Free wheeling

The Big Grand Car
It’s been a year of Tata Motors. After Nano,their mini trucks,the Manza,it was time to roll out the Grande MK II,an upgraded version of its premium Sumo offering in the domestic market. The Grande MK II seeks to get a one up through its renewed drivability,ride and handling and comfort. While the exteriors have been accentuated by a new chrome lined grill,side rub rails with chrome inserts and indicators on ORVMs,the interiors show-off a contemporary look with a two tone theme complimented by a new faux wood centre console and fabric upholstery. The changed drive ratio too gives a boost to low speed performance in city driving conditions. Several ergonomic improvements have been made in the Grande MK II like a smaller steering wheel with floating horns,a grab handle on the ‘C’ pillar to aid egress of third row passengers,and new inner door handles. From class third row seats and lowest turning circle radius of 5.25 m in the category,fuel efficiency to dual HVAC with roof integrated louvers,height adjustable driver’s seat and a state of the art CD/MP3 music system,the Grande MK II is bigger and better. The vehicle is powered by the new generation 2.2 litre DICOR engine fitted with a variable geometry turbocharger which delivers maximum power and torque of 120 PS and 250 Nm respectively. The Grande MK II will be available in three variants – top of the line Gx,Ex,and Lx with a seating capacity ranging between seven and nine seats in front and side facing configurations. The vehicle will be available in three new colours,Walnut Gold,Platinum Beige and Castle Grey. Starting at a decent Rs. 6.42 lakh,the vehicle comes with a warranty of two years.

Catch the pulse
Traffic is a spoiler,the biggest obstacle in the course of cruise driving. But worry not,for Bajaj is out with its Pulsar 135LS,a new light sport bike all set to zip through the traffic. Designed to add a whole new dimension to the motorcycle market,the Pulsar 135LS is powered with a state of the art 4-valve DTS-i engine delivering 13.5 Ps power. With its chiseled lines and aggressive stance,a sporty split-seat,aluminum clip-on handlebars and a host of other features this power packed 135cc Pulsar delivers performance comparable to other 150-cc. The light kerb weight of only 122 kg gives it a great Power-to-weight ratio of 110.6 Ps/tonne to make it optimum balance of agility and comfort to maneuver hustle-and-bustle of urban traffic. Equipped with a light-weight yet rigid frame,aided by gas-charged Nitrox shock absorbers at the rear,the Pulsar 135LS is well up to the challenges thrown by the urban jungle. The light-weight character of the four smaller valves allows the engine to effortlessly rev to an eye-popping 10,500 rpm. Says S Sridhar,CEO 2-Wheeler,Bajaj Auto,“The new Pulsar 135LS leads the charge in democratizing the thrill of biking and accelerating the growth of sports segment in this country,in line with the overall Pulsar strategy of broad basing performance.” Pulsar 135LS is priced at Rs 51,170 ex showroom.