Hero Impulse Mahindra Xuv 5Oo

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COMPLIMENTARY TO THE READERS OF THEECONOMIC TIMES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2011

THE YEAR HAS ENDED, AND IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO PICK YOUR FAVOURITE CAR AND BIKE OF 2011. LOG ON TO WWW.ZIGWHEELS.COM 2011 VIEWERS CHOICE TO VOTE AND MAKE YOUR Watch how the jury went about their task to determine the great from the good in our Awards CAR & BIKE OF THE YEAR OPINION MATTER! Special Episode. Catch the ZigWheels show on ET Now on December 24 & 25, 2011! TOAST OF 2011 WITH A WEALTH OF STUNNING SMALL CARS FROM HONDA &HYUNDAI, AFFORDABLE MID-SIZE METAL FROM SKODA, RENAULT, NISSAN AND TOYOTA AMONG THE FOUR-WHEELERS AND STAND-OUT MOTORCYCLE SEGMENT STUNNERS FROM HONDA AND BAJAJ AUTO, IT WAS THE YEAR WHERE ALL TERRAIN, GO-ANYWHERE CAPABILITY COUPLED TO PRACTICALITY AND AFFORDABILITY WAS THE MAGIC MANTRA THAT SAW THE MAHINDRA XUV500 AND THE HERO IMPULSE EMERGE AS THE WORTHY WINNERS OF THE CAR & BIKE OF THE YEAR TITLES AT THE 2011 ET - ZIGWHEELS AWARDS.

BIKE OF THE YEAR CAR OF THE YEAR HERO IMPULSE MAHINDRA XUV 5OO

he one big thing which strikes excitement and smiles on all those who he most talked about vehicle over the at the very core of the Hero ride to commute. Suddenly we find past year, even prior to its launch was Impulse is not that Honda gave better control, a more dominant and Mahindra's so-called global SUV which Did I say jeep maker? THero a brilliant parting gift but comfortable perch on the saddle and Tas everyone now knows manifested itself the fact that the Japanese bike maker typical refinement and ease of use for as the XUV500. The term global SUV is a Well, banish this thought knew what sort of machine this country the everyday bike rider. misnomer for this is a vehicle which blurs the needed, for the masses! I have also The Impulse is a sensible offering at distinction between saloon, SUV or soft-roader once and for all because with held the view that dual purpose on-off the right time but what is impressive is and also MPV while being right on the ball as regards design and build, mechanicals and “ road motorcycles are the proverbial the fact that its maker did the correct the XUV5OO Mahindra has SUVs of the two-wheeled world and thing to shod it with the right dual packaging, ride and handling, performance and just as we see the bulk of Scorpios and purpose tyres otherwise it would have fuel efficiency. However, what is important is that moved away from its Jeep- others of their ilk proliferate in two- been a tarmac-only machine. This all these attributes which we mention are always wheel drive form, the Impulse is a no- simple expedient along with its robust a given for any decent car maker offering an all- inspired lineage but kept its nonsense humble machine packaged but simple chassis and sorted out new product. But for Mahindra & Mahindra it was tough-as-nails DNA intact not just to look the part but also deliver suspension geometry makes the also a mighty challenge to move into mainstream a most important and welcome new Impulse probably the right tool to tackle automotive manufacturing courtesy the XUV500

PHOTOGRAPHY: KUNAL KHADSE direction to mass-market commuting. Indian roads. By so doing it has also breaking new ground as the firm's first all- While the enthusiasts might cry helped its maker get off to a flyer sans monocoque offering, the first Mahindra with a hoarse about the Impulse having the the Honda suffix. transverse engine layout driving the front wheels the occupants, the superb ergonomics and the very same and proven mechanicals as Mention must also be made about (of course an all-wheel drive offering is also part ” high value user proposition it maintains from found on other 150cc Hero Hondas, the two other bikes which the Impulse of the range) via a six-speed transaxle, again a end to end. Of course, there are certain style this is the key to reliability and usability pegged back. Both the Honda first for the venerable jeep maker. elements which might not be to everyone's while also giving much needed CBR250R sports bike and the large And did I say jeep maker? Well, banish this liking and some details in the cabin are quirky hearted Boxer 150 commuter from thought once and for all because with the while there are certain elements which yet need Bajaj Auto are stand-out offerings in XUV500 Mahindra has moved away from its beefing up (the clutch for instance) but none their respective categories and for sure Jeep-inspired lineage but kept its tough-as- can beat the magic of the package at a price Suddenly we find both are destined for leadership in nails DNA intact. In fact it might have point which makes the competition weep! class. The Impulse though took the top sharpened it in many a new way while also Makes one wonder why the MNC car makers better control, a more dominant spot given its welcome all-new take on delivering a sheen of polished refinement to the couldn't conjure up such a package or did they motorcycling which thankfully is for the art of all-terrain motoring. That the XUV500 give up even before they started? and comfortable perch on the masses while also satisfying the turns in a strong performance from the moment “ specialists - somewhat! Hard to fault one gets into the driver's seat is just as much of saddle and typical refinement this approach. a revelation as is the space and the comfort for and ease of use for the MORE ON ALL THE RIVALS AND everyday bike rider WINNERS ONLINE! LOG ON TO WWW.ZIGWHEELS.COM EDITOR’S NOTE” THE JURY he most significant cars and bikes of 2011 were the cynosure of all eyes and minds when we set out to Texecute our annual sortie to recognise the cream of the crop from the Indian automotive industry but none of us could have thought that home-grown Indian OEMs would be the ones carrying away the top gong! And that’s how it panned out with both the Mahindra XUV500 and the Hero ATUL KIRLOSKAR AVIK CHATTOPADHYAY DILIP CHHABRIA JACKIE SHROFF AKSHAI VARDE ADIL JAL DARUKHANAWALA Impulse setting the tone and tenor to write a most glorious Former rally champ and auto Industry professional and a A household name in India, Dilip Not many know that acclaimed One half of the Vardenchi custom Steering the ZigWheels juggernaut chapter in the annals of the Indian automotive world. enthusiast par excellence, the CEO of lifelong automotive buff to boot, Chhabria might be the first and cine star Jackie Shroff is a dyed- bike marque, Akshai is a hard across two wheels and four and on It is also a manifestation of the ever evolving automotive Kirloskar Oil Engines knows his cars former MUL product planner and last name in Indian automotive in-the-wool automobile anorak. core motorcyclist and one who to multiples of them, Adil has been aspirations of our countrymen that we have car and bike and what makes them tick. No now product development chief design but he also can classify, Has owned and driven many a blends engineering and design in hands on in plying his craft, on makers’ thin-slicing segments to come up with wheels which wonder then that he drove the wheels of Peugeot India, Avik can identify and understand stand- great automobile and he sure can equal proportions, whether it be every car and bike made in the satisfy not just the needs of motorists and motorcyclists off every contender in the fray decipher the great from the good. out concepts unlike no one else. tell substance from flash. for concept or mass production. country since 1977. while also making them lust after and want vehicles which are adept at playing many roles. ZIGWHEELS EDITORIAL TEAM No wonder then that this year’s winning products are in this vein with practical ability on one hand being matched by go- anywhere capability, zest, performance, style and desirability. Allied of course, to very affordable price tags! Just like the Tata Nano did much to make the world sit up and take notice of Indian ingenuity, the Mahindra XUV500 and the Hero Impulse (to a certain extent) continue this theme in 2011 as well! Adil Jal Darukhanawala DILIP DESAI VIKRAM GOUR MUNTASER MIRKAR SOPAN SHARMA VARAD MORE RISHUB MATHARU Chief Road Tester, Cars Chief Content Writer & Developer Assistant Editor Assistant Editor Chief Road Tester, Motorcycles TVShow Producer &Presenter

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2 AWARDS SPECIAL FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2011

2011 ET-ZIGWHEELS CAR OF THE YEAR CLASS WINNERS PREMIUM SEDAN CBU LUXURY PREMIUM SEDAN MID-SIZE SEDAN VOLKSWAGEN SUV AUDI A8L RENAULT PASSAT MAHINDRA Fantastic quattro-driven performance FLUENCE The new Passat redefines being packed to XUV 5OO the gills with features. A supple ride quality coupled with uber-luxury, the new A8 has Distinctive looks with a comfortable, makes it an obvious choice, despite it Running on home-grown technology, the XUV5OO is come in to shake up the CBU luxury sedan sensible drive make this latest being the only launch in its class not only a massive technical leap for its makers, but segment. Justifiably, it also takes our award French entrant beat its rivals to this year. also fills in a critical void in its segment which had in this segment for 2011. shift the judgment in its favour. existed for a long time. A very relevant vehicle not just in its own segment, but also to make it our outright ET ENTRY-LEVEL ZigWheels Car of The Year. COMPACT SEDAN NISSAN SUNNY One of the best cars in its segment to be driven in, the Sunny topped its own segment owing to its smart outlook, and sharp pricing strategy. PREMIUM COMPACT SEDAN SKODA RAPID A smart exercise in badge engineering, the Rapid came through some seriously stiff competition to top its own segment with grace and pride.

PREMIUM SUV BMW X1 Creating an all-new point of entry for those aspiring to buy into a German luxury car brand family, the X1 is one of the most critical vehicles in its segment. Managing to retain the BMW genes despite its price ENTRY-LEVEL point, it wooed PREMIUM the jury all- HATCHBACK HATCHBACK round. HONDA BRIO HYUNDAI EON Another car that not just powered through CBU SPORT & Affordable sensibility with a contemporary its own segment, but also became one of SPORT SEDAN and stylish package, the Eon comes as a the strongest contenders for the outright breath of fresh air in its segment. Being the Car of the Year Award was Honda’s baby. ASTON MARTIN sole launch, it was the default winner in its Offering superior levels of refinement and class, but the fact that it tied for second place comfort, what sealed the vote in the Brio’s RAPIDE in our points scoring goes a long way in proving its promise. favour was sensible pricing, and very good A genuine sportscar posing as a four-door value for money. luxury sedan, the Rapide brings a big dose of class, style and pace to India and takes our vote as winner in its class. PROCESS & ET ZIGWHEELS - CAR OF THE YEAR 2011 METHODOLOGY SEGMENT Cars and bikes which were RIVALS manufactured in the country and FINAL JURY TABULATION SHEET went on sale nationwide between PREMIUM December 1, 2010 and November HATCHBACK Sr. Car Hyundai Honda Nissan Skoda Renault Volkswagen Mahindra BMW 30, 2011 were eligible contenders No Jury EON BRIO SUNNY RAPID FLUENCE PASSAT XUV 500 X1 for the 2011 awards. Only all-new cars and bikes from 1 Atul Kirloskar 3 8 3 2 0 6 3 0 the ground up were eligible for inclusion in the contenders list and 2 Avik Chattopadhyay 5 7 2 0 0 3 5 3 no variants were permitted. 3 Dilip Chhabria 4 6 4 0 0 3 8 0 The cars and bikes needed to be available for members of the jury 4 Jackie Shroff 0 2 0 1 2 8 4 8 to touch, feel and experience. The jury had a two-day drive and ride TOYOTA ETIOS LIVA 5 Adil Jal Darukhanawala 4 5 1 1 1 1 9 3 session in the hills around Pune in The Etios Liva is a big car in a small the vicinity of the famous package, coupled with legendary 6 Dilip Desai 4 4 4 3 0 6 4 0 Sinhagad Fort with the event HQ based at the Wildernest Resorts. Toyota reliability and quality. Good 7 Muntaser Mirkar 6 8 0 1 0 2 5 3 levels of sensibility and refinement Members of the editorial team at stood it in good stead, but it all boiled 8 Sopan Sharma 9 1 1 2 4 2 1 5 ZigWheels voted for winners in down to value for money. various sub-categories, which 9 Vikram Gour 7 1 0 2 0 5 9 1 went on to Round 2 for the complete expert jury to decide the final Car of the Year and Bike of TOTAL 42 42 15 12 7 36 48 23 the Year. Members of the jury for the Car of the Year had a total of 25 points (20 for Bike of the Year) to distribute between at least five PREMIUM PREMIUM SUV PREMIUM SUV and the overall nine segment MARUTI SUZUKI SWIFT COMPACT SEDAN MID-SIZE SEDAN OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR winners. The new Swift came in with a bang As in the previous two editions of this year, and with a lot riding on it. the ET-ZigWheels Awards, the Again a very competent product, it proven format and the robust lost out only because it did not push process was akin to the well- the envelope, unlike its rivals. established methodology used for European Car of the Year awards. The most important aspect which the jury had to factor in while delivering their votes and verdicts HYUNDAI VERNA VOLKSWAGEN JETTA MAHINDRA THAR RENAULT KOLEOS was to see each contender’s ENTRY-LEVEL Extremely competent vehicle with The grown up looks of the new Jetta The rough and tough mountain goat Smart and sensible, the Koleos fitness of purpose and its COMPACT SEDAN some great engine options and found favour amongst the jury, but has all the makings of a cult vehicle, couldn’t go through since it did not relevance in class. The sheer avantgarde styling, the new Verna were found to be a bit drab. but couldn’t shine through its manage to do enough to shake its impact each vehicle could or made life difficult for rivals in its stablemate’s techno-wizardry. segment up, which has some very couldn’t command in its class, in segment. competent incumbents. the view of each jury member was of the utmost importance. Voting was performed by secret ballot and the process was ascertained, tabulated and validated by Ernst & Young. TOYOTA ETIOS It was a tight mash-up between the Etios and the Sunny in this segment, and the team was divided FORD FIESTA MARUTI SUZUKI FORCE ONE BY BMW X3 The results and the process may on deciding the segment winner. Distinctive design, great dynamics KIZASHI FORCE MOTORS Sharper and snazzier, the new X3 have been over with this release of results but the awards night will The Etios missed out by a whisker and innovative features put the new Maruti’s flagship sedan showed A competent new entrant in its goes further down the soft-roader be one to cherish, taking place at since it showed its cost-cuts a little Fiesta ahead, but the pricing put the great driving manners, but lost out segment, the Force One starts a new path. Built more for the blacktop the ITC Maurya Sheraton on the more than the Sunny. car a few steps back in its class. due to its CBU pricing. chapter for its maker. Great things are than off-road, it did not do much for destined for it, but in the future! its own segment either. evening of January 5, 2012.

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3 AWARDS SPECIAL FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2011

2011 ET-ZIGWHEELS BIKE OF THE YEAR CLASS WINNERS BIKE OF THE YEAR SUPERBIKE OF THE YEAR POWER COMMUTER OF UP TO 250CC THE YEAR HYOSUNG BIKE OF THE YEAR HONDA CBR250R BAJAJ BOXER UP TO 150CC GT650N The Honda CBR250R raises the bar in many BM150 aspects with regards to affordable Practicality and performance clubbed together HERO IMPULSE performance motorcycling for the masses for the street are what make naked bikes so Practical and functional, quite like its design, much more fun and enjoyable to a larger engine and character, the Bajaj Boxer 150 A truly versatile machine, the Hero Impulse complimented by the right safety features. It’s audience. And these qualities, along with the has everything going for it that will help in is a genuine go-anywhere motorcycle that the sort of bike that performance nuts in India down-to-earth pricing, got the Hyosung establishing it as a brand. It’s a great step up does many things well, without had been waiting for, and was amongst the GT650N through its own starry class. for the commuter who needs a little more burning a hole in the pocket. The favourites of the jury. grunt for his daily tasks and the jury thought jury really loved it for the reason so as well. that it handles whatever terrain India can throw at it, and can provide loads of excitement while doing that.Small wonder then that the Impulse is our Bike of The Year.

ET-ZIGWHEELS - BIKE OF THE YEAR 2011 FINAL JURY TABULATION SHEET

Sr Bike Bajaj Hero Honda Hyosung SUPERBIKE OF THE YEAR No Jury Boxer BM150 Impulse CBR 250R GT 650N

1 Akshai Varde 3 5 75 2 Adil Jal Darukhanawala 5 7 53 3 Muntaser Mirkar 1 8 56 4 Rishub Matharu 2 4 68 5 Sopan Sharma 4 7 54 HYOSUNG GT650R HYOSUNG ST7 6 Varad More 3 7 55 A wonderful 650cc V-twin A relaxed, comfortable cruisin' supersports available at a fairly machine, with great presence. Build 7 Vikram Gour 4 8 62 affordable price, but its extreme quality and its relatively higher price posture took some points away. kept it from topping its class. TOTAL 22 46 39 33

BIKE MAKER CAR MAKER TOYOTA OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR KIRLOSKAR MOTOR LTD BAJAJ Toyota has been going great guns in India in 2011 with AUTO the launch of the Etios sedan and Liva hatchback - two Though Bajaj only genuinely competent products at an entry-level price launched the Boxer 150 bracket that the company hadn’t attempted before. this year, no one can deny With the Innova and Corolla doing as well as ever in what a brilliant product it the market and the Fortuner exceeding all expectations is. This year the company in terms of demand, TKML was the obvious choice for not only brought in the this award as it truly illustrates the advent of what is phenomenal Kawasaki expected of Toyota in the coming years. Ninja 650R and is now in the process of introducing the KTM brand in India, it also broke new ground in building the KTM 125 and selling it across the world to rave reviews. APOLLO TYRES PARTNERS TO THE ET-ZIGWHEELS AWARDS 2011

e've driven India for 35 years, with tyres she trusts. A relationship built over Wmillions of miles. For the new generation cars that India drives, Apollo presents the most advanced range of passenger car radials. Tyres that have passed the most stringent tests at some of the worlds toughest test tracks. At Apollo, we go the distance to keep you safe and are the MOTORSPORT AWARD OF THE YEAR preferred choice with leading vehicle manufacturers to partner with them as standard BUDDH INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT equipment. We are proud to present this year's The Buddh International Circuit was the realisation of a long held dream of getting edition of the ET-ZigWheels Awards and look Formula 1 to India, and it also marked the arrival of a proper international level forward to crown the discerning winners of the car motorsport circuit in the country, which will most likely play host to many and bike of the year 2012. motorsport events in the future and also as a nursery to budding Indian talent. This Apollo Tyres Ltd is a high-performance tyre award was a no-brainer! manufacturer headquartered in India. It is built around the core principles of creating stakeholder value through reliability in its products and dependability in its relationships. The company has AUTOMOTIVE four manufacturing units in India, four in southern DESIGN OF AUDI A7 Africa and one in the Netherlands. India, South THE YEAR SPORTBACK Africa and Europe are the company's three domestic markets from where products are Without a doubt, the Audi A7 was one of the exported to over 70 countries. In each of the most gorgeous looking cars present at the domestic markets, the company operates through 2011 ET-ZigWheels awards jury round. a vast network of branded, exclusive and multi- Gorgeous coupe lines melding with a practical product outlets. four-door layout, the A7 looks like nothing else that is currently available in the Indian market.

AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCT AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Adil Jal Darukhanawala EDIT TEAM MAPMYINDIA VOLVO S60 Dilip Desai, Sudheer Gaikwad, Vikram Gour, Muntaser Mirkar, Sopan Sharma, Varad More, Abhishek Nigam, Priyadarshan Bawikar, CARPAD AUTO-BRAKE Rahul Basu, Anshika Ajmera, Ravi Ved, Abhishek Chaliha, Already renowned for making high quality Volvo’s revolutionary auto-brake Sukhpreet Singh, Rayomand Darius GPS maps of India, MapmyIndia launched system in the S60 can detect if a CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Kunal Damodar Khadse the Carpad. The Carpad not only works as pedestrian steps in front of the car and DESIGN TEAM a large screen navigation device, but also applies full brakes to either completely harnesses the power of its Android OS Shivaji Mane, Balvir Singh, Vilas Shitole avoid, or minimise the impact with the Editorial Office : ET ZIGWHEELS, Times House, and provides a full-fledged internet and pedestrian. If widely implemented, this 577, F. C.Road, Shivajinagar, Pune-411004. multimedia experience on the move, system should seriously improve road Tel: 020 30112393, Email: [email protected] making it the first such product in the safety, and hence is our pick for the For advertisement details contact: country to provide a complete solution to Automotive Technology of The Year Rajesh Mansukhani +91-9818742290 automobilists. Award. [email protected]

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