Rip van Winkle awakes

Ya, it has been a really long break... most because I have shifted to a new city and was focusing more on my work. After all it pays my bills :)

But thing are set to change for the better... and I'll be updating my blog a lot more from now. Promise. Apart from reviewing some fabulous cars and motorcycles, I have been also doing some food and restaurant reviews. All of that come soon, right here.

Expect a lot more action, so strap up and hold on to your eye balls... this is going to on helluva ride!

Mahindra Ingenio in now XYLO!

Mahindra & Mahindra will launch the much talked about MPV project Ingenio with a new name --- XYLO!

This happened after in-dept research and in house customer feedback. The firm believes that the short name has better recall along with having a ring, similar to their other products - Scorpio and Bolero. Customers felt that XYLO sounded like the name of a planet, acting as a ladder to space travel and further to a spaceship. Some journalists quipped “out of this world product, is it?” while others were quick to add “hope the price is not astronomical”.

Currently the manufacturing capacity for XYLO is 25,000 vehicles. The assembly line is same as the Scorpio though the outer body (shell) will be different.

• The XYLO will feature a fine tuned CRDi 2.5 Ltr engine and not the 2.6 Ltr.
• The MPV will not feature Airbags at launch
• 4 wheel drive will be introduced 6 months post the launch
• ABS will also be offered in due course
• No automatic version

Click here to watch Mahindra Ingenio Video

Mahindra XYLO Pics

Suzuki 150cc bike has finally landed!

The Japanese auto major finally ventures in to the 150cc segment by launching GS150R and it just might 'Drive you crazy' or maybe not! The looks strictly for plain-Jane city commuting but boast features like an electronic speedo, LED tail lamp and integrated rear indicators. The Pulsar-meets-Unicorn tank can accommodate 15.5 litre of fuel or air depending on the rising petrol price :P

The bike boasts of a super reliable 149cc engine that can produce 13.8 BHP at 8500 RPM. One nice aspect of the bike is a six-speed transmission, thats one down five up. The GS150R is equipped with Engine Balancer Technology, and 'balancer driven gear fitted with a rubber damper', which helps in reducing vibration...though some naughty girls might not be too happy with this feature, pun intended!

Aptly priced at Rs 59,000 ex-showroom because honestly there are very few other aspects that can sway a buyers decision towards the 'GS' because the Uni, CBZ and Pulsar more or less offer everything mentioned above and below. Talking about offers, the Jap-giant will be offering the 150 in four electric...BUZZZzzz...colours – blue, orange, grey and black.

Some more info:
Length: 2095mm
Width: 775mm
Height: 1120mm
Ground clearance: 160mm
Wheelbase: 1340mm.
Tyres front: 2.75 x 18
Tyre rear: 100/90 x 18

Skoda Fabia Combi Spotted in Mumbai

Hey guess what I spotted today? The next-on-the-cards from Skoda... the Fabia Combi. Skoda will be launching this baby early next year. I think it'll be an ideal buy for premium hatch back buyers with the extra boot space.

Ya, ya I know some people might think it's way too over priced but so are the i-pods and iphone and people still are willing to pay for comfort, fit & finish and brand.
What say?

GET SPORTY! Skoda Fabia Sport '09

Škoda is rolling its sleeves to give serious competition to its rival by lowering the Fabia Sport by 15mm creating a sportier stance.

The new Fabia Sport will be $500 dearer than the previous model. Here's the price list of the complete international range.

1.2 12V 70 bhp - £10,880 OTR

1.6 16V 105 bhp - £12,035 OTR

1.4 TDI PD 80 bhp - £12,340 OTR

1.9 TDI PD 105 bhp - £13,025 OTR

The Fabia Sport is a loaded sporty hatch and boasts 16 inch ‘Bear’ alloy wheels, front fog lights, halogen headlights with DE module, curtain airbags, sunset glass and a full body kit.

Tata writes a letter to West Bengal

My heart aches beyond words when I think about the entire fiasco around the Nano project and West Bengal. Matter in bengal have gone from bad to worse and we remain silent spectator.

Today Tata Motors issued an advertisement in several leading newspapers of Kolkata which features a letter by Ratan Tata. The letter is about the exit of the Nano from Bengal and asks if the citizens of the state want jobs or lawlessness.

Addressing the youth the letter says: "Would you like to support he present government of Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharya to build a prosperous state with rule of law, modern infrastructure and industrial growth or a state consumed by a destructive political environment of confrontation, agitation, violence and lawlessness".
"Do they want education and jobs in the industrial and hi-tech sectors or," the letter goes on to say, "does the future generation see their future prosperity achieved on a 'stay-as-we-are' basis?"
Ratan Tata says he has written the letter in response to criticism by "vested interests" that the decision to pull out the Nano project from Bengal was "hasty" and "politically motivated".

He names Mamata Banerjee and says "confrontative actions" by her party, supported by "vested interests and certain political parties" disrupted work at the Nano plant at Singur. Sigh!

James Bond's wrecked Aston Martin DBS

This April, the $ 233,000 Aston Martin DBS used for filming the new James Bond flick - 'Quantum of Solace', fell into an Italian Lake, when an Aston Martin tech-guy driving the car during the shoot lost control... crashed through iron railing and plunged into the lake...OUCH!

Check out the picture above, the car is completely destroyed and thankfully the driver escaped with only minor injuries. If this was a normal movie then this would have meant a $233 thousand set-back for MGM (the producers). But this is a JB movie - 007 has a license to kill and thrill... and there are abundant eccentric collectors who are willing to gather all sort of garbage with astonishing price tag. Recently Daniel Craig announced that a private collector paid around a whooping $350,000 for the wrecked car or whatever was left of it.

So if I calculate correctly MGM actually made a profit over a $100,000! Freak, some people have all the luck.

Here’s a video made right after the crash.