Sunday, March 4, 2012

Autocar India March 2012


  • Maruti Ertiga First Look: An exclusive look at the Ertiga, the new baby MPV. Based on the Swift platform, Maruti is looking to create a niche for itself in the ever-growing MPV market.
  • The Ertiga uses the Swift parts bin so expect it to be priced competitively, around the Rs 7-9 lakh price bracket. 
     
    The Ertiga uses the Swift parts bin so expect it to be priced competitively, around the Rs 7-9 lakh price bracket.
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  • Volvo S60 D3 driven: The S60 has entered the entry luxury segment with a 2.0-litre diesel engine and an amazing price tag that should give its German rivals more than a few sleepless nights.
  • BMW 640d driven: The big, loping BMW 6-series coupe is most certainly a looker. And now powered by a torquey diesel engine, it’s not so hard on your pocket either. 
  • Maruti Swift Dzire tested: A chopped boot makes this Dzire much better value for money than before but with just 316 litres of boot space, is it really a proper saloon anymore?
  • Mahindra Xylo E9 vs Toyota Innova: The Xylo is back in a new avatar with the mHawk engine from the Scorpio, but how does it fare against the reigning MPV king?
  • BMW X3 3.0d vs Audi Q5 3.0 TDI: They may be diesel-powered but these 3.0-litre, six-cylinder SUVs are more for the performance-oriented. See them duke it out in our comparison.
  • Porsche 911 Carrera S: Porsche has a habit of pushing the limits of its cars and this new 911 is no different.
  • Ferraris driven at the Buddh: We drive not one, but two Ferraris on the streets of Delhi like responsible citizens and then drive them on the Buddh circuit like they are meant to be.
  • Parx Supercar Parade: We were there, front and centre, when Mumbai woke up to over 30,000 horsepower. See what we saw, feel what we felt at the 2012 Parx Supercar Parade.
  • Mahindra Great Escape, Jaisalmer: We take a Mahindra Thar to the Thar desert and go dune-bashing at the annual Great Escape.
  • Bajaj Pulsar 200NS first ride: Bajaj’s superstar is reborn. The striking new Pulsar 200NS now uses new triple-spark tech, and could very well be a game-changer for Bajaj.
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    There’s no two ways about it. Bajaj’s Pulsar 200NS is a storm raiser. On our first ride today the all-new Pulsar impressed us with its ample performance and sharp handling. Even at standstill the P200 NS looks potent. Its face looks inspired from Honda’s CB1000R and that is no bad thing in our books. Look closer and you can see some Pulsar family traits. The tank gives good thigh support and the LED split tail lamp at the rear is typical of Bajaj’s sports bike family.
    The Pulsar 200 NS has been armed with the right hardware. It has petal disc brakes front and rear, a steel rectangular section swingarm and a pressed steel twin-spar frame. And out on the track it all came together to work beautifully. The Pulsar 200NS felt at home on the track, turning into corners with precision and eagerness. The engine matches the chassis by providing smooth and flexible power delivery.
    The short-stroke engine pulls well even at low speeds thanks to Bajaj’s ExhausTEC resonance chamber on the silencer. The use of a counterbalancer makes the engine very smooth, so you can even ride the P200 NS in 6th gear at little over 30kph and then open the throttle to roll away smoothly. The spread of power and torque is very linear, the engine pulling cleanly all the way to the upper reaches of the rev range. The shift light plays spoilsport and the ECU cuts in at 10,800rpm. We even hit an indicated 140kph in 6th gear. The gearbox too is game offering light and crisp shifts.
     Good looking, well equipped, packed with exhilarating performance and handling, Bajaj’s 200NS takes the Pulsar family into a higher plane. The pricing is the only unknown quantity, but keeping Bajaj’s track record in mind the Pulsar 200NS will carry a tantalising price tag (expected at Rs 90,000). The 200 NS’ is all set to jump start an exciting new chapter in the Pulsar story.
    Also watch:
    New Pulsar 200NS image gallery
    New Pulsar 200NS video review (Web-Exclusvie)
  • Ducati 795 first ride: We ride Ducati’s most affordable superbike made for Asian markets.

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