Taller than life

Hey guys, do you remember that one tall guy from your class who always sat in the backbenches? Well, that’s me. Your overtly taller than average Indian who shoots upto a whooping 6ft 5inches. And guess what? My beloved wife hates being left out. She stands tall at exactly 6ft and by the looks of our growing children, they seem to be catching up pretty fast.

Well, this tall family of mine needs a lot of room for most parts of our elongated bodies. A problem that often seems to pop up when we go driving. Which is why choosing the right car at the right budget with the right allocation of space was extremely important for us. And then I heard of the new Maruti Ritz. It seems to be the answer to our dilemma.

Apparently, the Ritz is a hatchback with a superior stance standing at a height of 1620mm. With such a height it enables higher head room with an additional 24 mm in the front and 31 mm in the rear. This makes for the best in class leg room and head room. Also it will allow my family to enter and exit with relative ease (very crucial during those hectic rushes).

There’s also a 6-way driver seat adjuster that lets you set upright positions for that better view of the journey in front of you. All in all, I think this car would be absolutely perfect for this tall family of mine. But actually, it could work wonders for every family alike. After all, there’s a lot one an do with more space.

The Maruti Factor

Anyone who has grown up in the India of the eighties cannot help feel fondly for a brand that redefined the Indian auto industry. Maruti as a brand was synonymous with Indian pride and I remember priding on the brand even before I had a chance to lay eyes on their 800cc ‘forever-box’. In those days, people did not replace cars every second year. A Maruti was bought and it was bought for life… Well, almost. It was left to be seen who outlasted the other – the owner or the car.

In all this time, Maruti has broken out of the dependability mould. Their cars are now epitomes of class, performance and style, and not just durability. The next in the production assembly, the soon-to-be-launched Ritz is no exception. It is ‘Safety’ that has been redefined by Maruti this time. At least on Indian roads, unless you are already driving an Audi…

True, Ritz meets safety standards of Europe, the proverbial First World. Its debut as Splash in Europe met stupendous success, what with its state of the art ‘Electronic Stability Program’. There is a whole load of other safety features heaped on to the car; a collapsible steering column, foot protection design brake and clutch pedals, force limiters and the like.

It is good to see the where the Indian auto industry is headed. An even more comforting factor is that Indian players are leading the way towards international standards…

A new star is re-born

There aren’t too many occasions when a car steps onto the roads and sweeps the heart of a nation. India, however, did find a car that did exactly that.
It was the Maruti Swift. A bold yet stunning creation that had the masses go gaga over it. I did too. I am a huge fan of the Swift. It captured the essence of what a new hatchback should look and feel like. Moreover, it had the essential spunk!

Taking a leaf from the success of Swift, Maruti Suzuki is at it again with a greener, fresher leaf. The Maruti Ritz.

It’s very simple. If you liked the Swift, you will absolutely love the Ritz. For it’s built on the exact same platform as its predecessor.

The exterior and interior design, of both the cars, have been created by Suzuki’s design team in Europe.

However, the Ritz has more of a revolutionary design. A much better engine that’s part of the K12 series with BSIV compliance. The sure-footed handling in both will find a higher driving position in the Ritz. There are also a host of added features such as music remote on the steering wheel, snazzy orange lights in the meter, boomerang tail lights, plush dual tone interiors.

While the Swift was more of a sporty car, the Ritz incorporates athleticism with strong family values. With 5 occupants that can easily enjoy a smooth driving experience, the Ritz embodies the fun spirit of a Swift with much sound technical expertise.

Well, all I can say is that a new star is about to be born. My prediction: There will be a lot of families willing to adopt.

Designed By…

These days, a cars design is much talked about. It’s become an art form more than just a commercial benefit. Companies go out of their way to make their cars look good and a lot of them succeed in doing so.

Take a look at the recent productions by Maruti. They have evolved in the application of design with every succeeding car. Have a look at the Swift for example. It’s shape was unprecedented by Indian standards and proved to be quite a rage amongst upwardly mobile citizens of our nation.

And the person behind it was none other than Akira Kamio. A 44 year-old japanese designer who redefined the benchmarks of car design. His work on the Swift garnered laurels because of the refreshing manner through which he brought out the personality of the car.

The Ritz, which is going to be lanched next month, has the great fortune of having Mr. Kamio work on it. And the result is something worth seeing to believe it. It’s revolutionary to state the least.

Seen from the front, Project Ritz has a strong-looking ‘face’ incorporating long, slim, slanting light-emitting-diode (LED) headlights and a large grille. The panoramic glass roof, which realizes a roomy, open-looking cabin area, is also visible. The side view is distinguished by floating-look chrome A-pillar covers and by chrome side mouldings that complement emotionally appealing body contours. The side mirrors each incorporate a turn-signal lamp and a rear-view camera. And a stable, sporty stance is realized by positioning of the wheels and flared fenders in the extreme corners of the body. A dynamic, rounded rear-end design incorporates LED rear combination lamps and integrated dual exhaust tailpipes.

If the design is anything to go b, then the Ritz is going to be a definite hit.

Mr. Akira Kamio, take a bow!

Beat the Heat

The heat is on and we need to find ways to beat it. Take a shower, have a cold drink, sit in the a/c, etc. But those are tried and tested ways and I’m looking for a serious way to escape the heat.
And buying the new Maruti Ritz doesn’t seem to be a bad option at all.

Let’s take a look at how the Ritz can beat the heat

• The exterior design of Project Splash embodies the energy, youthfulness, and delight suggested by a splash of water.

• 1150 litres of storage space means you can pack up a lot of refreshments

• The entire cabin is distinguished by a blue-based colour scheme…how is that for a soothing experience?

• You can enjoy a sense of openness thanks to the panoramic glass roof that create an airy feeling in the cabin

• Boomerang tail lights that make you look very very cool indeed

• BSIV compliant engines make sure you don’t add to the existing heat causing global warming

The maddening heat is still about to come. As is the new Ritz next month. Which way do you want to go?

Election Cars

It’s election time. The buzz is in the air. The people are making a beeline while every candidate is hoping it’s for their party. After all, there’s a lot of hard work that goes into campaigning, researching, promoting oneself above the other in order to gain public confidence. I’m not sure whether the UPA led government will win votes at the centre or a resurgent BJP will bounce back into the limelight. I personally don’t really care.

What I do care about though are cars They are so much more better than people. They talk less, perform more.

Which brings me to a very interesting premise. What if cars stood for the elections? Which company would win? Which promise would gain the majority votes?

There are quite a few candidates in the running. Let’s take a look at each of their campaigns.

Hyudai i10

Promise: More power without a compromise on mileage

Reality: It quickly runs out of puff on the open road and tends to wander around on the motorway. The driving position is poor.

Tata Vista

Promise: More car per car

Reality: After sale services are extremely poor

Fiat Palio

Promise: The World

Reality: Bad Rear View Mirrors, No Rear Seat Belts, ABS and Air Bags, Turning Radius

Skoda Fabia

Promise: First super hatch in India

Reality: Poor reputation to boot

Maruti Ritz

Promise: K12 Engine with a revolutionary design, interiors and overall driving performance

Reality: To be known in the month of May

As a voter, I’d be inclined to let the Ritz hold office. Purely because it’s new, young with tremendous potential to lead the generation of cars to follow.

Happy Voting

Done your homework?

The other day my wife was not her usual self. She just returned from our son’s school after a private meeting with one of his professors. She looked extremely chafed about something. Upon inquiry, I learnt that my son has been shying away from doing his homework. He has been making absurd excuses at school, citing reasons that make me shudder to the bone. The little dastard has had the nerve to fake illness, family functions and once gave me a fractured leg while rendering me bed-ridden. But honestly, I don’t think that it’s only my son who endorses this attitude of shirking responsibility. It’s a thorough reflection of the toxic mindset that looms our society at large. Everyone loves to shy away from their homework. The government does it, the politicians do, corporations as well. It happens on a macro level out there in the open and on a micro level that stares me in the face at home. It’s because if you don’t love what you are doing, then your homework can become a task. A pain. A laborious effort to just about get you through. But if you do care about the end result, it’s no longer a task but a challenge. A challenge that has been well accepted by a few. The U.S. government did their homework while settling the west, Gandhi did too. As far as corporations go, Maruti always does their homework. They spend months and months in research trying to understand trends, fashion, and lifestyle. Digging deep into consumer insight, testing the road less travelled and churning out products that have set benchmarks for the rest to follow. The forthcoming release is going to be another culmination of all the hard work put into it. Ritz, or ‘Splash’ as it’s known in European markets, has accomplished each of its objectives of becoming a multipurpose, highly developed and excitingly fun vehicle that is yet another hallmark of a job well done. The results will show! As for now, I need to talk to my son.

We need education

Education in India is a very tricky thing. On one side of the spectrum, you have this theory oriented subject matter that is force fed into the stomachs of the students. And on the hand, we have the left brain orientation. The fueling of the fire instead of the filling of the bucket. Where practicality is as important as its subjectivity.

I would like to believe that I belong to the second school of thought. Having studied at places like St.Xavier’s and Wilson College, I’ve experienced the joys of an actual education. This was particularly exhibited during my stint at Wilson’s. We were a batch of about 60 students. Each coming from a varied background. A potpourri of every caste and custom under the sun. But the one thing that we shared in common was the love of our professor. From starting the lecture by reading a comic strip of Calvin & Hobbes to finishing off the semester with each student receiving a personalized note from the master. He really knew how to get the best out of his kids.

And he had his agenda. Like the industrial visit we had very year. Calcutta, Sikkim, Bangalore, Pondicherry, Chennai and Gurgaon. Over three years, we visited six different places under his guidance and stringent excursion measures. The last visit, to Gurgaon, was nothing short of enriching. We paid a visit to the Maruti plant that was spread over a sprawling 297 acres with 3 fully integrated production facilities. I mean, it’s one thing to go for a long drive in a car that has been well made. But it’s another to see the machine coming to life. I really wish I didn’t have to wear the helmets and glasses to protect myself. We saw the regulars being put into production. The panels, engines, wheels being assembled. But the deputy manager, who was also our escort, gave us a glimpse into the future of Maruti. A newly designed car with very interesting tail lights and interiors to boot. He called it the ‘Ritz’ and said it would be out on the roads pretty soon. I’m hooked!

It’s very important as a student to explore and find deeper insights into everyday facts of life. It’s also important to be able to converse on a range of topics For example, the next time I see the Ritz on the road, I’m gonna have a lot to say
Thank You Practical Education

The Past, The Present & The Future

There are no coincidences in life. Just incidents. And some strange ones at that. Like the other day, I was walking with my wife in the narrow lanes of the market (one of my many other monthly routines) when a familiar looking guy kept staring at me from the corner of the shop we were at. He was standing with another lady who looked like his partner. She was haggling with the shopkeeper over a purchase while this guy just kept his attention on me. After some serious deliberation, he decided to approach us and came within handshaking distance.

I greeted the guy and decided to put my hand forward when he uttered the words, “Don’t remember me kya?”. And bam! It all came back to me. Of course I knew the guy, Karan. He was my batchmate in school. We had each and every lunch together. He was one heck of a mathematician while I was great in social sciences. I got talking to him and reminisced the past. I informed him about my recent posting as an engineer with which he seemed impressed. He, in turn, told me of his involvement with Autocarindia. Sales and operation, he mentions.He always loved cars since childhood. I remember his fascination for the principal’s ‘Ambassador’ back then as well.We kept talking and walking until we reached the parking lot. Our wives in tow. We reached my car, a 4 year old Fiat Palio. He took one glance at it and addressed at least twenty different problems that my car was facing. Some that I was aware and guilty of. And some others which were quite new to me. He also mentioned about the launch of a new car by Maruti in the month of May by the name of ‘Ritz’ and vouched for its quality.

Well, he should know a thing or two about cars. He always did. He also knew as a kid that he would bump into me as a married man. A notion that I always discarded during school. I must say, he does a good knack of knowing where the future is headed.

Multi-Purpose Life

It’s the age of all things with a multi-purpose.
A cellphone that’s also a computer.
A computer that’s also a television.
A television that’s also a game station.
So on and so forth.

Everyone is busy putting two things into one. It makes life easier, they say.
Everyone is busy getting things to multi-task.

It’s no longer enough to own just a single area of expertise.
A writer who is also a designer has an added advantage.
A software engineer with good PR skills is a competent force.
Or a grade-A student who is a great athlete will always make the cut.

I’m planning on purchasing a new car. And I want it to multi-task as well.
There aren’t too many who can pull that off though.
The i10 is all power.
The Fabia only looks good.
The Palio dwells solely on its design
While the Vista is just about a good drive.

I want a car that blends style with substance, power with mileage, a good looker that’s actually a devil in disguise.
I want it to cross-countries with ease and relax by the river in peace. I want it to have it all.?

I think RITZ perfectly fits the bill. How about you ? Please, let me know your comments on this ?