*EZMUMM231211/ /01/K/1*/01/Y/1*/01/M/1*/01/C/1* COMPLIMENTARY TO THE READERS OF THEECONOMIC TIMES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2011 Published from | Ahmedabad | Bangalore | Chandigarh | Chennai | Hyderabad | Jaipur | Kolkata | Lucknow | Mumbai | New Delhi | Pune 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 *EZMUMM231211/ /01/K/1*/01/Y/1*/01/M/1*/01/C/1* EZMUMM231211/1R2/01/M/1EZMUMM231211/1R2/01/C/1EZMUMM231211/1R2/01/K/1EZMUMM231211/1R2/01/Y/1 C M Y K *EZDELM231211/ /02/K/1*/02/Y/1*/02/M/1*/02/C/1* 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.