Category: Cars

Electric Cars: The Luxurious Future

Electric cars have gained global recognition over the years, due to the rapid depletion of fossil fuels and the ever-rising demand of personal cars. While it has become important for manufacturers to look for an alternate power source, they’re also looking at adding luxury to the segment.

Electric cars are considered to be the future of the automobile industry, mainly due to their practically unlimited potential. When Mahindra came up with REVA-I for the Indian market, it went quite unnoticed because of its small, diminutive structure, cramped and awkward seating position, and an all-electric drive. This was the first stint of an electric car operating in India. However, the international market is seeing a flooding of electric car across multiple segments, with luxury cars getting special attention.

Tesla’s range of fully electric cars have paved the way for other manufacturers since 2003. The Model S, Model 3 and Model X are some of the most iconic models from the company, while Elon Musk recently confirmed that Tesla’s five-seater Model Y is set to be relaunched as a seven-seater version this year.

The company is also the manufacturer of the Tesla Roadster, which is the quickest car in the world. Its latest addition, the Cybertruck promises to revolutionize the world of pickup trucks, merging it with the luxury segment.

Image: Tesla

 

Though Tesla is widely regarded as the pioneer and most successful electric car manufacturer, it hasn’t dissuaded other manufacturers from trying. Jaguar became the first mainstream manufacturer to break Tesla’s monopoly at high-end luxury SUVs. The Jaguar I-Pace, whose base models sells for Rs 50 lakh while the top trim demands Rs 61 lakh, offers outstanding performance coupled with unmatched luxury. Hyundai too tried their failsafe i20 chassis, giving it the name Hyundai Kona. Indian brands were not to be left out either, with giants like Tata and Mahindra coming up with a fleet of EVs of their own.

Image: Jaguar

Along with Indian conglomerates, international manufacturers have also invested their resources in the research and development of fully electric cars. Porsche’s first-ever electric car, the Taycan is a four-door grand tourer that borrows the looks of a Panamera, but is a whole another deal in terms of performance. Even after being the first electric car of the company, it gets a befitting price range of Rs 1.1 crore to Rs 1.4 crore for the Turbo S version. BMW also has its share of EVs, among them being the two-door sports car, the i8. It gets an additional flair of luxury with butterfly doors.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Not to be left behind, Aston Martin has also declared its entrance in the electric car market. With an all-electric Rapide sedan that is ready for production, the company is looking to redefine electric performance and luxury. While it has not been officially announced yet, it is expected to make its way to the Indian market post launch.

Image: Aston Martin

On one hand while IC engines are the best option for cars at the moment, the possibility of a completely electric future of automobiles in India does not seem bleak anymore. Coupled with the ambitious plans to make India an all-electric nation by 2030, we might be looking at the next revolution in automotive history.

 

AMG C 43 Coupé – Review | Wild Thing

It’s not every day that one gets to climb into an AMG-powered Mercedes-Benz. For the uninitiated, Mercedes-AMG is a special division within the German manufacturer which makes specially tuned versions of standard Mercedes-Benz cars. It goes without saying then that is a recipe for some properly exciting stuff. We recently got our hands on the most affordable AMG money can buy in India to find out just has AMG-ish it is!

Design

As the name suggests, the C 43 gets coupe styling, which makes it look quite distinctive from the sides and rear. From the front, however, one can mistake it for a regular C-Class. However, that perspective changes completely once look at the ride height, which is noticeably lower than the standard car. On the sides, the frameless doors and sloping roofline give the C43 a touch of immense class. When you get to the back though, the four exhaust tips take that look a much meaner setting. From the outside, at any given angle, the C 43 AMG will get eyeballs from almost everyone on the road.

On the inside, Mercedes-Benz has infused their usual touch of brilliance. All the buttons feel tactile and well-engineered and there’s a general sense of controlled madness within the cabin. It starts off with the AMG-spec steering wheel which feels chunky to hold and is beautifully well-contoured. It does feel a little heavy to operate but that only adds to the C 43’s colossal feel. Both the front seats getting a heating option and can be adjusted to one’s specific need.

The air vents are inspired by Mercedes-Benz models of yore and the centre console at a whole feels perfectly compact. The look is finished off at the centre with a classic analogue watch, which again is that touch of elegance from the house of Mercedes-Benz. One downside on the inside is the space at back, which is slightly cramped. The infotainment system gets a large 10.25-inch display screen with Android Auto and Apple Carplay but sadly isn’t a touchscreen. Other than these small niggles, it’s hard to fault the C 43 in terms of design. In fact, it looks quite dynamic without losing out on its understatedness. 

Powertrain, Drive & Handling

This where the Mercedes-AMG C 43 really reels you in, or rather, puts you back in your seat. Flooring the throttle isn’t really an option if there isn’t an open stretch of road ahead of you. The C 43 packs a massive punch and one must be prepared to take the impact of acceleration. In terms of numbers, it gets a 3.0-litre, V6 Biturbo which produces 390 hp of power and 520 Nm of torque. This massive engine comes mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox, called the ‘AMG Speedshift TCT’.

However, we feel that a conventional gearbox mounted in the centre would’ve been a more suitable option, rather than the one mounted behind the steering wheel, like an indicator stock. Furthermore, It has a claimed 0-100 km/hr time of 4.7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 250 km/hr! Those are some impressive figures, given that the C 43 weights a little over two tonnes.

Nevertheless, the C 43 feels solid all around and feels like it can handle itself with an amazing level of panache. Naturally, it comes with five driving modes, namely Individual, Comfort, Sports, Sports + and Slippery. Note – The Slippery mode is wetter conditions and not for drifting about like a mad man, which is what we falsy got excited about at first. That aside, the C 43 delivers on its promise of performance, with aplomb.

Verdict

If you’re out looking for a performance car that puts a smile on your face and makes a definitive statement without compromising on power; the C 43 is certainly worth your consideration.

Specifications

  • Engine: 2996cc, V6 Biturbo petrol
  • Power: 390 hp
  • Torque: 520 Nm 
  • Transmission: 9-Speed Automatic

Price: 75 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom)

Audi Q8 – Review | Quarter to 8

On 3rd March, it will be exactly 40 years for Audi since it first showcased the Quattro at the Geneva Motor Show. Till date, the Quattro remains to be an inspiration for the Ingolstadt brand. And in these four decades, a lot has changed in terms of design and technology. Call it great timing or a coincidence. In India, Audi will kickstart their 40 years of Quattro celebration with the launch of its flagship SUV, the Q8. Now, what could be better than the Q7, you would think? That depends on what aspect you are judging it on. Well, the Q8 is one class above and below. Is that even possible? Technically, yes.

The Q7 is longer and taller than the Q8 but falls short of Q8’s hunky wide-body and scooched stance. This also means that your extended family will have to trail in the less appealing family car on that road trip. Also, the Q8 like the Q7 does not get the space for your pets or kids when your extended family tags along. That’s where the Q7 scores big, it is both practical and easy on the pocket. Well, I think when Marc Lichte thought of designing Audi’s flagship SUV, he was looking for something more extravagant than the Q7. You can see it in the Q8’s coupé design that there’s some DNA present from the ancestral Quattro rally legend.

At the front, it’s got a wide-mouthed single-frame grille that proudly features the Quattro moniker, which is surrounded by the Mexican wave performing HD Matrix LED Headlights – when you unlock or lock the car, the indicators perform the Mexican wave dance. At the rear, it’s a bit different, a single uninterrupted line that will run from one taillight to another. It lights up beautifully when you tap on the brake pedal. And finally giving the Q8 a wholesome stance are the humongous 21-inch optional rims and wider tyre profiles. That’s a mighty upgrade from the Q7, but there’s more. 

For a car weighing over 2,000 kilograms, it is fairly quick. Very much in the Sportscar territory. Now, Audi claims the Q8 racks up to the 100 km/h mark in 5.9 seconds. We tested it and recorded 6.05 seconds. That’s still quick to round up an overtake in the city. But that’s not what it’s meant for. Of course, you do get a lot of driving modes to explore. But it is more of a sedate cruiser, gradually building up speed. And if you still want to go fast then the dynamic mode is where the power surge is quicker but lacks a little in that mid-range. You still manage to have fun shifting gears from the paddle shifters and to break it to you if you were expecting the V6 to crack up a roar, all you would hear is a mechanical burble. Before taking the Q8 on unpaved roads, we sent it around the bend to experience the Quattro all-wheel drive. It did help the rear wheels to steer in sync with the front wheels, generating more grip in and out of the cornet. With that, there was body roll but controlled. Now came the time to drive it on unpaved roads, carefully treading without scratching the 21-inch rims, it was comfortable at cruising speeds. In the city though, the 48V hybrid-assist system improves the Q8’s efficiency by aiding the stop-start operation. The process always seemed natural and was smoothly carried out every time the car idled for a long time. Also, driving it for long periods isn’t a problem as the seats have massage functions for your back, shoulder, but some customizations you can only change from one of the two screens in the centre. There’s a lot to talk about the screens inside the Q8.

When you sit inside the Q8, the infotainment setup looks familiar to the A6, but everything around it is a whole lot more premium. For instance, the luxurious bits like the soft-touch finishes, piano black treatment on the panels, inlays, the leather-wrapped seats, among many others. Right from the beginning, Audi has been very specific on their approach with the Q8, every unit that they sell in the country will be different than the other. And they are also going to sell only 200 of them. Talk about standing out from the crowd. This is one Audi that will grab all kinds of attention. Again, shifting focus on the two giant screens that Audi has mastered for a really long time. One — the virtual cockpit which is phenomenal and it is exceptionally uncomplicated. Also now you have a head-up display. Two — the infotainment touch screens that can control the Q8’s climate control, navigation, cooling and heating effect on the seats, select drive modes, adjust air suspension, change ambient lightings and a ton of features that you might not even use on a daily basis. But it’s there anyway. Personally, I didn’t enjoy the haptic feedback touch on the screen, and I’m glad that you get an option to turn it off. 

For passengers at the back, there are button controlled sunblinds, a huge panoramic sunroof, four-zone climate control, manually adjustable seats for recline angle, and of course a good amount of legroom and headroom. That’s after considering the fact it’s a coupé. It’s also practically possible to seat three at the back comfortably. And with the omission of the third row, you get a sizable boot size of 605 litres that’s wide and deep but isn’t tall to accommodate a large trolley bag. Again blame the coupé design. But you do get folding rear seats that fold almost flat making up for the short boot height.

It’s becoming a thing, ridiculously fast SUV coupés. Lamborghini nailed it with the Urus. And slowly everyone is catching up. Soon Audi will get the RS Q8 to India. It’s the fastest SUV in the world. Fastest 8th dimension in Audi’s words. To me though, the Q8 is still a quarter to 8. As the best is yet to come in some other form. And who would that might be? Keep guessing. 

Verdict: While the Q8 isn’t a record-breaker as compared to its wickedly faster RS cousin, its enchanting sight will, however, set you apart from the million others on the street. What it does is that it delivers exclusivity in your already extravagant backyard.

Specifications:

  • Engine: 3.0-litre, 48V mild-hybrid, V6 turbo-petrol
  • Power: 340 HP
  • Torque: 500 Nm
  • Transmission: 8-speed tiptronic/automatic

Price: ₹1.33 crore (ex-showroom, India)

Volvo XC40 Review | Safe and Sound

Oh, this decade is going to be different, I was being optimistic. A lot of things would change on the personal front and a lot of launches will happen in the automotive industry. But nature has a good way of saying, “Bugger off!” Well, as I am writing this story sitting in one corner of my room, working from home, I feel rather lucky to be on the safe side of the coin. Before the whole country went lockdown mode, we got to experience Volvo’s XC40 in its petrol powertrain, in eerie conditions. 

Since we went out testing the XC40, as I mentioned before in that unusually eerie condition, we were surprisingly able to get the best out of it. We were shooting two cars that day, both SUVs, while I cannot mention which car the other one was.

But what I can tell you is that it was half the Volvo’s price. We could spot the difference easily. Every time, we switched cars, a lot of things felt different and obvious. Like Volvo’s design was definitely more on the quirkier side. Right from the quality of the materials used inside and its overall rigidity. Truly exceptional build quality. The difference was quite rightly a justifiable one. But to again grip my head around why the XC40 was double its price, I had to dig deeper.

While on our way to the shoot location, we thought of testing the technology on offer. At this price range, the XC40 is easily better equipped than its competitors. Now, I would never sit in a self-driven car, that thought scares the daylight out of me. If I am behind the wheel of a car, I sure can take control of the driving bit.

Well, the XC40 aids it. Of course, it does not have autonomous driving, but you can still classify it as a semi-autonomous vehicle. Don’t get me wrong, if I am ever behind the wheel of an autonomous car then I’d prefer to be in one made by the Swedes. The reason being that the Swedes have always held safety as their number one priority followed by technology. And it does show, for instance, the pilot assist technology and the adaptive cruise control technology will essentially support you to keep your distance from the vehicle ahead.

It is a bit unusual for a first-timer to get used to it, but it does what it says. Assists you. Majority of the inputs are from the driver. While there are other features which include a 13-speaker sound system by Harman Kardon, lane-keeping aid and departure warning among others. If you are having second thoughts on investing in the XC40 then I’d like to tell you that you’re paying for these amazing tech features and of course those stunning speakers too.

Now, talking about the driving bit and honestly the most relaxing and boring bit of this car. Relaxing because we drove for almost three hours and never did we feel tired. Both the driver and rear occupants were relaxed, although the ride was a bit on the stiff side at slow speeds. And boring because the engine is not meant for enthusiastic driving. No questions on its refinement level, noise insulation was at its best, but the gear shifts didn’t shift as fast as I was expecting it to be.

In sports mode, the steering wheel got heavier, but it still did not give me that full authority to push it. And once you were done fiddling with the drive modes, take a good look at the mileage and it’s not going to please you. Well, what do you expect? It never was meant for the enthusiast, nevertheless, it can juggle all other tasks without breaking a sweat.

Verdict

If you are already thinking about the resale value of the XC40, then I am afraid the XC40 isn’t for you. It is for the individual who wants to stay two steps ahead of the game, be it technology or safety, and the XC40 in its smooth petrol powertrain is perfectly cut out for that.

Specifications

  • Engine: 2.0-litre turbo petrol
  • Power: 190 hp
  • Torque: 300 Nm
  • Transmission: 8-speed automatic FWD

Price: ₹39.90 lakh (ex-showroom, India)

Porsche 911 Carrera S | Review | Beauty and the Beast

When you wake up on a Sunday and you have the red hot Porsche Carrera S waiting in the lobby all tanked up, you realise that Life is Good. I could barely finish my breakfast because Saurabh and Harman from my team were all geared up 45 mins in advance of the time we had decided to shoot. Excitement level? Checked! This normally does not happen but when you have the Porsche 911 Carrera, things change.

As we zeroed upon the drive, first we thought of hitting the Pune expressway but we realised that a car which demands a cheque value north of ₹2 crores will most likely be bought by an enthusiast living in the metro cities. For example, in Mumbai, the chances are that you are living between Andheri and Marine Drive. So, I thought why not do a reality check and experience it on the practical front rather than just taking it out on the straights?

Coming to the 911 Carrera S, it’s a 2 door meant for 2 people with two more seats at the back. Practically impossible for an adult to sit, but should be enough for an overtly active skinny 8-year old. But then again if you plan on owning a sports car and that too the ultimate 911, you will mostly have luxury Sedans and SUVs already lying in your garage. So, our backup car or the tracking car was my BMW X5 which was trailing us all the time.

Making your way inside the car, note that you do not have any back problems to slide into the almost ground touching seats, but then that’s a sports car we are talking about. So make sure that even before you earn the money, burn calories too. And as soon as you turn the ignition knob the engine cranks up whose sound can cure you of all your Mental Illness, Schizophrenia, Depression and maybe even the deadly Dengue or viral fever. The moment I took it out of my apartment complex and right over a road bump, it narrowly scraped the bottom and then I realised you have to be super careful as it hurts. If anything it’s exactly like a stone touching the Porsche 911 in your possession. But when you’re out on the roads, all you will get is everyone’s attention (envious) who have been ogling at it either directly or slyly.

Everything inside is top-notch with the usual boot in the front and the engine at the rear. Quite typical of the 911. I wanted to take a peek at the engine but sadly you cannot do that. Copyrights Issue. The overall design from the outside to inside is something which looks like a Picasso painting translated on the roads. Thus, we started driving to Mumbai’s famous, Gateway of India and I thought when you have a car like this, the seat next to you should also be occupied by a beautiful woman, so I dialled Chetna Pande’s number just to check if we can pick her up on the way and in return promised her a nice lunch at Pizza by the Bay in Marine Drive. It took me 15 seconds to convince her and she promptly said that she will be down and ready to go in 15 minutes (it’s unusual of a girl as gorgeous and beautiful as her to get ready so quickly). BUT, she made me take an oath to allow her to drive the 911 Carrera S for 5 minutes and I had to grudgingly agree. For a minute, I am thinking to myself that it’s a bad bargain.

And when we finally met, the first thing Chetna did was that she connected her phone to the Bluetooth and the Bose speakers were extremely capable of a sound blast, but she lowered the volume as the Bose speakers couldn’t compete with the sound of the twin-turbo flat-six engine’s tune. It also has Apple CarPlay, navigation system which is on point and an easy operating user interface. However, these things don’t matter because you would rather not take it to an unknown place but use it to take it out on known roads and drive and come back home and maybe book an Uber for work or take the other cars lying in your garage. As I said earlier, the 911 attracts attention, we had paparazzi shooting us at Worli Sea Link. The Carrera S was getting attention from everywhere, people from tall vogues to runners were all looking at her – I mean the car. And the moment we pulled over at Pizza by the Bay, there were 10 valets who all came running towards the car and as I stepped out, I asked, “Can any of you drive this?” The answer was obvious, “Yes, sir!” As the car stood there craving all attention. That’s the point of me saying, this is exactly why you drive the 911 and come back home or take a backup car or get an Uber because giving it to any valet is a seriously tough decision just like choosing the girl you want to marry. Well, quite literally.

Now I had to live up to my promise and so I had to hand over the keys to Chetna and this was going to be her first sports car experience. As we swapped seats and drove away, she was all smiles, but those 5 minutes were the toughest 5 minutes of my life. That’s when I understood, why cars will always be a Man’s First Love (in any case, a petrolhead’s first love). And, specifically, for me, Ladies and Gentlemen, it was the 8th generation Carrera S with a new 8-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox with a top speed of 308 km/h that is also capable of flying to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, is a perfect example of Beauty and the Beast. Therefore, I rest my case.

Specifications:
Engine: 3.0-litre, twin-turbo, flat six
Power: 450 hp
Torque: 530 Nm
Transmission: 8-speed DCT (PDK)

2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid – Review | The Immediate Present

Many people are hopping onto the electric vehicle bandwagon and conveniently ignoring the fact that for the electric vehicle future to exist, the present needs to be sorted out. Electric vehicles will take a long time and we need some immediate measures to fix our environmental problems. So, what exactly can be the solution? Hybrid vehicles are the solution. Yes, and it is high time that the finance ministry cuts down on the rate of GST on hybrid cars. Reducing the GST on electric vehicles will not encourage people to buy electric vehicles any time soon. There is still a long way to go for electric vehicles. And to justify the importance of hybrid vehicles, we analysed how effective a hybrid vehicle really is. So, we borrowed Toyota’s all-new Camry hybrid and found out why hybrid vehicles are the need of the hour.

Driving on the roads at lower speeds, you will hear a silent whine from the electric motor and when you put your foot down to overtake, the petrol engine takes over. This is after you cross the 40 km/h speed. Also, the transition is so seamless that you do not feel any jerks. The drive feels more engaging in the Normal and Sport mode, Eco mode is best suitable for peak hour traffic. What surprised me the most was its handling, every time I pushed it around an open bend, it inspired confidence. It comes really close to its German counterparts’ handling abilities. Nevertheless, this car can certainly propel ahead with sheer ease, that’s a proper sign of a highway cruiser. Talking about the hybrid engine’s practicality, the fuel efficiency is phenomenal! Even after constantly driving in Sport mode in the city, the Camry delivered a decent 12 km/l mileage and in Normal mode, the mileage was close to 15 km/l. This was all in Mumbai’s peak-hour city traffic, on the highway, it was even better delivering almost 18 km/l. Its regenerative braking is also one feature that helps in charging up the battery and improving the overall range.

Verdict
When you consider buying this extremely practical luxury sedan it surely reflects your sense of responsibility towards the environment. And as far as the environment is concerned, hybrid cars like the Camry is the solution to our immediate present.

 

Specifications:

Engine: 2.5-litre 4 Cylinder Gasoline-Hybrid
Power: 215 PS
Torque: 202 Nm
Transmission: CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) Sequential Shift with Paddles

Price: ₹37.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

2020 Jaguar XE – Review

It was the 24th December and I had already planned to go to Aamby Valley for an overnight stay when my team informed me that the all-new Jaguar XE in red colour had just made its way to our Garage. And that it was red in colour on Xmas eve, that was the closest I could have brushed with Santa. The first look of it was fresh, the slimmer LED headlights and taillights fitted very well with the larger front grille and the sculpted bonnet. Ok, it’s a facelift, and we won’t use the word again and neither compares the new XE with its previous generation. For me, it is a complete new XE which has parked itself right in between the A4, the 3 Series and maybe the A6.

t’s become a habit now to slide your phone to the wireless tray and the XE has it, although it charges slowly, it may be because of the low Amp, wish they could have been higher, but does the job. Also, the rotary knob gear selector has been replaced with the gear shifter as seen in the F-Type. I was driving it on the Pune expressway, and let me admit I had touched 180 km/h and mostly was cruising at 140. Sssh! Please don’t tell this to anyone as I don’t want this to reach the Mumbai traffic cops. At speeds like this when you are on the dynamic mode the sound of the engine seeps in easily through the windowpane, maybe the insulation is not that great, it’s a confusing engine sound which you will expect from a sportscar like the F-Type but not exactly the same engine sound, which is the disappointing part.

 

The pick up had a quick rush of gasoline hitting the chambers at times giving you jerks, and you could feel the charge. It was the 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that I was driving with the Santa. The Touchscreen was smooth and the connected navigation with Interactive Driver Display using high-definition, graphics showing 3D maps were spot on and I particularly loved the Red graphics on the Dynamic mode. Another unimportant thing to note is that it lets you connect with your Bluetooth while on the move, and we had two connected while the other one being the Santa. It has an Ice mode, still wondering where can we drive this in India, but with rising global warming just in case, it’s future-proof.

The speakers and the sound quality is not something which will appeal to the audiophile and you will always be reminded of the engine noise even when the volume is above conversation levels. What I loved was the almost bucket seats which are rather comfortable and holds your back and the firm steering wheel and premium interiors, it also has Torque Vectoring by Braking technology which means on tight turns, it applies the brake to the inside wheel and directs more rotating force from the engine to the wheel with the most grip.

 

We had arrived and Santa had a smile, and jaguar has got something which will take away buyers from the 3 Series and the A4, but would you buy one? It’s a Jag!

 

Love it –

  • The design, exteriors, seats, touchscreen, and the way a streak of light passes through head and taillights every time you lock or unlock.
  • The pick-up, power, ride quality and the tech.

 

What’s not that great – 

  • The Insulation letting the engine noise seep in.
  • The music system & the rather cramped rear seats, if you’re a 6 footer then the legs might have to be amputated after a long drive.

 

Specifications:

Jaguar XE

Engine: 2.0-litre Ingenium Turbocharged Petrol
Power: 250 hp
Torque: 365 Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Starting Price: Rs 44.98 lakh (ex-showroom)

 

For Comparison:

Audi A4 35 TFSI S tronic

Engine: 1.4-litre Turbocharged Petrol
Power: 150 hp
Torque: 250 Nm
Transmission: 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission
Starting Price: Rs 41.49 lakh (ex-showroom)

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