What Next?

         2011 has arrived; it not only marks the end of a year...but also a decade. And what a decade this was! We witnessed the rise of our very powerful and incredible auto industry. Well yes these 10 years were important, but the foundation was laid in 1991, when our economy opened up and the license-raj ended. Up till then all we had was the Premier Padmini, Hindustan Motor Ambassador and Maruti 800. Mid 90's saw the entry of Hyundai and Fiat and by 2000 Tata was ready with the Indica.

Premier Padmini and HM Ambassador

1986 Maruti 800

         Back in 2000 if someone thought of a Lamborghini showroom in India, it would have been as absurd as a Black American President, but we have Obama and a stable in Delhi. The growth that our market witnessed in this decade was the stuff of legends. As of now, no significant auto manufacturer can ignore our market and everyone somehow or the other wants a piece of this pie. And if this was not enough, Indians now own Jaguar, Land Rover and Ssangyong. We now have immense momentum and I don't see this dying out anytime soon. So now the question arises, what next?


        This current decade will be defined by major alliances between Indian and international players and also among international players to get the perfect product that this market demands. There is no doubt that as always the major share will be of the small car segment, but other segments will also continue to grow into significant numbers.


       Mahindra will be the one to be watched closely as they have new platforms and very interesting models in their near future line-up. The first act will be the sale of the imported Korando, an interesting SUV from their newly bought Ssangyong motors. Testing of an international SUV with exceptional quality is also underway and if they get it right, they will rule the MPV and SUV market for many years to come. The small car market is ready to explode as even the big boys like Toyota and Honda have small cars specially made for India.

Mahindra Korando

    
        Another thing that has gone unnoticed by many is the VW-Suzuki partnership. Let's face it; Suzuki along with Maruti is the world leader in small, efficient and cheap cars. Though some of their philosophies may be not in sync with the German giant, but they have to make compromises to get a decent market share in the segment below the Polo. With Suzuki on their side, don't be shocked to see a re-badged A-star or Estilo as a VW or Skoda. It's a win-win situation for VW, Suzuki and the customers! In turn Suzuki can learn a thing or two on how to get that solid feel in their at times, soulless cars. I don't think such an amazing and powerful alliance has been seen among Germans and Japanese since the Axis powers of World-War II.


       On the local front, Tata will continue to churn out more cars with their ever popular and successful idea- 'More Car Per Car'. Maruti will continue to rule the small car market despite many attempts from various manufacturers to dethrone it. They are trying to enter the big league with the Kizashi, but this move is very debatable.

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi

    
       Chevrolet has made an alliance with Chinese car manufacturers and has now planned to import many of their cheap and very market relevant models to India. Fiat has an amazing range abroad and the highly accredited new multi-air engine technology. Though after long they have managed to hit the sweet spot with the Linea and Punto, getting the strategy right for the coming years will dictate how its brand image is changed and perceived. Coming to the luxury range, with the current economic growth, this segment is bound to grow many folds. Don't be surprised to even see a Porsche assembly plant in Chakan!!

GM Sail and Wuling

      So will Maruti be able to establish itself in the luxury segment, will Tata and Mahindra be able to reach quality standards of international levels, will Toyota and Honda be able to make significant impacts on the small car market, will Chevys Chinese products be a hit in India, will Fiat finally achieve the status it deserves? These questions will only be answered as time goes by, but one thing is for sure is that we are in one hell of a ride! So lets sit back and enjoy. And wish you all a very happy new year...


- Gaurav Singh 
TGM Blog Team

A Sober Beast

A dusky day was in its midst,the highway had a sheet of rain water giving it a matt silvery finish on the tarmac. I was on my way back home,it was then when I decided to call my friend & go for a ride on his new ride the Honda Unicorn CB Dazzler. "A sober beast" were the 1st words that came in my heart when I first saw it,that was due to the PEARL NIGHTSTAR BLACK colour which caught my attention. Originally offered by the company from its range of total four colours

1)Armour Gold Metallic

2)Pearl Siena Red

3)Pearl Nightstar Black

4)Sword Silver Metallic

The speciality of these colours is that in spite of being metallic,they give a special sparkled effect,that dazzles when projected under sunlight or any other light source.I guess its when the company might have thought of a name as CB Dazzler. The Batman shaped cowl fitted on the tank makes it look like a superhero's machine.

CB DAZZLER is lighter as compared to other bikes & its elder sibling, the Honda Unicorn. It is faster, meaner, agile & along with the above features it is very much stable.
The idea to lauch the CB DAZZLER was to completely capture the market of the 150 cc segment. Dazzler is powered by 14 horse powered engine with a newer cam shaft that makes the ride more refined & redifined. Being light, it has a feather like handling in the traffic & also on the highway it is pretty amazing. With very good gear ratios, the knocking phenomenon is avoided to a great extent even at low rpm's. It has a very good acceleration even when decently loaded.

The suspension has three modes, that can easily set by the tool given by the company. The 1st mode is the neutral or the normal mode, where the bike can be driven in the normal conditions, the 2nd mode makes the ride stiffer. Compatible for those who constantly travel with a pillion & the third mode makes the spring softer making it the best for a single rider travelling in any conditions, yes I mean any conditions.

Our journey was a joy ride of 110 km, to a hill station known as Lonavala, which is a preferred destination for all automobile enthusiasts, as it is not only the road but also the eternal climate during the monsoons. The bike weighs 138 Kg unladen, it was further loaded with a weight of 185 kg, no guys you are getting it wrong 'yokozuna' wasn't our test rider, it is the combined weight of the rider & the pillion. Since it was the 1st month after its purchase, we were under the impression that till the running-in period or till the 1st service the speed shouldn't exceed more than 55-60 km/hr. The average speed of our journey was 60 km/hr, that was achieved @ 4500 rpm. Later did we realized that the company did not prescribe any speed limits or rev limits. Had we known about no pumping limits, we could have completed the trip sooner.

The goodwill of the extra 0.7 bhp is seen when the ghats began, on the turns it does not require to be shifted down at every corner, this is because of the crisp engine, amazing gear ratios, the diamond chassis & above all the mono shock suspension when put together speak for themselves. The handling was simply amazing even when it rained, there was no such turn or curve or an instant where I couldn't lose faith in its handling, especially braking thanks to the rear 220mm disc brakes. Apart from the conventional KBX brakes previously offered, they have been successfully replaced by 'Nissen', the same set of brakes are installed in Kawasaki Ninja 250R & Yamaha R15.
The overall economy was 47.1 Km/L & it was even before the 1st service. However the company claims 60 km/L which is not difficult to achieve in a HONDA, with proper driving habits. The blue display is soothing while riding through the night & is not flashy at all. The mirrors are in an attractive SEPTAGON shape mainly to avoid braking in case of a minor fall.

The dazzling baby had no great issues or complaints, the only issue could rise would be the electrical buttons if not properly covered with separate plastic covers. Tyres are originally fitted with MRF NYLON ZAPPER SOFT COMPOUND TYRES, these tyres are not the best but they are fitted by maximum companies due to its competitive cost in its segment. The best suited for the purpose is DUNLOP, as it offers the best grip & life period in every season & driving conditions. The major issue that caught my notice was the fogging of the turning indicators in such a less period of time. HONDA popularly known as "THE POWER OF DREAMS", has surely not compromised in its power but a bit in its plastic quality.

My verdict is that it would be a wise decision to go for the CB DAZZLER, a few thousands would rarely matter, because for the price you pay, you get it all. Power , Pick-up , Fuel Economy , Looks, Modern styling & design, A trusted name like HONDA. Do note that discounts offered are very less, as it is a hot new launch but you can definitely give it a try. There are a few dealers claiming a waiting period of over a month but as my friend had directly picked up his bike from company stock yard, they have more than enough bikes at hand to fulfill the demand.

I would like to thank Dinesh Motwani, as this blog could not have been written without him.

The bike has following specifications as given by the company.

Weight/ Measurements/Chassis:

Kerb weight: 138 kg

Fuel tank capacity: 12 litres

Width: 754mm

Length: 2073 mm

Height: 1085 mm

Ground clearance: 162 mm

Wheelbase: 1328mm

Chassis: Advanced Design Diamond Frame

Tyre type: Tubeless

Front suspension: Telescopic fork

Rear suspension: Mono suspension 3 step adj

Rear tyre: 110/80 17- M/C 57P

Front: 80/100 17-M/C 46P

Rear Brake tyre: Disc 220 mm dia

Front Brake tyre: Disc 240 mm dia

Engine & Transmission:

Transmission: Constant Mesh, 5 speed gear

Gear shift pattern: 1 Down- 4up

Engine: Air cooled, 4 Stroke, SI engine

Torque: 1.3kg@ 6500 rpm

Displacement: 149.1 cc

Net Power: 14 bhp@ 8500 rpm

Air filter: viscous paper filter

Carburettor/ fuel injection: Carburettor

Starting system: self

Electrical:

Chain case: Half

Ignition: Digital CDI (Multi Mapping)

Headlamp: Halogen 12V 35/35 W

Battery: 12V-4AH Maintenance Free

Inst panel: Blue Din Digital

Overall HONDA offers a very intelligent & a smart deal with the following prices

Delhi: Rs 62,900 (Ex-Showroom)

Mumbai: Rs 74,000 (On-Road)

Bangalore: Rs 70,715 (On-Road)

Kolkata: Rs 64,390 (Ex-Showroom)

Guys do read the next blog addressing the high speed & extreme performances of the HONDA UNICORN CB DAZZLER.

Till then

DRIVE SAFE..BE SAFE..

- Vikas Bhatia