CHENNAI

BusinessLine 19 FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014

AUTO FOCUS

Datsun GO takes on other sub-4 lakh cars

Now that we know the GOs price, how does it compare with the others
S.MURALIDHAR

The ght to capture a larger share of the perennially popular entry small car market just got a more crowded. The new candidate trying to woo the buyer in this segment with its pastel paint work is the Datsun GO. It is hardly going to be a cake walk for Datsun and the existing competitors are all strong players with tried and tested cars. But, Datsun has gone for the kill with introductory pricing for the four variants of the GO, tags which are admittedly highly competitive and attractive. The one factor that will weigh down on Datsun, however, is its relatively poor dealer network at the moment. We have chosen four cars that are all in the size and price segment that match the Datsun GO to present a comparison. To make it a level playing eld, the chosen cars are all petrol driven, though not of the same engine capacity. All the cars are priced within the Rs 3-4 lakh range and even the top trim variant is priced sub-Rs 4 lakh (exshowroom, Delhi). As the table shows, the Datsun GO has all the ingredients in it for being a well-endowed entry small car. Finish quality is also above average for the segment. But the price attractiveness takes a small hit if you really look closely at the fact that the lowest priced two vari-

Hatchback wars Datsun GO has been launched with a competitive price tag of 3.12 lakh - 3.70 lakh. RAJEEV BHATT

ants D and D1 dont get body coloured bumpers, power steering and airconditioning.
Trim economics The GOs steering is light and its turning radius is tight, so power steering may not be missed even in the A trim variant, which is otherwise the only decently spec-ced model at about Rs 3.5 lakh. The Hyundai EON has similarly lower priced variants that are quite bare in terms of features. It should also be mentioned here that the LPG/ CNG variants of these cars (like in the case of the EON and the Spark) have not been included in the comparison. The Chevrolet Spark and the Maruti Alto K10 are the two cars that are comparatively better equipped in terms of standard features like

body coloured bumpers and/ or air-conditioning. Their variants are predictably priced a little higher too. In terms of sheer value-formoney, the Alto K10 and the EON will score higher. But, the equation tilts in favour of the Datsun GO when you consider the space inside the car and some of the other nifty features that the new hatch offers.
Size matters The size of the car inside the cabin will increasingly be a huge factor in the purchase decision, even as more and more buyers spend many hours in the car. The cabin space factor is even more important in the entry small car segment due to the fact that this will very possibly be the only car in the family.

The Datsun GO scores top marks in this metric and its boot is the largest in the class too. The GOs packaging has enabled it to relieve more space for passengers by also keeping the transmission tunnel low and by eliminating the centre console. The other two cars that manage to also offer a relatively comfortable cabin area despite their small exterior footprint are the Chevrolet Spark and the Hyundai EON, both of which are just a shade shy of 3.5 metres in length. The Maruti Alto 800 and the Tata Nano have not been included in this comparison due to their smaller proportions and lower price points. For more about these cars, including the latest drive reviews, visit our website at www.thehindubusinessline.com

Not yet an automatic choice for car buyers?

Despite the ease of use, automatics have been slow to gain popularity in India
N RAMAKRISHNAN

AUTO CLINIC
Stuck trying to choose the right car or bike to buy? Write to autoclinic@thehindu. co.in for a solution to your query.

Will this be the decade when more buyers shift towards automatic transmissions in cars? The 1990s was when air-conditioners in cars were no longer considered a luxury and became a necessity. The 2000s saw power steering becoming the norm in cars. As discerning buyers go for comfort, performance and efficiency, car manufacturers believe that this could be the decade when automatic transmissions slowly become the preferred mode of changing gears.
Current numbers Right now, hardly ve per cent of the cars sold in the country about 2.5 million passenger vehicles will be sold this nancial year feature automatic transmissions. That is because cars with automatic transmission are more expensive than manual transmission cars anything from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh costlier than the comparable petrol model (see table) and mileage drops by 15-20 per cent. It is a perception issue too, say manufacturers. Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor India had automatic transmissions in their Zen and Santro hatchbacks about a decade ago, but did not do too well mainly because of the price and that their mileage fell substantially when compared with the manual transmission cars. Automatic transmissions are

more widely accepted in luxury cars and SUVs, accounting for more than half the cars sold in this category. Of course, this is a small, but growing category of passenger vehicles. For instance, more than half the Honda Accord luxury sedans and Honda CR-V SUVs bought are automatic transmission, according to Jnaneswar Sen, Senior Vice President (marketing & Sales) Honda Cars India. But, that may change if early indications are anything to go by. Creating a buzz on automatics is Marutis launch of the Celerio small-car with an automated manual transmission, not quite an automatic transmission, but one that has substantially helped reduce the price gap between manual and automatic transmission cars. The automated manual transmission of the Celerio, developed by Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan, is based on an electronic control unit which drives a hydraulic actuator to control the clutch engagement and the gear shifting. And, people are prepared to pay for that comfort. Buyers in India, especially those who have driven automatic transmission cars abroad and enjoyed the convenience, are leading the change here.
Options available What makes the Celerio automatic attractive, according to CV Raman, Executive Officer Engineering,

Automatic gearbox on the Celerio

Maruti Suzuki, is the pricing and the fuel efficiency that the vehicle manages to offer. Maruti says the Celerio automatic gives a mileage of 23.1 km a litre, while the automatic variant is only Rs 40,000 more than the comparable manual transmission. Two of the features which work against automatics have been addressed, says Raman. Another reason Maruti has been able to bring down the cost of the AMT in the Celerio is that it is manufactured here, when all manufacturers import automatic transmissions, as the volumes are still low. However, Rakesh Srivastava, Senior Vice-President Sales & Marketing, Hyundai Motor India, feels it will be quite some time before there will be a substantial shift towards automatic transmissions. This is because of the price differential between manual transmission cars and automatic transmission ones, and the lower mileage. India is still a price sensitive market and more than two-thirds of car buyers go for hatchbacks. When Ford India launched its compact sports utility vehicle EcoS-

port with an automatic option, it had reckoned that about ve per cent of buyers would opt for it. However, it had to quickly stop bookings for the automatic transmission variant, as the demand exceeded the companys estimate by almost an additional ve percentage points. Ford India gets the automatic transmission from Mexico and globally there was a huge demand for the automatic variant of the EcoSport. As vehicle density on roads increases and as people spend more time in cars, automatics become attractive, points out Vinay Piparsania, Executive Director Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford India. Commutes become longer and there is the fatigue factor (of constantly having to shift gears), he adds. Sen of Honda Cars says automatic cars are costlier not just because they are imported. They are more expensive to make because the technology is costlier. The technology of automatic transmissions has also vastly changed and they are as fuel efficient as manual transmission ones. For instance, Sen says, in the new City sedan, the mileage in the automatic variant is as good or better than the manual transmission one. Technology has changed vastly, but perception is still to change completely, adds Sen. As cities grow and commutes become longer, car makers are banking on what many consider a luxury now becoming an automatic necessity.

I need your advice in nalising my next car purchase. I have narrowed down the nalists to two cars, one is the Honda Amaze S-Diesel Variant and other one is the Mahindra VeritoD6. Which one should I opt for? I am looking for a car that offers good mileage and low annual maintenance costs.
V R SANKAR, COIMBATORE

It is an interesting comparison that you are trying to make between two cars that are priced similarly, but seem to be quite varied in other respects. But we are sure that there are many readers facing a similar situation. With the Mahindra Verito, you are faced with a model that is by now tried and tested, but is quite dated too. It was the Renault Logan, which has since taken on the new avatar. Under Mahindra, its quality continues to be steady and assured. The build quality is great and its ability to be a frugal performer is not under any doubt. But, its nish quality is average. The Honda Amaze on the other hand, is a light, compact sedan that has been derived from the Brio hatch. The Amazes engines tuning is biased towards the city-driving cycle and performance will be oriented towards delivering more mileage rather than being aimed at outright performance. The Amaze is the newer of the two and the more modern package. On the overall reliability scales the Amaze will again just about pip the Verito. Annual maintenance costs might be higher in the case of the Amaze, though in the long term the costs are likely to be similar. Space inside the two cars is also likely to be similar. Choose the Verito if you dont have a problem with its dated design and potentially lower residual value. Choose the Amaze if you are looking for a modern car and if you are going to be largely driving within the city. The Verito is also priced slightly lower than the Amaze in Coimbatore.
I'm on the lookout for a new motorcycle that costs below 1 lakh. Suggest a good motorcycle that offers riding comfort, value for money, style, decent fuel efficiency and durability keeping in mind that I'm 6'2".
RAGHAV PARTHASARTHY

TECH EXPLAINED

How does ABS work in motorcycles?

Anti-lock braking system, or ABS, plays the same role in motorcycles as it does in cars. It keeps the wheel from locking up and losing traction on the surface when the rider slams hard on the brakes. On standard surfaces such as asphalt and concrete, ABS also reduces the braking distance over standard non-ABS braking systems. While older ABS systems (rst introduced on motorcycles such as BMWs GS lineup) were derived from existing ABS from cars, newer ABS for motorcycles are tailor made to suit the motorcycles dynamics. A motorcycle with ABS typically comes with wheel-speed sensors on both front and rear of the motorcycle, which feed information to the Electronic Control Unit, (ECU). Depending on how fast the motorcycle is going, and also depending on other parameters such as the motorcycles weight and centre of gravity, the on-board ABS allows a certain amount of brake slip to prevent the wheels from locking up. Without ABS, if the rider has pushed only the rear-brake pedal, the rear wheel is highly likely to lock up and cause the tail to slide out leading to a fall. On the other hand, if the rider only jams hard on the front brake lever, it may cause a fall-over. While an antilock braking system may reduce the risk of these situations up to an extent, it is combined braking system, or CBS, that can reduce the risk of crashing in panic-braking situation. The role of CBS is to distribute braking power to both wheels even when just one brake is applied. Thats because the correct way to brake on a two-wheeler is to apply both brakes simultaneously. However, in panic situations a

rider may apply just one brake. The CBS will evenly distribute braking force to avoid fall-overs and tail-slides. Modern motorcycle braking systems utilise both CBS and ABS, often together. A motorcyclist may still be at more risk in situations where the motorcycle collides with another vehicle or object. In case of a head-

on collision, the motorcyclist is often thrown forward over the handlebars due to the impact. To counter this, Honda has developed airbags for motorcycles. The on-board sensors decide if the impact is large enough to throw the rider forward. If it is, an airbag is deployed to prevent just that. The rst motor-

cycle airbags were tested and utilised on the Honda Goldwing. However, the risks are greater when a motorcyclist is sideswiped or thrown off sideways. While a motorcycles design may not allow airbags to be used on the sides, a rider can always get riding jackets or suits with in-built airbags.

While there are a few good motorcycles in your preferred price bracket, choosing a motorcycle would also depend on your riding style and the distance that you would ride for, every day. The rst and the most balanced suggestion, judging just by your mentioned requisites, would be the Honda CB Trigger. The 150cc motor is both powerful and economical it has a claimed mileage of 60 kmpl, which is on the higher side for this class. It also looks good, and is denitely durable. However, considering your height, Triggers handlebars arent too wide for you. As an alternative, that is if you would want to compromise a bit on mileage, Yamahas FZ-S would be really good for you. The mileage is a little less than the Honda (50-55kmpl) but it is way more fun to ride. Moreover, the riding stance is designed to suit for a wide range of heights. The FZ-S has a 150cc motor as well, but it is way zippier, and the handling characteristics too are impeccable.

CM YK

. . . . . . . . CH-X