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The Hindu : y>

Bangalore International Automative Expo 2010 is back this year with the All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Challenge. There will be 50 university teams with 500 budding engineers showcasing their best in engineering design. The venue is the Bangalore Palace Grounds.

There will also be a super car lounge with an exotic line up of cars. There will be 2010 Mercedes Benz SLS Panamericana, the retro looking Benz 300SL, with body parts made of carbon fibre and hybrid aluminium. The Chevrolet Camaro, the sturdy American muscle car from General motors will also be displayed at the show.

Apart from racing cars and vintage bikes, there will also be pulsating car and bike stunts, an energy drink bar, automobile merchandise, and seminars on emerging trends in the automobile world. The show will be held between March 11 and 15.

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The Hindu : OUSEPH CHACKO

Testdrive The new-found pace and grace adds to the aura of Mercedes S500 L. Ouseph Chacko waxes eloquent

Priced at Rs 1.1 crore, the S500 L is the most expensive car to be assembled in India. It’s been on sale as an expensive import for about two years, but now since it’s being assembled here, the flagship ‘S’ is now Rs. 15 lakh less!

It is still not inexpensive, but step into the business-class seats at the rear and you’ll understand why it costs so much. There is more space per seat than the Airbus A320, the seat reclines, the thigh support extendable and it’s got double-glazed glass and air-suspension too. Keeping the rest of the world at arm’s length from here is really easy. But this you expect from any S-class. So what’s different with the S500 L?

The answer lies in the two additional cylinders, two extra litres of swept volume and a 97bhp, 16kgm up in power and torque from the S350. Slipping this 369bhp V8 into the S-class has added an entirely new dimension to the big Merc’s abilities. The S350 may have been smooth and effortless, but this one is fantastically so. With a torque curve that’s flatter than an airplane at cruising altitude (51.5kgm from 2800-4400rpm), this is an engine that shrugs away the 2.1-tonne kerb weight of this long-wheelbase version like a hare runs away from a tortoise. Full-throttle starts feel a lot like an aircraft taking off (the Merc is much quicker to 100kph obviously). First there’s that push into the seats by the sheer force of velocity and then there’s a steady and strong build-up of speed as the engine works its way through all seven gears. It takes a mere 6.7 seconds to shoot past 100kph and you do a fly-past of 160kph in 15.7sec. The 7G-Tronic auto-box is fantastic and,…More

The Hindu : y>

Maruti has decided not to upgrade its entry level 800 model to meet the upcoming BS IV norms which come into effect in 13 cities from April this year.

As a result this iconic little car will no longer be available for sale in these cities, but will continue to remain in showrooms in the rest of the country. Among the cities upgrading to BS IV are Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Surat and Agra.

According to R. C. Bhargava, chairman, Maruti Suzuki India, the company has decided against upgrading the 800. In recent years, the 800 has lost popularity due to rising buyer aspirations and its more sophisticated sibling, the Alto, which is currently one of the best selling car model in the country.

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The Hindu :

Heather and Glenn Curtis, the duo behind the famous luxury brand Curtis Australia

WRITING IN STYLE Heather and Glenn Curtis believe in handcrafting their product

Heather Curtis is one lucky woman. If she wakes up in the morning and decides to have a new piece of jewellery in a new design she just has to tell her husband Glenn Curtis. Considering Heather and Glenn are founders of the luxury brand Curtis Australia, that hardly comes as a surprise.

As Heather blushes, Glenn laughs and says: “She has been the supportive rock ever since we started in the 1980s. In 1995, we decided to reach out to the high-end market, and in 2002, we launched Curtis Australia.”

Precious pens

The jewellery ranges from cuff links and brooches to neck pieces, and the brand also has a range of pens. Done up with intricate patterns in solid gold, silver and precious and semi-precious stones, we are talking pens that aren’t mere writing instruments, but works of art with numerous hours of hard labour put in. Something most of us would definitely like to possess provided we can shell out upwards of $185.

Wondering why the fuss over an Australian brand that you haven’t even seen in the domestic market?

Well, that’s because Curtis Australia, after establishing itself in the U.S., New Zealand, U.K., Russia, Italy, the Middle-East, Singapore, Belgium and the Netherlands is finally foraying into the Indian market. Unlike most other brands that debut in Mumbai and Delhi, Curtis chose to launch in Chennai.

“This city is a good place to do things. It is a sophisticated market. A lot is happening here. Chennai has great potential,” says Curtis.

The initial focus will be on the pens, and the range available here will be more intricate and detailed — patterns inspired by henna designs and studded with coloured gem stones.

As a special initiative they plan to launch a pen titled,…More

The Hindu : y>American band Saving Abel tell ALLAN MOSES R. what separates them from other rock acts is the dominant Southern heritage Mississippi-blues they richly blend into their Rock `n’ Roll

Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.BLUES’ BOYS Saving Abel believes music unites us all, across barriers

The Rock capital of India rocked to the rhythmic, adrenaline-pumping rhythm of platinum record selling American band Saving Abel recently, at the Hard Rock Caf‚ in the first leg of their maiden Indian tour.Saving Abel comprises co-founders Jared Weeks singing the lead vocals and Jason Null playing the lead guitar and backing vocals. Scott Bartlett strums the rhythm guitar and also lends his voice while Eric Taylor plucks the bass guitar and Blake Dixon beats away on the drums.Jared shares insight on the band and narrates their first experience of the subcontinent. “We were taken by surprise to be given such a warm welcome. Nowhere else have we felt such an overwhelming sense of comfort and hospitality. We even spent the entire morning celebrating Holi and though the colours don’t come off easily, it was loads of fun,” he said euphorically.”Initially we were nervous about playing here `cause of the language barrier, but the warm welcome put all our fears to rest. We visited some music shops nearby and found some amazing instrumentalists with abstract compositions. It’s the music that brings us together after all; uniting us across barriers,” he added.Formed in 2004 by Jared and Jason who were originally members of rival bands in the battle of the bands that used to happen in their city, the duo have come a long way from gigging in small places to worldwide tours. “We’ve learnt a lot from each other over the years. We never forget who we are and where we came from and that’s kept us together so long. This is what we’ve always wanted to do” said…More

The Hindu : y>

Other-worldly James Roday as Shawn Spencer solves cases in Psych

Star World presents Season Three of “Psych”. Watch the funny and intelligent crime busters from the Santa Barbara Police force back in action.

Created by Steve Franks, the show stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department. Shawn’s ‘heightened observational skills’ and detective instincts allow him to convince people that he solves cases with psychic abilities. The series also stars Dule Hill as Shawn’s best friend and reluctant partner Burton Guster and Corbin Bernsen as Shawn’s captious father, Henry. The show will be screened at 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday on Star World.

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The Hindu : y>

When is the Toyota Avanza coming? I like the Honda Jazz, but it is overpriced. Does Honda have any plans to slash the price? I want to buy a new petrol car, which looks good, is spacious and reliable. Considering the Fiat Punto, i20, Jazz and Polo, which one do you recommend?

Nishant Magavi

Toyota is evaluating the feasibility of launching the Avanza in India, but for the moment no decision has been taken as there is no diesel option for the Avanza available and without one, an MPV like the Avanza would have little demand. The general perception is that the Jazz is overpriced but Honda hasn’t slashed the price yet. However, there are quite a few discounts available on the Jazz, even up to Rs. 40,000. If you are looking for a car that offers space, reliability and looks, we suggest you go in for the VW Polo, which goes on sale very soon.

I have a 1994 model Premier 118NE which has clocked 54,000km. It still gives me excellent service, and I use it only for long-distance driving. I would now like to buy a new car priced within Rs. 5 lakh. It should be comfortable on long drives and have a spacious boot. I am interested in the Tata Marina and the Premier Rio, but seek your advise for my new purchase

Mahesh Thadani

Both the Tata Marina and Premier Rio have good luggage space, but are a bit beyond your budget. Besides, both these cars do not offer the same standard of quality and reliability as some other cars in this range. Our advice is to go for the Maruti Swift Dzire LXi, which is a logical upgrade from your 118NE. The Dzire is decent for long distances, and has a spacious boot. Also, at just over Rs. 5 lakh, it is close to your budget and promises trouble-free motoring for many…More

The Hindu : PRINCE FREDERICK

Jayaram and his sons patiently sourced one part after another to give their Fiat Millecento a fine makeover

In the 1950s, the Fiat 1100/103 was subjected to a series of changes and re-launches. Despite the redesigning frenzy, the models were not radically different in their core design. Yet each variant has special features which attract serious collectors, who generally have preferences for one model over another. Knowledgeable collectors, Jayaram (in picture) and his sons Srikumar and Jaikumar love the Millecento more than any other 1100.

“In contrast to any other car in the 1100 family, the Millecento supports the spare wheel on an L-shaped bracket in the boot. The upper and lower portions of a taillight are uniformly red. In the Elegant, the upper portion is orange and the lower, red. We also loved the triple slat grille and the dashboard which sported a Millecento badge,” says Jaikumar. “We resisted offers of Selects and Super Selects for Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 30,000 and waited for a Millecento.”

They found their car in Puducherry; but the 1956 Millecento displayed signs of capricious maintenance.

“A square lattice Super-Select grille had taken the place of the triple slat grille. The dashboard was studded with Ambassador Mark IV meters. The knobs on the dashboard were not Millecento’s. All lights, on the front and back, had been replaced.”

Patiently, the men sourced one Millecento part after another. “Millecento knobs are of ivory colour. We sourced from eBay knobs that come close to the original.”

From paint to upholstery, the Millecento underwent a thorough change.

When Jaikumar and Srikumar went to Puducherry recently on a rally, the mechanic who had sold the car to them was stuck with disbelief. “He took our permission to take the Millecento and show it to his friends.”

They consider this the best compliment they have ever received.

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