The year of AMT
The market for auto transmission cars is seeing an upsurge with all major players wooing the customers
H. Kishie Singh

The automated manual transmission or AMT was the talk of the town at the recent Auto Expo 2014. Hogging the limelight was the Maruti Celerio EZ Drive with AMT. This seems like an oxymoron. A gear box is either auto or manual. That was till now. Here technology has redefined words. Actually, the correct nomenclature would be mechatronic. That is also a new word. And why not — we are discussing a brand new technology.

Mahindra Quanto is auto-shift with an AMT gear box; and (right) In Europe most top-end cars like Mercedes are available only with automatic transmission

However, it is fairly easy to explain. The Celerio has the same manual gear box, as we know it. But it has a second unit which rides piggy back on the manual gear box. The piggyback unit’s job is to change gears. As such, no need for a clutch. So you have a two-pedal car.

Slip into the driver’s seat and familiarise yourself with the lay out. The norm for an automatic transmission, the selective driving mode is below the gear shift lever. It reads P-R-N-D-L for park, reverse, neutral, drive and low. The first thing one notices in the Celerio, there is no P for park, only R-N-D. The AMT has done away with P. It locks the transmission in either R or D. Start the engine, move into D or R and step on the gas. Off it goes! Quicker than the conventional auto gear box because there is no need for a torque build-up.

The first indication that you are driving an AMT is when the gear shifts from first to second gear. It is not a seamless, smooth or swift transition. The gear shifting is the only down side of the AMT. Move the gear lever sideways and you can hold the car in the gear of your choice. There is also a ‘plus’ or ‘minus’ sign to change gears manually.

So here is a car that gives you complete ease of driving in a traffic snarled city.

This will warm the cockles of anyone’s heart. The engine is the Maruti one litre, 3 cylinder K 10 engine which has been improved and updated and is now the K 10 B. It pumps out 67 BHP. ARAI certifies a fuel efficiency of 23.1 Km.p.l. The most fuel efficient automatic car in the country. It is also the cheapest.

The Price of the Celerio’s base model LX i manual is Rs 3.88 Lakh. The EZ Drive AMT is Rs 4.27 lakh, a difference of only Rs 39, 000.

By comparison the Honda Brio manual version is about Rs 4 lakh. With the auto gear box it is about Rs 6 lakh. A difference of 50 per cent of the original Price!

The biggest hurdle in offering a car with automatic transmission in India was the Price difference and the drop in fuel efficiency. The Celerio overcomes both objections.

The easy drive is available in only the base model LX i and mid-level VX i, not in the top end ZX i which has ABS and air bags. This means the AMT models do not have the most important safety features. This is unfair to buyers to opt comfort over safety. Maruti knows the Indian buyer who will choose comfort and throw safety to the winds.

Auto Expo 2014 was the year of AMT. Tata showed the Zest with the AMT mated to a diesel engine. Mahindra had the auto-shift Quanto which also has an AMT gear box.

The automatic transmission is not new in India. The Esteem AX was here over 20 years ago as was the Daewoo Cielo. They found no favour mainly because of the Price and a short circuit in the Indian mind that the automatics transmissions are not reliable.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Most cars in North America have automatic transmissions, about 90 per cent. The Americans love luxury and have no concern for fuel efficiency.

Even in Europe all the top end cars like Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Jaguar, Range Rover are available only with automatic transmission. They have different names like Tiptronic, Dual Clutch, Continuously Variable Transmission but they all do the same job, change gears without a clutch.

Say good bye to the clutch.

A drive back in time
Automobile buffs have had a long and enduring affair with vintage cars. Many of these were bought as junk but have been lovingly restored to their original glory 
Subodh Samuel

It was a race to beat all races. The oldest participant was a sturdy 88-year-old and the youngest, a 45-year-old beauty. Many contestants had done cameos in Bollywood period films. The 600-km race was nothing daunting for the participants as, in their prime, they had covered bigger distances without a trace of exhaustion. Originally hailing from countries like England, America, Belgium and Germany, these have made India their home for years now.

Classic beauties

The vintage and classic beauties included Minervas, Studebakers, Plymouths, Fords, Chevrolets, Chryslers and more. They all lined up near India Gate on a recent windswept morning to participate in a rally stretching from Delhi to Jaipur and back.

For the people behind the wheel, it has been a long and enduring love story with their cars which they have lovingly restored back from ruins. Take, for example, 56-year-old rally participant Vishal Sareen whose passion — and knowledge — of old cars brims over when he speaks about how he made his 1954 Hilman Minx roadworthy.

“When I bought the car from a family in Agra, it was fit for a dumpyard. Over the years, it had fallen to pieces and nothing was working. I began work on it, not even sure if I would find the spare parts for this 60-year-old lady,” says Sareen caressing his car proudly.

It took him almost two years to put it back to life piece-by-piece. Sourcing some spare parts from junk dealers and others even from England, he managed to completely overhaul the engine. He then did the windowpanes, seat covers, retro dashboard switches and all other interiors like floor mats and roof upholstery that needed restoring.

After this, the car was sand-scraped and primed of all dents and bumps. Then, it was the turn of painting and polishing and finally of replacing door handles, mirrors, windshield, headlights, taillights, bumpers and hood latches to bring it back to its old glory.

Restoration costs

Owners of vintage cars spare neither money nor time and effort when it comes to restoring these to their original look. Though they may have bought a rundown car by its weight from a junkyard, the final cost can exceed that of any modern sedan. Take for example, Sareen’s Hilman Minx. He paid Rs 15,000 for the car but ended up spending almost 30 times that amount on restoration.

“The spare parts that had to be sourced from England accounted for nearly 70 per cent of the cost,” he says.

Though some people cut corners by compromising on spare parts, a true connoisseur would never do that. For him or her, everything has to be original — fuel pumps, carburetors, cylinder heads, compressors, and even the bumpers and lights.

Aficionados say if an old Chevrolet is fitted with an Ambassador door handles or a Maruti steering wheel, then it is not really a vintage car. It’s simply an old car which has been made functional. If you equip a car with spare parts from other cars, you simply kill its vintage value.

The true appeal — and worth — of a vintage car emerges with real spare parts. The only modern element in restoration is the paint. To make these beauties gleam and glitter, restorers usually give them a coat of urethane paint for that amazing sparkle.

Though there is no dearth of old cars that have been restored to mint condition, the real collectors usually go after certain models of different vintages which come up for auction from time to time. Here, too, there are gradations. Some are snapped up for their head-turning beauty, others attract collectors for their rarity.

Collector’s delight

Some of the popular cars that get bought at auctions around the world include Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, BMWs, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar, Pontiacs, Oldsmobile, Bugatti and many more. These are a delight of collectors who are constantly on the lookout for cars which come up for auction either in glimmering condition or as rundown vintages that need restoration to bring them back to life again.

However, it is the rare ones that attract intense bidding. For example, there is only one surviving Wilson-Pilcher car that was made in England at the turn of the 20th century. The 1904 vintage car attracts collectors from all over the world whenever it comes up for auction and there is no-holds barred bidding for this car.

But Wilson-Pilcher is not alone. Other single-surviving cars include the 1954 Oldsmobile F-88, the 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe, the 1913 French car Helica, the 1937 Packard 833 Sport Phaeton and a few more. These cars can fetch Prices in millions

Price is obviously a sensitive issue with most collectors. A car can cost anything from a few thousands to millions if it is a custom-made Rolls Royce or Bentley. If everything in the car is intact and in mint condition, then sky is the limit for a vintage car.

The Price of the vintage car is determined by its age, condition and rarity. In normal life, you would be lucky to get 50 per cent of the purchase value of your three-year-old car. But if you wait for five or six decades, you could end up making a fortune from the same car! 

1958 BMW 507 One of the all-time great cars ever made, BMW’s 507 Roadster has been voted over and over again as the best looking car of the 1950s. An all-aluminium V8 engine fitted in a sports car was a great example of German auto engineering skill. Since only 253 were made, it today commands fancy Prices at auctions. Last Auctioned for: Rs 14.52 crore ($24,20,000)

1936 BUGATTI TYPE57 SC ATLANTIC Widely regarded as the most beautiful automobile ever created, the Bugatti Type57 SC Atlantic rarely comes up for auctions as the French company produced only four cars which are today owned by some of biggest collectors of the world including American fashion tycoon Ralph Lauren. Price today: Between Rs 180 crore to Rs 240 crore ($30 & 40 million)

1935 DUESENBERG SJ WALKER-LAGRANDE One of the most iconic cars of the 1930s, many collectors consider the 1935 Duesenberg SJ Walker-Lagrande as the pinnacle of American technology of the first half of the 20th century. The only American car to ever win the French Grand Prix, the Duesenberg SJ till today is a byword in performance and looks. Price: Rs 9 crore ($10.5 million)

1930 CORD L-29 SPORT CABRIOLET Though the Cord Automobile Company was in existence for less than four years in the 1930s, it left behind one of the best classic cars America ever produced. The front-wheeled drive Cord L-29 was aimed at the buyer seeking luxury, sophistication and style and is today among the most wanted vintage cars. Price today: around Rs 1.35 crore ($2,25,000)

1939 MG WA SALOON A beauty of its time, the MG WA, made between 1938 and 1939, still remains a prized catch for selectors. It had a 2,561cc engine and came in three versions — sports saloon, a drophead coupe and a four-door tourer. There were 369 made but there are only around 60 left, many of which show up at auctions. Price: Around Rs 50 lakh (£50,000) THE COLLECTORS’ CLUB There are a handful of serious vintage and classic car collectors in India. The list includes Delhi-based Diljeet Titus and Tarun Thakral both of whom own a fleet of the aging jalopies. The other big collectors include UB group chairman Vijay Mallya, Sharad Shanghi of Indore, Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur and the late Pranlal Bhogilal who set up the vintage car museum called Auto World in Ahmedabad. Between them they own a mind-boggling 350 vintage and classic cars of which Bhogilal owned a staggering 105, including the rarest of rare 1937 six-cylinder Maybach SW38 and the Mercedes W116 Special Edition Saloon. The combined collection also has other rarities like the Mercedes 540 K and the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, which are considered Priceless. No one knows for sure how many vintage and classic cars are there in India. That’s because many are still lying as junk as the owners don’t know their value. Guessestimates put the number at around 1,500 restored cars, valued at Rs 750 crore and 2000 yet to be discovered beauties. 1958 BUICK LIMITED CONVERTIBLE The Buick convertible from the fabulous 1950s is a very sought after car not just for its great looks but also for its potential Price appreciation. This rare and unusual ragtop had an extended rear deck decorated by chromed chevrons on the fenders making it a very attractive vintage car which is in high demand. Price: Rs 96 lakh ($ 1,20,000)

1928 BENTLEY SEMI LE MANS SPORTS TOURER One of the best examples of the racing cars of the 1920s, the Bentley Semi Le Mans Sports Tourer participated in more races than any other car of that era. People thronged to see the car that could achieve then unheard speed of around 150 km/ph and beat competition hands down in speed and endurance. Price today: around Rs 1.65 crore ($2,75,000)

ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM II CONTINENTAL Featured in a number of Hollywood movies like Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade and The Yellow Rolls-Royce, the Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental was a limited edition car. Only 281 were produced making it among the most prized vintage cars for which collectors are ready to out-bid each other. Price today: Rs 2.10 crore ($3,50,000)

1936 MERCEDES-BENZ 540K SPECIAL ROADSTER Especially designed for the 1936 Paris Motor Show, the two-seater Mercedes Benz 540-K Special Roadster is a stunner and tops the list of the best-looking cars of the world. Since only 26 cars were ever-produced, collectors are ready to shell out megabucks. But considering its asking Price, few can afford to bid for it. Auctioned for: Rs 60.62 crore ($1,17,70,000)

1904 WILSON-PILCHER When the Wilson-Pilcher came up for auction recently, there was all-round excitement. Car aficionados thronged to the London auction site to see the marque’s sole survivor. A very limited number of cars were made and only one survived. It is considered one of the best examples of British auto-engineering. Auctioned for Rs 2.03 crore (£203,100)

PACESETTER Swati Jain
Adding the creative touch to cakes
As baking and cake decoration comes of age in India, Swati Jain’s decided to set up her venture Sugarcraft to train amateur bakers
Vibha Sharma

Swati Jain has a Bachelors degree in Commerce and a Diploma in Fine Arts. The journey to satisfy the craving for creativity began in the year 2006, when she returned to India after a short stint in Botswana. She identified the thirst inside her — of doing something of her liking, balancing the family front and satiating the artist deep within her. Baking came naturally to her and so did creativity in the same field. The little exposure in Botswana had ignited the thought of blending both baking and creativity on cakes with the art of Sugarcraft. The thought of teaching this art brought in another level of enthusiasm in her life. 

Till 2006, cake decoration in India was restricted to just basics and Swati felt the need to have the new art forms in this field and aspired to fill up the gaps that she could identify in this arena. Sugarcraft as a training platform for amateur bakers and crafters was born in 2006 and the first class was held in Habitat Center, Delhi. Sugarcraft India focuses on spreading Sugar crafting in its correct form — teaching the techniques and skills; and spreading the concept so that the actual artist in the baker feels liberated to explore uninhibitedly. The classes that are offered through Sugarcraft are spread out over a programme which is split in various stages, starting from beginners level 1 through expert level 3. There are some specialty classes and set of expert series of classes too. Swati says, “I realised how much I loved sharing what I knew and that teaching is an addiction for me.” She works with a team of five to six girls, including a course developer and some are earmarked in the cities to manage the courses along with Swati. 

The objective of Sugarcraft is to give the students international exposure in cake decoration and keep them abreast of the latest technologies in the trade. For that Swati needs to keep introducing the latest products and techniques that are continuously launched in this field. The intensive training imparted in the workshops stresses on widening the overall growth of the participating bakers. Finesse and accuracy are strictly adhered to at each and every step of the process of baking and decorating the cakes. As Swati says, “Just to give an example, the Gucci hand bag cakes made by Sugarcraft bakers look so real that it confuses even the ardent Gucci users immensely.” 

Swati continuously strives to come up with newer classes and concepts, new technologies like stencilling on cakes, whimsical cakes and much more. She has held many workshops in cities like Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Gurgaon and plans to add many more cities in the coming years. Success of Sugracraft is evident from returning students for advanced courses. Swati says, “Fondant cakes are a trend now as they have immense scope of creativity. Every cake is a work of art. Well done cakes sell in the range from Rs 1,800 per kg to Rs 2,200 per kg depending on the complications of the design and time involved.” 

She wants to involve more amateur bakers with her team’s attempt to take food creativity to entirely new and competitive levels internationally. She wants more people to take formal training to unlock their hidden because, “Classes help one to kickstart correctly without faltering at every step. Hence less frustration and more accolades!”

BLING IT ON

 

LONDON ON A YACHT Move over London Eye and Big Ben, the city has a new attraction—a luxury hotel on a yacht. The 394-feet five-story yacht Sunborn Superyacht has been permanently moored in London’s Royal Victoria Dock offering state-of-the-art hospitality services. It has 138 rooms, a spa, fine-dine restaurants and terraces with views. Its unique selling proposition is that it gives you the experience of being on a superyacht and also holidaying in London at the same time. Talk about two birds and one superyacht!  Prices: Rooms start at Rs 18,000 per night ($300)

A JUNK FOOD COLLECTION What would be your first reaction if you saw someone carrying this handbag? In all probability you’d say, “I’m loving it!” Italian luxury house Moschino’s new accessories collection has been inspired by American fast food giant McDonald’s. The collection is resplendent in red and yellow and takes a cue from McDonald’s tasty treats including a ladies’ handbag shaped like a Happy Meal, a “French Fries” iPhone case and a T-shirt dress with the iconic M followed by the slogan, “Moschino--Over a Billion Served”. Needless to say the delicious collection has left fashion enthusiasts craving for more!  Prices: Rs 4,680 for “French Fries” iPhone case, Rs 75,900 for leather handbag and Rs 21,000 for T-shirt dress ($78; $1,265; & $350)

NINETY & GOING STRONG It was first launched in 1924 and ever since then Montblanc’s Meisterstück pen has achieved iconic status. The German luxury writing instrument’s company has launched a series of collectibles to celebrate 90 years of the spirit of the Meisterstück. The limited edition collection features sensual leather goods, meticulously crafted timepieces, refined jewellery and a new writing instrument collection with each piece artfully crafted in precious black resin with red gold-plated fittings which will just take your breath away.  Prices: Pen collection--from Rs 23,400 to Rs 92,100 ($390 to $1,535) & leather goods from Rs 9,900 to Rs 74,100 ($165 to $1,235)

BE SEATED ON A VOLCANO One look at the sofa and you know this is a hot design—in more ways than one! Peugeot Design Lab’s Onyx sofa is made of Volvic volcanic rock which is a solidified state of lava that once flowed out of a volcano in the Auvergne region of France. The 10 feet long sofa which took 70 days to complete was presented for the first time at the 2014 Milan Design Week. It unites high-tech manmade materials--like carbon fibre which originated in the aeronautical industry--with a raw, natural material like a volcanic rock. Prices: Rs 1.114 crores ($185,585)

TIMELESS ELEGANCE How does the world’s most creative watch company celebrate an important anniversary? Simple, by producing a stunning range of watches. Swiss watch maker Girard-Perregaux is commemorating the tenth anniversary of its Cat’s Eye collection by releasing a couple of very special limited edition timepieces. Available in two versions (black dial with white diamonds and white dial with red sapphires), the watches are made of white gold and have the words “10th Anniversary” engraved on the back. The alligator strap is clasped by a white gold folding buckle that curls ergonomically around the wrist encapsulating timeless elegance and fine design details.  Prices: Upon request

DECORATING A SHOEHORN We all know that a shoehorn is a device to ease your foot into a shoe. It is a practical everyday tool and not an ornament by any stretch of imagination. But this everyday tool has been given an amazing style bump-up by Danish company Menu. It has given it such a touch of artistic elegance that it deserves a place on the wall! Made of polished steel it comes with a discreet magnetic mount to turn it into a decoration piece. The company guarantees that this special shoehorn will be the most attractive thing ever to touch your feet! Prices: Rs 7,500 ($125)

GUERLAIN BLUSHES It is one of the oldest French perfume houses with a product line aimed at the young and the young at heart. Guerlain’s seven new blushing additions to the Rouge G lipstick collection have been inspired by the opulence of gold bars and come encased in a new metallic body that is sensuously curvaceous. These include two limited edition pieces that have sumptuously lacquered exteriors and look as feminine as they are modern. The lipsticks are a perfect addition to a lady’s delicate evening clutch.  Price in India: Between Rs 2,083 & Rs 2,988 per lipstick

CYCLING GOES HI-TECH This curious looking bike has become one of the biggest attention grabbers of Europe ever since it was introduced recently. Made in Barcelona, the Oto Cycle is said to be one of the most trustworthy e-bikes. It feature numerous classic designs and different colours and is pure speed and style. But don’t be fooled by the petrol tank. It does not contain petrol but houses a Samsung LiNiCoMn 10.4Amp battery pack which can propel it to speeds of up to 50kmph and a range of around 60 kilometres to a full charge. Ideal for city drives it relieves you of parking stress besides giving you the lightness of a bicycle and speed of a car. Well, almost! Prices: Starting at Rs 2.22 lakhs ($3,700)

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Summer’s upon us and it is time to look for coolers that will keep the glare away. Fendi’s 2014 Spring/Summer Eyewear collection called Iridia not just does that but also adds personality and flair to any outfit---casual or dressy. The edgy women’s sunglasses have distinctive shapes and stylish detailing and the Italian luxury label’s monogram stands out distinctly. The highlight of the collection is the cat-eyed, retro-inspired frame highlighted by soft and round lines with pyramidal oversize crystals around the lenses smacking of elegance, style and sophistication. Prices: Rs 33,000 ($550)