Let’s start with the basics. As per the Oxford dictionary, a ‘CAR’ is a
road vehicle with an engine and four wheels that can carry a small number of
passengers. But let me get this straight. If you’re the kind of person who
thoroughly agrees with that, then this is where you stop. Cause it’s much more
freaking exotic and versatile than a mere transporting of people. Hmpf…. And
like how music talents get to perform at the reality shows, the actors at the
Bollywood filmfare awards, even the Auto manufacturers would want a stage to
perform. And they do it at an event that’s globally called the Auto Expo.
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| 1. If you want the car to get public attention, you've it all wrong Audi. 2. DC get a Big B Launch 3. Nissan and Ranbir continue their bond. 4. John looked great. The scooter, aah OK..!! |
The Delhi Auto Expo was probably the best platform for them to showcase
whatever they had, have and will be having in the coming years. Well I think it
is pretty fair to say that it was a grand success. I mean it’s only into the
second year and the response from the market seemed more than satisfactory. The
fact that multiple global players were keen to step foot in India itself speak
of the immense potential in this upcoming market. From scooters, motorcycles to
passenger vehicles, hybrid and electric concepts to heavy duty trucks, it was
more than a mere display of gorgeous gleaming metal beauties.
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| Not a bad shot Suzuki..!! |
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| LUV?? Dont ask me... |
The Indian auto market famously known for its appetite for small
cars seemed like a once-upon-a-time myth when all the major companies decided
to invest on SUVs, MUVs, MPVs etc. Besides the updates to the existing models
(Yeti, Fortuner, Safari, Aria), the turnout in the SUV department was immense.
Almost all the major players wanted a share in the rapidly growing SUV
category. Even the granddaddy of small cars, Maruti Suzuki, decided to have a
go at the upcoming UV segment, with a production ready seven seater, Ertiga,
which they like to call as an ‘LUV’. What does all that abbreviation mean??
Well, it’s a Life Utility Vehicle. OK. Do they hire people for these or are
they reeely serious when they make these names. But that thing can be in your
garage for 5.9lakh. Want a relative statement? The Xylo does not have a petrol
version. And the diesel is slightly on the higher side. The top end Innova will
need to try hard to keep itself below twice as expensive as the base model
Ertiga. Who dare question their dominance in India again…!! Then there is also
a compact SUV named XA-Alpha (which is bound to get a name change. This is just
not typically maruti). We all would have played Memory. That game for kids aged
around 10. There will be two cards having same picture. Similarly a dozen other
pairs too. You lay all these cards randomly with the image facing downward.
Pick one card and try to find out the other card having the same pic from the
pack. I bet that game has not reached to certain parts of Japan, where a company
by the name of Suzuki does its duty. Legend has it that after graduating from
Snake and Ladder, they skipped the next course and went directly to chess..!!
Hmmm.. Interesting……. Whether the on road version of the XA-Alpha will
have the same looks remains to be seen, considering their poor reputation of
matching the concepts with the actual production cars. I kind of like how it
looks now, though it could have scored a couple of more points with the front
grille and the blank rear.
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| Defender Concept 100 |
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Sophisticated and Sensual
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While Mahindra & Mahindra took this opportunity to give the
spotlight to the already launched and hugely successful XUV 500 and also on
India’s first electric car, REVA, Tata Motors was generous enough to give all
their cars a little upgrade. This includes the new LPG fitted Nano, style and
features upgraded Safari, Aria and Vista and a cute little Pixel. “I don’t
consider it to be a flop. I consider that we have wasted an early opportunity.”
These lines made the news when Ratan Tata was asked to comment on the not upto
the expectation sales of the world’s cheapest car. However, Tatas British
brothers, Land Rover did have a go at the Indian audience with the Defender and
Evoque. If even Victoria Beckam was called in to give her touch, you can
understand how much potential Rover has seen in this beauty.
The Hyundai fans were many after the fluidic design striking a perfect
chord with the customers. They did not disappoint them either by displaying the
new Elantra and Sonata. Even the Detroit brothers managed to get enough out of
the show, with Ford clearly ahead of GM in the favourability list (coutesy –
EcoSport and the new Automatic Fiesta). Chevorlet just seem to be out of ideas
after a brilliant run with the Cruze and Beat.
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| Hide 'N' Seek Act before the Expo |
Another Indian major (more in the two and three wheeler segment) decided
to enter the quad wheel league not with a car but a ‘four-wheeler’. Mind you it
is also very cheap and very anti-CO2. And they did it two days before the big
Expo. It could have meant two things. One, they wanted the people to make sure
people got enough glances at it. So a single press conference with the
unveiling of the BAJAJ RE60 would be perfect. But think of the contrary view.
Having analysed the scenario, they would have realised that the kind of hype
that a Nano generated in the last edition of the Delhi Auto Expo back in 2010
cannot be recreated because there were around 60 vehicles up at display. If not
this, the audience has a lot of other cars to take a look at. And this I believe
is the reason why they went with this conservative policy of unveiling it
before the Expo.
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| French Flair |
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| 795 izzz here |
As for immigrants, well, it was a big rush to be honest. With the
Germans already having set the tone, it was now the turn for their fellow
Europeans. Peugeot could have been where Hyundai is right now had they captured
the mindset of the Indian audiences almost a decade back. Unfortunately, it was
a retreat..!! Now the French army is back. And they have brought their best
swordsman along. The 508. It’s got the appeal and the armoury to challenge the
in-house members. The Italians too came sniffing for Indian fishermen. Ummm I
mean, Indian customers. Unfortunately it is not the Italian company you have in
mind. Not the Baby Bull, the Red Namaskar Horses nor the Alfa Romeos. This
time, it is a monster. A Ducati Monster 795. And it’s not just Ducati, the long-time
king of the Indian roads, Vespa, makes a return to the sub-continent.
Yes, not a doubt. If the French and Italians join, will the British be far behind. The time has come for the iconic MINI to show the people here why it has such a cult following across the globe. Triumph is yet another Britain company that decided to invest in India. And I really don’t see why not. Brilliant move I say.
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| Ladies n Gentlemen - DC Avanti |
It is every manufacturers dream to make a supercar. It is like winning a
medal at the Olympics. With only a handful of manufacturers from our country,
it was an ambitious dream to want a supercar from India. Well, now it has
happened. I do not know whether to call it the most obvious choice, but then a
Tata or M&M is very unlikely to venture into this segment. So that leaves
us with DC. And hence the DC Avanti was born. And truth be told it really does
look like a supercar. What DC does for a living besides conceptualising cars is
that he luxury-ises normal Innovas or Scorpios into a 40lakh version which has
pretty much everything. So now that he’s built a supercar, he ought to be very
generous about the luxuries.
In recent years, a couple of new segments having immense potential have
gradually evolved from the otherwise hatch, sedan, SUV and luxury vehicles
bracket. There is a Premium hatchback, entry level sedan, premium sedans, MPV,
MUV, entry level luxury saloons, SUVs, luxury cars, performance cars etc, etc.
What all this means in consumer terms is that we now have more options to
choose from and precisely a car to fit our budget and requirements. So if the
buyer decides to go conservative, it could mean a poor return for the
companies. But if All Izz Well in the auto world, the price hike in fuel, raw
material inflation or the budget should not hinder anyone who has set his eyes
on a fine investment, and that could be the turnaround Indian motor industry
wants to revive the market.
