VOL-7 • ISSUE-12• SEPTEMBER 2017 WWW.MOTOWNINDIA.COM
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SKODA KODIAQ SUV LAUNCH IN Q4 2017
INDIA FIRST DRIVE
2017 HYUNDAI VERNA
SCRUMPTIOUS THE DAY WE MADE THE TIGERS PURR
FIRST DRIVE
TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL FIRST DRIVE
TATA NEXON
EDITOR Punnoose Tharyan (Roy) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------News Coordinator - Jisha P Spl. Correspondent - Joshua David Luther Principal Correspondent (Auto & Gadgets) Aakash Paul Digital In-charge Naveen Kumar Web Correspondents - Avdesh Kumar, Seema Paul Sr. Photographer - Afsar Baig ----------------------------------------------------------------------------For Editorial contact editorial@motownindia.com, editorial.motown@gmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR MARKETING & SALES CONTACT Head-Operations - Jisha P jisha@motownindia.com, +91-9958125645 Asst. Manager - Ad Sales : Aakarshan Jacob advertising@motownindia.com, advertising.motown@gmail.com /+91-9811097399 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR ACCOUNTS CONTACT Ankit Sharma ankit@motownindia.com / +91-9654005547 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTION CONTACT Dalip Singh Bagdwal subscription@motownindia.com / +91-9811305822 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Office Executive Ravinder ----------------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL DELHI OFFICE 145 B/9, First Floor, Kishangarh, Next to United Free Church, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, Tel: 011-26122756/58 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------DISTRIBUTED BY Central News Agency, New Delhi ----------------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL CONTENT The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the contents in the magazine are correct. However, he can accept no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions. Any unauthorised reproduction of Motown India content is strictly forbidden. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Motown India is printed, published, edited and owned by Punnoose Tharyan and published from 4058 / D-4, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070. Printed at Pearl Printers, C-105, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase 1, New Delhi. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------This issue of Motown India magazine contains 52 pages including both covers. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL ADVISORS Salil Sharma, Alexander .T & Annie Jacob
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P. THARYAN (ROY)
he highlight of the September 2017 issue of Motown India is the exhaustive two-wheeler special report. The Indian two-wheeler industry is seeing increasing sales of scooters and experts say that in the near future one can expect scooters to grab a 50 per cent market share, leaving the remaining for
motorcycles. Within the motorcycle segment too there is a lot of churning taking place. The commuter motorcycles are losing their market share in the overall motorcycle segment. The report also contains interviews from senior management of various twowheeler companies. There is an interesting write up on the Tiger Training Academy experience wherein we had the opportunity to ride an adventure Tiger motorcycle and get some fine riding tips. The rest of the pages make up the usual drive and ride reports. Car reviews include those of the all new Hyundai Verna, the new Tata Nexon and a few others. We also have news on the several cars and two-wheelers that were launched in the month gone by. Motown India is also doing well on the digital space where our presence is increasing steadily. Both on Facebook and YouTube our views, likes and subscribers are on the rise. With this issue we complete seven full years of publishing and the October 2017 issue will be our 7th anniversary one.
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CONTE NTS VOL 7 | ISSUE 12 | SEPTEMBER 2017
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CAR NEWS : Skoda Kodiaq SUV launch in Q4 2017
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CAR REVIEW : Tata Nexon
CAR REVIEW : 2017 Hyundai Verna
24 CAR REVIEW : Tata Tiago AMT
BIKE NEWS : Triumph all new Street Scrambler for Rs. 8.10 lakh
26 CAR REVIEW : BMW 330i GT
28 CAR REVIEW : Toyota Corolla Facelift
29 TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL REPORT 4 | MOTOWN INDIA | SEPTEMBER 2017
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CAR NEWS SKODA KODIAQ SUV LAUNCH IN Q4 2017 Skoda Auto India Pvt. Ltd. is planning to launch the new Kodiaq SUV in the fourth quarter of 2017. This will be the Czech car maker’s first 7-seater SUV in the country. Details of the India bound version of the Skoda Kodiaq have not been revealed by the company yet. The 7-seater SUV will go up against the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Isuzu mu-X and the VW Tigaun. In terms of features you can expect the Skoda Kodiaq to come loaded to the hilt. The Kodiaq may come to India with Adaptive full LED Headlamps, 24 driver assistance features, 4 camera wide angle lenses, city emergency braking, Traffic Jam assist, Dynamic Chassis Control with three different drive modes, hill start assist, hill hold assist among other safety and comfort features. Skoda may bring in the Kodiaq with 2 TDI diesel engine options and one TSI petrol option. The Kodiaq has been built on the MQB platform.
RENAULT KWID 02 ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION FOR `3.42 LAKH ONWARD Renault India has launched the Renault Kwid 02 Anniversary Edition to celebrate the second successful anniversary of the model. The car will be available in Kwid’s two largest-selling colours, red and white. The Renault Kwid 02 Anniversary Edition will be available in both 0.8L and 1.0L powertrains, in the RXL and RXT variants, manual transmissions (MT). The Anniversary Editions of Kwid RXL 0.8L SCe and Kwid RXT 0.8L SCe will be offered at Rs 342,800 and Rs 376,400 respectively. Likewise, Anniversary Editions of Kwid RXL 1.0L SCe and Kwid RXT 1.0L SCe will be offered at Rs 364, 400 and Rs 397,900 (all prices ex-Delhi).
TATA MOTORS TIAGO XTA (AMT) FOR `4.85 LAKH SKODA LAUNCHES RAPID MONTE CARLO FOR `10.75 LAKH Skoda Auto India has launched the new sporty looking Monte Carlo sedan in India for an ex- showroom price of Rs. 10.75 lakh. The new 2017 Monte Carlo will be available with a unique Flash Red with black roof and Candy White with black roof dual tone colour scheme. The Monte Carlo design has been inspired by Skoda’s motorsport heritage. The Skoda Monte Carlo has been built on the Rapid sedan with aesthetic changes and added features. The Monte Carlo is powered by new generation petrol and diesel engines which have been borrowed by the Rapid’s model range. The 1.5L TDI diesel mill produces 108.4hp and 250Nm of torque. It also returns 21.72kmpl when mated to the Automatic (DSG) transmission and 21.13kmpl when mated to the Manual Transmission. The 1.6L MPI petrol engine delivers 103.5hp and a peak torque of 153Nm. The petrol motor returns 15.41kmpl when mated to the manual transmission and 14.84kmpl when mated to the automatic transmission.
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Tata Motors has introduced AMT in another variant of the Tiago, the XTA at Rs 4.85 lakh, ex-showroom Mumbai. The Tiago XTA comes with an in-built ‘creep’ feature, which enables the car to crawl as soon as the pressure is eased off the brake pedal, without pressing the accelerator, adding great level of safety and comfort. Additionally, the car comes equipped with multi drive options – with first-in-class Sports mode offering a spirited and peppy driving experience and Easy Shift AMT, – equipped with four gear positions – Automatic, Neutral, Reverse and Manual for smooth and regular acceleration to offer for a comfortable and stress-free driving experience.
MERCEDES LAUNCHES AMG GT R / GT ROADSTER Mercedes-Benz India launched the AMG GT R and GT Roadster with a price tag of Rs. 2.23 crore and Rs. 2.19 crore (ex-showroom India) respectively. Mercedes has equipped the AMG GT R with a lot of motorsport technology. With these two product launches the brand now has 12 AMG models on offer in India. Both cars were launched by Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes Benz India. Powering both the GT R and the GT Roadster is a 4.0L V8 bi-turbo petrol engine. However the power and torque output in both models are different as the GT R sports updated turbochargers. The GT R makes 585hp at 6250rpm and 700Nm of torque from 1900-5500rpm while the GT Roadster makes 476hp at 6000rpm and 630Nm of torque from 1700-5000rpm.
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CAR NEWS LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER SVAUTOBIOGRAPHY DYNAMIC FOR `2.79 CRORE Jaguar Land Rover has launched the Range Rover SVAutoiography Dynamic at Rs 2.79 crore, ex-showroom, India. The vehicle has been created by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) team. Unique Graphite Atlas accents, distinctive Red BremboTM branded brake calipers and exclusive wheels add to the performance appeal of the vehicle. The car is powered by a V8 engine. The very finest diamond quilted leathers feature within the cabin. The rotary shifter, Grand Black front and rear door veneers feature a unique red key line. The Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic is the fourth vehicle to join the brand’s portfolio in India, after the Range Rover SVAutobiography, Range Rover Sport SVR and Jaguar F-Type SVR.
HYUNDAI LAUNCHES THE NEW VERNA SEDAN FOR `7,99,900 South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai launched the new Verna sedan in the Indian market for Rs 7,99,900 (ex-showroom Delhi) onward. The new 2017 Verna boasts of bold and sophisticated looks and gets some segment leading features. Hyundai is offering the new Verna with a 1.6L petrol motor and a 1.6L diesel mill. The starting price for the petrol variant is Rs 7,99,900 while that for the diesel is 9,19,900. (Read report on Hyundai Verna Road Test Review on page 14)
JEEP LAUNCHES NEW COMPASS SUV FOR `14.95 LAKH Iconic American SUV brand Jeep has launched their most affordable offering -- the Compass in India for a starting price of Rs. 14.95 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The Jeep Compass is being offered in multiple variants including 4x2 and 4x4 options. Jeep is offering more than 50 safety and security features on the new Compass and will be retailing the SUV from 50 sales outlets of FCA and Jeep across 47 cities in the country. Jeep aims to expand its dealer network to 60 by the end of 2017. Powering the new SUV are two engines -- a 2.0L, Multijet Turbo, diesel which produces 170hp and a 1.4L, Multi Air Turbo, petrol which produces 159.7hp.
MARUTI SUZUKI UNVEILS SPORTY CIAZ S FOR `9.39 LAKH ONWARD The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz sedan is now also available in a more sleek, elegant and sporty form – Ciaz S. The Ciaz S has been refreshed with a spoiler pack – front, side and a rear underbody plus trunk-lid spoiler – that enhances the aerodynamics of the car. The petrol Ciaz S is priced at Rs 9,39,081, while the diesel Ciaz S is priced at Rs 11,55,409 (both ex showroom Delhi). The Ciaz S comes with an all new premium black interiors with grey chrome finishing that accentuate the sleek and elegant design of the car. Ciaz is future ready in safety regulations. It complies with frontal offset, side impact and pedestrian protection regulations ahead of time. It is loaded with dual airbags, seat belt pre-tensioner with force limiter, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX (child seat restraint system) from base variants upwards.
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AGS FOR MARUTI IGNIS ALPHA VARIANT FOR `7.01 LAKH Maruti Suzuki has been leading the way in introducing many comfort and convenience features on mass market cars. The company had launched the funky looking Ignis hatchback earlier this year. The Ignis previously came with AGS (Auto Gear Shift) technology but it was not available in their top trim Alpha variant. Maruti has launched the Ignis Alpha variant petrol model for Rs. 7,01,143 (ex-showroom Delhi). Maruti will be offering the AGS technology on the top end Alpha trim in both petrol and diesel variants. The top end diesel Alpha model with AGS has been launched for Rs. 8,08,050 (ex-showroom Delhi).
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BIKE NEWS NEW TRIUMPH TIGER EXPLORER XCX LAUNCHED FOR `18.75 LAKH
TRIUMPH ALL NEW STREET SCRAMBLER FOR `8.10 LAKH British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph Motorcycles has launched their all new Street Scrambler in India for Rs. 8.10 lakh (ex-showroom pan India). The Street Scrambler gets the distinctive Bonneville looks with a wider handlebar, minimal bodywork and a lower seat height. The new Street Scrambler gets the liquid-cooled 900cc Bonneville engine that now comes with a 270° firing interval. The engine is mated to a five speed gearbox and develops more torque and power in the mid ranges. The maximum power and torque figures stand a 54hp and 80Nm, respectively. Being a Triumph motorcycle, the Street Scrambler is loaded with features such as Rideby-wire system, a torque assist clutch, switchable traction control & ABS, USB charging port and much more. With the aim of catering to both daily commutes and light off-roading, the Street Scrambler gets dual purpose Metzler Tourance 19 inch wheel at the front and a 17 inch in the rear.
Triumph Motorcycles has launched the Tiger Explorer XCx at Rs. 18,75,000/- (pan India). The motorcycle was launched in New Delhi in the presence of Vimal Sumbly, Managing Director, Triumph Motorcycles India Pvt Ltd. The new Triumph Explorer XCx is basically an off roader. The Explorer XCx features a 1215cc triple engine, unique in the large capacity adventure segment, delivering its power through a final shaft drive.
DUCATI LAUNCHES SCRAMBLER CAFÉ RACER FOR `9.32 LAKH Ducati India has launched the all new Scrambler Café Racer in the country for Rs 9,32,000 (Ex-showroom, India). The motorcycle is powered by the air and oil-cooled Euro 4-compliant 803 cc twin-cylinder engine. The Desmodue engine delivers 73 hp at 8,250 rpm and a torque of 67 Nm at 5,750 rpm and comes with black-trimmed covers and machined cooling fins. The bike combines the best of the two worlds – the design language of the Scrambler brand and a sporty riding position. This version features rearview mirror mounted aluminium clip-on handlebars, Termignoni exhaust with dual tailpipes, black anodized aluminium cover and a dedicated seat featuring a cover for the passenger section.
YAMAHA FAZER 25 LAUNCHED FOR `1.29 LAKH India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. has added a powerful mid-class tourer - the all new Fazer 25 to its popular FZ Series. The bike was launched in the presence of Masaki Asano, Managing Director and Roy Kurian, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd. The new Fazer 25 is available in two colours - Rhythmic Red and Soulful cyan and is priced at Rs. 1,29,335 (Ex-Showroom Delhi. The new edgy and sporty looking Fazer 25 comes with a 249 cc, aircooled, 4 stroke, SOHC, 2-Valve, Single -cylinder, fuel injected engine which churns out a maximum power of 20.6HP at 8000rpm and a maximum torque of 20NM at 6000rpm.
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MOTORSPORT Gurmeet Virdi, co-driver Kirpal Singh Tung win Force Gurkha RFC India 2017 After a week-long nail biting competition, Gurmeet Virdi and co-driver Kirpal Singh Tung of Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh emerged as the Force Gurkha RFC India 2017 Overall Champions with a total score of 2019 points out of 2600. Gurmeet successfully managed to defend his title and is the only Indian driver to date who has won the country’s toughest off-road motorsport competition since its launch in 2014. The overall second position was held by Jagat Nanjappa (co-driver Chetan Changappa) of Team V5 Offroaders from Coorg with 1906 points. In an interesting turn of events, Gerrari Offroaders’ Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal (co-driver Gurpartap Singh) overtook Siddartha Santosh in the final moments to clinch third spot on the podium with 1685 points. Unfortunately, Force Motors, the main sponsors to the event, did not participate in this year’s RFC. Meanwhile, the top four teams on the
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Force Gurkha RFC India 2017 leader board have got a free entry to the RFC Global Series 2017 Grand Finale, to be held in Malaysia later this year. Previously, this coveted award was given only to the top Indian driver of the competition. Cougar Motorsport will now sponsor RFC India 2017’s top four drivers and their codrivers to the extent of subsidising their RFC 2017 Grand Finale entry ticket worth $3,900 and return airfare to Malaysia amounting to around $1,100. The beneficiaries of this announcement would be the overall podium finishers Jagat Nanjappa (co-driver Chetan Changappa) from Coorg-based V5 Offroaders and Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal (co-driver Gurpartap Singh) from Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh along with the overall fourth position holder Siddartha Santosh (co-driver Prithviraj AC) from Team BODA (Bangalore Offroad Drivers Association). It is to be noted that Gerrari Offroaders
l Singh Gurmeet Virdi (R) and co-driver Kirpa
Chandigarh’s Gurmeet Virdi and co-driver Kirpal Singh Tung, being the winners of Force Gurkha RFC India 2017, are already eligible for these benefits. Additionally, they will also get a sponsorship of up to $3,000 towards their competition vehicle rental amount. This particular benefit has been extended only to the RFC India 2017 Champions.
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
SPECIFICAT IO N S
2017 HYUNDAI VERNA
SCRUMPTIOUS Report: Joshua David Luther Photography: Afsar Baig
ENGINE 1582, 4 Cylinder, CRDi Turbocharged, Diesel TRANSMISSION 6-Speed Manual POWER 126bhp@4000rpm TORQUE 260Nm@1500-3000rpm TYRES 195/55 R16 FUEL TANK CAPACITY 45 Litres
PRICE `12.40 lakh (ex-showroom India)
I
magine biting into a juicy burger loaded with tenderly roasted meat, layers of melted cheese, fried egg sunny side up, a few strips of bacon, a slice of ham and oodles of mayo. I’m sure your mouth is probably watering by now. Well so was mine when I got behind the wheel of the new 5th generation Hyundai Verna and set
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off in the misty hills surrounding Kochi.
EXTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES The new Verna has been built on Hyundai’s K2 platform. This 5th generation model bares a stark contrast from the previous generation model. In terms of design
language the new Verna gets sophisticated looks. The front fascia is bold and looks well dressed with supple use of chrome on the grille and bumper. Hyundai’s cascade grille design and stretched projector headlamps add a modish and bold touch to the sedan’s front. The projector headlamps feature LED DRLs and cornering
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
lamps. Hyundai is also offering projector fog lamps on the new Verna with a smart looking chrome surrounded casing. The side profile of the sedan is butch and features a solid shoulder line which runs out seamlessly before the A pillar and straight into the boot. Adding a touch of bling, the Korean car manufacturer has also included a chrome belt line. The Verna rides on smart looking 16-inch 5 spoke diamond cut alloys. The new Verna gets a sloping C pillar which lends this sedan a very coupe like design. In my eyes this small change has redefined the way the Verna would be perceived. This design of the C pillar has added a subtle sense of elegance to an otherwise very bold and sophisticated silhouette. The rear section features split LED tail lamps, chrome garnish on the boot lid and a muscular bumper with ample of plastic cladding.
INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES Despite being immensely functional, I felt the interiors could have done with more colour. Hyundai has carried forward a beige and black dual tone theme inside the cabin with Leatherette upholstery being offered on the top spec SX (O) variant. The dash is partially biased towards the driver and has been designed in an extremely
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ergonomical manner. The seats as well are rather comfortable and provide adequate cushioning. Speaking of seats, on offer are ventilated front seats, a segment first! Hyundai has always aimed at leading the pack with its trend setting offerings and the new Verna is no exception to this. The top spec variant of the Verna comes loaded to the hilt with class leading features such as an electric sunroof, hands free smart trunk, manually operated rear curtain, rear AC
vents, a total of 3 USB charging slots, 7 inch infotainment setup with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirror Link, sliding front armrest, cooled glovebox, automatic climate control, automatic headlamps, voice commands and cruise control. The overall space in the cabin as well has been improved. The 5th generation Verna sees an increase in length, height and wheelbase. The rear seat headroom has been improved by 3mm while legroom in the rear has been increased by 44mm. Seating in the
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
rear is adequately comfy, however I felt a bit more leg room would have made things much better. Another factor which really appealed to me was the roomy feeling I got inside the cabin, the addition of the sunroof does more than add to this. The overall comfort in this cabin is exceptional.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE The 1.6L, 4 cylinder, CRDi, turbocharged diesel mill belts out 126bhp and 260Nm of torque. The engine may be the same as the previous generation Verna but the tuning has been tweaked. The sedan now feels more linear in its progression. The engineers at Hyundai have done a fabulous job in tuning this engine which now delivers a better low end torque than before. This is almost immediately evident the moment you floor it! Even while I was driving
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in the hills, the low end torque was quite delightful when taking on inclines. The Verna is able to pull cleanly up inclines. This 1.6L diesel mill on the Verna has been tuned to deliver peak torque low in the range starting from 1500rpm and ranging up to 3000rpm. The engine revs freely till 5000rpm post which not much is on offer on the band. The 1.6L diesel has been mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, also on offer is a 6-speed automatic. I had at my disposal, the manual variant. The gear box is quite crisp and the engine goes through the first three gears quickly. The 4th, 5th and 6th come with longer legs which can be really stretched out on highways. Hyundai has also improved the ride and handling of the new Verna. The sedan now gets a hydraulic recoil shock
absorber in the rear. While driving fast or cornering hard, the new Verna feels more confident and sure footed than before. The suspension is mildly stiffer and thus rendering more control to the driver. The brakes have also been tweaked for a better grip. Hyundai has also weighted the steering really well and that has made the drive of this new sedan immensely pleasurable.
VERDICT The 5th generation Hyundai Verna gets a touch of everything in the right quantities, be it technology, comfort, convenience, luxury, space or performance. Taking on the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and the Honda City, Hyundai has ensured the new Verna gets some segment first features.
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
TATA NEXON
SENSATIONAL Report: Joshua David Luther Photography: Aakash Paul
W
hen Tata Motors unveiled the Nexon concept at the 2016 Auto Expo, it captivated one and all with its futuristic design and modish character. Not many were aware of what the final production ready version would look like. Fast forward to July 2017, we find the Nexon carries forward the same bold character and design as the concept. Not only is the production ready Nexon near identical to its concept version, it is essentially futuristic in all its mannerisms and existential being. Evidently so, the people at Tata Motors have spared no effort in ensuring the Nexon is simply Sensational.
EXTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES When someone says SUV, I think boxy! But that is not the case with the new Nexon. Tata has managed to give this compact SUV a butch yet sleek look. The stance and build of the Nexon is quite masculine. Not only does the Nexon get fat 215/60 R16 tyres it also gets a wide track and rides as high as 209mm. Tata has also given the Nexon a bold front fascia which resonates their Impact design philosophy. Adequate usage of chrome is found on their signature ‘Humanity Line’ running seamlessly into the funky looking projector headlamp setup which also features LED DRLs.
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What makes the Nexon unique is the way it features an ivory white finish on every angle. First found on the front bumper surrounding the fog lamps, then on the shoulder line running into the tailgate after the C-Pillar in the form of an elongated X. The Nexon also gets a sleek silhouette and macho wheel arches. The rear section also features piano black finish sitting neatly between the sharp looking tail lamps. All of these factors will ensure this compact SUV stands out in a crowd.
INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES While the exterior design and dimensions of the Nexon are futuristic, the interiors resonate a very chic and urban design. The dashboard is where all the excitement lies, Tata has used neat and classy materials all around. The Nexon gets great build quality and the touch and feel inside the cabin is simply remarkable. The layout and design of the dash resonates the brand’s forward looking theme and combines glossy grey, piano black and other soft to touch materials in seamless manner. Tata Motors has added plenty of kit on the Nexon. The most noticeable of the lot is a 6.5inch floating dash top mounted capacitive touch screen setup. This infotainment unit resides at
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a near eye level in line with the MID display, thus the driver always can clearly view the road while operating any infotainment setting. The capacitive touch is good to use and has a quick response. The infotainment unit is also compatible with Android Auto. Tata is not offering the Nexon with Apple CarPlay just yet but will soon bring it in. The infotainment unit also gets a voice recognition function which we found quite handy and easy to operate. This also enables you with the vehicle reading out WhatsApp text messages. Tata has also included features like push button start/ stop, keyless entry, video playback, reverse parking camera, rear sensors, power adjustable
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SPECIFICATION S ENGINE
Petrol: 1198cc, 3 Cylinder, Turbocharged / Diesel 1497cc, 4 Cylinder, Turbocharged
TRANSMISSION 6-Speed Manual POWER Petrol 108.49hp@5000rpm / Diesel : 108.49hp@3750rpm TORQUE Petrol 170Nm@1750-4000rpm / Diesel 260Nm@1500-2750rpm TYRES 215/60 R16 EXPECTED PRICE `7 - 11 Lakh (ex-showroom India)
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
and retractable ORVMs, rear ac vents and automatic climate control. But certain features inside the cabin are quite futuristic. Tata is offering the Nexon with a wearable key fob. Just like a wrist watch, this wearable key fob can be strapped to your wrist in case you don’t desire a key bouncing around in your pocket. Another futuristic feature is voice alert warning functions. When the computer detects an anomaly instead of simply giving warning sounds, it will verbally tell you what is the issue detected. For instance if any door is ajar, the system will verbally tell you which door is open or if you have the handbrake engaged it will let you know verbally about the same. Such features take the practicality offered on the Nexon to a whole new level.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE Tata is offering the Nexon with the choice of a 1.2L, 3 cylinder, turbocharged, petrol and a 1.5L, 4 cylinder, turbocharged, diesel. Both powertrains are new offerings from Tata Motors and we got a chance to open them up on the scenic roads in Kerala. The 1.5L diesel mill churns out 108.49hp at 3750rpm and 260Nm of torque from
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1500-2750rpm. Tata has precision tuned this diesel mill and it is extremely peppy to drive. Right from the word go the engine makes no fuss and gets going rather quick. Both petrol and diesel engines have been mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The 1.2L turbocharged petrol is surprisingly smooth to drive. The engine belts out 108 horses at 5000rpm and 170Nm low in the rev band. Despite being turbo charged the petrol engine feels linear in its progression and builds on the revs rather smoothly. To drive, I felt the petrol was sportier and alive, but the diesel had its own peppy charm about it as well. Both engines did not disappoint me. But then I did feel the gearbox was a slight bit notchy and could be improved. Tata has also installed a dual path suspension setup on the Nexon which
is softly sprung and rides decently well over undulations. On smooth roads, the vehicle offers immense stability and control. Tata has also bolted on fat tyres which not only add to the butch appeal of this compact SUV but also enhance the Nexon’s driving dynamics. Braking on the Nexon is facilitated by a disc and drum setup. The brakes are good and get the job done effectively. Tata has also included features such as ISOFIX mounts, dual airbags and ABS with corner stability control as standard across all variants.
VERDICT What began as a battle cry with the launch of the Tiago has shaped up into a defiant movement from Tata Motors. The battle according to them has just begun and with an onslaught of vehicles like the Nexon, the competition has turbulent days ahead. In my opinion the Nexon is a very thorough vehicle. It has all the underpinnings to transform the way we look at compact SUVs in India. Tata is offering customers just the right package with some first in segment features which add a lot of convenience and practicality to our daily lives. The design and interiors of the new Nexon are probably the best this segment has to offer and Tata has come out with one sensational product. What remains is the price range, which we expect could be between Rs. 7-11 lakh.
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TATA TIAGO AMT
EFFORTLESS MOTORING Report & Photography: Motown India Bureau
W
hen it comes to making small cars Maruti Suzuki definitely understands the market very well but another Indian auto maker is slowly making headway in this segment. Tata Motors launched their Tiago more than a year back and the hatch has done very well for Tata. Fast forward to 2017 where Tata launched the Tiago with an automatic transmission. We get our hands on it to figure out just how good this machine is.
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To begin with, Tata has ticked quite a few boxes with the Tiago. In my book it scores well in terms of looks, features, powertrain, build quality and price. Now Tata is offering the Tiago with an automatic transmission. The entire package makes a lot of sense as it just adds to the convenience of a city dweller. The AMT transmission on the Tiago has been manufactured by Magneti Marelli and is specifically available on the top end XZA variant of the Tata Tiago which comes loaded
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# TATATIAGOAMT S P EC I F I C ATI ONS ENGINE 1199cc, 3 Cylinder, Petrol TRANSMISSION 5-Speed AMT POWER 83.8hp@6000rpm TORQUE 114Nm@3500rpm TYRES 175/65 R14 FUEL TANK CAPACITY 35 Litres
PRICE `5.25 lakh (ex-showroom India)
with features. The transmission is a 5-speed unit which only comes mated to Tata’s 1.2L, 3 cylinder, petrol unit. The 5-speed AMT unit is smooth. When ambling around in city traffic you will not even notice gearshifts and that makes the drive all the more delightful. The transmission also gets a creep function which was quite handy when driving in stop and go traffic. Release the brake pedal and the car will inch forward without any inputs from the accelerator. If you want to get going in a hurry, all you need to do is push down on the tiny ‘S’ button on the gear lever console and then floor the accelerator. While driving in city mode the transmission responds well and up shifts are not that noticeable. Put a little more pressure on the
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accelerator and you will find it takes a wee bit of time to down shift a gear before it builds up the revs and zooms off. But when you engage Sport mode, the response is much better, the engine essentially is quicker through the gears and gets going in a hurry. The transmission sits well with the 1.2L, 3 pot petrol motor. It does feel a small bit jumpy
when in traffic and may over rev at times. This however is only noticed in Sport mode. To sum up things for you, the Tiago with an AMT equals effortless motoring. We drove the Tiago through open highways and on choked Delhi roads. All I can tell you is that I loved the drive. The AMT does all the hard work when in traffic and the woes of clutching are laid to rest. What makes the Tiago even better in my book is the package being offered. Tata has packed in many features like electrically adjustable ORVMs, Bluetooth, AUX and USB connectivity for the infotainment setup, Harman sound system and lots more. The Tiago offers arguably the best space and comfort in its class and with the addition of an AMT the package gets a whole lot better. For a price point of Rs. 5.25 lakh (exshowroom) I don’t think you would be getting a better deal.
SEPTEMBER 2017 | MOTOWN INDIA | 25
WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience BMW 330I GT
RAPID & RITZY Report & Photography: Motown India Bureau
T
SPECIFICAT IO N S ENGINE 1998cc, 4 Cylinder, Petrol Twin Power Turbo TRANSMISSION 8-Speed Steptronic Sport Automatic POWER 252hp@5200rpm TORQUE 350Nm@1450-4800rpm
he BMW 330i GT is rapid through the paces and ritzy in its character. We find out more about the car.
EXTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES To look at the new BMW 330i GT is as elegant as Jennifer Lopez in a ball gown. Her curves are sensual and every line has been intricately crafted to give this new 3 Series Gran Turismo a sensual appeal. The gently sloping roofline and broad tailgate lend this beauty a definite character. The BMW 330i GT sports new reworked headlamps, tail lamps and rear apron. The twin circular headlamps and bold kidney grille give the fascia a rather sharp look. The headlamp cluster houses Adaptive LED head lights and LED DRLs, the design is
26 | MOTOWN INDIA | SEPTEMBER 2017
alluring and quite striking. The headlamps also get an auto high beam assistance function. Moving over to the side, a neatly chiseled shoulder line ensures the drama continues seamless from front to back. Adding a little more flavour are frameless windows on all four passenger doors. The side profile is further enhanced with 18 inch alloys which add grace and beauty to the charisma this 3 Series GT has going for it. The rear end is as exciting as the front. Crisp LED tail lamps complement an already dynamic design formed by the large tailgate which gradually slopes down into a flat end. The rear sports an active aerodynamic system which gets a spoiler that automatically extends at higher speeds to create more down force. The new 3 Series GT is beauty personified. It is elegant and graceful with striking lines
TYRES 225/50 R18 FUEL TANK CAPACITY 55 Litres PRICE `47.50 lakh
(ex-showroom India)
adding flair to a very uncommon design.
INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES The story on the inside is much like the outside with exquisite materials adorning every corner of the cabin. This new model sees an updated Centre Information Display. The screen looks slimmer and longer making for a more elegant addition. The dash gets a contemporary design and is definitely up market. BMW has ensured the cabin of this 3 Series
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#BMW330IGT
delivers a ritzy feel to occupants. The leather upholstery, chrome accents, piano black finish and a host of finely crafted instrumentation boast of the grandeur this saloon has to offer. The cabin has been made extremely spacious and the seating optimised for maximum comfort. The driver and passenger seat offer adequate bolstering and support with a power adjustment function and an additional memory function for the driver side seat. BMW has also included a 2-zone climate control setup with rear air conditioning vents, panoramic sunroof, automatic start/stop with keyless entry, remote operated tailgate, ambient lighting, multiple connectivity options and a host of functions to improve the comfort and convenience of daily users. There are ample of cubby holes and storage spaces which have been thoughtfully integrated all around
this cabin.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE While the 3 Series GT has the looks, her heart is what brings the real thrill of the ride out. Powering this saloon is a 2.0L, 4 cylinder, turbocharged, petrol engine. The motor is good for 252 horses coming in at 5200rpm. The peak torque figure stands at 350Nm which ranges from 1450rpm and going up all the way to 4800rpm. ‘Brutal’ is the only word that can really characterise the acceleration of the 330i GT. It clocks a 0-100kmph time of 6.1 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 250kmph. Right from the word go the 330i GT is quick and the massive torque ensures an extremely potent ride. The engine has been mated to an 8-speed Steptronic Sport Automatic transmission. The transmission is smooth and ensures a seamless power delivery. BMW has also added different drive modes to suit different driving moods. On offer are Comfort, Ecopro, Sport and Sport + driving modes. The suspension leans toward the softer side
and this saloon can glide gracefully over most bad roads leaving the occupants quite unperturbed. Graceful in its mannerisms, the BMW 330i GT is a treat to drive on open stretches of highway and through winding country roads. It is well mannered and has been loaded with just right driver aides to ensure a pleasant journey. The 330i GT gets ABS, Corner Braking Control, Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control, tyre pressure indicator and runflat tires with reinforced sidewalls. All of these features and a lot other safety elements go a long way in ensuring safety of the occupants. Even if you have the desire to push her through some tight corners and power down on an exit you can do so confidently with the multiple driver aides kicking in at just the right time.
VERDICT The 330i GT from BMW has been tuned to deliver a very sporty and spirited drive. It gets just the right amount of comfort and convenience features to ensure it stays at par with competitors. However, the design and premium appeal of this 3 Series that puts it ahead of competition. It is being offered for Rs. 47,50,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) which is a tad bit pricey but what you get in exchange is a rapid and ritzy ride that will certainly set you apart from the rest.
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SEPTEMBER 2017 | MOTOWN INDIA | 27
WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
TOYOTA COROLLA FACELIFT
EYE CATCHING
Report & Photography: Motown India Bureau
W
e live in a world where appearance matterS a lot. While the Toyota Corolla has always boasted of a trendy and sophisticated design, it never got an absolute head turning appearance, until now! Toyota recently gave the Corolla a facelift. Most elements of the sedan remain the same. However, just a few aesthetic changes have been made to make the 2017 Toyota Corolla look extremely eye catching. The front and rear have received updates which lend this sedan a modish appeal. The fascia features stylish new headlamps that are in tune with the overall theme of design that we have seen on their latest models. The headlamps feature a powerful Bi-Beam LED setup with sharp looking LED DRLs. Toyota has also remodeled bumper and front grille to look sharper and more contemporary. The side profile of the sedan remains the same and in the rear reworked tail lamps add a touch of style to this trendy looking sedan.
SPECIFICAT IO N S ENGINE 1364cc, 4 Cylinder, turbocharged diesel
TRANSMISSION 6-Speed MT POWER 86.79hp@3800rpm
of materials. The overall design scheme remains more or less the same with the major change being a larger 7.0 inch touch screen infotainment unit with navigation, voice commands, MirrorLink and more. This touch screen unit unfortunately does not come as standard even on the top end diesel variant, thus we did not get a chance to sample it and tell you more about it. Toyota has also enhanced the functionality of the new Corolla with 2 USB ports available in the rear. It also features a reclining rear seat and many more convenience features. The overall package is enhanced with eye catching looks that can easily set this sedan apart from the herd.
TORQUE 205Nm@1800-2800rpm FUEL TANK CAPACITY 43 Litres
PRICE `18.27 lakh
(ex-showroom India)
The Toyota Corolla also features mild updates on the inside. Its cabin looks more up market than before with a smart looking dash and the use of good quality
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TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL
Scooters Ahoy! Report : Motown India Bureau
T
he two decades before economic liberalisation (1991) kicked in, the Indian two-wheeler market was dominated by scooters. The scooters were then made by the country’s leading twowheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto run by Rahul Bajaj. But sometime in 1984 came in Hero Honda, a joint venture between the Hero group and Honda of Japan, and they brought
in commuter four-stroke motorcycles. Scooter sales began falling and eventually under the leadership of Rajiv Bajaj, Bajaj Auto exited the scooter segment completely. Interestingly, the very same Honda that brought in the motorcycle wave in the country in the 1980s parted ways with Hero Group in 2010 and started concentrating on making gearless scooters. That was the beginning of
a scooter wave in India.
SCOOTERISATION ON THE RISE “The Indian two-wheeler industry is fast adopting scooterisation. Scooter segment with its 18% growth is growing double the speed of the industry (9%) while the motorcycle segment is growing at a slower 7%. As leaders in scooters, with 59% market
The Indian two wheeler industry is fast adopting scooterisation. Scooter segment with its 18% growth is growing double the speed of the industry (9%) while the motorcycle segment is growing at a slower 7%. As leaders in scooters, with 59% market share, our first focus is to expand leadership in this segment while increasing our motorcycle sales” - Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior VP, Sales and Marketing, HMSI www.motownindia.com
SEPTEMBER 2017 | MOTOWN INDIA | 29
TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL I am seeing a lot of traction happening in scooters. Motorcycle customers are shifting to scooters. Five years back, scooters used to be less than 20pc of our two-wheeler sales. Now it is already 35pc. In the next two to three years, it would cross 40pc.” - Roy Kurian, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd
performance. The response to our ATSCs – Access 125, 125 SE, and Let’s has also been very encouraging. With the recent refreshed models of Access (new Matt colors introduced) and Let’s (Dynamic Dual Tone colors introduced), we have been able to further strengthen our foothold in the segment.”
share, our first focus is to expand leadership in this segment while increasing our motorcycle sales,” pointed out Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) in an interview with Motown India. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in fiscal 2002-03, a total of 8,25,648 scooters were sold in the domestic market as compared to total two-wheeler (scooters, mopeds and motorcycles) sales of 4,812,126 units sold in the country. The scooter sales constituted around 17.15% of the total twowheeler sales, while motorcycle sales constituted 75.79% of the total pie. The scooter share in total sales dipped further in the following years, before it started clawing back. By 2016-17 fiscal, total scooter sales stood at 5,604,601 units while total two-wheeler domestic sales stood at 17,589,511 units. That also meant that scooters now constituted 31.88% of total two-wheeler sales in India, while motorcycle sales share had slipped to 63%. Roy Kurian, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd noted, “I am seeing a lot of traction happening in scooters. Motorcycle customers are shifting to scooters. Five years back,
Chirag Shah, Research Analyst at Edelweiss Securities has observed that a mid-30s motorcycle owner is replacing his commuter motorcycle either with a scooter or a premium motorcycle. Among other factors, higher share of women consumers and the unisex appeal of scooters are driving the shift from commuter bikes to scooters.
Honda Activa
scooters used to be less than 20pc of our two wheeler sales. Now it is already 35pc. In the next two to three years, it would cross 40pc.” Equally emphatic about scooters is Sajeev Rajasekharan, Executive Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) who noted that “Our vision for this sector has been to introduce stylish scooters that deliver superior
Varghese Thomas, Vice President & Global Head - Corporate Communication, TVS Motor Company reiterated that the “scooter segment in India has witnessed a spectacular growth and is continuously outpacing the industry. The segment has expanded its share in the domestic two-wheeler market and captured over one-third of the market. From being 11% of the total two-wheeler industry few years back, scooters today contribute over 30% of the total two-wheeler industry. The industry has seen a 20% CAGR over the last 5 years. The fundamental drivers of growth for scooters are still very active. We are confident that we shall see the category
From being 11% of the total two-wheeler industry few years back, scooters today contribute over 30% of the total two-wheeler industry. The industry has seen a 20% CAGR over the last 5 years. The fundamental drivers of growth for scooters are still very active.” - Varghese Thomas, VP & Global Head - Corporate Communication, TVS Motor Company 30 | MOTOWN INDIA | SEPTEMBER 2017
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TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL
Yamaha Cygnus Ray-ZR share continue to grow and possibly reach 40% of the total two-wheeler industry in the coming few years. There is also a shift towards scooters not just in many urban markets but also Tier 2/3 towns due to the convenience it offers. We see robust growth and continuing scooterisation in India.� Many in the two-wheeler industry today believe that the scooter share in the market will stabilise at around 50% in the not so distant future. Studies undertaken by Edelweiss Securities suggest that scooter sales are closely linked to literacy rate of women: For instance, it pointed out that scooter penetration is low in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh which account for 37% of total population. In these states, female literacy levels are not only significantly below the national average of 65.5%, the divergence with male literacy levels is higher than the national average of 16.6% (indicative of a culturally male dominated society). The Edelweiss Securities report further
stated that the demand for scooters is not linked to per capita income. For instance, in West Bengal the per capita income is Rs 70,000 and scooter sales account for 22% of two-wheeler sales. In UP where scooter penetration is 17%, the per capita income is Rs 36,000 only. Similarly, Manipur and Assam, with per capita income of Rs 41,500 and Rs 44,000 respectively, have very high scooters penetration of 86%/39%. Scooter penetration in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which account for 32% of total population, stands at more than 40%. In smaller states like Manipur, Goa, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, which account
for around 4% of population, share of scooters range from 50-86%. Hence, there is humungous scope for the share to increase in states that account for 65% of population, which can drive scooter penetration. Moreover, the pace of share increase hinges on acceptance of scooters in the Hindi belt (Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh), said the Edelweiss Securities report.
SHAKEOUT IN THE MOTORCYCLE SEGMENT While it is very much evident that the Indian two-wheeler industry is witnessing increasing scooterisation, it is also being seen that the commuter motorcycle segment is losing a bit of its sheen. In 2002-03, commuter motorcycles in the 75cc to 125cc range sold 3,152,408 units while total sales stood at 3,647,493 units. This meant that commuter motorcycles constituted as much as 86.42% of the total motorcycle sales in the country. In the fiscal 2016-17, the scenario had changed drastically in the motorcycle market. Motorcycles in the range of 75cc to 125cc range sold 8,379,559 units in the country
TVS Jupiter Classic Edition Suzuki Access 125
BAJAJ AUTO, TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES UK GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR MID-CAPACITY BIKES Triumph Motorcycles of UK and Bajaj Auto have announced a global partnership to deliver a range of mid-capacity motorcycles (300cc to 500cc) benefiting from the collective strengths of both companies. This partnership will be a non-equity partnership. It was in July 2017 that Bajaj Auto had announced that it would be rolling out Sweden based Husqvarna motorcycles from its Chakan plant in Maharashtra in 2018. The models to be made at Chakan will be the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 motorcycles.
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SEPTEMBER 2017 | MOTOWN INDIA | 31
TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL Yamaha Fazer 25 SHARE IN TWO-WHEELER MARKET YEAR/ SEGMENT
SCOOTER
MOTORCYCLE
FY 17
31.86%
63.53%
FY 16
30.57%
65.02%
FY 15
28.17%
67.14%
FY 14
24.33%
70.78%
FY 13
21.18%
73.09%
while total sales of motorcycles stood at 11,094,543, thereby constituting 75.52%. “Earlier people in India used to buy motorcycles only for commuting purposes from A to B. Now as it happens in developed country, in India too people are using motorcycles for leisure. Leisure would mean that they would go for higher cc motorcycles with better features,” opined Kurian of Yamaha. Taking a look at the broader picture of growth over five years from fiscal 2012-13 to fiscal 2016-17, the sale of motorcycles has grown by only 10pc while scooter sales has grown by a massive 87.35pc. The sale of mopeds has also increased by 12.88pc over the five year period. TVS Motor Company is the only player in this moped segment. Latest figures indicate a growth of 23pc for moped sales in FY 17. This was the highest percentage of growth in sales amongst the three segments.
EVOLVING TRENDS According to Chirag Shah of Edelweiss Securities, in the two-wheeler segment, “we argue the ability to carve a new category is the sole success mantra, and once a player achieves leadership, it’s difficult to dislodge him. At
Suzuki Gixxer 32 | MOTOWN INDIA | SEPTEMBER 2017
the current juncture, we see two categories that will drive industry growth - scooters and >250cc motorcycles. The key drivers being shift in preference, lower penetration levels and emergence of women as key demand influencers”. Shah believed that the share of scooters can rise to at least 50% from 32% in FY17 at the cost of commuter bikes; and the share of motorcycles with more than 250cc engine capacity can easily double driven by extremely low penetration levels (3/1,000 males versus 23/1,000 males for premium bikes and 15/1,000 people for cars). He further noted that HMSI which currently has a 57% share in the Indian two-wheeler market and Eicher Motors (Royal Enfield), which has a 95% market share in the more than 250cc motorcycle segment, are best placed to capitalise on this trend. The 350-500cc segment of motorcycles continues to grow with Royal Enfield dominating the segment which grew by 738pc from FY12-17. The only other contender in this category is Bajaj with its KTM range and now the recently launched Dominar brand. During the April-July FY18 period Bajaj Auto has been able to clock a growth of 301.9pc over last year’s figures, selling
10301 units this year in the 4 month period. However, Royal Enfield has recorded a drop of 27pc falling from 17613 units in the April-July FY17 period to 12855 units in FY18. In his report, Shah said he believed that the only success mantra in the twowheeler industry is being the first-mover in identifying and creating a new segment and a differentiated brand positioning. “Time and again, the 2W industry has thrown enough examples of the same—HMCL’s runaway success during 1995-2005 ( as Hero Honda) with a category creating Splendor or Bajaj Auto’s success with the 150-200cc category Pulsar or HMSI’s success with Activa in scooters,” he stated.
SLOW GROWTH IN SUPER PREMIUM MOTORCYCLE SEGMENT The premium motorcycle segment (above 250cc) comprises of several players who
Bajaj Dominar www.motownindia.com
TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL are also dominant in the lower end of the segment. While Royal Enfield is the leader in this segment, other players like Bajaj, TVS, Mahindra 2 wheelers, Yamaha, Suzuki , Hero, Honda and UM motorcycles are slowly trying to carve their own space in this segment. But there is also a super premium/ superbike segment where cubic capacities are higher and prices are in lakhs of rupees. These include the likes of Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, Harley-Davidson India, Indian Motorcycle, Triumph Motorcycles India, DSK Benelli, DSK Hyosung, Kawasaki, MV Agusta (sold through Motoroyale in India), Ducati, Aprilia, BMW Motorrad and MotoGuzzi. Leaders in the super premium segment include the likes of Harley, Indian Motorcycle, Triumph, Kawasaki and DSK Benelli. According to latest figures, volumes in the premium/super premium motorcycle market in India seem to have taken a hit. This can be attributed to a few factors including demonetisation. However segments like the 350-500cc, 800-1000cc and 1000-1600cc categories have shown marginal growth in the FY18 April-July period. Tier 2 and 3 cities are also increasingly bringing in demand for premium/ super premium bikes and are displaying scope for market growth. According to Vimal Sumbly, Managing Director, Triumph Motorcycles India Pvt Ltd, “We are seeing demand coming from tier II areas like Kolhapur and Sholapur in Maharashtra, Surat and Rajkot in Gujarat, etc. Going forward we shall be increasing our network in more of these areas”. Sumbly further stated that the reason for this increase in demand was due to the increasing digitalisation of India which has resulted in aspirations of those in rural and urban areas amounting to the same.
Pankaj Dubey, Country Head & Managing Director, Polaris India Pvt. Ltd noted that products above 500cc will carry a high 2 digit CAGR for the next few decades in India. He further added “ With many Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities emerging as attractive Triumph Street Scrambler automobile markets, Indian Motorcycle doesn’t want to lose the opportunity specially During the April-July FY18 to woo the super achievers in these markets period as well sales volumes fell by 23pc over as it is all about being successful and yes, we last year’s figures indicating a slowdown in do have our customers in such cities”. sales of super premium motorcycles in India. The 500-800cc category has been the In the super premium motorcycle space most popular segment in the super premium Harley Davidson Motor Company India Pvt. motorcycle space. Motorcycle sales in the Ltd. continues to dominate the scene in terms 1000-1600cc category have also seen a of volumes. In FY17 the iconic American growth of 12.6pc in the April-July FY18 cruiser motorcycle brand made up 48.5pc period. Though numbers are very low in of the total sales in the two-wheeler super this segment, Kawasaki, Triumph and premium space barring the sales figures of Suzuki all have recorded a growth in sales Indian Motorcycle, Benelli, Hyosung, MV figures during this period over last year’s Augusta, Aprilia and a few others which figures. Harley continued to lead sales in were not available. In the super premium this segment and recorded a sale of 185 motorcycle space over a 5 year period from units. The 1600cc and above segment has FY12-17 Harley contributed to a little over seen a drop in sales over last year’s figures. 51pc of total sale volumes. However, in the Harley and Triumph being the major players same 5 year span, sale of super premium in this segment have also seen a sharp drop motorcycles peaked in FY15 and hence forth in sales. While Harley recorded a drop of began declining. FY17 saw a drop 52.48pc in unit sales, Triumph managed to of 13.6pc in unit sales of super sell only 1 unit in comparison to 41 units sold premium motorcycles YoY. in the same period of FY17. Sale of super premium motorcycles in India has definitely seen a slowdown over the past two financial years with the first four months of FY18 moving along the same lines.
Indian Scout Bobber
ROYAL ENFIELD 3RD MANUFACTURING FACILITY BEGINS COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION Motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield has started commercial production from its new manufacturing facility at Vallam Vadagal near Chennai, Tamil Nadu in India. Spread over 50 acres, the Vallam Vadagal plant will be Royal Enfield’s third manufacturing facility and will manufacture Royal Enfield motorcycles for India and international markets. In FY 2017-18, the combined production capacity from all the three plants is planned to be 825,000 units. In FY 2016-17, Royal Enfield produced and sold 667,135 motorcycles, nearing its installed capacity. Royal Enfield’s sales have grown at a compounded rate of over 55% over the past 6 years. The order book continues to be strong and there is a large unmet demand. In FY 2017-18, the company plans to invest Rs 800 crores, largely towards capacity expansion at Vallam Vadagal, new products and platforms, and technical centres in Leicester, UK and Chennai, India. This investment will be funded through internal accruals.
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SEPTEMBER 2017 | MOTOWN INDIA | 33
TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL
YADVINDER SINGH GULERIA
Sr. Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India HMSI recently inaugurated its new 4th assembly line in Karnataka’s Narsapura plant increasing its total annual production capacity at this plant to 2.4 million units. Are you upbeat both on domestic sales as well as exports? In the domestic market, Honda 2Wheelers has been witnessing a constant growth which is double the industry. On the exports front also, the increasing popularity of Honda vehicles in other countries, especially Latin America, Sri Lanka and Nepal has added to our overall sales. In the long term, Honda 2Wheeler India’s steady and strategic investments will power our dreams to make India the export hub worldwide. In this scenario where all our four plants are operating at full capacity, we are optimistic about both our domestic as well as export sales. HMSI’s scooter journey has been remarkable. Do you see scooter sales overtaking motorcycle sales in the coming time in India? Categorised into various sub segments based on engine capacity, the 100-110 cc motorcycle segment contributes the highest to overall Indian 2 wheeler industry. In the past 6 years itself, the gap between the 100-110cc motorcycle and scooter contribution to 2Wheeler industry has reduced from 30% (2011-12) to only 3% (2017-18 YTD); scooters continue to drive industry with double digit growth. With the increased women empowerment, improved road infrastructure, unisex appeal, increased mileage and convenience driving the scooterisation in India, the same growth momentum is expected
Clutch Transmission (DCT) technology by Honda –India’s first dual clutch transmission adventure tourer, make it an appropriate choice for the varied Indian terrain. Africa Twin received an overwhelming response with first 50 bookings completing in just over 2 month’s time of announcement. Unlike earlier, demand for premium motorcycles is now also coming from smaller cities as a good number of bookings for Africa Twin have also come from cities like – Jalandhar, Indore, Surat, Bhubaneswar and Kochi. to remain with scooters and it is likely we could soon see scooters emerging as the largest contributor in the two-wheeler segment in India.
With the launch of the Cliq, Honda has established its shift in focus toward the rural markets as well. What is the scale of potential you see in the rural Indian market and going forward are you planning more scooters specifically for this market? Focused at up-country customers with a progressive mindset, Cliq is a perfect blend of practicality, versatility and value for money. Only Honda as the market leader in automatic scooters with its unparalleled economies of scale, could break the price barrier between automatic scooters and traditional 100-110cc motorcycles by bringing this kind of disruption in the 100-110cc segment. Customer requirements in rural and semi-urban geographies are fast evolving. Now convenience and multiple
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usage are also joining the traditional requirements of utility and affordability. Cliq’s initial response in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu has been very positive. Honda believes that scooterisation is an untapped blue ocean with huge potential and we are awaiting national availability by the month of September and with our continued aggressive expansion upto the last mile, we are confident of taking forward this scooterisation to the up country areas as well. You have very recently launched the Africa Twin, making your entry into the adventure motorcycle segment. This motorcycle comes with a DCT which means essentially it is an automatic. Is there a demand for such vehicles in the premium motorcycle segment? Will the demand for such products remain in tier 1 cities or will sales in tier 2 cities also pick up? Over the years, Indian customers have evolved and now require their machines to have world’s best technologies. Africa Twin, equipped with the unique Dual
With a total capacity of 6.4 million units per annum, what is the current capacity utilisation at your four plants? We are utilising 100% capacity at all our fourplants. India is one of the largest two wheeler markets for Honda globally, what percentage of share does India account for in terms of sales? Will your volumes continue to come from scooters or do you see the sales volumes of your motorcycles also picking up? The Indian two wheeler industry is fast adopting scooterisation. Scooter segment with its 18% growth is growing at double the speed of the industry (9%) while the motorcycle segment is growing at a slower 7%. As leaders in scooters, with 59% market share, our first focus is to expand leadership in this segment while increasing our motorcycle sales. Our efforts to consolidate in the motorcycle segment are now visible. Growing nearly three times the motorcycle industry, Honda has now become the new No.2 in the motorcycle segment as well.
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TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL
ROY KURIAN
Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd With scooters slowly catching up with motorcycles in terms of sales in the overall two wheeler domestic market, do you foresee this trend to continue? I am seeing a lot of traction happening in scooters. Motorcycle customers are shifting to scooters. Five years back, scooters used to be less than 20pc of over two wheeler sales. Now it is already 35pc. In the next two to three years, it would cross 40pc. Yamaha entered the market at the right time in 2012. Today in our portfolio, more than 50pc is scooters. What have you to say about the growing scooterisation in the country? We are a company that is associated with bad boys and we have this rough and tough image. At Yamaha it was a macho image that we carried. To then come out with a scooter and becoming successful there was a challenge for us. Today we do 55pc scooters and 45pc motorcycles. I am expecting this to be 50:50 as we go along. Our challenge was to marry the “cool” image of the company and the “warm” image of a scooter. We are doing good. With India becoming the largest market in the world for two-wheelers, how do you see Yamaha growing? India is going to be a number one market for two wheelers and for Yamaha as a global company India is a very important market. We are almost number two in the world versus Indonesia, and volumes are coming from India.
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In the coming time, looking at the size of the market and the way we are growing, we will be a big contributor to Yamaha as a group. You have mentioned that biking in India is evolving and moving from the commuter space to the adventure segment. Is this trend happening rapidly? Earlier people in India used to buy motorcycles only for commuting purposes from A to B. Now as it happens in developed country, in India too people are using motorcycles for leisure. Leisure would mean that they would go for higher cc motorcycles with better features. The Fazer 25 which we have launched has all the features of touring and adventure. The aspiration levels of people are growing in India, thanks to the many bikes that are coming in as CBUs, etc. But not everybody can afford them. So, they will look at miniature version of that like the R15, the Fazer 25, FZ25, etc. These bikes will be for the masses.
Tier II is like a semi urban city, there we are noticing that more and more people are buying scooters. But tier III is more of a commuter motorcycle market. Whatever trend is there in tier I, trickles down to tier II and finally to tier III towns. But again infrastructure and education play a very important role. I have always noticed that behind the purchase of a scooter, a female influence is there in the purchase decision. It could be a daughter, a mother or a sister or somebody. The more India is progressing and as more females get educated and get jobs, the scooter will be an ideal solution for those customers. The scooter can be easily driven by both men and women.
skewed towards scooters? No, we have to do a balance. We have in our basket, both scooters and motorcycles. We need to meet the expectations of the boys when it comes to motorcycles. Yamaha gives a very good connect between man and machine. For example, the R15 was launched in 2008. Even today when he has to buy an R15 he does not compromise with any other bike. That is the connect that Yamaha offers to its customers. Also, since customers are moving towards scooters, we have to offer that also. In a span of just four years we have done a decent job when it comes to scooters. This is just a beginning and we have a long way to go. I am not only optimistic about India but also about the Yamaha brand.
Will you future products be
What about Yamaha offering heavy touring bikes in India? We are currently focussing on affordable bikes. As far as CBUs are concerned, we were the first to introduce CBUs way back in 2007. We have a CBU range with us, but the market is not big at all. The organised market here itself is too small. We are exploring the kind of CBUs we have how to promote these CBUs in India. What about Yamaha sales in tier II and tier III cities and towns of India?
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VARGHESE M. THOMAS
Vice President & Global Head - Corporate Communication, TVS Motor Company Your scooters have sold consistently in higher numbers when compared to motorcycles in India What are the factors driving such growth of scooters? The scooter segment in India has witnessed a spectacular growth and is continuously outpacing the industry. The segment has expanded its share in the domestic two-wheeler market and captured over one-third of the market. From being 11% of the total two-wheeler industry few years back, scooters today contribute to over 30% of the total two-wheeler industry. The industry has seen a 20% CAGR over the last 5 years. The fundamental drivers of growth for scooters are still very active. We are confident that we shall see the category share continue to grow and possibly reach 40% of the total two-wheeler industry in the coming few years. There is also a shift towards scooters not just in many urban markets but also Tier 2/3 towns due to the convenience it offers. We see robust growth and continuing scooterisation in India. Scooter sales in the tier 2 and tier 3 markets are picking up. What sort of demand do you see coming in from these markets for your scooters in the future? Multiple factors have led to the spur in demand in Tier 2/3 towns and rural markets. Improved infrastructure like roads, urban-like traffic situations, evolving and growing mobility needs among women are driving demand in these geographies. Manoeuvrability, riding comfort, practicality, convenience and
acquisition of market share and what is your present market share? At TVS Motor Company, we are committed to understanding our customers and championing mobility by providing the best of products that are high on innovation, technology, usability and style. Today, TVS Motor Company offers a robust portfolio, with relevant offerings for every significant customer need.
fuel economy have made the scooter a great package. Good monsoon and rural wages gradually trending up are also contributing in improving the demand, especially in rural markets. The upcoming festive season will also carry this momentum ahead. Your moped sales have declined since last year in Q1. Do you see a definite pattern emerging? What is the way forward for these products? At TVS Motor Company, the focus is on catering to customers’ requirements with
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relevant product offerings. Hence we have a robust product portfolio, where the XL100 play a major role by offering the perfect fuelefficient and affordable multi-utility vehicle which aids the endeavour of rural India. We have more than 1.2 crore happy moped customers. In Q1 of FY 18 TVS managed to sell more scooters than Hero. What has been the strategy behind this successful climb to second place in the Indian scooter market? What are the company’s plans for the future
Over the years, each TVS Scooter brand has created a strong and differentiating identity. We feel that each of our products had a significant role to play; each product reflects our commitment to customers; giving them high quality, feature rich and value for money products. TVS Jupiter has found favour with people across the country and demographics. In recent times, it has consistently found a place in the top 10 selling two-wheelers in the country. The iconic Scooty, offering Pep+ and Zest 110, has championed the female rider, including being the first 110 cc scooter to conquer the highest motorable road in the world, Khardung La. Also, the two-time winner TVS Wego came out on the top of the JD Power Quality Survey- establishing the fact that it is the right fit for the urban executives of today. All of these products ensure that for every need, there is a powerful offering from the TVS scooter stable. We are humbled by the overwhelming response and are grateful to our customers who find a resonance with our scooters.
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TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL
SAJEEV RAJASEKHARAN
Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd We have not seen many product launches from Suzuki of late. What plans do you have regarding market acquisition and what growth are you looking at in the future? In India, we offer our customers a very exciting, robust product portfolio across the ATSC, motorcycles and the Big Bikes category. We recently refreshed our ATSCs – Lets and Access with new exciting variants. In August, we also launched the new ABS and improved Fuel Injection (FI) variants for Gixxer SF models; and the Special Edition 2017 Series of the Gixxer SF (ABS and FI) and Gixxer models. Not only do these upgrades improve the riders’ safety, but also inject excitement into our product portfolio and make every ride more exciting for our customers. This year, we have already launched the much awaited, all new GSX-R1000 and GSXR1000R. These bikes are the lightest and fastest GSX-Rs ever, and were launched globally earlier this year, and are now available across India. Since inception, the core philosophy of Suzuki has been to provide ‘Value-Packed Products’, which is ingrained in our manufacturing philosophy as well. The scooter segment has been growing at a steady pace. Is this going to be the focus area for Suzuki as well or are there other opportunities you are looking to explore? We have flexibility at our assembly lines that allows us to ramp up production of either ATSCs or motorcycle, as per the market-demand. The ATSC segment has been witnessing an upward trajectory for the last
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few years. While the industrygrowth-rate for ATSCs during the first quarter of FY 2017-18 was 20.1% on Y-O-Y, Suzuki Two wheelers grew by 58.3% during the same-period. Our vision for this sector has been to introduce stylish scooters that deliver superior performance. The response to our ATSCs – Access 125, 125 SE, and Let’s has also been very encouraging. With the recent refreshed models of Access (new Matt colors introduced) and Let’s (Dynamic Dual Tone colors introduced), we have been able to further strengthen our foothold in the segment. However, we also enjoy good traction for the Gixxer portfolio of motorcycles. Through regular technological and style upgrades; we have managed to sustain customer’s excitement. Both the ATSCs and motorcycles have been key to our recent growth-curve wherein we have clocked a 40.6% growth on yearon-year basis in 2017 for the April-July period. What segment of motorcycle according to you is promising the most growth in the future? Are you planning any product launches to fortify your position in this segment? Within motorcycles, it is the 150 cc segment that has holds most
promise. In the first quarter for FY 2017-18, this segment has seen an increase of 2.5%. We have out-grown the industry-growth in all 3-months of FY 2017-18, recording a Y-O-Y growth of 39.2% for Q1, 2017-18. The Indian customers are now not only more discerning and value conscious than ever, but also do not mind spending more, as long if they are convinced about the quality and value proposition of the product. The Gixxer portfolio has proved to be extremely popular and well-accepted amongst this target group, and has allowed us to have a strong foothold in this segment. We have a very exciting roadmap ahead that will help us fortify our presence. How important is the Indian market to Suzuki in the global scheme of things? Will we be seeing more product launches in the premium motorcycle space any time soon? These are exciting times
for Suzuki-two wheelers. Not only are we one of the fastest-growing two-wheeler manufactures in India, but today, we also stand on the cusp of an even greater growth. As a brand, Suzuki embodies excitement, sportiness and the spirit of youthfulness; attributes that personify the Gixxer portfolio of motorcycles. Since its launch in 2014, not only has the Gixxer continuously evolved in terms of styling and performance, but is today the benchmark for the entire segment for their premiumness, sporty design and functional excellence. We are also the earliest to provide ABS in a 150cc category motorcycle, with the new Gixxer SF. We shall definitely be coming up with new launches in the due course. We are committed to offering our customers, exciting and quality products across all segments, including the premium category. What about your dealer network? What is the present number of dealerships in India and are you looking to increase these numbers? For FY 2017-18, we are targeting a sale of 500,000 units, up from 350,000 unit target that we had for FY 2016-17. To achieve this, we have been ramping-up our product line-up as well as expanding dealership networks and touch-points as well. As of today, we have close to 450 dealerships and 940 touch-points all over India for our customers to experience Suzuki products. We hope to close the FY 2017-18 at around 500 dealerships and 1000 plus touch-points.
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PANKAJ DUBEY
Country Head & Managing Director, Polaris India Pvt. Ltd. How has the journey been for Indian Motorcycles in India been, especially in the aftermath of the sudden implementation of BS IV norms across cities? India emerges as the world’s biggest market for two-wheelers and with it there is also the ever-rising pollution levels in the country, consequently making the implementation of BS IV norms across the cities a much needed step to be taken by the Indian Government and we at Indian Motorcycle appreciated this step by working on it, starting from the Indian Scout Sixty to our flagship model the Indian Roadmaster presently fulfills the BS IV norms.
the super achievers in these markets as it is all about being successful and yes, we do have our customers in such cities. Which segment of premium motorcycles do you see growing the fastest? Do you plan to bring any new products in this category? I think product above 500 cc will be having high 2 digit CAGR for next few decades in India. We are currently focusing on 1000 cc and above segment. There is a growing competition from established brands from
German, Italy, Austria, Japan, etc. How is your US brand competing in this midst? We focus on building our own brand by giving great products and experience to our customers with a blend of legacy and modern technology for the riders who want to be legends. Worldwide iconic brands like Harley are beginning to stutter in terms of sales and acceptance, especially demand from the millennials. Is it the same for Indian Motorcycles?
We are focusing on our key philosophy of creating products that fuels the passion of enthusiasts around the globe by delivering innovative, high-quality vehicles, products, services and experiences. And it is very well captured in our Polaris Creed that states “Understand the riding Experience, Live the riding experience and work to make it better”. As a result, Indian Motorcycle has become one of the fastest growing motorcycle company in most parts of the world from almost all customer base including Millennials.
It did come as a surprise to many in the industry and as it never happened in the past that the registration of vehicle is stopped in India within 2 days notice, impacting the balance sheet of most of the auto companies in India. The customers in India have shown great Interest towards our motorcycles and are completely satisfied with the product performance. Expertly balanced and lightweight, the Indian Scout has won the hearts of bike enthusiasts around the globe and apart from that our Chief Range is receiving outstripping demands. What has been your brand’s penetration in tier 2 & 3 cities? Is there any demand coming in from such markets? With many Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities emerging as attractive automobile markets, Indian Motorcycle doesn’t want to lose the opportunity specially to woo
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TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL
VIMAL SUMBLY
Managing Director, Triumph Motorcycles India Pvt. Ltd. Congratulations on the launch of the new Street Scrambler motorcycle. This seems to offer the best of both the worlds, on road as well as adventure. Is this the new trend among new motorcycle models? All over the world, as well as in India, the larger section of the people was on classics, but of late people want to do adventure. So they want a bike which is classic yet is capable of doing off road too. This one comes in between our current range of Bonneville Street Twin and Tigers. We should attract this new segment with the new Street Scrambler. I am sure it should do well in India. What about localisation of your products at the Manesar plant? Last year when we produced bikes in India, around 80 to 85 per cent of our products were routed through FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) and 15 to 20pc were CKD (completely knocked down). By end of this year we are going to have more than 90 pc of our bikes coming through CKDs at the Manesar plant, while the remaining 10pc would be CBU (completely built unit). CKDs will help us with the flexibility to deliver to our customers faster and also in terms of production here in India. This would also mean a significant role in “Make in India� programme of the Indian government.
CKD plants in the world, one is in Brazil and the other is in India. That shows how strategic India is as a country. Recently we also announced our partnership with Bajaj Auto for mid capacity motorcycles in India, which again proves that India is a strategic part of business overall for Triumph. You have worked in Bajaj earlier, so is this new partnership exciting for you personally and nostalgically? I did my first set of biking in Bajaj Auto. Of course, Triumph taught me a different set of biking in the premium segment. It is a fantastic combination of both brands and I think if this partnership is able to bring out a product which is really going to cater to a different segment, then why not use the strengths of both the companies to address India as well as global markets.
in tier II and tier III towns? Because of the increasing digital campaign of the Indian government, there is no barrier between an urban and a rural area. The aspiration levels of those in rural and urban areas are almost the same. We are seeing demand coming from tier II areas like Kolhapur and Sholapur in Maharashtra, Surat and Rajkot in Gujarat, etc. Going forward we shall be increasing our network in more of these areas.
consumer and understand what they really want. Yes, I am a rider and I love to ride and it was a fantastic experience to ride with auto journalists during the Tiger Training Academy experience (The event was held in Aamby Valley in Pune on August 23, 2017). Besides, riding with other riders also helps you to network where you are with a lot of like minded people. I hope this culture grows a lot more in India.
You are among the very few CEOs of a motorcycle company who loves riding and gearing up for long rides. Have you always been so enthusiastic? A lot of CEOs sit in airconditioned rooms and make their decisions, I like to be a part of that decision making in an AC room but I also like it on the ground. I love connecting with the
Since you make premium products, what has been the response for your motorcycles
How important is Triumph Motorcycles India in the overall game plan of your parent company? India is a very strategic market for us. It is a very important market for Triumph. If you look at Triumph, you have only two
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TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL
SHIRISH KULKARNI Chairman, DSK Motowheels It is very clear that your DSK Benelli brand has outperformed the DSK Hyosung brand. Has that got something to do with the acceptance of Benelli motorcycles? DSK Benelli has undoubtedly emerged as a prominent brand within the Indian superbike segment and commands one of the largest market shares. Though all of these factors have played a critical role in bringing about this positive change, the brand’s edge over Hyosung has largely been attributed to its product launch frequency after the main launch. We’ve constantly expanded our product offerings with Benelli, something that enabled us to tap customers with wide-ranging preferences. With DSK Hyosung, however, we haven’t launched any new products in the recent times but it still contributes a steady business with widest network spread across the country. So, as we plan to launch multiple models in the near future, we’re confident that DSK Hyosung will reiterate the success story of DSK Benelli. Do you foresee an exponential growth in the demand of premium motorcycles? If so to what extent and what do you feel is the driving factor behind this growth? The luxury and premium twowheeler market in India is at the cusp of a major boom today. Coming from numbered sales a couple of years ago, the demand has burgeoned significantly and sales have increased to thousands of units per year – a trend which is still in the upward trajectory. Earlier, superbiking players were largely operational in urban geographies. But now
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we’re also making forays into different tier II and tier III cities which is further widening our customer base and unlocking the true potential of the Indian market. Another factor that’s further giving fillip to this change is the rise of superbiking culture, further fuelled by demographic and psychographic changes within the country. It must also be noted that due to the disparity in prices in the previous tax regime, many customers avoided buying
premium automobiles at the very first place, while others had to source it from another state and experience considerable difficulties. Since the GST rollout has led to a unified market in India, it will further boost the overall demand. Which segment of premium motorcycles is likely to show the most growth in the near future? Are you planning on introducing more products in this segment?
The current trend indicates that there’s increased demand for sub-500cc bikes or introductory superbikes. We’ve recently launched DSK Benelli 302R in this segment and are further going to expand our offerings in between 300cc to 500cc on the DSK Benelli front and 250cc and 650cc on the DSK Hyosung front. What is your plan to expand capacity at your existing facility? And could you briefly shed some light on your manufacturing plans? At present, we have a production capacity of 500 to 600 units per month. We aim to increase this figure to an annual production of 50,000 units in the coming year. As far as manufacturing is concerned, our new plant in Pune has been designed to carry out full-fledged manufacturing operations of up to 1,00,000 units on a yearly basis.
Where does the Indian market stand in the global scheme of things for Hyosung and Benelli? The superbike segment has been flourishing in India. Today, Indian customers are looking for enhanced and more evolved alternatives, while the business landscape is also gradually improving with the elimination of operational bottlenecks. This has opened a gold mine of opportunities for both, Benelli as well as Hyosung. Both of the brands are giving the Indian market the attention that it deserves and are proactively collaborating to launch new customer-centric products to better cater to the increasing demand.
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The day we made the TIGERS PURR TIGER TRAINING ACADEMY, AN EXPERIENCE Report: P.Tharyan The expansive Aamby Valley situated on the outskirts of Pune is a unique hill city for the well-heeled that has been carved out of the bowels of the earth and wrapped around in the beautiful arms of mother nature. It recently witnessed a special event of the Tiger Training Academy hosted by Triumph Motorcycles India, the iconic British motorcycle manufacturer. Around 30 odd motorcycle journalists in India had the chance to experience the ingenuity of honing one’s skills when it comes to off road motorcycling. It was not an event to win a coveted trophy, nor was it meant to choose who the best was; it was simply a fun experience that had all the ingredients of safety, awareness and skill built into it. At 54 years of age, I felt it was a bit daunting for me initially to climb on to a massive 800cc triple engine Triumph Tiger motorcycle and attempt to clear obstacles that one would usually give the pass. But several minutes into a reassuring and educative speech by the legendary Vijay Parmar, the chief instructor for this Tiger Training Academy initiative, I was all pepped up and ready to take on the unknown. Everything from the right riding gears to riding postures to the abilities of the Tiger motorcycles were explained to the enthusiastic bunch of journalists, many of them in their twenties and rearing to tame the motorcycle and the terrain. Vimal Sumbly, the enthusiastic biker and managing director of Triumph Motorcycles India went up to the journalists and reminded them of the fun that they were to experience. The Tiger Training Academy is, incidentally, a special initiative by Triumph to train the Triumph Tiger owners on riding safely both on and off road conditions. The course in Aamby Valley was a pure off-road experience bundled with lots of tricky obstacles, from simple cones to steep inclines and wading through water, while moss, rocks, rubble and the intermittent rains ensured that our challenge never got easy. The Tiger motorcycles come
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in two different ranges, the XR touring range consisting of the XR, XRx and XRT, and the off-road biased XC range consisting of the XC, XCx and the XCA. The one I got was the XCA which has features like three riding modes, advanced on board computer, hand guards, CNC machined foot rests, aluminium radiator guard, etc. The bike is equipped with traction control and switchable ABS and its 800cc triple engine produces 94hp. We were put into four different batches of 6 or 7 each and each batch had to complete one obstacle before moving on to the next one. The first obstacle consisted of manoeuvring around the cones (slalom course), either standing or sitting on the bike and then climbing up a steep hilly tract and coming down a very narrow path between two rocky mounds. Several boys stumbled, a few fell, but I managed to clear it all when my turn came. Similarly, wading through water, slush and climbing up and down a few steep slushy and rocky inclines were next in line. Each of that I did with great care and skill, and also with a bit of trepidation overcoming me once in a while. The motorcycle’s ABS and off road riding mode kicked in at the right moments with adequate braking and traction control. The torque and power of the engine combined to give the bike remarkable thrust and speed. While several journalists fell, several stalled their engines (I did that a few times), and a couple of them were not able to complete the entire course, what one learnt from this experience was something that would always be treasured. The purpose of this academy is to train Tiger owners how to handle their motorcycles in tough real life situation. As for me, the icing on the cake was getting my Tiger Training Academy certificate saying that I had successfully completed the course at the Aamby Valley. The lesson I learnt was simple: A good off road motorcycle with some great features may look intimidating but when you ride it right, skilfully, carefully and in a much disciplined manner, you can even make the Tiger purr!!
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TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL Skidding and falling were part of the invaluable experience.
Pictures courtesy Triumph Motorcycles India
Vijay Parmar, chief instructor for Tiger Training Academy initiative
A participant slipping while attempting an obstacle.
Vimal Sumbly, Managing Director of Triumph Motorcycles India
Prized Possession!
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SEPTEMBER 2017 | MOTOWN INDIA | 43
TWO-WHEELER SPECIAL HONDA CRF1000L AFRICA TWIN
IN PURSUIT OF
ADVENTURE SPECIFICATI O N S ENGINE Liquid cooled, 4 –stroke, SI engine, twin cylinder 999.11cc TRANSMISSION Dual Clutch Transmission (6 speed) POWER 87hp@7500rpm TORQUE 91.9Nm@6000rpm TYRES Front: 90/90-21M/C 54H Rear: 150/70R 18M/C 70H FUEL TANK CAPACITY 18.8 litres
PRICE `13.06 lakh
(ex-showroom India)
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#HONDACRF1000LAFRICATWIN Report: P.Tharyan Photography: Afsar Baig
I
t’s not very often that you get your hands on a motorcycle that comes without a gear shift lever and a clutch. We took the Honda CRF 1000L for a long spin to find out its automatic way of doing things.
DESIGN AND FEATURES This half faired motorcycle comes with twin LED headlamps, an aggressively poised handle bar, knuckle guards and spoked wheels along with an artistically
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painted fuel tank and seats. The rear mud guard and tail light give the bike a sporty character. In place of the clutch lever you have the parking brake which can be pressed and engaged. The small windscreen and the cowl are well designed for the perfect aerodynamic look. The smart looking two in one exhaust with two tiny outlets add to the good looks of the bike. A closer look at the bottom exhaust outlet you will notice that it has been welded shut, perhaps to meet some of
those stringent emission and noise norms in the country. Honda is also offering a lot of additional accessories like a front side pipe, a DCT pedal shift for someone who wants a gear shift lever at the left foot area, fog lamps, top box, a high wind screen, a main stand, a U lock and others at an extra cost. This bike is 2334 mm in length, has a
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932 mm width, a height of 1478mm. The seat height is around 820 to 840mm which is adjustable. It also has a high ground clearance of around 250mm and a kerb weight of 245kg. The bike has a fuel tank capacity of 18.8 litres which can ensure you a travel of around 400km. Fuel efficiency hovers around 21.5 km per litre.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE The CRF 1000L Africa Twin is powered by a parallel twin cylinder OHC engine that produces around 87hp at 7500 rpm and a peak torque of 91.9Nm at 6000rpm. The bike can reach a top speed of 190kmph. The engine also has a lightweight camshaft made from the same material of the proven Fireblade cousin. And with a 270 deg crankshaft with irregular firing intervals and the fact that the engine has two spark plugs per cylinder, the bike has its own characteristic when it comes to its performance. The new Africa Twin is a motorcycle that owes its life to the electronics embedded in it. The moment you tweak the ignition and press the start button on the right of your handlebar, the engine comes to life with a great sound that is not jarring or irksome. Another button on your right helps you to put the bike into D or drive mode, just like in the cars. The bike has a Dual Clutch Transmission or DCT which acts like an automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the left side of the handlebars. The thumb switch on the right allows you to select D or S riding modes. There is also a button for you to select MT or manual transmission which means you can play manually with the paddle shifters to shift up or down the six gears. The D mode is ideal for city riding where you want to achieve good fuel efficiency. The Sport mode again allows you three levels of sporty ride. S1, S2 and S3
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all engaged with long pressing the button. The Africa Twin also has a rally style LCD display which digitally informs you about the speed, rpm levels, fuel position, gear position, odometer details, trip functions, ambient temperature and clock. It also displays all your drive settings and whether your traction control is engaged or disengaged and most important the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) and ABS. The 43 deg steering angle of the motorcycle enables a turning radius of 2.6 metres which is good for a mammoth motorcycle of this size. Coming to riding the Africa Twin, you need to master the electronic functions first. That may take a while. The Honda Selectable Torque Control and ABS work in unison but they can be independently set to give the rider 80 different possible combinations. Both the power and torque delivery are very strong and linear. As I rode into some off road terrains, I changed my settings to Sport mode, pressed the G switch. The G function is like when you half press the clutch and it responds directly
to your throttle inputs. Going over rough terrains or even bumps and pot holes is a breeze with the Africa Twin. The vehicle sits on 21 inches 90/90 54H front tyre and 18 inches 150/70R rear tyre with tubes. I found the suspension of the Africa Twin perfectly tuned to absorb all the undulations and ensure a comfortable ride. With telescopic front suspension and a pro-link suspension at the rear and a semi double cradle frame to boot, this bike is rock solid on almost every terrain. Incidentally, the front 45mm front forks with a 230mm stroke are fully adjustable while the rear shock with a 220mm travel are also full adjustable. The Africa Twin has a 310mm wave style twin floating front discs with 4pot radial calipers and at the rear we have a 256 mm wave style with a 1 pot caliper.
VERDICT A 90 km ride through Rajasthan’s unruly and chaotic traffic in Udaipur and also and on some very rough patches of land, proved beyond doubt that this machine is the right one for a true adventure seeker, even though things are done a bit automatically!
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REVIEW MSI GE73VR 7RF RAIDER GAMING NOTEBOOK PRICE `1,84,990/Ever seen how sports cars have almost all of what would make other cars envious? They are sleek and stunning to look at while they can also cut corners and trample the asphalt at insane speeds. Taking inspiration for the same breed of machines, MSI has built their latest GE Raider laptops, one of them being the GE73VR 7RF! The black coloured brushed metal finish on the laptop is accented by red highlights here and there, which make this look like a signature MSI product. While the material feels good to touch and look at, it also attracts fingerprints easily. The MSI Dragon emblem that glows once you switch-on the laptop also enhances the aesthetics of the notebook. The USB ports as well are lit by a dense red light. At just 28.5mm, this laptop looks really good and is quite portable and light as it weighs about 2.8kgs. The 17.3 inch FullHD wide-view panel is big enough to enjoy all sorts of games and movies and has very wide viewing angles as well. Colour representation is almost accurate but I did feel that the reds were a tad bit aggressive. You also get Per-Key RGB lighting from SteelSeriese that lets you individually map each key with a different colour and behaviour. To type the keys are pretty decent but I would still opt for an external mechanical keyboard when I have to write a
long article. The laptop is a powerhouse despite its sleek dimensions thanks to the quad core Intel Core i7 7700HQ CPU that has Hyper-threading and Turbo Boost enabled. You get 16GB of DDR4 RAM running at 2400MHz and there is space for adding another 16GB. The 7RF version comes with a powerful Nvidia GTX 1070 graphics card. All this hardware is complemented by a 256GB NVMe M.2 SSD and 1TB SATA HDD running at 7200rpm. MSI has also provided users with an option to add another SSD in RAID 0 for super fast storage and transfer speeds of up to 3300MBps. In case you still want more from your hardware then the field is open for manual overclocking. Gaming on this laptop was a delightful experience as expected. The 120Hz 5ms display only complements the capabilities of the massive GTX 1070. Apart from games, I tried some video editing on this machine and it proved to be really efficient in that department as well. For cooling, MSI has added an extra heat-pipe under the hood, which brings the total count to 7. There are two fans located at both the edges and you can control their speed as well. While I was largely impressed by the cooling capabilities of this laptop, it
did fail to impress me during long durations of gaming as the heat started to creep onto the keys making things uncomfortable. The GE73VR gets a pair of Dynaudio speaker and woofer on either sides of the front end. The sound output is pretty loud and has ample bass considering the slender frame of the laptop. Being a VR ready laptop you get Nahimic VR sound enhancement and options to tweak various sound settings using the Nahimic desktop application. The new MSI GE73VR 7RF is an almost perfect blend of performance and features. The hardware is rock solid when it comes to gaming and VR. While I think that the typing experience on the keyboard could have been better and the pricing a tad bit lower, I still feel that this laptop is worth the premium that you spend on it.
Report: Aakash S. Paul
SPECIFICATIO NS DISPLAY:
17.3� FHD (1920x1080), 120Hz, 5ms, Wide-View
OS:
Android 7.1.1 (Nougat)
CPU:
Intel Core i7 7700HQ
GPU:
GeForce GTX 1070 with 8GB GDDR5
RAM:
DDR4-2400, 2 Slots, Max 32GB,
STORAGE:
M.2 SSD Combo (NVMe PCIe Gen3 / SATA)
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SEPTEMBER 2017 | MOTOWN INDIA | 47
B2B NEWS Skoda Auto, Tata Motors call off talks on partnership
Lumax JV with Francisco Albero S.A.U to make oxygen sensors
For lack of technical or economic synergies, leading automotive players Skoda Auto and Tata Motors Ltd have ended their detailed negotiations on a strategic partnership. Skoda has assessed and evaluated a potential strategic collaboration with Tata Motors Ltd over recent weeks and months, a Skoda press note said. In doing so, both companies have concluded that at present, neither the technical nor the economic synergies are achievable to the extent desired by both parties. As a result, a planned strategic alliance will no longer be pursued for the time being. Both companies would like to emphasise that following the intensive and constructive discussions of the last few months, they are not ruling out possible future collaborations, the release added.
The Lumax DK Jain Group has announced a joint venture with Francisco Albero S.A.U (FAE) of Spain to manufacture and supply oxygen sensors to OEMs in India. These oxygen sensors will be instrumental aligning vehicles with the new BS VI norms. Lumax Auto Technologies will own 51pc of the JV company - Lumax FAE Technologies Pvt. Ltd., while FAE will (L) Anmol and Deepak Jain with their new partners own the remaining 49pc. An initial investment of Rs. 14 crore will be made to setup a manufacturing facility with an FAE Technologies aims to tap 10pc by 2020. installed capacity of 2 million oxygen sensor Other players in this competitive space include units. Lumax FAE Technologies Pvt. Ltd. shall Bosch, Denso and Delphi. be making the initial investment with an aim The oxygen sensor to be produced by to commence production operations by early Lumax FAE Technologies will monitor gases 2019. emitted by the vehicle’s engine and enable the The JV company will be investing in maintenance of an appropriate air fuel mixture. development and localisation of manufacturing It will also be able to prevent early damage capabilities of this product in India. At present to some critical parts thereby improving the in India Denso and NGK are manufacturing longevity of the vehicle. Phase 1 for Lumax this product for four wheelers in India and FAE Technologies includes partial localisation this new JV will be the first company to focus which may also see an increase in production on oxygen sensors for a 20 million strong two over a 5 year span from 2 million units to 6 wheeler market. The estimated market size or even 8 million units based on volumes is Rs. 1000 to 1400 crore, of which Lumax demanded.
Global Innovation Fund and Aspada invest $10 million Series B round in EM3 Agri EM3 AgriServices, India’s leading private sector farm mechanisation services company, has raised a $10 million (Rs 64 crore approx.) Series B round from London-based Global Innovation Fund (GIF) and existing investor Aspada. The company had earlier raised a $3.3 million Series A from Aspada in June 2015. EM3 AgriServices is India’s first provider of farm services for the entire cultivation cycle, on a pay-per-use basis. With two-thirds of India’s farms smaller than a hectare, most of India’s small-hold farmers rely on manual labour as they cannot afford capital equipment such as advanced farm implements, tractors and harvesters. EM3 solves this problem by offering an entire range of interventions from soil preparation to harvesting, where farmers pay a service fee calculated on a per hour or per acre basis.
48 | MOTOWN INDIA | SEPTEMBER 2017
JSW Energy to invest `4000 cr in e-vehicles, energy storage systems business JSW Energy Limited, part of the JSW Group and a growing energy company is planning to launch its own electric vehicle by 2020. The company is keen to enter into electric vehicles, energy storage systems and associated business, directly or through one or more subsidiaries. The expected capex to be incurred over the next three years would be in the range of Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000 crore. JSW Energy is planning to launch its own electric vehicle by 2020 with a vision of “Make in India and Make for India”. It will bring world class products suitable to Indian conditions satisfying Indian customer needs. “Our strategy is aligned with Government of India’s vision to make all cars electric by 2032, which will ease pressure on the economy of our country by reducing fuel import bill,” the company said. Moreover, the energy
space is evolving continuously with energy storage systems and charging infrastructure representing the next stage of evolution. JSW Energy aims to be ahead of the curve, leapfrog the current trends to capitalise on these new opportunities and create a new growth dynamic for the company. As part of this, JSW Energy plans to facilitate creation of charging infrastructure and necessary ecosystem for faster penetration of electric vehicles in India.
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TECHNOLOGY
Continental tightens screw on fuel evaporation Gasoline fuel is not only highly combustible, it also evaporates easily. The fumes – which contain benzene – pose a health hazard when inhaled and in combination with sunlight and exhaust gases they can cause photochemical smog which is a concern in large cities. This is why modern gasoline cars have a system onboard to minimize hydrocarbon emissions. A canister filled with activated carbon is used to collect all fumes from the tank. Of course the canister with the cumulated hydrocarbon (HC) needs to be flushed or purged from time to time. The air content, rich in HC, is fed forward to the intake manifold and flows into the combustion chambers where it gets burnt. This system has greatly reduced evaporative HC emissions. However, two challenges begin to threaten this success story: Firstly, the legislation on evaporative HC emission is set to become much stricter around the world over the next four to five years. Secondly, purging the HC canister is currently done by using the vacuum that is generated in the intake manifold of a gasoline engine during part-load operation by so-called throttling. In highly efficient gasoline cars there
is less or no vacuum available, though, because throttling is inefficient and is avoided wherever possible. In a gasoline mild hybrid car the engine may not be running at up to 20 per cent of the driving time, so no vacuum either. “Continental has developed an electrified solution to further reduce HC evaporative emissions”, said Klaus Hau, head of the Business Unit Sensors & Actuators in the Continental Division Powertrain. “For the first time the Active Purge Pump makes canister purging available independent from engine operation point and vacuum availability. With the Active Purge Pump vehicle manufacturers will be in a much better position to meet oncoming HC emission legislation,” said Hau. First SOP is planned for end of 2019. From Active Purge Pump to Active Purge System Put very simply, the efficiency of modern gasoline cars is partly based on running the engine in the most efficient part of its map whenever possible – or not to run it all, for instance, in a hybrid car. Throttling in particular is avoided as the engine’s thermodynamic efficiency is reduced by throttle losses. This is increasingly unacceptable because environmental concerns and economic considerations unanimously advocate lower fuel consumption. “The need for higher engine efficiency is beginning to make vacuum a rarity in gasoline cars. As a result it is becoming more difficult to flush the HC canister because often the boundary conditions will not allow this”, said Stefan Grüneis, product manager for Continental exhaust and emissions actuators. The Active Purge Pump (APP) is not dependent on vacuum. Instead it actively pulls the HC-laden air from the canister. The pump used for this action is a very compact and light-weight radial pump, driven by a highly efficient brushless DC motor. “The biggest benefit of the APP is that we can use it on demand, and activate it any time when it is necessary”, said Grüneis. “This makes the APP a perfect match for turbocharged engines which are run at higher loads more often, de-throttled engines, start-stop and hybrid powertrains with long engine-off periods.”
TOP LEVEL CHANGES IN MOTOWN PRASHANTH DORESWAMY will succeed Claude d’Gama Rose as the Market Head of Continental India and Managing Director, Continental Automotive India. Rose who will be retiring shall be succeeded by Doreswamy on October 1, 2017. Continental has named Doreswamy as the head of their entity in India. Doreswamy will continue the company’s focus on driving revenue opportunities in the region and build on improving technology and product development capabilities here in India. GM India has announced that President and Managing Director Kaher Kazem will hand over the reins of the company to Chief Financial Officer SANJIV GUPTA from September 1. Kazem will become president and CEO of GM Korea. Gupta will combine his role as GM India president and managing director with his finance leadership responsibilities.
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PETER MACKENZIE has been named the new Managing Director of Harley-Davidson India. MacKenzie assumes the role in addition to his current role as managing director for Greater China. MacKenzie will continue to based in Shanghai, China, with frequent travel to India. On a day-to-day basis, Manish Agarwal, Country Manager, will be providing full support to Harley-Davidson India. Tata Motors has appointed P B Balaji as the new Chief Financial Officer of the Tata Motors Group from November 2017. Balaji is a global finance professional with over two decades of experience in the corporate sector. He started his career with Unilever in 1995 and worked in different corporate finance roles across Asian markets, Switzerland, UK and India. . Since 2014, he has been heading the finance function as the Chief Financial Officer of Hindustan Unilever, a $6 billion enterprise.
SEPTEMBER 2017 | MOTOWN INDIA | 49
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW - INDIAN MANUFACTURERS PASSENGER CARS
(Total Domestic Sales + Exports for the month of July 2017 = 2,43,837 Units) Maruti Suzuki (50.34)% Hyundai Motor (16.44)% Volkswagen (5.52)% Tata Motors (5.02)% Honda Cars (4.64)% Ford (4.60)% Renault (3.45)% General Motors (3.31)% Nissan Motor (3.29)% Toyota Kirloskar (2.72)% OTHERS (0.67)% Skoda Auto (0.58)% Fiat India (0.08)% Mahindra & Mahindra (0.01)%
TWO WHEELERS
(Total Domestic Sales + Exports for the month of July 2017 = 18,92,960 Units)
PASSENGER UTILITY VEHICLES
(Total Domestic Sales + Exports for the month of July 2017 = 1,21,538 Units) Maruti Suzuki (34.39)% Mahindra & Mahindra(17.65)% Hyundai Motor (12.54%) Ford (12.24)% Toyota Kirloskar (10.57)% Honda Cars (5.04)% Tata Motors (3.88)% Renault (1.27)% Fiat India (0.77)% Nissan Motor (0.67)% General Motors (0.36)% OTHERS (0.62)% Force Motors (0.15)% Hindustan Motor Fin (0.05)% Isuzu Motors (0.22)% Volkswagen India (0.20)%
THREE WHEELERS
(Total Domestic Sales + Exports for the month of July 2017 = 71,349 Units)
Hero MotoCorp (32.93)% Honda Motorcycle & Scooter (28.77)%
Bajaj Auto (59.19)%
Bajaj Auto (14.02)%
Piaggio Vehicles (19.06)%
TVS Motor Company (13.91)%
TVS Motor Company (10.98)%
India Yamaha Motor (4.33)%
Mahindra & Mahindra (5.81)%
Royal Enfield (3.41)%
Atul Auto (4.77)%
Suzuki Motorcycle (2.11)%
Force Motors (0.14)% Scooters India (0.05)%
OTHERS (0.52)% Mahindra Two Wheeler (0.14)% Piaggio Vehichles (0.31)% H-D Motor (0.06)% India Kawasaki (0.01)%
LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
(Total Domestic Sales + Exports for the month of July 2017 = 39,728 Units)
MEDIUM & HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES (Total Domestic Sales + Exports for the month of July 2017 = 25,858 Units)
Tata Motors (41.44)% Mahindra & Mahindra (38.65)% Ashok Leyland (7.44)% Force Motors (4.69)%
Tata Motors (49.49)%
VECVs - Eicher (3.47)%
Ashok Leyland (34.90)%
Maruti Suzuki (1.99)%
VECVs - Eicher (11.36)%
SML Isuzu (1.24)%
Mahindra & Mahindra (2.94)%
Piaggio Vehicles (0.74)%
SML Isuzu (1.14)%
Isuzu Motors (0.34)%
VECVs - Volvo (0.17)%
As per SIAM data 50 | MOTOWN INDIA | SEPTEMBER 2017
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RNI No DEL ENG/2010/34562