May 2022

Car India

India's leading car magazine

Car India2 min read
Reign of Uncertainty
TODAY WE LIVE IN UNCERTAIN times. It is well-nigh impossible to plan for the future, what with the global population facing one calamity after another. The world was under the COVID-19 cloud for the last two years and, just as we were getting out of
Car India1 min read
What Makes Us Different
UNLIKE OTHER AUTOMOBILE magazines, Car India is 100 per cent devoted to cars, SUVs and MUVs. There are no bikes or commercial vehicles to be found in Car India. Therefore, we have a very focused readership and also give our advertisers better bang fo
Car India1 min read
Car India
Editor Aspi Bhathena Executive Editor Sarmad Kadiri Copy Editor Deepak Upadhye Principal Correspondent Jim Gorde Correspondents Joshua Varghese, Azaman Chothia, Glen Francis, Kurt Morris Art Director Ramnath Chodankar Head Design & Production R
Car India2 min read
Tata Avinya India’s Most Promising EV Yet
CONCEPT CARS GIVE THE DESIGNERS A platform to showcase the extent of their imagination before moving on to optimizing the styling for real-world use. Tata Passenger Electric Mobility gave their design team the chance to come up with a pure EV concept
Car India2 min read
New BMW 7 Series and i7 Arrive
WITH THE NEW 7, BMW ARE PIONEERING new ways to enjoy driving, unrivalled long-distance comfort, and a cutting-edge digital experience and the i7 is at the heart of this reinvention. BMW have unveiled the i7 xDrive60, the first all-electric version of
Car India2 min read
Mercedes-AMG SL 43 and C 43
MERCEDES HAVE INTRODUCED THE NEW AMG 43 powertrain, the fourth high-performance four-cylinder powertrain in their present line-up; after the 35, 45, and 45 S. The first models to get the new engine are the new entry SL 43 rear-wheel-drive roadster an
Car India1 min read
New BMW X7
THE NEW BMW X7 ENHANCES ITS ALREADY POTENT RéSUMé OF RICHLY ASSURED driving pleasure in the luxury car segment. The first full-size luxury seven-seater, the new X7 offers an enticing combination of exclusivity, dynamism, luxury, and versatility. The
Car India1 min read
Porsche 911 Sport Classic
THE 1970S-THEMED PORSCHE 911 SPORT Classic is the most powerful manual-transmission Porsche 911 one can buy and the latest entry into Stuttgart’s Heritage Design collection, featuring retro styling inspired by the original 911 (1964-1973) and the 197
Car India3 min read
We Hear
The third-generation Range Rover Sport world premiere sees a dramatic new luxury performance SUV that hopes to continue the daring exploits of its predecessors. The new model is defined by its dynamic cockpit-like driving position, architectural ligh
Car India1 min read
Polestar 2
THE SECOND MODEL FROM VOLVO’S PERFORMANCE BRAND, Polestar, and their first all-electric one, the 2, has been updated with new solutions connected to climate impact and transparency, along with new design details and specification updates for a renewe
Car India1 min read
Ferrari 296 GTS
THE NEW FERRARI 296 GTS IS AN OPEN-TOP VERSION OF THE 830-HP mid-engined hybrid GTB supercar, rivalling the likes of the McLaren 720S Spider and Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, with “class-leading levels of driver engagement”. An evolution of Ferrari’
Car India1 min read
Lexus RZ 450e
THE LEXUS RZ 450E IS AN ALL-NEW BATTERY ELECTRIC SUV AND THE first Lexus electric vehicle to be developed from the ground up on the new e-TNGA platform. It does not simply adopt battery electric power in place of a conventional engine, but it goes mu
Car India1 min read
Tata Curvv Concept
THE TATA CURVV CONCEPT SUV GIVES AN INSIGHT INTO THE INDIAN automaker’s future EV intentions. Expected to hit the market later in 2024, it does, however, introduce a fresh design ethos, a redesigned interior, and better structure. Tata Motors are a m
Car India1 min read
Continental Surface Solutions Plant Inaugurated
manufacturing surface solution materials mainly for the Indian automotive and two-wheeler market. With an investment totalling more than €20 million (more than Rs 163 crore) covering facilities and machinery, Continental will produce premium surface
Car India1 min read
Four Stars for Urban Cruiser in Global NCAP
IN THE RECENT SET OF TESTS HELD AT THE Global NCAP facility under the #SaferCarsForIndia campaign, Toyota’s Urban Cruiser has successfully scored a four-star safety rating for adult occupant protection with a score of 13.52 out of 17 points and a thr
Car India1 min read
Kia EV6 Bookings Open
THE UPCOMING EV6 HERALDS KIA INDIA’S ELECTRIC FORAy. THE ALL-ELECTRIC EV6 WILL GO on sale from 26 May. It will be introduced via the completely built-up unit (CBU) route and, initially, it will be limited to 100 units. The Kia EV6 is an electric cros
Car India4 min read
Launches
BMW have introduced the new G02-generation X4 sports activity coupé in India. Two 30-badged flavours, the xDrive30i petrol and xDrive30d, are available, priced ex-showroom at Rs 71.90 lakh and Rs 73.90 lakh respectively. Both are offered in an exclus
Car India3 min read
Caring about Safety
THE CONTEMPORARY INDIAN CAR customer is beginning to value vehicle safety as they rightly should. This is a welcome move because when it comes to road travel, safety must always take precedence. While drivers should always be trained well, cautious,
Car India2 min read
Your Views
My family enjoys spending weekends at our farmhouse but the journey involves about 10 kilometres of off-roading once we leave the highway. I am looking for a car that can transport my family in comfort and it should have good off-roading ability as w
Car India5 min read
India’s He artland
A ROAD TRIP IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE ways to revitalise and improve one’s spirits. People who enjoy travelling prefer road excursions because these provide a unique experience. Whether travelling with family or friends, road trips are among the b
Car India1 min read
Sadda Pind
Sadda Pind is a site that celebrates Punjabi culture. The location is a stunning representation of the old and traditional Punjabi Pind (village). Sadda Pind, which spans 12 acres, is a popular tourist destination in Amritsar. It’s what a typical vil
Car India4 min read
‘Simplifying Does Not Mean Boring And It Does Not Mean Less’
Why did you select this design language and what was the theme you wanted to follow? We started from a blank sheet of paper because it is a Gen 3 product, a pure EV. It does not happen a lot in the industry or in our careers to get a chance to start
Car India4 min read
VW Throw Down the Gauntlet
REKINDLING AN OLD FLAME CAN BE A heartening experience or it can simply wither away again, even with a spark. Yet, some sparks create a roaring fire sometimes. Red hot and burning bright with potential. Volkswagen seem to have not just rekindled the
Car India1 min read
Volkswagen Virtus GT
Price: Rs 17.90 lakh (estimated) Engine: 1,498 cc, in-line four, turbo-petrol Max Power: 150 hp @ 5,000-6,000 rpm Max Torque: 250 Nm @ 1,600-3,500 rpm Transmission: Seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive Suspension: MacPherson str
Car India1 min read
Volkswagen Virtus TSI AT
Price: Rs 15.50 lakh (estimated) Engine: 999 cc, in-line three, turbo-petrol Max Power: 115 hp @ 5,000-5,500 rpm Max Torque: 178 Nm @ 1,750-4,500 rpm Transmission: Six-speed, automatic, front-wheel drive Suspension: MacPherson strut front, twist
Car India4 min read
Modern Family Van
LATELY, THE INDIAN MARKET HAS BEEN FLOODED WITH seven-seater cars. Indeed, the segment now has so many players that manufacturers have further diversified the segment in the form of distinct mid-size SUVs and MPVs. One of the leaders in this segment
Car India1 min read
Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha Plus AT
Price: Rs 14.39 lakh (ex-showroom) Engine: 1,462 cc, in-line four, petrol Max Power: 103 hp at 6,000 rpm Max Torque: 137 Nm at 4,400 rpm Transmission: Six-speed, automatic, front-wheel drive Suspension: MacPherson strut front, torsion beam rear
Car India5 min read
Electrified City
HYBRIDS. THE MIDDLE GROUND. PETROL engine still there for support, but the electric motor is the hero. Unlike a PHEV (or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle), there’s no huge, heavy battery—it’s a light, compact unit—and there’s no plug point, so there’s
Car India1 min read
Honda City e:HEV ZX
Price: Rs 19.50 lakh (ex-showroom) Engine: 1,498 cc, in-line four, petrol Max Power: 98 hp @ 5,600-6,400 rpm Max Torque: 127 Nm @ 4,500-5,000 rpm Transmission: Electronically controlled, continuously variable, automatic/wet, multi-plate, engine-l
Car India6 min read
All Aboard!
YOU WAIT FOR YEARS for a battery-electric reincarnation of the VW Transporter—also known as the Kombi, the Bulli, the Microbus—and two come along at once. Passenger and commercial versions of the ID. Buzz both go into production in the first half of
Car India1 min read
62 Years Old And Still Timeless
Whatever form a Microbus or Transporter took when it left the factory, it would continually evolve to suit the needs of subsequent owners. Seats, beds, dainty curtains, racks for surfboards or bikes… if you can imagine it, someone has done it. For th
Car India1 min read
Volkswagen ID. BUZZ
Price: From £49,000 = Rs 49 lakh (estimated) Powertrain: 77-kWh battery, rear e-motor, rear-wheel drive Performance: 204 hp, 310 Nm, 9.8 seconds 0-100 km/h (estimated), 145 km/h Efficiency: 4.2 km per kWh (estimated), 400-km range (estimated), 0 g
Car India4 min read
The Prime Meridian
THE MERIDIAN, JEEP’S NEW FULL-SIZE SUV, IS THE LATEST TO JOIN the highly competitive seven-seater segment. It’s no secret that it’s built on the popular Compass platform, but the wheelbase has been lengthened to accommodate a third row. The Meridian
Car India1 min read
Jeep Meridian MultiJet Unlimited
Price: Rs 32 to 38 lakh (estimated) Engine: 1,956 cc, in-line four, turbo-diesel Max Power: 170 hp at 3,750 rpm Max Torque: 350 Nm at 1,750-2,500 rpm Transmission: Nine-speed, automatic, all-wheel drive Suspension: MacPherson strut front, multi-
Car India5 min read
Tron Untamed
THE AUDI E-TRON GT’S moniker might make you think it’s a variant of the e-tron all-electric crossover. Unfortunately, your instinct would lead you astray. The e-tron GT is, in fact, a completely different model—a low-slung sedan with the appearance o
Car India5 min read
Striking Salvo
THE NEW ŠKODA SLAVIA SEDAN IS BASED ON the MQB-A0-IN platform designed specifically for the Indian market as well as sold and manufactured in India. The model’s name, “Slavia”, refers to the beginnings of the Škoda firm. The company’s founders, Václa
Car India4 min read
Big D4 x4 X4
IT’S LIKE YOU EITHER LOVE THE STYLING OR YOU THINK IT’S fugly. But there’s one thing no one can deny: the X4 drives like a proper BMW! It has a large dose of sheer driving pleasure that manifests from the perfect cooperation of wonderful steering fee
Car India5 min read
Mission Exciting Electric Evolution
AS A TEENAGER, MY GREATEST FEAR going into college was that when my time came to drive some good stuff, the only V8 would be two banks of four batteries under the bonnet or under the floor, as it turns out. Yet, I thank my stars, three-pointed and ot
Car India1 min read
Two-speed Transmission
Putting down power to the rear wheels is seen as fun, but it isn’t the easiest thing to manage. Rather than a single-speed automatic transmission, the Taycan uses a two-speed unit located at the rear and balances maximum acceleration with efficiency.
Car India9 min read
Late . Better Than Never?
PITY THE GERMANS. JUST AS THEY achieved global dominance in petrol and diesel cars, a Silicon Valley parvenu changed the whole game. Only a few years ago, they were basking in their oil-powered glory. Their smugness was palpable, their hegemony compl
Car India1 min read
BMW’s iDRIVE: THE GOOD & THE BAD
Central screen subtly curved like an iMax cinema screen to stay true to trad BMW driver orientation, while within reach of front passenger. Clicking the rotary controller is not straightforward. Push it down at its edges rather than its centre or it
Car India1 min read
MERC’S MBUX: THE GOOD & THE BAD
Mercedes promise individual profile and user data are kept secure. To that end, facial recognition, fingerprint or a PIN code is required to log in fully. MBUX’s voice recognition and control is stronger than BMW’s. It recognises colloquial questions
Car India1 min read
BMW iX Drive50
Price: £99,140 = Rs 99.14 lakh (£116,965 = Rs 1.17 crore, as tested) Powertrain: 105.2-kWh battery, twin e-motors, all-wheel drive Performance: 503 hp, 765 Nm, 4.6 seconds 0-100 km/h, 200 km/h Efficiency: 4.7-4.8 km/kWh (official), 3.4 km/kWh (as
Car India1 min read
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+
Price: £113,995 = Rs 1.14 crore (£121,990 = Rs 1.22 crore, as tested) Powertrain: 107.8-kWh battery, single e-motor, rear-wheel drive Performance: 333 hp, 568 Nm, 6.2 seconds 0-100 km/h, 209 km/h Efficiency: 5.1-5.9 km/kWh (official), 4.2 km/kWh (
Car India1 min read
Teutonicfl Agships
The German motor industry’s only successful attempt at muscling into Rolls-Royce and Bentley über-luxury territory. The iconic 600 Große Mercedes was popular with pop stars, tycoons, and politicians. The iconic 7-Series. Elegantly styled, sportier t
Car India2 min read
Induction With A Road Trip
NOW-A-DAYS NOT MANY LUXURY car manufacturers are willing to give out cars for long-term testing. Most such luxury cars are allowed out for a short-term test with temporary registration number-plates or trade plates; the obvious reason being the prohi
Car India2 min read
The Scorecard
WE’RE STILL BUZZING WITH the action-packed 1,200-plus-kilometre trip to Goa. The Kushaq ensured there weren’t any hiccups and it even kept the rear-seat passengers is good comfort. This trip also helped me understand the finer nuances of the turbo-pe
Car India2 min read
Leclerc on Top Down Under
IT WAS A FERRARI LINING UP AT THE head of the order with Charles Leclerc claiming pole and the two Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in close proximity. His scarlet teammate, Carlos Sainz, was down in ninth with Lando Norris starting fourt
Car India2 min read
Max Points for Red Bull
IN DAMP CONDITIONS, THE FIVE RED LIGHTS went out to start the Formula 1 Rolex Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell’Emilia-Romagna 2022 with Max Verstappen in the lead while his teammate, Sergio Perez, and the McLaren Mercedes of Lando Norris slotting
Car India1 min read
Memorable Weekend for Daruvala at Imola
JEHAN DARUVALA OF Prema Racing started the sprint race in third place and got a great start off the line to slot into second, behind Marcus Armstrong of Hitech, who took the lead. He retained that position through an early safety car and then a subse
Car India2 min read
Rovanperä Wrests Victory from Tänak
ON A TIGHT CROATIA Rally shakedown stage, Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä beat Thierry Neuville by a mere tenth of a second. After the first loop over the 3.65 km On his third and final run, Rovanperä overtook Ott Tänak at the top of the leader board as the
Car India1 min read
New This Month
The bestseller from Honda now gets a frugal new hybrid variant in one top-spec ZX trim, priced at Rs 19.50 lakh (ex) The big daddy from LR is finally here. Lots of choices for style, kit and engine and prices starting from Rs 2.32 crore (ex) ■
Car India1 min read
THE GOOD THE BAD & THE UGLY
Ex-showroom, Pune (subject to change) BO: Available only by order NA: Price not available F: Front only D: Driver airbag only O: Optional equipment

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