Tata Hexa - Drive the Hextraordinary

How does one launch a superstar? Make him work on his skills, physique, looks, dialogue delivery, dance moves, style and get launched with a bang. Well, that is what you would be thinking when you look at Tata Hexa. 

Built to handle anything that Indian roads can give you, from rocky terrain to waterlogged scary drive that keeps you guessing where the next pothole would be, Tata Hexa can handle anything, well almost. Did you see how many vehicles are getting launched from the Tata stable? This new stallion will up the ante for the much-needed relief within an affordable price range. Hexa experience as they called it was a complete one.

I was invited to check out Tata Hexa in Bangalore and the moment I entered this was an experience like no other. The place had a party atmosphere and had something or the other for everyone in the family. Tatas are known for their endeavors to impact everyone and this was truly a family experience. While the ladies were busy checking out jewelry shopping, teens were engaged in games section trying out board games, there were few canine friends up for adoption and those eyes couldn't let you pass. Too many Oohs and Aahs around the kennel and the food courts kept you going, but I must tell you about the centerpiece, the superstar of the evening - Tata Hexa. With a very dominant presence, it looks like it meant business.

 

  

With 19 inch alloy wheels with superb suspension, LED DRLs, curved real lamps, stand out no-nonsense grill, curves at the right places, clean looking leather finished dashboard, air vents on all rows, comfy seats which give you enough leg room to relax, touch screen control for a music system, navigation, 12 V charging points at all rows, additional light in the glove box, cooled compartment for beverages, reading lamps... I can go on and it looks like a comfy private spa while you cruise along the jagged terrain.

While the Varicor 400 diesel engine powers you enough to climb up steep angles with seven people in the car, the 6-speed transmission can let you chase dreams. Built to take your family and friends out, the higher end version can pack in a camper set and loads of luggage on the top making it ideal for getting out of the grind. Ah! I love the smell of a new car.

While you have many options from the market now that offer some of these features like Bolero, Xuv, Fortunner, this new stallion can make your heart skip a beat without hurting your pockets. I love the simple linear design with curves where you need them. I felt very comfortable to drive it around and take 180-degree turns with ease despite its size. The only regret is that they did not let me drive on that high ramp :( 

Loved the use of chrome in many places giving it the glitter when you clean it or drive in the rain. With the ex-showroom price to be around 18 lakhs for the higher end model, Tata Hexa is worth every penny. I would recommend getting all accessories done at the showroom itself for an additional 1.5 lakhs as they blend with the Hexa Experience. Well thought out, simple yet not imposing designs make your stallion sizzle when you take out for a drive. Move over Innova, Fortunner, the new superstar is here.

#Hexaexperience #TalktoTiger

Vampire to sell

Chicago Business reports...

James Bond has inspired sales of Aston Martins and BMWs with his super-cool onscreen wheels. Now a vampire who drives a Volvo is getting the attention of young drivers.

Since the release of "Twilight" in 2008, teens and young adults have been drawn to the Volvo C30, driven by the character Edward Cullen.

"All these teenagers were going crazy about the C30," says Carmelo Scalzo, general manager of Volvo of Oak Park. "After the movie launched, we saw this spike in C30 sales. We didn't know what had happened until we put two and two together."

Mr. Scalzo helped market the newer XC60, featured in the series' second film, "New Moon" (2009), after Volvo caught on and tied the car to the movie through advertisements and guerrilla marketing.

The XC60, at $32,995, has not seen the same spike in sales as the C30, at $24,600, Mr. Scalzo says.

But for some, just seeing one is enough.

"I have people coming in with their kids who are taking pictures with the cars," say Pat Hubert, general manager of Fields Volvo in Highland Park. "These are younger kids, probably 12 or 13 years old. Their parents say they'll come back when they're older."

Franz Mausser, manager of Barrington Volvo, reports a surge of interest in both models.

"We have seen an increase in interest in both vehicles by the youngest of drivers, teens and twentysomethings, and beyond," Mr. Mausser says. "Young parents also have been engrossed with the plots and story lines of the movie."

Your move

There was a billboard war Audi vs.. BMW in US where Audi’s board said “your move BMW” and BMW replied in style.

Stole the pic and post from Denovos.

STP, Style & a bit of luck

Mahindra & Mahindra registers sales of 55,924 units in the fiscal 2008-2009 of its leading sports utility vehicle Bolero. This marks a significant milestone in the history of Mahindra as Bolero is the first car in the SUV segment that have crossed a mark of 50,000 units and that also for two consecutive years.

Vivek Nayer, Sr. Vice President of Auto Sector in Mahindra said, "Bolero is among the top-selling brands in the passenger vehicle segment, excluding small cars. This clearly points to the immense popularity enjoyed by this evergreen brand." He also added, "The Bolero's superior value-proposition of style and rugged appeal coupled with our customer-centric approach to business has been major contributors to its success over the years." Mahindra Bolero is an intelligently designed SUV with a perfect combination of looks, power, and performance. Such high sales of the Bolero during this time of downturn give a perfect reason for the car manufacturer to rejoice.

Talk about STP.

Move over Nano, Tiny is here

The Tata Nano is no longer the world's cheapest car! Jostling along with Tata Nano, this July, will be Tara Tiny and Tara Titu. These are zero emission, electric cars and cost only Rs 99,000! And they come from the Tara International stable.

Each of the cars can be recharged daily at 220 volts through 15 amp sockets, whereas the bikes can be recharged through 5 amp sockets.
A daily 6-hour charge enables bikes to travel 80 to 100 km, whereas the cars (all variants) need 8 hours of charging to cover the same distance.

Read more.

Nano? Na na!

I wouldn’t wait for Nano till 2011 if I wanted a cheaper car. Is the worth the wait? I don’t think so. It cant be used on the highway as it wont go fast. It looks cheap. I would be having ‘CHEAP’ or ‘POOR’ message right across my chest. It runs on petrol! Unless they come up with a dual version. I would prefer to go to Rewa, the magic car, as many are discovering. Its beats many cars on many counts: cost, space, ease and style. Would you like to go for something that is not tried and looks poor or would you like to go with something that assures satisfaction. Another contender is the Maruti DUO.

Pics: images.paultan.org