DRIVEN: Audi Q8 MG ZS EV Tata Altroz Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 Porsche Taycan 4S Polestar 1 `130.00
FIRST DRIVE
MERCEDES-BENZ GLC
Volume 15 / Issue 06 / January 2020
TRAVELOGUE
Renault Triber Chronicles - II
Kia Seltos Tiger Trails - I
Tata Altroz Audi e-tron Aston Martin DBX Kia K5
BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé Porsche 911 Turbo S
Ferrari Roma Lexus LC MG ZS EV Hyundai Aura
and many more cars expected in 2020
TESTED
Hyundai Elantra 2.0 AT
PUBLIS
ENGINEERED IN GERMANY www.stepperindia.com
3D SHAPE
FIT &
LIGHT FLEXIBLE DURABLE CO N T HYPOALLERGENIC COMFORT MOULDING
R
Contents THIS MONTH’S STORIES AT A GLANCE
66
TaTa alTroz
Tata Motor’s premium hatchback
impresses us on our drive in Jaisalmer
4 car india January 2020 www.carindia.in
DRIVEN: Audi Q8 MG ZS EV Tata Altroz Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 Porsche Taycan 4S Polestar 1
`130 00
FIRST DRIVE
MERCEDES-BENZ GLC
Volume 15 / ssue 06 / January 2020
@carindia /carindia /carindiamagazine /carindia [email protected] Renault Triber Chronicles II
TRAVELOGUE
Kia Seltos T ger Trails I
Tata Altroz Audi e-tron Aston Martin DBX Kia K5
BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé Porsche 911 Turbo S
Ferrari Roma Lexus LC MG ZS EV Hyundai Aura
Volume 15 I Issue 06 I January 2020
and many more cars expected in 2020
TESTED
Hyundai Elantra 2 0 AT
Regulars
6 WELCOME
8 BULLETIN
18 INBOX
19 CAR SALES
20 GAVIN GREEN
22 EMISSION ZERO
106 THE GBU
Travelogue
24 KIA TIGER TRAILS — I
We take our Tiger Nose ride to Tadoba
36 THE HISTORIC TRIO WITH TOYOTA
40 84
The capable Toyota Innova Crysta heads
to Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal
46 TRIBER CHRONICLES — II
The Triber heads from the beaches of HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2.0 AT MG ZS EV
Gokarna to green and serene Kodagu Does this premium sedan How promising is MG’s first
tick all the right boxes? all-electric car in India?
Features
30 ICOTY 2020
92
Awarding the best car of the year
52 NEW CARS FOR 2020
All the cars we expect to see this year
MERCEDES-BENZ GLC-CLASS
62 MICHELIN ENERGY XM2+
Next-generation tech and
Putting old and new tyres to the test
powerplant in a modern package
First Drives
74 AUDI Q8 55 TFSI QUATTRO
The sportiest large Audi SUV yet
76 MERCEDES-AMG GLB 35 4MATIC
The most potent new GLB-Class
90 POLESTAR 1
Swedish hybrid-hyper GT with a purpose
98 PORSCHE TAYCAN 4S
An all-electric “entry” model? Right
Sport
100 F1: ABU DHABI
102 JK TYRE FESTIVAL OF SPEED
104 INRC: KOTTAYAM
www.carindia.in January 2020 CAR INDIA 5
Welcome Car India Magazine
S.No. 261/G.L.R.No. 5,
East Street, Camp, Pune 411001. INDIA
[email protected]
Editor Aspi Bhathena
Let the New Year Bring New Hope Executive Editor Sarmad Kadiri
Copy Editor Deepak Upadhye
Principal Correspondent Jim Gorde
THE YEAR 2019 HAS JUST FLOWN On the safety front, the authorities are Senior Correspondent Harket Suchde
Correspondents Anosh Khumbatta, Joshua Varghese,
by and I am already writing the editorial putting rumble strips on the entry of a Zal Cursetji, Azaman Chothia
for the January 2020 issue. The corner, thus upsetting the car as it enters Art Director Ramnath Chodankar
Head Design & Production Ravi Parmar
automobile industry is still on the decline the corner. Instead they should put them Designers Santosh Wadhai, Sandeep Naik
notwithstanding a small gain during the at the least 50 to 75 metres before the Senior Photographer Sanjay Raikar
Staff Photographer Saurabh Botre
festive season. The year gone by was turn to allow a car to slow down rather Production Supervisor Dinesh Bhajnik
quite bad for the automotive sector on than upsetting it in mid-corner, which is Administration Executive Roshni Bulsara
the whole; in fact, the auto industry did more dangerous. PUBLISHER Marzban Jasoomani
not suffer such an adverse effect during CEO Hoshang S Billimoria
I would like to wish all our readers a
the global meltdown in 2008 as it is happy and safe New Year. Please do not MARKETING HEAD OFFICE
Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd.
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It is again that time of the year where Head Circulation Manager Kapil Kaushik (North and East)
we recognize the outstanding cars that Subscription Supervisor Sachin Kelkar
Tel + 91 22 43525220
were manufactured between 1 December E-mail: [email protected]
2018 and 30 November 2019 as the car of Apple Newsstand & Magzter Queries:
[email protected]
WKH \HDU 7ZHQW\ FDUV TXDOLoHG WKLV Zinio Subscriptions Queries:
time for the ICOTY award. Those were http://in.zinio.com/help/index.jsp
then shortlisted to 11 and 10 actually REGIONAL MARKETING OFFICES
showed up for the jury round. The General Manager Operations Ellora Dasgupta (North and East)
Deputy General Manager Operations Chanchal Arora (North and East)
winner of the ICOTY award for 2020 is Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd.
the Hyundai Venue with 111 points. The 26-B, First Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase III,
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Kia Seltos came second with 102 points, Fax + 91 11 42326679
and the Renault Triber third with 56. General Manager Girish Shet (South)
Aspi Unit No. 509, 5th Floor ‘B’ Wing, Mittal Towers, MG Road,
In the premium segment it was more Bhathena Bengaluru 560001, India, Tel + 91 80 66110116/17
OLNH D %0: EHQHoW DZDUG ZLWK WKH Editor Cenetoph Elite, No.5, 1 street, Teynampet,
st
number of contenders they had in the Chennai 600018, India, Tel + 91 44 42108421/ 42175421
Ahmedabad Devendra Mehta
Member
premium category and it was the 3 Series Mem Tel + 91 9714913234
that won the award from the X5 and the Srinivas Gangula, Territory Sales Incharge (Circulation),
Hyderabad, India, Tel + 91 9000555756
Audi A6.
Vidyasagar Gupta, Territory Sales Incharge, (Circulation),
Kolkata 700035, India, Tel + 91 9804085683
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT Car India is a licensee product of Bauer Consumer Media Ltd., UK. Views
and opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of
Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd. Next Gen Publishing does not take
responsibility for returning unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other
material. All material published in Car India is copyright and no part of
UNLIKE OTHER AUTOMOBILE foreign junkets and gifts are rampant in the magazine may be reproduced in part or full without the express prior
magazines, Car India is devoted cent RUGHU WR ZLQ RYHU HGLWRULDO VWD ZH written permission of the publisher
per cent to CARs, SUVs and MUVs. strive hard to maintain our editorial Printed by Marzban Jasoomani
There are no bikes or commercial integrity and balance. Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd., Unit No 5&6, 1st Floor, B Wing,
vehicles to be found in Car India. Our emphasis is on bringing out a Trade World, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg,
Therefore, we have a very focused quality, information-packed issue Lower Parel (West). Mumbai - 400013
readership and also give our WKDW GRHV QRW UHO\ RQ PHUH ȴOOLQJ XS Published by Marzban Jasoomani
advertisers better bang for their buck! of pages. We are not in competition on behalf of Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd., Unit No 5&6, 1st Floor,
B Wing, Trade World, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg,
Our editorial team is passionate with magazines that are in a page Lower Parel (West). Mumbai - 400013
about cars. They live, drink, eat and count race. Printed at Kala Jyothi Process Pvt. Ltd,
breathe cars. This lends the crucial Finally, we never exchange advertising 1-1-60/5 RTCX Roads, Hyderabad - 20.
H[WUD WRXFK WR WKHLU HGLWRULDO HRUWV for good reviews. Just take a look at our Published at Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd.,
Unit No 5&6, 1st Floor, B Wing, Trade World,
Our editorial team is bound by a strict ‘Car of the Year Awards’ for the past Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg,
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PUBLISHING
6 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
Bulletin Automotive News
From All over the world
Aiming to Raize
the Benchmark
8 car india January 2020 www.carindia.in
The Toyota Raize is a sub-four-metre compact SUV that is
expected to touch base in India next year. The car is already
available in Japan from ¥1,679,000 (Rs 11 lakh, approx)
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earlier this year, was the base for the newly- SDUNLQJ VHQVRUV 5&7$ 5HYHUVH &URVV 7UDɝF
badged and recreated Toyota Raize to take Alert), blind-spot assistance in the mirrors,
shape. The sharp design cues make it stand hill-start assist, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control),
out as a thoroughly modern creation with a and TRC (Traction Control) are on the list.
bold front face putting the spotlight on the The engine in the Toyota Raize is the new
purposeful front grille and sharp LED lighting .5 9(7 D OLWUH WKUHH F\OLQGHU WXUER SHWURO
DQG ȵRZLQJ /(' WXUQ LQGLFDWRUV engine that produces 98 hp at 6,000 rpm and a
Size-wise, the Toyota Raize measures 3,995 peak torque of 140 Nm between 2,400 and
millimetres long, 1,695 mm wide, 1,620 mm 4,000 rpm. The standard transmission in Japan
high, with a wheelbase of 2,525 mm. Ground LV D &97 DXWRPDWLF ZLWK IURQW ZKHHO GULYH ZKLOH
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17-inch with 195-section tyres. The Z gets weight of the Raize is between 970 kg and
specially designed two-tone 17-inch alloy NJ &KRRVH D PLG OHYHO :' DQG WKDWȇV D
wheels with 195/60 R17 tyres. Single-tone healthy power-to-weight ratio of 101 hp/tonne.
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RQ RHU ¥1,679,000 (Rs 11.1 lakh) with the top-end Z
The interior of the Toyota Raize features a 4WD costing ¥2,282,200 (Rs 15 lakh approx).
modern cabin with a centre touchscreen /HWȇV ZDLW DQG VHH LI 7R\RWD EULQJ WKLV VHULRXVO\
LQWHUIDFH DQG VHYHUDO FRQQHFWLYLW\ RSWLRQV WR potent challenger to the bustling compact SUV
make life easier and more connected on the segment.
Raize: Your Style
There are several personalization
choices for buyers as well with
extensive styling and usable
accessories on the list for the Toyota
Raize. Entire accessory packages
Modellista
such as the Modellista and TRD are
Advance Blast
also available.
Premium TRD
www.carindia.in January 2020 CAR INDIA 9
Bulletin | News
| We Hear
Last 991 Rolls Off the Line
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was this 911 Speedster.
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cylinder turbo-petrol with 306 hp and
400 Nm, paired to a new 8G-DCT eight-
speed dual-clutch automatic with four-
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44 lakh, approx).
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about the motor that will power their
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with the 210-kW electric motor
capable of 286 hp and 400 Nm. With
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a range of 440 km.
Nissan GT-R 50 Sees
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production. The strictly limited edition will see only 50 cars made.
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The GT-R50 has the same legendary, hand-assembled VR38DETT
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estimated 720 hp at 7,100 rpm and 780 Nm of torque between 3,600
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For comparison, the stock Nissan GT-R makes 570 hp and 637 Nm
and costs US$ 113,540 (Rs 80 lakh, approx), whereas the GT-R Nismo,
with 600 hp and 652 Nm, costs US$ 210,540 (Rs 1.5 crore, approx).
Each GT-R50 will be bespoke and Italdesign will build no more than
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10 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
All-electric
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across the premium and luxury spectrum,
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high-capacity 54.3-kWh lithium-ion battery
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this year in select global markets.
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craftspeople, and engineers to make a car that makes its passengers feel as if they
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said that there is a transcendent beauty when the rose garden is in full bloom; the
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satin stitch creation. The Phantom Rose in the million-stitch Rolls Royce is
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roof lining, from the rear to the front. The custom embroidery spans the
headliner, doors, and dash. Rolls-Royce do not mention the time this project took
but it certainly is a piece of art.
www.carindia.in January 2020 CAR INDIA 11
Bulletin | News
| We Hear Hyundai Aura
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their new compact sedan, the Aura, set
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Dzire, Honda Amaze, Tata Tigor, and
Volkswagen Ameo.
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language to appeal to the younger
portion of the buyer spectrum. The Aura
certainly looks the part of a well-
proportioned compact sedan and is
based on the Grand i10 Nios. Under the
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more urban-use car with a more accessible DXWRPDWHG PDQXDO $07 7KH SHWURO ZLOO DOVR FRPH ZLWK IDFWRU\ &1* YDULDQWV
price tag thanks to a compact and light The Aura features an eight-inch touchscreen that supports both Android Auto and
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communicated their plans to increase prices
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frame, it would be free of charge. Premiere
Express Prime has been introduced in
%HQJDOXUX DQG ZLOO VRRQ EH LQWURGXFHG LQ
Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad.
12 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
Bulletin | News
Auto Expo 2020
THE AUTO EXPO 2020 WILL GIVE INDIAN BUSINESSES AND
consumers a chance to see what the
automotive world holds in store for the market
in the future.
Auto Expo – The Motor Show 2020 is set to
open from 7 to 12 February at the India Expo
Mart in Greater Noida, with an inauguration
ceremony scheduled to take place on 6
February. It is an event worth looking forward to because some
MG ZS EV manufacturers use this space to launch key models in their Indian
line-up. This year, the organizers have elected to run with the theme
Bookings Open “Explore the World of Mobility”, so it is fair to expect a large number
of eco-friendly motoring alternatives to the internal combustion
%RRNLQJV KDYH RSHQHG IRU WKH 0* =6 (9 0RUULV *DUDJHV 0* ȇV ȴUVW engine and just as many “connected” vehicles.
all-electric vehicle in India and second model in their line-up, for a Also on display will be the latest innovations in the safety and
token amount of Rs 50,000. emission departments as well. That said, the Auto Expo 2020 will
The ZS EV will be available in two variants: Excite and Exclusive. feature a lot of upcoming BS-VI vehicles. In addition to established
The Exclusive gets leather seats, a dual-pane sunroof, rain-sensing brands and key stakeholders in the Indian automotive market, we
wipers, and six speakers. The ZS EV added another feather to its cap may also expect to see a large number of start-ups.
E\ DFKLHYLQJ D ȴYH VWDU UDWLQJ LQ WKH (XUR 1&$3 VDIHW\ DVVHVVPHQW When planning a visit, please note that the Auto Expo this year will
Motive force comes from a 105-kW permanent magnet have six “special” days, namely, Enterprise Day, Goodwill Day, Family
synchronous electric motor that produces a healthy 143 hp and 353 Day, Women Power Day, Green Day, and Driving Experience Day. On
Nm. The compact SUV draws power from a 44.5-kWh battery located 7 February, the Expo begins from 11.00 am and continues until 7.00
XQGHU WKH UHDU VHDW Ȅ ZLWKRXW WDNLQJ XS WRR PXFK FDELQ RU VWRUDJH pm, whereas on the other days it will go on until 8.00 pm.
space. MG claim that the battery can be fully charged within six to
eight hours.
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20 lakh when the ZS EV is launched this month. There will also be a
VSHFLDO SULFLQJ RHU IRU WKH ȴUVW FXVWRPHUV
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Eco Retreat Festival
in Odisha
THE MARINE DRIVE ECO RETREAT FESTIVAL IS SET ON THE
Ramchandi Beach in Odisha. The festival, begun on 14 December
2019, will come to an end on 14 January 2020.
Odisha is known for being one of the most scenic places in India
Big Boy Toyz Now in and is also referred to as “India’s Best Kept Secret”. This title is owing
to the unique culture, cuisine, views, and being the majestic place
Hyderabad WKDW LW LV 7KH 0DULQH 'ULYH (FR 5HWUHDW )HVWLYDO RHUV WKH EHVW RI
adventure, art, and food. The festival will be one to witness, with
major New Year celebrations and a luxurious experience in the midst
WELL-KNOWN PREMIUM PRE-OWNED LUXURY CAR DEALERS, BIG of nature. Apart from all the activities at the festival, the camping and
Boy Toyz, who started operations in 2009 and currently have local sightseeing will surely leave visitors with some splendid
showrooms in Mumbai and Delhi, are all set to open their third memories.
GHDOHUVKLS WKLV WLPH LQ +\GHUDEDG 7KLV ZLOO EH %LJ %R\ 7R\]ȇV ȴUVW The various activities around the festival include parasailing,
ever multi-brand showroom in south India. SDUDPRWRULQJ $79 ULGHV ULȵH VKRRWLQJ DUFKHU\ MHW VNLLQJ EDQDQD
The new dealership, to be located in the upmarket area of the boats, speed boats, bicycles, and beach volleyball. Apart from all
Shangri-La Plaza, spans 5,900 sq ft. According to the pre-owned high- these adventurous activities, there will also be a Food Festival, Flea
end car dealer, Hyderabad makes up about 40 per cent of the total Market, Cultural Shows, and Music Concerts. The camping experience
revenue generated from the southern market currently and Big Boy will be one to remember with amenities such as spa by the sea, an
Toyz expect to generate an additional Rs 80-90 crore from LWLQHUDU\ WKDW RHUV WKH EHVW RI 2GLVKD GHOHFWDEOH FXLVLQH DQ
Hyderabad itself. adventure for the adrenaline rush, and vibrant cultural evenings.
14 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
Bulletin | Launches
Honda City i-VTEC BS-VI
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showroom).
The Honda City is, and has been for a while, among the most
popular sedans in India. The latest update sees the petrol powertrain
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cylinder petrol engine continues to produce 119 hp and 145 Nm.
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VHDPOHVV VPDUWSKRQH FRQQHFWLYLW\ WKURXJK $SSOH &DU3OD\ DQG
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handsfree telephony and audio, and wireless infrared remote.
7KHUH KDYH EHHQ QR RWKHU FKDQJHV LQ HTXLSPHQW DQG YDULDQW
VWUXFWXUH 7KH &LW\ LV VWLOO DYDLODEOH LQ D WRWDO RI VHYHQ SHWURO YDULDQWV Mahindra XUV300 BS-VI Petrol
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pricing is between Rs 10.12 lakh and Rs 14.58 lakh (ex-showroom).
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of Rs 8.30 lakh to Rs 11.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
7KH 0DKLQGUD ;89 LV DYDLODEOH ZLWK D OLWUH WKUHH F\OLQGHU
turbo-petrol engine making 110 hp and 200 Nm of peak torque. The
petrol engine is paired to a six-speed manual transmission and is
IURQW ZKHHO GULYHQ
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statutory timeline of 1 April 2020. As such, the diesel powertrains are
also expected to be upgraded with updated emission control tech in
the near future.
Jaguar XE
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daytime lights and signature Hi-Line tail-light clusters with animated
directional indicators. Gone are the Pure, Prestige, and Portfolio
trims and in come the S and SE.
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Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, air quality sensor, Connected
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turbo-petrol with 250 hp and 365 Nm or a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel with
180 hp and 430 Nm.
Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 VXi+
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from the addition of the SmartPlay Studio with a 7.0-inch
touchscreen infotainment system inside. This is in addition to power
steering, front power windows, remote keyless entry, a remote fuel
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The Alto 800 continues with the 796-cc, three-cylinder petrol
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16 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
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launched in GLC 200 petrol and GLC 220 d 4MATIC diesel guises at Rs
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7KH QHZ */& FRPELQHV RXWVWDQGLQJ RQ DQG R URDG GULYLQJ
characteristics with space, practicality, and comfort. The main
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DQG %6 9Ζ HQJLQHV D KS OLWUH WXUER SHWURO DQG WKH QHZ KS
2.0-litre turbo-diesel, both paired to the nine-speed automatic. The
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([SHULHQFH PXOWLPHGLD V\VWHP ZLWK LQWXLWLYH DQG YHUVDWLOH RSHUDWLQJ Volvo XC40 T4 R-Design
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220 d 4MATIC on page 92 of this issue.
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with the R-Design trim getting a dual-tone paint scheme. Elements
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system with a dash-mounted woofer, panoramic sunroof, wireless
charging, dual-zone climate control, instrument cluster with a 9.0-
inch multi-info-display touchscreen, distance alert, as well as rear and
front park assist.
Porsche Cayenne Coupé
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but gets a more athletic body style. The steeper roof-line makes it appear more
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the Sport Chrono Package as standard. The interior includes eight-way adjustable
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12.3-inch centre touchscreen.
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340 hp and 450 Nm, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just six seconds Michelin Energy XM2+
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4.0-litre, V8 biturbo petrol with 550 hp and 770 Nm of peak torque. The Turbo can
been introduced in India from Rs 5,090.
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substantial. Michelin claim the tyre will perform like
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will not just last longer, for up to 1.25 lakh kilometres,
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many as 30 sizes for wheel rim diameters ranging
from 12 to 16 inches – the majority of the subcompact,
compact, premium hatchbacks, sub-four-metre
sedans and compact SUVs, MUVs, and sedans.
:H WRRN SDUW LQ WKH 0LFKHOLQ (QHUJ\ ;0 WHVW LQ
Chennai. Read all about it on page 62 of this issue.
www.carindia.in January 2020 CAR INDIA 17
Your Views WEBSITE: www.carindia.in S.No. 261/G.L.R.No. 5,
POST: CAR INDIA MAGAZINE
TWITTER: @carindia
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/carindia
East Street, Camp, Pune 411001. INDIA
INSTAGRAM: carindia_mag
EMAIL: [email protected]
LETTER OF
THE MONTH
Will Such Changes Affect
Warranty?
After reading your review of the Kia Seltos
and driving the car myself, I decided to go
ahead and book it. I am a part-time DJ and a
huge music fan. I love listening to my songs
while driving. Since I am into EDM music, I
wanted to add some extra bass to the sound
system to make it better. I was thinking of
DGGLQJ D SRZHU DPSOLoHU XSJUDGLQJ WKH
speakers, and getting a pair of subwoofers too. Suggest Suitable test-drive in each should help you make up
However, one of my friends said that all those Alternatives your mind.
changes would render the warranty of the car First of all, I want to say that I enjoy your
null and void. Is that true? Will adding a new travel stories very much. There have been Auto Expo as Scheduled?
sound system adversely affect the car’s so many coming in and they are I am an 18-year-old from Ajmer and I am a
warranty? Please advise me. awesome! Your photography team has huge automotive fan. I was very excited by
Kushal Rao, by email been creating some excellent clicks; so, WKH SURVSHFW RI DWWHQGLQJ P\ oUVW $XWR ([SR
kudos to them too. in February 2020, but I recently read a news
Hello, Kushal, Now to my question. I have been the item which said that it might be postponed.
Congratulations on your new acquisition! owner of a Maruti Swift for the past 10 Can you please clarify if the Expo is going to
We can completely relate to your love for years and I love that car. However, it is happen or not? My friends and I are
music and your desire to have a great system high time I went for a new one. Initially, I planning a road trip to attend it. I hope we
in the car. However, most manufacturers will was inclined to just go and buy the latest don’t have to cancel our plan. Please do let
void the warranty if wires are cut and the version of the Swift, but then I thought me know.
wiring harness is altered in any way. Please why not see what else is on offer in that Amar Lal, Ajmer
consult your dealer for more information range? So, can you tell me which other
regarding this, for they may have the cars I should look at when thinking of Dear Amar,
components you want as part of their own buying the Swift? Don’t worry, the 2020 Auto Expo will be
FHUWLoHG DFFHVVRULHV FDWDORJXH Sandesh R, via social media held as scheduled. The news reports you came
across referred to quotes from the Society of
Hello, Sandesh, Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)
Thank you very much. Your appreciation who are the organizing body of the Expo.
for our work is heartening and we have They said they were contemplating pushing
conveyed it to our photographers as well. the Expo back by a year due to the slowdown
To answer your question, you may look at LQ WKH DXWR PDUNHW EXW KDYH VLQFH FRQoUPHG
the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, the Ford that they would carry on as scheduled. So,
Figo, and the Volkswagen Polo as you may go ahead with your plans. Have a
alternatives to the Maruti Suzuki Swift. A safe trip.
18 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
Car Sales | Analysis
UPS :H FRPSLOH DQG DQDO\VH VDOHV GDWD WR ȨQG TOP 10
ANDDOWNS
the most popular cars of the month past
Bestsellers
of November 2019
MARUTI SUZUKI October 19,401 units -0.45%
Swift November 19,314 units
MARUTI SUZUKI October 16,237units +11.14%
Baleno November 18,047 units
MARUTI SUZUKI October 19,569 units -9.76%
Dzire November 17,659 units
MARUTI SUZUKI October 17,903 units -15.73%
Alto November 15,086 units
MARUTI SUZUKI October 14,359 units +2.03%
WagonR November 14,650 units
KIA October 12,854 units +8.95%
Seltos November 14,005 units
MARUTI SUZUKI October 10,227 units +17.66%
Vitara Brezzaa November 12,033 units
a
MARUTI SUZUKI October 10,634 units +5.51%
S-presso November 11,220 units
HYUNDAI October 14,683 units -28.86%
Elite i20 November 10,446 units
HYUNDAI Grand October 9,873 units +3.17%
i10 NIOS November 10,186 units
Top Five SUVs Top Five Sedans
KIA October 12,854 units MARUTI SUZUKIZUKI October 19,569 units
Seltos November 14,005 units +8.95% Dzire November 17,659 units -9.76%
MARUTI SUZUKI October 10,227 units HONDA October 5,134 units
Vitara Brezza November 12,033 units +17.66% Amaze November 3,286 units -36.00%
HYUNDAI October 8,576 units HYUNDAI October 2,174 units
Venue November 9,665 units +12.7% Verna November 2,010 units -7.54%
HYUNDAI October 7,269 units HYUNDAI October 1,388 units Autopunditz
Creta November 6,684 units -8.05% Xcent November 1,612 units +16.14%
MAHINDRA October 5,884 units HONDA October 1,887 units
Bolero November 5,127 units -12.87% City November 1,500 units -20.51% Source:
www.carindia.in January 2020 CAR INDIA 19
T he Critic | Gavin Green
Fuel Cells Are the Future:
Predictions for the 2020s
01 Electric cars will grow in popularity, of course. Our 11 No Chinese car brand will succeed in the West.
legislators demand it. But they will not sell as well as car-
makers and law-makers hope, as they’re less convenient and 12 Apple, Google, Amazon, and other Silicon Valley stars
cost more. So, motorists will keep their old high-polluting will – like Dyson – not make cars. The profit margins and risks
petrol and diesel cars for longer. are too great. Instead, they will partner with car-makers to
license and develop software.
02 The vast majority of new cars sold at the end of the 2020s
will still have petrol engines, although many will be hybrids. 13 Very few, if any, new EV start-ups will succeed. In 10 years,
the industry will still be dominated by the big car-makers that
03 Forcing people to pay more for “clean” EVs and restricting rule today — expect more mergers and partnerships, though.
the urban movements of combustion-engine cars will cause Tesla is an exception. Despite its many Wall Street sceptics, it
unrest; look at the gilets jaunes. will survive and prosper and be America’s most important and
successful car-maker of the new decade.
04 Hydrogen fuel cells will be the electric future, more than
heavy plug-in batteries. 14 Car sales in the West will decline due to the increased
popularity of Über, vehicle sharing, and far fewer people
05 There will be many environmental and human rights buying cars in cities.
scares about building and sourcing materials for electric car
batteries. Expect a “Panorama” on child labour extracting 15 Formula 1 will decline in popularity. So will all mainstream
cobalt in the Congo. motor sport, including rallying. Fewer car-makers will support
motor sport, deeming it increasingly irrelevant.
06 Plug-in hybrids will become much more popular,
especially for big vehicles. They’re perfect for car-makers 16 Electric motor racing will never become popular. Trying to
to meet tough official CO2 targets and for those who wish blend contrived eco-friendliness and motor sport is as
to drive an “electric” car but who don’t want to relinquish illogical as rugby without toughness. When did you last
their 2.5-tonne SUVs. Never mind that with their big watch touch rugby? Or a Formula E race?
manufacturing carbon footprints, massive weight, and
frequent use of petrol power, they’re mostly ecological 17 Older cars will become more popular, especially for keen
disasters. drivers and car enthusiasts, as modern cars become
electronic consumer goods.
07 Nissan and Toyota will close their UK factories, following
Honda. Brexit dooms them. But they probably would have 18 Fully autonomous cars won’t arrive this decade, despite
gone anyway. brave noises from some engineers. They may never happen.
However, new semi-autonomous technologies will greatly
08 After almost 30 years of growth, kick-started by the improve road safety.
arrival of the Japanese, the UK car industry will decline.
However, the UK will become a global leader in low-carbon 19 Supercars will continue to be built and bought by wealthy
technologies. collectors, rich peacocks, and affluent car enthusiasts. The
biggest growth will be powerful plug-in hybrids. Expect far
09 Germany’s car industry will decline, too. As cars become more pure electric supercars, too. Smooth and powerful
increasingly electrical and software-controlled, so Germany’s electric motors and precise electronically controlled torque
pre-eminence in mechanical engineering becomes less vectoring to all four wheels should deliver an extraordinary
important. driving experience. These cars will become increasingly
unused on the road. Plus, the absurd horsepower/top speed
10 US, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean suppliers will benefit arms race of today will stop (hallelujah!).
from the electric car revolution, at the expense of Europe.
Nearly all EV batteries and many components are sourced 20 Legislators will finally realise that it’s not just tailpipe
from Asia, mostly China. Currently, 40 per cent of the added emissions that matter environmentally. So, two-tonne-plus
value of an EV goes straight to Asia. behemoths, even when electric powered, will be targeted.
20 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
AWARDS 2020
AWARDS 2020
Recognising the best
in the Indian automotive industry
Emission Zero
Mirai-culous Rebirth
The all-new Toyota Mirai takes a more modern and luxurious, if not more
conventional, shape to make its next big move forward
Story: Jim Gorde Photography: Toyota
T HE TOYOTA MIRAI WAS THE
first production hydrogen fuel cell
electric vehicle (FCEV) from the
Japanese major and one of the first in
the world to be available to order when
it arrived in 2015. In whatever limited
numbers it sold, dotting landscapes — I spotted one in
Germany — it looked futuristic and ahead of its time;
almost like an evolution of the Prius, both in design and
principle. The all-new Mirai, previewed as a concept
model at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show and at the Los
Angeles Auto Show, is the car that will take the brand
into the future; a cleaner and more efficient future.
The new Mirai has been reimagined and completely
redesigned. It not only features smooth, curvaceous,
and rather sporty styling, but also boosts its efficient
performance even more with the promise of significantly
greater range, improved driving performance, and better
More cabin space
passenger comfort and cabin space. It’s now 4,975
and even more tech
millimetres long and has a wheelbase of 2,920 mm.
22 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
The Mirai is built on the premium rear-wheel-drive
TNGA (Toyota Next Gen Architecture) platform, one Beyond Mobility: FC Generator
that was engineered from the outset to accommodate
Toyota’s full range of powertrains, including hydrogen Toyota and Toyota Energy Solutions, Inc
fuel cells. The modular platform gives the Mirai have jointly developed a stationary fuel
Concept a higher degree of body rigidity, contributing cell generator (FC generator) that makes
to greater agility and responsiveness, and a lower centre use of the Mirai’s fuel cell system. It has
of gravity, which makes for more nimble and rewarding been installed within the Honsha Plant
handling characteristics. grounds in Toyota City and verification
tests have already commenced.
The interior of the new Mirai sees a 12.3-inch screen
The FC generator uses two of each
on the centre console and a driver-focused instrument
system component equipped in the
panel that provides a simple yet modern ambience
Mirai, including its fuel cell stack, power
with an air of warmth and comfort. Thanks to the fuel
control unit, and secondary battery. By using these components, Toyota seek
cell system configuration in the TNGA platform, the to produce a high-performance generator at a reasonable price.
new car allows for five seats instead of the current For the verification tests, the electricity generated by the FC generator will
Mirai’s four. be used inside the Honsha Plant. The generator will operate continuously for
Underneath, the Mirai has also been further 24 hours a day and generate a rated output of 100 kW. The energy efficiency ―
improved, with its fuel cell system performance and the amount of electricity it generates per unit of hydrogen, the stability of the
hydrogen storage capacity both seeing an increase. generated output, and the durability and ease of maintenance of the generator
These changes allow it to travel as much as 30 per cent ― will be verified and evaluated.
more on a single fill-up. While no official numbers have
been disclosed, the previous car had a 113-kW electric
motor, capable of 153 hp and 335 Nm, a sealed 34-cell
nickel-metal hydride battery, and two high-pressure
hydrogen tanks for a total storage of 122 litres which
offered a range of about 500 km.
The improvements in the fuel cell system allow for
more than just increased range. They also offer a
smoother, more linear response when driving away,
with better cohesion between pedal input and
acceleration. The handling characteristics aim to be
light and easy on winding roads, with an exceptional
sense of power at all speeds when on the highway.
The new Mirai is scheduled for launch towards the
end of this year and will be initially offered in Japan,
North America, and Europe.
www.carindia.in January 2020 CAR INDIA 23
Travelogue | Kia Seltos Tiger Trails – I
24 car india January 2020 www.carindia.in
The top-selling SUV with the unique tiger nose grille take a trip
to the natural habitat of the animal: Tadoba Tiger Reserve
Story: Sarmad Kadiri Photography: Sanjay Raikar
www.carindia.in January 2020 CAR INDIA 25
Travelogue | Kia Seltos Tiger Trails – I
The tiger-inspired design is
working wonders for the brand
globally and even in India
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night; The largest Asian
antelope, nilgai, poses
What immortal hand or eye, for the shutterbugs
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
William Blake’s “The Tyger”, arguably one of the most famous poems written in the 1700s,
comes to mind every time there is a reference to the majestic beast. Thus, it comes as no surprise
when we decided to drive the Kia Seltos and go for a Tiger Trail in India.
To give a little background, over a decade ago, Kia Motors hired a globally acclaimed designer to
give their cars a distinct identity, one that’s instantly recognisable and leaves a lasting impression.
The legendary designer came up with the striking “tiger nose” grille which beautifully narrows
down at the centre as if the designer has pinched the grille to impersonate the fearless face of a
tiger. This signature element has been a turning point for the brand since then, with the Korean
car-maker creating waves in the automobile industry by
introducing some of the most spectacular designs and
stunning concepts. On the way out of Pune, we picked up a few friends from the airport and
Our obvious destination for the tiger nose grille was soon were driving towards Ahmednagar and drove past it before the city
to take it to the natural habitat of the animal: a Tiger woke up. Starting early is a great idea for a road trip because you not just
Reserve. Our first destination was the famous Tadoba- avoid traffic and cover more distance, but it is also safer as you get to drive
Andhari Tiger Reserve which is Maharashtra’s oldest longer during the daylight. I plugged my phone to Kia’s infotainment
and largest national park and has a high frequency of system and the Apple CarPlay made life super easy. My calls and messages
tiger sightings. The usual route via Solapur is close to were all a click of a button away. And so was the navigation system as it
850 km, but since we had tested and were impressed by synced seamlessly my smartphone with the car’s 10.25-inch touchscreen.
the Seltos’ performance and driveability, we decided to Our drive for the next couple of hours was brisk as the location arrow on
go through Aurangabad, which is a shorter route but the map of the massive colour display inched rapidly closer towards
known for some challenging sections. Aurangabad. The 1.5-litre VGT diesel is one of the finest in the business
We started from Pune in the wee hours. On the dark, because it is refined, efficient, and, most importantly, is BS VI-compliant.
empty roads, the Seltos’ bright Crown Jewel LED The oil-burner feels effortless to drive and is free from the turbo-lag diesel
headlamps appeared like the glowing eyes of a beast on engines are usually prone to. When slowing down to negotiate bad
the prowl and even made a few scared strays run for cover. patches of roads or going over speed-breakers, I didn’t need to go through
7KH .LD V KDQGVRPH IDFH JUDEV \RXU DWWHQWLRQ DW oUVW the entire six-speed gearbox since most of the 250 Nm of torque is
glance and, as you realize the connection with the majestic available right from 1,500 rpm.
wild cat, it is bound to leave you with a lasting impression. Moreover, the suspension set-up of the Seltos ensures a great balance
26 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
Tadoba-
Andhari
Tiger Reserve
With a total area of about 1,727 sq
km, the National Park has over 60
tigers. Local tribals believe that King
Tadu fought with a tiger with
bare hands and there is a
dedicated temple to
honour him. From the
folk-tale of Tadu came
And that’s what
100 per cent the name Tadoba.
cotton looks like Besides tigers, the
reserve is home to sloth
bear, leopard, Indian
gaur, wild boar, and
even black leopard.
Common sighting
A bird-watcher’s includes sambar, barking
paradise with about deer, cheetal, nilgai and
195 species
pangolin. The bamboo
thickets spread throughout
the reserve give Tadoba a
distinct look and there are
close to 195 species of birds.
Though it depends purely on luck,
tiger sightings are more
frequently reported during
summers, but be prepared
The rather shy sloth for the heat and
bear didn’t seem to humidity.
mind our company
KIA SELTOS 1.5 CRDI
Engine: 1,493 cc, in-line four, turbo-diesel
Max Power: 115 hp at 4,000 rpm
Max Torque: 250 Nm 1,500-2,750 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed, manual,
front-wheel drive
Suspension: MacPherson strut front,
coupled torsion beam axle rear
Fuel efficiency:
21 km/l (claimed)
Close friends, langur and spotted
deer alert each other on seeing a
tiger and share food too
www.carindia.in January 2020 CAR INDIA 27
Travelogue | Kia Seltos Tiger Trails – I
Tigers
Connect
The tiger is an integral part of Indian
heritage for centuries now ― from the fearless
aide of Goddess Durga to becoming the symbol of
bravery. The government’s “Project Tiger” initiative
to conserve our national animal started with just nine
and has now grown to 50. In fact, India is the biggest
home of these big cats with about 70 per cent
of the global tiger population.
between sporty handling and passenger comfort. A quick look at the rear-
The Lesser Adjutant view mirror and I spotted my friends sleeping like babies with the
Stork are one of the
largest birds in Tadoba adjustable rear seat reclined even further back. Unaware of the torturous
section of tarmac I was wrestling with, they were making most of the comfy
seats, rear a-c vents, and, not to forget, the in-built air-purifier. Amused by
the sight, I turned up the volume of the Bose music system to remain
focused and wide awake and kept marching ahead. We had been on the
road for nearly 15 hours — driving, scouting for locations, completing the
photoshoot, and the usual food breaks. It was time to call it a day as we
rolled in to our hotel in Yavatmal. I wasn’t as tired as I expected to be after a
hard day of driving, so, after a refreshing shower, we were out for dinner to
try some local cuisine.
The next day, we started early to be able to reach Tadoba in time for our
pre-booked afternoon safari. The sporty suspension and peppy motor kept
the drive entertaining. We could comfortably maintain three-digit speeds on
the highway which had acres and acres of cotton fields. Dot on lunchtime,
we rolled in at White House Farm and were greeted by our host at the
entrance. After some lip-smacking food, we hopped into the safari vehicle
and went on our mission to find some tigers in the wild while the Kia took a
break for the day.
As you can imagine, tiger reserves are cordoned off with walls and fences
and the forest department keeps tight surveillance to keep poachers away.
Every morning the gates to the forest and core area are opened to public. We
entered Tadoba through the Kolara gate where most of the sightings have
been reported of late. We drove past what looked like an abandoned village
and Tulsi, our guide for the safari, explained that the area is called Jaamui
which is one of the four villages that have been shifted out of the core area.
Wildlife enthusiast, Indranil The government provides not just new land but also offers compensation to
Mukherjee hosted us and the villagers. It’s a noble idea to protect people and wildlife. There are still a
shared interesting first-hand couple of more villages inside Tadoba Tiger Reserve and just the thought of
trivia on tigers and Tadoba
spending one night there is frightening for a city dweller like me.
28 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
the wild, one realizes how truly agile and powerful it is.
Herd of gaur or No wonder the Kia designers were awestruck by the
Indian bison enjoy
their mid-day snack tiger and have brilliantly recreated the aura on their
cars like the Seltos.
This has been one of the most thrilling road trips for me.
Our search for the tiger has been a successful one and it’s
an experience that can’t be expressed in words. The
problem is that you’ll probably get hooked on to it and will
keep coming back for more. And with such a comfortable,
safe and capable car like the Kia Seltos as my companion,
I plan to drive to yet another tiger reserve and learn more
DERXW WKLV PDJQLoFHQW EHDVW :LVK PH OXFN
Driving through the forest is a surreal experience. The woods
echoed with the sound of birds, insects, monkeys, and deer. Spotted An edgy sambar
deer is wary of the
deer, grey langur, and sambar deer posed for our camera, while there camera clicks
was an alligator basking in the sun without a care in the world. The
Giant Wood spiders and their massive web seemed straight of out
Jumanji. Tulsi pointed out an Arjun tree which had deep claw marks
right till the top. The sloth bear climbs this tree to gorge on honey and
thus the claw marks.
We drove deeper into the jungle and, to our surprise, spotted a large,
black ball of fur just off the unpaved path. A sloth bear! The rather shy
animal didn’t seem to mind our company as it continued to sniff out its
favourite roots. This was a bit of a consolation, as the mighty tiger still
remained elusive.
We soaked in the sounds, sights, and smell of the forest. This is as
close to nature as one can be. Just as we were giving up hope, a steak of
flaming orange emerged from behind the trees. Like intruders in its
territory, all of us froze as the tiger took confident strides like an
undisputed king. What a spectacular sight! Seeing this regal creature in
www.carindia.in January 2020 CAR INDIA 29
Feature | ICOTY 2020
Setting
Benchmarks
30 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
Some of Indias best journalists came together to judge
the most prestigious awards in the Indian automotive
industry — the ‘Indian Car of the Year’
Story: Azaman Chothia
www.carindia.in January 2020 CAR INDIA 31
Feature | ICOTY 2020
Dr Raghupati Singhania
presents the ICOTY award
for the Hyundai Venue to
S.S. Kim, MD & CEO,
Hyundai Motor India Limited
I ndia’s finest ceremony since its inception. Maruti suzuki s-Presso and Wagon R,
auto journalists
this year, iCOtY partnered with
MG Hector, nissan Kicks, tata Harrier,
presented the indian
and the Renault triber. each one of these
Grant thornton, who were the official
Car of the Year
award validation partners. the jury
cars had something unique in its segment
(iCOtY) for 2020, the
most prestigious award members cast their votes at the Buddh and points were awarded on the basis of
the aforementioned parameters by the
international Circuit (BiC) after which
of our country’s the scoring sheets were collected by members of the iCOtY jury.
automobile industry. this year the Grant thornton representatives. the the results were revealed at the award
iCOtY was won by the Hyundai Venue, points were calculated by Grant thornton ceremony held on the evening of 18
while the BMW 3 series won the and this ensured secrecy until the december. the event witnessed an
“Premium Car award 2020”. announcement of the awards. there were impressive turnout, with the
every year reputed journalists from various parameters while deciding such managements of different manufacturers
various automobile publications come as pricing, relevance, and raising the bar all eager to know who had won the
together to judge, analyse, and share their in the segment. the jury members cast indian Car of the Year 2020. dr
thoughts on the various cars that have their votes keeping all these factors in Raghupati singhania, Chairman &
been launched over the past year. the mind. Managing director, JK tyre & industries
15th edition of the iCOtY awards and the cars that had been shortlisted and Ltd, and Yogendra Pratap opened the
the second year of the “Premium Car were thus the contenders for the iCOtY envelope and announced the winner of
award” were supported by JK tyre who award were the Hyundai Grand i10 nios the iCOtY 2020: Hyundai Venue. in
have been sponsoring the grand award and Venue, Kia seltos, Honda Civic, second place was the Kia seltos, while the
32 car india January 2020 www.carindia.in
Jury members got some
good track time with the
line-up of the premium cars
contending for the award.
JURY
Auto Today
Yogendra Pratap & Rahul Ghosh
AutoX
Dhruv Behl & Ishan Raghava
Car India
Aspi Bhathena & Sarmad Kadiri
Evo India
Sirish Chandran & A. Rangnekar
Motoring World
Pablo Chaterji & Kartik Ware
Rudratej Singh, MD & CEO, BMW India and Pallavi Singh, Marketing
Overdrive Director at BMW India being presented with the “Premium Car
Bertrand D’souza & Rohit Paradkar Award” for the BMW 3 Series by Dr Raghupati Singhania
The Hindu Business Line
Muralidhar Swaminathan
Renault Triber came third. The BMW 3 close call between the BMW X5 and the
CarWale
Series won the “Premium Car Award”, BMW 3 Series. The BMW 3 Series won the
Vikrant Singh
followed by the BMW X5 and the Audi A6 award with 105 points, just three points
in second and third place respectively. ahead of the BMW X5.
The Pioneer
Kushan Mitra The Hyundai Venue won the award with The Hyundai Venue, launched in May
111 points, ahead of the Kia Seltos (102 2019, has become the choice for many who
Automotive
Girish Karkera points) and the Renault Triber (56 points). are looking for a compact SUV and has sold
As for the “Premium Car Award”, there was a over 95,000 units to date.
www.carindia.in January 2020 CAR INDIA 33
Travelogue | Toyota Innova Crysta to Badami
The Historic
Trio
We travel to three historic sites to showcase
what a wonderful family outing can be like
Story: Zal Cursetji Photography: Saurabh Botre
H istory. it is a subject that is likely to
hold little or no interest for the youngsters these days.
since that is a troubling thought, we decided to visit a
historic site that does not find mention very often. Three
historic sites, in fact, located within a radius of about 40
kilometres from one another: Badami, Aihole, and
Pattadakal in karnataka. however, we decided to start
from Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana and over 400 kilometres away.
Well, how did we get there?
We chose the brilliant Toyota Innova Crysta for this trip and were
thankful for our choice. the innova crysta is a good friend and a
dependable companion on such a journey. That superb engine and equally
amazing comfort are all you will ever need and yet toyota have thrown in a one’s surroundings. Factor in toyota’s legendary
few more things to make the day a lot brighter. We will talk about these reliability and, all in all, the innova crysta is the
things along the way. perfect car for a family outing.
Back to Badami, Aihole, and Pattadakal. We were to stay at Badami and would be passing
The journey to the old town was quite pleasant. The roads for the most both the other places on our way there, giving us an
part were single-lane highways and, even though a little scary at times, did idea of what we would see the next day. on arrival in
not create much problem for us. In addition, the Toyota Innova Crysta is an Badami just after sunset, we wondered where we would
apt car when considering comfort, safety, and performance too. The Innova stay. Since this was a weekend trip and we wanted to
has been a tremendously successful car for a number of reasons such as its showcase the journey as a family, our intention was to
ease of use. Tight lanes were not a problem at all for the Innova. Its power find a family-oriented hotel which would happily cater
steering and tight turning radius help manoeuvre through the tiny lanes we to mothers, fathers, and their little ones. After making a
came by. Seat seven or eight, the car will still pull like a dream on the dozen calls to places that were already booked, we
highway making those large family trips a breeze. In addition, bad roads finally came upon Krishna Heritage Resort. On arrival
were eaten up by the vehicle without any fuss, thanks to its high ground we found that the hotel fit the bill to a tee. We took two
clearance and overall rugged build. The Innova also sports one of the best adjacent rooms and, after a very nice dinner, were
rear view mirrors and camera in its category with a crystal-clear view of happily tucked in for the night.
36 car india January 2020 www.carindia.in
Badami sure is a
stunning place that
surrounds Agastya Lake
www.carindia.in January 2020 car india 37
Travelogue | Toyota Innova Crysta to Badami
Badami
Badami is a small yet bustling town which was very evident the next
morning. It was a Sunday and there were people selling their wares at every
corner, prices being yelled out at the top of their voice. It was all hustle and
bustle. We continued to move slowly through this throng of vendors until
we reached the gates of the majestic Badami, Chalukya capital with their
beautiful temples. Selected as one of the historic cities in India, this place
was magnificent. Agastya Lake lay right in the middle, surrounded by
temples and caves at one end. These trace their origin to between AD 540
and AD 757, when the town was the capital. This protected land is quite a
place to see. As we walked around, we saw tourists taking pictures of the
surrounding temples. The local people were very helpful. Incidentally,
Badami boasts of an average literacy rate of nearly 65 per cent. Quite
impressive, considering the literacy rate is high amongst women too. A visit
to this place is a must for anyone interested in history.
Our time there was short, though, for we had two more places to visit.
therefore, soon we were back in the toyota and headed towards aihole.
Aihole
This beautiful place is now a small village surrounded by farm land and
hills. It is a site of monuments, Buddhist, Jain, but mainly Hindu. The place
has a huge number of monuments, over 120, that are spread over a vast area.
There are a number of different types of temples and shrines and it is said
that the architecture of this area spread to the monuments in Pattadakal.
Once again, we saw a number of beautiful Chalukya monuments. The
temples here are dedicated to Hindu deities like Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu,
and Durga. These were built from the fourth century onwards right until the
12th century.
Aihole is situated in
the middle and has a
small village that
surrounds the place
38 car india January 2020 www.carindia.in
We found a lovely
little cave on the way
in-between locations
Pattadakal
Pattadakal or Pattadakallu has Hindu and Jain temples and is an official
UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also a protected site under the Indian
law. As you enter, you come across a large lawn that leads you to the temples
at the far end. These are big temples and are generally Hindu with a few Jain
monuments too. Some of these temples, like the Virupaksha temple, are still
frequented by the devotees for worship and are in good repair.
All these three places open up magnificent historical vistas with their amazing
architecture and culture. For us, however, now it was time to get back into our
trusted Toyota Innova Crysta and drive back to Hyderabad. I cannot praise the car
enough for the comfort, safety, and performance that it offers. It had four people
aboard with all our bags and equipment and never once did it cause us the slightest
concern. Even when the roads got a bit bad and steep the Innova showed no
problems whatsoever.
The well known reliable engine sent enough oomph to the rear wheels
helping the car to get us through thick and thin. Not to forget that the car
does all this while we sit behind a very pretty dashboard on plush seats that
add to the spoken off comfort, also knowing that in case plans warp, we have
airbags draped around us. I counted seven. Impressive. The Toyota Innova
Crysta also has a very high resale value, which adds a bit more love to the car
that isn’t the most expensive to buy in the first place. In the end I would say
that if you would like to take the family out on a vacation by road, do it in a
toyota innova crysta.
Pattadakal is a very well
maintained place which
sees a number of visitors
throughout the day
www.carindia.in January 2020 car india 39
Road Test | Hyundai Elantra 2.0 AT
Lifting
Spirits
The all-new Hyundai Elantra has come to
our shores and it sure looks like it’s lifted a
lot of styling elements from some serious
big names. However, does the way it
goes feel as interesting as it looks?
Story: Jim Gorde Photography: Saurabh Botre
40 car india January 2020 www.carindia.in
www.carindia.in January 2020 car india 41
Road Test | Hyundai Elantra 2.0 AT
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petrol engine and two choices of transmission: a six- hairs seemingly locked on the sport-luxury segment and, with competition
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42 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
and has a soft and smooth haptic feel to
it. The secondary information console,
directly in the driver’s field of vision
between the dials behind the steering wheel,
delivers more immediate information up front.
The Elantra also benefits from enhanced smartphone
connectivity via apple Carplay or android auto, with
the new Hyundai bluelink also making its presence
felt. a Usb port and wireless charging in the centre
storage are also very useful additions.
The seats are multi-way adjustable and even have
three-level ventilation. Overall posture is good and the
only mild discomfort i felt was from the centre console
panel near my left knee. A few inches higher or deeper,
whichever way you want to look at it, would have been
nice. Even so, front passenger room is excellent, on a
par with or even better than some premium offerings.
(Above left) Elegant cabin ambience;
useful technology includes Hyundai
BlueLink and several connectivity choices
(Left) Atmospheric petrol engine is
extremely refined and rather punchy, too
The Elantra has a lot going Sun-roof adds
to airy feel
for it: ergonomics, comfort,
equipment, as well as driving
feel and handling dynamics
www.carindia.in January 2020 car india 43
Road Test | Hyundai Elantra 2.0 AT
Hyundai Elantra 2.0 SX(O) AT (Rs 20.39 lakh, ex-showroom) Car Road Test 581
Overall
1465
Ground Clearance 165 mm Height
mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm Width 1800 mm (excluding mirrors)
Track (Front/Rear) 1555/1564 mm
Overall Length 4620 mm
Kerb Weight 1271 kg
SPECIFICATIONS TEST RESULTS
ENGINE WHEELS & TYRES SPEEDO ERROR (KM/H) BRAKING
Cylinders Fou in-line Wheel size 16” Indicated True 80-0 km/h 2.26 s, 25.82 m
Layout Front transverse Tyre size 205/60 R16 20 18.2 100-0 km/h 3.16 s, 41.98 m
Type Naturally aspirated, FI 40 36.4
Fuel Petrol 60 56.2
Bore x stroke 81.0 x 97.0 mm BRAKES 80 76.0
Capacity 1999 cc Front 270-mm discs 100 95.4 PERFORMANCE FACTORS
Compression ratio 10.3:1 Rear 250-mm discs 120 114.9 Power:Weight (hp/tonne) 119.59
Valvegear DOHC, four valves/cyl
Specific Output (hp/litre) 76.04
Specific Torque (Nm/litre) 96.05
SUSPENSION STANDING 1/4 MILE
Front MacPherson strut with 0-400m sprint 17.48 s
ENGINE OUTPUT
damper Terminal speed 132.24 km/h
Max power (hp) 152 Rear Coupled torsion beam with FUEL EFFICIENCY (KM/L)
Power peak (rpm) 6200 damper
Red line (rpm) 6800 OVERTAKING ACCELERATION City 9.0
Max torque (Nm) 192 Highway 14.0
Roll-ons (km/h, seconds) Overall* 10.25
Torque peak (rpm) 4000 ACCOMMODATION
40-60 2.06 * Overall is 25% highway and
Seating 5 60-80 2.40 75% city driving
Head Room, F/R 940/920 mm 80-100 3.38
TRANSMISSION Leg Room F (max/min) 1210/970 mm 100-120 3.58
Knee Room F (max/min) 880/680 mm
Six-speed, automatic
Knee Room R (max/min) 780/550 mm
1st gear NA Shoulder space 1390 mm TOP SPEED TEST CONDITIONS
2nd gear NA Fuel tank 50 litres Altitude 550m above MSL
3rd gear NA Boot space 420 litres Claimed NA Weather Warm, slight wind, dry
4th gear NA
5th gear NA
PERFORMANCE
6th gear NA DRIVER AIDS
Reverse gear NA ABS, EBD, ESC, VSM, HAC, TPMS,
Final drive NA Drive Modes, Auto Headlamps,
200
Drive wheels FWD Cruise Control, Reverse Camera (km/h)
180
CAR RATINGS 160
STEERING
Design & Style: 140 ACCELERATION 19.18
Type Rack and pinion, Powertrain:
electro-mechanical Performance: 120 14.09
Lock to lock 2.7 turns Fuel Efficiency: 10.43
Dynamic Ability: 100
Space: 80 7.10
Creature Comforts:
Driver Appeal: 4.79
HIGHLIGHTS 60
Safety:
Equipment Interior: 40 2.78
Suspension:
Cabin quality 20 1.23
Ride Quality:
Space Handling: TIME (seconds)
Steering: 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28
Body-roll Braking:
CAR INDIA’s test and performance data is the sole copyright of Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd. No part of the data or text can be
Performance testing by Jim Gorde
used in any form for any purpose or promotion or advertisement without the explicit written permission of the editor.
44 CAR INDIA January 2020 www.carindia.in
at the rear, which, i believe, would be the domain of many buyers, is also a good
amount of space. The seat base to seat back angle is good and seating ergonomics are
comfortable to say the least. The addition of a centre arm-rest and air-vents make for a
pleasant ambience. That said, the rear is best for two occupants, but it can handle three
without any trouble.
The boot, at 420 litres, is ample and can hold a family-worth of getaway luggage with
ease. The smart Trunk feature, thanks to the smart key, also makes loading easier by
simply being near the car for a few seconds, enough to trigger automatic boot-lid opening.
On the safety front, too, the Elantra has a lot going for it; especially in this top-spec
sX-Option auto trim level. anti-lock brakes with Ebd are standard, as is vehicle
stability management, hill-assist control, and parking assistance complete with a rear
camera with guidelines all make for a complete everyday set-up. a total of six airbags,
plus emergency stop signal add to the protective aspect in case of an incident.
standard isOFiX child-seat anchors make for easier installation of leading child
safety seating systems
The Elantra is among the last of its kind with an
atmospheric four-cylinder petrol engine under the dynamically sound. However, on long sweeping bends or when performing
bonnet. The 2.0-litre four still makes 152 hp and 192 prolonged turning manoeuvres, there is slight body-roll which,
Nm and that’s enough for some spirited performance. momentarily, can be a bit disconcerting. at highway speeds, it’s planted,
The dash from standstill to 100 km/h takes just about stable and feels like there’s more on tap; which is the case, clearly.
10 seconds and it exudes an appreciable potent feel The six-speed automatic transmission harnesses the power well and, for
with strong in-gear acceleration as well. There are the most part, the Elantra is electric quiet with only a bit of traffic noise
drive modes, too, including Normal, Eco, sport, and audible at city speeds. The Eco drive mode helps there, no doubt, keeping
smart, the last of which adapts the mode to the driving revs in check. The downside, if i may say that, is its thirst. while it can
style. The Elantra’s ride quality is impressive and it eke out about 14 km/l on the highway, the city figure we got was about
soaks up bumps and road abnormalities well. Changes nine. That can drop further in stop-go traffic. all said and done, that’s an
of direction are also dealt with easily and it feels overall figure of just over 10 km/l.
it’s good on the brakes, too. pressure the master and the Elantra sheds
speed in a hurry in a completely drama-free manner. The stopping power is
(Above right) commendable and it comes to a sure stop from 80 km/h in just two and a
Good rear room quarter seconds and just over 25 metres. dynamics, then, are a fair
and comfortable
seats improvement on the previous model.
Overall, it’s easy to get used to and feels like a smaller car on the go,
while offering the premium feel of a much bigger car. at rs 20.39 lakh (ex-
(Left) Boot is
spacious at showroom), it’s not cheap. The top-spec Elantra sX(O) aT has a lot going
420 litres for it: ergonomics, comfort, equipment as well as driving feel and handling
dynamics — all big pluses. For anyone looking for a stylish d-segmenter
with equal doses of stunning style, engaging performance, and relaxing
(Below) Snazzy
LED tail and luxuries to rival the premium sport-luxury European offerings, the new
alloy wheels Elantra needs a very close look.
www.carindia.in January 2020 car india 45
Travelogue | Renault Triber Chronicles – II
46 car india January 2020 www.carindia.in
Of Forests, Plantations,
and Golf Courses
We set out on the second part of our Renault Triber
travelogue and were quite impressed by what we saw
as well as by what this car is capable of
Story: Zal Cursetji Photography: Saurabh Botre
www.carindia.in January 2020 car india 47
Travelogue | Renault Triber Chronicles – II
T he second part of our journey sees us drive
into a different direction altogether. Gone now are the beaches and
coconut trees as we head towards the inside of the deccan plateau.
up from the low-lying areas, the forests of the country manifest
themselves. this means that we are close to our destination of
forests, coffee, and culture. place in question? Kodagu (formerly
known as coorg).
the distance from Gokarna to Kodagu is about 350
kilometres. there are indeed longer routes which little wary as to what was going on, but soon realised that this was due to
would take you through some of the picturesque the fact that this new road had not yet been officially opened. We began to
national parks along the way. however, we decided to worry whether there would be an exit point; however, there was and
stick to the shortest one to be able to reach our onward we continued.
destination before nightfall. as the sun began to descend upon the horizon, we inched closer to
Getting out of Gokarna is a simple story, though. Kodagu and all the magic the place held for us. My team and myself had
yes, the roads are quite narrow but within a short never been to Kodagu but all of us had heard so much about the place.
distance you are right on the highway. this highway, about coffee plantations, the local food, forests, and also about the two
however, had traffic on both sides. initially, we were a beautiful golf courses. a visit there was a must. however, once we did
enter the pretty place, the sun had set a long time ago and it was only the
next day that we realized that we had taken the back road up to the town
rather than the main highway. this back road was tough with extremely
tight corners, but in good condition.
We booked ourselves into a very nice homestay owned by a lady called
rekha. the place was lovely, with the caretaker making sure that our
tummies were well taken care of. the next morning rekha visited us for a
little conversation and to get an idea of what we wanted to do in Kodagu.
she pointed us in the right directions too.
The two types of
coffee grown here are
Arabica and Robusta,
with the former being
more full-flavoured
48 car india January 2020 www.carindia.in
(Above) The counter that has coffee
production engraved
(Left) The café we all liked in Kodagu
(Below) Red ripe coffee beans
(Below left) Shamveer, his guests, and
us during a briefing
We decided to visit a coffee plantation, which are in abundance in this
region. We also wanted to visit the famous Mercara downs Golf course,
one of the most famous courses in the country. the coffee plantation we
went to was sandalkad estates, which is owned by shamveer. this
gentleman is a seventh-generation planter whose family has been growing
coffee for the past 175 years. although the plantation today is home to a
number of crops, coffee remains the main produce.
We met shamveer at a time when he was driving around his estate with
two overseas gentlemen for a business meet. however, all of them were
kind enough to let us hop along with them on a journey of exploring the
magic drink. this plantation only deals with absolutely ripe coffee beans
which are red in colour. We even got to taste the beans which, i can say,
were quite sweet and yummy. We continued to explore the estate for a bit
longer, being shown the drying bays and production houses. the two types
of coffee grown here are arabica and robusta, with the former being more
full-flavoured. at the end of the tour, shamveer took us to his café located
just outside the estate.
this café was a cool place and had a coffee producing machine. this
machine will process coffee beans right from the drying stage to servable
coffee. in addition, we also noticed that the entire counter had plaques
which showcased the process of coffee production from the plant all the
way to the cup engraved in the wooden planks. the café also served a
www.carindia.in January 2020 car india 49
number of foreign coffees, including the famous (or infamous) coffee called Kopi Luwak. (Above) Mercara
these are coffee beans that are eaten by civet cats, digested, and then removed from the cats’ Downs is
absolutely sublime
poop. interesting. We, however, stuck to the regular coffee and had quite a nice time there.
next up was the golfing paradise, Mercara downs. the road leading there was narrow and
went uphill towards the course. once we reached the course, we were stunned by the beauty
of the place. this is a large course, with a picturesque
setting on both sides. i have played a couple of rounds
at the ooty Golf course and have to say that this one
comes close to it, if not better. the renault triber,
too, could fit very well into the place which had a dirt
road winding away throughout the course. the dirt
road at times had some large areas where the car would
struggle or so we thought. however, the triber, with
its 182-mm ground clearance, dealt with it without
grumbling. a surprisingly good car and we were glad
we had her by our side.
the next morning, we bid goodbye to Kodagu and
started for pune. this, by far, would be the longest
drive: 900 kilometres. We wondered how the renault
triber would handle it. although the engine is a frugal
1.0-litre unit, highway driving was a breeze.
50 car india January 2020 www.carindia.in
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In this issue
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