I think it will be oered on all cars that are likely to be used for long-distance travel. Those are three features that in my book will be oered with cars in India in the near future. Of course, there are other minor things as well. Steering-mounted controls, for example, really make driving more convenient. Being able to access the cars
entertainment system without taking your hands o the steering wheel is much appreciated by drivers. As smart phones get smarter, I think there will be better integration with a cars infotainment system. Im not talking only of Bluetooth phone connectivity here. Im talking of custom apps that pair with the cars diagnostic system and tell you when your next service is due, what your average speed was, or what fuel eciency youre getting. In the next ve years, theres a good chance that we will see all these options on all cars sold in the country. And probably by then, the authorities will make ABS and airbags compulsory too despite our healthy disrespect for life, Im sure anyone involved in an accident will appreciate these two important safety features. abhishek@topgearindia.net
ILLUSTRATION: JAY PARDHY
ODYSSEY UNPLUGGED
Delhi to Leh to Delhi in a posse of Royal Enelds. Plug out of the grid, lay some biker stereotypes to rest
am gunning along towards the mountains up in the distance. In front of me is 40km of freshly laid tarmac. The Thunderbird 500 hus and pus as I wring the throttle. The motor feels out of breath, and so do I. Which is when I remember what they told us in the morning brieng: Make a conscious eort to breathe. Turns out, 13,000 feet above sea level, the air is extremely thin, and breathing is something you have to work at. Im no stranger to highway riding, but this trip has turned everything I know about long-distance biking on its head. This is the 10th edition of the Himalayan Odyssey, a bike run organised by Royal Eneld (RE). And as most RE fanatics know, the Odyssey is one of the most
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY ABHINAV MISHRA
challenging rides in India, with participants starting preparations months in advance. The 17-day journey begins in Delhi, goes up to Leh and then back to Delhi, covering 2,700km along the way. This years event has drawn 100 riders, split into two groups. For the record, riding to the hills is not all straight lines; theres bad roads as well, and sometimes no roads at all for instance, when you approach Rohtang Pass, where landslides are common. I mentioned breathing upfront because the most direct fallout of thin air is altitude sickness, which is a critical factor in any circumstance, competitive or otherwise. And then of course, theres the weather, which at these altitudes can change dramatically, with no warning whatsoever.
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These challenges aside, I discover that riding a bike, especially a cruiser like the Thunderbird, is a lesson in the joys of keeping it simple. We wake up in the morning, assemble for a route brieng and set o. The collective rhythmic thumping settles down into a comforting pattern as we ride across terrain that is sometimes scenic, sometimes hostile. Because of the scarce population and hilly terrain, mobile phone networks are yet to arrive here. And soon enough, you begin to appreciate that. Since youre not compulsively
jabbing at a three-and-a-half-inch screen, you put that time to better use talking to your fellow riders, hearing their stories, sharing laughs. In the chilly morning air of day four, Im inspecting my bike before we set o, when I get talking with Ravi Sevak, the rider of the bike parked next to mine. Ravis on an Eneld Classic 500 Desert Storm and turns out, the soft-spoken, slightly-built young man is an assistant professor who teaches engineering in Baroda in Gujarat. Gives the hairy biker stereotype a decent burial.

Mountains, serenity and nirvana all in one trip
This guy spends more time sning chalk powder than exhaust fumes, so Im curious how he became part of this trip. Ive been anything but a die-hard biker for most of my life, he says. Then, a year ago, I was returning from college when I saw an RE parked next to my car and fell in love with it. So he researched REs on sale and zeroed in on a 350 Classic. On his way to buying the bike, his father, who was with him, asked him, Isnt a 500cc bike better than a 350? Point taken. And that is how the mild-mannered professor ended up with a 500 Desert Storm. Then theres Hide Okamoto, who couldnt be more dierent from Ravi if he tried. Hide is from Tokyo, and hes been a motorcycle test rider yes, on a full-time basis since age 16. Over the last three decades, hes tested the whole spectrum of bikes that you and I only dream of. The latest being the Vyrus C3 series. His less glamorous work includes consulting for TVS Tyres, which hes done for over a decade now. Hide knew nothing about the Odyssey till a few months ago. One ne day, in Tokyo, he met an RE dealer (yes, an RE dealer in Tokyo), who told him about the Odyssey and said he was looking to send someone from
Japan for the trip. Adventure junkie that he is, Hide volunteered right away. He rented an RE Classic 500 and has managed fairly well on it so far. He says he likes it. I assume hes just being polite, but he explains, This bike is meant for road use only, but over the last 1,000km, Ive driven it on everything except roads. This is a proper road motorcycle, denitely not built for terrain like this. Hide is so impressed with the RE Classic, hes thinking of buying one when he goes back. His biggest disappointment is that after all these years of coming to India, this is the rst time hes discovered masala papad. Its eight days since we left Delhi, and we rumble into Leh, on our way to the reunion site where the two groups will meet. Theres music playing at the site where were joining up. I park and take pictures of some customised Enelds. Its a day of rest, a day to stretch, relax, party before setting o back to Delhi. Around me are bikers being unruly bikers. In the distance are snowcapped mountains bouncing sunlight o. Im going to miss all this. Ill miss Harsimran Singh Kohli, who I met at the ag o at Delhi. Harsimran was part of the very rst Odyssey, riding on a red 1980 RE Deluxe 350. He was 50 then, and as excited as a teenager about
HE REGRETS NOT DISCOVERING MASALA PAPAD ALL THESE YEARS

taking his bike to Leh. Hes been doing this route since 1988, but mostly on a scooter. Now 66, that excitement and his appetite for adventure are showing no signs of dimming. Hes already planning next years trip, having arranged a Thunderbird 500 for the job. He asks me to join him on that ride. Now, thats what you call an oer you cant refuse.
This is what I ride on weekends and bank holidays
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WHERE THERES A WHEEL

Inside the harsh world of her disability, Deepa Malik saw and seized the opportunity to WORDS SHRUTI NAGBHUSHAN live life on her own terms
ust clouds rise as a hardcharging Safari completes a tight gure-eight on the Sambhar Lake, at the Thar Experience Drive. It comes to a perfect stop behind a line of cars. And instead of some broad-shouldered man in a tight t-shirt, out comes a wheelchair. Followed by an attractive, sportylooking 43-year-old Deepa Malik, complete with infectious smile playing on her face. I love driving. Who says you cant live your passion just because youre paralysed? she says at the question apparent on everyones face. She was born in Bangalore, and with her father in the Army, Deepa travelled extensively her temporary bases have included Naseerabad in Rajasthan, Pune, Kota, Calcutta, Akhnoor in Jammu, and Ajmer in
trucks, Jeeps and Jongas, and the aura around these four-wheelers mesmerised her. Id sit for hours at a site watching these vehicles load and move in convoys, she reminisces. And soon enough, she developed a passion for bikes as well, secretly learning to ride one in her backyard. But her real riding time started when she got her Luna, in her teens. I was an outdoorsy, always-on-the-road kind of girl. Id take my Luna everywhere, and even started running errands for the house when dad wasnt around, she says. Deepas love for bikes is connected to more than just the thrill of the riding experience. It also introduced her to Bikram Singh Malik a fellow biker whom she ended up marrying. Around age 18, she hung out with
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bikers, who tended to be men who were older than she was: Back then, bikes were only owned by men, not young boys, the way it is these days, she says. And one of these older men was Bikram, then 24 and a captain in the Army. In one of their early meetings, riding in on her Luna, she asked him if she could ride his bike, an Ind-Suzuki, and he laughed her o. He stopped laughing though, when he saw her skills and condence. After they were married, Bikram retired from the army as a colonel to support his wifes sports career. Now
that Deepa is well established, he works as senior manager at Hindustan Construction. Soon after the marriage, and as promised, Deepa got her rst motorbike, a 100cc Kawasaki Bajaj. But that biking experience was short-lived. Following the birth of her second child in 1995, Deepa was diagnosed with a spinal cord tumour. After three surgeries, she was left paralysed from the chest downwards. More than the illness, being relegated to a room and not being able to drive again was disturbing, she says. In 2003, while based in
Ahmednagar home to the Armoured Corps Centre and School, in which her father-in-law was a general she began a delivery service for home food. Her customers were primarily the hundreds of young cadet trainees who didnt have the time to dress formally for the Mess Hall, and preferred eating in their rooms when they studied for exams. That service grew into a proper restaurant, soon populated by young cadets riding bikes that had been worked on. Deepa remembers one of them, who came to an Independence Day party at her restaurant on a bike with the British ag on the tank. The English took us for a ride for 200 years. Now its my turn to return the favour, he explained. In the company of this newfound biking fraternity, Deepa rediscovered a serious interest in bikes. And despite the various tubes running into her body, a spinal paralysis, a recurring tumour, and poor lung capacity and circulation, Deepas mind was set on the Raid de Himalaya. People kept seeing me as a patient; I wanted to do something crazy to announce that I was hale and hearty. I wanted to break the myth that life stops after youre paralysed, she says. Impressed by her ability and passion, the army ocers encouraged her to customise her bike and start
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riding again. After a long struggle for nancial, engineering and media support, Kaulson Racing Products agreed to customise her bike. They would conduct trials on All-Terrain Vehicles to see how much support I needed, and what build the bike needed to be. In 2007, Deepa got her rst chance to ride her modied bike on MTV Roadies, and she hasnt stopped since. By then, sponsorship was coming in much easier, and Deepa decided to push the challenge further and move on to cars. In 2009, she attempted the Raid de Himalaya as navigator she couldnt complete it because of a freak accident, but she earned a True Grit Award in the process. After this, having secured her disability license for motorsport driving, she drove in and nished the Desert Storm rally in 2010, in a Maruti Esteem customised for complete hand driving by AUTOMATE. Shashi Garcha, regional director (north India), Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, recounts his rst meeting with Deepa. It was a treat to watch her on the tracks. As far as her safety was concerned, we ensured she got her motorsport licence only after her doctor had certied her health, and after shed done a few test drives on o-road circuits to check her reexes and her
I WANTED TO BREAK THE MYTH THAT LIFE STOPS AFTER YOURE PARALYSED
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cars mechanicals. Deepa went on to participate in meets of the Paralympic Committee of India, from 2006 to date, (including the Commonwealth and Asian Games), often competing for cash prizes at par with those of able-bodied athletes. And then, I took all my prize money and did something crazy I bought myself a Tata Safari and headed o to Leh-Ladakh, she says. The route was to go through Kargil, that year being the 10th anniversary of both, the Kargil war and her own battle with her tumour. She went on to cover nine high-altitude peaks in nine days, and created another record in the process. Still, the challenges are never too far away. The absence of spinal support continues to disrupt Deepas torso balance, requiring her to support her body weight using only her shoulders, which she strengthens
with regular swimming and exercises. Also, her damaged motor nerves have left her mirror perception impaired. I cant drive a car whose end I cant see. So I prefer hatchbacks, otherwise I need proper seat elevation, she explains. Despite those odds, she drives in at least one rally every year. Ashish Gupta, director of Cougar Motorsports beams proudly when he says, Deepa has participated in long trails in Delhi, Kutch and the Thar every year, unfailingly. She absorbs every aspect of an experience with a smile. In addition to all this, she also helps with a biking event called Ride for Safety, which is held every winter in Mumbai. Early this year, at the India Bike Week in Goa, she was named Biker of the Country. I have everything now. What more do I need? she beams.
FASTER, HIGHER, STRONGER

Three Limca records: swimming the Yamuna river (1km) against the current, riding a special bike in 2009, and driving across nine high-altitude passes in nine days. Castrol Most Passionate Biker Hunt (2009) Star Rider Trophy Maruti Raid de Himalaya (2009) True Grit Award Bajaj Allianz Inspirational Women Driver Hunt 2011 Winner World Ranking second for shot put, third for discus throw and third for javelin throw (2010-2012) Asian Ranking rst in shot put, discus throw and javelin throw (2010-2012)
More high-altitude miles clocked than most of us
Receiving the CavinKare Ability award
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With MTV Roadies Rannvijay Singh (left) and Raghu Ram
SRIRAM NARAYANAN
The Indian cricket fan shouldnt get bogged down by gambling and match-xing. Its in our blood and our spirituality. Look at our roads
ow that the Indian cricket team has won the Mini World Cup Champions League Trophy Series or whatever this thing that the Indian cricket team has won was called, I am sure everything will be back to normal. M S Dhoni can continue holding stakes in a company that manages player endorsements. N Srinivisan, who stepped aside so that investigations over match-xing in the IPL can be conducted in a free and fair manner, can come right back. And S Sreesanth, who is currently on a pilgrimage to every temple in the land, can go back to snorting into towels, scratching his bum or whatever he does before bowling a, erm, coughspecialcough over. To all of you shocked at the presence of gambling, xing and conicts of interest in Indian cricket, all I have to say to you is this: Dont like it? Dont watch it. Because you, dear reader, cant quite appreciate how we walk that ne line between danger and adventure. When we construct houses, we look at oor space index, the number of the house, or the oor, feng shui and vaastu. I am sure all of your houses have been planned based on one
or all of this. But how many of you have a re escape, or sprinklers or even a small re extinguisher hung on a wall in your homes? So you see, we thrive on taking a gamble, xing things in a way that assumes they are not to occur naturally, or logically. When people see a guy gunning down the road with his wife and two or three toddlers on his motorcycle, what the narrowminded among them will see is a guy putting the life of his own self and some very small children in grave danger. People who understand the Indian psyche, though, will say he is just reaping the benets of his karma. Since he has committed no sin in his past life, he can ride with his wife and kids with him standing on the fuel tank for all he wants, and hed still be in no danger. It is this condence that eggs him on to not think one bit before taking the gamble of carrying his entire family on two wheels. And a gamble worth taking, because he commutes with his entire family without spending money on buses, cabs, or worse, a car. What do you do when you are turning at a roundabout and suddenly see a vehicle coming right at you from the opposite
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE TURNING AT A ROUNDABOUT AND SUDDENLY SEE A VEHICLE COMING AT YOU FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION?
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direction? Mouth expletives? Panic brake? Frantically veer out of the way? With this rash behaviour of yours, you entirely miss the saintly, apologetic smile of the driver coming the wrong way. Its a smile that mirrors a refreshing outlook to life. Its an outlook that says, what has to happen, will happen, despite our best eorts. So do what you have to do and do not worry about the results. The saintly chap was only doing what he had to do. And because you veered away, his gamble paid o. By coming the wrong way, he reached his destination a couple of minutes faster, saved fuel by traversing a shorter distance, and made you believe in miracles and god. Indias 2011 population census says you and I are two out of the 121,07,26,932 people who call this country home. So shall we say 121 crore, or 1.21 billion people? Out of this humungous
number, only 4.97 lakh accidents occurred in 2011. Of this, only 1.42 lakh people died and only 5.11 lakh were injured in 2011. Still, these gures are miniscule, given the number of people that we are as a country, and considering how Regional Transport Oces all over the country issue licenses after driving tests that involve simple procedures like starting the car or turning the wheel in either direction. The sensitive among us will lament the needless loss of life, but the great minds that work across the nation will think the RTOs gamble is a risk worth taking. Its so much less bother than actually learning to drive or teaching it properly. So really, when we religiously, piously and vociferously put our lives on the line inside and outside our homes, whats a few lakh rupees, or a reputation or two over a simple cricket match? sriram@topgearindia.net
ILLUSTRATION: JAY PARDHY
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WHATS THE ONE THING TO PACK FOR A TRIP FROM BANGALORE TO OOTY VIA MYSORE AND BANDIPUR? THE i DIESEL, OF COURSE
Words and Photography: Debabrata Sarkar
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staggering 40 -odd hairpin bends need d negotiating before you nally make it to this little lake in the middle of the Nilgiris. Avalanchi isnt as close to Ooty as the map may have you believe, especially when you are trying to get there late in the evening after a long day of wandering around, which gets worse if you are following Google maps blindly. And along the way from Bangalore, are a fair many sights that demand your attention and are likely to keep you for a while. The royal and now bustling city of Mysore,, the magnicent forests of Bandipur and Mudumalai, and nally the magnicent drive up to Ooty, all have a way of delaying your progress, but never in a bad way. The thing is s, though, to get your choice of car spot on and for this particular drive, the i20 diesel checks all the boxes. Now, it isnt a secret that if you want to get out of Bangalore, without having to spend half your life squabbling with trac, you need to wake up at the crack of dawn and get moving before the city realises you are trying to make a getaway and sucks you back in. The i20 makes that particularly easy, the boot can hold plenty of weekend bag gs and the cabin is easy to get comfortable in. It also has lots of storage spaces, cupholders and the like to keep all your stu organised. With that out of the way, the wide open road to Mysore awaits. This may only be a state e highway on paper, but it is a dual carriageway and in prett ty good shape. The only problem is the number of cars that seem to use this road and of course the number of speed breakers along the way, presumably a result of many reckless incidents. The 140km stretch up to Mysore is presumably where you make time. The drive is pretty at and there arent many things to hold your attention apart from all the fast food joints, which make a rather strong connection with your rumbling stomach. The i20, on the other hand, remains unstressed, sipping on its little diesel tank gently and keeps the kilometres ticking over. The 1.4 -litre diesel engine delivers power in a linear fashion and makes short work of moving along at reasonable triple-digit speeds. If you like changing gears, well, it has a slick shifting sixspeed manual gearbox to satisfy that itch. While fth and sixth are excellent for cruising, you do need to shift down for quick passing manoeuvres. After a quick breakfast and a few more kilometres, you chance upon Mysore. There are a few ways to get around, but we strongly suggest you head straight into the city and park at the palace for a walk around before you carry on. It is well worth the time you
i20s design is as striking as that of the famous Mysore Palace
The new LEDs on the i20 give it added character
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F C AR O E IC O H C R U O Y T E G TO L E S IE D i I A D N U Y H E H SPOT ON, T ES X O B T H IG R E H T L L A S CHECK
The quality dual-tone interior and feature-rich cabin feel great
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spend there and also breaks the monotony of driving. If you are there on a Sunday evening, the illuminated palace is one of the great sights to behold. Once youve taken the tour, drive around the palace to Chamundi Hill. Its a well laid, twisty road that takes you away from the busy highway, although only briey, and oers a beautiful panoramic view of Mysore. It is also a delight for enthusiastic drivers. The i20s compact dimensions make it easy to drive on the narrow hill road. Its a pretty straightforward drive to Gundulpet from Mysore, but it is from here that things get really interesting. It isnt long before you are greeted by a large gateway in the middle of the road, welcoming you into Bandipur forest. Apart from slowing down to keep to the speed limit inside the protected sanctuary, you almost instinctively roll down your windows and sort of squint for binocular vision. Thankfully, the i20s rened diesel motor plays along, doing its best not to disturb the calm of the forest as you cruise along. The b fo orests of Bandipur and Mudumalai, of course, never fail to deliver and it isnt long before you spot a herd of deer grazing just metres a o the road. Theres of course no dearth of monkeys merrily o sitting around, either. However, it is the elephants that you want to lo ook out for. These magnicent beasts love wandering around and often get pretty close to the road, especially in the evenings. o Having had your ll of wildlife, you have two options, both heading up to Ooty going left takes you on an awesome h 3 -hairpin adventure that is dicult to parallel, while turning right 36 goes up a more gradual, boring route. Choose the one that suits g you better and be on your way. Go left. y
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GAGE G U L , N IG S E D R IO R E T IN WITH CLEVER IESEL IS D i E H T , S E R U T A E F D SPACE AN S Y A W A T E G D N E K E E W PERFECT FOR
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The initial bit of road leading past Masinagudi is a single-lane stretch with pretty bumpy edges. But when the local shuttle cab drivers come barrelling towards you, there isnt much option but to yield. Thankfully, the suspension is pretty well set up to handle bumps without much discomfort. The light and easy controls serve you in good stead through the narrow twisty road just after, as you negotiate hairpin after hairpin, only pausing to take in the views and, of course, the barrelling taxis. The wilderness gives way to rows of tall eucalyptus trees along the road as you make your nal approach towards Ooty. The diesel motors strong mid-range pulls eortlessly on these slopes, making quick work of slow moving vehicles. Ooty arrives not long after and with it, places like Fern Hill and Finger Post. You just cant miss these names when you get there. The collectorate has to be the prettiest part of town with some grand old buildings and the beautiful St. Stephens Church at the crossroads. And when in Ooty, you cannot miss the toy train making its rounds. There are also a fair number of good restaurants peppered around town and Kings Cli gets our vote for a delicious meal in its glass house restaurant. Avalanchi is a further 20 kilometres from Ooty, on a side that is little known and even less explored. This is the back of beyond of Ooty, and not many know such a thing even exists. The roads are potholed and you end up playing dodge trying not to lose a wheel or scrape a bumper, but even here, the i20 manages rather well. Fortunately, this also means there are no crowds to wrestle with and this pristine lakeside has a single farmstay called Destiny, where you can unpack your bags and pass into a parallel world where life is simple and full of good things. Not only do you get to see a living functional farm, you also get to be a part of it. Head over to the Moo House for a taste of fresh milk, the little riding track to play cowboy or just laze by the little pond with a line, hoping something will bite into the end of it and make your day. If youre a bit more adventurous, there are morning treks to a log cabin at the top of a neighbouring hill, rock climbing, monkey crawling and such to get some adrenaline pumping. However, we suggest you take long walks around the farm instead, stretch out at the spa or just read a book in the balcony and keep an eye out for some wandering wildlife. All the distractions apart, the few extra kilometres to Avalanchi are absolutely worth it. Its a perfect long weekend getaway and you arent really that far from Ooty, in case you do feel the need for some claustrophobia. Theres plenty to do and a fair selection on the menu to sample. Its one of those places that you just dont want to leave, and when you do, you promise yourself youll come back. The i20 on the other hand may make perfect sense in the city, but it isnt a slouch out on the highway either, and handled the bad bits quite well too. The 1.4 -litre diesel is a frugal companion and with all the clever interior design and luggage space, not to mention the incredibly long list of features, its perfect for weekend getaways as well.
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P40 More features to make your life e easy. But ut will it t be enough e oug to run with the best in the market?
THE CARS AND BIKES THAT MAT TER. DRIVEN, RIDDEN, TESTED AND RATED THE TOPGEAR WAY
VOLVO V40
PLUS
B-CLASS DIESEL
P38 Practical, spacious and now diesel-avoured as well. This keeps getting better
P36 0 Sweden takes aim at the B-Class. Hopes compact dimensions and a great drive are ammunition enough
TATA NANO
P41 Hyper-budget car gets a new interior and a longer list of goodies
A-CLASS DIESEL
P42 Gorgeous styling and frugal engine. Will the brain decide, or the heart?
THUNDERBIRD 350
P46 The panache of the 500 but with a smaller heart. Still no complaints, though
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VOLVO V40 CROSS COUNTRY

Volvos latest creates a new segment, takes the company from Swede safe to Swede sporty
Words CHRISTOPHER CHAVES n India, its been a while since the Swedes concocted a four-wheeled formula worthy of a win against sti competition from the parts of Europe collectively known in the automotive world as Germany. The Volvo army has always looked prepped for the challenge, but on the eld, as time has shown, this European battle was anything but hard fought it all boiled down to the companys insucient number of dealerships. The Volvo V40 Cross Country proves to be yet another potent explosive in the Swedish carmaker's artillery, and with
IN DETAIL
STORAGE Lots of odds-and-ends spaces and cupholders all around
PHOTOGRAPHS: VARUN CHAWL A
good reason. At rst glance, the V40 will denitely put a smile on your face. Its got aggressive headlamps, a handsomely long, protruding bonnet, and a steeply-raked windscreen. Adding further sporty intent to the cars appearance are small roof rails that ow seamlessly to the Volvos beautifully sculpted posterior. Theres also lots of plastic cladding on the front and rear bumpers and the side-skirts to save the panels from denting whenever it goes o tarmac. The overall look may not be all that new, but the V40 most certainly looks unique on the road, and grabs as much attention as well, any curvaceous Swedish beauty would when she strolled down the street. Open the keyless-entry doors and get into the drivers seat, and you feel as though youve settled into a sportscar with that long dashboard and the bonnet. Up front, theres a high oating two-tone brown-and-beige dashboard with silver plastic inserts all around, comfortable, electric-powered leather seats and a simple layout to the entertainment,
BOOT Easy to access, with split-folding seats, but no spare wheel
REAR DESIGN Its voluptuousness makes Kim Kardashian look so last year
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air-con and vehicle conguration console. The seats at the back are as welcoming as those in front, but on long drives, the less-than-ideal under-thigh support will prove unwelcome. Volvo claims the V40 is a ve-seater. However, we would recommend you deduct one from that equation for the sake of comfort since the centre seat is uncomfortable, mainly because of that hard backrest and the drive shaft tunnel intruding into foot space. Even with its low-slung design, headroom is sucient for most passengers, unless they are over six feet. Behind the chunky steering wheel lies a large, red backlit tachometer, which is the centre of attention on the instrument fascia, with a digital speedo readout in the middle. Theres loads of other information on display as well, such as trip and fuel consumption readings and a gauge that shows you the level of pressure on the accelerator pedal, along with other vehicle settings. Plenty of technology goodies too climate control, xed sunroof, heated seats, cruise control and safety equipment including ABS, EBD, ESP, eight airbags, rear wiper and a rear camera with parking sensors. The V40s build quality is fantastic
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FIRST DRIVES
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LIFE ON THE INSIDE
SILVER PLASTIC LINING

Complements the two-tone interior well but feels a tad downmarket
01
DASHBOARD
High oating dashboard is trademark Volvo
02
CENTRE CONSOLE
Easy to use, good quality audio even with limited equaliser options
03
GEAR LEVER
LED-lit lever looks and feels classy. Especially in S mode
04
STEERING
Electric steering supplies decent feedback around corners
05
ACCELERATOR PEDAL
Thrill provider. Next best thing after a Swedish foot massage
06
and on par with the other top European brands. Interior quality and design here is denitely above average, but not the best. The 320+ litre boot and split-folding rear seats can accommodate a lot, but sadly, the Cross Country comes only with a puncture repair kit there's no spare tyre. The car has a ve-cylinder 1,984cc D3 motor mated to the responsive sixspeed auto 'box. It develops 148bhp and 350Nm of torque. There is a hint of turbo shoes on, the V40 feels rmly planted in lag initially, but just like a sleeping canine a straight line at any speed, its just that the feel of the electric steering weighs thats suddenly been woken up by an up much better on the bends. Ride exploding cracker, the V40 shakes it o quality is a bit bumpy at and is on the charge. low speeds thanks to the Stick the transparent LED-lit sti suspension and gear leaver in S or Sport mode, 2,646mm wheelbase, but give it some stick, and the V40 pick up the pace to around holds on to each gear up to 60kph and this is negated. the 5,000rpm mark with a The V40 is one of those cars resounding battle cry from its you dont mind driving all chrome-tipped dual exhausts. day long because youll Theres not much diesel engine still be fresh enough to paint grunt entering the cabin at low the town red at night. And revs, but engine noise does This German its audio system sounds increase past 3,000rpm, which hatch is good good enough to make even is partially acceptable considering at nearly everything it some cranky House music its around that point that a does. Practicality, sound good. real sense of urgency kicks in eciency and space. The Volvo V40 Cross with the motor. Country comes across as a With 225/50 R17 Michelin
THESPECS
VOLVO V40 CROSS COUNTRY
THE NUMBERS 5cyl, 1,984cc, diesel, 148bhp, 350Nm, 6A, FWD, 0-100kph 9.3s (claimed), 1,578kg, 14kpl (est) THE COST `28.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) THE VERDICT Not exactly a spacious car, but balanced by sorted driving dynamics. And with the Volvo badge, safety is up there with the best.
THE RIVAL
MERCEDES B-CLASS
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very unconventional car from a company seemingly shackled by safety chains. Once more, the Swedes have put forth a worthy challenger in an eort to pull the crowds away from the Germans, this time in the guise of a soft-roader hatch. The Cross Country shows its winning potential by ticking a lot of boxes across a range of categories that will appeal to potential buyers. All the Swedes need now is for their sales and service department to catch up.
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B-CLASS DIESEL
If the A-Class was too racy for you, heres a more practical small Mercedes-Benz to head for
Words GIRISH KARKERA lmost a year ago, MercedesBenz rst showed India the B-Class. Clearly a family car back in Europe, in India, it was positioned as a Sports Tourer. Not many people bought the idea, but they surely bought the car the company claimed that its rst lot of 200 cars was already booked by the time they announced the price. Of course, theres no way to conrm if all those bookings translated into sales. But we have little reason to believe otherwise, because the B may not be a Sports Tourer in its own right but it is a very practical car for the entire family. Borrowing underpinnings from the
IN DETAIL
ENGINE Called 180 CDI but is a 2.2-litre common-rail unit
same platform that goes into everything from a smaller hatch to a compact SUV to a coupe, the B-Class has a sound foundation. In terms of looks, theres no real wow factor save for those daytime running LEDs, which on a cloudy day or at night would put some menace in there. The proportions are typically big hatchback. In fact, it looks a bit like a smaller R-Class. Otherwise, its pretty ordinary looking except for that CLS-ish crease on the side. Ordinary doesnt mean ugly but if you go to a Three-Point Star showroom, you may just miss it amongst all the other wonderful looking Mercs. But ignore it at your own risk because the B-Class makes a strong case for itself as a well-built and relatively exclusive family car that oers the Mercedes-Benz experience to a wider audience. Theres lots of room inside for ve passengers, plus theres a big, wide boot. The base is high so its easier to load things but its not deep enough, so the space-saver spare wheel needs to be strapped there, which is a bit odd. You could keep the spare in the garage if youre out on city
SEAT CONTROLS Dials to adjust backrest. Have a good workout
DESIGN Without the LEDs, blink and youll miss the car
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runs but for long distances, theres no option but to make room for it along with all your other luggage. Unlike the petrol version, which was then launched in two variants 180 and 180 Sport, the 180 CDI will come in a single trim Style. So what you wont get compared to a Sport version are broadly a sunroof, a sportier instrument cluster and dual chrome-plated exhaust ends. Which is something you can live without. What you will get is an elegant cabin decorated with quality soft-touch plastic, leather and chrome bits. We especially like that one-piece wood panel adorning the dashboard. And you get all the regular Merc features, so theres a high-end multimedia system with Bluetooth, steering controls for audio, phone and cruise control, and seven airbags including a driver-side knee bag. However, some corners have been cut to keep the price in check. For example, there are no reverse parking sensors, and the front passenger seat has only manual controls. While the multimedia system has an inbuilt option for GPS, Merc has left that out as well, which is odd considering this is being pegged as a luxury tourer. Under the hood is the same 2,143cc unit that goes by the name of 180CDI in
PHOTOGRAPHS: RA JEEV GAIKWAD
FIRST DRIVES
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LIFE ON THE INSIDE
INTERIOR
Elegantly designed and a ne mix of quality materials
DISPLAY
Expensive-looking 4.5-inch display but no GPS
CLIMATE CONTROL
No auto option. Not as eective as the Japs or Koreans
COLUMN SHIFT
Simply elegant maybe a bit too elegant for this car
PADDLE SHIFTERS
A boon. Auto box only happy when moving fast
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
No fancy nish. Just the way we like it, thank you
The B-Class, surprisingly for a family hatch, is at home on the highway. Floor the throttle once you hit open road and the car changes character in a manner that would make Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde look pale in comparison. The revs build quickly, and power comes in linear and hefty enough to make it clear that youre not driving an ordinary hatchback. The DSG box goes through the seven speeds happily. And when you want the A-Class, and as 250CDI in the C and better control while overtaking slow new E-Class. Of course, the tune levels trac, just blip the paddle shifter and are dierent. The B 180 CDIs 250Nm prod the B on itll hurtle towards its top and 107bhp are good for a 0-100kph of speed with minimum fuss. The 180 CDI 10.65 seconds and a top speed of 190kph. is a good case study for the idea that And you can really feel all the power whats important is not the number of coming through. horses on call but the way The engine is mated to a dualthey leave the stable. clutch seven-speed automatic Somehow, the Germans gearbox that has an AMG are still masters of the connection. However, it isnt game when it comes to phenomenal in slow trac the autobahn manners. shifts feel lethargic and the car What also surprises is generally quite heavy. At slow the way the B handles. If speeds, the electromechanical not for the body style, this steering feels on the heavier side is dynamically a serious and could do with more assistance. Not a luxury challenger to many saloons. Its the same with slow-speed ride, tourer but this Cross Country Its tight and well controlled which is too hard. The suspension is an option to around corners and during is a state-of-the-art multi-link setup look at. Better but for quick lane changes. Body roll that is eective but also noisy while equipped a few lakh more. denitely is as minimal as it dealing with our potholed roads.
Space-saver spare strapped into the boot. Rather odd solution
THESPECS
B180 CDI STYLE
THE NUMBERS 2,143cc, 4-cyl common-rail diesel, 107bhp, 250Nm, 7A, FWD, city kpl: 13.7, highway kpl: 18.9; 0-100kph: 10.65s, 30-50kph: 1.90s, 50-70kph: 2.35s; 80kph-0: 25.99m in 2.36s, Top speed: 190kph (All performance figures in the wet) THE COST `22.6 lakh (ex-Mumbai, pre-octroi)
THE RIVAL
VOLVO V40
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can get for a car this type. And understeer is hard to achieve. Its all very condenceinspiring when it matters most. At `22.6 lakh (ex-Mumbai, pre-octroi), the B is not cheap. It doesnt help that Merc has left out bits like GPS and parking sensors, which seem like hygiene in most cars now. Its not a hot looking car, but get past that and the amazing combination of sorted dynamics and proper diesel performance makes the B-Class a much more delightful proposition.
THE VERDICT A no-frills car that is more focused on offering the Three-Point Star experience through hardcore basics like performance, dynamics and compact proportions.
7 10
FIRST DRIVES
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ALTO 800 VXi

Indias favourite hatchback gets a top-of-the-line variant and some features that it desperately needed
Words AGASTI KAULGI or years now, the older 800cc Alto has been on a spree of sorts, setting and breaking sales records. But by now, its been on the road for so long, its in urgent need of some sprucing up. With the Alto 800, launched last November, it got new styling but it wasnt enough to set any records. Primarily because the new styling didnt prove to be as popular as Maruti wouldve liked, and the car lacked some essential features like central locking and an audio system. But now, theres a new top-of-the-line variant, the VXi, that oers both those as standard, plus a rear spoiler and side mouldings. What is skips, annoyingly enough, is a keyhole on the front left door. Why would you do that, Maruti? The integrated audio system gets two speakers. With that, the Indian car market has evolved to a point where even a super-compact hatch (well, a variant, at least) gets an audio system, without the need to go to the aftermarket. The THE NUMBERS VXi will appeal to anyone 3cyl, 796cc, petrol, who looked at the Hyundai 47bhp, 69Nm, 5M, Eon only because it was FWD, 0-100kph: heavier on features. 16.86sec,
LINEA T-JET
The turbocharged Linea is back. The 2013 model sees almost no change. No complaints, though
Words AGASTI KAULGI e loved the earlier T-Jet. It was quick, handled well and looked good too. It was the rst aordable turbocharged petrol car in the country, but it barely registered on the sales charts. Now, theres a new Linea T-Jet, the 2013 model. Its almost the same car, with the same engine, same styling, only now, its available in three trim levels, unlike the two earlier. The top-end T-Jet gets discs all-around, auto headlights and wipers, and an audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, among other goodies. It also rides on 16-inch wheels while the lower variants get 15-inchers. Ground clearance is now
THESPECS
FIAT LINEA T-JET
THE NUMBERS 4cyl, 1,368cc, 112bhp, 207Nm, petrol, 5M, FWD, 0-100kph: 11.1sec, 80-0kph: 25.87m, 2.33sec, city kpl: 10.8, highway kpl: 14.1 THE COST `8.94 lakh (ex-Delhi) THE VERDICT The T-Jet was always a fun car. This new avatar livens things up with a bunch of options
190mm/185mm (top-end/other two trims levels), keeping our challenging road conditions in mind. The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine churns out 112bhp and 207Nm of torque, which takes it to 100kph in just 11.1 seconds. The motor feels a bit sluggish till the turbo boost kicks in at 2000rpm, but after that, its seriously quick. The steering is light but communicative and entertains you well if you throw it around bends. The ride too is good, with the car easily gliding over bad roads. The T-Jet starts at `7.69 9 lakh and goes to `8.94 lakh (both ex-Delhi).
THESPECS MARUTI ALTO 800 VXI

city kpl: 14.4, highway kpl: 18.8 THE COST `3.58 lakh (ex-Mumbai) THE VERDICT Alto 800s new variant gets features it sorely lacked. Is better value now
7 10
PHOTOGRAPHS: NITIN ROSE PHO
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5 10
FIRST DRIVES
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TATA NANO
After its early glory days, the Nano lost momentum. This update hopes to regain some lost ground
Words AGASTI KAULGI sually, theres chaos in the TG oce when theres a rearengine, rear-wheel-drive car to be tested. The rule with unattended keys is nders keepers. But this time, none of that happened. The keys have been lying there for a week with no takers. Before its launch, this rear-engine, RWD car was anticipated to be a gamechanger. But its early success was shortlived. For two years now, the Nano has failed to nd enough buyers. To address that, Tata has this update, which its calling the new Nano. Outside, barely anything has changed. Chrome strips now run on the hood and the boot. The rear sports a new mesh grille. The top-end variant gets new wheel caps. Inside, there are substantial changes, especially to the dash, which gets
a completely new design with two gloveboxes and the instrument cluster in the middle. There are two speakers at either end. Plastic quality has improved. Nothing feels as imsy as it did on the earlier Nano. No panel gaps inside, either. Tata has added a few features to the top-end to appeal to buyers looking for something a little more premium. It now gets remote locking, plus a new audio system that can pair with your Bluetooth device, and gets CD, AUX, USB inputs. But with our limited expertise with electronics, we couldnt manage to pair our phones to the audio system despite several attempts. Cabin space is quite good for this cars dimensions, but what shouldve been boot space is used up by the engine. No mechanical changes here. This update still doesnt get power steering, which is essential in city trac. Sigh. The ride is comfortable as long as you dont take it over sharp potholes or bumps, and it tends to get choppy at high speeds. The weedy tyres dont oer much traction if you get into a corner a little too quick. But not a big concern, because the engine rarely gets quick enough to give you a heart-in-mouth moment. This is the same twin-cylinder, 624cc
THESPECS TATA NANO

THE NUMBERS Two-cyl, 624cc, 37bhp, 51Nm, 4M, RWD, 0-100kph: 29.57secs (damp), 30-50kph (3rd): 6.86, 30-50kph (4th): 12.30sec, 50-70kph (4th): 13.54, 80-0kph: 40m, 3.8sec, city kpl: 18.1, highway kpl: 20.4, 105kph THE COST `2.68 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) THE VERDICT For cut-price motoring, theres nothing to beat the Nano. Now, youll get a feature list worth talking about.
Plastic quality doesnt feel cheap by any standards
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petrol block thats good for 37bhp and 51Nm. Its mated to a four-speed box that channels power to the rear wheels. The output feels just about sucient, but the motor needs to stay on the boil to keep up with trac on open road. Itll climb a ghat without the AC needing to be switched o, but only if you choose your gears right. Tata has not worked on the NVH levels the new Nano is still atrociously noisy inside the cabin. Being the budget car that it is, the running costs are tempting. The Nano will go 18.1kpl in the city and 20.4kpl on the highway. The updates top-end goes for `2.68 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) and despite that `20,000 increase over the earlier model, its still the cheapest car in India. And if you want even better running costs, the CNG version will be out in two months.
PHOTOGRAPHY: RA JEEV GAIKWAD
FIRST DRIVES
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A-CLASS DIESEL
Here's a Merc hatchback with brilliant handling and great styling inside out. Plus, its a diesel
Words DEVESH SHOBHA eve said this earlier when we tested the A-class Sport in August, and well say it again: If looks could kill, the A-Class would be behind bars. Look at this Mercedes hatchback from any angle and it looks exceptional. The styling is a radical departure from the conventional Merc designs weve become used to. Safe to say this is the best looking Mercedes yet. So then, after spending nearly a quarter of an hour ogling its curves and character lines, we nally take the best seat in the house more on that in a bit. For now, the interior. Even among premium hatchbacks, itll be hard to nd
a cabin as attractive as this one cant go wrong with a design inspired by the SLS AMGs now, can you? But we've noticed one thing there's a vast dierence between the front and rear seats. The front seats are extremely supportive and comfortable, and you can adjust the drivers seat in whatever manner you wish to. It can also memorise up to three individual settings. Slide on to the rear seat and you realise its only half as interesting as the front. The low-set seat is comfortable, but a little too upright. The bench is on the shorter side and lacks thigh support. Plus, the huge front seats obstruct most of the frontal view, and both, the windows and the rear windscreen are small. Apart from operating the rear window switches and cursing the people sitting ahead, theres not much to do at the back. The A featured here is the A180 CDI Style, powered by a four-cylinder 2.2-litre turbodiesel that churns out a modest 107bhp and 250Nm. That may not sound great on paper, but coupled to a sevenspeed dual-clutch transmission, the A180 CDI can push o in some style. Start the motor, and youre greeted by
IN DETAIL
DIESEL ENGINE Is very noisy and easily heard inside the cabin
ALLOYS The most stylish 17-inch alloys weve seen on a hatchback
PARKING ASSIST Missing on a premium hatchback? Thats a shame
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that typical diesel murmur while idling, which easily makes it into the cabin. And slotting the 7G DTC box into D and stepping on the gas only makes things louder. And its not exactly music to the ears. Not to ours, at least. Also, you wont be pushed back into your seat when you take o acceleration from standstill isnt great. The A180 CDI Style does 0-100kph in 9.9sec, making it 0.15sec slower than its petrol sibling. But this diesel motor isnt about outright performance. The manner in which it builds up speed and the way the seven-speed box responds to your right foot indicates how relaxed and well mannered this four-pot motor is. It is not a car you want to take to a drag strip, but it can surely spice things up on the roads, where it will spend most of its living years. Driving in the city is eortless, since power delivery is quite linear and available from as low as 1500rpm. Part-throttle response is quite adequate to amble around town. And while youre doing that, you could bask in the glory of the A-Classs stunning looks. However, out on the highway, the engine and gearbox combination doesnt feel all that impressive. D mode comes across as leisurely for the occasion, and S mode also doesnt feel as quick as you want a dual-clutch transmission to be.
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LIFE ON THE INSIDE

QUALITY
Top-notch interior. Softtouch plastic and leather trim all-round
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HONDA DREAM NEO

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hen Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India launched the Dream Yuga in 2012, it started a whole new chapter in the Indian motorcycle industry. Honda is clearly aiming for the top of the podium, a position that its erstwhile partner Hero has occupied for years now. And for the mission, Honda is banking big on its Dream series of motorcycles. The Dream Neo is the cheapest Honda motorcycle in India, slotted below the Yuga and competing with Heros Splendor and Bajajs Discover T. But the cheapest Honda doesnt feel cheap in any way. Build quality and t and nish are top notch, and while the styling may look similar to the Yugas, its new tail section gives it a new identity. At the Neos heart is a rened 110cc motor good for 8.25bhp and 8.63Nm. The Neo is the rst motorcycle based on the revolutionary Honda Eco Technology, which improves power output and eciency. Honda is claiming 74kpl for the Neo, but were yet to validate that. On the move, the lightweight Neo feels nimble and its responsive engine will put a smile on your face. Ride and handling is typical Honda it soaks up bumps eortlessly, and the THE NUMBERS butter-smooth handling 109cc, singleonly heightens the cylinder, 8.25bhp, experience. A smooth 8.63Nm, 4M, 105kg, 74kpl* four-speed box complements the engine. THE COST The irritant here is the `55,550 (on-road, Mumbai) absence of an optional front disc brake drum THE VERDICT brakes can never give you A no-nonsense everyday commuter. the reassurance of discs.
01
AIR-CON VENTS
SLS AMG-type vents look killer. Cooling is eective at the back too
02
SEATS
Comfortable driver seat gets electronic adjust and memory
03
CLIMATE CONTROL
Not fully automated. Manual AC knobs feel good to use, though
04
20-CD system gets 5.8inch TFT screen, Bluetooth, USB and Aux connectivity
AUDIO SYSTEM
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AIRBAGS
Seven of them. Promises best protection for driver and occupants
Still, thats a small price to pay for the bucket loads of fun that the A-Class diesel promises to be on open road. For those who wont sleep well until they hear of the eciency gures the A180 CDI returned a healthy 11.9kpl in the city, and 16.1kpl on the highway. The Indian in you will also like the fact that Mercedes has priced the diesel variant cheaper than the petrol. At `21.93 lakh (ex-showroom, But then, theres a manual Mumbai), the A180 CDI Style is mode that obeys your almost a lakh cheaper than the commands quite well. Still, petrol variant. But then, apart its heartbreaking to see the from the various active and 2,143cc motor which does passive safety features, the Sport duty in the C-, E- and variant gets the additional M-class detuned for this panoramic sunroof and signature A-Class. For once, the diamond grille. In the Style A rides and handles like a variant featured here, that grille wannabe sportscar, and Mini's largest is an optional extra. when youre in the mood to hatchback oering. Now If youre looking for a take things to the other side assembled locally. Mercedes-Benz thatll t into of sanity, the lack of outright Has more cabin and boot space a relatively smaller garage power is evident. without drying up your bank That brings us to ride and handling, which is a mixed bag. The heavy balance, this new A should do the trick. Yes, its a hatchback that costs upwards steering wheel weighs up well with an t then, it is one stunning increase in speeds, but feels a bit weighty of `20 lakh, but e, oering luxury at city speeds. Also, the A-Class points its looking package, h cars in higher nose in whatever direction you want it to. associated with , its sporty segments. Plus, The stier suspension setup is all lent drive and excellent good while cruising at high speeds, ners handling manners taking a fast corner or navigating twisty are denitely hill roads. But it comes at the cost of worth it. low-speed ride, which is a bit choppy.
THESPECS
MERCEDES A180 CDI
THE NUMBERS 2,143cc, 4cyl turbodiesel, 107bhp, 250Nm, FWD, 7A, 0-100kph 9.9s, 30-50kph 1.86s, 50-70kph 2.86s, city kpl: 11.9, highway kpl: 16.1, 80-0kph 26.81m /2.74s, 190kph* THE COST `21.93 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) THE VERDICT Dont look at the A as the cheapest Merc. Look at it as a premium hatch with luxury and class in an attractive package. And for once, the diesel variant is cheaper than the petrol.
THE RIVAL
THESPECS
HONDA DREAM NEO
ONE COUNTRYMAN
8 10
*claimed
Good build quality, and a worthy alternative to madein-India entry-level motorcycles.
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WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: DEVESH SHOBHA
10
*claimed
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RAISING THE GAME

ver the years, Mahindra has earned a reputation for oering great value-formoney products in the passenger car segment. Products with powerful yet ecient engines and segment-rst features have been Mahindras forte in its four-wheeler operations. And with its recent foray into the motorcycle market, Mahindra has shown a commitment to emerge as a serious player in the Indian two-wheeler market. As part of its bottom-up strategy, we saw the 110cc commuter, the Pantero, launched in early-2013. This was followed by the recent launch of a more premium 110cc commuter, the Centuro. When it was unveiled, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said, The Centuro is a conuence of customer feedback, out-of-the-box thinking and indigenous design. And thats what it felt like during my tryst with the Centuro. The rst thing I noticed were those golden ribs under the fuel tank, resembling the ones on Mahindras soon-to-be-launched 300cc Mojo. The ribs are a unique design element, making the bike
As if its good looks werent enough, , the Mahindra Centuro also has features that rewrite the rules of the game
stand out in the crowd of commuter motorcycles. Since it is positioned as a stylish, feature-rich commuter, the Centuro will spend the majority of its days doing daily chores, city and highway commutes, trips to the mall and school runs. And while in doing so, rest assured the Centuro will do it in comfort and style. Comfort because its long, soft seat will keep both, rider and pillion comfortable. This, along with its soft suspension setup, promises to gobble up most moderate-size potholes. And thanks to the bikes long wheelbase, it stays composed on unnished stretches of roads that are an integral part of our road infrastructure. For a 110cc commuter, the Centuro is a stylish package. The bikini fairing, stylish headlamp, LED pilot lamps and tail lamp, digital console, chiseled body, tattoo-like decals and all-black colour theme make the Centuro quite a looker. And those golden ribs round things o nicely. Those good looks are complemented by a smooth and rened 106.7cc MCi-5 engine that is
Ride-and-handling is the Centuros strong suit
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Distance-to-empty feature comes in quite handy
THE CENTURO PROMISES TO SET A NEW BENCHMARK IN THE ENTRY-LEVEL COMMUTER SEGMENT
good for 8.4bhp and 8.5Nm of torque. This unit has very smooth and linear power delivery with a meaty low- and mid-range. Coupled to a tall-geared four-speed gearbox, it helps the Centuro return exceptional fuel economy when ridden sanely. And with its claimed 0-60kph time of under 9secs, the Centuro is a decent combination of performance and economy. The company claims an ARAI gure of 85.4kpl. If this was any other bike, we would have stopped right here. But since the Centuro comes with a host of segment-rst features, its worth mentioning here. Imagine youve just stepped out of a cinema hall or a shopping mall and are headed towards the parking lot. You dont remember where you parked, and searching for a bike in a sea of bikes can be annoying as well as embarrassing. Good for you that the Centuro comes with nd me lamps that help you easily locate the bike even in crowded parking lots, just with the click of a button. The Centuro gets a ip key with a remote. The key-fob also comes with a small LED torchlight that will help you nd the ignition slot, incase you park in an ill-lit parking space. It also sports a guide lamp that came to my rescue when I had to walk out of a badly lit parking lot on my way to a friends place. The guide lamp stayed on even after the ignition was switched o, allowing me to nd my way in the dark. I was meeting friends, and as we chatted late into the night, while my friends had to continuously keep an eye on their bikes parked across the streets, I was utterly relaxed because the Centuro comes with safety features that most other bikes lack an anti-theft alarm. I was condent that if someone tried to steal the bike, the anti-theft system along with the 96 -bit encrypted remote key would simply sound an alarm and lock the engine. And even if a duplicate key is made, turning the ignition on with a key without the encryption wouldnt be possible. Peace of mind, then. One more feature that really helped was the Centuros distance-to-empty feature. Most riders, including yours truly, tend to keep riding a motorcycle for miles enough after the tank had gone into reserve. And on the analogue gauges that commuter bikes come with, its dicult to guess how far you could go after reserve has been reached. But the Centuros digital dashboard has an in-built algorithm that continuously keeps calculating cu distance-to-empty and gives you a real-time gure depending on your riding pattern. It also comes with an indicator for economy mode, which should help you get the best mileage out of your bike. All of which means if youre riding a Centuro, itll be really hard to run out of fuel! Plus, for the lazy rider in you, you dont even have to bother remembering the next scheduled visit to the Mahindra service centre the Centuro comes with a service indicator that prompts you when the bike needs expert examination. From the looks of it, the Centuro promises to set a new benchmark in the entry-level commuter segment. Priced at Rs 45,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), its a premium 110cc motorcycle that oers a host of features earlier available only in fourwheelers. And, it comes with a ve year warranty. At the end of our little tryst with the Centuro, we wont hesitate to say its a class-dening product that should please the ever evolving Indian twowheeler buyer.
Smooth and rened MCi-5 motor feels at home in all conditions
Tech Spec
Single-cylinder, 107cc, 8.4bhp, 8.5Nm, `45,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
First-in-class remote key with foldable fob is a welcome feature
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FIRST RIDES
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THUNDERBIRD 350
Want a Royal Eneld Thunderbird but are on a budget? The 350 delivers the goods nicely
Words ABHINAV MISHRA ruisers never go out of style, and thats true not just for those long-stroke V-twin Harleys. Ask Eneld, which came up with the Thunderbird 350 at the start of the century. Eneld purists didnt like it very much, but it did bring in new buyers who had not considered the Royal Eneld brand until then. The second-gen Thunderbird was launched with two engine options a fuel injected 500cc and a carburetted 350cc. We tested the 500 when it was launched; now we got our hands on the 350, Enelds bread-and-butter model. It looks exactly like the 500, and the design is an evolutionary change over the previous-gen TB. Its well proportioned and the fuel tank gels well with the rest of the bodywork, unlike the rst-gen bike. The projector headlamp and ve-bar LED tail lamp give this TB some character. For
350s motor low on torque, but high on efficiency
colour options, there are three kinds of black to chose from: matt, gloss and twilight (black with a blue hue). Very much like the 500 so far, but when you set o from a red light, the distinction starts becoming clear. The 350 doesnt leave trac behind as easily as the 500. Which is not to say the 350cc motor lacks power. On paper, it makes 19.8bhp and 28Nm, which is more than enough for city as well as highway riding. At cruising speeds, the 350 comfortably hums along at 80kph. Vibrations are minimal and the engine sounds stressfree. Wring the throttle further and youll come close to 120kph. The ve-speed gearbox is smooth and trouble-free, but it did hit false neutral on two or three occasions on our 250km-long test ride. The higher ratios have been designed with touring in mind. This also ensures the engine sips rather than gulps fuel from the 20ltr tank. In combined city and highway riding, the 350 returned an impressive 32.3kpl which means the 350 can do close to 650km on one top-up. Ride has been one of the strengths of the 500, and the 350 is no dierent. The suspension soaks up most of the bumps and the well padded seat lets you ride for long hours. The redesigned rear
THESPECS
ROYAL ENFIELD THUNDERBIRD 350
THE NUMBERS Twin-spark, single-cylinder 350cc, 19.8bhp, 28Nm, 5M, 32.3kpl, 120kph, seat height: 775mm, 192kg THE COST `1.45 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) THE VERDICT Need a budget cruiser that doubles as a fuelefficient, urban commuter? The TB350 it is, then.
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6 10
swingarm keeps the bike good in a straight line and agile around corners. This is the best handler in the Eneld stable, whether rounding a corner or gunning straight ahead. And thanks to those front and rear disc brakes that come standard, the 350 can scrub o speed as soon as it can gather it. In emergency braking, the bike kept its composure, aided by those grippy MRF Zapper tyres. After a day of riding the Thunderbird 350 in varied conditions, it was clear the bike cant compete with the 500 on sheer torque, but whatever power it has, it uses well. It didnt feel lacking on any other count compared to the more expensive 500, and rst-gen TB350 owners will be more than impressed with the new 350. At `1.45 lakh (on-road Mumbai), its `40,000 cheaper than the TB500 while oering the same renement as its bigger sibling.
PHOTOGRAPHY: RA JEEV GAIKWAD
ROMAIN JEROME MOON ORBITER WorldMags.net

P48 Couldnt be an astronaut? Dont fret, heres a watch made of Apollo 11 and moon dust
OUR CHOICE OF THIS MONTHS TOP-SPEC STUFF
THIS IS IT!
PHOTOGRAPHS: MANUFACTURERS
P48 0 HTC proves that you dont need a giganormous screen to be premium
PLUS
P49 It wont change the taste of your coffee, but well take this over Lavazza any day
TURBOCHARGED COFFEE
FERRARI CANS
P49 Ferrari coming out your ears? Get these. And listen to music while youre at it
REALLY REAL RACING
P50 A next-gen-looking racing sim that doesnt require a next-gen console
NEVER SAY DIE... HARD
P50 Its out on DVD and Blu-Ray. We tell you exactly how we feel about that
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WATCHLIST THIS MONTH: DIGI-DASHES
MECCANICHE VELOCI CHRONO DRIVER

Case swivels within a carbon frame so you can angle it towards you while driving.. `3.25 LAKH; MECCANICHEVELOCI.COM
1/ HTC ONE
ou can pack all the tech you want into a phone, but if it looks and feels cheap, then not even a giant screen can make it feel premium. Some manufacturers seem to be absolutely fine with that but thankfully, the HTC One feels like the phone your money deserves. The HTC One gives you quality and great form factor over size, so while you have a 4.7-inch screen, it has a super-crisp full HD display and a high pixel density of 468ppi, which makes even the smallest text appear super smooth. The phone design itself feels just right. The slim form and minimal bezel make the phone easy to use with one hand it doesnt feel like youre slapping a tablet on to your face when taking a call. Were not usually big fans of manufacturer interfaces, but the HTC Sense UI, after a few initial gripes, does seem to be the most intuitive Android front end out there, besides stock, of course. The app tray manages all your icons, and unlike
other interfaces, we didnt particularly feel the need to crowd the home screen with app launchers. But the biggest attraction of the new Sense UI is the Blink feed on your main home page. Not only does it work as a pretty good news aggregator, it also matches the Ones clean look and feel. Design done right means a lot, and here, the HTC One scores pretty high. The camera on the HTC One can be quite controversial, with its modest 4MP resolution. Also, while other manufacturers insist on giving you oversaturated happy pictures, the results we got from the HTC One under regular lighting conditions were more naturally toned. Though we prefer that, its not hard to imagine users wondering why the reds and yellows arent popping in their pics. That said, the picture quality is superior to a lot of the competition in terms of image sharpness. The Beats Audio label at the back was not particularly impressive at first, but the audio quality of the
Camera: 4MP (Primary), 2.1MP (Front) Dimensions: Video: 1080p@30fps, 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mm 720p@60fps, HDR Weight: Android OS: v4.1.2, upgrad143 g g able to v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) Display: Battery: Non-removable Super LCD3, 4.7 inches, Li-Po 2300 mAh 1080 x 1920 pixels, Chipset: 468 ppi Qualcomm APQ8064T Memory: 2GB RAM Snapdragon 600, QuadStorage: 32/64 GB core 1.7 GHz
THE NUMBERS
PORSCHE DESIGN COMPASS P6520

`4.2 LAKH; PORSCHE-DESIGN.COM Case flips open to reveal a compass.
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phones in-built speakers turned out to be far superior to any other handheld device weve heard in recent times. Looks like Beats Audio isnt just all hype after all. With just about every manufacturer launching their halo phones in the `40,000+ price range, the competition is all about the phone that is right for you. And while most people may have their hearts set on Samsung, Apple or even Blackberry, its the HTC One that comes across as a truly premium device thats powerful as well. `42,499; htc.com/in
WORDS: GAGAN GUPTA
Made using steel from Apollo 11 spacecraft, and genuine moon dust. `70 LAKH; ROMAINJEROME.CH
ROMAIN JEROME MOON ORBITER
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OPTIONS LIST
SOME MORE THINGS

Half-scale V12 Grand Prix engine dispenses a shot of espresso from a titanium exhaust tip. Its oil filter doubles as a grappa reservoir, should you like your coffee with a kick. `8.15 lakh; espressoveloce.com
worth buying this month...
2/ V12 COFFEE MACHINE
3/ LG JAZZ TV 32LN5650
Slim TVs are not usually known for good quality audio, but LG promises to fix that with its latest 32-inch Jazz TV. Featuring a 2.2 channel sound system, this should give you the boom thats been missing from your TV viewing. `37,000; lg.com/in
4/ FERRARI SCUDERIA P200 HEADPHONES

Want to hear Ferrari engine sounds all day? Then ignore these headphones. But if you want to listen to high quality audio from headphones that carry your favourite car brand (we assume its Ferrari, why else are you so interested?), go ahead and get these. `18,990; ferrari-bylogic3.com
5/ Basecamp Go Travel outdoor speaker case

Outdoor music can be tricky, or really expensive. If youre in the mood to play your favourite tracks while sipping some Old Grey on the balcony, these speakers are ideal for creating the right mood. The right mood being Justin Bieber. `2,080; basecamp.in
New, slimmer design, updated maps and a host of new discovery features make the new Garmin GPS navigational devices better than ever. Besides, have you tried asking for directions in our cities? Nothings worth that. `9,990; garmin.co.in
6/ Garmin Nuvi 52 LM
7/ Blaupunkt Velocity VX 652 speakers

The new range of Velocity car audio speakers boasts a number of good features, including oversized magnets and high-quality materials on all the speakers for perfect reference quality surround sound. `7,999(approx); blaupunkt.com
8/ Porsche Design P3135 Titanium Pen

Weve yearned for an indestructible pen all our lives. Well, not really, but its one hell of a conversation starter if you have one. Besides the titanium body, the pen also has an 18 carat gold nib and a scratch resistant coating. `65,000; porsche-design.com
7
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8
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The car list has been beefed up to 1,200 for GT6
10/ 0 A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD E
FILM
f the original PlayStation made gaming acceptable, the original Gran Turismo proved it could also be for grown-ups. It has been 15 years since the first outing of Kazunori Yamauchis game-changing racer and, from the initial information, the sixth edition promises to sort the men from the boys. To mark the announcement that Gran Turismo 6 will be coming to the PS3 later this year, we visited Silverstone one of seven new tracks in the game to have a quick play. So. The news. All the cars from GT5 are being carried over, but the list has been beefed up to 1,200, with more added online. An updated course maker function now includes many square miles of Andalucia in which to make your own circuit. Theres a new rendering model promising to push the limits of the PS3 (until the PS4 arrives within the next year or so). And in the usual obsessive attention to detail weve come to expect from Kazunorisan, Yokohama tyres and suspension company KW Automotive have acted as consultants on
the technical side, with the developers promising even more dynamic realism. And from this encounter, it seems as if they could be right. The same clumsy squirts of manhandling and power thatd lose you seconds behind a real steering wheel, just as easily make a monkey of you behind the virtual counterpart. As a taster, this was brief. But it looks as if it could be a decent Christmas `2,699
ven if you have only 10 words in your vocabulary, you stand a chance of grasping the dialogue in this, the fifth of the Die Hards. Thankfully, we didnt start the DVD expecting much of an intellectual workout. We also watched it through the mild fog of a hangover, which turned out to be the perfect way. Sprawled on a sofa with a fresh set of batteries in the remote, we put together our very own directors cut. This involved fast-forwarding anything resembling acting. It also involved much rewinding, in an attempt to fathom just how they inflicted destruction on Moscow with a vast fleet of wheeled things. In total, 132 vehicles were destroyed during the making of the film. Another 518 received generous damage, most of which came courtesy the Dartz Kombat a six-wheeled road tank capable of vaporising anything in its path. More came from a G-Wagen, which at one point drives over a traffic jam, crushing roofs like a monster truck, before taking on the mighty Dartz (which in turn is chasing an unusually well-driven Merc Sprinter van). The Rotten Tomatoes review blog gave it one star. Wed add another one to that, in appreciation of the stunty stuff. If you like car chases and if you have a functioning remote you will enjoy it. Well, some bits, anyway. DR `499 (DVD), `999 (Blu-Ray)
WORDS: AARON CALLOW
GRAN TURISMO 1997 On the original

PlayStation, featuring 140 cars and 11 tracks
GT2 1999 Still on the

original PS, now with 650 cars and 27 tracks
GT3: A-SPEC 2001 Fewer cars this

time, but far better dynamics on the PS2
GT4 2005 Gathering steam

now, with 722 cars and 51 circuits
GT5 2010 Launched on the

new PS3 with 1,086 cars and 73 tracks
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WORLD EXCLUSIVE
Think staying out of the way of rushing bulls in Spain is dicult? Try staying out of the way of the worlds rarest Gallardo in the narrow lanes of Banganga
N A R AYA N A N W ORD S SR IR A M WorldMags.net N IT IN RO SE PHO TO G RA PH Y
Gallardo LP 550-2 India Speciale WorldMags.net
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he Hyundai Elantra was behaving strange. I was doing 5kph in it when I dabbed at the brake pedal for a U-turn. But I was thrown forward in my seat as if I had stomped on the brake from 205kph. When I turned the steering it rotated as if it wanted to unscrew itself out, and when I pressed the throttle to slowly inch ahead, the 1.6 diesel engine revved to an insane 3000rpm. Good thing my left foot was on the clutch. Which is when I realised it was all because of the Gallardo. To be specic, the Lamborghini Gallardo Longitudinale Posteriore ve-hundred-andfty dash two, ftieth Anniversario India Serie Speciale. If youve just tuned in, Longitudinale Posteriore signies the longitudinally-mounted engine at the cars posterior; ve-hundred-and-fty is the power the engine makes in PS; dash two is the number of wheels the power goes to; ftieth Anniversario is a reminder that 2013 is Lamborghinis 50th year. Then of course, there is the India Serie Speciale. To celebrate 50 years, and as homage to India, Lamborghini India has released an extremely limited number of Gallardos that have the Indian tricolour on the nose, India-specic badging inside the cabin and green and orange stitching on the seats. You will get the India edition only in orange, white and green colours, and there are only six thats right, six in the entire world. If I have to be utterly honest with you, Id have to admit this to be a gimmick. But then, anything that sits so low, has so many sharp edges, has a V10 in the middle and makes 543 horses and 540Nm of torque is a gimmick. Ferrucio Lamborghini did not get into the car business to save the world, eradicate
FERRUCIO LAMBORGHINI DID NOT GET INTO THE CAR BUSINESS TO SAVE THE WORLD, ERADICATE POVERTY OR SPREAD PEACE, YOU KNOW. SO
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Turbos, valve-timers, superchargers need not apply
This is what you get when you climb to the top
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poverty or spread peace, you know. So But take it from me. In a couple of decades from now, the India Speciale will nd buyers willing to pay way more than the `3.80 crore it costs now, plus ination. What makes it rarer is that the India Speciale will only be right-hand drive and, in the rarest kind of Lamborghini a rear-wheel-driven one. Now, when the Gallardo was unveiled in 2003, the world was very dierent. Forget the changes in your personal life, politics, or the economy. If you just look at it in car terms, between 2003 and now, Ferrari has had the 360, the 430 and now the 458. But the Gallardo still looks like it was designed yesterday. And it denitely drives like its from another era. In the past decade, I have driven quite a lot of fast cars, and while all of them have varied between fast and emotional, fast and indierent, fast and rewarding, all of them have shared one trait they never demanded too much from you. Once you got around the fact that youd be doing 100kph in four seconds instead of 14, you could pretty much potter around town or gun it down an open road. This includes the Lamborghini Aventador and the Koenigsegg Agera. The Gallardo though, still expects the driver to make some eort. The steering is heavy, the pedals are heavy, the ride is hard. If driving a supercar is as challenging as
India Speciale gets orange stitching for drivers seat
riding a bicycle uphill, driving this Gallardo is like riding a bicycle uphill with weights tied around your ankles. No wonder I was having problems with the Hyundai I mentioned earlier. My ankles and arms were so tuned to the shoving and wrestling in the Gallardo that they were doing the same in the light and easy-to-use Hyundai Elantra on my way home. But in a strange sense, all that diculty was satisfying because once you make the eort, this Gallardo is properly rewarding. The engine doesnt have any turbos ruining the note, the heavy steering is full of feedback around corners, and the heavy throttle pedal allows you to minutely manipulate the amount of fuel gushing into the 10 cylinders, on its way from full tank to empty. And in an era when most brake pedals behave like an on/o switch, the one in the Gallardo behaves like a regulator, letting you nicely shave o speed before you pile it back on in a jiy, or slam it into the oor and make the machine come to a dead halt. I drove this car a couple of years ago on the F1 track at Shanghai. It was sensational. But now that its here as the India Speciale, we thought wed give it the India Speciale treatment at Banganga, one of the most unique places in Mumbai. Its a freshwater spring located a few metres from the salty Arabian Sea. You could call it a mini Varanasi with its temples, narrow lanes and small houses. But all of this is right in the middle of Malabar Hill, Mumbais toniest, most expensive piece of real estate and one of the richest Parliamentary constituencies in India. And in the middle of all that wealth is this buzzing, middle-class neighbourhood with a mid-engined V10 supercar doing its utmost to not go on a rampage. Navigating the Gallardo in these lanes is like walking a leashed lion in the middle of a hyena pack. If things get out of control, they are both capable of damaging each other. And in those lanes, the heavy steering, heavy brakes and heavy accelerator were giving my knee and ankle muscles a thorough workout. Of course, the car caused a sensation. But the most touching aspect of life in Banganga was the trust and co-operation in the neighbourhood. When we needed to move some cars that were in our
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NAVIGATING THE GALLARDO IN THESE LANES IS LIKE WALKING A LEASHED LION IN THE MIDDLE OF A HYENA PACK
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TOPGEAR .COM AUGUST 2013 057 * claimed LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP 550-2 INDIA SPECIALE PRICE: `3.06 crore (ex-Maharashtra) ENGINE: 5,204cc, V10 petrol, POWER: 543bhp at 8000rpm TORQUE: 540Nm at 6500rpm, TRANSMISSION: 6A, RWD 0-100KPH: 3.9 seconds*, TOP SPEED: 320kph* FUEL EFFICIENCY: If you have to ask FUEL CAPACITY: 90 litres, WEIGHT: 1,380kg PROS: Super rare, superb driver feedback, very rewarding to drive, no optional frills CONS: Hard ride, Audi-ish centre console, xed steering paddles BOTTOMLINE: If you have to get yourself a Lamborghini, this is the best version to go for
9/10
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No. We didnt dare try a handbrake turn in here
photographers frame, all we had to do was ask around, go to the house and they just gave us the keys to their cars. They didnt know us. They didnt know we were there with a Lamborghini. And they still just handed over their car keys to complete strangers. It is a mindset that is by now alien to the rest of the city, even to Bangangas immediate neighbours massive skyscrapers. Bangangas is a mindset that refuses to give in to temptation and convenience. Despite being a World Heritage site, it still has some of the grime and squalor typical of a small Indian town. But the people who live here are so used to this way of life, theyd have it no other way. Because theyve been living in the heart of south Mumbai for centuries, in a place that hasnt lost touch with that era when people talked to their neighbours, compared to todays single-oor apartments and security cams. Just as the Gallardo is from a dierent era. After having driven so many user-friendly supercars, this rear-wheel drive Gallardo is a welcome handful. You cannot drive it to work. You cannot do the airport or school run in this. And if you want a quiet drive down the highway cruising at 100kph, with the engine doing 1000rpm, well, forget it. This car would rather spit you out and pull over. This is not an all-rounder. What it wants is a lot of free road, a lot of fresh air and a driver who doesnt talk on the phone, reply to IMs, or keep taking one of those Me and my Lamborghini pictures for his Facebook.
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IF YOU WANT TO CRUISE AT 100KPH, THIS CAR WOULD RATHER SPIT YOU OUT AND PULL OVER
No. We didnt dare engage Corsa (race) in here
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The car isnt without faults, though. The centre console is way too Audi and the car has xed paddles. Which isnt a problem by itself because so do Ferraris and Maseratis. But their paddles are long and can be reached irrespective of steering position. The Gallardos are too tiny and should have moved with the wheel, instead of staying xed. So, allow me to stick my neck out and say, this is the best drivers Lamborghini available right now. Its denitely better than the open-top Lambo Spyder, in which the steering doesnt feel as true. The Aventador is breathtaking but is comparatively easier to drive and is not a hardcore drivers car. The Gallardo 570-4 comes close, but you are never going to be using those additional 20 horses or its all-wheel drive capabilities. I guess the replacement for the Gallardo, the Cabrera to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in a couple of months will be faster, lighter and more powerful. And I reckon it will be easier to drive. Which is not a bad thing. But it also means that the 550-2 will be the last of its kind. No such worries for Banganga, though. Its heritage status ensures that its centerpiece, a water tank, built in the 12th century, will never fall to the onslaught of development and fancy apartments. Now, its either by providence or design that India got these rare India Speciales in the form of the Gallardo 550-2. Just the thing to ensure that they are preserved somewhere in the world, just for the rarity and the Indian iconography. And in a few decades, you could tell your kids, Back in my day, this is how they made supercars.
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Ring IN THE
NEW
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Ingolstadts popular baby hatchback has grown a boot. But this new sedan is not just about that WORDS GIRISH KARKERA
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id you know that Budapest, the capital l city of Hungary, is actually three towns in one? Its an amalgamation of the towns of Buda and Obuda on the west of the enchanting Danube river, and Pest (not surprised the residents would want a new name) to the east. Once on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain, today, Budapest in particular and Hungary as a whole are on the rise. Its very European in its mix of people and their way of life, but there is still that old-world charm to its numerous buildings and relatively easygoing way of life. Especially when you compare it to Europes other bustling cities. The old and the new seem to coexist in perfect harmony. So, is it just a coincidence that we are here to drive Audis new A3 sedan? The marquee from Ingolstadt has some history in Hungary. It is in the northwestern town of Gyor, which houses one of the worlds biggest automotive engine manufacturing units. The rst A3 sedan was also made here at the very place that also made the earlier Audi TT. The A3 name isnt new on the world scene. It rst came to life in 1996 as a premium hatchback. The model is now in its third generation and starts with a three-door hatchback, going to a ve-door Sportback (a mini estate version of sorts) and now this sedan. Now, hatchbacks growing up into sedans is not big news. Weve seen that happen aplenty in various segments a boot simply gets plastered onto the rear of the hatch version. Some are tastefully done, others not. More importantly, sitting inside or even looking at it from the front, you may nd it dicult to pinpoint the dierence. And its here that the Audi starts being dierent. There is no mistaking the Audi family look here, with the single large grille and those piercing LED headlamps. But surprisingly, the sedan version of the A3 doesnt share a single body panel with the hatch versions. Audis Head of Design, Wolfgang Egger has been one of the staunchest supporters of bringing in a sedan version of the popular A3. Not surprisingly, hes made sure it emerged as something special. Describing the process, he says designing the car was like sculpting the piece is only perfect once you have removed everything that doesnt belong there. While its hard to say what they have removed, whats easy to notice are those dynamic lines that run through the length of the car, giving it a strong muscular look. None of those lines, as the designers point out, end in nothing take, for example, the tornado line below the window sill, which starts from the headlamps and ends at the tail-lights. Or, the lower angular dynamic line that joins the extra-ared wheel arches. There is that underlying resemblance to an A4, yet in reality, its distinct enough to stand out on its own. At the front and rear is a prominent,
Distinctive enough to stand out on its own
No quattro here, but still a rm grip on the road
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Audi A 3
horizontally accentuated design layout to give a sense of width to the compact dimensions. At just under 4.5m long and just over 2.5m wide, the A3 sedan isnt a particularly big car. But its not small either. In fact, it is smaller than a VW Jetta in length but a few millimetres wider. Of course, there is little in common between these two cars. Typically, the A3 uses a heady mix of highstrength steel (in places such as the passenger cell frame) and aluminium, to keep weight in check where it can for example, the bonnet. And all the manufacturing attention to detail shows because the A3 feels very nimble and agile, irrespective of engine spec. Speaking of which, there are three engine options as of now. A new-gen 1.4 TFSI, a lighter 1.8 TFSI and nally, a 2.0TDI. Lighter, more fuel ecient and spewing less CO2, the new engines feel at home doing their job of making the A3 a fast sedan. All three engines can be mated to either a sixspeed manual or a six-speed S-tronic automatic. The 1.4 may be relatively low displacement but it outputs a healthy 140bhp and 250Nm, enough to do the dash to 100kph in just 8.4sec. This engine also has something called the
The sedan version of the A3 shares not a single body panel with the original hatchback
Just enough room for ve. But nicely done
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The A3WorldMags.net is not just a smaller A4. It is a proper Audi experience
cylinder-on-demand system, which basically switches o the second and third cylinders when not needed and lets the A3 coast on just two cylinders. This improves fuel eciency, albeit marginally. The diesels also feel quite free-revving and if not for that distinct note, theres hardly any dierence between the diesel and petrol engines in the way they propel the car ahead. We could go on and on about the technology, but really, its the way the Audi moves thats exhilarating. Its like a free bird soaring in the sky. You think its gliding along but its actually hunting for prey, ready to swoop down whenever it needs to. The A3 can be a bit like that. The electromechanical steering is speed-sensitive its supposed to get heavier as speed builds but its still on the lighter side. Nevertheless, it is precise. What helps is the nimble chassis, which never complains when you feel like throwing the car into a corner. Steering feel is the only Achilles heel in the corner-hard driving experience. But thanks to gizmos like the electronic transverse lock which is part of the ESP you wont be part of the scenery unless you try really hard. Electronic transverse lock gently slows down the inner front wheel to reduce understeer. Then theres the optional Audi Drive Select on S-Tronic-equipped models, which lets the driver choose between dierent drive modes Comfort, Dynamic, Eciency, Auto and Individual. The A3 sedan is not supposed to be just a
S P E C S
AUDI A3 SEDAN
LxW xWxH.................................................................................4456 x 1796 x 1416MM WHEELBASE...............................................................................................2637MM BOOT SPACE..........................................................................................425 LITRES WHEELS..............................................................................................16-19 INCHES TURNING CIRCLE............................................................................................10.9M PROS - LOOKS GOOD ON THE ROAD, WELL-APPOINTED INTERIOR, ENGINES, PERFORMANCE, CHASSIS CONS - LIGHT STEERING, FIRM RIDE, ALL THOSE WONDERFUL GIZMOS ARE OPTIONAL BOTTOMLINE - NOT JUST A HATCHBACK WITH A BOOT. T THIS IS AN ALL-NEW CAR THAT TRIES HARD TO OFFER A LUXURY SEDAN EXPERIENCE IN A COMPACT PACKAGE. DOES REASONABLY WELL
Lots of driver aids like side assist to choose from A3 cockpit inspired by the real thing
OTHER DETAILS
Engine ngine Displacement Power 1395cc 1.4TFSI 140bhp 1798cc 1.8TFSI 180bhp 1968cc 2.0TDI 150bhp Torque 0 0-100 100kph Top speed KPL (est) 250Nm 250Nm 320Nm 8.4s 7.3s 8.7s 217kph 235kph 220kph 12.5 10.5 14.5
7/10
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Audi A 3
smaller car. It is supposed to be a proper Audi experience. Which means there are loads of technology bits and even equipment that weve so far found only in slightly more luxurious models. The MMI system in this Audi, in fact, is a newer generation and comes with a unique touch dial on which you can magically enter information by just running your ngers through. Of course, this is optional tment, but then, itll be optional on many other Audi models below the agship sedan. The cockpit can genuinely be called a cockpit because it seems to be inspired by one. There is no elaborate set-up, no mish-mash of buttons. The centre dash is low set and has aero dials for air-con vents. The seven-inch multimedia screen pops out of nowhere and contains a huge grocery list of driver assist systems to choose from. The interior is well-appointed and if taken care of, could last a lifetime. The A3 sedan will come to India by the middle of next year. So, theres still time. And that time is what Audi India needs to get its business plan right for this car. Because right now in Europe, it sells for `20-22 lakh. Add our own import duty on a CBU and the A3 wont make sense, however good it may be. And good it is because this is a proper Audi experience, with practicality to boot. Boot! That reminds me, theres also 425 litres of cargo area. And that can be doubled if you have just one co-passenger, because the rear seats can be split folded. You may think thats no big deal considering everything else the car oers. Like I said earlier this is not your regular story about a hatchback getting a boot.
Highly useable boot 425 litres of space
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Mercedes WorldMags.net E-Class
WORDS AGASTI KAULGI

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PHOTOGRAPHY NITIN ROSE
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ANTI-AGEING FORMULA
With more amboyant styling and a bunch of extras that the earlier car didnt have, the new E is getting younger with time
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ometimes, for some products, theres one brand that is almost a synonym for that product. Like in India, Bisleri for mineral water or Cadbury for chocolate. And when we hear the term luxury car, for most of us, the rst image that comes to mind is the three-point star. Mercedes-Benz has been in business in India for about 17 years, but following the arrival of the other Germans in that space, Mercedes has had to raise the bar. And that brings us to the new E-Class. The E has always been the most popular Merc in India. Since the 1990s, the W123 and W124 models have had an army of admirers in India both models are popular in the used car market even today. All in all, 23,000 people have bought the E in India since the model was launched in 1996. The new E-Class is not an all-new car. Whats new is the styling. From up front, its almost impossible to tell this is the same E under the skin. The twin quad headlamps have been ditched for large single-unit ones. The daytime running LEDs have been moved up from the bumper and are now integrated into the headlamps. These headlamps, with daytime LEDs, are now in sync with the new Merc design theme, and immediately distinguish the new model from the older one. The three-point star sits in the middle of that wide grille with two horizontal slats. Oh, and its now illuminated. Which looks awesome once the sun goes down. Pity the illuminated star is an optional extra, though. In prole, the new car looks almost identical to the earlier one, with sharp sweeping lines running all the way to the C-pillar. At the rear, Merc says LED and optical bre technology has gone into designing the new-shape tail-lamps. But apart from those tail-lamps and the slightly altered bumper, the designers havent messed too much with the rear. The cabin has also got the treatment. The dashboard is wrapped in black or beige leather, as are the seats. An aluminiumnish strip runs along the width of the dash, end to end; the centre console is also aluminium-nished. Plus theres the option of a wood-nish strip instead of aluminium. The earlier E-Class lacked some essentials, but the new
THE NEW E IS NOT AN ALL-NEW CAR IN FACT, FROM UP FRONT, ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL THIS IS THE SAME E-CLASS UNDER THE SKIN
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Mercedes E-Class WorldMags.net
New styling weaves edgy and traditional into one juicy package Optical bre and LEDs do their magic at the tail end of business
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car addresses that quite well. Theres an updated COMAND system to deal with all your music and Bluetooth connectivity needs this one can play music via your Bluetooth device. Also, this COMAND system has an in-built sat-nav. Another must-have, a reversing camera, is now standard, which should make parking less torturous than it is right now. And speaking of parking, the E-Class also gets Park Assist for automatic parking, much like in VWs Passat. Only, this one is not as user-friendly as the VW system. The front seats remain big and comfortable and have memory settings along with electric adjustment. The rear bench too is comfortable and has decent under-thigh support. The rear has AC vents with dedicated temperature control. Merc has cut down the number of engine options on the new E, which now has only one petrol and one diesel option. This, Merc says, was done to reduce the complexity of inventory management
Mercedes WorldMags.net E-Class
WITH THIS NEW DESIGN THEME, MERC IS READY WITH A PROPER RESPONSE FOR ALL THOSE WHO SAID, MERCS ARE FOR OLDIES
COMAND system gets better at what it already did well
MERCEDES E250 CDI

ENGINE: 2,143cc, 4-cyl, diesel POWER: 202bhp TORQUE: 500Nm GEARBOX: 7A, RWD 0-100KPH: 7.5 seconds (claimed) TOP SPEED: 242kph (claimed) LxWxH (MM): 4,879 x 1,854 x 1,474 KERB WEIGHT: 1,800kg
PROS: Ride, features, styling CONS: Steering feel, gearbox, handling BOTTOMLINE: The new styling makes the E look younger and more amboyant than before. It was an easy 8/10 if it had a quicker box and sharper handling.
7/10
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Sophistication and impeccable quality are still standard features... ... but illuminated star is not part of the package. Grrr
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across all its models. The petrol is the 182bhp, 300Nm 2.0-litre block; the diesel is a 2.2-litre turbo-charged oil burner, good for 202 horses and 500Nm of torque most of which can be felt 1800rpm onwards. Power delivery is linear, with very few surprises in store. This is one rened motor, nicely muted through most of the rev range, intruding into the cabin only after 3800rpm. Till last year, this engine was mated to a ve-speed automatic box, which has since been replaced by a seven-speed unit. Unlike the engine, the gearbox is no genius. Its not the quickest one in the game it takes a moment before downshifting when you push the throttle into the oor. On the plus side, the added cogs keep the motor in its comfort zone most of the time. And the wellsorted ratios mean the fuel eciency, especially while cruising on the highway, should return a respectable number (TG test pending). Shown the beans, the E250 CDI hits a claimed ton from standstill in 7.5 seconds. The new E rides extremely well over broken roads, with only the really sharp bumps making it to your spine. And all of this despite running on 18-inch wheels wrapped in low-prole rubber. The springs and dampers do a wonderful job of creating a comfortable ride even on pothole-ridden roads. On the ip side, whats not amazing is the steering feel, which is a tad too light for my taste. Feedback too isnt great. Push it hard through a series of bends and it feels unsettled. The softer setup of the suspension has resulted in noticeable body roll. And a fair bit of vertical movement. I wouldve ranked the new E higher than I do now, if only it handled as well as the C-Class while giving you the comfort and space on oer in the E. While the styling and added features have turned the new E-Class into an improved package, naturally, the sticker price has also changed fortunately, its now dearer only by `20,000. The new E250 CDI will set you back by `44.48 lakh, the E200 CGI is `41.5 lakh (both ex-showroom, Delhi). If youre one of the rst 100 to book the new car, you can have a German-made E-Class for `49.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), brought in as a CBU. With the new cars refreshed design theme, added goodies, comfort and space, Mercedes looks ready with a proper response to all those who said, Mercs are for oldies. Still, while its a good thing for Mercedes to be attracting younger buyers, Ive decided to hunt down the man or woman who took that illuminated logo out of the standard feature list.
India Exclusive
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PARANO
PHOTOGRAPHY MANUFACTURERS
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RMAL
ACTIVITY
WE TAKE THE WORLDS RAREST ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST TO THE WORLDS MOST BREATHTAKING ROAD THE STELVIO PASS
WORDS SRIRAM NARAYANAN
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n my nearly decade-long career, I have always pretended to be busy whenever a Rolls-Royce story was around the corner. Not that I have anything against the cars. But personally, the concept of extreme luxury is something I have never understood. So me trying to gauge a Rolls is a bit like a teetotaler trying to write about the intricacies of a single malt. If you are inside a car thats called the Rolls-Royce Ghost Alpine Trail Centenary Edition, youd nd it intimidating. What I found intimidating, though, was driving the car itself. I have driven Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis on crowded Indian roads. None of them were as intimidating as getting this Ghost out of the underground car park of a hotel in Innsbruck, Austria. And its just for this that the Ghost has a camera each under the wing mirrors to give you that helicopter view for getting out of tight spots. And trust me, in a Ghost, even your most routine spots are going to be tight. The Ghost you see here is the Alpine Trail Centenary Edition made to commemorate 100 years since Rolls-Royce rst embarked on the Alpine Trail in 1913. So the Centenary mirrors a certain James Radleys original Silver Ghost, which survived the 2,912km event, and won. Which is why you have the retro blue paint, the black grille and wheels, the topography of the rst Alpine Trail etched on the dashboard and some other bits that pay homage to the original car. Mechanically, there isnt much dierence from the 2012 car just an updated media interface and the facility to write names and numbers on the screen via a touchpad. At which point, you wouldnt think much of this Rolls. I didnt.
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Rolls-Royce Ghost WorldMags.net

Till I realised I was in one of only 35 of these cars in the entire world. And if I scratch such a rare car just on the way out of the car park, the people from Rolls-Royce who welcomed me with a lot of warmth would probably have just taken me to the Alps, got me out of the car on some pretext, and driven o. Anyway, I got out without incident and in a few kilometres, I got this very electric feel from the car. No. I dont mean hair-raisingly electric, but smooth, sensation-less electric. The car has a mighty V12 engine, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, a suspension, axles but when it moves, you dont sense any moving parts. The only trace of motion the Ghost does not hide is the view outside the glass. If you shut your eyes, you cant feel, hear or sense anything to convey that you are in motion. The Ghost doesnt seem to move on the road, it simply appears to hover over it. Which automatically means the car should bestow you with carpet-like ride. And it does. Despite riding on runat tyres. Which automatically means the car will roll around corners like a wheel rolls down a ight of stairs. Well, it doesnt. The only other cars that have less roll around corners than this Rolls are ones that have Ferrari, Porsche or Mini on the label. Dont get ahead of yourself. This is not a drivers car. The Rollss habit of taking away all traces of motion also takes away all traces of feel from the driver. This car can surely be hustled, but neither you nor the car is going to enjoy it. What the Ghost does enjoy is wafting down at a pace that will get you a speeding ticket in Europe. Yet, its power reserve indicator will still show about 99 per cent of its 562 horses. A BMW M5 makes 552. But while any car with this much power is always straining at the leash, the Ghost is a high-frequency shriek. You may not be able to hear or feel it, but windowpanes around will crack. The Ghost never gives you the sensation of frantic motion.
The topography of the Alpine Route from the 1913 Alpine Trail
THE GHOST DOESNT SEEM TO MOVE ON THE ROAD, IT SIMPLY APPEARS TO HOVER OVER IT
But if I mention the speeds it carelessly takes you to, I might get a ticket sent to me in India. Then theres that gearbox. Quite thankfully, you dont have any Sport or Manual modes. All you get is a steering-mounted lever to engage Drive, Reverse and Park. Needless to say, it shifts gears without you realising that the transmission is working. The party trick here is that the transmission has a hotline to the GPS. So if it detects you are on the motorway, the car automatically keeps the gears high and engine revolutions low. If it detects you are, say, on the Stelvio Pass, the gears are retained for longer and the car will never bother going to fth.
So the Ed knows I was working and not goong o on oce time
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100 YEARS AGAIN
The Alpine Trail used to be a gruelling endurance competition, started more than a century ago. Call it a LeMans lasting more than 24 hours and over 3,000km of public roads, mostly through mountain terrain in Europe. The stakes werent high and the drivers were only private enthusiasts who were in it for the fun and the challenge rather than endorsements or money. It is said that a car that could survive the Alpine Trail could survive anything. A couple of thousand-odd kilometres may not mean much today, but with the roads and car technology that existed a century ago, the Alpine Trail did separate the men from the boys. This Silver Ghost currently belongs to collector John L Kennedy.
ONCE YOU REACH THE TOP, THE SIGHT YOU SEE WILL PUT THE WORD MAGNIFICENT TO SHAME
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THE STELVIO PASS IN NUMBERS BUILT
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1820 2,757
ELEVATION METRES LENGTH HAIRPINS
James Radleys original Silver Ghost, which did this a century ago
24.3 48
KM
SPEED LIMIT
60KPH
UNOFFICIAL YOUD HAVE TO BE GREAT OR FOOLISH TO TOUCH 60
Ah, the Stelvio Pass. The road that properly had me in a sweat. Now, the Ghost is currently RRs smallest car. There is, of course, the Phantom. Then there is the Ghost Extended Wheelbase. But being the smallest doesnt mean much when you are nearly 18 feet long and over six feet wide. And this car on the Stelvio is like watching those one-run-required-in-one-ball kind of cricket matches. The Stelvio is extremely narrow and going around its hairpins is like climbing the stairs to your apartment. To complicate things further, there are a whole lot of picnickers, unruly bikers and tourist mini buses in your way. And quite a few parts of this Pass had nothing to stop you from going o the road and being swallowed by the mountains. Frankly, its not a road you can carry much speed through. Nor can you attack those hairpins with other trac around. The ocial speed limit is 60kph. The way the road was, Id call 60kph less of a speed limit and more of a dare. But once you reach the top, the sight you see will put the word magnicent to shame. You overlook quite a lot of Europe and that dangerous road that got you up here looks like a harmless piece of ribbon thats just fallen o the sky and coyly settled amidst the nooks and crevices of the mountains. At rst, it seems like a crazy idea to take the Ghost up the Stelvio. But the best way to tackle the Ghost up Stelvio is, erm, not to drive it. In fact, the best way to enjoy the Ghost is to just not drive it. The way this car cocoons you from the world outside, I guess, the only other time you felt so calm and protected may have been in the maternity ward, just after you were born. In fact, with the Ghost, for the rst time ever in my life, I spent more time in the back seat than in the drivers seat. I have never got my head around the fact that somebody would want a motorcar that suppresses rather than enhances the sensation of motion. But on those two days, through the most beautiful parts of Austria and Italy, over a road as challenging as the Stelvio, I could think of no better place to be in than the back seat of that Ghost. Its a bit shameful for a motoring journalist to admit, but there you have it. With quite a sense of regret, I now understand the point behind extreme luxury. I just hope I can shake it o in time. And if you want to get yourself one of these 35 Centenary cars, you may need to hurry. As I write this, there are only two remaining.
ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST ALPINE TRAIL CENTENARY EDITION PRICE: `3 crore approx (only two remain) ENGINE: 6,592cc V12 turbo-petrol, POWER: 562bhp at 5250rpm TORQUE: 780Nm at 1500rpm, 0-100KPH: 4.9 seconds TOP SPEED: 250kph (limited), TRANSMISSION: 8A, RWD, WEIGHT: 2435kg
PROS: Extreme silence, extreme comfort, extremely rare CONS: A pain to manoeuvre around tight spots, you will never want to drive it BOTTOMLINE: Now that clocks have grown more sophisticated and quieter, you cant even hear the clock tick in this Rolls.
8/10
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Honda CB Trigger vs Yamaha FZ-S
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This Japanese duo has a common goal to spice up the 150cc commuter segment. Both are pretty good at that, but what if you need to buy just one?
WORDS DEVESH SHOBHA PHOTOGRAPHY PARAG PARELKAR WorldMags.net
Honda CB Trigger vs Yamaha FZ-S

f you see a mobile phone dating from when these phones rst came to India, it reminds you of simpler times when phones were used mainly to make and receive calls. You didnt have too many models to choose from, and it was quite likely that the phone in your pocket was similar to the one used by your father-in-law. Then, suddenly, the market evolved and mobile devices started to do things wed never expected them to. The number of manufacturers too increased manifold, and today, the market is ooded with phones of every size and shape catering to a whole range of whims and fancies. The motorcycle market in India is more or less singing the same tune. Earlier, every player in the market had one contender catering to a particular segment. But with time, the market evolved, and cutthroat competition and customer demands gave birth to a dizzying range of sub-segments. Today, every manufacturer has more than a couple of models catering to the same segment with similar specs but slightly dierent looks and features. Take, for example, the Yamaha FZ-S. It looks identical to the FZ16 but promises to oer more than its sober 150cc commuter cousins, the SZ-S and SZ-RR. Honda too has an answer to this premium 150cc segment in the shape of the CB Trigger, which is the expensive alternative to the Unicorn. So, Yamahas FZ-S and Hondas CB Trigger were born with similar goals to oer more than a regular 150cc commuter. Along with practicality, these motorcycles come across as sporty and stylish alternatives to their respective 150cc siblings. But which one is more fun? To nd out, we put them through a mixed week of torturous daily commutes to work, run some errand and a trip to the mountains for a well deserved break. So we start with the styling. Despite being more than three years old, the FZ-S doesnt look a day older than the rst time it rolled out of the Yamaha factory. All credit to the evergreen FZ1-inspired styling and the new body graphics, which complement the FZ-Ss aggressive stance. The CB Trigger looks a bit sedate in comparison. Sure, its got modern styling, but a closer inspection reveals the headlamp with bikini fairing and the sculpted fuel tank with pseudo air intake resemble the ones on the Yamaha. Inoensively designed, the Trigger is a
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decent bike to look at, but out in the open, the FZ-S is more likely to turn heads. Both have single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke units. Both have ve-speed gearboxes, and while both make 14bhp of power, the FZ-Ss 153cc unit churns out 13.6Nm of torque, compared to the Triggers 12.5Nm developed from its 149cc motor. Get astride these bikes and their intentions are clear almost instantly. Both have comfortable seats but the Honda has the edge. And while the FZ-S, with its low-set handlebar, gives you a tippedforward riding position, the Triggers upright riding style with its conventional handlebar is more commuter-friendly. So if your daily travel involves peak trac, the Trigger will prove more comfortable. The incessant rains in Mumbai have taken apart its already crumbling roads. There isnt a single street, bylane or stretch of highway that is not riddled with potholes. And in such conditions, you need a bike thats extremely ickable (to evade potholes) and a suspension that saves your backside (if you cant evade a pothole in time). The FZ-S and the Trigger, with their telescopic front forks and rear monoshock, make easy work of these treacherous conditions. But with its softer setup, the Honda has the better ride. Yamahas slightly stier setup lets the rider know what the bike is going through, but thats only at slow speeds. The Japs are pretty evenly matched on engine performance. While the Honda unit feels rened and responsive, the Yamahas is free-revving and, surprisingly, the quieter of the two (the Trigger has the meatier exhaust note). On the move, both bikes feel agile and quick o the block.
FZ-Ss chunky fuel tank and aggressive headlamp design give it a sporty look
Tiny tail lamp doesnt go well with FZ-Ss overall stout appearance
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Both bikes are great fun on and o the road. But dont blame us if you get stuck in the muck
Get astride these motorcycles and their intentions are clear almost instantly
Rened engine and Combi Brake work great. Cheap switchgear is a let-down
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The Trigger matches the FZ-Ss every move. But the Yamaha has a bit more drama
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S P E C S
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YAMAHA FZ-S
7/10
ENGINE ...............................................................AIR-COOLED, 4-STROKE 153CC POWER.....................................................................................14BHP @ 7500RPM TORQUE ................................................................................13.6NM @ 6000RPM TRANSMISSION...................................................................................................5M WEIGHT ............................................................................................................135KG FUEL EFFICIENCY.......................................................................................36.4KPL FUEL CAPACITY.........................................................................................12 LITRES TYRE SIZE (F/R).......................................................100/80-R17 / 140/60-R17 PRICE.....................................................................`81,000 (ON-ROAD, MUMBAI) PROS - STYLING, SPORTY RIDING POSITION, HANDLING, TYRE GRIP CONS - POOR HEADLAMP ILLUMINATION, TAIL-LAMP STYLING BOTTOMLINE - THE FZ-S FEELS SPORTY TO RIDE, HANDLES WELL AROUND CORNERS AND IS A BETTER OVERALL PACKAGE
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And given a decent stretch of road, they can easily touch three-digit speeds. But, while the Honda unit revs up to 9000rpm, the Yamaha struggles a bit after 8000rpm. With the grinding working week coming to a close, we decide to reward ourselves with a little trip to Lonavala. The trip consists of around 200km of open highway mixed with owing, winding corners, and both bikes are up to the task. The Yamaha is impressive. Its free-revving engine, sporty riding position and precise gearshifts make riding the FZ-S out in the open a treat. The grip from the MRF 100/80 in front and 140/60 at the rear is phenomenal too. Not once did the Yamaha lose composure, whatever the surface it was on. The Honda matched the Yamahas every move. Well, almost. Open the throttle, and the Triggers rened motor reaches out for its redline in every gear. With smooth shifts and that eagerness to gobble up the kilometres, the Trigger impressed us right away. But as the favourable road conditions start to change, the Trigger goes on the back foot. The MRF 100/80 rubber upfront and 110/80 at the rear, surprisingly, oer good grip. But you tend to get a bit cautious on slippery surfaces the Trigger lacks the condence to attack a corner. Also, its upright riding position means hard cornering is ruled out. And when youre in the mood for some spirited riding, the toe-heel gearshifter is most annoying. Now, most of us have seen our share of the lunatics who monopolise our highways changing lanes indiscriminately, abruptly taking U-turns, and charging down the wrong lane. And of course, children and livestock running across the road without warning. All of which needs a braking system thatll keep you out of trouble. Both bikes manage to stop in time, but the combination of Hondas Combined Braking System (CBS) and the rear disc brake on the Trigger is more eective and reassuring. Compared to the regular 150cc commuters, these two bikes are meant to spice up our riding, so we wandered o the highway in search of some fun. The FZ-S was happy rolling up and down the slippery gravel and slush. Ditto the Trigger, which easily handled whatever it encountered, but not as eortlessly as the FZ-S. Both motorcycles are great fun but temperamentally dierent. The FZ-S is the teenager, dressed in jeans and t-shirt
Audi A3 Honda CB Trigger vs Yamaha FZ-S
7/10
S P E C S
HONDA CB TRIGGER
ENGINE............................................................AIR-COOLED, 4-STROKE, 149.1CC POWER....................................................................................14BHP @ 8500RPM TORQUE.................................................................................12.5NM @ 6500RPM TRANSMISSION...................................................................................................5M WEIGHT............................................................................................................137KG FUEL EFFICIENCY.......................................................................................37.6KPL FUEL CAPACITY........................................................................................12 LITRES TYRE SIZE (F/R)............................................................100/80-R17 /110/80-R17 PRICE...................................................................`90,800 (ON-ROAD, MUMBAI) PROS - REFINED ENGINE, COMFORTABLE SEAT, BRAKES CONS - LACKS DRAMA, SWITCHGEAR BOTTOMLINE - THE TRIGGER DOES EVERYTHING THE FZ-S DOES. BUT IT LACKS DRAMA AND TILTS MORE TOWARDS BEING A COMMUTER THAN A SPORTY INDIAN MOTORCYCLE
and bouncing around the dance oor. The Trigger is the guy in shirt, trousers and loosened tie enjoying the music and a scotch at a well placed table. After riding the two motorcycles for more than 500km in varied conditions, we nd this is one close ght. The Yamaha FZ-S is a amboyant 150cc designed to oer that extra bit of spice thats missing from your average 150cc commuter. The Honda CB Trigger is a worthy rival to the FZ-S, quite capable of matching the Yamahas every move. But the Trigger lacks an important ingredient that buyers in that segment want drama. Plus, at `90,800, the top-end Trigger (with CBS) isnt exactly cheap. Its more than `9,000 over what Yamaha charges for a package that does absolute justice to what the FZ-S was born to do entertain. And we were entertained all right.
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Jaguar C-X75
This is the Jaguar hybrid hypercar that was meant to crush the 918, P1 and LaFerrari. Sadly, Jag put it on ice. But not before we got a drive...
WORDS: PAUL HORRELL \ PICTURES: LEE BRIMBLE
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hinking about it afterwards, another 3.2kph would have been nice. Because 3.2kph more wouldve taken me to 188kph, which keen students of unit conversion will recognise as a nice round 300kph. The car certainly isnt the limiting factor, its big digital speedos digits scrolling hungrily away towards the maximum of about 220. But right now, 294kph looks like a big enough number to me. My mind is on other matters: its streaming with rain, a corner is approaching fast and Im driving a car thats precious and irreplaceable albeit, Im thinking, not as precious as my passenger and me. Brakes. We were always expecting to be driving the C-X75 in dierent circumstances from this. And not only better weather. Jag built ve C-X75s to test and prove the technology and check if this amazing hypercar was suitable for production. In 2011, it announced a run of 250 of them. As a rival to the LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and Porsche 918, itd have made a quarter of the very mother and father of group tests. But at the end of last year, part way through the programme, in this four-way face-o of hypercar giants, Jaguar blinked rst, concluding that in a fragile world economy there wouldnt be enough buyers for them all. The production car was, as the ocial coinage euphemised, indenitely suspended. Jaguar could have quietly shoved the prototypes into a locked shed right then and walked away in hangdog embarrassment. But it didnt. Theres so much technology in the C-X75 that its development continues virtually unabated, by a team from Jaguar and Williams Grand Prixs Advanced Engineering consultancy division. Honestly, theres stu in this car electric motors, battery tech, electronics, composite construction, the astoundingly powerful and revvy combustion engine and more thats not only more radical than what Porsche is using for the 918, but
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is, crucially, entirely relevant to Jaguar and Land Rovers future mass-production cars. Does the fact that its now a science project rather than a production prototype make it less interesting? The Saturn V rocket was a science project that added immeasurably to mankinds knowledge, and NASA never oered them for sale to the public and stopped building them after the 17th. That makes the ve-o C-X75 look properly exclusive. Can we agree its the most beautiful of the hypercar bunch? OK, its quite subtle as these things go. It doesnt jump out and ambush your eyeballs with outlandish proportions or a jutting forest of aerodynamic devices. Instead, it snares you more slowly and grips your gaze tightly and at length. Theres no way its retro, but it does have a Jaguar look. Design chief Ian Callum says, Jaguar aesthetics were born out of Malcolm Sayers notion of aerodynamics. Unfortunately, it was a awed notion. Every single line and surface drips elegance and uency, at least until you get to the back, where theres a honking great diuser, which is all about purpose, not beauty. Theres also a rear wing with multiple positions for downforce and cooling, which at rest sits ush with the body so as not to disrupt the lovely curves of the cars hips and lower back. These things have been added since the concept car, but they didnt pain Callum. However, he looks at the wing mirrors as if theyre a moustache on the Mona Lisa. They muck up the design and cause noise, drag and turbulence. Worse was to come. One of the hardest things of all was nding a legal space for a rear numberplate. The scissor doors open into a cabin that doesnt ask you to bend to its will. You sit straight without having to crick your neck or distort your spine. In other words, Jaguar has resisted the temptation to chip away at the human-package space to make room for the engine, battery, motors, 14 radiators and all this cars bulky mechanical complications. Yet Jag has stayed close to the look of the original 2010 Paris show car, which everyone clamoured for Jaguar to build. Everyone quietly ignored the fact that the concept car
The Jaguar C-X75 is a six-seconds-to-96kph car, even before the engine has started
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Jaguar C-X75
Batteries regenerate in 40mins. Pity the tyres wont do the same
Take a look at the nicest cabin Jag will never make. Cry a bit
Why do the beautiful die so young? Why not the Rodius, Lord?
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jet-powered, you might remember was hardly a well-grounded exercise in packaging feasibility. Or any kind of feasibility, really. Alister Whelan, who created the concept along with Matt Beavan and head of advanced design, Julian Thomson, was given the job of protecting it into production. Having harnessed the grand prix teams aero expertise, the nal car respects aerodynamics as any 352kph car must, both in terms of air going around it (for drag and downforce) and air going through it (for cooling). The aero guys had almost no freedom on the visible bits apart from that rear diuser. But underneath, and around the engine bays and within the cooling pathways, they were allowed to ll their boots. Speaking of boots, there isnt one. You want a slinky shape, you want it to t an engine, two electric motors, a battery, a fuel tank, 14 radiators, inboard bell-crank suspension, a habitable cockpit and a boot? Getouttahere. The multimedia screen is the usual one on top-end Jags. Climate control is operated via the nice bank of switches out of the F-Type. The transmission selector is a simple series of buttons: P, R, N, D, a cloak of simplicity over the dizzying complexity of the mechanism it controls. The TFT cluster shows battery, fuel and subsidiary info, and a digital speedo clear enough to be read in a hurry. Theres also a large rev-counter and a power meter. Jaguar and Williams started the project with the following four simple but wildly contradictory goals. The looks of that Paris concept. The performance of a Veyron: 0-100kph in 3.0secs, 0-160kph in six. The pure-electric range of an Ampera/Volt: 64km. The ocial-cycle CO2 of a Prius: 89g/km. Other than that, because they realised jet turbines were, for the moment but not indenitely, out of the question, they had complete engineering freedom. Beyond the steering wheel, entertainment screen and aircon controls, theres hardly anything bigger than the nuts and bolts lifted from any other Jaguar. Any other vehicle with number plates, for that matter. So they ended up with a 500bhp, four-cylinder, 1.6-litre engine. Its a blank-sheet job, not derived from a road or race unit. Up to 5,500rpm, its supercharged. After that, it hands over to a turbo, which keeps going to the limit of 10,200rpm. That is not a misprint. There are two electric motors: one at the rear feeding through the seven-speed gearbox, another in front. They make almost 200bhp each. And 407Nm of torque. Again, thats per motor. This is a six-seconds-to-96kph car, even before the engine has started. I get a few demo laps around the snakier bits of Jaguars Gaydon track in electric mode. The thrust is eager and true. Such is the rpm range of the cars special motors that it never needs to shift: the rear motor stays in second,
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DRIVING THE PORSCHE 918

Where Jaguar bowed out gracefully, Porsche carried on. This is Very Good News
IN MANY WAYS, THE PORSCHE 918 SPYDER
is very similar to the C-X75. It too has a carbon body, a powerful noisy petrol engine, a rear electric motor that drives through the same gearbox as the engine but can be clutched independently for electric drive, and another electric motor at the front. But there are intriguing differences. Porsche takes the electrical bit less far than Jag. Its motors are weaker (total electric power is 278bhp when both motors are at optimum speed for the Porsche, 400 for the Jag). Its battery has less than half the capacity. But its engine has 609bhp rather than the Jags 500, and is a 4.6-litre V8, making 132bhp per litre with normal aspiration. Given that engine has nearly three times the capacity of the Jaguars, and twice the number of cylinders, their character differences are less than youd expect. But thats because both get electrical help. Sure, the Porsche has the more interesting sound, but its not the most melodious V8 in history, and in both the Porsche and the Jag, what really excites is the hard-edged revving. And the hair-on-re acceleration. The 918 is a bit quicker than the Jag, with Porsche claiming 0-200kph in 8.0secs. The Porsches twin-clutch transmission also shifts smoother. Its engine power has been tweaked since they announced its initial specs, so the system total is 887bhp, because, say the engineers, they found they could. Nothing to do with the fact that Ferrari and McLaren have since laid claim to 900+bhp. The 918 feels amazingly agile. In standard form, its 1,700kg, same as the Jag, but I drove the Weissach Pack, which slims it to 1,640kg. What really helps the Porsche is its four-wheel steering, like on the next-gen 911 GT3. This countersteers in tight bends, simulating a shorter wheelbase and giving it lightning reexes, but at higher speed, it same-phase steers to settle and relax the car. I tried it at Porsches Leipzig track, and didnt have the straight to try it going as fast as I did the Jag. Mind you, the Jags radical motors mean the front one can keep pulling and stabilising the car up to top speed. The 918s front motor has to declutch above 216kph, so its 2WD only from then on. But the 918 is wonderful in tight twists. When I overdid it in the wet, it watched my back, the combination of 4WS and ESP and 4WD allowing a fair bit of slide before reining things back. Huge fun. In the dry, the 918 just gripped and gripped, giving terric chassis feel all the while, but I fancy not quite the steering feel of the Jag. I might be wrong: these were short drives on different tracks.
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Jaguar C-X75
PH pilots Porsches 25th and nal 918 prototype. Carefully
The Porsche gains efficiency by taking lots of energy from m deceleration: up to 0.5g can be recuperated when you hit the he brakes before the ceramics kick in. This gives an oddly inconsistent pedal feel, but Porsche says itll be xed in time. e. Otherwise, it felt more like a nished car than the Jaguar. r. But, then, it is: Porsche has made 25 prototypes, not ve, and nd is now readying to build the rst customer car this September. er. So the 918 rolls a bit more quietly than the Jaguar, and has better door-shutting noise and a nicer nav/comms screen a new interface that will be rolled out across all Porsches in the next few years. Throughout its development, theres been a crescendo of chatter around the 918 that compares it unfavourably with the purity of the Carrera GT. Anyway, the sniping goes like this: Why doesnt Porsche just chuck that 350kg of hybrid cobblers and make a proper hypercar. Those buyers dont need or want plug-in or electric range. For a start, that argument has gaping technical aws. Without hybrid cobblers, the 918 and C-X75 would need considerably bigger engines (or a turbo for the Porsche) to get extra torque. That would add weight, and theyd lose the
Screen displays new Porsche nav. And new Angry Birds levels
accelerator response from the electric motors. Theyd need mechanical 4WD to be as friendly in slippery weather call that 100kg. Theyd need bigger tanks carrying a heavier fuel load. Plus starter motors and alternators and bigger 12V batteries and in the case of the Jag a reverse gear. So the weight saving would be less than the idle snipers suggest. Even so, doubtless a 918 would weigh somewhat less if it had an all-combustion RWD powertrain, which means it could doubtless go around the Nrburgring a little faster. But, heck, if thats all you care about, dont buy a hypercar. A Formula Ford with a three-cylinder EcoBoost, numberplates, lights and road tyres did a 7:22. These are road cars, so lets try to see them in the context of the drama and excitement and beauty and engineering innovation that has gotten us excited about supercars all these years. The Jaguar and Porsche compel your attention whenever you drive them, and not just at-out. Thinking about the way the energy ows around their systems stimulates you into a new involvement with the way you use the throttle and brakes, and harness momentum. These are early versions of the technology, and new tweaks and features and efficiencies will doubtless be added in later iterations and that very immaturity might well be whats putting many buyers off. But, really, theyre looking forward, not back. They are not merely last decades hypercar done a bit better. If you want to get to the future with all possible speed, these are your cars.
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A priceless prototype hits Follow-Through. Horrell rapidly follows
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How could Jaguar shelve a car this elegant? How very dare they?
and were good for nearly 160kph. Because the front motor is at a xed gear about equivalent to sixth in the rear, you have a signicant natural torque bias to the rear, though vectoring (switched out at the moment because calibration continues) could alter that if needed. Anyway, theres loads of traction, even in the wet. But when the engine does start... oh, my. We switch to a dierent prototype, one without such a pretty paint job but with a roll cage. Its the one for hard use. The engine sounds like a superbike at low revs: rattly, like its ingested gravel, but eager on the exhaust. Barely any ywheel eect, partly because theres no starter or alternator or aircon pump or power steering pump. This makes the throttle razor-sharp, but the engine gets a bit jangly around idle. Indeed, at suburban speeds around the track access roads, it feels and sounds coarse, with gravel hitting the carbon-bre tub and the sharp-edged engine and gearbox eects. Jaguars head of set-up, Mike Cross, takes me for a couple of circuits of the ineld course. Oh, good grief. Several corners are inches deep in water, and its a channel of Armco only a couple of car-widths wide. Traction is strong, and the torque bias is clearly still to the rear so that power slides are repeatedly on. But Id rather drive it where theres more room for error, so we swap places and I head to the big aireld-runway-based track. One of the really nice things about this car one of many characteristics it shares with the 918, in fact is the driving position and subsequent visibility. Youre not scrunched up like a hostage or semi-blindfolded. You can operate your limbs comfortably, and theres enough vision. The topography of the wheel-arch humps isnt only handsome, it gives you a good reference about where the car is on the road. An exploratory lap nds power thats immense but not
Back on the track, Cross reaches over and presses the full-fat mode button
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quite savage. Cross encourages me to use the revs. Swinging it up through 5,500rpm in fourth, where the supercharger declutches and the turbo takes charge, theres no step in the delivery. But anyway, the rear e-motor alone makes more torque than the engine at its 6,600rpm peak value. Having veried how this feels for the sake of interest, theres no reason to drop below about 7,000 anyway, not once were on the big track. By this time, the engine sounds wonderful and hair-raising, ying up beyond 10,000, then accepting each upshift with a bang in your back. Theres no delay, just a simple serration in the acceleration as each gear is switched. Its a bespoke single-clutch transmission: a twin-clutch would have weighed signicantly more, and its extra bulk would have interfered with the airow through the rear diuser. Oh, and theres no reverse gear. The engine simply declutches and the motor current is reversed. Driving gently around the access roads, the shifts make your head nod, but theres a potential x in programming the front motor to ll the torque hole. Cross reaches over and presses a button that he calls full-fat mode. Now the electric system gives its absolute all, even if it means borrowing performance from the future: it depletes the batteries so youll be a bit slower later until theyve recharged, either by plugging in or driving more moderately and using spare engine power to recharge. Heres the savagery. Out of corners, hauling up the straights, the whole eect is signicantly emboldened. The type of acceleration, the shape of it, isnt greatly dierent, but the magnitude is amplied. Barrelling up the straights etches itself deeper into the memory, and slowing at the end becomes a job that demands more insistently that you dont mess up. The chassis is terric. Yes, at urban speeds, the sti springs make it pretty hard, but you can always feel the body is reassuringly rigid so, as you get some speed into the suspension movements and the inboard dampers begin to do their work,
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Jaguar C-X75
you notice the precision. It rounds o sharp impacts and breathes nicely over dips and crests. At speed, the aero pushes you into the track and tightens everything up. Best of all is the steering. Its calibration of weight and directness is spot on, both for easing into fast arcs and for bigger forays into the lock for tight bends. And even if the assistance is electric, theres plenty of road feel, so as the car begins to drift out as it hits a light crest or a slipperier patch, youre kept in the loop. Thats a lovely characteristic in a fast car on a wet day. Theres no signicant understeer. As a matter of fact, with much throttle on, things tend to gentle oversteer. But every time it pays me a visit, its warning and progression help me out. And all this is the fundamental chassis were talking about, without any overlay of electronic gizmology. Theres an e-di on-board, and theres the possibility of torque-vectoring front to rear. Williamss chassis engineer Simon Newton has been separately calibrating them, but he doesnt want anyone to try them until hes settled the voodoo of making them work to reinforce one another. We come back in to charge it up via a three-phase 20kW contraption thatll ll the battery in 40 minutes. A good time to talk to Paul Newsome, project head, about why they selected the balance of engine power, electric power and battery size. At one extreme, couldnt they have just stued the V8 in there and forgotten the rest? The V8 wont t, he says before the question has fully left my lips. We arent just delivering a supercar, were developing real-world technologies, Newsome says. Indeed. These axial-ux motors are a huge step ahead. So are the electronics and their cooling: instead of using heat sinks into conventional water-based coolant, the coolant is nonconducting, so it can be passed directly through the electronics without shorting it all out. The eectiveness of
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that cooling means the battery and motors can run at full power nearly a quarter of a megawatt, dont forget for sustained periods. Then theres all this downsizing tech on the engine. Remember, Jaguar Land Rover is presently building a giant factory in Wolverhampton to make four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. They might not boast 500bhp, but theyll still have healthy performance and strong economy, thanks to ndings from the C-X75. And with one of these electric motors between them and the gearbox, theyll answer the accelerator pretty smartly too. One more thing. The carbon-bre structure of the C-X75 isnt a one-piece thing like a 918s or a McLarens. Those use a process called resin-transfer moulding because its relatively cheap and can be made in high numbers. The Jag was designed to be made from panels and sections of compression-moulded carbon bre, a technique from Williams. Uniquely, such carbon parts can be easily incorporated, says Newsome, into an aluminium body shell. Whos the world leader in aluminium body shells? Jaguar Land Rover. Just saying. The decision to kill C-X75 production must have felt to Jaguar like strangling a puppy. But there simply werent likely to be enough buyers for this and the Porsche and the McLaren (and there still arent, even if Ferrari, characteristically, is exempt from such struggle). But the fast-track engineering it embodies will certainly live on in hundreds of thousands of peoples Jaguars and Land Rovers. In very, very few years from now. Even so, right now Im very sad that well never be given the chance to have our day brightened by the sight of its wonderful shape gliding by, or experience it disappear in a vision-blurring, ear-splitting testament to the new-world power it embodies.
Audi RS5 WorldMags.net
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Our favourite Audi, the RS5, has got a mid-life refresh. Do we love it any less?
WORDS SRIRAM NARAYANAN PHOTOGRAPHY NITIN ROSE
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udi are turning out to be outright liars. The last time we drove an RS5, in July 2011, we were expecting the thing to stop accelerating at the German gentlemans limit of 250kph. But it went to 275. For the new RS5, I have it on paper from Audi that the car is limited to 250kph. Guess what? We again caught it irting with 280. And they say the Germans lack humour. So with the top speed setting the pace for things, allow me to introduce you to the new RS5. In fact, a refresh would be more like it. Mechanically, the 2013 RS5 has nothing dierent from the 2011 RS5 yeah, it just feels nice to keep saying RS5 repeatedly. Anyway, so it has the same 4.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 petrol. And despite the new R8 V8 now developing 424bhp, the RS5 continues putting its mid-engine supercar cousin in those I-dont-know-where-to-look situations at family gatherings. Whats new are the looks headlights, grille, tail lights and bumpers. Which is nothing much.
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But there are two reasons why we have lavished eight pages on the RS5. One, it has a Launch Control system. With ordinary petrol, the Launch Control gets the car to 100kph in 5.07 seconds a considerable jump from the 5.32 seconds the earlier RS5 took. We reckon that with 97 octane, this might actually get to the claimed 4.5 seconds to 100. And second, to give you and our own selves some perspective on where it stands with the current lot of high-performance cars. You see, when we rst drove the RS5, we fell in love with it and thought it worthy of being TopGears car of 2011. Since then, we have driven the Maserati GranTurismo, the Ferrari FF, Mercs E-Coupe, Jaguars XK-R and XKR-S, Porsches 911 and Bentleys Continental V8 and W12. All of them, like the RS5, are two door, 2+2 cars. In the face of such ne machinery, does the RS5 hold its ground? Did we get carried away by the rst RS5 because we didnt know any better? At rst, this car threw some surprises. Like I said, the speedo needle kept climbing beyond 275kph. And activating Launch Control needed
RS5 equation: Up >120 + Down <80 = fun at all times
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Prod here to listen to petrol-head heavy metal
With ordinary petrol, the Launch Control gets the car to 100kph in 5.07 seconds a considerable jump from the 5.32 seconds the earlier RS5 took WorldMags.net

leang through the owners manual. But once we got it, each one of those 444 horses were doing everything to ensure that all of their power reached the road, instead of going up as smoke or burnt rubber. And the roar as the needle crosses 100 gives you the same goose pimples that you got from the previous RS5 a couple of years ago. The new RS5 doesnt have any nesse. Its not a naturally sporty car. It is based on an A5, which is based on an A4, and it has been heavily worked on to make it perform the way it does. Its performance comes more out of hard work than natural air. And everything it does has a touch of brutality and violence to it. The way the engine starts up, the way it gurgles and rumbles as it slowly inches out of a parking lot, the way the gears change at full throttle the RS5 is like a high-pressure valve on a high-pressure water pipeline. It sits on that thin line between pumping water and exploding. Precisely why it looks so comfortable here in a valve manufacturing facility in the middle of Nasiks industrial zone. However, since it isnt a naturally sporty car, it has a huge boot, it has practical touches like rear seats that fold at to give you a massive boot, and it doesnt scrape over that badly laid speed bump or the steep ramp coming down from your apartment block. The rear seats arent as spacious as the ones in a Ferrari FF, Maserati GranTurismo or even a Merc E-Coupe. But the RS5 can denitely accommodate two adults in the back. A couple of friends who travelled a good distance in the car with me said they felt claustrophobic but were comfortable. However, if all four were six-feet-plus, I reckon things could get tight in this Audi. Yet, compared to stu like a 911 or even a Bentley, the RS5 is a proper four-seater. And as I drive it, I sense the conict between two strong ideologies practicality and sportiness. The conict shows when this car takes a corner hard. Instead of eortless motion, you can feel the eort from the steering and the heavy nose. Unlike most front-engine sportscars that have their engines tucked slightly behind the front axle, the RS5s V8 is right on it. A few inches further in would have made the car that
Its performance comes more out of hard work than natural air. And everything it does has a touch of brutality and violence to it
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SPECS
AUDI RS5 PRICE: `95.28 lakh (ex-showroom, Maharashtra) ENGINE: 4,163cc V8 petrol POWER: 444bhp at 8250rpm TORQUE: 430Nm at 4000-6000rpm TRANSMISSION: 7A, AWD WEIGHT: 1715kg BOOT CAPACITY: 455 litres (min) 829 litres (max) FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 61 litres
9/10
TG PERFORMANCE TEST 0-100KPH: 5.07secs 30-50KPH: 1.51secs 50-70KPH: 1.28secs 80-0KPH: 23.48mtrs, 2.12secs FUEL EFFICIENCY CITY: 5.8kpl HIGHWAY: 3.7kpl (you cant stick to 2000rpm on an open road) AVERAGE: 4.5kpl VERDICT PROS: Fun to drive, great to hear, good handling, practical CONS: Pricier than before, no spare wheel only puncture repair kit BOTTOMLINE: Its as much fun as a roller coaster, and never wavers from its tracks
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We thank Indian Valve Pvt Ltd (www.ivc-valves.com) for allowing the RS5 to run amok in its facility. The company manufactures and supplies valves to water boards, sewage plants, thermal/atomic power stations and other industries.
The RS5 has a demeanour thats pleasingly monstrous and evil. Youre always half expecting it to do something wayward and violent. But it doesnt
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Angry V8 in front and you want to bother with the MMI
Anarchy begins at 10 oclock. Peaks at two oclock
much more of a handler, but that would need a bigger engine bay, which would come at the price of cabin room. Despite that, the RS5 provides such fun around tight corners, you will nd it as implausible as a Rajnikanth stunt. It has this ability to pull o a sportscar-worthy manoeuvre with you in total control of everything. The steering isnt perfect, but it does provide feedback when you set Audis Drive Select to Dynamic. Which is the other thing. After my time with the Porsche Cayman last month, I have realised that buttons are no compromise for good engineering. A well-engineered chassis should ride and handle well without buttons or computers adjusting the set-up for you. And if anyone tells you that you need a hard suspension for perfect handling, they arent working hard enough. The RS5 in its softest Comfort setting is hard. Not uncomfortably hard, but hard nevertheless. Good thing you have the Individual setting. In this, you can set the steering, engine and gearbox to Dynamic and the suspension to Comfort. Letting buttons allow you to select the best setting is good. But having the best setting as default is better. Coming back to the perspective on the RS5 since all that time and all those cars, does the RS5 look diluted compared to all the other machinery we have been driving? It doesnt. Save for the Ferrari FF and the Maserati GranTurismo, the RS5 to this day, even with a minor refresh is way better than an entire lot of 2+2 grand tourers, including the Bentley Continentals and Jaguar XKs. This Audi is not a precise driving machine like a Porsche, but it provides driver engagement in an entirely dierent manner. And even the best Porsche cant match the drama and sensations that this brute delivers.
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The RS5s demeanour is pleasingly monstrous and evil. Youre always half expecting it to do something wayward and violent. But it doesnt. Forget tail-slides, you can try as hard as you like but it wont even spin its wheels. The RS5 has been criticised for not being as perfect and precise as a BMW M3 or any of the Porsches. But that doesnt make it any less fun. Only, the fun is delivered as a sensory assault on your ears, eyes, ankles and wrists. And this sort of sensory assault makes up for the lack of decimal point precision. Your ears will yearn for the growl of that naturally-aspirated big-capacity V8. Your eyes will struggle to decipher the fast-moving scenery around you. Your ankles might ache after some heavy acceleration and braking. And after some hard driving, the wrists with which you steered the car will, for a while, keep reminding you that you have just driven something that isnt ordinary. And none of those precise driving machines will let you carry four people and a lot of luggage, allow you the exibility of foldable rear seats, and not grate over routine speed humps. The RS5 is as wild as a roller-coaster. The good thing is, like a roller-coaster, it never wavers from its track. Issues? Well, the price. In 2011, the RS5 was about `75 lakh o the showroom. Thanks to the latest Finance Ministry, and the fall in the value of the rupee, its now nearly a crore o the showroom. Yet, its way cheaper than other European exotica, and perhaps the only sportscar that can serve as a familys single car. Moreover, when you hear the gearbox downshift and the engine gain revs, youll want nothing more from life. Oh, and if you do decide to buy one and want to try out the Launch Control, refer to page 78 of the RS5s user manual. Thats TopGears consumer advice for the month.
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P101 All hail Fords flagship sedan in India
FORD FIESTA
THE REAL-WORLD, LONG-TERM SECRET TEST SILO OF TOPGEAR MAG A ZINE. G ADGETS TESTED, CL AIMS VERIFIED. AND IF BITS FALL OFF, WE SPILL THE BEANS
FEATURING
VESPA LX 125
P102 Delhi's women still haven't gotten over the looks
P102 Small is beautiful. As proven by a Sonata
ALTO 800
P103 How Im keeping my boots and trousers clean
HONDA ACTIVA
P103 Nice piece of kit but clean up your act, Hyundai

HYUNDAI ELANTRA
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P104 Going soon. Just when I was beginning to enjoy it
TVS PHOENIX 125
HYUNDAI SONATA
P104 Continues to spoil us. Welcome back
TOPGEAR GARAGE WorldMags.net

HYUNDAI ELANTRA
ARRIVED: November 2013 SPEC: 1.6 diesel SX PRICE: `18.02 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) MILEAGE: 7,600km TEST KPL: 14.1 WHY ITS HERE: To see if it lives up to our Saloon Car of the Year accolade BY: Sriram Narayanan
RAIN DANCE
love your scooter, dude, this girl shouted with her head sticking out of a car as I rode away from a caf. The Vespa turns heads wherever you take it, and when you return to where youve parked, youll often see someone knocking on the body panels to check if theyre plastic or metal, or running some other kind of inspection. That will invariably be followed by a round of questions, followed by compliments and a goodbye. By now, I am seriously considering printing out its price and fuel economy and pasting it in front of the scooter, the way Abhinav did on the Ducati 848 Evo story a couple of issues ago. Meanwhile, I recently discovered a side-stand, which I believe the dealership installed the last time I took the Vespa for a service. Its really handy when you need to make quick stops
VESPA LX 125
An automatic is mind-numbingly convenient and many of them are rather good. And since driving the Merc E coupe, the Merc GL and the Hyundai Sonata, and having done a lot of other automatic car stories, I realised its been a few months since I drove a manual. Im not a phenomenal driver, so I do need to be reassured from time to time that I can still do the petrolhead ritual of engaging clutch and changing gear without throwing everything in the cabin into disarray. And what a transmission the Elantra has. Short, precise throws, and being a sixspeeder, you can easily slot it in sixth and cruise at 60kph, at about 1500rpm I got a good 14kpl in the city, despite a lot of idling during the summer when its impossible to switch o the engine with the outside temperature at 36-38 degrees Celsius. I did have a problem with the windshield washer spray. And when I handed it over, I
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS FIXED, BUT SOMETHING AS BASIC AS THE INTERIOR CLEAN-UP WASNT DONE
had requested a simple clean-up of the interior. The wiper washer was sorted. But the cabin wasnt even vacuumed. Hyundai? Frankly, in the one month its been with me, I nd it to be an incredible buy as an entry luxury car under `20 lakh. But something as basic as an interior clean-up not done?
along the way, or park on an uneven surface. The other day, Id been out since morning, riding it around the beautiful roads of central Delhi. In the evening, on my way home, the sky suddenly opened up, and the under-seat storage came to the rescue of my phone, wallet and bag. The one downside is those small, slim tyres, which tend to lock and lose grip on wet roads under sudden braking. And with all that water collecting in large pools during and after every big shower, Ive been indulging my inner child and using the Vespa as a rollercoaster, speeding into those pools and getting a nice drenching when the spray rises in a wall and crashes all over my face. That didnt last long, though. These days, its hot and muggy, and Im waiting for the skies to go overcast again, so I can get some more rollercoaster action. BAD STUFF
O Engine vibration at low rpm O Weak front brakes O Price
ARRIVED March 2013 SPEC 125cc
`59,990
(EX-SHOWROOM, DELHI)
PRICE
4,000km
TEST KPL WHY ITS HERE To see if it has the go to match the show WRITTEN BY Nitin Rose
MILEAGE
1. Your 29-inch is nothing compared to my wheelspin
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VESPA LX 125 TEST NOTES
GOOD STUFF
O More kilometres per tank O Acceleration O Looks and build quality
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1
THE UNDERDOG
ot too o long ago, Ford Fo rd strapped an auto gearbox into au the new th n Fiesta. It didnt di id nd d many takers because of the high price tag and the fact that a better priced Hyundai Verna broke cover around the same time. Hyundai still clocks big numbers with the manual Verna. Ford, meanwhile, is coasting along at reasonable speed. We loved the new transmission in the Fiesta when it was launched. So, even as Fords recently launched EcoSport hogs the limelight, we revisited the Fiesta AT to check out its everyday credentials. The Fiesta couldnt have come to TG at a better time. City trac in Mumbai is at its worst in the monsoon crawl speed, mostly making it the best time to really appreciate an automatic gearbox. The Fiesta,
HELLO: FORD FIESTA AT
3
normally require maintenance only after a good 2,40,000km. So, most rst-time owners may never have to worry about expensive transmission maintenance costs. Also, this is a dual-clutch unit, like the ones seen in many VW cars, with h one supporting the odd gea ars and the other, even. It is a hig ghtech uni it but on our test car r, it was a bit t erratic during quic ck accelera ation. More on that in issues to o come. Mean nwhile, were gettin ng around 10.7kpl, which is pretty decent for an automatic sed dan pottering around in a rainravaged metro. Its also encouraging us to hit the highway, high petrol prices notwithstanding.
despite being a sedan, isnt a very big car. Its the right size for daily city use. Yes, the big boot is rarely used during the oce commute, but parkingwise, its little trouble. Even on the move, it is narrow enough to squeeze into spaces where only smaller hatchbacks will go. The Fiesta AT gets two trim levels Style and Titanium+, which is pretty much like the manual petrol and diesel trim levels. We have the top-of-theline Titanium+ at TG. Under the hood is the 1499cc, fourcylinder, DOHC unit. Its made of aluminium alloy, so its lightweight but bit noisy. Still, its free-revving, with power peaking at a humble 80bhp and torque at 140Nm. This is mated to a modern sixspeed automatic transmission that Ford calls Powershift Automatic. It is claimed to be sealed for life and would BAD STUFF
O Maintenancefree box doesnt feel as bulletproof as wed expected O Only 80 bhp, so you may miss a bit of top-end whack O Well-specced but oddly, no rear reading lights
ARRIVED June 2013 SPEC AT Titanium+ PRICE
1. With 430 litres, plenty of boot space 2. Reading lights only in front here 3. Fits into most compact spaces
(ON-RD MUMBAI)
` 11.73 lakh
MILEAGE
14,750km
TEST KPL WHY ITS HERE To see if this petrol automatic proves itself WRITTEN BY Girish Karkera
10.7
WERE GETTING AROUND 10.7KPL, WHICH IS DECENT FOR AN AUTO SEDAN CRAWLING AROUND A RAIN-RAVAGED METRO
FORD FIESTA AT FIESTAAT TEST NOTES
GOOD STUFF
O Convenience of an auto box O Decent fuel eciency on our rst run got 10.7kpl in the city O Peppy engine. Good enough for quick getaways
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MARUTI ALTO 800
MONSOON RIDER
here here s a myth att at tac ched to riding c scooters in the sc ra ain that its not sa s fe f to o ri ide them when its pouring because scooters tend to lose their footing more often than motorcycles. Rubbish! My half-knowledge friends too are of the same opinion. More so because theyve had more embarrassing moments with scooters than bikes. But I feel a lot of it depends on the rider. And Im happy to say the Activa arrived in my garage at the right time. Let me explain. I dont ride fast when its raining. I dont want my boots and trousers dirtied with all that water and muck ying o the front wheel. And I denitely dont want the dry clothes in my backpack to get wet by the time I reach work. So then, the little red Honda scooter ts the bill really well. Early monsoon showers have left the citys roads lled with potholes and monstrous
HONDA ACTIVA
ARRIVED: January 2013 SPEC: LXi PRICE: `3.60 Lakh (on-road, Mumbai) MILEAGE: 8427km TEST KPL: 14 WHY ITS HERE: To show us what Marutis next bestseller has to oer BY: Abhinav Mishra
craters. So our trac is moving at a crawl ideal conditions to ride the most beloved scooter in India. It soaks up bumps and road irregularities well, the wide seat is quite comfortable and it can cruise all day long at 60kph. My pants stay dirt-free thanks to the front apron and the footboard. And most importantly, I can stow spare clothes, mobile phone and wallet in the storage space under the seat, which keeps them dry. However, over longer rides, the Activa leaves me with an aching back. Not an alarming one, but enough to mention here. Maybe theres some defect in me, not the scooter... Ill just have to live with it, I suppose. Our Activa has returned from its rst service and feels better. The engine now opens up nicely, surely an indication that the Activa will end up munching many more miles than I had originally intended it to. BAD STUFF
O Ride is a bit
ARRIVED February 2013 SPEC 109cc automatic PRICE
(ON-RD MUMBAI)
`51,000
MILEAGE
1. Brake lock is ddly to use; Ive mostly been getting it wrong
961km
TEST KPL WHY ITS HERE To see if Indias top-selling scooter has gotten better WRITTEN BY Devesh Shobha
The monk may have sold his Ferrari, but have you heard of someone trading in a Hyundai Sonata for an Alto 800? Well, it just happened, to yours truly. A few days ago, I was handed the keys to the swanky Sonata. And I loved it for the two days that I had it. Its got a powerful engine, its a head turner and it pampers you with lots of features. What it does not do is nd parking space as quickly as it nds tripledigit speeds. The Sonata needs an acre of real estate to park, plus you cant just leave it anywhere you please. After two days of the painful Sonata parking experience, I d had enough and exchanged it for the Alto 800. My life is much easier now. The 800 may not have creature comforts like Bluetooth hands-
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IT MAY LACK SOME LUXURIES, BUT ITS WINNING CARD IS THAT IT FITS IN SOME REALLY TIGHT SPACES
free and central locking, but it has one thing that makes it a winner it ts in some really tight spaces. And in these rains, our trac jams are only getting longer just the challenge for the 800s little dimensions. Within the rst month after the monsoon arrived, the 800 has gone through pretty much every pothole in our city. And the torture is starting to show the brake light ickers even when the brake is not engaged. Time for a service, then. And yes, now I know why the monk sold his Ferrari cause its a pain to park.
HONDA ACTIVA TEST NOTES
GOOD STUFF
O Engine is peppy, and acceleration is quite delightful O Comfy wide seat means wife is happy to ride pillion O Grippy tyres very handy in rain
choppy, could have been better O Unusual vibrations from left mirror. Needs a quick x by local mechanic
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HYUNDAI SONATA
ARRIVED: May y 2012 SPEC: GDi PRICE: `24.3 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) MILEAGE: 14,500km TEST KPL: 6 WHY ITS HERE: To see if this is the best Hyundai ever BY: Agasti Kaulgi
So its back with me, the Sonata. After I had it for a few months and did lots of driving in it, in and out of the city, it changed a couple of hands, between Sriram and Abhinav, before coming back to me. Turns out both of them enjoyed the Sonatas luxury but were annoyed with the poor fuel economy. What did I really miss when it wasnt with me? First o, the comfort. The sheer size of the cabin and the user-friendliness of everything make it one of the most comfortable cars you can buy with this sort of money. Second, the features. Everything from the auto headlamps to the
THE SIMPLE LIFE

fte fte er a month of not riding any TG gar ga rage bike, I got my y hands on the TVS T TV S Phoenix. Ph hoe eni ix Its It quite a climb down, going from the Yamaha R15 and Bajaj Pulsar 200NS to a 125cc. Then again, having two wheels for the daily run is always welcome even if its a no-nonsense commuter bike. The Phoenix 125 is TVSs latest entry in this highly competitive segment, and it impresses. Given my long hours of commuting, I really appreciate the handlebar, which gives you an upright seating position. And the soft, almost at seat leaves no pain in the behind even after extensive riding. The design follows a very conservative theme. Once, having parked at a mall, I returned and took almost 15 minutes to locate it in the mass of other bikes around it. By way of distinction, the bike gets LED parking lights upfront. Not very visible by day, but it
TVS PHOENIX 125
ONLY AFTER THE SONATA WENT TO SRIRAM DID I REALISE LIFE ISNT TOO SWEET WITHOUT IT
ventilated seats had just spoilt me silly. Only after the Sonata went to Sriram did I realise that life is not so sweet without it. Third, the ride. The Sonata goes over undulations with such ease that you dont feel a thing inside. Now to the things that I didnt really miss. The fuel economy. By way of perspective I was driving the Alto 800 after the Sonata was gone and I ended up saving almost two-thirds of what I spent on fuel for the Sonata. And that pretty much ends the list of what I havent missed.
grabs attention at night. The engine is draped in black, and the alloy wheels and petal disc brake in front give the bike a sporty look and feel. The instrument cluster, as with most modern bikes, is all-digital. Still, I would have liked a rev meter and an analogue speedo, as opposed to the digital indicator, which is hard to read in sunlight. The gears are well sorted and the Phoenix can putter around town in third gear, from as low as 20kph to as high as 60, which is perfect for rush hour. The shifts are smooth but the absence of a fth gear is annoying especially on the highway, where Im very sure I wouldve got more than the 48kpl that I did in town. And just as Im getting used to having a commuter bike around, the Phoenixs time at TG is up. TVS, can you get the 200cc bike that you guys developed with BMW a tad sooner? BAD STUFF
O Needs a fth gear,
2
1. Hmm... looks nice but;Kitna deti hai? 2. Blacked out 125cc engine and alloys adds to the sporty feel
ARRIVED January 2013 SPEC 125cc PRICE
(ON-RD MUMBAI)
`61,200
MILEAGE
1,345km
TEST KPL WHY ITS HERE To see if this is the most practical premium bike in its segment WRITTEN BY Abhinav Mishra
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TVS PHOENIX TEST NOTES
GOOD STUFF
O Long and wide
seat great for extended riding O Ride and handling is quite impressive O Engine is responsive even at low revs
especially for highway riding

O Conservative
styling makes it another faceless commuter bike
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BUYING A CAR? OR A BIKE? OR JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW FAST, THIRSTY OR HOW MUCH? WELCOME TO TOPGEARS GUIDE TO ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CARS
THE ONLY GUIDE WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION
Price
Ch en na i De (o lhi nr oa d) Ba ng alo re M u (o mba nr i oa d)
GUIDE
Land Rover to Mahindra
Features
Re m ot Cl e lo im c at kin Au e c g dio ont sy rol s Le at tem he Po r se we a r w ts ind All ow oy s s Fo g la m ps
NEW CAR & BIKE

THE GUIDE TO USING OUR GUIDE
THE TOPGEAR
Numbers
Ge ar b Ma ox x. Po Ma wer x. ( To Bhp Ma rqu ) e x sp (Nm e ) 0e 10 d (K 0 Fu kph ph) el ef (sec fic ) ie rb ncy a AB gs (Kpl) S
R at in g
Freelander 2: Your first ascent up the true blue off-roading hill.
02W unlimited km
India sales in O O O O O O For full listings www.topgear

TG Choice: The 2.2d HSE as this might g be a crossover but can still handle o
L: 484.8cm W: 201cm Boot: 755 litres Fuel Tank: 68 litres, Ground Clearance: 21cm Al
2.2d SE 2.2d H 4.93 3 38.70 44.50 34.74 39.46 48.5 45.43 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 6A 6A
01 Company description Just who are you dealing with here? The low down on the company behind the automobile. 02 India Sales Dont just go by what we write. See how fellow buyers treated the company in the recent past. 03 Price in your city Indicative ex-showroom prices. On-road for Mumbai and Delhi. Accurate at the time of going to press. 04 TG Choice Choosing the right variant can be confusing. Its not necessarily the cheapest one. . . or the diesel. 05 More stuff to read Added insight into the world of TopGear via these little oases of slightly grumpy opinion 06 The TG Rating Simply translated: how good is the vehicle in numbers? Out of say, 10? 07 Fuel efficiency Average kitna hai? The real-world figure for real-world situations. 08 Dimensions Making sure you know if your car will fit in your parking slot. Yeah, thats going to be important too.
ENGINE Engine configuration either V, W or F (flat), otherwise in-line plus the number of cylinders and capacity in cubic centimetres. POWER (BHP) Engines maximum power output in brake horsepower. (Hybrid cars show combined elec/fuel bhp figure). TORQUE (Nm) The engines peak torque figure measured in Nm. 0100KPH Our very own test time in seconds to reach 100km from a standing start. TOP SPEED As the title suggest, the fastest a car can go. SAFETY & GADGETS No O Optional Yes O O
Q
En gi ne
Ra
TG
L: 4
Mahin
75.4 86.7
O O
O O
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O O
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TG
/10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10
BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne Company des: 100 litres, Ground Clearance: 22.5cm Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes GL Class, O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O from crude to r s this m doRover look like ma 03 Range Sport: Big Rangies smaller, sportier brother more practical and clever in some ways, but not quite as charming. 01 litres Fuel
3.6 4.2 V 62.9* 104.9* 110 113 62.9* 104.9* 8cyl 3628cc 8cyl 4197cc 6A 6A 271 396 640 560 198 9.2 208 7.5 na 6.3

est SUV; will go anywhere, in total luxury. y, as y you want to fl flaunt y your money y in style. y

TG Choice: The 5.0L Supercharg p

L: 479cm W: 193cm Boot: na Fuel Tank
3.0L TDV6 HSE 5.0L Supercharged
rom red light g to red light. g

6A 6A 272 502 640 625
m Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
34.93
28cc 38.70 97cc 44.50
208 8.6 222 7.4
na na
O O O O O O O O
O O
O O
O O
O O
O O
reela 04
TG Choice
L: 484.8cm W
2.2d SE
ZLX
Mahindra Dealers 150 Warranty 1 year, unlimited km Website www.mahindra.com

Company description: Have just crossed the fence from crude to refined. With SsangYong, though, they do look like making it on the world stage over the decade. India sales in April: 15,549 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Family car of the year 2009: Xylo The Xylo offers what most families in India want - a vehicle that's big enough to take them all, plus relatives and a couple of tonnes of luggage'
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osaur bones, but surprisingly competent. Cheap, rugged, but cramped. he SLE as economy y works best on a utility y vehicle.
74.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Chevrolet Tavera, Tata Sumo Victa
6.38 6.87 7.02 7.06 7.58 7.75 6.24 6.73 6.88 7.19 7
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super ride. TG Choice: The 1.5 D2 2 has a g good diesel engine, g which is low on maintenance and easy y on the p pocket. ood diesel en
Verito: Spacious, solid and a super ride. To top that, it comes with mouth-watering price tags.
L: 424.7cm W: 174cm Boot: 510 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres
4.85 5.1 5.76 6.62 5.34 5.61 6.33 7.45 na na na na
195 195 195
132 27.6 11.5 132 27.6 11.5 132 27.6 11.5
O O O
O O O
O O O
O O O
O O O
3/10 3/10 3/10

3/10
: Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, Tata Indigo

na na na na na na 165 17.4 18.9 165 17.4 18.9
1.4 G2 1.4 G4 1.5 D2 1.5 D6
uel Tank: 50 l
6 7.79 5M 65 65
110 110 160 160
/10 /10 /10 /10
Scorpio: Ever-improving SUV offers great value, excellent practicality for India and now-decent road manners. Top car.
TG Choice: The SLE E as it p provides g good value-for-money. f y
LX SLE Vlx 4X2 Vlx 4X4 AT Vlx 4X2 AT Vlx 4 8.5 9.5 10.4 11.4 1 9.24 10.56 12.49 13.42 11.42 12.5 8.5 9.5 10.45 11.45 11.27 12.25 8.95 10.43 11.76 12.89 12.93 14.04 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 6A 6A 120 120 120 120 120 120
L: 443cm W: 181.7cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Tata Sumo
29 2
T
T
L
T
TG Choi
L: 410.7cm
08
6 11.5 O 07 O O O O O O O O O O O O O 7.6 11.5 O O O O O O O O O O O O 7.6 11.5 O

Q

O O O O O O
O O O O O O
O O O O O O
O O O O O O
O O O O O O
6/10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10
o-anywhere attitude. on wouldve been appreciated. pp

k: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Mahindra Tractor
6.97 6 6.98 4cyl 2498cc 5M 112 235 138 15.2 na
O O O O O O O O O
/10
SLE TG Ch X
XU
L: 450cm W:
W6 W8 W8 AWD
he right place, but the dynamic chinks need ironing out. it comes with f feature list that runs in to multiple p p pages g and it manages g to do that at a mind-blowing gp price tag. g
na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.6cm Also try: Tata Aria, Tata Safari
10.96 12.13 13.07 13.00 15.00 15.55 10.91 12.07 13.02 12.62 13.97 15.06 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 6M 6M 6M 140 140 140 330 330 330 190 12.3 190 12.3 190 na 11 11 na
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
/10 /10 /10
Xylo: Innova slayer with the sedan market in sight. Big, spacious and value-for-money
TG Choice: D2 2 as it will be more of f a people p p mover than your y personal p set of f wheels.
L: 450cm W: 185cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.6cm Also try: Chevrolet Tavera, Toyota Innova, Tata Sumo Victa
D2 7.1 8.43 7.12 8.08 4cyl 2498cc 5M 112 240 235 15.2 na
O O O O O O O O O
6/10
Indicates EX-showroom prices * mumbai and Delhi
*Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai and Delhi O No O Optional Gadgets & Safety Guide Yes O
Q
FEBRUARY 2012 / TOPGEAR.COM / 163
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ASTON MARTIN TO AUDI

Price

Numbers Features
Ge ar b Ma ox x. Po Ma wer x. ( To Bhp Ma rqu ) e x sp (Nm 0- eed ) 10 (K 0 Fu kp ph) h el ( ef fi sec Ai cien ) rb c a y( AB gs Kpl) S Re m ot Cl e lo im c at kin Au e c g dio ont s ro Le yste l at he m Po r se we a r w ts ind Al ow loy s s Fo gl am ps
Ch en na i De (o lhi nr oa d) Ba ng alo re M um (o ba nr i oa d)
En gi ne
ASTON MARTIN Dealers 2 Warranty 3yrs Website www.astonmartin.com

Company description: Arguably the UKs most desirable marque, currently going through a renaissance, thanks to genuinely good supercars. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
DB9: Overshadowed by the DBS and undercut by the Vantage, the DB9 is still the quintessential Aston.
TG Choice: Well not the Volante. So that only y leaves the fi fixed head. Which will do nicely. y
DB9 6.0 V12 DB9 6.0 V12 Volante na na na na na na 190* 200* 12cyl 5935cc 12cyl 5935cc 6A 6A 470 470 600 600 304 4.6 304 4.6 na na
O O O O O O O O O O
Build: Import
O O O O O O O O
TG
/10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 9/10 /10 /10 6/10 6/10 6/10 6/10 /10 /10 /10 /10 7/10
DBS: Bespoke tailoring for the Premiership, the DBS offsets engineering genius with very un-Aston bling.
TG Choice: A Avoid void the Volante. And remember you are not James Bond
DBS 6.0 V12 2d DBS 6.0 V12 Volante na na na na na na 265* 275* 12cyl 5935cc 12cyl 5935cc 6A 6A 570 570 510 510 305 4.3 305 4.3 na na
O O O O O O O O O O
Build: Import
O O O O O O O O
Rapide: A ball-aching beauty of a saloon and a proper poke in the eye for Porsches Panamera turbo.
TG Choice: There is only y one and its got g a 470bhp p V12 with 600Nm torque. q So we ll take it.
Rapide 6.0 V12 4d na na na 220* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 470 600 295 5 na
O O O O O
Build: Import
L: 502cm, W: 193cm. Boot: 317 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche Panamera, Ferrari FF, Maserati Quattroporte
O O O O
Vantage : The car that took on the 911. And lost. But hey, its an Aston.
Vantage V8 4.7 Coupe Vantage 4.7 V8 Roadster Vantage 4.7 V8 420 Roadster V12 Vantage na na na na na na na na na na na na 155* 165* 152* 190* 8cyl 4735cc 8cyl 4735cc 8cyl 4735cc 12cyl 5935cc 6A 6A 6A 6A 430 430 420 510 361 361 346 570 302 302 288 305
Build: Import
TG Choice: The full f 510bhp p V12 Vantage g experience p p please, with attendant terror. No latte drinkers need apply. pp y
L: 438cm, W: 187cm. Boot: 300 litres, Fuel Tank: 80 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche 911.
4.7 4.7 4.7 4.2 na na na na
Virage: What do you get if you cross the DB9 with the DBS? Why, the Virage of course.
TG Choice: Well take the Volante, which has lots of f leather.
Virage 6.0 V12 Standard Virage 6.0 V12 Volante na na na na na na 220* 230* 12cyl 5935cc 12cyl 5935cc 6A 6A 490 490 420 420 300 4.6 300 4.6 na na
Build: Import
AUDI Dealers 20 Warranty 2yrs Website www.audi.in

Company description: Classy and understated alternative to the driver-oriented BMW and the staid Mercedes. Oozing Teutonic quality. India sales in June 2012: 718 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Design Awards 2009 Audi A4 Comes with LED lights that scream "A4" from a mile away. And the design language has spilled over on to the rest of the Audi group.
A4 : Audis bestseller gets plastic surgery. And becomes a nagging worry for other Germans in the game.
TG Choice: The 2.0 TDi i as its a g great value-for-money f yp proposition p and runs on a more affordable ff f fuel.
L: 470cm, W: 183. Boot: 480 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre, Grond Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C -Class
2.0TDI 1.8 TFSI 3.0 TDI Quattro S4 na na na na na na na na na na na na 43.77 40.50 38.00* 45.31* 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1798cc 6cyl 2967cc 6cyl 2995cc 8A 8A 8A 7A 143 170 245 333 320 320 500 440 210 9.47 13.1 210 8.77 9.5 na na na na na na
Build: Assembled
O O O O
O O O O
O O O O
O O O O
A6 : Good-looking, accomplished executive saloon now with that beardy front grille after the redesign.
TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI has loads of torque to play with, while still managing a figure of 9.6kpl
3.0 TFSI Quattro 3.0 TDI Quattro 2.8 TFSI 2.0 TDI na na na na 47 46.95 39.90* 37.7 na na na na 58.56 71.74 51.01 59.55 6cyl 2995cc 7A 6cyl 2967cc 7A 6cyl 2773cc 6A 4cyl 1968cc CVT 300 245 207 177 440 500 280 380 250 250 240 240 6.68 6.98 7.7* 8.2* 8.69 9.9 na na
Build: Assembled
L: 491.5cm, W: 187.4cm. Boot: 546 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre, Ground Clearance: 11.8cm Also try: BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S80
A7 : Perfect mix of sportiness, comfort and styling evokes instant desire. Youll never feel youre in a four-door.
TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI Quattro, is powerful p f and sips p fuel f frugally. f g y
L: 496cm, W: 191cm. Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 75 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes CLS.
3.0 Tdi Quattro na 64* na 62.8* 6cyl 2967cc 7A 245 500 250 6.3 na
O O O O O
Build: Import
O
O
O
O
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No O Optional *Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai Yes O Gadgets & Safety Guide O
Q
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Ge ar b Ma ox x. Po Ma wer x. ( To Bhp Ma rqu ) e x sp (Nm 0- eed ) 10 (K 0 Fu kph ph) el ( ef sec f Ai icien ) rb ag cy (K AB s pl) S Re m ot Cl e lo im c at kin Au e c g dio ont s ro Le yste l at he m Po r se we a r w ts ind Al ow loy s s Fo gl am ps
Ch en na i De l h (o i nr oa d) Ba ng alo re M um (o ba nr i oa d)
En gi ne
Audi continued
A8 : You cant ask for a more perfect car than this. Not for ordinary mortals.
TG Choice: The 4.2 TDI gives g y a great you g mix of f luxury y and p power.
Build: Import
L: 526.7cm, W: 194.9cm. Boot: 510 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: 12.4cm Also try: BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class
4.2 FSI Quattro 3.0 TDI 4.2 TDI Quattro na na na 89* 100* na na na na 167.7 140.9 161.4 8cyl 4163cc 6cyl 2967cc 8cyl 4134cc 8A 8A 8A 371 250 351 445 550 800 250 6.7 235 6.5 250 5.16 5.3 7.4 8
Q3 : The Q3 is capable, practical and versatile. BMW and Land Rover, have your nightmares begun?
TG Choice: The High g grade, g comes with a easy-to-use y MMI system y and a bunch of f other useful f features. f
L: 438.5cm, W: 183.1cm. Boot: 460 litres, Fuel Tank: 64 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW X1
2.0 TDI Base grade 2.0 TDI High grade 2.0 TFSI Base grade 2.0 TFSI High grade na na na na na na na na na na na na 44.05 49.24 27.37* 32.66* 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1984cc 4cyl 1984cc 7A 7A 7A 7A 177 177 211 211 380 380 300 300 210 210 230 230 7.94 11 7.94 11 7.18 8.25 7.18 8.25
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Q5 : It may not have the panache of the Q7 that Bollywood loves, but the Q5 does mean business.
L: 462.9cm, W: 188cm. Boot: 540 litres, Fuel Tank: 75 litre, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: BMW X3, Mitsubishi Montero
2.0TFSI Quattro 3.0 Tdi Quattro na na 44.89 52.10 na na 54.25 71.58 4cyl 1984cc 6cyl 2967cc 8A 7A 225 245 350 580 222 8.89 na 225 6.5 12.2
Build: Assembled
TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI Quattro, with the engine carried over from the Q7 but feels a whole lot quicker, thanks to half a tonne less weight
Q7 : Odd-looking and enormous seven-seat sports utility vehicle thatll put the frighteners on Mercedes and BMW.
TG Choice: 4.2 TDI Quattro is big g on muscle and since its a diesel, it wont burn a hole in your y pocket. p
4.2TDI Quattro 3.0TFSI Quattro 3.0TDI Quattro na na na 66.65 59.40 55.40 na na na 67* 65.3* 89.82 8cyl 4134cc 6cyl 2995cc 6cyl 2967cc 8A 8A 8A 340 333 245 800 440 550 231 6.4 244 7.4 210 9.1 5.5 7.4 9.6
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Build: Import
L: 509cm, W: 198cm. Boot: 755 litres, Fuel Tank: 100 litre, Ground Clearance: 20.5 cm Also try: BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover,
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RS 5: Artful lesson in understatement, the RS5 does desirable minus the flash.
TG Choice: J Just ust hand us the keys to the 444bhp V8. Thank you.
L: 464cm, W: 186cm. Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 75 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMWM5
RS 5 na 76* na 74.59* 8cyl 4134cc 7A 450 430
Build: Import
280 5.32 4.6
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R8 : The supercar to have right now. Beautiful, sophisticated, quick as the wind and comfortable to boot.
TG Choice: B Buy uy the V10 0, its borrowed f from the Lamborghini g Gallardo and sells at half f the p price.
L: 443cm, W: 190cm. Boot: 100 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911
4.2 V8 FSI 5.2FSI V10 5.2FSI V10 Plus Spyder na na na na 134* 157* na 173* na na na na na na 205 na 8cyl 4163cc 10cyl 5204cc 10cyl 5204cc 10cyl 5204cc 7A 7A 7A 7A 430 525 542 525 430 530 540 530 300 316 316 313 4.6 4.1 4.1 4.1 na na na 7
Build: Import
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TT : Still the cheapest two-seater sportscar around. Now even more thorough.
TG Choice: A Audi udi doesnt want you to have choices here.
Build: Import
L: 418.7cm, W: 184.2cm. Boot: 290 litres, Fuel Tank: 60 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW Z4, Merc SLK, Nissan 370Z
Audi TT na NA na 48.36* 4cyl 1984cc 7A 211 350 250 6.24 8.9
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Buyers Guide continued
CAR CHOOSER
*Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai O No O Optional Gadgets & Safety Guide Yes O
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YOU CAN GO THROUGH A HUNDRED SPECS AND OPTIONS... OR JUST SELECT THE CAR YOU REALLY WANT USING THE CAR CHOOSER ON TOPGEAR.COM. YOU DECIDE.
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Price Numbers Features
AUDI
BENTLEY TO BMW

Ge ar b Ma ox x. Po Ma wer x. ( To Bhp Ma rqu ) e x sp (Nm 0- eed ) 10 0k (Kp ph h) (se c) Ai rb ag ( AB s Kpl) S Re m ot Cl e lo im c at kin Au e c g dio ont s ro Le yste l at he m Po r se we a r w ts ind Al ow loy s s Fo gl am ps
India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com Build: Import
567 700 600 750 621 800 552 650 500 660 552 650 318 326 329 312 303 312 4.8 4.5 3.9 5.2 4.8 5.1 6.2 6 5.9 5.8 na 5.8
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BENTLEY Dealers 1 Warranty na Website www.bentleymotors.com

Company description: Has got a new lease of life with an injection of Volkswagen cash, but still as British as the monarchy.
Continental: Sumptuous, superb over distances, with more appeal to younger millionaires.
GT GT Speed GT Super Sport Flying Spur V8 GTC na na na na na na 210* na na 188* na 225* na na na na na na na na na na na na 12cyl 5998cc 12cyl 5998cc 12cyl 5998cc 12cyl 5998cc 8cyl 3993cc 12cyl 5998cc 6A 6A 6A 6A 8A 6A
TG Choice: The GT Super p Sports p s should be just j fine. fi It will be good g to the environment as it runs on ethanol too. Tree huggers gg rejoice. j
L: 480.0cm, W: 274.5cm. Boot: 310 litres, Fuel Tank: 96 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Other Bentleys, really? Thats about it
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Mulsanne : Replacement for the Arnage, and every bit as opulent.

Mulsanne na 322* na na 8cyl 6752cc 8A
Build: Import
TG Choice: D Depends epends on how you want to spec it. The rich are spoilt for choice (arent they always?).
L: 557.2, W: 192.6,cm. Boot: 443 litres, Fuel Tank: 96 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Rolls Royce Ghost, Megan Fox
505 1020 296 5.3 5.9
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BMW Dealers 21 Warranty 3yrs Website www.bmw.in

Company description: A model of German efficiency, the firm still prides itself on making supremely engineered cars aimed at the driver. India sales in 2012: 6246 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Executive car 2010 : 5 series Then 'Joy' made an appearance and reinvented the 5. It's become more of a shrunken 7 Series and less of a streached 3 and the CEOs sure are loving it'
3 series : The 3 has always been the best sport saloon since it was born. The new 3 is still so.
TG Choice: The 320d Sport p Line e visually y striking g with its sporty p y cues and has the all purpose p p 2-litre diesel.
L: 462.4cm W: 181.1cm. Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class
320d 320d Sport line 320d Luxury line 320d Luxury line Plus 328i Sport line 28.9 31.5 31.5 36.9 37.9 33.68 36.65 36.65 42.83 43.96 28.9 31.5 31.5 36.9 37.9 37.1 42.0 42.0 45.69 48.0 4cyl 1995cc 4cyl 1995cc 6cyl 1995cc 4cyl 1995cc 4cyl 1995cc 8A 8A 8A 8A 8A 184 184 184 184 245 380 380 380 380 350 235 235 235 235 250 7.33 7.33 7.33 7.33 6.16 14.2 14.2 14.2 14.2 10.3
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5 series : A return to form for the 5, with more palatable styling, a better ride and BMWs stock-in-trade quality..
L: 484.1, W: 203,cm. Boot: 520 litres, Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: 14.2 cm Also try: Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S80
523i 535i 520d 530d 38.9 58 36.9 45.9 45.65 65.75 43.49 45.89 38.9 58 na 45.9 46.6 74.6 52.0 67.3 6cyl 2497cc 6cyl 2979cc 4cyl 1995cc 6cyl 2993cc 8A 8A 8A 8A 215 305 187 258 270 400 380 560 242 250 226 248 7.9 6.7 8.3 6.8 9.7 6.1 na na
Build: Assembled
TG Choice: With 500Nm of f torque, q the 530d d is the most f fun y you will have in a 5 series, unless y you throw the M5 into the mix.
6 Series: The best all-round touring convertible in India. Just be prepared for frequent fuel stops on your grand tour.
TG Choice: F For or now available in a 4.4 litre twin-turbo-charged variant, but well wait for the M6 before we announce a verdict.
L: 489cm, W: 189cm. Boot: Na, Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: 123cm Also try: Mercedes SL class
650i Convertible 650i Coupe 640d Coupe 640d Gran Coupe 95 na na na 109.3 120 75* 75* 95 na na na 95* 140 104.4 104.4 8cyl 4395cc 8cyl 4395cc 6cyl 2993cc 6cyl 2993cc 8A 8A 8A 8A 407 407 313 313 600 600 630 630 250 250 250 250 5.39 na 5.5 5.5 5.6 na na 8.1
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7 Series: Much improved. BMWs super saloon is now a half-decent match for the class-whipping S-Class.
TG Choice: The 730Ld d should be fine, fi as its a car to be driven in.
L: 517.9, W: 213.3,cm. Boot: 520 litres, Fuel Tank: 88 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class
740Li 750Li 730Ld 760Li 79.6 86.8 73.6 129 99.47 113.3 96.06 150.7 79.6 86.8 73.6 129 109 125 105 167 6cyl 2979cc 8cyl 4395cc 6cyl 2993cc 12cyl 5972cc 6A 6A 6A 6A 326 407 326 544 450 600 500 750 250 6.9 250 6 245 7.7 250 4.6 8.2 7.9 9.1 7.3
Build: Import
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GT 5: According to BMW the GT 5 is for an older BMW buyer who has a family and children to ferry around.
TG Choice: A BMW for the ageing? For this price, you can get the 530d and the K1200R bike.
L: 499, W: 190,cm. Boot: 520 litres, Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: none
30 d 64 65.10 64 82.32 6cyl 2993cc 8A 245 540 240 7.13 5.3
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Ch en na i De l (o hi nr oa d
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Price Numbers
Ge ar b Ma ox x. Po Ma wer x. ( To Bhp Ma rqu ) e x sp (Nm 0- eed ) 10 (K 0 Fu kph ph) el ( ef sec f Ai icien ) rb ag cy (K AB s pl) S Ch en na i De l h (o i nr oa d) Ba ng alo re M um (o ba nr i oa d)
Re m ot Cl e lo im c at kin Au e c g dio ont s ro Le yste l at he m Po r se we a r w ts ind Al ow loy s s Fo gl am ps

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X1: Right size, right price, perfect for the urban yuppie.
Build: Assembled
TG Choice: The e20d d will be perfect p f . 350Nm of f torque q is more than enough g for f city y and highway g y driving. g
L: 445, W: 180,cm. Boot: 420 litres, Fuel Tank: 80 litre, Ground Clearance: 19.4cm Also try: Audi Q5
20d 20d XLine 20d SportLine NA NA NA 27.9* 32.5* 32.5* NA NA NA 35.5 41.4 41.4 4cyl 1995cc 4cyl 1995cc 4cyl 1995cc 8A 8A 8A 181 181 181 380 380 380 205 7.18 205 7.18 205 7.18 12 12 12
X3: A well-sorted car tailored for the world we live in. If only they had a button that said BMW for the outcasts of the world. Build: Assembled
TG Choice: The 20d d , as it has ample p p power and is cheaper p by y Rs. 7 lakh.
L: 464.8cm W: 188 cm. Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 67 litre, Ground Clearance: 19.4cm Also try: Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Land Rover Freelander
20d 30d 41.20 47.90 41.20* 47.90* 41.20 47.90 56.5 64.6 4cyl 1995cc 6cyl 2993cc 8A 8A 184 258 380 560 220 9.47 11 Na Na Na
X5: Fatter new seven-seat X5 places it firmly in a size category above the X3 now thankfully, its bigger inside too.
TG Choice: The 30d d.should work well as this car is more at home in the urban jungles j g stop-and-go p g traffic. ffi
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Build: Import
L: 485.4, W: 219.7cm. Boot: 620 litres, Fuel Tank: 85 litre, Ground Clearance: 21.2 cmAlso try: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport
50i 30d 78.6 55.7 81.25 62.25 78.6 55.7 89.3 68.2 8cyl 4395cc 6cyl 2993cc 8A 8A 402 245 600 540 240 6.5 7.4 210 8.3 10.8
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X6: Its an SUV! No, its a coupe! No, its both. BMW has gone over-the-top with stretching the boundaries for a niche product. Build: Import
TG Choice: Go all guns g blazing g with the 5.0i as the car doesnt make much sense to begin g with. But itll at least be f fast while being g confused. f
L: 487.7, W: 198cm. Boot: na, Fuel Tank: 85 litre, Ground Clearance: 21.2 cm Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport
50i 30d 84.1 66.9 98.49 79.35 84.1 66.9 109 87.3 8cyl 4395cc 6cyl 2993cc 8A 8A 402 306 600 600 240 5.4 240 6.5 7.1 6.3
BUGATTI Dealers 2 Warranty 2yrs Website www.bugatti.com

Company description: VW-owned purveyor of the fastest, most extreme hypercars on the planet. Builder of the fastest car in the world, the Veyron Super Sport. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
Veyron: The fastest, most expensive car in the world. Enough said...
Build: Import
TG Choice: S Super uper Sports, 1200bhp, 0-100kmh in 2.5 seconds 428+ kph top end. Guinness world record holder, job done.
L: 446cm, W: 199cm. Boot: na, Fuel Tank: 100 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: The space shuttle, hard drugs
Veyron 8.0 W16 Super sport Veyron 8.0 W16 na na 1600* 1000* na na na na 16cyl 7993cc 16cyl 7993cc 7A 7A 1184 999 1106 922 428 2.5 407 2.5 na na
CHEVROLET Dealers 279 Warranty 3 Website www.chevrolet.co.in

Company description: Just about starting to make its mark with confident design and products like the Cruze and the Beat. Buyers are slowly showing that confidence too. India sales in June 2012: 7364 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Saloon of the year 2009: Cruze That the Cruze is a better buy than its immediate competitors - Civic and Corolla - will be as obvious to you as Salman Khan's biceps"
Sail U-VA: Its a no-nonsense car in a country with way better no-nonsense cars
TG Choice: LT Diesel as it has a proven p engine, g rides well and is spacious. p (Available in Base and LS variants too)
L: 394.6 cm W: 169cm. Boot: 220 litres, Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Ritz, Skoda Fabia
LT ABS Petrol LT ABS Diesel 5.73 6.80 6.11 7.53 5.73 6.80 7.28 8.13 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 85 75 113 205 na na na na na na
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FACEBOOK
No O Optional Gadgets & Safety Guide Yes O *Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai and Delhi O
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SOCIALISE WITH TEAM TOPGEAR AND GET EXCLUSIVE UPDATES ON OUR LATEST PROMOTIONS. BE A PART OF THE TOPGEAR FACEBOOK COMMUNITY AT FACEBOOK.COM/TOPGEARINDIA
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Features
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BMW TO CHEVROLET
CHEVROLET

85 85 85 77 77 77 113 113 113 205 205 205 na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
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Sail: Pocket-friendly pricing, neat styling and good ride. Should put Chevrolet back in to the entry-sedan game
TG Choice: 1.3 TCDi LT ABS as it gets g all the safety f yf features and decent amount of f features. f
L: 424.9 cm W: 169cm. Boot: 370 litres, Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki DZire, Mahindra Verito, Ford Classic
1.2 1.2 LS ABS 1.2 LT ABS 1.3 TCDi 1.3 TCDi LS ABS 1.3 TCDi LT ABS 5.08 5.90 6.53 6.40 7.02 7.65 4.99* 5.70* 6.41* 6.29* 6.80* 7.51* 5.09 5.90 6.52 6.40 7.02 7.64 5.99 7.50 8.28 7.66 8.39 9.13 4cyl 1199cc 4cyl 1199cc 4cyl 1199cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M
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Beat: Another smart new Chevy design. Tries hard to play city car and highway cruiser roles. Succeeds reasonably.
TG Choice: The LT T packs p a lot of ff features at a reasonable p price .
L: 364 cm W: 159,cm. Boot: na, Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Hyundai i10, Maruti Suzuki Ritz
Base LS LT LT Opt Base Diesel LS Diesel LT Diesel LT Opt Diesel 3.94 4.22 4.70 5.20 4.79 5.09 5.57 6.07 4.19 4.49 4.97 5.29 5.11 5.42 5.88 6.07 3.94 4.22 4.70 5.20 4.80 5.10 5.56 6.07 4.68 5.00 5.55 6.14 5.75 6.10 6.66 7.26 4cyl 1199cc 4cyl 1199cc 4cyl 1199cc 4cyl 1199cc 3cyl 936cc 3cyl 936cc 3cyl 936cc 3cyl 936cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 79 79 79 79 57 57 57 57 108 108 108 108 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 na na na na na na na na na na na na 17 17 17 17
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Captiva: At long last, Chevy is adding new cars to Daewoo knock-offs. This seven-seat SUV isnt a bad effort either.
L: 466 cmW: 187,cm. Boot: 465 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre , Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X-Trail
2.2 LT 2.2 AWD LTZ Extreme 19.07 25.0 19.82 21.88 25.62 22.69 18.99 25.03 19.74 29.17 31.88 24.87 4cyl 2231cc 4cyl 2231cc 4cyl 2231cc 5M 5A 5A 183 183 183 424 424 424 178 178 178 na na na na na na
Build: Import
TG Choice: Two lakh cheaper p than the AWD variants, the 2.0 LT T has no all-wheel-drive, but hey, you wont need one in a city SUV.
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Cruze: This car can leave wet spot marks on the trousers of the Civic and the Corolla.
TG Choice: The LTZ MT Tf for the true enthusiast.
L: 459.7 cm W: 178.8cm. Boot: na Fuel Tank: na Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Skoda Laura
LT LTZ MT LTZ AT 14.01 15.03 16.02 14.30 16.11 17.10 14.01 15.03 16.02 16.94 18.38 19.47 4cyl 1998cc 4cyl 1998cc 4cyl 1998cc 6M 6M 6A 163 163 163 380 380 380 200 9.83 12 200 9.83 12 200 9.5 11.5
Optra Magnum: Face-lifted Optra now with a cracker of a diesel unit. Reasonably priced exec saloon.
TG Choice: The 2.0 LT TCDI as it comes with all the safety f y features f and a powerful p f diesel engine. g
L: 450cm W: 173,cm. Boot: 450 litres, Fuel Tank: 60 litre, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Cedia, Toyota Corolla Altis
1.6LS 1.6LT 7.65 8.71 8.24 9.35 7.59 8.65 8.75 9.96 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 5M 5M 103 103 148 148 180 13.3 180 13.3 9.2 9.2
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Spark: Cute, cheap runabout, now with the oomph to keep it up in town thanks to the new one-litre engine. Also available: PS & LS LPG.
TG Choice: 1 as it is the cheapest p of f the lot and other variants do not offer ff any y significant g fi upgrades. pg
L: 349.5, W: 149.5,cm. Boot: 104 litres, Fuel Tank: 38 litre , Ground Clearance: 17 cm Also try: Hyundai Santro Xing, Marutis tall boy pair
1 1.0 LS 1.0 LT 3.37 3.65 3.94 3.51 3.89 4.21 3.37 3.64 3.94 4.01 4.33 4.67 4cyl 995cc 4cyl 995cc 4cyl 995cc 5M 5M 5M 62 62 62 90 90 90 145 16.9 13.6 145 16.9 13.6 145 16.9 13.6
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Enjoy: The Enjoy is Chevrolets answer to the Maruti Ertiga. Petrol pretty quick, diesel decently efficient. Reasonably priced too.
TG Choice: LTZ Diesel l as it is offers ff a good g mix of ff features along g with the g goodness of f diesel. Mid-spec p LT trim available too.
L: 430.5, W: 168cm. Boot: 195 litres, Fuel Tank: 50 litre , Ground Clearance: na Also try: Maruti Ertiga, Mahindra Xylo, Nissan Evalia
LS Petrol 8STR LS Petrol 7STR LTZ Petrol 7STR LS Diesel 8STR LS Diesel 7STR LTZ Diesel 7STR 5.59 5.64 7.00 6.81 6.88 8.14 5.49* 5.54* 7.12* 6.69* 6.76* 8.00* 5.59 5.65 7.14 6.81 6.88 8.14 5.76* 5.82* 7.34* 7.02* 7.09* 8.39* 4cyl 1399cc 4cyl 1399cc 4cyl 1399cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 103 103 103 76 76 76 131 131 131 187 187 187 na na na na na na 13.9 12.1 13.9 12.1 13.9 12.1 19.7 15 19.7 15 19.7 15
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Price Numbers
Ge ar b Ma ox x. Po Ma wer x. ( To Bhp Ma rqu ) e x sp (Nm 0- eed ) 10 (K 0 Fu kph ph) el ( ef sec f Ai icien ) rb ag cy (K AB s pl) S Ch en na i De l h (o i nr oa d) Ba ng alo re M um (o ba nr i oa d)
Re m ot Cl e lo im c at kin Au e c g dio ont s ro Le yste l at he m Po r se we a r w ts ind Al ow loy s s Fo gl am ps

Build: Import
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Buyer Guide continued
FERRARI Dealers 1 Warranty 3yrs Website www.ferrari.com

Company description: Iconic Italian marque with a huge back-catalogue of fabulous cars and motorsport successes. The envy of the automotive world. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
California: A Maserati in everything but the name, the California is a lovely but clearly overpriced drop-top tourer.
TG Choice: Will wait for f the new SL. Thank y you
L: 456cm W: 190cm Boot: 240 litres Fuel Tank: 78 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi R8, Maserati GranCabrio, Porsche 911 Turbo.
California 4.3 V8 na 222* na na 8cyl 4297cc 7A 454 485 310 3.9 na
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599: A stonking good car and arguably the best front-engined Ferrari since the 250 GTO. This is genius.
TG Choice: Wed say y the limited GTO version if f it wasnt almost certain to kill us.
L: 467cm W: 196cm Boot: 320 litres Fuel Tank: 105 litre , Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Aston Martin DBS.
599 GTO 6.0 V12 na 357* na na 12cyl 5998cc 6A 612 608 328 3.7 na
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FF: A Ferrari grand tourer, but not as we know it. This is the first ever AWD Ferrari, and its an estate.
TG Choice: Theres only y one version.
FF na 342* na na 12cyl 6262cc 7A 651 683 332 3.7 na
Build: Import
L: 490cm W: 195cm Boot: 450 litres Fuel Tank: 91 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Aston Martin Rapide, Bentley Continental GT.
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458: The finest sportscar of the past five years. Utterly mind-blowing.
TG Choice: Cant go g wrong g with either of f the variants. Wed have ours in titanium grey. g y
Build: Import
L: 453cm W: 194cm Boot: 230 litres Fuel Tank: 86 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Aston Martin Vantage, Porsche 911 Turbo.
458 Italia 4.5 458 Italia Spider na na 257* 291* na na na na 8cyl 4499cc 8cyl 4499cc 7A 7A 562 562 485 485 324 na 3.4 na na na
FIAT Dealers 64 Warranty 18months Website www.fiat-india.com

Company description: Seems to make characterful and beautiful cars even in their sleep. The Punto and Linea are brilliant products. Service continues to put some people off. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Most improved car 2010: Linea T-Jet Fiat's always been making great cars. But with this T-Jet, it seems to have acquired a new skill - listening to people
Linea: Big sedan loaded to the brim with features at a bargain price. Also Available: Emotion Pack for petrol and diesel.
TG Choice: T-Jet t.should have been here the fi first time around still, better late than never.
L: 456, W: 173cm Boot: 500 litre, Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Honda City, Ford Fiesta, VW Vento
Active Dynamic Active D Dynamic D Emotion D T-Jet T-Jet plus 7.25 8.27 8.30 9.35 9.72 8.82 9.32 7.85 7.95 9.12 10.25 10.66 9.65 10.19 7.23 8.25 8.28 9.23 9.70 8.92 9.43 8.32 9.48 9.69 10.90 11.33 NA NA 4cyl 1368cc 4cyl 1368cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1368cc 4cyl 1368cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 90 90 91 91 91 113 113 115 115 209 209 209 207 207 168 168 na na na 165 165 15.6 15.6 na na na 12.3 12.3 8 8 na na na na na
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Punto: Looks incredible, drives well, priced competitively. Needs better engines, though.
TG Choice: The Emotion D Pk k as it is a whole lot cheaper p than the 90hp p and still as much f fun.
L: 398.7cm W: 168.7cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance 19.5cm Also try: Skoda Fabia, Maruti Swift, Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo
Active 1.2 Dynamic 1.2 Emotion 1.4 Active D 5.14 5.38 6.95 5.85 5.45 5.69 7.52 6.25 5.13 5.37 6.94 5.84 5.96 6.23 8.02 6.88 4cyl 1172cc 4cyl 1172cc 4cyl 1368cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 67 67 89 75 96 96 115 197 na na 175 na 175 12.5 na na na 13 13 17
TWITTER
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FERRARI TO FIAT
FORCE TO FORD
Ford continued
Dynamic D Emotion D Emotion D Pk 90 hp Emotion 90hp Sport

75 75 90 90 197 197 209 209 na 15.7 17 na 15.7 17 na 15 17 170 13.65 12.6
6.51 7.15 7.53 na
7.16 7.86 8.27 7.58*
6.50 7.13 7.52 na
7.65 8.38 8.82 7.36*
4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc
5M 5M 5M 5M
FORCE Dealers NA Warranty 2yrs Website www.forcemotors.com

Company description: After selling UV to the rural market, Force has decided to join the ranks of Tata and Mahindra for a piece of the home grown SUV pie. India sales in April 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
One: Mechanically sound car, refined engine and good ride. Let down by interior quality and cabin design execution.
TG Choice: S Single ingle variant comes packed with a long list of features.
L: na W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Tata Safari, Mahindra Scorpio
One 10.84 10.64* 10.79 10.72* 4cyl 2149cc 5M 140 321 na na na
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Gurkha: Want a luxurious off-roader? Look away. Want a no-frills, no-holds-barred mountain goat? Step right this way.
TG Choice: S Soft-top oft-top 4x4 will let you fit in one more friend, apart from looking a little cooler than the hardtop.
L: 399.2cm W: 182cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 63 litre, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Mahindra Thar
Hard-top 4x4 Soft-top 4x4 Soft-top 4x2 8.65 8.49 6.36 8.50* 8.35* 6.25* 8.61 8.46 6.33 8.50* 8.35* 6.25* 4cyl 2596cc 5M 4cyl 2596cc 5M 4cyl 2596cc 5M 81 81 81 230 230 230 na na na na na na na na na
FORD Dealers 65 Warranty 2yrs Website www.india.ford.com

Company description: Makes some of the best drivers cars in India. Right now in a period of transition with the old cars being phased out, and new cars coming in. Good thing is their best is yet to come. India sales in June 2012: 7,000 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Small car of the year 2010: Figo The Figo is a harbinger of things that haven't been around for quite some time.'
Endeavour: Big hunky old-school SUV, just revised. New interior and punchier engine lifts it up considerably.
TG Choice: Go for f the 2.5 4x2 2 and save Rs 3 lakh, as this SUV will mostly y be used for f highway g y driving. g
L: 506cm W: 178.8cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 71 litre, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Mitsubishi Pajero, Tata Safari
2.5L 4x2 3.0L 4x2 3.0L 4x4 AT 20.01 19.50 23.29 21.29 22.89 24.82 20.01 19.41 23.29 24.43 22.74 28.38 4cyl 2499cc 5M 4cyl 2953cc 5M 4cyl 2953cc 5A 142 153 153 330 380 380 na na 160 na 165 13.5 na na 7.5
Fiesta: The new Fiesta is a changed animal but still familiar. Cooler features. Smarter styling.
TG Choice: The 1.5 diesel Titanium + equipped q pp with all the f frills is quite q ap package g to reckon with.
L: 429 cm W: 172cm Boot: 430litre Fuel Tank: 43 litre, Ground Clearance: 15.6cm Also try: Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Maruti Suzuki SX4.
1.5 Ambiente 1.5 Titanium + 1.5 diesel Style 1.5 Diesel Titanium + Style AT Titanium + AT 7.60 9.31 9.45 10.50 9.45 10.04 8.28 10.12 10.79 12.20 10.32 11.10 7.60 9.31 9.45 10.50 9.45 10.04 9.04 11.02 11.44 12.79 11.19 12.16 4cyl 1499cc 4cyl 1499cc 4cyl 1498cc 4cyl 1498cc 4cyl 1499cc 4cyl 1499cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 6A 6A 109 109 89 89 89 89 140 140 204 204 204 204 na na na na na na 12.1 12.1 na na 13 13 12 12 13 13 11.3 11.3
Classic: Fords big player in India is a well-sorted, well thought-out car. Facelifting has made it expensive. Still competent.
TG Choice: The 1.6 S is what BMW would look at if f it needed a low-cost f front-wheel-drive car.
L: 428.2cm W: 168.6cm Boot: 430litre Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea.
1.6 LXI Duratec 1.6 cLXI Duratec 1.6 SXi Duratec 1.4 LXI Duratorq 1.4 cLXI Duratorq 5.84 6.49 7.75 7.04 7.48 6.15 7.05 7.35 7.82 8.29 5.83 6.50 7.52 7.04 7.48 7.03 7.81 9.04 8.61 9.12 4cyl 1596cc 4cyl 1596cc 4cyl 1596cc 4cyl 1399cc 4cyl 1399cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 99 99 99 67 67 146 146 146 160 160 175 175 175 155 155 11.2 12.3 11.2 12.3 11.2 12.3 17.1 16.1 17.1 16.1
Figo: Not the best-styled hatch out there, but it worries everything from the tiny i10 to the premium Polo.
TG Choice: The 1.4 diesel Titanium is an honest-to-goodness g car with great g pricing, p g space p and highway g y ability. y
L: 379cm W: 168cm Boot: 284litre Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Swift, Fiat Punto, Volkswagen Polo.
1.2 Lxi 1.2 Exi 1.2 Zxi 1.2 Titanium 1.4 diesel Lxi 1.4 diesel Exi 1.4 diesel Zxi 1.4 Diesel Titanium 3.96 4.35 4.65 5.16 4.96 5.35 5.67 6.17 4.30 4.70 5.10 5.60 5.45 6.19 6.28 6.69 3.96 4.35 4.66 5.16 4.96 5.30 5.73 6.17 4.83 5.28 5.64 6.22 6.10 6.56 6.93 7.52 4cyl 1196cc 4cyl 1196cc 4cyl 1196cc 4cyl 1196cc 4cyl 1399cc 4cyl 1399cc 4cyl 1399cc 4cyl 1399cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 71 71 71 71 68 68 68 68 102 102 102 102 160 160 160 160 na na na na 150 150 150 150 na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
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EcoSport: This compact SUV will be a game changer for the company. Looks good and drives well too.
TG Choice: The EcoBoost Titanium + gives g y you the right g combination of fp performance f and f features.
L: 399.5cm W: 176.5cm Boot: 346litre Fuel Tank: 52 litre, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Renault Duster
1.5 petrol Ambiente 1.5 petrol Trend 1.5 petrol Titanium 1.5 petrol Titanium AT EcoBoost Titanium EcoBoost Titanium + 1.5 diesel Ambiente 1.5 diesel Trend 1.5 diesel Titanium 1.5 Diesel Titanium + 5.68 6.61 7.64 8.60 8.04 8.43 6.81 7.74 8.77 9.16 5.59* 6.5* 7.51* 8.45* 7.90* 8.29* 6.69* 7.61* 8.62* 9.00* 5.68 6.61 7.64 8.60 8.04 8.43 6.81 7.74 8.77 9.16 5.86* 6.81* 7.87* 8.86* 8.28* 8.69* 7.01* 7.98* 9.04* 9.43* 4cyl 1499cc 4cyl 1499cc 4cyl 1499cc 4cyl 1499cc 3cyl 999cc 3cyl 999cc 4cyl 1498cc 4cyl 1498cc 4cyl 1498cc 4cyl 1498cc 5M 5M 5M 5A 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 110 110 110 110 123 123 90 90 90 90 140 140 140 140 170 170 204 204 204 204 na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
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NEW ENTRY
Ford Ecosport
Fords offering to the compact SUV segment
Ford is following the recent trend in the market with a compact SUV. Small is the new big for Ford. This one doesnt have the typical Ford drive feel of Ford but on theplus
side has features in bucket loads and rides well. With that combination, the EcoSport promises to get the Ikon days back for the company. And yes, it has a lot of variants on offer.
HONDA Dealers 80 Warranty 2yrs Website www.hondacarindia.com

Company description: Enjoys a brand value only premium German cars can beat. City and Civic continue to dominate their segment. But its cars lack the soul they had when it first came in. India sales in July 2012: 4386 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
Accord: Accord is bigger, better and a little less exciting. But oh-so-damned perfect for the Indian luxury car buyer.
TG Choice: The V6 6 would j just be p perfect f as it strikes a fi fine balance between p power and economy. y
Build: Assembled
L: 495cm W: 184.5cm Boot: 396 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: 15.5cm Also try: Hyundai Sonata Transform, Nissan Teana, Toyota Camry, VW Passat
2.4 MT 2.4 AT 3.5 V6 20.90 21.71 28.05 23.20 24.07 30.65 20.80 21.60 27.76 24.11 25.06 NA 4cyl 2354cc 4cyl 2354cc 6cyl 3471cc 5M 5A 5A 177 177 271 222 222 339 223 10.4 na na 215 8 na na 7.5
Amaze: Hondas answer to Marutis DZire. First oil-burning Honda to hit Indian shores
TG Choice: The VX i-DTEC C as it g gets the much talked about diesel engine g thats efficient ffi and g gets all the goodies g too.
L: 399cm W: 168cm Boot: 400 litres Fuel Tank: 35 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Maruti DZire, Chevrolet Sail, Toyota Etios
E S VX S AT VX AT EX i-DTEC S i-DTEC VX i-DTEC 5.08 5.71 6.69 6.71 7.61 6.44 6.78 7.68 5.24* 5.62* 6.60* 6.62* 7.50* 6.24* 6.67* 7.60* 5.13 5.77 6.73 6.77 7.70 6.49 6.85 7.73 6.14 6.89 8.04 8.07 9.10 7.83 8.21 9.22 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1498cc 4cyl 1498cc 4cy l 1498cc 5M 5M 5M 5A 5A 5M 5M 5M 87 87 87 87 99 98 98 99 109 109 109 109 100 100 100 200 na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
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HONDA
HYUNDAI
Hyundai continued

87 87 87 87 87 87 109 109 109 109 109 109 na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Brio: A complete young family hatch, comes with an aggresive price tag.
TG Choice: The VX MT T should work well as it comes with all the f features y youd want.
L: 361cm W: 168cm Boot: Na Fuel Tank: 35 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Ford Figo, Chevrolet Beat, Maruti Ritz
E EX S V VX VX AT 4.21 4.37 4.70 5.16 5.46 6.24 4.12* 4.28* 4.60* 5.06* 5.34* 6.12* 4.21 4.38 4.71 5.18 5.48 6.27 4.36* 4.54* 4.89* 5.38* 5.67* 6.49* 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1198cc 4cy l 1198cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5A /10 7/10 /10 /10 /10 /10
City: Solid, sensible, well thought-out sedan has space, economy and quality but very little flair or excitement.
TG Choice: D Definitely efinitely the V MT manuals are lots more fun, f f efficient fuel ffi and cheaper p than their automatic counterparts.. p
L: 442cm W: 169cm Boot: 405 litre Fuel Tank: 42 litre, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna, Maruti Suzuki SX4
S MT V MT S AT V AT 8.72 9.26 9.47 10.86 9.55 10.11 10.35 10.92 8.72 9.26 9.47 10.86 10.16 10.78 11.03 12.75 4cyl 4cyl 4cyl 4cyl 1497cc 1497cc 1497cc 1497cc 5M 5M 5A 5A 118 118 118 118 146 146 146 146 175 175 175 175 10.7 12 10.7 12 11.52 10.8 11.52 10.8
CR-V: Suave, comfortable, handles well and has a great engine. It has a terrific image as well.
TG Choice: The 2L AT T is the pick of the lot, but where the hell is that diesel?
2L MT 2L AT 2.4L AT AVN 21.21 22.15 25.28 19.95* 20.85* 23.85* 21.18 22.12 25.25 24.98 26.08 29.76 4cyl 1997cc 6M 4cyl 1997cc 6A 4cyl 2354cc 6A 154 154 187 190 190 226 na na na na na na na na na
Build: Assembled
L: 454.4cm W: 182cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 58 litre, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Chevrolet Captiva, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X-Trail, Outlander.
HYUNDAI Dealers 240 Warranty 2yrs Website www.hyundai.co.in

Company description: Service and support have always been good, now with the i10, i20 and the new Verna, their cars are actually scoring on the desirability quotient, too. India sales in April 2012: 31,636 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
Accent: The design looks dated and the only endearing bit is the price. Also Available: Eco LPG. A
TG Choice: The GLE E is still a g good entry-level y proposition, p p but now a bit long g in the tooth
L: 425cm W: 167cm Boot: 380litre Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 17.2cm Also try: Mahindra Verito, Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire.
GLE 5.24 5.75 5.26 6.22 4cyl 1495cc 5M 93 124.5 170 14 10.9
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i10: Another excellent compact hatch from Hyundai. Massively practical, very sophisticated for such a small car.
TG Choice: The Magna g 1.2 2 has the best combination of f equipment q p and price p
L: 358.5cm W: 159.5cm Boot: 235litre Fuel Tank: 35 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Maruti Suzukis twins.
Era Magna Magna 1.2 Sportz Sportz Auto Asta Asta WS AT 4.19 4.35 4.53 5.15 5.42 5.60 6.35 4.49 4.65 4.82 5.15 5.70 5.95 6.92 4.20 4.35 4.53 5.15 5.42 5.60 6.35 4.93 5.10 5.31 6.02 6.34 6.54 7.41 4cyl 1086cc 4cyl 1086cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 4A 5M 4A 66 66 79 79 79 79 79 99 99 112 112 112 112 112 140 15.5 140 15.5 na na na na na na na na na na 14 14 na na na na na
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i20: Hyundai is getting dull because everything it churns out is really quite good. The i20 is as good as most others in the class.
TG Choice: The Magna g 1.4D D makes for good value for money considering its a big diesel hatchback
L: 394cm W: 171cm Boot: 295 litre Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Skoda Fabia, Honda Jazz, Maruti Suzuki Swift.
Magna 1.2 P Sportz 1.2 P Asta 1.2 P Magna 1.4 D Sportz 1.4 D Asta 1.4 D Sportz 1.4 P AT 5.38 5.95 6.87 6.54 7.11 7.58 7.90 5.52 6.45 7.11 7.32 7.89 8.35 8.69 5.47 6.04 6.97 6.72 7.29 7.76 8.00 6.46 7.11 8.19 8.09 8.76 9.30 9.33 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1396cc 4cyl 1396cc 4cyl 1396cc 4cyl 1396cc 5M 5M 6M 6M 6M 6M 4A 80 80 80 90 90 90 89 112 112 112 220 220 220 220 155 155 155 165 165 165 155 15.5 15.5 15.5 11.9 11.9 11.9 13.1 11.8 11.8 11.8 15 15 15 10.5
Eon: The Eon is an interesting little entry number. It has what you want from an entry-level city car, even if not in the best possible way.
TG Choice: Sportz Sportz z as it has all the features f that a p premium hatchback should get. g
L: 349.5cm W: 155cm Boot: 215 litre, Fuel Tank: 32 litre, Ground Clearance: 17 cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Maruti Alto, Maruti Suzuki A-Star
D-Lite D-Lite + Era + Magna + Sportz 2.92 3.22 3.37 3.67 3.96 3.10 3.40 3.60 3.90 4.15 2.94 3.23 3.38 3.69 3.98 3.50 3.90 4.00 4.36 4.70 3cyl 814cc 3cyl 814cc 3cyl 814cc 3cyl 814cc 3cyl 814cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 55 55 55 55 55 75 75 75 75 75 na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
WorldMags.net Gadgets & Safety Guide Yes No

O O
O Optional *Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai and Delhi

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Price Numbers
Build: Assembled
147 147 147 126 126 126 126 177 177 177 260 260 260 260 na na na na na na 190 na na na na na na 11.37 na na na na na na 12.2
Elantra: Hyundai brings the Elantra back from the dead. This time, way more flamboyant and with a lot more features
TG Choice: SX Auto as it gets g all the bells and whistles and the convenience of f an auto box.
L:453cm W: 177.5cm Boot: 420 litre, Fuel Tank: 56 litre, Ground Clearance: 15 cm Also try: Chevrolet Cruze, VW Jetta, Toyota Corolla
1.8 S VTVT 1.8 SX VTVT 1.8 SX AT VTVT 1.6 CRDi 1.6 S CRDi 1.6 SX CRDi 1.6 SX AT CRDi 12.92 14.17 15.19 13.32 14.07 15.30 16.32 14.39 15.75 16.89 15.15 15.96 17.44 18.55 12.92 14.17 15.19 13.33 14.07 15.30 16.32 15.02 16.06 17.08 15.09 16.08 18.02 19.04 4cyl 1797cc 4cyl 1797cc 4cyl 1797cc 4cyl 1582cc 4cyl 1582cc 4cyl 1582cc 4cyl 1582cc 6M 6M 6A 6M 6M 6M 6A
Santa Fe: Hyundai takes the fight to Honda CR-Vs door step. Also comes with diesel engine.
TG Choice: Go the whole hog g and g get the 4x4 and its not that expensive either
2WD 4WD 4WD AT 23.79 25.97 26.94 26.07 28.45 29.59 23.80 25.97 26.95 28.06 31.02 32.03 4cyl 2199cc 4cyl 2199cc 4cyl 2199cc 6M 6M 6A 195 195 195 420 420 420 210 9.5 11.5 210 9.5 11.5 190 9.54 10
Build: Import
L: 466cm W: 189cm Boot: 969litre Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Mitsubishi Outlander, Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail.
Santro Xing: Comfortable, refined, user-friendly hatch, it a bit dull looking. Also available: GL & GLS LPG.
TG Choice: Go for f the GLS S that at least g gets some f features
L: : 356.5cm W: : 152.5cm Boot: : 218litre Fuel Tank: 35 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: : Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai i10, Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Maruti Suzuki Estilo.
GL Plus GLS 3.78 4.01 4.01 4.27 3.78 4.01 4.23 4.49 4cyl 1086cc 4cyl 1086cc 5M 5M 62 62 96 96 na na na na na na
Verna: Hyundais champion mid-size warrior. Fiesta-beater? Oh, yes!

TG Choice: The Diesel manual l gives g the best combination of fp power and economy. y The Autos nice in the city, y though g
L: 437cm W: 170cm Boot: 465 litre Fuel Tank: 43 litre, Ground Clearance: Na Also try: Ford Fiesta, Honda City, VW Vento, Fiat Linea, Maruti SX4.
1.4 VTVT 1.6 VTVT 1.6 SX (O) VTVT 1.6 SX(O) VTVT AT 1.4 CRDi 1.6 CRDi 1.6 SX CRDi 1.6 SX (O) CRDi AT 7.36 8.30 9.50 10.02 8.62 8.29 10.87 11.61 7.99 8.85 10.33 11.09 9.55 10.65 11.21 13.15 7.36 8.30 9.50 10.02 9.40 9.66 10.87 11.61 8.64 9.80 11.01 12.00 11.02 11.05 13.01 13.08 4cyl 1396cc 4cyl 1591cc 4cyl 1591cc 4cyl 1591cc 4cyl 1396cc 4cyl 1582cc 4cyl 1582cc 4cyl 1582cc 5M 5M 5M 4A 6M 6M 6M 4A 105 121 121 121 89 126 126 126 135 155 155 155 220 260 260 260 na na na na na na na 11.4 na na 11.4 na na na na na 11.07 na na 11.07 na na na na
Sonata: Finally, a D-segmenter from Hyundai that takes the fight to its rivals
TG Choice: The automatic c with its flappy fl ppy paddles p and f feature-rich interiors scores over the manual version
L: 482cm W: 184cm Boot: Na Fuel Tank: 70litres, Ground Clearance: 15.5cm Also try: Skoda Laura, VW Jetta
Manual Automatic 19.11 21.23 21.20 23.52 19.11 21.23 22.03 25.00 4cyl 2359cc 4cyl 2359cc 6M 6A 198 198 255 255 200 9.7 9.2 200 9.54 10
ISUZU Dealers 2 Warranty na Website na

Company description: You know them for their low-cost, but reliable diesel engines. The Japanese auto maker's SUV now comes to India, via Thailand. CBU route. Full manufacture begins in 2015. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
MU-7: Think Fortuner, but not from Toyota. Lots of space and brute force.
TG Choice: They y are importing p g it. So, there is only y one option p
L: 499.5cm W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Toyota Fortuner
MU-7 24.76 NA NA NA 4cyl 3000cc 5A 160 333 na na na
Build: Import
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6/10 6/10 6/10 6/10 6/10 6/10 6/10 /10 /10 /10 5/10 5/10 4/10 5/10 5/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 6/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 6/10
En gi ne
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Features
HYUNDAI TO ISUZU
JAGUAR TO LAND ROVER

Price

Numbers Features
Build: Import
274 379 503 600 515 625 230 6.6 250 5.8 250 4.9 na na na
JAGUAR Dealers 5 Warranty na Website www.Jaguar.in

Company description: Now under the stewardship of Tata but still turning out brilliant driver's cars. The XF is lovely, and the new V8 petrol and V6 diesel engines are as good as anything out there. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Interior of the year 2009: XJ The only problem with this cabin is you can't take it to bed with you
Jaguar XJ: British engineering at its finest, good option for buyers looking for a big non-German luxury sedan.
TG Choice: The 3.0L D as this car is more about luxury y than sheer power. p
L: 512cm W: 189cm Boot: 520 litre Fuel Tank: 82 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 7-Series, Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
3.0L D 5.0L 5.0L SuperSport 83.77 92.98 114.9 98.11* 101* 126* 84.86 94.18 113.4 150.5 151 220.5 6cyl 2993cc 6A 8cyl 5000cc 6A 8cyl 5000cc 6A
Jaguar XF:
5.0L 2.2 D 3.0L D R 5.0
This model has brought Jag to the same level as its German counterparts. It drives as good as it looks. TG Choice: The R 5.0 for f those rare moments when you y g get to use all that power. p
L: 496cm W: 187.7cm Boot: 500 litre Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 5-Series, Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class
51.22 na 64.95 79.63 67.07 na 54.4 75.8* 51.86 na 65.77 81.30 102 54.30 61.87 126 8cyl 5000cc 4cyl 2179cc 6cyl 2967cc 8cyl 5000cc 6A 8A 6A 6A 385 188 238 507 515 450 500 625 250 5.7 225 8.5 250 7.1 250 4.7 na na 7.8 na
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Jaguar XKR: Recently face-lifted and the new engines make things better with the R version getting staggeringly fast.
TG Choice: D Definitely efinitely the Convertible e for f that perfect p f pleasure p drive.
L: 539cm W: 212.5cm Boot: 374 litres Fuel Tank: 96 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes SL, Porsche 911
5.0L 5.0L Convertible XKR-S 94.18 99.9 na 100.4 104.6 na 95.39 101.2 na 150 159 205 8cyl 5000cc 6A 8cyl 5000cc 6A 8cyl 5000cc 6A 503 503 543 625 625 680 250 4.8 250 4.8 300 4.4 5.9 5.9 5
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LAMBORGHINI Dealers 1 Warranty na Website www.lamborghini.com

Company description: Audi-owned Lambo is firing on all cylinders, with its strongest model range yet and enough attitude to keep devotees happy. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
Aventador: Stays true to its illustrious supercar heritage. Brute force meets top notch luxury.
TG Choice: D Depends epends on whether you care about your hairdo or not.
L: 434.5cm W: 190cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 90 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Riding a bull, Ferrari 599 GTB
LP700/4 LP700/4 Roadster na na 370* 477* na na 364* na 12cyl 6500cc 7A 12cyl 6500cc 7A 691 691 690 690 350 2.9 350 3.0 4.3 4.3
Build: Import
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Gallardo: Tiny but lethal, the baby Lambo packs an incredible punch.
TG Choice: LP560 to keep p it ahead of f the Audi R8 V10 pack. p
LP560/4 na na na na 10cyl 5204cc 6M 560 540
Build: Import
L: 434.5cm W: 190cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 90 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi R8, Ferrari 458 Italia
325 3.7 na
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LAND ROVER Dealers 4 Warranty na Website www.landrover.com

Company description: Builder of the best 4x4 by far? An old advertising slogan thats now coming true with the latest range of Landies. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
Discovery 4: Thirsty but rather good-looking and fantastic all-round.

TG Choice: The 3.0 as there are no options p available.
Discovery 4 3.0 62.36 82 63.14 92.80 6cyl 2993cc 6A 254 442
Build: Import
L: 483cm W: 200.9cm Boot: 535 litres Fuel Tank: 84 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Volvo XC90, BMW X5
180 8.99 6.7
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Evoque: If looks could kill, the Range Rover Evoque would be it.
Pure Prestige Dynamic Dynamic Si4 (Coupe) 45.19 52.30 51.35 57.17 51.1 61.2 61.9 67.1 45.75 52.95 52.01 57.95 65.07 75.61 74.57 81.91 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 1999cc 6A 6A 6A 6A
Build: Import
TG Choice: The Dynamic y SD4 as it is a proper p p fi five-door and has a decently y efficient ffi engine. g
L: 435.5cm W: 212cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na Ground Clearance: na Also try: Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Volvo XC60, BMW X5
188 188 188 238 420 420 420 340 na na na na 9.8 10.5 9.8 10.5 9.8 10.5 na na

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Price Numbers
Build: Assembled
150 190 400 420 179 10.9 13.4 181 9.76 8.9
Freelander 2: Your first ascent up the true blue off-roading hill.

2.2d SE 2.2d HSE NA NA NA NA NA NA 46.99 56.54 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 6A 6A
TG Choice: The 2.2d HSE as this might g be a crossover but can still handle off-road ff very y well.
L: 484.8cm W: 201cm Boot: 755 litres Fuel Tank: 68 litres, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: BMW X3, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60
7/10 8/10
NEW ENTRY
Landrover Freelander
Gets a facelift and better equipment to keep you safe both on and off road
Theres no doubt that the Freelander takes its rivals hands down when it comes to going off the road. Now, LR has decided to give a midlife facelift. And the changes are not
only skin deep. It also sees changes inside the cabin. Apart from that, there are now new toys which help the Freelander manage the rocks and the mud better than it did earlier.
Range Rover: Still the Rolls-Royce of the SUVs.

3.0 TDV6 4.4 L TDV8 Vogue 4.4 L TDV8 Autobiography 5.0L V8 Supercharged NA NA NA NA NA 172* 180* 190* NA NA NA NA
Now, in a much lighter avatar, with a much heavier price tag. TG Choice: 4.4L TDV8 Autobiography, g p y as you y loads of f torque q to play p y with and gets g all the gizmos g under the sun.
L: 499.9cm W: 207.3cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 105 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes GL Class, BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne
185.3 251.3 259.8 267.5 6cyl 2993cc 8cyl 4367cc 8cyl 4367cc 8cyl 4999cc 8A 8A 8A 8A 256 334 334 503 600 700 700 625 215 215 215 230 7.9 6.9 6.9 5.4 na na na na
Build: Import
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Range Rover Sport: Rangies smaller, sportier brother more practical and clever in some ways, but not quite as charming.
TG Choice: The 5.0L Supercharged p g d to smoke the other cars from f red light g to red light. g
L: 479cm W: 193cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 84 litres, Ground Clearance: 22.7cm Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
3.0L TDV6 HSE 5.0L V8 Supercharged 75.4 86.7 81.63 94.41 76.3 87.8 119 137 6cyl 2993cc 6A 8cyl 4999cc 6A 242 503 600 625 208 8.6 222 7.4 na na
Build: Import
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MAHINDRA Dealers 150 Warranty 1 year, unlimited km Website www.mahindra.com

Company description: Have just crossed the fence from crude to refined. With SsangYong, though, they do look like making it on the world stage over the decade. India sales in July 2012: 42,799 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Family car of the year 2009: Xylo The Xylo offers what most families in India want - a vehicle that's big enough to take them all, plus relatives and a couple of tonnes of luggage'
Bolero: Dinosaur bones, but surprisingly competent. Cheap, rugged, but cramped. B
TG Choice: The SLE as economy y works best on a utility y vehicle.
L: 410.7cm W: 174.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Chevrolet Tavera, Tata Sumo Victa
SLE SLX ZLX 6.88 7.40 7.56 7.06 7.58 7.75 6.75 7.27 6.44 8.28 8.90 9.10 4cyl 2523cc 4cyl 2523cc 4cyl 2523cc 5M 5M 5M 63 63 63 195 195 195 132 27.6 11.5 132 27.6 11.5 132 27.6 11.5
e2o: If youre the kind who loves the Arctic icebergs and is concerned about global warming, this one is for you. e
TG Choice: The T2 as it has space-age p g toys y to p play y with.
L: 328cm W: 151cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Trikke
T0 T2 7.05 7.05 6.44 6.75 6.79 7.13 7.05 7.05 3-phase DC 3-phase DC AT AT 25 25 53 53 80 80 na na na na
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Features
LAND ROVER TO MAHINDRA
MAHINDRA TO MARUTI SUZUKI

Ch en na i De (o lhi nr oa d ) Ba ng alo re M um (o ba nr i oa d) En gi ne

Quanto:
Based on the Ingenio platform, the Quanto is the Xylos baby-brother. Still ferries seven, albeit at a pinch. TG Choice: The C8 8 as it gets all the goodies that youd want in your compact SUV. O O O O O O L: na W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Premier Rio
C4 C6 C8 6.83 7.33 7.86 6.53* 7.05* 7.57* 6.80 7.30 7.82 7.97 8.55 9.16 3cyl 1493cc 3cyl 1493cc 3cyl 1493cc 5M 5M 5M 100 100 100 240 240 240 145 15.6 13.7 145 15.6 13.7 145 15.6 13.7
Scorpio: Ever-improving SUV offers great value, excellent practicality for India and now-decent road manners. Top car.
TG Choice: The SLE E as it p provides g good value-for-money. f y
L: 443cm W: 181.7cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Tata Sumo Grande, Tata Safari
LX SLE Vlx 4X2 Vlx 4X4 AT Vlx 4X2 AT Vlx 4X4 8.70 10.04 11.20 12.29 11.67 12.72 9.24 10.56 12.49 13.42 11.42 12.5 8.23 9.94 11.14 12.20 11.57 12.63 10.31 11.98 13.40 14.64 13.90 15.14 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 6A 6A 120 120 120 120 120 120 290 290 290 290 290 290 145 18.7 144 17.7 na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
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Thar: Old-school SUV with go-anywhere attitude.

TG Choice: N No o choices, but it now comes with an aircon, no hard-top though.
L: 392cm W: 171cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Mahindra Tractor
Thar AC 7.24 6.97 7.21 8.72 4cyl 2498cc 5M 105 247 138 15.2 na
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Verito: Spacious, solid and a super ride. To top that, it comes with mouth-watering price tags.
TG Choice: The 1.5 D2 2 has a g good diesel engine, g which is low on maintenance and easy y on the p pocket.
L: 424.7cm W: 174cm Boot: 510 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.2cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, Tata Indigo
1.4 G2 1.4 G4 1.5 D2 1.5 D6 5.36 5.58 6.36 7.26 5.34 5.61 6.33 7.45 5.31 5.53 6.30 6.20 6.52 6.78 7.88 8.96 4cyl 1390cc 4cyl 1390cc 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 75 75 65 65 110 110 160 160 na na na na na na 165 17.4 18.9 165 17.4 18.9
Verito Vibe: A Verito minus the boot. But dont mistake it for a hatch, its a super-compact sedan with 330litres of boot space.
TG Choice: The 1.5 D2 2 has a g good diesel engine g and easy y on the p pocket.
L: 399cm W: 174cm Boot: 330 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.2cm Also try: VW Polo, Maruti Swift
D2 D4 D6 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 6.81 7.12 8.01 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 5M 5M 5M 64 64 64 160 160 160 na na na na na na na na na
XUV 5OO: Its heart is in the right place, but the dynamic chinks need ironing out.
TG Choice: W8 AWD D as it comes with f feature list that runs in to multiple p p pages g and it manages g to do that at a mind-blowing gp price tag. g
L: 450cm W: 185cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.6cm Also try: Tata Aria, Tata Safari
W6 W8 W8 AWD 12.26 14.99 13.87 13.10 14.66 15.65 12.26 14.99 13.87 14.83 16.77 18.10 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 6M 6M 6M 140 140 140 330 330 330 190 12.3 11 190 12.3 11 180 13.1 10.8
Xylo: Innova slayer with the sedan market in sight. Big, spacious and value-for-money
TG Choice: D2 2 as it will be more of f a people p p mover than your y personal p set of f wheels.
L: 450cm W: 185cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.6cm Also try: Chevrolet Tavera, Toyota Innova, Tata Sumo Victa
D2 D4 H4 H8 H9 7.57 8.00 8.77 9.98 10.82 8.43 9.11 9.74 10.21 12.06 7.53 7.96 8.73 9.94 10.78 9.15 9.65 8.47* 9.64* 10.45* 4cyl 2489cc 4cyl 2489cc 4cyl 2498cc 4cyl 2498cc 4cyl 2179cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 95 95 112 112 120 220 220 240 240 280 155 na 155 na 155 15.2 155 15.2 165 13.0 na na na na na
MARUTI SUZUKI Dealers 1127 Warranty 2 Website www.marutisuzuki.com

Company description: A brand most Indians trust more than they do their spouses. And for good reason. Cars are good. Service and support, brilliant. India sales in July 2012: 82,234 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Urban car of the yar 2009: Ritz Maruti's newest hatch is everything that its luxurious namesake in the hospitality industry is not. Ideal candidate then...
Alto 800: Marutis idea of cheap transportation. Gets the tried-and-tested engine and Altos platform
TG Choice: The LXi i as p power steering g and air-con is a must in the city. y
L: 349.5cm W: 147.5cm Boot: 117 litre Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Tata Nano, Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Eon
Std LX LXi 2.51 2.84 3.30 2.44* 3.06 3.30 2.55 2.88 3.35 3.00 3.38 3.92 3cyl 796cc 3cyl 796cc 3cyl 796cc 5M 5M 5M 47 47 47 69 69 69 na na na na na na na na na
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Alto K10: New engine and transmission mean you can say Alto and performance in the same sentence.
TG Choice: The VXi i gives g good g bang gf for y your buck.
L: 362cm W: 147.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Tata Nano, Maruti A-Star
K10 Lxi K10 Vxi 3.37 3.50 3.49 3.65 3.42 3.55 4.00 4.16 3cyl 998cc 3cyl 998cc 5M 5M 67 67 90 90 145 13.3 15.4 145 13.3 15.4

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A-Star: Perfect car for city dwellers, comes loaded with features and a zippy fuel-efficient engine.
TG Choice: ZXi i manual as it comes loaded with all the safety f yf fearures and is a j joy y to drive.
L: 350cm W: 160cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Hundai i10
LXi VXi ZXi ZXi AT 4.00 4.26 4.71 4.76 4.15 4.53 4.80 5.10 4.00 4.31 4.77 4.82 4.65 5.01 5.54 5.60 3cyl 998cc 3cyl 998cc 3cyl 998cc 3cyl 998cc 5M 5M 5M 4A
Eeco: Dont let the marketing gimmick fool you. The Eeco is a stripped-down Versa at a rock-bottom price.
TG Choice: 5STR AC C , you y deserve to be treated like royalty. y y
L: 367.5 cm W: 174 cm Boot: 147.5 litres Fuel Tank: 40 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Watching the IPL instead on a dull evening
5 STR AC 7 STR 3.67 3.53 3.69 3.56 3.64 3.51 4.18 4.04 4cyl 1196cc 4cyl 1196cc 5M 5M 73 73 101 101 na na na na na na
Ertiga: Maruti jumps on the people-mover bandwagon with the Ertiga. Drives like a car, seats seven and its compact. Need we say more?
TG Choice: The ZXi i. as its actually yf fun to drive, p perfect f for f those spirited p white-van drivers.
L: 426.5 cm W: 169.5 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Mahindra Xylo, Toyota Innova
LXi VXi ZXi LDi VDi ZDi 6.33 7.13 7.88 7.81 8.47 9.14 6.55 7.50 8.14 8.39 9.12 9.55 6.31 7.11 7.85 7.79 8.45 9.12 7.21 8.14 8.71 9.07 9.85 10.60 4cyl 1373cc 4cyl 1373cc 4cyl 1373cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 94 94 94 88 88 88 130 130 130 200 200 200 na na na na na na na na na 165 12.7 13.5 165 12.7 13.5 165 12.7 13.5
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Grand Vitara: A brand new Vitara thats much more modern in terms of both appearance and driving dynamics.
TG Choice: The AT T as this is not a drivers car.
L: 447 cm W: 181 cm Boot: 400 litres Fuel Tank: 66 litres, Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Chevrolet Captiva, Toyota Fortuner
MT AT 17.2 18.3 25.76 27.86 17.3 18.7 17.51* 18.86* 4cyl 2393cc 4cyl 2393cc 5M 4A 164 164 225 225 175 13.3 175 na 6.2 na
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Kizashi: Good all-rounder,strong engine, long feature list. Could have been priced better.
TG Choice: The MT T to unlock the true potential p of f this car.
MT AT na na 18.65 19.76 na na 20.54 21.77 4cyl 2393cc 4cyl 2393cc 6M 6A 176 176 230 230 215 8.8 12.5* 205 7.8 12.5*
Build: Import
L: 465 cm W: 182 cm Boot: 461 litre Fuel Tank: 63 litres, Ground Clearance: 14.6cm Also try: Honda Accord, Skoda Superb.
Ritz: If theres ever a fill-it-shut-it-forget-it car, this is it.

TG Choice: The VDi . As there is no ZDi variant for f the Ritz.
L: 371.5 cm W: 168 cm Boot: 178 litre Fuel Tank: 43 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Ford Figo, Chevrolet Beat
LXi VXi ZXi LDi VDi 4.49 4.06 5.43 5.59 6.10 4.75 5.15 5.79 5.96 6.30 4.51 4.08 5.47 5.59 6.11 5.26 5.61 6.34 6.57 7.17 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 85 85 85 74 74 113 113 113 190 190 na na na na na 13.8 13.8 13.8 14.6 14.6 na na na 16 16
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Swift : The most popular Maruti ever. Looks fab, drives well, has two great engines and lots of equipment.
TG Choice: ZXI I as it offers ff all the safety f y features f not found f in the diesel variant.
L: 385cm W: 169.5cm Boot: 204 litre Fuel Tank: 42 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, Hyundai i20, Skoda Fabia
LXi VXi ZXi LDi VDi ZDi 4.60 5.09 5.95 5.79 6.28 7.08 4.97 5.48 6.32 6.20 6.90 7.76 4.66 5.11 5.97 5.75 6.27 7.10 5.43 5.94 6.93 6.83 7.40 8.34 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 86 86 86 74 74 74 114 114 114 190 190 190 160 160 160 160 160 160 na na na na na na na na na na na na
VISIT US AT TOPGEAR.COM
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MARUTI SUZUKI
MARUTI TO MASERATI
Price
Mitsubishi continued

Numbers Features
86 86 86 86 74 74 74 114 114 114 114 190 190 190 160 na na 160 na na 155 14.8 10.5 160 na na 160 na na 160 na na 160 na na
Swift DZire: Recently refreshed, looks better but reduces some of its boot space.
TG Choice: ZDI I as it has a f frugal g y yet p powerful f p powerplant p and comes with a set of f safety f y features. f
L: 399.5cm W: 169.5cm Boot: 316 litre Fuel Tank: 42 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Mahindra Verito, Tata Indigo, Nissan Sunny
LXi VXi VXi AT ZXi LDi VDi ZDi 4.97 5.55 6.80 6.48 6.15 6.73 7.58 5.44 5.99 7.55 7.15 6.90 7.50 8.44 5.02 5.61 6.87 6.53 6.20 6.79 7.63 5.94 6.57 7.96 7.61 7.39 8.05 9.00 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 4A 5M 5M 5M 5M 5/10 5/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 6/10 6/10
SX4: Suzuki and Fiat came together to develop this car, and its worth it. Good value, reasonable to drive.
TG Choice: ZDi i as it offer ff the usual g gizmos and leather seats optional. p
L: 449cm W: 173.5cm Boot: 505 litre Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Chevrolet Aveo, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna, Honda City
VXi ZXi ZXi AT VDi ZDi 7.42 8.22 8.98 8.48 9.39 8.10 8.92 9.69 9.32 10.35 7.37 8.16 8.92 8.42 9.33 8.35 9.21 10.04 9.52 10.51 4cyl 1586cc 4cyl 1586cc 4cyl 1586cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 5A 5M 5M 102 102 102 88 88 145 145 145 200 200 175 175 175 160 160 12.5 12.5 12.5 13.3 13.3 13.5 13.5 13.5 14.8 14.8
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Wagon R: More spacious than its predecessor and much nicer to look at. Definitely for the family man... or woman
TG Choice: The VXI I offers ff features f available in more expensive p cars at a reasonable p price.
L: 359.5cm W: 147.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Santro Xing, Maruti Suzuki Estilo
LX Lxi Vxi 3.60 3.85 4.06 3.92 4.23 4.52 3.60 3.86 4.10 4.06 4.44 4.73 3cyl 998cc 3cyl 998cc 3cyl 998cc 5M 5M 5M 67 67 67 90 90 90 155 15.4 155 15.4 155 15.4 na na na
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Estilo: Marutis second tall boy. Not as fun to drive as the car it replaced.
TG Choice: The LXi i is a decent runabout, but we miss the soul of f the old j jellybean. y
L: 360cm W: 149.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Santro Xing, Maruti Suzuki Wagon R
LX Lxi Vxi 3.50 3.77 4.00 3.79 4.15 4.39 3.50 3.77 4.04 3.94 4.34 4.64 3cyl 998cc 3cyl 998cc 3cyl 998cc 5M 5M 5M 67 67 67 90 90 90 150 16.2 12.5 150 16.2 12.5 150 16.2 12.5
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MASERATI Dealers 1 Warranty 4yrs Website www.maserati.com

Company description: Italian company under the Fiat umbrella turns out consistently jaw-dropping cars, now with the quality to match the style. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
Quattroporte: The big Maserati saloon still carries cachet and looks genuinely different.
TG Choice: The Sport p GTS S for f the f full-blown porte p experience. p
Build: Import
L: 509cm W: 188.5cm Boot: 450 litres Fuel Tank: 90 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide
Quattroporte Quattroporte S Quattroporte Sport GTS na na na 123* 132* 142* na na na na na na 8cyl 4244cc 8cyl 4691cc 8cyl 4691cc 6A 6A 6A 400 430 440 460 490 490 270 5.6 280 5.4 285 5.1 na na na
GranTurismo: Muscular but pretty coupe that is more GT than sportscar.
Build: Import
TG Choice: D Does oes not make crazy power like the German rivals, but with those sexy looks, who cares .
L: 488cm W: 192cm Boot: 260 litres Fuel Tank: 86 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Monica Bellucci.
GranTurismo GranTurismo S MC Stradale na na na 120* 129* 163* na na na na na na 8cyl 4244cc 6A 8cyl 4691cc 6A 8cyl 4691cc 6M 405 440 450 460 490 510 284 5.2 292 5 301 4.6 na na na
GranCabrio: Tweaks make the GranCabrio slightly better , for relatively little cash.
TG Choice: Only y one engine g option p available f for now.
L: 488.1cm W: 1915cm Boot: NA Fuel Tank: Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi R8 Spyder
4.7 Auto na 142* na na 8cyl 4691cc 6A 440 490 295 5.3 na
Build: Import
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121 107 200 250 na na na na na na
MERCEDES-BENZ Dealers 59 Warranty na Website www.mercedes-benz.co.in

Company description: Still the definitive symbol of luxury and status in India. Good credibility too. But BMW, Audi are slowly eating into the sheen. TG Awards: SUV of the year 2010: GL-Class In the SUV category, size matters, and the GL deals that out in spades
A-Class: Mercs newest offering is dressed to kill. Now the stepping stone to Benz ownership.
TG Choice: The A 180 Sport p t, as its got g enough g show to match the go. g
L: 429.2cm W: 178cm Boot: 341litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Fiat 500, Mini Cooper
A 180 Sport A 180 Style NA NA NA NA NA NA 22.73* 21.93* 4cyl 1595cc 4cyl 2143cc 7A 7A
B-Class: Mercs B-Class is ultimately a large luxury hatchback. Now a more practical alternative to the A-Class.
TG Choice: The B 180 Sport p t, as it has the same equipment q p as the B 180 but comes with Sport p pack p enhancements.
L: 435.9cm W: 178.6cm Boot: 486litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Audi Q3, BMW X1
B 180 B 180 Sport NA NA NA NA NA NA 26 77 26.77 31.69 4cyl 4 l 1595cc 1595 4cyl 1595cc 7A 7A 122 122 200 200 200 10 10.5 5 10 10.3 3 200 10.5 10.3
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C-Class: Excellent new C-Class returns to traditional Merc values and quality. As soothing as a champagne jacuzzi.
TG Choice: The 250CDI I, as it has a brilliant 2.2 litre engine g with 500Nm of f torque q
L: 459cm W: 177cm Boot: 475litres Fuel Tank: 66 litres, Ground Clearance: 12cm Also try: Audi A4, BMW 3-Series
C 200 CGI Avantgarde C 250 CDI Avantgarde 32.13 35.15 36.55 40.00 31.99 35.00 38.33 42.62 4cyl 1796cc 4cyl 2143cc 7A 7A 186 204 285 500 200 8.6 220 8.2 9.4 11.2
Build: Assembled
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CLS: Superb alternative to a luxury sedan. Goes well, turns heads too.
TG Choice: N No o options available.
C LS 350 81.32 77.60* 80.96 103.52 6cyl 3498cc 7A 306 370
Build: Import
L: 494cm W: 188cm Boot: 520litres Fuel Tank: 80litres Ground Clearance: 12cm Also try: Audi A7, BMW GT 5
250 na na
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E-Class: Fresh new styling with a touch of character, great engine and new features make it an irrestible offer
TG Choice: D Definitely efinitely the E250 CDI I makes enough g p power and easy y on the wallet too.
L: 486.8cm W: 185cm Boot: 540litres Fuel Tank: 89 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Volvo S80
E 200 CGI E 220 CDI Elegance NA NA 41.5* 44.5* NA NA NA NA 4 cyl1991cc 4cyl 2143cc 7A 7A 181 202 300 500 na na na na na na
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NEW ENTRY
Mercedes E-Class
The popular luxury sedan gets a new face and a lot of goodies to play with
This is the car that taught us what a luxury car feels like. Thats back in the 1990s with the W124 and the W123. The E-Class has sported quite a few looks since then. And now,
theres a new one. Its not an all-new car but a major facelift. The new one gets a lot of added features like the reverse cam and sat-nav, which the earlier one missed out on
GL-Class: All the creature comforts you need, and a boot that can easily swallow your camping equipment.
TG Choice: Theres just j one variant for f now. Dont act fussy. f y
L: 509.9cm W: 192cm Boot: 520 litres Fuel Tank: 100litre, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Audi Q7, 1BHK apartment.
GL 350 CDI - Launch Edition na 77.5* na na 6 cyl 2987cc 7A 258 619 na na na
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CAR CHOOSER
Q
YOU CAN GO THROUGH A HUNDRED SPECS AND OPTIONS... OR JUST SELECT THE CAR YOU REALLY WANT USING THE CAR CHOOSER ON TOPGEAR.COM. YOU DECIDE.
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MERCEDES
MERCEDES TO MINI

Numbers Features
Ge ar b Ma ox x. Po Ma wer x. ( To Bhp Ma rqu ) e x sp (Nm 0- eed ) 10 (K 0 Fu kp ph) h el ef (se fi c Ai cien ) rb c ag y (K pl) AB s S Re m ot Cl e lo im c at kin Au e c g dio ont s ro Le yste l at he m Po r se we a r w ts ind Al ow loy s s Fo gl am ps
Build: Import
254 204 620 500 225 na na na na na
M-Class: Second-gen M is vastly better, great quality, good on-road.

ML 350 CDI ML 250 CDI na na 56.9* 46.50* na na 73.45 59.28 6cyl 2987cc 4cyl 2143cc 7A 7A
TG Choice: The Sport looks better, comes with brushed aluminium interiors.
L: 480.4cm W: 192.6cm Boot: 690 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi Q7, BMW X5, Volvo XC90
7/10 7/10
R -Class: This is what Mercedes thinks people-carriers should look like.

TG Choice: The R350 CDI, of course. Why would you want a petrol-guzzling R-Class anyway?
L: 492cm W: 192cm Boot: 635litres Fuel Tank: 80 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi Q7
R 350 R 350 CDI 60.50 na 71.26 58.9* 61.03 na 79.53 92.03 6 cyl 3498cc 7A 6 cyl 2987cc 7A 268 261 350 617 230 8.3 230 na na na
Build: Import
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S-Class: Not just the best car in the world. It redefines what a car will be expected to do in the future.
TG Choice: The S350 CDi if you pay for the diesel bills.
L: 509cm W: 187cm Boot: 560 litres Fuel Tank: 90 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi A8, BMW 7-Series
S 350 CDI L V6 S 350 L V6 S 500 L 95 95 108 108 105 120 94.58 94.59 107 102.5 117.9 129.2 6cyl 2987 cc 7A 6cyl 3498 cc 7A 8cyl 5461 cc 7A 210 272 370 490 345 505 250 7.2 250 8.3 250 5.4 6.3 na na
Build: Assembled
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SL: Perhaps the best all-round, usable hardtop convertible on sale. Practical, fast, excellent quality and dynamics.
TG Choice: With the new SL around the corner, were only left with this V6 for now.
L: 456.2cm W: 182cm Boot: 235 litres Fuel Tank: 80 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 6-Series
SL 350 na 98.5* na 114 6cyl 3498cc 7A 316 360 250 6.2 na
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SLK: The new SLK is now a proper baby SL. We like!

SLK 350 70.99 71.43 70.68 108.1 6cyl 3498cc 7A
Build: Import
TG Choice: Still waiting for the SLK 200 CDI which makes 400Nm of torque.
L: 413.4cm W: 200cm Boot: 335 litre Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 6-Series
306 370 250 6.6 7.6
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SLS: AMG-built two-door supercar with brilliant gullwing doors. More GT than supersports.
TG Choice: In silver with red leather, please.
L: 456cm W: 182cm Boot: 235-339 litres Fuel Tank: 80 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 6-Series
SLS 256 200* 255 247* 8cyl 6208cc 7A 563 650 320 3.8 na
Build: Import
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G-Wagon: The G-Wagon has been around for 30 years and is still going strong. The AMG V8 gives it hot-rod performance. Build: Import
TG Choice: The G63 AMG
L: 410cm W: 201cm Boot: 300 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Army Tank.
G63 AMG NA NA NA 218.4 8cyl 5461cc 7A 536 760 210 5.4 na
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MINI Dealers 2 Warranty na Website www. mini.in

Company description: The giants when it comes to small cars, Mini has actually managed what other makers struggle to do -- make a small, fun car, and charge a premium India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: na
Mini: Its got its basics all wrong... transverse engine, front-wheel drive, but tell that to yourself when you are smiling end to end
TG Choice: The Countryman is just not Mini, and the Cooper is a bit too soft. The Cooper S is perfect and the Mini-est of Minis
L: 410cm W: 201cm Boot: 300 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Army Tank.
Cooper Cooper S Cooper Convertible NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 24.90* 27.90* 29.99* 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 6A 6A 6A 120 181 122 160 240 160 na na na 220 7.23 9.5 190 12.2 9.5
Build: Import
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Countryman: When four-door practicality meets the Mini badge, what you have is the Countryman
L: 410cm W: 201cm Boot: 300 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes B-Class
Countryman S ONE Cooper D Cooper D High NA 23.50 25.60 28.90 NA 23.50* 25.60* 28.90* NA 23.50 25.60 28.90 31.99* 23.50* 25.60* 28.90* 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 6A 6A 6A 6A 184 90 112 112 240 215 270 270 210 na na na 8.2 na na na 8 na na na
Build: Assembled
TG Choice: The Countryman is just not Mini, and the Cooper is a bit too soft. The Cooper S is perfect and the Mini-est of Minis

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Price

Price Numbers
Build: Import
199 440 174 na na
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MITSUBISHI Dealers 42 Warranty na Website www.mitsubishi-motors.co.in

Company description: Japanese industrial giant with a bunch of pointy-faced cars and the laudable inclination to go rallying. Evo is still as mental as ever. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Driver's car of the year 2010: Lancer Evo This is one car that gets your heart pounding every time you mash your foot into the floor
Montero: Expensive, but good value. Elephantine in the city, breathtaking off-road. Not for everyone, but superb.
TG Choice: Please sell one with manual transmission as well
L: 490cm W: 187cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 88 litres, Ground Clearance: 23.5cm Also try: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
AT 42.06 48.00 43.76 55.89 4cyl 3200cc 5A
Pajero Sport: This is for those forever looking for shortcuts through the bushes. Fantastic off-road, adequate on it.
TG Choice: The only one on sale comes with all the goodies that youll ever want.
L:469.5cm W: 181.5cm Boot: NA Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 21.5cm Also try: Toyota Fortuner, Nissan X-Trail, Renault Koleos
Pajero Sport 23.07 24.43* 23.41 28.27 4cyl 2477cc 5M 178 400 200 13.3 9.5
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NISSAN Dealers 65 Warranty 2 years/ 50,000km Website www.nissan.in

Company description: A big Japanese car maker with a factory in England. Its portfolio becomes more respectable as each new model appears. India sales in July 2012: 3,481 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards : Interior of the year 2009: Teana Step inside the Teana and you'll be reminded of plush lobbies and expensive suites
370 Z: Sharp handling, sounds great and goes like a rocket. Pure rear-wheel drive makes it delicious.
TG Choice: Auto box for sure! Just so much better while downshifting through a corner.
L:425cm W: 184cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 72 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW Z4, Mercedes SLK.
MT AT 55.50 56.50 63.49 64.77 na na 70.4 71.6 6cy3696cc 6cy3696cc 6M 7A 363 363 336 336 na na na na 6.3 6.3
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Evalia: A spacious MPV with decent on-road dynamics. But its looks are a challenge, and theres already the Ertiga.
TG Choice: XV as it comes fully loaded. ABS, airbags and alloys come standard. No climate control though.
L:440cm W: 170cm Boot: Na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo, Maruti Ertiga
XE XE+ XL XV NA NA NA NA 8.49* 8.92* 9.49* 9.99* NA NA NA NA 10.78 11.31 12.10 12.72 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 85 85 85 85 200 200 200 200 160 160 160 160 15.5 15.5 15.5 15.5 11.9 11.9 11.9 11.9
Micra: Nissans budget small car armed with features you wont see even in cars twice its price. Peppy and fun to drive too.
TG Choice: The XL is perfect, avoid the temptation of buying the diesel
L:378cm W: 166cm Boot: 251 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: 15cm Also try: Maruti Swift, Maruti Ritz, Chevrolet Beat
XE XE Plus XL XV Diesel XV Diesel XV - Premium 4.29 4.57 4.94 5.61 6.06 6.52 4.70 5.00 5.42 6.15 6.67 7.41 4.37 4.66 5.03 5.72 6.18 6.64 5.03 5.61 6.03 6.83 7.05 8.04 3cyl 1198cc 3cyl 1198cc 3cyl 1198cc 3cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 74 74 74 74 63 63 104 104 104 104 160 160 na na na na na na na na na na 11.5 11.5 13.3 13.3 13.3 13.3 na na
Sunny: Lots of passenger space, safety features like driver airbag and ABS, even on the base variant TG Choice: XE as its a head-over-heart decision as it comes with safety features, and you save up over Rs 2 lakh over the XV variant.
L:442.5cm W: 169.5cm Boot: 490 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Maruti DZire, Toyota Etios
XE XL 6.07 7.21 6.59 8.01 6.18 7.34 7.45 8.80 4cyl 1498cc 4cyl 1498cc 5M 5M 98 98 134 134 185 11.9 185 11.9 11 11
TWITTER
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Features
MITSUBISHI TO NISSAN
NISSAN TO PORSCHE
Price
XV XL Diesel XV Diesel XV Diesel AT

Numbers Features
Ge ar b Ma ox x. Po Ma wer x. ( To Bhp Ma rqu ) e x sp (Nm 0- eed ) 10 (K 0 Fu kp ph) h el ef (se fi c Ai cien ) rb c ag y (K pl) AB s S Re m ot Cl e lo im c at kin Au e c g dio ont s ro Le yste l at he m Po r se we a r w ts ind Al ow loy s s Fo gl am ps
98 85 85 85 134 200 200 200 185 11.9 na na na na na na 11 na na na
8.03 8.29 9.12 8.48
8.92 8.11* 8.93* 8.49*
8.19 8.45 9.29 8.64
9.76 11.03 12.10 10.19
4cyl 1498cc 5M 4cyl 1461cc 5M 4cyl 1461cc 5M 4cyl 1461cc CVT
Teana: Elegant sedan with a luxurious interior and a refined engine. Build: Assembled TG Choice: XV for the aircraft-style reclining front passenger seat .
L:485cm W: 179.5cm Boot: 490 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 14.6cm Also try: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, VW Passat
250 XL 250 XV 21.63 25.47 24.89 29.28 NA NA 26.51 31.11* 6cyl 2496cc 6cyl 2496cc 4A 4A 179 179 228 228 205 10.5 5.8 205 10.5 5.8
X-Trail: Sweet, stylish SUV with a cracking engine and lots of equipment.
TG Choice: SLX MT is a capable off-roader; avoid the CVT auto box.
LE SLX MT SLX AT 20.3 24.6 NA 25.40 28.19 30.24 20.3 24.6 NA 29.31 32.52 34.87 4cyl 1995cc 4cyl 1995cc 4cyl 1995cc 6M 6M 6A 148 148 148 320 320 320
Build: Import
L:463cm W: 178.5cm Boot: 600 litres Fuel Tank: 65 litres, Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Chevrolet Captiva, Honda CR-V
180 11.5 9.9 180 11.5 9.9 180 10.8 9.9
PORSCHE Dealers 7 Warranty na Website www.porscheindia.com

Company description: A big name in sports car manufacture and motorsport and deservedly so. It produces cars of immense capability and quality. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Luxury car of the year 2010: Panamera Travelling in the back seat of a Panamera is like being in a TGV when the other luxobarges are more like Rajdhanis
911: Iconic. Instantly recognisable, fantastic to drive, near-perfect. (Also available in AT : PDK)
TG Choice: Straight Carerra S. Just dont order the PDK.
L:443cm W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 64 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Nothing gets close
Turbo Turbo Cabriolet GT3 144 155 123 144* 155* 123* 144 155 123 144* 155* 123* 6cyl 3600cc 6M 6cyl 3600cc 6M 6cyl 3600cc 6M 480 480 415 620 620 405 310 310 310 3.9 4 4.3 7 6.9 6.9
Build: Import
O O O
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Boxster: Step 1 into Porsche-land is still a divine experience.

TG Choice: Feels so inherently right. Just get a sport exhaust.
Boxster S 80.24 80.24* 80.24 80.24* 6cyl 3436cc 7A
Build: Import
L:432.9cm W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 64 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes-Benz SLK350
315 360 277 5 6
O O O O O O O O O
Cayenne: Big bad mutha. Perfect if you want a Porsche, but are scared of our roads.
TG Choice: Go Turbo. The environment is doomed anyway.
Cayenne Cayenne S Cayenne GTS Cayenne GTS PDE Cayenne Turbo Cayenne Turbo S Cayenne Diesel 60 75.7 86 104 117 150 64.9 60* 75.7* 86* 104* 117* 150* 64.9* 60 75.7 86 104 117 150 64.9 60* 75.7* 86* 104* 117* 150* 64.9* 6cyl 3598cc 8cyl 4806cc 8cyl 4806cc 8cyl 4806cc 8cyl 4806cc 8cyl 4806cc 6cyl 2967cc 6M 290 6M 385 6M 405 6M 405 6A 500 6A 550 6A 240 385 500 500 500 700 na 550 227 8.1 252 6.6 253 6.1 253 6.1 275 5.1 278 4.7 214 8.3 6.8 6.7 6.6 na 6.7 na na
Build: Import
L:479.8cm W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 100 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Cayman: Baby 911 is a great sports car. Supernatural handling.

TG Choice: The S for everyday driving.
Cayman S 66.2 66.2* 66.2 66.2* 6cyl 3386cc 6M
Build: Import
L:444cm W: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 64 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: GranTurismo S
295 340 275 5.4 9.1
O O O O O O O O O
Panamera: A 911 for the family man, with two extra doors and a rear seat.
TG Choice: The base S is actually quite good. Turbo is very fast.
Build: Import
L:497cm W: na Boot: 820 litres Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes CLS AMG, Mercedes S-Class AMG
Panamera S Panamera 4S Panamera Turbo Panamera Diesel 144.3 149.8 205.5 na 144.3* 149.8* 205.5* 100* 144.3 149.8 205.5 na 144.3* 149.8* 205.5* na 8cyl 4806cc 8cyl 4806cc 8cyl 4806cc 6cyl 2967cc 7A 7A 7A 8A 400 400 500 250 500 500 700 550 285 5.6 282 5 303 4.2 na na 5.6 6 5.5 na

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Price Numbers
India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
75 75 72 72 104 104 183 183 na na na na na na na 15.03 14 na 15.03 14
PREMIER
Dealers 55 Warranty 3years/50,000kms Website www.premierrio.com
Company description: Premier is a company that has still survived despite all the odds. Gone are the glory days and the market share that the company enjoyed in the last century. Now a small comapny which survives on niche products.
Rio: If you are adamant on being different, this is your ride.

TG Choice: Gx as it is the cheapest.
L: 397cm W: 157cm Boot: 454 litres Fuel Tank: 46 litres, Ground Clearance: 20 cm Also try: Maruti DZire ZXi, Honda Jazz X, Hyundai i20 Asta 1.2, Nissan Sunny XE
Gx GLX DX Multijet LX Multijet 6.33 6.61 6.96 7.24 6.92 7.22 7.88 8.20 6.15 6.42 7.12 7.41 6.67 6.97 7.62 7.93 4cyl 1173cc 4cyl 1173cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 2/10 2/10 4/10 4/10
RENAULT Dealers 80 Warranty na Website www.renault.co.in

Company description: After a million partnerships with a million manufacturers, Renault has set down to proper business in India. Alone. They begin with the Fluence, which looks like no other car on Indian roads. But these are still early days for the French. Watch this space. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
Duster: Finally a cheap SUV that wont go belly up around a corner

TG Choice: The 110bhp RxZ. Cuts out leather and wood you get in the more expensive RxZ Option pack and gives you everything else you need. eed.
L: 431.5cm W: 182.2cm Boot: 475 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Mahindra XUV, Mahindra Scorpio
RXE RXL RXE D 85 RXL D 85 RXL PACK D 85 RXL D 110 RXZ D 110 RXZ PACK D 110 8.13 9.09 8.89 9.90 11.16 10.94 11.86 12.40 8.19 9.29 9.18 10.30 11.41 11.41 12.94 13.30 8.04 9.00 8.79 9.81 11.06 10.85 11.77 12.30 9.40 10.49 9.43 11.64 13.19 12.95 14.04 14.65 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 6M 6M 6M 103 103 84 84 84 108 108 108 145 145 200 200 200 248 248 248 na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na 11.76 13.7 na 11.76 13.7 na 11.76 13.7
Fluence: Pretty safe bet of a car. Comfortable, refined and built to last.
TG Choice: The diesel is our pick of the lot.
L: 462cm W: 180cm Boot: 530 litres Fuel Tank: Na, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Toyota Corolla Altis, Honda Civic.
Petrol E2 Diesel E4 Diesel 15.56 13.86 15.49 16.80 NA 16.42 15.45 13.68 15.38 18.46 16.71 18.63 4cyl 1997cc CVT 135 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 190 240 240 180 10.2 170 11.7 170 11.7 13 21 21
Koleos: French take on the softroader, and a pretty good one at that.
TG Choice: There is only one to choose from, so there!
4cyl 1995cc 6A 149 320
Build: Import
L: 452cm W: 185.5m Boot: NA Fuel Tank: 65 litres, Ground Clearance: 20.6 cm Also try: Chevrolet Captiva, Hyundai Santa Fe
Diesel 24.41 27.90 24.33 29.73 na na na
O O O O O O O O O
Scala: The French version of the Sunny.

TG Choice: The RXZ as it comes with the goodness of diesel and all the features that youd need.
L: 442.5cm W: 169.5m Boot: 490 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.1cm Also try: Maruti DZire, Nissan Sunny, Toyota Etios
RXL RXZ RXE Petrol RXL Petrol 8.86 9.77 7.22 8.01 8.69* 9.57* 6.99* 7.85* 8.86 9.76 7.22 8.01 10.68 11.75 8.45 9.50 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1498cc 4cyl 1498cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 85 85 98 98 200 200 134 134 na na na na 13.8 13.8 na na 16 16 na na
SUBSCRIPTION PORTAL
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Features
PREMIER TO RENAULT
ROLLS-ROYCE TO SKODA
Price

Numbers Features
63 63 75 75 75 160 160 104 104 104 na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Pulse: The masculine version of the Nissan Micra.

TG Choice: The RXL makes more sense, because youd rather buy the Swift instead of the RXZ
L: 380.5cm W: 166.5m Boot: 251 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Nissan Micra, Maruti Swift
RXL RXZ RXE Petrol RXL Petrol RXZ Petrol 6.18 6.86 4.47 5.21 5.76 6.36 7.14 4.25* 4.99* 5.55* 6.16 6.84 4.46 5.19 5.74 7.43 8.24 5.19 6.13 6.78 4cyl 1461cc 4cyl 1461cc 3cyl 1198cc 3cyl 1198cc 3cyl 1198cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M
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ROLLS-ROYCE Dealers 5 Warranty 4yrs Website www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

Company description: A century after Mr Royce built his first car, the worlds most luxurious carmaker is still going strong, albeit in German hands. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
Phantom: Take first-class, multiply by 10, square that, and youre getting close.
TG Choice: I Ideal deal for driving off with her from the wedding reception.
L: 583.4cm W: 199cm Boot: 460 litres Fuel Tank: 100 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Maybach 57S
Phantom Phantom Coupe Drophead Coupe na na na 380* 400* 450* na na na 380* 400* 450* 12cyl 6749cc 6A 12cyl 6749cc 6A 12cyl 6749cc 6A 453 453 453 720 720 720 250 5.9 250 5.6 250 5.8 6.3 6.4 6.4
Build: Import
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Ghost: The baby Rolls isnt much of a baby, really. Larger than most sedans and more luxurious than a private jet.
TG Choice: Theres only y one, so we think well have it, please. p In black. With Jeeves
L: 583.4cm W: 199cm Boot: 460 litres Fuel Tank: 100 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Bentley Mulsanne
Ghost Ghost EWB na na 280* 280* na na 280* 280* 12cyl 6592cc 8A 12cyl 6592cc 8A 562 562 780 780 250 4.9 250 4.9 na na
Build: Import
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Company description: Has always had a premium image. New products like the Superb and Yeti make it rather exciting. But service and support still have issues. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Car of the year 2010: Yeti The Yeti is people-carrier, hatch, load-lugger, corner-carver and terrain-basher all rolled into one'
Fabia: Fun little hatchback, brilliantly built with a variety of engines to fit everyones budget.
TG Choice: S Surely urely the 1.6 6 as it is almost ` 70,000 cheaper than the Polo 1.6
L: 400cm W: 164 cm Boot: 315 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 15.8cm Also try: Suzuki Swift, Hyundai i20
1.2 Active 1.2 Ambition 1.2 Elegance 1.6 Elegance Active Plus D Ambition D Elegance D 5.11 5.53 6.40 6.71 6.35 6.77 7.64 NA 5.68 6.89 7.35 6.25 7.25 8.35 5.11 5.52 6.40 6.71 6.35 6.76 7.64 6.10 6.57 7.58 7.97 7.65 8.13 9.15 3cyl 1198cc 3cyl 1198cc 3cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1598cc 3cyl 1199cc 3cyl 1199cc 3cyl 1199cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 75 75 75 105 75 75 75 110 110 110 153 180 180 180 160 na 160 na 160 na 170 na 165 16.3 165 16.3 165 16.3 na na na na 16 16 16
Laura: Skoda might tell you its new but its a face-lift really. Still, its refined, and the cheaper variants are reasonably priced.
TG Choice: 1.8 TSI for f the weekend run to the mountains. Also a sober executive car for f weekdays. y
L: 457 cm W: 176.9cm Boot: 560 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.4cm Also try: Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata.
1.8 TSI Ambition 2.0 TDI Ambition 2.0 TDI Ambition AT 2.0 TDI Elegance 2.0 TDI Elegance AT 2.0 TDI L&K vRS 14.91 14.81 16.44 16.70 17.98 19.61 NA 16.00 16.92 18.25 18.69 19.93 22.07 18.39 14.91 14.81 16.44 16.70 17.97 19.61 NA 17.59 17.78 19.70 20.00 21.50 23.42 19.78 4cyl 1798cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1798cc 6M 5M 6A 5M 6A 6A 6M 158 110 138 108 138 138 158 250 250 250 250 250 320 250 na na na na na 200 na na na na na na 10 8.71* na na na na na 11 8
Superb: The real big car for reasonable money at the high end of the market.
TG Choice: The 2.0TDI I if f you y are paying p y gf for f fuel. V6 6 if f the company p yp pays y f for it.
1.8 TSl Ambition MT 1.8 TSl Elegance AT 1.8 TSI Elegance MT 2.0 TDI 3.6 V6 FSI 18.38 21.85 20.22 24.42 25.2 22.35 24.00 NA 26.20 30.50 18.38 21.85 20.22 24.32 25.2 21.63 25.86 23.96 28.14 33.62 4cyl 1798cc 4cyl 1798cc 4cyl 1798 cc 4cyl 1968cc 6cyl 3597cc 6M 7A 6M 6A 6A 158 160 158 140 260 250 250 250 320 350 210 9 210 na 210 9 206 10.38 250 8.4
Build: Assembled
L: 483 cm W: 181.7cm Boot: 565 litres Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 15.8cm Also try: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata
8.7 na 8.7 11.8 na

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Price Numbers
105 105 105 105 105 105 105 105 153 153 153 153 153 250 250 250 195 195 195 na na na na na 11.3 10.7 11.3 10.7 11.3 10.7 na na na na na na na na na na
Rapid: Does most things right, very few wrong. With all the nice touches of the Vento, you cant go wrong.
TG Choice: The Ambition 1.6 TDI I as it is a lakh cheaper p and comes with all the safety f y features. f
L: 438.6 cm W: 169.9 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.8 cm Also try: VW Vento, Honda City, Maruti Suzuki SX4, Hyundai Verna, Ford Fiesta
Active 1.6 MPI Ambition 1.6 MPI Elegance 1.6 MPI Ambition 1.6 MPI AT Elegance 1.6 MPI AT Active 1.6 TDI Ambition Plus 1.6 TDI Elegance Plus 1.6 TDI 7.24 7.88 8.53 8.49 9.55 8.54 9.17 9.93 7.85 8.36 9.32 9.46 10.45 9.38 9.40 9.90 7.24 7.88 8.53 8.46 9.55 8.54 9.17 9.93 8.57 9.29 10.04 10.09 12.21 10.24 10.98 11.87 4cyl 4cyl 4cyl 4cyl 4cyl 4cyl 4cyl 4cyl 1598cc 1598cc 1598cc 1598cc 1598cc 1598cc 1598cc 1598cc 5M 5M 5M 6A 6A 5M 5M 5M /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10
Yeti: Its cleaner, greener, smaller and smarter than any SUV out there.
TG Choice: Elegance Elegance e for f sure as it g gets the cool touchscreen audio system. y
Ambiente AWD Elegance AWD Active 4x2 Ambiente 4x2 17.00 18.69 15.00 15.84 18.10 19.67 15.75 16.72 17.00 18.69 15.00 15.84 20.36 22.35 18.00 19.00 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 6M 6M 5M 5M 140 140 110 110 320 320 250 250
Build: Assembled
L:422cm W: 179cm Boot: 416 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Tata Aria
210 210 190 190 na na na na na na na na
SSANGYONG Dealers na Warranty na Website www.smotor.com

Company description: Korean car manufacturer mostly known for its Mercedes-derived SUVs around the world. It was bought by Mahindra a few years back. And now has entered India with the Rexton, the enitre SUV range will follow. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
Rexton: Packed with equipment, at a mouthwatering price.A big soft-roader that wont eat into your wallet.
TG Choice: RX7 7 for f the extra power p and a convenient auto transmission.
RX 5 RX 7 NA NA 17.75* 19.67* NA NA 22.64 25.55 5cyl 2696cc 5M 5cyl 2696cc 5A 162 184 340 402 na na na na 10.25 7.75
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L: 475.5cm W: 190 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 78 litres Ground Clearance: 25.2cm Also try: Toyota Fortuner, Hyundai Santa Fe, Chevrolet Captiva
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TATA Dealers na Warranty na Website www.tatamotors.com

Company description: Claim to fame is it makes the worlds cheapest car. Still struggling with quality and dynamics, but it has the best cars if you want the maximum for the minimum. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Surprise of the year 2009: Manza The Nano may be hogging headlines all over the world. But the Manza is what will take Tata places'
Aria: Big bully of an MPV. Nice engine and lots of gizmos to keep you interested.
TG Choice: Pride e for f sure, after ft g giving g into the crossover marketing gg gimmick and before f the fall, f Pride shall do just j fi fine.
L: 478cm W: 189.5 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Toyota Innova, Mahindra XUV 500
Pleasure 4X4 Prestige 4X4 Pride 4X4 Pure 4X2 Prestige 4X2 Pleasure 4X2 14.07 15.76 16.81 12.05 15.14 13.40 16.16 18.06 19.35 NA 17.36 15.45 14.00 15.68 16.73 11.98 15.06 13.32 16.05 17.95 19.14 12.02 20.03 16.02 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 138 138 138 138 138 138 320 320 320 320 320 320 na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
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Indica eV2: The Indica has more than delivered on the more car per car promise. If only it were more refined.
TG Choice: F For or this price, its rivals have better cars.
L: 369cm W: 166.5 cm Boot: 220 litre Fuel Tank: 37 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Hyundai i10
Xeta GL P 3.39 3.67 3.30 3.85 4cyl 1193cc 5M 69 100 145 17.2 na
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Features
SKODA TO SSANGYONG
TATA

69 69 69 70 70 70 70 100 100 100 140 140 140 140 145 145 145 145 145 145 145 17.2 17.2 17.2 15.03 15.03 15.03 15.03 na na na na na na na
Xeta GLE P Xeta GLS P Xeta GLX P LD LE D LS D LX D
3.36 3.97 4.24 4.33 4.77 4.00 5.34
3.95 4.25 4.51 4.65 5.11 5.28 5.65
3.57 3.87 4.14 4.22 4.65 4.16 5.93
4.16 4.51 4.82 4.76 5.29 4.91 5.80
4cyl 1193cc 4cyl 1193cc 4cyl 1193cc 4cyl 1396cc 4cyl 1396cc 4cyl 1396cc 4cyl 1396cc
5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M
Vista: A huge leap in the life of an Indica. A completely new platform offering more space and refined new engines to go with it.
TG Choice: ZX+ D90 with the brilliant diesel engine g f from Fiat.
L: 379.5cm W: 169.5 cm Boot: 232 litre Fuel Tank: 44 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Swift, Fiat Punto
GVX 65 P ZX D VX D90 ZX + D90 4.99 6.44 6.11 6.94 4.50 7.30 6* 6.83* 4.96 6.44 6.09 6.91 5.70 7.60 7.11 8.06 4cyl 1172cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 64 75 89 89 96 190 200 200 na 158 na na na 15 na na na 15.3 na na
Indigo eCS: Smallest sedan on the market is more like a hatch with a boot.
TG Choice: eLSD D the variant sounds cooler than the actual car.
L: 399cm W: 193 cm Boot: 300 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Inventing a segment.
eGLS P eGLX P eLS D eLX DI 4.86 5.09 5.36 5.87 5.21 5.45 6.20 6.45 4.83 5.93 5.68 5.08 5.53 5.78 6.68 6.93 4cyl 1193cc 4cyl 1193cc 4cyl 1396cc 4cyl 1396cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 64 64 69 69 100 100 140 140 na na na na na na na na na na na na
Nano: Of the people, for the people, by the people.

TG Choice: The ` 1.9lakh version should do just j fi fine, as budget g is top pp priority. y
L: 310cm W: 150 cm Boot: 80litre Fuel Tank: 15 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Alto, Chevrolet Spark, public transport
Nano Nano CX Nano LX 1.65 2.02 2.29 1.62 1.93 2.25 1.64 2.01 2.28 1.90 2.32 2.65 2cyl 624cc 2cyl 624cc 2cyl 624cc 4M 4M 4M 37.5 37.5 37.5 51 51 51 105 30.4 na 105 30.4 na 105 30.4 na
Manza: Sedan derivative of the Indica Vista, the big rear means it can gobble down huge amounts of luggage.
TG Choice: Go for f the Quadrajet j Aqua, q as this will fulfill f fi most of f your y requirements q of f a daily y runabout.
L: 441cm W: 170 cm Boot: 460 litres Fuel Tank: 44litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Mahindra Verito, Maruti DZire.
Safire Aqua Safire Aura Safire Elan Quadrajet Aqua Quadrajet Aura Quadrajet Elan 5.66 6.02 7.12 6.44 6.89 7.98 6.32 6.72 8.10 7.55 8.50 9.29 5.66 6.02 7.11 6.44 6.89 7.98 6.76 7.54 8.41 7.16 8.56 9.66 4cyl 1368cc 4cyl 1368cc 4cyl 1368cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 4cyl 1248cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 89 89 89 89 89 89 115 115 115 200 200 200 na na na na na na na na na 160 14.22 14 160 14.22 14 160 14.22 14
Safari Storme: Big, heavy, ponderous and somehow likeable. Colossal comfort, great off-road ability.
TG Choice: VX 4x4 as its a great g off-roader ff and can g go places p without fearing f g the terrain.
L: 465cm W: 193 cm Boot: 980 litres Fuel Tank: 55litres, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Ford Endeavour
LX 4x2 EX 4x2 VX 4x2 VX 4x4 10.30 11.22 13.00 14.32 9.95* 10.82* 12.40* 13.67* 10.30 11.21 12.98 14.30 12.05 13.13 15.02 16.08 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 138 138 138 138 320 320 320 320 na na na na 14.2 10.5 14.2 10.5 14.2 10.5 na na
Grande: Utilitarian Sumo knocks hard on upmarket SUV doors. Really hard.
TG Choice: LX for f the sheer value-for-money f y that the MUV offers. ff
L: 442cm W: 179 cm Boot: 150 litres Fuel Tank: 65 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Toyota Innova, Chevrolet Tavera
LX EX GX 8.11 8.56 9.30 8.41 8.86 9.60 8.03 8.46 7.36 9.40 9.90 10.76 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 4cyl 2179cc 5M 5M 5M 119 119 119 250 250 250 140 18.4 140 18.4 140 18.4 na na na
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TOYOTA Dealers 152 Warranty na Website www.toyotabharat.com

Company description: Massive world-player that can do innovative and interesting, but also churns out the reliably unexceptional in frightening numbers. India sales inJuly 2012: 14,574 For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com
Camry: The handsome new Camry is fast and spacious, and has a great cabin.
TG Choice: Toyota y is no mood to give g you y any y options p here.
Build: Assembled
L: 482.5 cm W: 182.5 cm Boot: 484 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Honda Accord, Nissan Teana, VW Passat
Automatic 24.96 23.80* 24.51 28.91 4cyl 2494cc 6A 179 233 210 8.93 9.8
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138 138 138 138 87 87 87 173 173 173 173 205 205 205 na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Corolla Altis: The new one is not all-new but still very good. Altis is a refined, comfortable businessmans sedan.
TG Choice: The diesel GL would be just j fine, fi as Corollas are usually y chauffeur-driven. ff
L: 454 cm W: 176 cm Boot: 475 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cruze, Renault Fluence.
J G GL VL D-4D J D-4D G D-4D GL 12.00 13.62 15.09 16.24 12.64 14.70 16.01 12.15 12.35 15.95 16.90 13.20 15.35 16.60 11.92 13.54 15.00 16.24 12.55 14.60 15.92 14.02 16.09 17.08 19.01 15.01 17.06 19.02 4cyl 1798cc 4cyl 1798cc 4cyl 1798cc 4cyl 1798cc 4cyl 1364cc 4cyl 1364cc 4cyl 1364cc 6M 6M 6M 7A 6M 6M 6M /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10
Etios: Made not to excite but just smack you with the practicality and comfort of a Toyota.
TG Choice: The V should be just j fi fine as this car is f for p people p who p put logic g over excitement.
L: 426.5cm W: 169.5 cm Boot: 595 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Maruti Swift Dezire, Mahindra Verito
J G V VX GD VD VXD 5.42 5.97 6.69 6.7 7.04 7.76 7.87 5.46 6 7.22 7.72 7.30 8.39 8.90 5.46 6.03 6.73 6.8 7.11 7.81 7.88 6.65 7.26 8.06 7.82 8.58 9.40 9.16 4cyl 1496cc 4cyl 1496cc 4cyl 1496cc 4cyl 1496cc 4cyl 1364cc 4cyl 1364cc 4cyl 1364cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 89 89 89 89 67 67 67 132 132 132 132 170 170 170 180 180 180 180 170 170 170 11.2 11.2 11.2 11.2 na na na 12.9 12.9 12.9 12.9 na na na
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Etios Liva: A practical, no-nonsense family car that we need, but not necessarily want.
TG Choice: The V should be just j fi fine as this car is f for p people p who p put logic g over excitement.
L: 377.5cm W: 169 cm Boot: 251 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Maruti Swift, Maruti Ritz, VW Polo.
GD J G V VX 5.56 4.70 4.92 5.71 5.59 6.20 4.48 5.12 5.63 6.57 5.56 4.71 4.94 5.71 6.08 6.49 5.64 5.90 6.81 7.09 4cyl 1364cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 4cyl 1197cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 67 79 79 79 79 170 104 104 104 104 160 Na Na Na Na na Na Na Na Na na Na Na Na Na
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Fortuner: Brutal power and great value. Interiors are practical but not very well finished. Powerful engine though.
TG Choice: D Despite espite two new variants, we would still stick to the old school 4x4 Manual
L: 470.5 cm W: 184 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 80 litres, Ground Clearance: 22 cm Also try: Ford Endeavour, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Captiva
4x4 Manual 4x2 Auto 4x2 Manual 23.62 23.36 22.36 22.93 24.10 24.50 23.57 23.31 22.31 28.09 28.06 27.04 4cyl 2982cc 5M 4cyl 2982cc 4A 4cyl 2982cc 5M 168 168 168 343 360 343 170 11.2 Na Na Na Na 12 Na Na
Innova: Incredible. Does absolutely everything, and does it with gusto. Also available in CNG variant for ` 85,000 extra.
TG Choice: VX 7S, as it comes with all the creature comforts, f and captain p seats at the back.
L: 455.5cm W: 177cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Sumo Grande, Mahindra Xylo
GX 7S D Gx 8S D VX 7S D VX 8S D 12.56 12.62 14.66 14.71 12.33 12.37 14.38 14.42 12.58 11.80 14.61 14.64 15.01 15.16 17.06 17.65 4cyl 2494cc 4cyl 2494cc 4cyl 2494cc 4cyl 2494cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 100 100 100 100 200 200 200 200 na na na na na na na na na na na na
Land Cruiser Prado : Big, thirsty and not ballerina-like on-road, but a great SUV despite that.
TG Choice: Try y the Mitsubishi Montero, its a better SUV on and off ff the road.
L: 471.5cm W: 187.5cm Boot: 620 litres Fuel Tank: 87 litres, Ground Clearance: 22cm Also try: Mitsubishi Montero, Volvo XC 90
Prado 77.18 60.3 na 64 4cyl 2982cc 5A 172 410 180 na 7.9
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TOYOTA
TOYOTA TO VOLKSWAGEN
Price

Numbers Features
Build: Import
261 650 na 11.4 11 4 na
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Land Cruiser: Bigger, thirstier version of the Prado, with a V8 under the bonnet. The best off-roader that money can buy.
TG Choice: Comes with a long g list of f features f to choose f from, only y one eng gine option, p the V8 diesel l.
L: 495cm W: 187 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 83 litres, Ground Clearance: 22cm Also try: Mercedes GL-Class, Audi Q7
V8 117 5 117.5 85* 118 1 118.1 103 8cyl 8 l 4461cc 4461 6A
Prius: Toyota gets its green face to India at a price. Well, who said going green was cheap?
TG Choice: A Any ny variant you choose, youll have done your bit for Mother Nature.
L: 446cm W: 174.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Nothing yet.
Z3 Z4 27 28 30.7 32.22 27 28 32 34 4cyl 1798cc 4cyl 1798cc 6A 6A 98 98 149 149 na na na na na na
Build: Import
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VOLKSWAGEN Dealers 110 Warranty 2yrs/ unlimited km Website www.volkswagen.co.in

Company description: The international giant has been getting good response in India , thanks to German engineering with an affordable pricetag. India sales in 2012: na For full listings and data please visit: www.topgear.com TG Awards: Saloon car of the year 2010: Vento The Vento is a handsome looking sedan whose visual appeal has every bit of the classy VW oomph
Jetta: More than just a bigger Vento, even if some equipment is missing.
TG Choice: H Highline ighline AT, pity theres no auto in the other variants.
Trendline Comfortline Highline Highline AT Trendline P Comfortline P 14.37 15.79 17.36 18.18 13.84 15.33 16.40 18 19.80 20.68 13.60* 15.07* 14.31 15.72 17.29 18.10 13.84 15.33 19.01 20.09 23.01 24.02 15.09 17.06 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1390cc 4cyl 1390cc 6M 6M 6M 6A 6M 6M 139 139 139 139 121 121 320 320 320 320 200 200
Build: Assembled
L: 464.4cm W: 177.7 cm Boot:na Fuel Tank: 55 litres , Ground Clearance: 13.9cm Also try: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis
206 187 187 187 na na na na na 10.1 na na na na na 10 na na
Passat: The slightly poorer mans A4? The slightly richer mans Laura? Whatever, its classy and well-built.
TG Choice: Highline Highline e for the car that parks by itself
L: 476.9cm W: 182 cm Boot: 565 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 15cm Also try: Honda Accord, Skoda Superb, Toyota Camry
Trendline Manual Comfortline Automatic Highline 21.16 24.22 26.10 24.1 27.49 29.59 21.07 24.11 25.99 26.05 30.03 32.07 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 4cyl 1968cc 6M 6A 6A 168 168 168 350 350 350 223 na na 223 9.28 12.5 223 9.28 12.5
Build: Assembled
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Phaeton: Another big German luxury saloon without the snob value. Great if you can live with the VW badge.
TG Choice: Only y reason you y want one is to be different ff from f the crowd, but a Merc is still a better bet.
L: 517.5cm W: 190.3 cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: 12.8cm Also try: BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class
Phaeton 78 86.8 76.96 95.7 6cyl 3597cc 6A 276 370 245 8.4 na
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Polo: Smart, sophisticated, German. Sticks to all the norms and is affordable too. No excitement on offer.
TG Choice: The GT TSI I is our pick p of f the lot.
L: 397cm W: 168.2cm Boot: 280 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Hyundai i20, Skoda Fabia, Honda Jazz, Fiat Punto, Maruti Swift, Ford
1.2 Trendline P 1.2 Comfortline P 1.2 Highline P 1.6 Highline P 1.2 Trendline D 1.2 Comfortline D 1.2 Highline D 1.2 GT TSI 4.57 5.1 6.04 6.38 5.6 6.1 7.06 na 5.48 6.03 7.10 7.26 6.34 7.11 8.17 7.99* 4.6 5.1 6.1 6.44 5.63 6.15 7.12 na 5.79 6.40 7.01 7.41 7.19 7.80 8.43 na 3cyl 1198cc 3cyl 1198cc 3cyl 1198cc 4cyl 1598cc 3cyl 1199cc 3cyl 1199cc 3cyl 1199cc 4cyl 1197cc 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 5M 7A 74 74 74 103 74 74 74 103 110 110 110 153 180 180 180 175 175 175 175 182 164 164 164 172 14.2 14.2 14.2 12.4 14.4 14.4 14.4 10.8 na na na 11.69 14 14 14 12.7
Vento: Fantastic value for a VW sedan; tarmac-smothering ride and still a great looker.
TG Choice: 1.6 Highline g diesel, for f German build quality q y with diesel economy. y
L: 438.4cm W: 169.9 cm Boot: 527 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Maruti SX4, Fiat Linea, Ford Fiesta
1.6 Trendline P 1.6 Highline P 1.6 Highline AT 1.6 Trendline D 1.6 Highline D 1.6 Comfortline D 7.12 8.23 9.21 8.12 9.23 9.05 8.03 9.40 10.48 9.14 9.30 10.04 7 8.3 9.21 8.06 9.31 9.01 8.06 10.03 11.04 10.00 11.08 10.08 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 4cyl 1598cc 5M 5M 6A 5M 5M 5M 103 103 103 103 103 103 153 153 153 250 250 250 185 na 185 na 183 na 186 16.4 186 16.4 185 na na na na 16 16 na

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Price Numbers
163 205 304 163 400 420 440 400 220 9 11.2 230 8.1* 14.1* 250 6.5* 9.8* 220 9 11.2
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VOLVO Dealers 3 Warranty 2yrs/60,000km Website www.volvocars.com/in

Company description: Its buses are more famous than its cars. The company has been very subtle with its presence, just like its cars, but things are changing with the S60 and the XC60.
S60: The S60 comes as a breath of fresh air; its a comfortable tourer and a worthy adversary to the German trio.
TG Choice: Kinetic D5 5, comes p pretty y well equipped q pp minus the leather seats.
L: 462.8cm W: 209.7 cm Boot: 380 litres Fuel Tank: 68 litres, Ground Clearance: 13.6cm Also try: Audi A4, Merc C-Class, BMW 3 series, and perhaps a safety vault
Kinetic D4 Summum D5 Summum T6 Summum D4 25.50 31.60 35.70 28.5 28.88 35.76 40.34 32.32 NA NA NA NA 35.66 43.98 44.60 43.98 5cyl 1984cc 5cyl 2400cc 6cyl 3200cc 5cyl 1984cc 6A 6A 6A 6A
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S80 : Stealth luxury car that promises top-flight comfort and safety, and decent dynamics. At a great price.
TG Choice: D5 is a good g engine, g S-Class luxury y at E-Class p price.
D5 D4 Kinetic 40.00 33.90 45.19 38.32 NA NA 53.11 44.75 5cyl 2400cc 6A 5cyl 1984cc 6A 202 163 400 400 225 9 13.7 240 9.6 10.8
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Build: Import
L: 485.1cm W: 210 cm Boot: 480 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 14.8cm Also try: Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class
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XC60 : If you crash this car, youre either unfit to drive or youre running an insurance scam.
TG Choice: Comes with a long g list of f optional p features. f
D5 AWD D4 Kinetic 42.00 35.95 49.10 40.62 NA NA 58.92 49.29 5cyl 2400cc 6A 5cyl 1984cc 6A 215 163 440 400 200 7.8 11.1 220 10.5 10.2
Build: Import
L: 462.7cm W: 163 cm Boot: 495 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Audi Q5, BMW X3, Land Rover Freelander
XC90: Large, practical SUV thats very much at home on tarmac, and reasonably priced for what you get.
TG Choice: D5 just j makes this sensible SUV even more sensible.
L: 462.1cm W: 163.2 cm Boot: 615 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Mercedes-Benz M-Class, BMW X5, Audi Q7
D5 D5 AWD 38 43.60 43.18 49.29 NA NA 49.14 67.29 5cyl 2400cc 6A 5cyl 2400cc 6A 202 215 400 440 225 9 13.7 200 8.9 na
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Build: Import
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V40: Large, practical SUV thats very much at home on tarmac, and reasonably priced for what you get.
TG Choice: D5 just j makes this sensible SUV even more sensible.
L: 437cm W: 178.3 cm Boot: 335 litres Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Mercedes-Benz B-Class
V40 Cross Country NA 28.5* NA NA 5cyl 1984cc 6A 148 350 na na na
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Volvo V40 Cross Country

An attractive car in which even your grandmother would feel safe., while you dive into a corner.
Volvo cars are regarded as being some of the safest cars in the world. But the Swedish appear to have removed their contemporary thinking caps with the V40. With
a good 2.0-litre diesel heart, the road presence of an off-roader and the agility of a hatchback, this Volvo will appeal to those not interested in playing very safe.
Buyers G B Guide id continued ti d
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Features
VOLKSWAGEN TO VOLVO
BAJAJ TO DUCATI
TOP GEAR NEW BIKE GUIDE

Ge ar b Ma ox x. Po Ma wer x. ( To Bhp Ma rqu ) e x sp (Nm 0- eed ) 10 (K 0 Fu kp ph) h el ef fic Ele ienc y( ct Kp Al ric loy St l) s art Pa ss b Ta eam ch s o wi Tr me tch ipm te et r e Di sc r br Le ake gg ua r En d gin ek ill s wi tc h
India sales in 2012: Na
10 13 13.1 9.2 18.3 11.9 na na na na na na na na na
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BAJAJ Dealers na Warranty na Website www.bajajauto.com

Company description: Wasnt that long ago that they made only a scooter. The Pulsar saw them shoot to fame and theyve kept the momentum going with frequent updates.
Discover : Bajajs salvo in the exec segment. Quite a looker if you opt for alloys and disc-brake variant. You can even go for the bigger 150 DTS-i now.
L: 204cm Seat Height: na. Wheelbase: 130.5cm Weight: 115kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10litres Also try: Gladiator, Victor 125, Glamour
100 T 125 DTS-I 150 DTS-I 0.40 0.45 0.49 0.40 0.45 0.49 0.41 0.46 0.49 0.53 0.58 0.59 1cyl 102cc 1cyl 116cc 1cyl 145cc 5M 4M 4M
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Pulsar : Arguably, Indias most popular bike for those who crave power and flamboyance. Near-perfect bike, fast, fun and practical.
L: 210cm Seat Height: na. Wheelbase: 132cm Weight: 137-147kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15litres Also try: Unicorn, CBZ X-treme, Apache
135 DTS-I 150 DTS-I 180 DTS-I 220 DTS-I SF 220 DTS-I S 200NS na 0.58 0.59 0.80 0.80 NA 0.59 0.58 0.59 0.8 0.8 NA na 0.58 0.60 0.81 0.81 NA 0.63 0.56 0.78 0.86 0.88 1.00 1cyl 134cc 1cyl 149cc 1cyl 178cc 1cyl 220cc 1cyl 220cc 1cyl 200cc 5M 13.5 11.4 5M 15.06 12.5 5M 17 14.22 5M 21 19.2 5M 21 19.2 5M 23 18.3 na na na na na na na 35 na 52.6 na 45 na 35 na 35 na na
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Avenger : The Eliminator with a Pulsar 220 DTS-i engine and of course the new badge. Its swanky and seen as a true-blue affordable cruiser.
L: 201.2cm Seat Height: na. Wheelbase: 127.1cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10litres Also try: The Enfield range
220 na 0.77 na 0.85 1cyl 220cc 5M 19.03 17.5 na na na
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BMW Dealers 3 Warranty na Website www.motorrad-navnitmotors.in

Company description: Today, Bavarias famed twowheeled company still makes their ever-lovin boxerengined monuments. However, they also have the world-beating S1000RR and that, we suppose, says it all. India sales in 2012: Na
Sport: Quite simply, the best litre-bike there is.

L: 205cm Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 204kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17.5litres Also try: Honda CBR1000RR, Suzuki GSX-R 1000
S 1000 RR na na na 24 4cyl 999cc 6M 193 112 na na na
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Tour: Long-range missiles. The only question is, two cylinders or six?
L: 223cm Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 263kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 25litres Also try: Suzuki Hayabusa
R 1200 RT K 1600 GT K 1600 GTL na na na na na na na na na 26.08 30.65 33.62 2cyl 1170cc 6M 6cyl 1649cc 6M 6cyl 1649cc 6M 110 158 158 120 175 175 na na na na na na na na na
Enduro: A real-life legend. Will go on forever, taking a couple of armageddons in its stride.
L: 221/224cm Seat Height: 85/89cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 234/259kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 20/33litres Also try: Ducati Multistrada
R 1200 GS R 1200 GS Adventure na na na na na na 21.16 23.56 2cyl 1170cc 2cyl 1170cc 6M 6M 110 110 120 120 na na na na na na
Urban: Hooliganism, the BMW way pick a boxer or a more conventional inline-four.
L: 214/222cm Seat Height: 80/82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 227/243kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 18/19litres Also try: Honda CB1000R
R 1200 R K 1300 R na na na na na na 18.99 21.85 2cyl 1170cc 6M 4cyl 1293cc 6M 110 173 119 140 na na na na na na
DUCATI Dealers 1 Warranty na Website www.ducati.com

Company description: Represented by official dealers, the Italian superbike maker is still finding its feet in India despite its legend status. India sales in 2010: Na
Hypermotard : Perfect bike for Indian roads. Also played the role of motor terminator in Terminator 4
L: na Seat Height: 84.5cm Wheelbase: 145.5cm Weight: 179 Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12.4litres Also try: Honda CB1000R, Yamaha MT-01
796 na 13.5 na 12.65 2cy821cc 6M 110 89 na na na
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NEW BIKE GUIDE TOP GEAR

Price Numbers
Ge ar b Ma ox x. Po Ma wer x. ( To Bhp Ma rqu ) e x sp (Nm 0- eed ) 10 (K 0 Fu kph ph) el ef f Ele icien ct cy Al ric S (Kpl) loy ta s rt Pa ss b Ta eam ch s o wi Tr me tch ipm te et r e Di sc r br Le ake gg ua r En d gin ek ill s wi tc h
80 95 95 68.7 103 103 na na na na na na na na na
Monster : Italian flavour among crowd of Japanese bikes. Monster 696 is the budget bike in the Ducati range. If you can call it budget at `10 lakh.
L: 210cm Seat Height: 77cm Wheelbase: 145cm Weight: 161-169kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15litres Also try: Honda CB1000R, Yamaha MT-01
796 795 1100 Diesel na na na 8.83 12.87 15.03 na na na 9.17 13.26 15.45 2cyl 696cc 6M 2cyl 1078cc 6M 2cyl 1078cc 6M
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Super Bike : The 1198R sits at the top of the fuel chain. Has no natural rivals in this price bracket, unless you have a car in mind!
L: 210cm Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: 143cm Weight: 165-169kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15.5litres Also try: Suzuki Hayabusa, Honda CBR1000RR, BMW 3 series
848 1198 1198 SP 1198 R na na na na 13.4 18.6 22.1 na na na na na 13.9 19.1 22.9 22.9 2cyl 848cc 2cyl 1198cc 2cyl 1198cc 2cyl 1198cc 6M 6M 6M 6M 98.5 170 170 180 96 131 131 134 na na na na na na na na na na na na
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Street Fighter : Possibly the best-looking sportsbike in the country that money can buy
L: 212cm Seat Height: 84cm Wheelbase: 147.5cm Weight: 167-169kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 16.5litres Also try: Honda CB1000R, Yamaha MT-01
1098S na na na 17.4 2cyl 1099cc 6M 155 115 na na na
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Multistrada : A tourer, cruiser and sportsbike all rolled into one.

L: na Seat Height: 85cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 192kg Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 20litres Also try: Suzuki Bandit
MTS 1200 MTS 1200 ABS MTS 1200 ST na na na 18.0 19.1 22.3 na na na 18.5 19.6 22.9 2cyl 1198cc 2cyl 1198cc 2cyl 1198cc 6M 6M 6M 150 150 150 118 118 118 na na na na na na na na na
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Diavel : One beast of an Italian power cruiser.

L: 223.5cm Seat Height: 77cm Wheelbase: 159cm Weight: 239kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17litres Also try: Harley-Davidson Night Rod
na na na na 2cyl 1198cc 6M 162 127.5 na na na
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HARLEY-DAVIDSON Dealers 5 Warranty na Website www.harley-davidson.in

Company description: They define cruisers, and attitude is their middle name. Local assembly has allowed them to drop prices and made their bikes even more appealing. India sales in 2012: Na
CVO : The Big Daddy of HDs, the custom CVO gives you everything you can imagine on a motorcycle and then some.
L: 249cm Seat Height: 69.5cm Wheelbase: 161.3cm Weight: 419.2kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 22.7litres Also try: Soft tail range, Road King.
Ultra Classic Electra Glide na na na 40. 11 2cyl 1803cc 6M na 155 na na na
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DYNA: This ones on a diet and has all unnecessary weight sawed off. Great if you arent much of a fan of bulky tourers
L: 235.7cm Seat Height: 64.7cm Wheelbase: 163cm Weight: 302.5kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 17litres Also try: Sporter range, Honda CB 1000R, Yamaha
Street Bob Super Glide Custom Fat Bob na na na na 16.2 na na na na 11.83 13.60 na 2cyl 1585cc 2cyl 1585cc 2cyl 1585cc 6M 6M 6M na na na 126 126 126 na na na na na na na na na
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Softail: Must have one for all Arnie/Terminator fans. Lots of chorme and scope for customisation, not necessarily a comfortable ride.
L: 240cm Seat Height: 70cm Wheelbase: 164cm Weight: 328kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 19litres Also try: Suzuki Intruder, DYNA range.
Fatboy Heritage Classic na na 19.3 20.4 na na 17.21 18.76 2cyl 1198cc 2cyl 1198cc 6M 6M na na 118 118 na na na na na na
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DUCATI TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON
HERO

na na na 118 69 98 na na na na na na na na na
Sportster: Still short, sharp-handling motorcycle, although bigger = more power, Always a good thing.
L: 218cm Seat Height: 99cm Wheelbase: 152cm Weight: 254kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Honda CB 1000R, DYNA range.sx
XL 883L Iron 883 XL 1200X Forty Eight na na na 7.9 6.5 8.5 na na na 6.48 7.62 9.90 2cyl 883cc 6M 2cyl 883cc 5M 2cyl 1202cc 5M
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Touring: Its quite literally what the name suggests. You can slap on a lot of touring gear to lug around your house with you.
L: 241cm Seat Height: 80cm Wheelbase: 161cm Weight: 368kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 22litres Also try: Heritage Classic, Ultra Classic.
Road King Street Glide na na na 23.1 na na 24.80 26.67 2cyl 1198cc 2cyl 1198cc 6M 6M na na 118 118 na na na na na na
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VR SCDX : HD fans have Porsche to thank for this one. One high-revving, smooth-pulling power cruiser, if thats your thing.
L: 244cm Seat Height: 67.5cm Wheelbase: 170cm Weight: 302kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 18.9litres Also try: Ducati Diavel, Yamaha V-Max
NightRod Special na *** na *** 2cyl 1247cc 6M na 111 na na na
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HERO Dealers na Warranty na Website www.herohonda.com

Company description: The Honda name has been striked out. Now its Hero vs Honda as the Japanese bike maker tries to grab market share from its old ally. India sales in 2012: Na
Passion : A facelifted effort which is still chugging along but for how long? The passion is all lost but the will to move on is in abundance.
L: 198cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 116kg Wheel size: 18 inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Platina, Discover
+ Pro na na 0.44* 0.44* na na 0.49 0.49 1cyl 97cc 1cyl 97cc 4M 4M 7.5 7.5 7.95 7.95 na na na na na na
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CBZ Extreme : Theres nothing understated about the bikes looks, quite unlike its predecessor. Decent power and lots of gizmos to boot.
L: 201.2cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 127.1cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12.4litres Also try: Unicorn, Pulsar 150, Apache
0.61 0.61 0.62 0.72 1cyl 149cc 5M 14.4 12.8 na na na
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Hunk : Heros third variant in the 150cc category. We wonder whether the name makes sense at all
L: 208cm Seat Height: 79.5cm Wheelbase: 132cm Weight: 146kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12.4litres Also try: Unicorn, Pulsar 150, Apache
0.65 0.65 0.65 0.77 1cyl 149cc 5M 14.4 12.8 na na na
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Ignitor : This is Heros attempt at stunning you. Looks a bit different, offers more features than the Stunner.
L: 201cm Seat Height: 109.5cm Wheelbase: 127cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: na Also try: Honda CBF Stunner
0.66 0.63 0.68 0.68 1cyl 124cc 5M 11 11 na na na
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Impulse : The only option if you like it dirty

L: 136cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: na Weight: na Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 11.1litres Also try: Unicorn, Pulsar 150, Apache
na 0.66 na 0.78 1cyl 149cc 5M 13 13.4 na na na
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Karizma : The only challenger to the Pulsar 200 DTS-i. Finally gets a much-needed facelift and fuel-injection system.
L: 212cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 135 Weight: 150kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Pulsar 220 DTS-i, Yamaha YZF R-15
Karizma ZMR Fi 0.75 na 0.75 0.94 0.76 0.94 0.88 1.09 1cyl 223cc 1cyl 223cc 5M 5M 17.6 17.6 18.3 18.3 125 126 3.8 3.7 na na
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Maestro : A testosterone-charged scooter aimed at men. Big size and proven mechanicals. If it doesnt apply to you, look below.
L: na Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 124 Weight: 110 Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5.3litres Also try: Honda Activa, Mahindra Duro, TVS Wego
na na na 0.57 1cyl 109cc V 8 9.1 na na 43.6
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Pleasure : Heros first automatic scooter is aimed at women only! And women are buying it with pleasure.
L: 175cm Seat Height: 76.5 Wheelbase: 127.1 Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 10litres Also try: Activa, Dio, Wave, Kinetic 4S
0.39 0.39 0.39 0.47 1cyl 102cc V 7 7.8 na na na
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Ge ar b Ma ox x. Po Ma wer x. ( To Bhp Ma rqu ) e x sp (Nm 0- eed ) 10 (K 0 Fu kph ph) el ef f Ele icien ct cy Al ric S (Kpl) loy ta s rt Pa ss b Ta eam ch s o wi Tr me tch ipm te et r e Di sc r br Le ake gg ua r En d gin ek ill s wi tc h Ba ng alo re M um (o ba nr i oa d)
HONDA Dealers na Warranty na Website www.honda2wheelersindia.com

Company description: Japanese giants have decided to go the full hog themselves and have motorcycles in every segment. But its their scooters that make them king. India sales in December 2012: 2,
CB Unicorn : Still the best powertrain in the business and boasts extremely good quality. Dazzlers lighter and more fun - our pick.
L: 209.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 134cm Weight: 146kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 13litres Also try: Pulsar 150, CBZ X-Treme, Apache
CB Unicorn 0.60 0.72 0.70 0.69 1cyl 149cc 5 13.3 12.8 101 5 60
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CBF Stunner : A performance bike packed in a 125cc bike? Take that with a pinch of salt. Looks sporty though.
L: 201.2cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 127.1cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10litres Also try: Gladiator SS, Discover, Glamour, Flame
Stunner 0.56 0.54 0.56 0.63 1cyl 125cc 5 11 11 na 5.2 na
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CB Shine : Its now got a fair bit of shine with bits like alloy wheels, electric start and sporty decals. Engine refinement and finish needs some work. k.
L: 201.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126cm Weight: 122kg Wheel size: 12inches Fuel tank: 11litres Also try: Discover 125, Victor, Super Splendor.
0.54 0.52 0.54 0.61 1cyl 124.6cc 4 10.3 10.9 na 5.3 65
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Aviator : Just like the Dio, it uses the same engine as in the Activa. But all-new bodywork thats supposed to appeal to men. Really?
L: 180cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 125cm Weight: 120kg Wheel size: 12inches Fuel tank: 6litres Also try: Activa, Dio, Kristal, Access
DLX STD 0.52 0.46 0.5 0.44 0.52 0.47 0.58 0.52 1cyl 108cc 1cyl 108cc V V 7 7 8 8 na na na na na na
Activa : Bland styling that now looks dated in the face of fresher competition. You could swear on its quality and reliability though.
L: 176cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 102kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5.3litres Also try: Dio, Nova 135, Kristal, Pleasure, Access
0.45 0.43 0.46 0.51 1cyl 109cc V 8 9 na na na
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Dio : The refreshingly new Dio is a stunner (heh heh). One of the best lookers in the country, though it needs more firepower.
L: 176cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 102kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6litres Also try: Activa, Nova 135, Kristal, Pleasure, Accesskg
0.41 0.39 0.41 0.47 1cyl 102cc V 7 8 na na na
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Dream : Hondas attack deep into Hero territory. Wing riding for the commuter biker.
L: 202.2/2009cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 128.5/125.8cm Weight: 108/105kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 8litres Also try:Hero Splendor
Yuga Neo 0.51 na 0.52 0.47* 0.49 na 0.56 na 1cyl 108cc 1cyl 108cc 4 4 8.5 8.5 8.9 8.9 na na na na na na
CB Trigger : Honda takes another shot at the urban buyer in the 150cc segment
L: 204.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 132.5cm Weight: 108 Wheel size: 17litres Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Bajaj Pulsar 150, Yamaha Fazer
na na na na 1cyl 149.1cc 4M 9 9 na na na
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Twister : Hondas entry into the high volume 100cc segment. Hero MotoCorp better watch out!
L: 197.2cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126.2cm Weight: 108kg Wheel size: 17 inches Fuel tank: 8litres Also try: Bajaj Discover DTS-i 100, Hero Honda Splendor NXG
0.51 0.49 0.52 0.58 1cyl 109cc 4M 9 9 na na na
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HONDA
HYOSUNG TO KTM
Ch en na i

Numbers Features
18 25 13 22.9 na na na na na na
CBR : The 250 has been around for sometime and now you get it in 150 too! If you still want a hardcore sports bike the Ninja and R15 it is.
L: 203cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 136.7cm Weight: 167kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 13litres Also try: Ninja 250. Yamaha YZF R15 2.0
150R 250R 1.23 1.7 1.19 1.68 1.23 1.7 1.36 1.9 1cyl 149cc 1cyl 249cc 6M 6M /10 8/10
CB 1000R: The most pocket friendly and usable litre bike that you can buy today. Crazy single-side swingarm takes the cake
L: 210.5cm Seat Height: 82.5cm Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 217kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17liquid Also try: Ducati Monster, Yamaha MT01
1000R na 9.5 na 11.2 4cyl 998cc 6M 123.3 100 na na na
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CBR 1000RR: Another insanely quick bike to tear up our roads. No airbags yet, but it has ABS and an instant fuel consumption read out!
L: 208cm Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 199kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17.7litres Also try: Suzuki GSX 1000R, Yamaha R1
1000RR na 12.5 na 14.69 4cyl 999cc 6M 175.6 112 na na na
O O O O O O O O
VFR : Brilliant all-rounder, the V4 engine and the dual-clutch transmission makes this bike extra special.
L: 225cm Seat Height: 81.5cm Wheelbase: 154.5cm Weight: 267kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 18.5litres Also try: Yamaha V-Max, Suzuki Hayabusa
1200F na 17 5 na 20 5 4cyl 1237cc 6M 170 129 na na na
O O O O O O O O
HYOSUNG Dealers 2 Warranty na Website www.dskhyosung.com

Company description: The Korean manufacturer tries to give the same thrills as its Japanese and American rivals at a more affordable price. India sales in 2012: Na
Aquila 650: A V-twin 650cc cruiser that offers bling, power and value for money
L: 243cm Seat Height: 70.5cm Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 218kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 16litres Also try: Harley-Davidson Super Low
650 na 4.99 na na 2cyl 647cc 5M 74 62.1 na na 23
O O O O O O O O
GT: Looks exactly like the GT650 but comes at half the price. A poser bike for all those who want a looker and could not care less about performance
L: 206cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 171kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 8litres Also try: Ninja 250.
250R 650R na na 2.75 4.97 na na na na 2cyl 249cc 2cyl 647cc 5M 6M 28 72.7 22.6 61 na na na na na na
ST7: Its hard to see why someone would pick the ST7 over a Harley, unless Hyosung offers a solid bargain.
L: 247cm Seat Height: 76.2cm Wheelbase: 169cm Weight: 244 Wheel size: 16inches Fuel tank: 18litres Also try: Sportster XL 883 L
ST7 na 5.96 na na 2cyl 678cc 6M 61.6 57.3 na na na
O O O O O O O O
KAWASAKI Dealers na Warranty 2 years/30,000kms Website www.bajajauto.com

Company description: Reviving an old partnership with Bajaj has seen them return to India. They are playing it safe but may be too safe for their own good. India sales in 2012: Na
Ninja : Best combination of sport and cruising comfort. Handles like an R15, comfort levels as good as a Karizma and more power than both put together.
L: 208.5cm Seat Height: 76.2cm Wheelbase: 139.9cm Weight: 172kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 18litres Also try: Three Karizma ZMRs
250 650 na na na 4.57 na na 3.10 na 2cyl 249cc 2cyl 649cc 6M 6M 33 71 22 66 na na 6.7 21.5 6.7 17.3
KTM Dealers na Warranty na Website www.bajajauto.com

Company description: Hooligans par excellence come to India, courtesy Bajaj, and bring along their unparalleled sense of mayhem . India sales in 2012: na
Duke : True to its heritage, the Duke 200 is a machine that is easily swayed into almost anti-social antics. Top shelf parts and value for money
L: na Seat Height: 810cm Wheelbase: 136.1cm Weight: 125kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10.5litres Also try: Pulsar 200
200 390** na na 1.17 1.17 na na na na 1cyl 200cc 1cyl 200cc 6M 6M 25 25 19 19 na na na na na na
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Price

Price Numbers
India sales in April 2011: 9,558
8 9 80 na 45
O O O O O O O O
MAHINDRA Dealers na Warranty na Website www.mahindra2wheelers.com

Company description: After buying the defunct Kinetic motors, Mahindra has taken its first step into the highly competitive two-wheeler market.
Duro DZ: The all-new Duro, well not all that new. Remember the Kinetic Nova?
L: 181.9cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 127cm Weight: 114kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6.5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Suzuki Access
na 0.50 na 55.4 1cyl 124cc V /10
Flyte: Inherited from the erst while Kinetic-SYM collaboration.

L: 179cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 126cm Weight: 105kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Suzuki Access
na 0.49 na 46.4 1cyl 124cc V 8 9 80 na 45
O O O O O O O O
Rodeo RZ: More focused on youngsters. Takes on the likes of Activa, Dio.
L: 179cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 124.5cm Weight: 106kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 4.5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Suzuki Access
na 0.53 na 56.3 1cyl 124cc V 8 9 80 na 45
O O O O O O O O
Pantero: The Mahindra manages to impress with little value features that are usually not seen in this segment.
L: 200cm Seat Height: 80.5cm Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 120kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 13.7litres Also try: Bajaj Discover 100T
na 0.43 na na 1cyl 106.7cc 4M 8.4 8.5 na na 49
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Centuro: Loaded with a list of features that are a first in its class.
L: 203cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 120kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12.7litres Also try: Honda Dream Yuga
na 0.45 na na 1cyl 106.7cc 4M 8.4 8.5 na na na
O O O O O O O O
ROYAL ENFIELD Dealers na Warranty na Website www.royalenfield.com

Company description: Theyve kept alive the charisma of big bore singles although emission norms have muted them to a fair extent. Reliability is still not the best. India sales in 2012: Na
Bullet : The thump is enough to buzz your senses. However, this one is basic, tough and macho. Can ride on almost any surface.
L: 212 Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 137 Weight: 163kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 14.5litres Also try: Electra, Machismo.
500 Electra 5S na na 1.54* na na na na 1.25 1cyl499cc 1cyl 346cc 5M 5M 26 18 40.9 32 117 na na na na na
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Thunderbird : The cruiser in the crowd. Quite comfortable on the highway and an extremely steady bike. Now with a modern 350cc engine.
L: 204cm Seat Height: 77.5cm Wheelbase: 124cm Weight: 179kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Avenger
350 500 na na na na na na 1.45 1.84 1cyl 346cc 1cyl 499cc 5M 5M 20 27.2 28 41.3 120 130 na na 45 na
O O
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O O
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Features
MAHINDRA TO ROYAL ENFIELD
ROYAL ENFIELD TO SUZUKI

Price
Ch en na i De lhi

Numbers Features
19.8 27.2 27.2 27.2 28 41.3 41.3 41.3 120 130 130 130 na na na na na na na na
Classic: A true beast. The 500 features the all-new fuel-injected TwinSpark engine. This is the most refined bike in the Bullet stable.
L: 213cm Seat Height: 80cm Wheelbase: 137cm Weight: 187kg Wheel size: 18-19inches Fuel tank: 13.5litres Also try: Electra, Machismo.
350 500 Desert Storm Chrome na na na na na na na na na na na na 1.33 1.55 1cyl 346cc 1cyl 499cc 1cyl 499cc 1cyl 499cc 5M 5M 5M 5M
O O O O
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O O O O
SUZUKI Dealers na Warranty na Website www.suzukimotorcycle.co.in

Company description: Maker of the fastest production motorcycle of the world has found the going tough in India. Limited number of dealers and products are not doing any favours India sales in 2012: Na
Access: Suzukis attempt to redefine practicality is great for college goers. 125cc power at Activas price.
L: 178cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 125cm Weight: 109kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6.4litres Also try: Honda Activa, Dio, Kinetic Flyte
0.42 0.4 na 0.43 1cyl 124cc V 8.6 9.8 na na na
O O O O O O O O
Bandit : Proper cross country tourer for those who arent fans of the Harley way.
L: 213cm Seat Height: 81/83cm Wheelbase: 1485cm Weight: 250kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank : 19litres Also try: Harley Davidson XR1200 Sportster, Ducati Monster
1250 8.5 8.5 8.5 10.08 4cyl 1255cc 6M na na na na na
O O O O O O O O
GS 150 R: Possibly the most refined bike in India with good ride and handling. The six-speed gearbox is super smooth.
L: 209.5cm Seat Height: 790cm Wheelbase: 134cm Weight: 134kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Pulsar, Unicorn, FZ-16, Apache
0.61 0.58 na 0.62 1cyl 149cc 6M 13.8 134 na na na
O O O O O O O O
GSX-R: Suzukis litre bike completes a Japanese trio. Arguably the most comfortable of the lot.
L: 204.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 140.5 Weight: 205kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17.5litres Also try: Yamaha YZF-R1, Honda Fireblade
1000 12.75 12.75 12.86 15.75 4cyl 999cc 6M 191 na na na na
O O O O O O O O
Hayabusa: The fastest production motorcycle in the world is here. Performance bikes will never be the same again.
L: 219cm Seat Height: 805cm Wheelbase: 148cm Weight: 260kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 21litres Also try: Yamaha YZF-R1 or a few hundred Pulsars put together
GSX 13000 R 12.5 12.5 na 14.89 4cyl 1340cc 6M 198 154 na na na
O O O O O O O O
Intruder: This is a mammoth motorcycle with an engine big enough to put most cars to shame. The biggest cruiser yet.
L: 248cm Seat Height: 705cm Wheelbase: 171cm Weight: 347kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 19litres Also try: Most cars that you can think of or maybe even a boat
M800 M 1800 R na 12.5 na 12.5 na na 9.78 15.72 2cyl 805cc 5M 2cyl 1780cc 5M 52 127 68 160 na na na na 22 na
Sling Shot: Reskinned Zeus to break the lull, or so Suzuki hopes. Stylish design, quality of materials not very good though.
L: 203.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 128kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Honda Shine, TVS Flame, Discover, Hero Honda Splendor
Sling shot Sling shot+ 0.47 0.49 0.45 0.48 0.47 0.49 0.52 0.55 1cyl 124cc 1cyl 124cc 5M 5M 8.5 8.5 10 10 na na na na 60 60
O O
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Swish: Want a pefromance scooter with a bit of style? The Swish is what the doctor ordered.
L: 178cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 125cm Weight: 128kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6litres Also try: Honda Dio
0.49 0.51 0.51 0.55 1cyl 124cc 5M 8.5 9.8 na na na
O
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O O
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TVS Dealers 618 Warranty 2 years or 30,000km bikes,Model dependent for scooters Website www.tvsmotor.in
Company description: Theyve had their ups and downs but seem sorted out now. Strong presence in southern India, rest of India needs some attention. India sales in July 2012: 1,61,255
Apache : Into its second generation now with a bigger engine and more race effects. Still a great looker.
L: 202cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 130cm Weight: 136kg Wheel size: 17/18inches Fuel tank: 16litres Also try: Pulsar 150, Achiever, Unicorn.
RTR160 RTR161 Fi RTR180 0.59 0.66 0.65 0.59 0.66 0.64 0.59 0.66 0.65 0.7 0.79 0.78 1cyl 159cc 1cyl 159cc 1cyl 178cc 5M 5M 5M 15.2 15.7 17.1 13.1 13.8 15.5 105 107 119 na na 4.15 42 43 33
O O O
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O O O
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10.5 10.5 10 10 na na na na na na
Q
Flame: New-generation 125cc from TVS. Embroiled in a lot of controversy. Nevertheless, decently built and good to look at.
L: 203cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 132cm Weight: 123kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 7.5litres Also try: Bajaj XCD, Yamaha Gladiator
SR 125 KS SR 125 ES 0.42 0.47 0.42 0.47 0.42 0.47 0.57 0.51 1cyl 124cc 1cyl 124cc 4M 4M
O O O O
Pheonix: A straight forward commuter bike. What you see is what you get. With a little more attitude and style, it would have stood out.
L: 198.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 116kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 14litres Also try: Nothing really
0.53 na na na 1cyl 124.5cc 4M 10.8 10.8 95 na na
O O O O O
O
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Scooty: Its tiny, petite and peppy. Convenient for city errands. But buy a bike for regular commuting. Perfect as your first two-wheeler.
L: 168.5cm Seat Height: 106cm Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 85kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Nothing really
Pep Plus Streak Pep Plus Teens Teens Electric 0.36 0.34 0.27 0.31 0.36 0.34 0.26 0.31 0.36 0.34 0.27 0.31 0.43 0.41 0.31 0.31 1cyl 87cc 1cyl 87cc 1cyl 59cc 1cyl 60cc V V V V 5 5 3.5 1 5.8 5.8 4.5 3.3 na na na na na na na na na na na na
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Jive: TVSs different take on the 100cc commuter bike, made extra special with the omission of the clutch.
L: 197.5cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 126cm Weight: na Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15litres Also try: Bajaj 100 XCD, Hero Honda Dawn
na na na 0.51 1cyl 109cc V 8.2 8.3 na na na
O O O O O O O O
Wego: With the Wego, TVS has set its eyes on Hondas share of the gearless two wheeler market.
L: na Seat Height: na Wheelbase: na Weight: na Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Honda Aviator
na na na 0.51 1cyl 110cc V 8 8 na na na
O O O O O O O O
VESPA Dealers 8 Warranty na Website www.vespaindia.com

Company description: If there ever was a company that married history and tradition with a modern outlook, Vespa is it. You buy into one of the coolest brands in the world with this one. India sales in April 2012: na
Vespa: Simply called Vespa, this 125cc scooter is undoubtedly one of the best-looking scooters out there. Sticker price is a shocker, thoug gh
L: na Seat Height: na Wheelbase: na Weight h : na Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Dio, Suzuki Swish, Yamaha Ray
LX VX na na na na na na 0.78 0.78 1cyl 125cc 1cyl 125cc V V 10 10 10.6 10.6 na na na na na na
YAMAHA Dealers na Warranty 2 years or 20,000km Website www.yamaha-motor-india.com

Company description: Have made a name out of manufacturing fast bikes. Great products, but dealer network not good enough to back them up. India sales in April 2012: 25,817
FAZER: Purely a commuter. Surprisingly a good handler and has a refined engine. Perhaps failed to take off, as expectations were too high after RX
L: 197cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 133.5cm Weight: 135kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 13.2litres Also try: Pulsar 150, CB Unicorn Dazzaler
Fazer 0.42 0.81 na 0.90 1cyl 153cc 5M 14 14 na na na
O O O O O O
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FZ: Boldest of the 150cc lot with tyres to chew and spit out the competition. If a bit cheaper we wouldve recommended you buy two of them.
L: 197cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 133.5cm Weight: 137kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Pulsar 180, Apache RTR
16 S 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.85 0.82 1cyl 153cc 1cyl 153cc 5M 5M 14 14 14 14 115 115 5.1 5.1 na na
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VESPA TO YAMAHA
YAMAHA

106 na na na
O O O O O O
FZ 1: Street fighter looks and performance to go with it. Will give you all the thrills of a litre class bike but will be easy to ride around the city as we ell.
L: 214cm Seat Height: 81.5cm Wheelbase: 146cm Weight: 214kg Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 18litres Also try: CB 1000 R
FZ 1 na na na 10.72 4cyl 998cc 6M 147.9
O
Q
O
Ray: Aimed at ladies, but not surprisingly, it endears itself to the opposite sex too. Fun to ride, looks good and is a Yamaha
L: 183.5cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 127cm Weight: 104kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Dio, Suzuki Swish
na 0.46* na 0.55 1cyl 113cc V 7 8.1 na na na
O O O O O O O O
SZ: Cheaper alternative to FZ16, cuts down on essentials like disc brakes and pass beam
L: 205cm Seat Height: 80.2cm Wheelbase: 132cm Weight: 132kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 14litres Also try: Hero Honda Hunk
SZ-R SZX na na 0.54 0.58 na na 0.69 0.66 1cyl 153cc 1cyl 153cc 5M 5M 12.1 12.1 12.8 12.8 na na na na na na
SS125: Another delicious product from the Yamaha stable. Well have to see whether even this one is a victim of buyer ignorance
L: 199.5cm Seat Height: 79.5cm Wheelbase: 129.5cm Weight: 125kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 13.6litres Also try: Discover 125
na 0.49 na 0.65 1cyl 123cc 5M 11 10.4 na na na
O O O O O O O O
YZF-R1: Want to be like Rossi? Well, you can start with at least looking like him on a Yamaha.
L: 206.0cm Seat Height: 83.5cm Wheelbase: 141.5cm Weight: 177kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 18litres Also try: Hayabusa. CBR1000RR
10.5 15.60 na 15.60 4cyl 998cc 6M 177.4 112.7 285 na na
O O O O O O O O
YZF-R15 2.0: Same old R15 tweaked for better performance. Though no power upgrade will put off a few people
L: 197cm Seat Height: 80cm Wheelbase: 134.5cm Weight: 136kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Karizma ZMR, Bajaj Pulsar 220
na 1.1 na 1.29 1cyl 150cc 6M 16.8 15 140 na 40
O O O O O O
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V-Max: Welcome to the world of muscle biking. Be ready for some seriously fast acceleration, and hope no one is crossing while you are at it.
L: 239.5cm Seat Height: 77.5cm Wheelbase: 170cm Weight: 310kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15litres Also try: Apollo 11, SR 71
20 25.05* 20 25.65* 4cyl 1679cc 5M 200 166.8 na na na
O O O O O O
O
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YBR: Entry level sub-110cc from Yamaha. Yes the badging might say its a 110cc bike but its an Alba clone.
L: 206.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 130cm Weight: na Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 13.6litres Also try: CT100, Splendor Plus, Star City
110 125 na na 0.46 0.52 na na 0.48 0.60 1cyl 106cc 1cyl 123cc 4M 7.6 7.85 4M 10.88 10.4 na na na na na na
O O
Q
O O
O O O O
O O
O O
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O O
FACEBOOK
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TG RA TI NG
8/10 na/10 5/10 5/10 na/10 9/10 7/10 na/10 5/10 5/10
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DOES THE REFRESHED AUDI RS5 RETAIN EXCLUSIVE: ALL THAT THUNDER AND LIGHTNING?

GALLARDO INDIA SPECIALE

WE TAKE A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN ROLLS-ROYCE UP THE STELVIO PASS

NEW MERC E-CLASS

YES , VOLVO IS SERIOUS ABOUT INDIA. HERES PROOF

V40 CROSS COUNTRY

002 AUGUST 2013 TOPGEAR .COM

TOPGEAR .COM AUGUST 2013 003 MAGZTER COPY

TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE

NEW CAR GUIDE TOP GEAR

the Pow r sea ts er win Allo dow ys s Fog lam ps

roa d) Ban gal ore

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

4.2TDI Quattro 4.2FSI Quattro 3.0TDI Quattro

67* 66.5* 53.4*

67* 65.3* 54.4*

8cyl 4134cc 8cyl 4163cc 6cyl 2967cc

322 345 230

760 441 500

231 6.4 244 7.4 210 9.1

5.5 7.4 9.6

280 5.32 4.6

Bentley Dealers 1 Warranty na Website www.bentleymotors.com

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

6/10 5/10 6/10 6/10 4/10

/10 /10 /10 /10

1 3 4 MARCH 2012 TOPGEAR .COM

TOPGEAR .COM MARCH 2012 1 3 5

105 CAR BUYERS GUIDE

S FFER O 012 MAGZTER COPY TOPGEAR .COM

CIAL N SPE RIPTIOG E UBSC ON PA

The 3 coupe gets rechristened. World, welcome the new 4 series

18 VANQUISH VOLANTE 18 NISSAN TERRANO 17 FIAT 500

38 MERC B-CLASS DIESEL

42 MERC A-CLASS DIESEL

TOPGEAR .COM AUGUST 2013 005 MAGZTER COPY

Contributing Photographers (India)

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Get in touch. Rant a bit. Feel better

JAG F-TYPE vs PORSCHE 9111 vs BOXSTER

AND MORE FROM CLARKSON, HAMMOND AND MAY

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012 AUGUST 2013 TOPGEAR .COM

Edited by ABHINAV MISHRA

FIAT 500L LIVING

TOPGEAR .COM AUGUST 2013 013

Whats in a name, you say?

BMW 3 SERIES COUPE this is your life

Wait, did I just step into a 3 series or 4?

TOPGEAR .COM AUGUST 2013 015

Want a sixspeed manual? Well... move to Europe then

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

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A FEW SWIFT CHANGES

THE 500 LIVES ON

Promises 500s charm, sedan comfort and MPV versatility

PHOTOGRAPHS: MANUFACT URERS

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

Its raining compact SUVs, people!

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PLANET TOPGEAR WorldMags.net