Friday 22 February 2013

You live only once!


There is this awesome company in India, its called the JayPee group. It is responsible for happiness in the lives of many Youngsters. I am one of them, and the reason is simple. I am a sucker for speed, and Formula 1 is the sport I follow like a Religion, and JayPee brought it to India. They built what I would call a dream track, The Buddh International Circuit (BIC). Located in the place known as Greater Noida, BIC is a fantastic track, with Speed and Handling tested to the limit. I went there last year to see the F1 race, and I fell for it!

The Main Grand Stand at BIC
Now JayPee do another good thing, they arrange something they call "Time Trial", but it actually is a Track Day! It means you can take your car, to the track, and if its safe and legal, you can drive it around. Mind you, this track is of international standards, no potholes, no bumps, just pure Driving Nirvana!

The Buddh International Circuit
The date was 17th Feb 2013. I had just gone through a sleepless night because of the excitement I had as I was going to drive on it, and a little bit of tension because god decided to make it rain! Still, I was all prepared, I had a helmet, my car fluids were good, tires were all new, fuel tank was filled and I had done more than 100 laps of the track in my mind and on the F1 2012 game! All I had to do was pick up my friends, and drive to the track. I was allotted the 3rd session, which was a relief as I knew that the previous sessions would have aided in making the track dry and more grippy! I had my friends with me, and we drove to the Circuit. The ride to the Circuit is awesome too, as you can hit any speed you want on one of the few good roads in the NCR region. I chose to hit as much as I could, and my Swift DZire hit 160 kmph (Read 100, due to legal reasons). We had fun, loud music and shouting! Then the BIC complex stood in front of us. All we heard was the car roars due to the on going session. It was simply breathtaking. I had butterflies in my stomach, as I was just a few meters away from my dream. I parked my car, and did all the formalities. Then I stood in front of the gate, and across it was the Pit-lane. The experience, I cant tell you. We all had to wait for the session to be over.
The entry sticker for my car, I'm never gonna take it off!

Me waiting for the gates to open, and Checking the helmet too!
Sebastian Vettel's Pit, garage no. 6
I took the opportunity to check out the cars in my Session. BMW's, Jags, Mercs, Even an Audi A7. I was pretty confident i could overtake them. I stood outside, checking out the cars, admiring the view and enjoying with my friends. Then were in awe for the beauty of everything around. The gate opened, I rushed into my car, wore my RedBull Racing cap, and drove into the Pit-lane. As I crossed the SLS AMG safety, which was right in front of the Sebastian Vettel Pit, I got shivers. I parked my car, and ran around like a mad person, or rather like a child who has got his favorite toy. There was a collection of some pretty awesome cars and bikes.


The track, all dry and beautiful!
Me, after I was scared to death!
The cars, going on the track for the third time in one session
I was briefly ahead of the Porsche Cayman after I overtook it, although it overtook me back, here!
After the Drivers briefing, the Bike-Session (I wonder why, bikes look the best when they are just parked) and the Car-check, I entered my car, wore my helmet and started my car. Some hooters sounded, and we were off. It was just like the game, and I was shivering. Although the Mad car-freak in my mind was pushing the Accelerator hard down, with gear changes taking place like i was a robot. When the 1.2 km straight approached, it was on, 80-90-100-110-130-150 like a blur, and then the brakes for the corner. All was well, but some people were over-taking on the corners, which scared me more! Then at the Multi-Apex-C-Turn, it happened. A white Polo tried to overtake me from the left. I was more bothered about getting my tires heated up, and keeping the racing-line. As soon as i saw the left side overtake, I over-corrected, and spun-off straight into the gravel. The screens were showing the red flags, but people were still racing. I was scared to death, shaking that maybe I have killed someone (I hadn't, but the feeling was equally scary). The cars stopped, and a white Scorpio came to rescue me. I was taken to the backside of the track, where this Well-Spoken Track Martial helped remove all the Gravel that had entered the car. I recieved a call from my very concerned girlfriend, and the first thing I told her was that i am alive.


Anyway, I was taken into the Pit-lane, where my friends looked as if I had returned from the dead. My girlfriend asking me immediately what had happened. Ashamed and humiliated, thinking I had let myself and all of them down, I said I spun-off. I couldn't say anything else. The track Martial signaled me that I was good to go, and with a thumbs up, off I went! Scared and Anxious, I drove slowly. 2 laps later, a BMW Z4 had spun-off, with just inches away from the wall. We stopped, and went to the Pit-lane. The Session started again, and I went for it. I cared about speed, braking points and my Racing-Line. A few laps later, I wasnt scared of that point where I had Spun, and I was in the zone. I went for it, and overtook a Porsche. Then on the straight, although for a brief moment, i overtook a BMW 530d. It was fantastic. Being the youngest (The other person elder to me was 27) and in the slowest car, this was big. I was having the drive of my life. Improving on the time, After an hour of all the Orgasmic fun, The checkered flag was shown. As soon as I exited the Track, I hugged my Girlfriend, who was cheering me all along and standing there, and all my friends. The Emotional and Physical Test was over, and I was exhausted like all the energy was taken out of me, but given to my face for that smile of satisfaction.


It was the moment I am going to remember for the rest of my life, and not even memory loss can take it away from me. I felt happy and satisfied. All thanks to the people I love the most on this Planet, My Parents. I could not have done it without you. Next time, you are coming along with me! Cheers!

Sunday 17 February 2013

Honda is back, First card is the new CR-V

The car is a looker, AGAIN

 Ok so Honda has finally started their "We wont give up on India" campaign. They launched the much awaited, beautiful looking and awesome New CR-V. This is the same car that made people feel Tingles in their bodies due to the sheer look of it. Although the car wasn't that god to drive, it managed to find buyers in people who just wanted a good looking big car. But Ford and Toyota played their cards, and Honda was sent packing. But now, they are back, and its time for Ford and Toyota to pee in their pants.

The rear is a little Volvo-ish
The headlamps, according to me are the best feature about this car

First things first, its even better to look at than the old one. Its a complete new design, With nothing being shared from its predecessor. The front is breathtaking, with that stair-inspired grille now replaced with a normal one, and the headlamps get projectors in them, with Day Time Running LED's. The foglmaps have no funny business going, and are simple and round. A bit disappointing thing about this car is its rear. I think the Honda designer got tired and just copied a Volvo, or he had a Volvo-fetish. In simple words, it resembles the Volvo, particularly the XC60.


Simplcity and Awesomeness, Honda nails it everytime!

Once you open the door, you expect a cabin that will tell you that you are here to be pampered, since the CR-V has a Honda badge on it. All expectations are fulfilled. The interior in typical Honda, i.e. its awesome. It get a center-mounted Gear shift, which has always been my favorite since i first saw it in the Hindustan Contessa. The Dash looks simple, yet there is something which tells you it is great. Its a looker, and the buttons are easy. The Info-cluster is superbly set up, with a circular blue screen in the middle for various information.


The engine, Honda has gone with a 2.4 litre 4-cylinder which delivers a decent 187 horses when you rev it to 7000 rpm, and at 4400 rpm you are given 226 Nm torques. The engine is mated with a 5 speed auto 'box, which can be shifted with paddles too! Also on the top-end variants, you get 4 wheel drive (I know, in an SUV? Why? :P ) The engine is a 2 litre 154 bhp @ 6500 rpm unit, with 190 Nm torques at 4400 rpm. It is mainly Front wheel drive, but It gives power to the poor chaps at the rear when something called slip is detected. I feel this CR-V too will be sold because of its Looks, until the Diesel is launched.




Overall, i love this car for its looks, and also for that Honda badge, which carries a strange reliable feel with it. I hope to see this car on the road, and i hope when i drive it, it surprises me!

Prices-

Honda CR-V 2.0 2WD MT: Rs. 19.95 lakh
Honda CR-V 2.0 2WD AT: Rs. 20.85 lakh
Honda CR-V 2.4 AWD AT: Rs. 22.40 lakh
Honda CR-V 2.4 AWD AT (AVN): Rs. 23.85 lakh

A special thanks to Motorbeam, Team BHP and Cartoq for info and pics!

Saturday 9 February 2013

Bigger is the new, well, BIG!

You know a company called Ssangyong? If no, you are a lucky person. If you do, well, then you really are scaling new depths in the world of Automotive News. I have to know the name, because people ask me- "Which company did Mahindra take over?" A personal note to Mr. Chairman of Mahindra, since you have so much money lying around, I would love to have a few crores too. I still haven't found any logic what-so-ever behind taking over a car company that is a synonym for UGLY. Ok, Mahindra makes two ugly cars, its called the Xylo, and its Midget brother, Quanto. But as a compensation, Quanto is also cute, an Ugly Duckling if you may, but contrary to the Fairy tale, the Ugly duckling, when it grows up, becomes uglier. What on the name of all that is holy was the need for you to take over that company? What did it have? A superb Design Department? Or a Technological Department that can change the face of the Indian Market? Yeah, NONE OF THEM. And Mahindra bowed out from the bid to buy the company which does that, its called Aston Martin. Sigh.


Its not Very Ugly, but Ugly is Ugly!


Cars are supposed to have something called style, am I not right?

Anyhow, Had this post been about me talking about ugly cars, I would have gotten even more sick. Luckily, I am covering up the plans of Ssangyong Mahindra, or Mahindra Ssangyong, or whatever, which are going to launch a new MPV. WOW? No. Mahindra has an MPV, a few SUV's, A mini-MPV and a very ugly ( Ok i just realised, Mahindra now is officially the car-maker in India to make the most number of ugly cars ) Sedan-ish car. But now it thinks that Ssangyong should launch some car called Korando Turismo. It thinks that 7 seats in a car are less. Its not up to the mark with the growing population on India. It has 11 seats, and all face in the front. So Indian Cricket Team, we have found you a car!


2+3+3+3=11, wow, so Dhoni and Kohli up front, and then then Ishant wont be able to enter without getting his legs cut off

About the car, it is 70 mm longer than the Ford Endevour, at 5130 mm, and is 1915 mm wide, and 1815 mm in height. Its wheelbase is 3000 mm, which is alot. It will have ABS, Sat-Nav, Sunroof and all that, but really, in a country which is as cramped as India, where in the city will you drive it? And are we living in the 1990's, where joint families existed? Anyway, Mr. Chairman, Anand Mahindra is "Excited by its potential in India" Ok sir, lets see how much more Ugly cars you can bring out!

Sir has time to tweet, but not to think again about buying Aston Martin, its a bad world

A special thanks to Cartoq.com, and expert Mr. Roshun, for the pics and info!

PS- If the photos killed you, I am not responsible! :P