NEW CAR SPECIAL VW T-ROC SKODA KAROQ HYUNDAI i10 GDi

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS VOLKSWAGEN’S COOL SUV IS THE YETI’S NEW AVATAR IS HYUNDAI’S NEW TURBO
OF PERFORMANCE PERFECT FOR THE URBAN GRIND EXPENSIVE BUT PRACTICAL i10 NIOS IS A FUN CITY CAR

INDIA’S FAVOURITE PERFORMANCE MAGAZINE

BLACK OPS
MAHINDRA THAR NEW HONDA CITY Vol.10 No.9 SEPT - OCTOBER 2020 Rs.80
08>
THE NEW THAR IS TOTALLY REVAMPED WE TEST THE LATEST ITERATION OF THE
AND IMMENSELY DESIRABLE CAR THAT REDEFINES THE SEGMENT 1799563 997
Credits
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Motorsports Jose T
Special Events Prabhu Anand
Random Writers Nirmal Sachidanandan
Audio Reviews Abhishek M
Special Features Arun Chandran
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Design Sreejith N
Realization Kiran C
Cover Vinod Kumar M
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Design Co-ordinator Prasanth
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 CONTENTS
08 Essentials
Full list of car parts and toys that
hit the market this month.

14 Honda City
The 5th generation City is finally
out and it’s rather good.

20 Black Ops
Paul’s Octavia reminds us why the
Mk1 is slowly becoming a classic

26 Mahindra Thar
The most eagerly awaited launch
of 2020 is finally here

44 Double Take
Turbo swapped S Cross is a diesel
rocket we now want.

6 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
 ESSENTIALS
ALL THE NEW STUFF YOU NEED RIGHT NOW !
ST SUSPENSIONS HEIGHT
ADJUSTABLE SPRINGS
These trick new springs bring
cost-effective height adjustment to
a whole new range of cars without
having to go for coilovers. It makes
sense for sportier cars that already
have performance-tuned dampers
from the factory, or if you have al-
ready got uprated shocks and they
are still in great nick. It also makes
sense in cars where retaining the
electronically-adjustable dampers
ENKEI HORNET is a key priority.
It’s not often that Enkei
come out with a new design Well, they’re from German legends
wheel and the Hornet is the ST Suspensions, so you just know
perfect blend of street and these cold-wound chrome-silicon-
track style. Five paired and steel puppies are engineered with
sharply cut spokes that start handling performance in mind…
off the edges and converge These are already available for a
on a minimalist center, the great selection of motors, and they
long spokes will make it look tell us that there’s plenty more
larger. The Hornet is avail- fitments on the way. So, no more
able in 17”, 18”, and 19” in guessing whether to go for the
gloss black and anthracite -35mm springs or -50mm springs.
finishes for a wide variety of Now you really can have it all.
modern cars and SUVs

SPARCO MARTINI RACING

GAMING CHAIR
These Martini Racing chairs are
perfect for gaming as well as
your office. There’s an adjustable
backrest, with lumbar adjustment,
backrest lock and a piston base with
a tilting mechanism. It sits on a
high-strength spoked base with five
solid wheels.

MOMO ULTRA GEAR SHIFT KNOB

This rather wacky looking shift knobs from
MOMO are made of milled aluminium
wrapped in premium microfiber printed with
the shapes of the most famous racetracks. It’s 1:18 KK MERCEDES W123
ideal for either racing or as a stylish upgrade This is a must-have if you are a Mer-
on your everyday motor. It comes complete cedes enthusiast and is 1 of 1000 in
with a sticker-bomb effect MOMO logos around the world. It is a fully sealed model
the collar and the iconic MOMO arrow logo on and hence has perfect shut lines.
top as proof of pedigree. The interiors are immaculate too.
Thistle green with green upholstery
was a special spec with the W123
back then. You can also get it in
white or blue and the latter comes
with Bundt alloys although purists
would still love the
steel rims with body
coloured hub caps
which is the period
correct W123 look.

From www.scaleartsin.com

08 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
 Driven
Volkswagen Polo 1.0
T
his has to be a very
special moment. Ten
years ago, when Quar-
ter Mile magazine started out,
the VW Polo had just hit the
market and here we are, both
celebrating our 10th Anniver-
sary together. The only thing
that kept us both going is the
loyal fan following we have
among enthusiasts.
Of course, the magazine has
changed a lot more in these
years than the Polo. The Polo
had a refresh last year when
it gained the GTI style bumper
and a new cladding under the
running board that contin-
ues on to the rear diffuser.
Although it’s a generation
old, it still looks good after all
these years.
10 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
It still exudes the Germanic
build and toughness that
people have come to love
about them and nowhere is
this more visible than the
insides. The familiar dash-
board and controls are well
made and feel solid. The front
seats are great, it’s the rear
that is short on space. The 6.5
inch infotainment screen is
small but sharp and has Apple
Car Play. There is no reverse
camera which is strange.
The 1.0 litre 3 cylinder engine
is the talking point now and
replaces the 1.2 turbo petrol 4
cylinder from the old GT TSI.
It is down on one cylinder, but
power has jumped from 105
to 110 bhp while torque has
remained the same at 175Nm.
Tech Spec
Price 9.59 lakhs Est
It is noticeably quicker moving L/W/H 3971/1682/1469
off the line and performance Engine 1.0L 3cyl Inline
is stronger after 2500rpm. It Power 110bhp
does 0-100kmph in 9.9 seconds Torque 175Nm
a full second quicker than the Transmission 6 sp MT
1.2 TSI DSG. The engine is at 0-100kmph 9.9 sec
best when wound up, because On Sale Now
at low revs, pottering around
The 1.L TSI engine
shaves nearly a second Verdict
off the old 1.2L GT TSI
DSG’s timing. Ten years is too long to keep
a generation of car going,
no matter how capable it is.
town you can feel the 3 cylin-
der imperfection. This engine The Polo isn’t a spacious car
doesn’t have a balancer shaft to begin with. The new 1.0L
and it judders a little when TSI engine is atleast a step
you are crawling over speed in the right direction and
bumps. The gearbox isn’t the will appeal to the perfor-
slickest, but it has well chosen mance enthusiast by being a
ratios. The steering is light and lot more engaging to drive.
still lacks feel, but with grippy There will be a torque con-
tyres, stiff chassis and good
vertor automatic soon too.
brakes, one can really throw
this car around a few corners
and come out smiling.
 Driven
Maruti Suzuki S Cross Petrol
T he S Cross has been
a confusing car in
the Maruti stable. It
is bigger than a hatchback
but it isn’t an estate car. It is
the length of a midsize sedan,
but it isn’t one. The driving
position is higher than most
cars, but it isn’t tall enough
to be quite called an SUV.
Let’s say, it is the best mix
of everything. You get more
space than a premium hatch-
back, a tall seating position,
good ground clearance and
almost car like handling. And
it doesn’t cost much more
than a Ciaz. Think of it as a
poor man’s Volvo V 40 Cross
Country.
What’s new is the petrol 1.5L
mild hybrid engine has found
12 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
its way under the hood of the
S Cross too. The engine pro-
duces a modest 105bhp and
138Nm torque. But in true
Maruti Suzuki fashion, has
good low end, loves to rev and
is fuel efficient when driven
sedately. It is very refined and
easy to drive around town.
The clutch is light and the
gearshifts are very smooth.
It doesn’t feel particularly
strong in the midrange, but
revs to 6000rpm and sounds
nice doing it.
It may only be a four speed,
but in real world, the 4 sp AT
isn’t so bad. There is plenty
of low down power, with the
torque convertor playing
its part and you can drive
around with minimum hassle.
Tech Spec
It upshifts quickly and gives Price 8.4-12.4lakhs
decent fuel efficiency. It gets L/W/H 4300/1785/1595
occasionally confused between Engine 1.5L 4cyl Inline
second and third, depending Power 105bhp
on the throttle used. And when Torque 138Nm
you demand quick accelera- Transmission 5 sp MT
0-100kmph 11.9 sec
tion, there is some delay to be
On Sale Now
expected.
The only difference we could
tell on the inside with the Verdict
petrol is the new updated MID,
the now common Smart Play We have had the S Cross in
Infotainment system and that the explosive 1.6L diesel, the
the 12V socket now houses the efficient 1.3 SHVS diesel and
USB and Aux. now this very refined 1.5L
petrol. It has always been
The S Cross had great road an allrounder with good
manners especially in the way space, practicality, ground
it masks speeds and inspires clearance, decent road man-
confidence. The steering is
ners, equipment levels etc.
very direct and body control
is good too. The ride quality is It is getting a little old now,
on the comfortable side. The but the modest yet capable
brakes are great and bring the petrol engine is worth a try.
car to a halt from triple digit
speeds with no drama at all.
 Driven
Tech Spec
Price 13.14 lakhs Ex.Sh.
L/W/H(mm) 4549/1748/1489
Engine 1.5L 4cyl Inline
Power 120bhp
Torque 145Nm
Transmission 6 sp MT
0-100kmph 10.1 sec
On Sale Now

U
REAR SEAT Once again, the best HALF DIGITAL The crisp 7.0 inch
nlike other parts of screen on the left side of the me-
in class. Good supportive rear
the world, the brand seat, perfect back rest angle, ter console can toggle between a
Honda has been adequate underthigh support, G Meter, Tacho or show various
synonymous with the City in plenty of legroom. driving data.
India. It is the product that
helped establish the brand in
1998 and has ever been the
most important in its line-up. It
doesn’t matter how many they
are selling, Honda has always
religiously replaced the City
every five years. Only the out-
going fourth gen City launched
in 2013 had a longer life span
of nearly seven years. What’s
more, they aren’t killing it off
right away because Honda has
plans to sell it alongside the
new fifth generation, to have a
big portfolio of sedans namely
CABIN Quality is great. Soft touch materials all around, the extra leatherette
Amaze, City, new 2020 City and trim on the dashboard and centre console all elevate the feel good factor.
the Civic. So what does the new Steering wheel is nice and everything feels good to the touch.
2020 Honda City have to make

Honda City 1.5

Photos: Ritesh Madhok
it stand out?
The new City has styling cues
borrowed from the larger Civic
and Accord. The front has the
The car that redefines this segment. Can it do it again? typical broad chrome grille
that flanks the new LED head-
lamps. The three dimensional
LED tail lamps have a striking
Honda is
evaluating resemblance to the one on the
two variants current BMW 3 series. The side
of the City for profile has some resemblance
India. One is to the earlier City but the extra
the 1.0L RS
model and length is quite evident. The
the next is the new City is 109mm longer,
iMMD Hybrid. 53mm wider and 6mm lower
The Hybrid
is the more than the previous gen car.
interesting of Apparently it has the same
the two and wheelbase and that’s what
has 97 hp and
127 Nm from gives it ungainly front and rear
overhangs. The shoulder line
its 1.5L petrol
engine which has been raised and that gives
combined the impression of wheel arches
with electric
motors has and the 16 inch wheels inside
109 hp and them being too small too. The
253 Nm. City measures 4.5 metres long
making it the longest in its seg-
ment and even longer than the
prev gen Civic.
The new City has been thor-
oughly revamped on the inside
as well. The front seats are
heavily bolstered and feel very
comfortable. The rear has class
TOP 8.0 inch touch screen doesn’t
have the best sunlight readability
and shows smudges so quickly. Why
can’t Honda with all its technology
give a higher resolution display, we
wonder
FRONT Seats are so well padded and
supportive. Driving position is very
good and the cabin feels premium
leading legroom and width, but
taller folks may find a small
problem with the slopping
roofline. The back rest has a
very comfortable angle which
together with the slopping
floor gives a very relaxing pos-
ture. The dashboard is a better
design with new wood and
leather finishes and more soft
touch materials on top. Gone
are the touch based HVAC
controls that were difficult
to operate while driving and
in their place are new tactile
knobs with knurled rims that
operate with a satisfying click.
The gauge cluster has a neatly
integrated 7 inch screen which
becomes a tachometer or a G
meter or show trip related data
depending on what you choose
to see.
The 8 inch infotainment screen
isn’t the sharpest or brightest
around, but it has a whole host
of connected tech added to it.
You can connect your phone to
use geofencing, vehicle
Honda has always
religiously replaced the
City every five years but
not this time.

14 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
 Driven
tracking, service alerts, vehicle
theft notification, remote im-
mobilisation, emergency ser-
vice etc. Also new in segment
is the integration of Alexa
into the unit which means
you can now ask the Echo at
home to start the car, set the
AC temperature or check the
service due, or how much fuel
you have left etc. The infotain-
ment screen also has Apple Car
Play, Android Auto, Weblink BLIND SPOT Honda Lanewatch FRONT OVERHANG The front
automatically turns on when using overhang can be an issue when
connectivity etc. The City is the left indicator and comes in tackling ramps and slopes.
loaded with features such as handy especially when approaching
sunroof, six airbags, a tyre oblique junctions
pressure monitoring system, a
blind spot camera for the left
hand side etc.

While the competition has

embraced turbocharging and
downsizing, Honda has stuck
to their tried and tested 1.5L
iVTEC naturally aspirated
engine. It has been given DOHC
for the first time in India
and this L15B engine doesn’t
disappoint. It pulls cleanly
from low revs and has excel-
lent drivability, which none
of its turbo charged rivals can
match. For example, you can
go down to 18kmph in 3rd gear
and such tractability makes for
an easy car to drive in the city.
It produces 120bhp and 145Nm
which are similar figures to the
old L15A engine. The car is 40
kilos heavier and the gearing
is taller than before and that
shows in the 0-100kmph ac-
celeration of 10.3 seconds and
in the in-gear times. Still the
6 speed MT is a joy to use and
although it gets a little loud
after 3500rpm, you can derive
some pleasure from driving it
fast. It just lacks the mid-range
punch of modern turbo petrols
but for sheer drivability, this
one wins hands down. The
City is also available in petrol
CVT which Honda claims has
reduced rubber band effect
and gives better acceleration.
There is also a 99bhp diesel 6
speed manual variant which
supposedly has better NVH
now, thanks to a 200 percent
thicker firewall.
Honda has retuned the suspen-
sion components although
the mounting points are the
same. The City has a newfound
maturity in its ride quality, be-
ing softer and more absorbent
over broken roads. It rides
well like a European car, but
16 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
ON THE ROAD Honda has softened the suspension in the new City and made
it more comfortable. Straightline stability is very good and it rides well on
smooth surfaces and only uneven surfaces can unsettle the front end.
ENGINE It’s the first time we have a
DOHC engine in the City. Note the
unique plastic manifold with five
runners and the middle one feeding
the plenum.
BOOT Space has gone down by 4
litres, but it is still quite large at 506
litres. The shape is very good too
and has minimal intrusions.
the front end isn’t as planted
at high speeds on undulating
roads as we would like. The
front overhang needs to be ac-
counted for while approaching
slopes and also when taking
tighter turns in a car park.
The steering is superbly
weighted and precise. Even on
these skinny 185/55R16 tyres,
it seems to grip surprisingly
well. That is mostly down to
the ‘Agile Handling Assist’
which brakes an inside wheel
to make the car tuck into a
corner better – something that
we have come to love in the
Civic too. It doesn’t make its
presence felt and most drivers
won’t even notice it unless
you are on a slippery surface,
but makes the car feel more
agile. Brakes are strong and
pedal feels progressive despite
having too much travel. There
is a hint of body roll and the
suspension does feel soft, but
the mechanical and electronic
systems working in unison feel
great from a driver’s perspec-
tive. With the right set of
rubber and slightly stiffer sus-
pension, I am sure this chassis
will set impressive lap times.
The City has
grown so
much that it
is now a
bigger car
than the
previous gen
Civic we got. Verdict
While it is built on the same
platform as the previous gen
City, the new 2020 City has
been thoroughly updated
both inside and out. It has
one of the best interiors and
the comfiest rear seats in its
class. The overall quality and
feel good factor has gone up
a notch. This time Honda has
been generous with the equip-
ment list too. However, the
real competition for it today is
from crossovers like the Creta
and sadly, it’s a battle the mid
size sedan is slowly losing.
 Volkswagen India strengthens its used car
business, Das WeltAuto
V
olkswagen India is now
focusing on strengthen-
ing its pre-owned car
platform ‘Das WeltAuto’ (DWA)
with the aim of making car
ownership more affordable
to the masses. The brand
has recently introduced the
‘Das Welt Auto 3.0’ which is
the brand’s digital window to
facilitate buying, selling and
exchanging of pre-owned cars.
Customers will now be able to
book their preferred pre-owned
car or sell their existing vehicle
online though the Das WeltAuto
website.
The company already has 105
18 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
DWA outlets across the country
and in 2019 alone, they re-
tailed over 10,000 pre-owned
cars.
The DWA platform allows
customers looking to exchange
their existing cars for a new
Volkswagen while simultane-
ously facilitating the buying
and selling of pre-owned cars
from all brands.
DWA provides competitively
priced pre-owned cars that are
subjected to strict checks and
refurbished to great standards.
Post refurbishment, the car is
inspected by a third-party who
then certifies the pre-owned
car. In addition, customers can
also avail warranty, service
value packages and accesso-
ries options.
Speaking on the expansion
of used car business plat-
form, Steffen Knapp, Direc-
tor, Volkswagen Passenger
Cars India said, “The current
Covid-19 situation has cre-
ated a demand for accessible
and safe individual mobility
options. We see customers
inclined towards the used car
segment, which enables them
with an affordable vehicle of
their choice.”
Advantages Of Selling Your Car To Das WeltAuto
• A transparent pricing mechanism through digital evaluation
• Be assured of a hassle-free transfer of ownership
• Enjoy a quick disbursement process
• Know the estimated value of your car in just three minutes
• Get your car assessed and get a professional valuation for free
Advantages Of Buying A Pre-Owned Car From Das WeltAuto
• With Das WeltAuto enjoy a systematic process and hassle-free transfer of ownership
• With Volkswagen Finance Solutions, enjoy up to 90% financing and customised financial offer-
ings when you choose to buy a car
• Every pre-owned car undergoes a comprehensive multi-point inspection
• The refurbishment of these cars is done by Volkswagen trained technicians. Genuine parts are
used in this process to ensure you only experience the car at its best
• Test drive the vehicle you choose to own before opting to buy it
• Buy a pre-owned Volkswagen and avail special privileges and service offers
• With warranty options available for cars of all brands, you are covered
• Various customization options are available if you want to add a personal touch to your car
Benefits Of Exchanging Your Car When Upgrading To A Volkswagen
• Know the estimated value of your car in just three minutes
• Get your car assessed and get a professional valuation report for free
• Avail exclusive offers and benefits on choosing to upgrade to a Volkswagen
• Be assured of a transparent pricing mechanism through digital evaluation
• Enjoy hassle free transfer of ownership and a quick disbursement process
Know the estimated value of your car in just
three minutes using the Das WeltAuto Valuator.
For a seamless and contact-
Now available on Android and iOS
less experience, customers can
log on to the DWA website to
find a vehicle of their choice.
Another value addition for
customers looking to sell their
vehicle is the introduction of
the Das WeltAuto Valuator.
A unique mobile application
that enables customers to
self-evaluate their current
vehicle. The whole process is
swift and transparent as the
valuations are provided basis
the algorithms given by the
‘Indian Blue Book’. The mobile
application is available for
download on both Android and
iOS platforms.
HYPER LIVA
Text: Vivek Venugopal Photos: Vinod Kumar M
Black Ops
Text: Vivek Venugopal Photos: Vinod Kumar M
T
he Mk1 Octavia RS to many, repre-
sents the best turbocharged perfor-
mance bargain that is slowly becom-
ing a classic. Cars are cheap but good ones
still command a premium, because you know
it costs a lot to fix a bad one. Maintaining one
isn’t for the faint hearted either, but if you
persevere, you can have the most undiluted
experiences ever, for entry level hatchback
money.
This one belongs to 24 year old Paul Base from
Kolenchery. He sold his City VTEC to get a man-
20 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
ual turbocharged car and the Octavia RS was
the only one that fitted the description and the
budget. After several months of looking for the
right car, he found one in Bangalore. The pic-
tures looked promising but when he went to
see it, the car was in poor condition. He went
back to his hotel depressed, but a friend of his
sent him an advertisement to another car that
was close by. It was a red Octavia RS and it
was love at first sight. The owner was friendly
enough to trust him to transfer the money the
next day, and handed him over the keys after a
small token advance.
 ST
AI NE NE
S
TA
INL
W W
NL

NOTHINGSTOPS
NOTHING STOPS
FASTER
FASTER
ES ES
SB SB
RA RA
KE KE
LIN LIN
ES ES

Brake Lines
Brake Lines
All new All
stainless steel
new stainless steel
braidedbraided
brake linebrake
kits forline
a kits for a
firmer pedal
firmerandpedal
reducedand reduced
stoppingstopping
distances.distances.

SportDiscs
Sport Slotted Slotted Discs
Choose
Choose from from 3designs
3 great great designs of sport
of sport slotted
slotted discsmade
discs made inin
G3000
G3000 cast iron cast
alloyiron alloy
with withthermic
new new thermic black
black corrosioncoating.
corrosion coating.

Greenstuff™Greenstuff™ Sport Upgrade

Sport Upgrade Pads Pads Redstuff™Ceramic
Redstuff™ Ceramic Sport
SportUpgrade
Upgrade PadsPads Yellowstuff™ Street, Track
Yellowstuff™ & Drift
Street, Pads& Drift Pads
Track
Low dust
Low dust formula formula
pads pads for spirited
for spirited street street
use use TopTop selling super
selling super street
streetlow
lowdust sports
dust sports EBC’s EBC’s
flagshipflagship
high friction
highpads for fastest
friction pads for fastest
- recommended
- recommended for cars upfor to
cars up to 150BHP.
150BHP. formulaforforspirited
formula spirited street
streetdriving
driving(NOT FORFOR
(NOT street street
driving driving
with performance vehicles.
with performance vehicles.
TRACK
TRACK USE).
USE). OK forOKlightfor
track use.
light track use.

www.ebcbrakes.com
www.ebcbrakes.com
22 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN

That joy however was short-
lived because four months
later, Paul crashed it into
a pole (see what we did
there!). He did manage to find
another car, the one you see
here, after a month. It was in
pristine condition and best
of all, had most of the mods
which he planned to do on
the first one and then some.
The car was quite fast and he
24 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
was happier than ever.
The design might be two
decades old, but the Octavia
has aged rather gracefully.
In RS form with the deeper
front bumper, it still looks
purposeful. Paul’s car has
only minimal mods on the
outside in the form of a lip
and blacked out chrome
details, but it looks clean. It
has had a fresh coat of ‘Magic
Black’ paint once, done by
its previous owner. The 18
inch dull chrome wheels look
stunning and stick out ever
so slightly. The interiors are
clean too with OEM leather
seats in fabulous condition,
with no wear on the perforat-
ed RS steering wheel and gear
lever. For a 2006 car, it has
been properly looked after.
TECH SPEC
EXTERIOR
Magic Black repaint,
Chrome delete, front lip
INTERIOR
Stock
ENGINE
Stage 2 Evotech Motorsport
Performance Tune (with
Pops & Crackles), Milltek
Sport Downpipe with a
Remus Endcan, BMC DIA
Intake System, Forge Motor-
sport Blow-Off Valve, Audi
R8 Coil Pack, Audi R8 Spark
Plugs, ECS tuning coil pack
adapter
The first thing Paul did after roads. The brakes have been SUSPENSION
getting the car was fit the coil upgraded to EBC rotors with D2 Racing Adjustable Sus-
pack, spark plugs etc from an Brembo pads.
Audi R8. The engine has also pension Upgrade
been fettled by an Evotech When asked about his future BRAKES
Motorsport tune along with plans, Paul said he want to EBC Brake Rotors with
a BMC DIA Intake system, keep the Octavia RS as such. Brembo Pads
Milltek Sport Downpipe and a He has also picked up an
Forge Blow off valve. It feels Audi A4 1.8T for which he
WHEELS
quite punchy, once the turbo has been collecting parts for. 18 inch XXR wheels,
gets spooled and accelerates We will soon see what he 225/40/18 Nankang Tyres
hard to limiter. The rush of can come up with.
power is so addictive that you
want to work with the engine
and slick shift, which is ac-
companied by the blow-off
hissing and then some more
wheel spin in the next gear.
The exhaust with the Remus
end can sounds just about
right. Because of the way it
has been remapped, it pops
and crackles on the overrun
which is another treat to the
ears. When you have really
been giving it the beans and
the exhaust is hot enough,
it even shoots some flames
through the exhaust tips.
The Octavia drives on a set of
D2 Racing adjustable suspen-
sions. They tighten the car’s
handling without being too
aggressive and bumpy for our
 First Impression
Mahindra Thar
The most eagerly awaited car of 2020, does live up to the promise
T
his is the car we never
knew we wanted,
till we saw it. After I
posted a pic online, I was in-
undated by calls and personal
messages from people wanting
to know my opinion. Such has
been the enthusiasm that every
video review or social media
content out there has racked up
lakhs of views in days, much
to the surprise of their own
content creators. It got thumbs
up everywhere we took it and
the level of attention it gets can
put most supercars to shame.
BIG WHEELS complete the
look. 18 inch five spoke
wheels with 255/65 R18 tyres
are well proportioned. The AX
series cars will come with 16
inch wheels.
26 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
Tech Spec
Price 13-15 lakhs Est
L/W/H 3985/1855/1844
Engine 2.2L 4cyl Inline
Power 130bhp
Torque 300Nm
Transmission 6 sp MT
0-100kmph 13.2 sec
On Sale October 2020
front and circular at the rear
– a design element that harks
back to the previous genera-
tions. Yes, the new Thar looks
like a Wrangler, but if they
both started out as modern
versions of the old Civilian
Jeep and decided to stay true
to the original, they are bound
to look similar, right? And at
least here in India, you can get
the Wrangler only as a long
wheelbase five door model,
so that makes the Thar a lot
cooler in our books.
The Thar is built on a new
hydro-formed, body-on-frame
chassis similar to that of the
Scorpio. There is a roll cage
that connects the top of the B
pillars and runs on either side
of the car all the way to the
back. The doors are remov-
able and Mahindra says the
whole interior can be hosed
down although it’s not easy
as that. Fit and finish is top
notch, and although panel
gaps are big by modern day
standards, they are consistent.
Most people who are waiting
to buy one, forget test driving, It looks best from the sides or
haven’t even seen one in the rear three quarters where the
flesh yet, but have their cheque 18 inch anthracite wheels and
books out already. So what’s all chunky 255/65 R18 tyres fill
the fuss about? up the big arches. The boxy
hardtop is rugged enough and
The short answer is, Mahindra is made of two pieces. It has
nailed it this time. This is how fixed glass windows on the
a modern interpretation of the sides while the rear glass is a
legendary Thar should be. The hatch and opens upwards. Yes,
proportions are spot on. The
new Thar is wider and looks
more purposeful. The front INTERIORS Feels upmarket and solid.
bumper runs into thick fenders Ergonomics is much better and there
that are square shaped at the is a long list of equipments too
FUEL FILLER Cap still
needs to be opened
from the outside
using a key. Very
inconvenient. Old Thar
owners used to have a
VIN PLATE takes pride of place seperate key made to
on the dashboard and has be handed over to the
been made to look more styl- fuel pump attendant
ish than in most cars. Notice so they didn’t have to
the lack of Serial Number in lose the air condition-
the pre-production variant ing while waiting it to
we drove. be tanked up.
that grille is a last minute job
to avoid legal tangle with FCA
and that’s the only thing we
didn’t like. Funnily enough,
aftermarket replacements are
available even before the car
is launched.
The interiors are totally
revamped and feels upmar-
ket enough. The ergonomics
are way better than what it
used to be and the dashboard
feels solid and built to last.
The thick steering wheel and
some of the switch gear are
borrowed from other Mahin-
dras. The gauge cluster feels
modern but very minimalistic.
All-round visibility is fantas-
tic and most will love it for
that. The front seats are well
shaped but aren’t very com-
fortable because of the way
FRONT SEATS They look great and
they are padded. The forward nicely bolstered, but weren’t very
facing rear seats which are comfortable in our car.
accessed by flipping the front
seats forward, are a bit low,
but have decent legroom and
headroom. If you are used
to the fabric soft top of the
old Thar that starts flapping
after 70kmph, you will be
impressed by the new hardtop
too. This is a strict four seater
and the boot is quite small to
take in all their luggage.
This fully loaded Lifestyle
series (LX) car has a lot of fea-
tures like ESP, Cruise control,
hill hold, hill descent control,
tyre pressure monitoring
system, a 7 inch infotainment
system with Apple Car Play
and Android Auto, electrically
adjustable mirrors etc. The
Thar comes with the option
of a hard top, a soft top and
a convertible soft top. There
will also be a more utilitarian
AX version called the Adven-
REAR SEAT Low seating position, but
ture series with jump seats, enough legroom and headroom for
16 inch wheels etc targeted most. 50:50 split.
This is how a modern intepretation of the Thar should
be. It is totally new and has nothing carried over from
the old Thar, except its name.
SPEAKERS are
designed to be wa- GLOVEBOX is
terproof and sit on tiny but lockable
special enclosures - useful in the
built into the roll soft top variants.
over hoop connect- Gone is the old
ing the B pillars. Thar’s lockable
The Thar has extra compartment
roll bars for the rear under the front
cabin too. seat.
 First Impression
TOP The infotainment system
shows useful off-road data but
Mahindra told us not to focus
on it, presumably because this
was a pre-production car and the
final version could be different.
towards hard-core off roaders,
joining the line up soon.
The new Thar will have a
choice of 2.0 litre 152bhp
petrol with 320Nm or a 2.2litre
132bhp diesel with 300Nm
paired to a six speed manual
or a torque convertor auto-
matic. These new engines will
be offered in a lot of new cars
from Mahindra and Ford in
the future. The one we tested
was the diesel manual and
the first thing you notice is
the refinement at low revs.
The engine also has a wide
power band and pulls cleanly
past 1000rpm, giving it great
drivability. Performance is
sprightly, although we are
yet to fully test it both on and
It is a far cry from the
old Thar and now drives
like a short wheelbase
Scorpio 2.2 VLX
28 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
BOTTOM The hard top is made
of two pieces joined on top
of the B pillar area. It can be
unbolted but Mahindra doesn’t
recommend it as it could lead to
leaks later on.
off-road. The clutch is not too
heavy but the gearbox is a bit
notchy and has longer throws.
The Thar gets new indepen-
dent front suspension and a
multilink setup for the rear
dead axle. This has trans-
formed the way it drives and
it now feels like a shorter
wheelbase Scorpio 2.2 VLX.
The steering is more precise
and does kickback a little on
bad patches, but the chassis is
much more capable on road
with better front end grip giv-
ing you confidence. The ride
isn’t fully sorted and it tosses
you around but not to the
point where it gets uncomfort-
able. There is also a bit of body
roll and pitch as there would
be in this class of vehicle. The
brakes feel a bit spongy and
take some getting used to,
but they have good stopping
power. Though it isn’t as
BOOT There isn’t a lot of luggage space on offer with the back seats in place.
The boot opens in two steps with the space mounted half opening side ways
and the glass hatch opening upwards after that.
The Thar is dynamically sorted as a mod-
most likely to ern day crossover, you can
be positioned drive it on the road and go
under the
Scorpio in long distance touring with it.
the Mahindra
lineup. We The Thar has 226mm
are expect-
ing them to ground clearance, 42 degree
launch with a approach angle, 37 deg
killer pricing. departure angle, 27 degree Verdict
ramp break-over angle and
a 650mm water wading ca- It is the most talked about car
pability. The wheel articula- on the internet and for good
tion seems to be lesser than reason. It is a vast improve-
before, but with mechanical ment over the old Thar. It is
locking diffs at the rear, good to drive both on and
front electronic locking off-road. With the snug hard-
brake diff, a low ratio and top, forward facing seats and
other electronic aids, it has
more creature comforts, it has
more than enough capa-
become more practical. There
bilities to keep the average
off-roader happy. We took is even an automatic variant.
it for some mild off-roading It all comes down to how they
and the Thar seemed to be price it but we can say the
unfazed by it all. It even felt new Thar is one of the best
stiff and solid with no creaks things that happened in 2020.
or rattles even after all that
abuse.
 Driven
Tech Spec
Price 36 lakhs Ex.Sh.
L/W/H(mm) 4689/1814/1496
Engine 2.0L 4cyl Inline
Power 242bhp
Torque 370Nm
Transmission 7 sp DSG
0-100kmph 6.4 sec
On Sale Not any more

T
he RS230 was fantastic
WHEELS Both the RS230 and 245 ENGINE It gets the same turbo but
value at Rs.24 lakhs came with 225 section tyres but has different piping and oil lines. It
and was only four they are 18 inchers on the 245. also has a different engine cover, an
lakhs more than a regular These Vega dual tone wheels are intake manifold with longer runners,
similar to those on an AUDI RS7. compared to the RS 230.
1.8 TSI. For that you got the
227bhp, 2.0L engine, a better
gearbox, retuned suspen-
sion, bigger brakes, different
bumpers, RS interior trims,
sportier seats, 17 inch wheels
etc. This RS245 is quite expen-
sive at 36 lakhs ex showroom.
Add our 21 percent taxes,
insurance etc, and that works
to an on road price of Rs.45.58
lakhs!

You can tell it’s the 245 with

its black trim on the grille,
mirrors, spoiler, roof, 18
inch rims, digital instrument
console, 9 airbags, VRS mode,
bigger brakes, retuned suspen-
sion, automatic parking assist,
auto emergency braking for
INTERIOR Cabin is similar to the RS230 but gets new digital driver console.
There are minor changes like the bonnet release on the LHS, umbrella under
the front seat and no sun blind on the rear parcel tray.
230, may be not. The 7 speed
DSG is just better though.

Skoda Octavia RS245

reverse etc. Skoda didn’t give
us the full dynamic dampers
this time either.
Photos: Ginson P Samuel
The engine is the famed EA888
and here it puts out 242bhp
and 370Nm compared to the
Only 200 RS230’s 227bhp and 350Nm.
RS245s ever The engine gets the same
came to India turbo but has some minor
and Skoda
said they modifications in the piping
had all been and oil lines. It has a different
sold. But engine cover and underneath,
there have it has slightly different intake
been some
cancellations manifold with longer runners,
Verdict and you can compared to the RS 230. The
still find them
There is nothing really not with some
biggest difference is the new
to like about the RS245 dealers. 7 speed gearbox compared to
except the big sticker price.
the RS230’s, 6 speed.
It is a sensible, practical It feels very responsive above
family car with a good en- 3000rpm although power
gine, well sorted dynamics build up is quite progressive.
It keeps gathering speed and
and a big boot. Had it been
you lose track of how fast you
five or seven lakhs cheaper
it would have been ter- are going. The engine is torqu-
ey and surprisingly revvy for
rific, but for how it makes
a turbocharged unit. Skoda
you feel from behind the has a Soundaktor system on
wheel, the RS245 is un- board which brings in a fake
faultable. Best front wheel sound into the cabin and that
drive VAG ever. makes it feel like a Audi five
cylinder. Can you tell the extra
15 horse power it has over the
It doesn’t feel like a front
wheel driven car in the
corners and feels agile
and ready to rotate.
This car has an Electronic
Limited Slip Diff that Volkswa-
gen called VAQ. Unlike brake
vectoring which eats up your
brake pads, this big pack of
clutches between the differen-
tial and the right drive shaft
does proper torque vectoring.
It doesn’t feel like a front
wheel driven car in the cor-
ners. It feels agile and ready to
rotate. On a winding road, very
little will be able to keep up
with this. The suspension is re-
tuned for the RS245, and they
have struck a good balance be-
tween ride and handling. Even
on these 18 inch wheels, it feels
comfortable but with a hint
of firmness. Still, we wish that
dynamic dampers were part of
the equipment list. The braking
is progressive and strong. The
pedal feels great and there is
very little fade. The rotors are
much larger than they were in
the RS230. The variable ratio
steering is accurate, but not
bristling with feel. The regular
Octavia has three turns lock to
lock, while all the RS models
have a little over two.

30 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
 Driven
BMW X5 40i M Sport
T
o us, the X5 has always
looked the best among
all BMW SUVs and this
G05 generation is no different.
Yes, the switch from traditional
L shaped tail lamps to elongat-
ed, generic looking ones isn’t
right, but it has tried to look
more athletic in overall design.
The front end with the massive
grille is very curvy towards the
edges, with shapely laser lights
sitting above the aggressive M
Sport bumper. The rear fend-
ers have muscular haunches
which coupled with a beltline
that dissolves into the fend-
ers, makes it looks far from
being slab-sided. While it may
try to hide its bulk with clever
design, you can tell from the
20 inch wheels with relatively
thick sidewalls that it is an
enormous car. This looks nor-
mal, but 305 section tyres on
20 inchers were performance
SUV spec, not that long ago!
32 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
The X5 has got a lot more
luxurious inside too with trim
that wouldn’t look out place on
a 7 series. Not that the previ-
ous generation was lacking,
but this one is even wider by
66mm and has a 42mm longer
wheelbase and that gives it
more room inside. The plush
front seats gets a commanding
position and can be adjusted
in any way you like. The rear
seats are a bit upright, but
they are quite spacious and so
wide. The M Sport variant gets
Headup display, the Display
Key, 12.3 inch instrument dis-
play, the 12.3 inch control dis-
play, the 16 speaker Harmon
Kardon sound system, Apple
Car Play, Phone mirroring etc. .
The parking assistant with 360
degree camera and 3D view
work really well too.
The reason why we are driving
an X5 now is the 40i vari-
Tech Spec
Price 84.40 lakhs Ex.Sh.
L/W/H(mm) 4922/2004/1745
Engine 3.0L 6 cyl Inline
Power 340bhp
Torque 450Nm
Transmission 8 sp Auto
0-100kmph 5.4 sec
On Sale Now
DIGITAL GAUGES Reversed Tacho
REAR SEAT The new X5 rides way still hasn’t grown on us, but frees
better than the previous gen. Rear up space for Maps in between. The
seats are a bit upright, but very spa- display is crisp, but it should have
cious and overall cabin quality has nicer graphics to make better use of
taken a giant leap forward. the hardware.
FRONT Seats are supremely comfort-
able and have various adjustments.
Cabin feels snug around the driver.
CRYSTAL The ‘CraftedClarity’ which
some may not like, is a glass crystal
application on the Gear selector,
iDrive Controller, and starter button
is standard on Indian cars.
ant, with its 3.0 litre straight
six turbo petrol. Now you
are spoilt for choice when it
comes to the two engine op-
tions in the X5. The diesel 30d
develops a solid 265bhp but
this 40i petrol has a stonking The F15 generation was never
340 horsepower. Before you a car the rear seat passengers
conclude that the petrol is enjoyed, but this has been taken Verdict
better, let me tell you that the care of, in the new one. The big- The biggest improvement in
30d produces 620Nm torque gest difference comes from air this gen is comfort. Driving
vs the 450Nm in the 40i petrol. suspension on both front and
pleasure takes a step back
And to me, in a two tonne SUV rear axles (The F15 only had it
you enjoy that colossal torque in the rear) and it allows up to for added ride quality and
wafting you along, more than 60mm adjustment in ride height. that’s important in this seg-
you enjoy revving the nuts off The wide tyres do cause some ment. The X5 still manages
a petrol engine. Mind you, it is extra noise, but the X5 rides well to be fun while being more
still faster, doing 0-100kmph in over most imperfections. It tends luxurious and well appointed
5.4 sec, a second quicker than to roll a lot more than the old car than its rivals. The 40i petrol
the diesel. The acceleration and the steering isn’t as direct as variant is much faster than
is never ending but is much it felt before, but this is still one the diesel, costs about the
more linear than the diesel’s. of the best handling SUVs in In-
same, and has the advantage
It is also generally refined, but dia. You can hurl it at speeds you
in this M Sport with its sportier wouldn’t dare in a tall 2 tonne of not having to top up the
exhaust, it is whisper quiet at SUV and though it may not as Diesel Exhuast Fluid.
low revs and sounds throaty enjoy it as much as the previous
when you floor it. gen, it would still happily oblige.
 Driven
Hyundai
Grand i10 Nios 1.0 Turbo GDi
A Tech Spec
small turbo petrol
engine in a small
city car - perhaps the
Grand i10 Nios Turbo could
be the fun Hyundai we have
been waiting for. The last
time we got something simi-
larly sized was the Tiago JTP
but that was short lived. The
Grand i10 Nios Turbo is a
lot more upmarket and a lot
easier to live with. The only
visual differentiator on the
outside is the turbo badge on
the grille and the bootlid.
Every generation of the i10
has taken the interior design
and quality up a notch and
the Grand i10 Nios has stayed
true to the tradition. The
Turbo gets all black interiors
with red highlights. While
it doesn’t have the visual
appeal of the grey interiors
and fantastic fabric seats
of the regular Nios, it still
34 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
feels good quality and has
an interesting texture. The
8.0inch touch screen is slick
though sound quality is quite
average. The front seats
aren’t the most supportive
with built in headrests, but
are easy to get on to and of-
fers a high seating position.
The rear seats are not wide
for three, but have good
headroom and a decent sized
squab.
The 1L three cylinder engine
is from the Aura, Venue and
Verna. Unlike the Venue and
Verna which have 120bhp, in
the Nios Turbo, it has 99bhp
and 172Nm. The engine is
very refined for a 3 cylinder
but you can feel the vibra-
tions through the steering
wheel and the pedals. The
turbo gets on boost from
1800rpm onwards. Though
not as powerful as the VW
1.0TSI, it has a strong surge
and you can keep up with or
overtake fast moving vehicles
quite easily. It is quite willing
to rev and the powerband
is really wide till about
6000rpm.
The Grand i10 Nios was never
an accomplished car in the
corners and the Turbo variant
Every generation of the
i10 has taken the interior
design a notch up and
this is the best out there
has the same suspension set-
up carried over. It is predict-
able, but the steering is light,
the front end isn’t as grippy as
we’d like and it understeers
when you really push it. We
recall driving the Aura, where
the diesel variant with its
heavier front end felt more
planted than the turbo petrol.
The Grand i10 Nios Turbo has
the sporty engine but not the
suspension to match it.
Driven
Skoda Rapid 1.0L TSI Text & Photos: Paranjay Dutt
I Tech Spec
f you’ve ever naturally aspirated engines,
(larger infotainment system
driven a Rapid, you but this one, even with a and more importantly four
wouldn’t question its turbocharger strapped on to
Price 7.79 lakhs Ex.Sh. Price 7.9-11.8 lakhs airbags), the Rapid Style is
intent or name. But by taking it, likes that. And, goodness the one to go for. As for this,
L/W/H 3805/1680/1520 L/W/H 4413/1699/1466
away 600cc and one cylinder, gracious me, the gearbox 1.0L 3cyl Inline the Monte Carlo variant, it’s
Engine 1.0L 3cyl Inline Engine
has Skoda reduced the Rapid won’t complain, either. It’s Power 110bhp weirdly specced without
Power 99bhp
to only a city runabout? smooth, slots in confidently, Torque 175Nm curtain air bags and gets an
Torque 172Nm
and with the dog-leg reverse, Transmission 6 sp MT inferior Android infotainment
Transmission 5 sp MT
Not at all. The new 1-litre, the newest of drivers will 0-100kmph 10.1 sec system. If only Skoda had put
0-100kmph 11.1 sec
direct injection petrol engine never run the risk of getting On Sale Now in some more effort in making
On Sale Now
makes 110 hp and 175 Nm. into reverse while going this edition more special…
It comes specced only with a forwards.
six-speed manual at present,
and there’s no diesel option The Rapid hasn’t lost its
as well. Even with the small ability to soak up bumps
engine, the Rapid looks like and glide over bad roads.
the enthusiast’s car of choice Of course, this is not the
in the segment. Off the line, performance-orientated
the engine has no struggle saloon you’ve been waiting
keeping up with the weight for all these years. It’s not
of the car. It’s astonishing devoid of body roll, but that
how the engine picks up also heightens the sharp and
speed - despite the small decently attentive steering.
size and regardless of the Although it needs to be men-
gear it is in. Downshifting tioned that the steering isn’t
Verdict and revving the nuts off it is dripping with feel. You can
corners if that’s your way of
With its 100bhp turbo petrol
generally an exercise with absolutely chuck the car into
making the drive back home
interesting. Braking seemed
Verdict
engine, the Nios Turbo adequate and the 195/55 R16 Tiny 1.0L engines are
makes for a very good city tyres were okay on the rain- becoming common place
car. Nippy enough to dart be- soaked streets. in premium hatchbacks,
tween traffic, the small size compact SUVs and now even
has an advantage in the city. If you’re strictly on a bud- mid size sedans. The Rapid
The tall stance makes it an get and don’t mind missing is old and starting to show
easy car to get into and see out on the height-adjustable its age, but still remains a
driver’s seat, the Rider Plus capable sedan at a competi-
out of, while giving it plenty
is the variant for you — since tive price. It drives well, has
of room inside. The interiors
the Rider isn’t available at good space inside, and won’t
are easily the best in class the moment. At Rs 7.99 lakh, fail to make you proud of
too. Wish it had the dynam- ex-showroom, it offers great your decision every time
ics to match the engine value. On the other end of the you step on the accelerator.
spectrum, if you’re looking at
something more feature-rich
 Driven
Tech Spec
Price 14.12 lakhs Ex.Sh.
L/W/H(mm) 4440/1729/1475
Engine 1.0L 3cyl Inline
Power 120bhp
Torque 172Nm
Transmission 7 sp DCT
0-100kmph 10.9 sec
On Sale Now

T
he Hyundai Verna has TINY The 1.0L Engine produces TOP The bumper has a halftone
enjoyed its comfort- 120bhp and 172Nm, which are pattern emerging from the black
good for its size. The engine trims on the sides - a detail
able position in the produces a lot of heat after a that is concept car like, but may
upper midsize segment for spirited drive. polarize opinion.
quite some time amongst
capable competition. Three
years into this generation’s
life, it is time for the midlife
revamp and as with every
Verna facelift before, Hyundai
likes to do things properly.

The Verna has one of the most

balanced looking designs in its
class and with the facelift, it
looks even more aggressive es-
pecially in the sportier Turbo
GDI variant we tested. The
front end styling is all new,
along with new headlamps, TOP The fully digital instrument console with reverse tachometer isn’t the
new bumper and larger glossy easiest to comprehend, and reminds you of the one on a modern day BMW.
black grille (black chrome for There are red highlights on the AC vents, red stitching on the seats etc to tell
you this is the sportier variant.
other variants), all intersect-
ing into one another to create The new 1.0litre, direct injec-
a striking face. The glossy tion, 3 cylinder turbo petrol

Hyundai Verna 1.0L Turbo

black mirrors, newer alloy
wheels, a raised ride height
new tail lamps and a new
bumper design with a new dif-
fuser look and square exhaust
tips finished in chrome are the
other changes.
Inside, the infotainment
screen has grown in size and
sticks out a little, since it can
no longer sit flush between
the vents. The turbo petrol
variant gets all black cabin
which looks nice. The Verna’s
ventilated front seats are su-
per comfy to sit on, especially
on a hot day. The car isn’t
the most spacious in its class
and that’s evident in the rear,
where it falls short on legroom
and headroom. It offers good
support and a perfect back
rest angle though, and short
people won’t complain at all.
The Verna comes loaded with
features like LED headlamps,
sunroof, wireless charg-
ing, BlueLink connected car
features, cruise control, ESP,
six airbags, front rear parking
sensors, a hands-free boot
release etc.
The new engine is more
powerful, more fuel
efficient and costs less to
insure than the old 1.6
with 120bhp and 172Nm is the
same one we get in the Venue.
In the Verna, this can only
be had with a seven speed
dual clutch automatic, though
the other 1.5 litre petrol and
diesel engine options come in
both manual and auto. It has
a bit of turbo lag, but is linear
for most part and you get
strong midrange performance
than the naturally aspirated
petrol version. The dual clutch
automatic makes it easy to
drive and is smooth in the way
it upshifts. There is a manual
mode and even paddle shifters
on the steering, if you want to
change gears yourself. But the
auto mode is good enough for
most occasions.
The Verna has a slightly raised
suspension setup that is tuned
towards ride quality. It feelsat
home on bad roads, gives a
comfy ride over long distances
and normal people would
be happy with it. The steer-
ing feels slightly better than
it used to and there are now
rear disc brakes for better
stopping power.
The new
Verna has
a raised
ride height
and revised
suspension. It
also gets rear
disc brakes.
Verdict
As far as facelifts go, the 2020
Verna is a thorough update.
Rs.14.12 lakh ex.showroom
for this variant we tested
seems like on the higher
side, but there is a lot more
on offer than before. It
gets refreshed styling, new
engines across the range and
reworked suspension. The
new features are a welcome
addition and makes the car
feel much more in tune with
the times.

36 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
 Driven
Tech Spec
Price 33.12 lakhs Ex.Sh.
L/W/H(mm) 4701/1839/1674
Engine 2.0L 4cyl Inline
Power 187bhp
Torque 320Nm
Transmission 7 sp DSG
0-100kmph 8.9 sec
On Sale Now

I
f you need a family
VW ANORAK STUFF The Tiguan BOOT With all seats in place, the
SUV that gets all the Allspace has a sharp crease on Allspace still has 230-litre luggage
luxury features, with- the bonnet above the grille space. Fold down the last row and
out losing on the practicality while it is a smoother curve in you get 700 litres.
the regular Tiguan.
front, the Tiguan Allspace is
the one for you. It is built on a
110mm longer wheelbase and
is overall 215mm longer than
the regular Tiguan. The front
end has a different bonnet,
headlamps, fog lamps etc. The
side profile is differentiated
by the window line sloping
upwards near the rear quarter
glass. The styling is quite un-
derstated and mature like most
VWs. The rear has three di-
mensional LED tail lamps that
extend from the shoulder-line
and complete a rather squared
boot lid. It is a design that is
staid and will age well. STORAGE Plenty of cubby holes and most of them are felt lined. You get size-
able storage spaces - on top of the AC events, two under the centre armrest,
below the headlamp switch and under the front seats.
The interiors look a bit too

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace

Verdict
The Tiguan Allspace costs
a shade over Rs. 40 lakhs.
functional at first. But spend
some time and you appreciate
how well built and practical
they are. There is a weight to
the controls and everything
feels built to last. The front
seats are nice and hold you
well in corners. The front
The Tiguan passenger seat doesn’t get
Allspace is electric adjustments, but can
built on a be raised for height. The rear
long wheel-
base version seat gets good headroom and
of the Tiguan. legroom and can be reclined
It is 215mm for comfort. It can also be slid
longer and forward or folded down alto-
has a 110mm
longer wheel- gether to maximize boot space.
base than The rearmost seats are best
the standard
Tiguan.
for small children only. There
is no shortage of features and
0-100kmph is dealt with
in 8.9 seconds which is
a second and half faster
happy as the 2.0 litre TSI in an
Octavia RS, but you can still
enjoy the midrange perfor-
mance. The 7 speed dual clutch
gearbox keeps the engine in
the meat of the powerband.
0-100kmph is dealt with in
8.9 seconds which is a second
and half faster than the diesel
Tiguan. The Tiguan uses a Hal-
dex all wheel drive system that
splits torque between front
and rear wheels depending on
road conditions. You can select
from various driving modes
that optimizes grip, throttle
responses and takes care of
individual wheel braking to get
you out of most situations.

High price aside, it makes

a very good case for itself.
It does everything well and
is a classier alternative to
a Fortuner or Endeavour.
With good space, perfor-
mance, decent fuel effi-
ciency, good refinement and
sublime handling, it is ev-
erything you want. It comes
loaded and is practical for
everyday use too.
38 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
you get keyless entry, push but-
ton start, three zone climate
control, electric parking brake,
auto hold, heated seats, heated
mirrors, automatic boot open,
full panoramic sunroof, cruise
control, automatic headlamps
and wipers, seven airbags, col-
lision warning, ABS, ESC etc.
Under the hood, the Tiguan
Allspace has a 2.0litre inline
turbo petrol four cylinder
producing 190bhp and 320Nm.
It isn’t as torquey as the
diesel Tiguan, and not as rev
than the diesel Tiguan.
The handling is very benign,
although not as eager as the
regular Tiguan’s. Although the
steering isn’t very feelsome,
but you can change its weight
in the settings menu. There is
minimal body roll and it feels
very composed in the corners.
Ride quality is good on smooth
roads, but it does thud on its
bump stops on some speed
breakers. Brakes are reassur-
ingly good and the 235/55 R18
tyres feel well suited for the
Allspace.
 Driven
for the older 1.4 TSI engine that

SEATS The T-Roc cabin feels well
built, but space is at a premium.
Front seats though not electric,
are supportive. Rear is just about
okay for two. This is a car for
young parents with small kids.
Tech Spec
was sold in the A3, A4, Beetle,
Jetta and Octavia. The new
engine benefits from a longer
stroke and a more efficient Price 19.99 lakhs Ex.Sh.
combustion cycle to give it more L/W/H(mm) 4234/1819/1573
torque and better drivability. It Engine 1.5L 4cyl Inline
produces 150bhp and 250Nm. Power 150bhp
The engine feels particularly Torque 250Nm
strong in the midrange and Transmission 7 sp DSG
you can do 0-100kmph in 9.9 0-100kmph 9.9 sec
sec. Though there is adequate On Sale Now
performance on offer, you can
tell this one is not as eager as
other performance oriented TSI
motors from VW. That’s because
the engine and gearbox are
both tuned towards efficiency.
There is also a cylinder deactiva-
tion mode which shuts off two
cylinders while cruising and
apart from a small pop-up in the
gauge cluster, there is nothing
BOOT 445L boot is a usable size
else to tell when it’s doing that. and almost square in shape,
but steeply raked rear window
We know German cars have makes it impractical for carrying
taller objects like boxes and big
good ride and handling by suitcases.

Location Courtesy: LuLu Bolgatty International Convention Centre DYNAMICS The T-Roc rides on 17
inch rims while 18 inchers are
optional. It feels so European in its

Volkswagen T-Roc
road manners it actually feels like
a taller Golf.

I
t’s small, not very
spacious or that good
value, but you still
want one. That’s the appeal of
the recently launched Volk-
swagen T-Roc. It is a desirable
compact crossover that VW
thinks has a better market
case here, than their globally
successful Golf hatchback on
which it is based. In terms of
size or pricing, it doesn’t fall
into any particular class. Even
its Czech cousin the Skoda Ka-
roq, sits in a different market
place in India, owing to its
bigger size and pricing.
The T-Roc is in fact quite small
and to many, therein lies its
appeal. It is compact enough
to be handy in the city while
remaining classy and styl-
ish enough to be hanging out
with other upmarket cars in
the office parking lot. It looks
more like a lifestyle product
along with the Beetle and
Arteon in the VW range where
form is more important than
function. While it is shorter
than a Creta and not as tall,
it is quite wide at 1819mm.
That along with the stretched
2590mm wheelbase, gives it a
wide stance. The overall shape
is very sporty with a sharper
rake to the rear windscreen.
The contrasting roof and sil-
ver accent running along the
sides merge into a minimalist
looking boot.
The interiors are much more
staid in comparison to the
exteriors. It has the typical
sensible design and solid
build of a VW, but since this
is a CBU, quality levels are a
notch above. The driver gets
a 10 inch digital cluster while
there is an 8 inch touch screen
for the infotainment system.
The front seats are comfy, and
hugely supportive. The rear is
a little short on space, but two
average sized adults or three
kids will still be comfortable.
You don’t get cruise control,
electrically adjustable seats or
wireless charging which seem default, but more often than
like glaring omissions. How-
ever the T Roc comes loaded
once, the cars we get here have
their suspensions raised and
Verdict
with dual zone climate con- softened up a bit, to suit Indian What makes the T-Roc even
trol, six airbags, heated seats, conditions. Not in the T-Roc, more appealing is the pric-
panoramic sunroof, Apple which comes as such from the ing. It’s around Rs. 7 lakhs
Car Play, Android Auto, tyre factory in Portugal. It feels more
cheaper on road than the
pressure monitoring, front German than most German cars.
and rear parking sensors etc. There is a hint of firmness to the slightly bigger Skoda Karoq
It also gets a collision warning suspension over sharp bumps, built on the same platform.
system and a lane keep assist but it improves with speed. It It may look expensive next
which steers you back to your can tackle bad roads with so to something like a Creta or
correct lane if you wander much ease. This is a well-honed Seltos, but it is quite reason-
away. VW Golf chassis underneath and able for an import. And for
it is evident in the dynamics. an urban SUV that looks this
Powering the T-Roc is a 1.5 li- There is enough grip and it feels good, drives this well and is
tre direct injection petrol four very balanced too. The T-Roc is
so desirable, Volkswagen has
cylinder engine mated to a 7 a car you enjoy driving fast no
speed dual clutch automatic matter what road you are on. got it right this time.
gearbox. The new EA211 TSI Even the brakes are superb and
Evo engine is the replacement offer plenty of confidence.

40 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
 Driven
Tech Spec
Price 24.99 lakhs Ex.Sh.
L/W/H(mm) 4382/1841/1624
Engine 1.5L 4cyl Inline
Power 150bhp
Torque 250Nm
Transmission 7 sp DSG
0-100kmph 10.1 sec
On Sale Now

R
emember the Yeti? It PRACTICAL Boot is sufficiently EFFICIENT Cylinder Deactivation is
was an odd looking car large at 521 litres and has clever seamless except for this notification
touches like ski access, seat in the display. Stunning real time
but it drove well, was tumble levers, baggage hooks, fuel efficiency figures when running
immensely practical, had so detachable torch light etc on two cylinders.
much flexibility in the seating,
it was good off-road and was
reasonably fast and pretty
fuel efficient. Sadly the looks
were a bit polarizing and most
people couldn’t see past that
and it was far from the best
sales success stories out there.
Enter the new Karoq, which is
the replacement for the Yeti. It
is more conventional in its at-
tire and looks like a shrunken
Kodiaq. Perhaps this is what
everyone wants.

The styling is very elegant yet

conservative. You get the typi- INTERIORS Skoda’s cabin quality is excellent and everything feels solid.
Ambient lighting lets you customize the colour theme of the displays as well.
cal Skoda face with the crystal Front seats are the best in the business. Rear seats are adequately spacious,
headlamps and fog lamps set but backrest is a bit upright.

Skoda Karoq
high up in the bumper. The speed dual clutch automatic
tail lamp is an interplay of 3D gearbox. Drivability is excel-
surfaces with sharp angles and lent with longer stroke. With
cuts. The sides are a little too 150bhp and 250Nm on tap, this
bland with too much metal un- is an engine that revels in its
der the shoulder line. Perhaps midrange performance and Location Courtesy: LuLu Bolgatty International Convention Centre
a Scout variant with its chunk- feels strained above 4500 rpm.
ier claddings and wheel arch Also efficiency is a key factor
trim can fix that. The interiors for this engine. The cylinder
are very well thought out and The Karoq is
deactivation mode which shuts 148mm lon-
quality is excellent. The front off two cylinders is seamless ger than the T
seats are electrically adjustable and there is no change in Roc. It is also
and are very comfortable over marginally
sound or any extra vibration. wider than
long distances. The dashboard This is commendable because the Tiguan
has good feel and everything it is only a four cylinder motor Allspace.
is logically laid out. There is to begin with. Fuel efficiency
a 10 inch digital cluster and
an 8 inch touch screen for the
is also great because it was
returning close to 18 kmpl city
Verdict
infotainment system both have and highway driving, com-
excellent Skoda graphics on The Karoq is the more practi-
bined if driven sedately.
them, which are better than in cal alternative to the T-Roc. It
the T Roc. The panoramic glass The Karoq has a great balance has more space, more comfort
roof adds to the airiness of the between ride and handling. and makes for a better family
cabin while it comes loaded It is comfy enough on our car. While VW skimped on fea-
with dual zone climate control, broken roads and has great tures to bring down the price
heated seats, panoramic sun- composure. The steering is and import duties in the T Roc,
roof, Apple Car Play, Android very direct and light in traffic. Skoda decided to for the fully
Auto, tyre pressure monitor- The handling is involving with
ing, cruise control, front and loaded variant with powered
good body control till you seats, 9 airbags, cruise control
rear parking sensors etc. The start pushing it to the limits,
Karoq also gets 9 air bags. etc. This puts it in an expensive
in which case it starts run-
ning wide. A tap on the strong side of the market competing
Like the T-Roc, this has a 1.5 brakes will curb just enough with bigger SUVs.
litre direct injection petrol four speed to tackle the corner
cylinder engine mated to a 7 quickly.
42 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
 HYPER LIVA
Text: Vivek Venugopal Photos: Vinod Kumar M
Double Take
T
he S Cross 1.6 diesel
was a special car.
120bhp and 320Nm
torque in an unassuming fam-
ily car, it was unlike any other
Maruti before it. The high costs
of the imported 1.6 Mutijet
engine and low market demand
meant, they pulled the plug on
it quite early. Enthusiasts who
bought them, swear by how
good it is.
Meet Sheikh Ershad Hussain
from Kochi who has not one, but
two 1.6 S Crosses at home. He
44 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
Text: Vivek Venugopal Photos: Vinod Kumar M
runs a software company which
specializes in mobile apps for
start-ups and B2B clients. It all
began when the Figo, he and his
dad used to share, started giving
them trouble. Because of the
high maintenance cost of their
Ford, they were leaning towards
Maruti and went to check out
the newly launched Baleno.
They liked the look, but it didn’t
feel particularly solid against
the S Cross parked next to it.
Now, Sheikh had earlier dis-
missed the S Cross for its launch
price, but in the showroom, he
knew that was what he wanted.
The space, the solidity and prac-
ticality was there and the base
model S Cross 1.3 was the same
price as the top end Baleno
that he’d come to see. He went
home, started reading up on
the S Cross but this time on the
more powerful 1.6. He imme-
diately knew what he wanted,
went back to the showroom and
booked a Delta 1.6 variant. The
car would cost him Rs.11.3 lakhs
and he would have to do a lot of
explaining as to how the 8 lakh
budget went overboard.

Luckily for him, the car did
all the convincing when his
parents took delivery as he
was travelling then. They
were so happy with how the
car performed, that when
it was time to buy a second
car in the household, it was
another S Cross 1.6 itself.
That way the father son duo
didn’t have to pre-plan their
outings and fight over who
gets what. His dad found a
used S Cross 1.6 Alpha with
a dealer, gave a quote and
sealed the deal immediately.
Once the car got home, it was
given a Wolf remap which
46 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
cured it of its turbo lag and
improved the fuel efficiency.
By then Sheikh’s own car
had a Wolf Stage 2 map,
downpipe, full exhaust, BMC
Intake etc and was on his
way to the turbo upgrade.
His first mod was the Wolf
remap, and his was the sec-
ond car done by Wolf. He re-
members the transformation
where it became very easy to
drive with minimal lag and
had a big surge of power.
Then it was time for KYB
dampers which transformed
the way it got along on the
road. The facelift came in
later, but he did it for his
dad’s S Cross first. Everything
was done at Maruti using
OEM parts. His however,
wasn’t as straight forward,
because he had to source a
separate wiring relay to fit
the Alpha headlights in his
Delta variant.
The turbo upgrade came lat-
er when they removed the
front end to fit the new Gar-
rett Turbo GTB 1549v turbo
with a custom intercooler.
The setup was pushing a
little over 200bhp but he
wasn’t quite impressed at
first. The ‘almost petrol-like’
nature and massive low end
grunt of the stage 2 setup
was gone. Being in Kochi as
the Wolf team, helped him
to get multiple map update
flashes to test and customize
the map to his liking. This
worked and the car was
much faster in the midrange
and manic at the top. It was
a different beast to what he
paid over his budget to get a
few years back.
We got to drive his car with
all the mods. It has a bit of
lag but when it gets on boost,
the 1.6L diesel pulls like
there is no tomorrow. There
is an almost never ending
surge of power and the tall
gearing of the S Cross is very
well suited to this. It was a
great cruiser to begin with
TECH SPEC
EXTERIOR
Facelift Conversion, Black
grille surrounds
INTERIOR
Stock
ENGINE
Wolf Map Stage 3, BMC
DIA intake, Downpipe, Full
Exhaust, Garrett Turbo GTB
1549v, Custom Intercooler
SUSPENSION
KYB ExcelG Gas Shock
BRAKES
Stock Rotors with ASK Pads
WHEELS
Vorsteiner V-FF 103 Gun-
metal grey 17x7.5J
Michelin P4ST 225/55R17
water-methanol injection kit.
The latter with some mods,
and we are looking at double
the original 120 horsepower.
When asked about what
would replace this, he said he
would get a similar enthusiast
car like this, as and when it
gets launched or may be go
rear wheel drive with a BMW.
For now, he likes the sleeper
nature of his S Cross and how
after the facelift, it looks like
any other S Cross 1.3 SHVS,
and now with the extra dose
except when he plants his
of power, it can decimate
foot down.
almost everything else you
spot on an open road. To give
you some perspective, the car
does 0-100 in 7.35 seconds
against the stock car’s 11.3
sec. While it’s impressive,
please note that it really
can’t put its power down and
wastes some of it with exces-
sive wheel spin. The accel-
eration times posted beyond
100kmph gives a clearer
picture and we have 100-
150kmph in 7.89 seconds!
Sheikh’s future plans include
fitting progressive springs for
the suspension and may be a
 Kochi, Kerala
RAHUL
MARUTI OMNI
Spec 800cc petrol
Top Mods 15 inch alloys, custom
exhaust, custom seats, Thule roof box,
wide rims, 185/45 R15 tyres

Kochi, Kerala
JAMES DEEN
VOLKSWAGEN POLO Kothamangalam, Kerala

Spec 1.5 TDI, 5 speed Manual

BASIL SAJAN
Top Mods Stage 2 Code-6 tuning perfomance tune, K&N stock replacement filter, Custom HYUNDAI VERNA 1.6 CRDI
Exhaust system with a Raj Hingorani End can, Eibach Prokit Lowering springs, R-line grill, Spec 1.6L CRDI, 6 speed manual
OEM GT spoiler, 17 inch 8J rims wrapped in maxxis victra 215/45/17 tyres Top Mods Code - 6 stage 1 tune ,Radi8 17 inch wheels rubber
204/45/17 ,tripples lowering spring ‘ceramic coating

Reader’s Rides
HOT WHEELS, SWANKY PAINT JOB,
TRICK SUSPENSION OR IS IT STOCK? Got a
SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT !
Cool Car?
Kochi, Kerala Kochi, Kerala Kochi, Kerala Show Us Send us your car’s best pics with a list of all the mods and tell
TEAM CODE-6 EVAN THOMAS RAHUL Here. us why you like it so much. Email Us inbox@quartermile.in
SKODA OCTAVIA RS MEET VW VENTO VW POLO GT TSI
This submission is from Code-6 when Spec 1.5TDI Spec 1.2 turbo petrol, 7 DSG
the boys had a quick meet with their Top Mods Yellow Speed Racing Top Mods Code 6 stage 2
Octavia RS245s and RS230s. From Coilovers, Evotech Motorsport ECU tune, TCU tune, turbo
left to right are Adhil, Gino Sebastian, Stage 2 ECU Tune, Motocarrera back SS system, Borla spitfire
Dr. Gopal, Dharwesh Rahman, Vishnu custom turbo-back exhaust, endcan, BMC replacement
Rishi and Dr. Jos Thomas in that order, BMC Replacement Air Filter, filter, KW Street Comfort
representing all the colours of the RS 16” Lenso Jager Dyna Wheels, coilovers, BBS SR 17” wheels,
ever sold. Ain’t that cool? 205/50/16 Tyres. Michelin PS4 205/45/17

Kochi, Kerala
SREEHARI SHAIJAN
TOYOTA FORTUNER
Spec 3.0L Automatic
Top Mods Tein suspension upgrade, BMC replacement filter
Dieseltronic tuning box,Black Rhino 17 wheels, Aftermarket
tail lamps, Dechrome,Trd body kit

48 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
 Inspiration

Tiguan Allspace
It may be a people carrier, but
it can still sport some big al-
loys, lowered suspension and
an aggresive looking R-line
bumper

Skoda Karoq
Get the 18 inch OEM wheels from
an Octavia RS and swap them on
to the Karoq, go a little low on the
suspension and some wheel arch
extensions from the international
Scout variant.

Volkswagen T-Roc
This car begs to have bigger wheels.
Even the optional ones VW sell here
are going to look good, but with the
right ride height and 18 or even 19
inchers, it’s going to be the ultimate
urban runabout.

Honda City 5th Gen

In a sea of SUVs, we have the new
Honda City. Seen here with the RS
grille in black with honeycomb pat-
tern underneath wearing JDM style
wheels. The new City has really small
wheel arches on it though.

50 WWW.QUARTERMILE.IN
RNI No. M6 19249/11 Printed, published and owned by Vivek Venugopal and printed at Sterling Print House (P) Ltd,
Kochi and published at Nandanam, Kesari Junction, N.Paravoor, Kerala-683513. Editor: Vivek Venugopal