Being a motorcyclist in the Indian monsoons is a painful experience. Most riders tend not to enjoy commuting as much as the open road, and traffic tends to take on a more hostile quality in the downpour. So when the invite came in for a trip with Royal Enfield Rides through the Western Ghats, with lush green valleys, craggy black peaks and roads covered in clouds, I was ecstatic to break free of the monotony of the commute. On the highways, rain takes on a more soothing personality, so I was looking forward to watching the water droplets drift over the visor of my helmet before being blown away in the slipstream…

I reached Kolhapur quite late in the evening, and after a quick briefing by our ride coordinator, Asif Khan, it was time to tuck in with the ever-present rain lashing against the hotel windows. Asif had picked a route for us that was going to be ‘more challenging than average,’ and considering he heads a group called Wild Riders, we were filled with nervous excitement. We started bright and early the next morning, and that was the first time I laid eyes on ‘1099’ – the Royal Enfield Himalayan that was to be my steed throughout this sojourn.

Shortly after a rendezvous with the remainder of the contingent, we left the highway for the B-roads that led us deep into the heart of the Western Ghats. We were told that there was a surprise on the way—after riding through roads that took us through dense vegetation all the way to hilltops shrouded in mists, and back down to the forests again, we veered off onto a dirt road that led to a small dam. 

While I have crossed small streams on a motorcycle before, crossing a river as wide as this was a whole new experience for me, and the Himalayan made it quite easy with its grunt. After the crossing, we turned around and parked our bikes in the middle of the river for a photo op, and thus created a perfect image for the well-known motivational poster that reads “There’s no shortcut to any place worth going.”

We reached the resort in the late afternoon, which was to be our bivouac for the next two nights. After a lightning-quick lunch, we headed out in search of the elusive reverse waterfall at Kavalesaad point. The rain gods had no mercy as they decided to give us a thorough soaking once we reached the point, which was completely covered in something white, which could be either fog, mist or clouds; it was hard to tell! Then, for a brief moment, the gods gave us a respite, and the clouds parted, offering us a glimpse of the valley below. The reverse waterfall phenomenon was clearly visible too, where we witnessed water being blown uphill thanks to gale-force winds.

The next morning, we started with a place called Baba Waterfalls, where we rode under a waterfall! Once we were done with this marvellous experience, we headed to the Pargad Fort trail. It started out incredibly slippery, to the point where the mere thought of using the front brake would cause the wheel to lock up, I kid you not. A few dropped bikes later, we reached the mud. This was not your average mud, though—it had an evil personality, and the clinginess of an ex-girlfriend with attachment issues. It tugged on our boots and tyres, making progress slower than rush-hour traffic in Bangalore. 

Many arduous clicks of descent later, we reached a pit stop. We had the climb to look forward to, which, we were assured, would be orders of magnitude more difficult than the downhill bit we just covered. And it was. Each of the muddy roadblocks took a chunk out of our travel time, but the worst was yet to come. As we neared the paved road, we discovered that massive quantities of earth were deposited by heavy machinery for roadwork, just before the heavens opened up and had been going non-stop. This has turned the trail into the kind of nightmare that only the organisers of the Discovery Eco Challenge could dream up. After many hours of trudging through the mud while simultaneously hauling our not-so-lightweight motorcycles up the trail, we made a soul-crushing discovery—the rain had washed away a small ridge that connected the trail to the paved road, creating a chasm which was too deep to cross.

At this point, we parked our bottoms on patches of relatively dry land–hungry, thirsty and tired. Asif left on foot, in search of food, motivation and an alternate route. He returned with a gigantic box of Vada Pav, and told us that we would need to head back down the ravine and take a different, fully-paved road, which would push us back by many kilometres. We reached the tarmac just as the sun was dipping below the horizon.

The next few hours went by in a blur, as we climbed the Tilari Ghats, trying our best to make use of the remaining daylight, and then continued on through the darkness. Another shower drenched us, and the chill mountain air froze us to our bones, but we rode on at the same relentless pace, up and down the winding roads, like a locomotive—as if all the bikes were connected by an invisible string—keeping pace with each other. Then the lights of our resort loomed through the fog, and just like that, the ride was over. The rest of it was predictable highways, and I’ll not bore you with the mundane details of that. 

One of the lines from the Himalayan’s marketing has always appealed to me, which reads, ‘Remember, the mountains have other plans.’ While I always admired this sliver of wisdom, I might not have grasped its true meaning had I not faced the challenges we did in this ride. We had our itinerary and schedules, but the mountains changed that in an instant. You may prepare as much as you want, but roads can and will always surprise you, catch you off-guard, and put you so far out of your depth that you might begin to question everything—making that one-liner your mantra, not just on rides, but on life in general—will make things a bit easier. 

The post Feature: Royal Enfield Himalayan Western Trails Ride – A Change Of Plan first appeared on Turbocharged.

The past few years have seen Volkswagen up the ante in terms of setting enthusiasts’ pulses racing with its TSI-powered cars. And last year, with the announcement of its ‘Volkswagen Experiences’ the manufacturer came up with a unique initiative that allows its customers and petrolheads (like us, automotive journalists!) to do more with its cars than just enjoy the affable performance and dynamics Volkswagens are known for. Volkswagen Experiences thus became a gateway for us to experience and explore our own country in a manner we’ve not done before. We’ve been a regular with the program since its inception, but while last year Volkswagen Experiences had us drive to the rooftop of the world, this time around, things were different.

This time, we teamed up with Volkswagen India to set a new national record, in its latest SUV for the Indian market, the Tiguan R-Line. The Tiguan R-Line is Volkswagen’s new flagship in India and is the Tiguan’s sportiest, grandest and most premium version yet. Now, the Tiguan is an SUV I’ve driven extensively and done a lot with – be it visiting Jawai in Rajasthan, a place that’s one of the only ones on the planet to be co-inhabited by human beings and leopards together, or teaming up with British ultra-runner Will Robinson as he ran 700km across India, from the country’s east coast to the west coast. So a chance to be a part of a team of journalists that’s setting a new national record was something I simply couldn’t resist.

The idea was to create a new record – for the fastest drive from the Gateway of India in Mumbai to the India Gate in Delhi, in a convoy. And that’s why we had not one, not two, not even four, but six Tiguan R-Lines being driven together! En route, the convoy would also visit some of the country’s most iconic landmarks. And we at TURBOCHARGED drove the Tiguan R-Line from the Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Baroda to the Monsoon Palace in Udaipur. In case you didn’t know, Lakshmi Vilas Palace is the largest private residence in the world and is four times the size of the Buckingham Palace! It sits on a sprawling landmass of over 500 acres and blends Indian, Islamic and European styles of architecture. And besides the vastness, it’s the striking architecture of the palace that is spell-binding.

On the other hand, Udaipur’s Monsoon Palace sits perched atop a hill just outside the city and is known for the stunning views it offers, of the city, and also the Aravalli Hills it is surrounded by. It is yet another architectural marvel and is known for its tall towers, balconies and overall architecture that reflects the grandeur and luxury that palaces in the state of Rajasthan are known for. Admittedly, these two palatial buildings were also complimenting the all-new Tiguan R-Line brilliantly given the SUV’s grander and more premium positioning as Volkswagen’s new flagship in India. Its design language is all-new, interiors are a lot more premium and the performance and dynamics are a lot better than before too. That’s besides the fact that Rajasthan is home to some of India’s best driving roads, some excellent highways and brilliant country roads too.

So driving a premium SUV that’s as sporty as the Tiguan R-Line in the state, with Volkswagen’s refined and powerful 2.0-litre TSI engine under its hood, along with the famed Dynamic Chassis Control to enhance its handling is no less than a tick on the bucket list for enthusiasts. More importantly, what you see here is the all-new, third generation Tiguan, and India gets it in the sportier, R-Line trim that’s inspired by the manufacturer’s high performance R models. The headlamps deserve a special mention for their sleek design and inclusion of Volkswagen’s IQ Light HD Matrix lights, that can deploy 38,400 multi-pixel LEDS for optimum illumination. The new grille also looks very sleek and incorporates the letter R, hinting at the SUV’s sportier genes, while the front bumper is an appealing looking mesh finished in gloss black.

The Tiguan R-Line also looks sportier from the sides thanks to its curvier silhouette, while the rear end boasts an all-new design with striking looking tail lamps connected by an LED strip. And the fact that the R-Line is the grandest, sportiest and most tech-laden avatar of the premium SUV for India yet made our drive even more special. The 2.0-litre TSI engine offers an even higher 204PS and 320Nm now, sent to all four wheels via Volkswagen’s famed 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. And with its kind of performance, swift responses from the 7-speed DSG and also the SUV’s sporty handling, be it around corners or on the highways, the Tiguan R-Line was also adding a sense of occasion to our drive, as we bolted from one royal palace to another. 

But besides a good engine and dynamics, the one thing that matters a lot, especially on long drives like the one we were on, is the ambience inside the cabin. And the Tiguan R-Line has the plushest and most modern looking cabin we’ve seen on any Volkswagen in India yet. That’s because the Tiguan R-Line feels plush, spacious and very upmarket from inside. The sunroof is massive and a panoramic one that adds to the cabin’s sense of roominess while the seats are spacious, rich-looking and very comfortable, whether you’re sitting in the front, or relaxing at the back. Of course, this being the R-Line trim you get exclusive, sporty looking front seats that do their bit to add to the car’s sportiness.

Another big highlight is the all-new dashboard that has a more upright design. The gloss black plastic panels, which also integrate ambient lighting on the dashboard and door panels, help the cabin look very premium along with the soft touch leather surfaces, while the upright stance of the dashboard and the steering wheel with a flat bottom offer a very sporty feel. The design of the ambient lighting looks cool and very unique, and you can customise the lighting too, with over 30 colour options and multiple combinations to choose from. You also get three-zone climate control in the Tiguan R-Line, which adds to convenience for rear seat occupants as well. The Tiguan R-Line isn’t just high on the premium quotient though, it’s a tech-fest.

And when I say technology, I’m talking about stuff like a massive, 15-inch touchscreen, besides the 10.25-inch high resolution display for the Digital Cockpit Pro which functions as the driver’s display, and a head-up display as well. The Digital Cockpit Pro offers multiple customisation options, allowing you to tailor the information you want to see, thanks to Volkswagen’s latest, fourth generation modular infotainment system. And this freedom to customise everything on the technology front is an even bigger joy on the 15-inch infotainment screen. There’s tonnes of options and formats to choose from, and multiple pages to swipe between. You can also choose to view crucial information about the SUV on the screen like the steering angle, tyre pressures and more on the go.

The 15-inch screen is also a big help in terms of letting you view navigation and maps easily while driving, besides which, you can of course choose to view navigation commands on the Digital Cockpit Pro or head-up display. Another cool feature is that you get not one, but two wireless charging pads, hidden very smartly and neatly under a storage flap. This is besides the multiple, fast-charging, Type-C USB ports you have at the front and rear. The Tiguan R-Line is also equipped with stuff like the built-in IDA voice assistant that’s interactive and quick to respond to commands, besides a voice enhancer that amplifies and plays the driver’s voice through the speakers onboard to help rear passengers hear the driver better. These are besides the high-end music system onboard, equipped with 8 speakers. 

The R-Line-specific front seats look sporty but are extremely comfortable to spend long hours in as I discovered on my drive from Baroda to Udaipur. Oh, and the driver and front passenger seats also have a massage function and pneumatically adjustable lumbar support, features you’ve probably seen only on high-end luxury SUVs previously. The seats certainly helped in making my long drive very comfortable! With so much on offer in terms of technology and comfort, the Tiguan R-Line was helping us munch miles effortlessly. The roads only got better in Rajasthan, allowing us to enjoy our time behind the wheel even more. The icing on the cake though is the Tiguan R-Line’s Dynamic Chassis Control which includes adaptive suspension that adapts to road conditions to reduce body roll around corners or soak up undulations better as and when needed. 

I was thus able to make the most of the Tiguan R-Line’s sporty handling, as it holds its lines around corners very well and offers lots of confidence, adding to the joy of driving enthusiastically. But this isn’t surprising at all as Volkswagen’s SUVs, and the Tiguan for the matter, always handle sharp and true, and the new Tiguan R-Line takes that tradition forward very well. At the same time, it feels very plush and comfortable despite us driving over varied terrain and ever-changing road surfaces, thanks to the suspension adapting to it all quickly. This, coupled with the plush comfort offered by the well-cushioned seats ensure the Tiguan R-Line is an excellent machine to make light of long road trips. And when we made it to Udaipur, shortly before the sun was about to go down, it didn’t really feel like we had been driving all day long, thanks to the SUV’s excellent comfort. 

In a nutshell, Volkswagen has always brought down its globally renowned products and technologies to India, and the Tiguan R-Line is a great example of the manufacturer’s intent to offer its best to Indian buyers, yet again. For the matter, we always enjoy driving to and in Rajasthan, but the Tiguan R-Line ensured this particular road trip was a class apart with its excellent comfort and tech-laden cabin. It’s an SUV that feels so much better than the version it replaces and takes things a couple of notches ahead for the Tiguan nameplate in India for sure.

The post Special Feature: A cross-country drive that’s ‘Beyond Iconic’, with Volkswagen Experiences first appeared on Turbocharged.

Arunachal is a magical place to ride a motorcycle. With Xplorearth curating the Northeast Adventure for Triumph India, this gave me the perfect opportunity to try and decode just what it was that makes this destination so special.

Let me start by saying that a ride in Arunachal is painfully difficult to plan and execute for a large group – sometimes feeling almost intentionally impractical! This is largely due to its geographical position, being India’s eastern-most edge, sharing borders with Bhutan, China and Burma. In fact, if DJI’s latest maps are to be believed, we were bang in the middle of Chinese territory throughout, which pretty much says it all when it comes to some of our neighbours on this front! As you drive further East past Siliguri, you can see the definite change in the genetic features of the locals. Once in Arunachal, you would be hard pressed to distinguish between a local and someone from the border areas of any of the aforementioned nations.

The first question when planning one’s foray into Arunachal is how to get there, both for man and machine. The most conventional route is to fly into Guwahati and start your ride from there. The bikes were shipped from Maharashtra, Bangalore and even Chandigarh and took a week or longer to reach the start point – aided greatly by the immense support provided by Triumph India in getting them there on time. As for the backup crew – we drove from Shimla to Assam prior to the start of the event to ensure all necessary medical and technical backup was present for a ride through even the most desolate areas of the country. Hats off to Mr. Gadkari for all the roadworks in the region, but even then, the drive is a 2-3 day one (at best) from almost anywhere in the country!

You require an Inner Line Permit to access Arunachal Pradesh, even as an Indian National. Operating without local expertise in the region will almost definitely ensure you reach your destination after a long day’s ride, only to be told that your rooms have actually been booked into the hotelier’s young nephew’s homestay down the road. Connectivity is sparse in many parts of the state, and accommodation is basic at best.

All that moaning and groaning would make it seem as if I despised the entire experience, but in fact it was quite the opposite. The entire allure of riding in the North East and Arunachal in particular is that it’s almost like a forbidden fruit – a part of the country that not many know much about and there are multiple hoops one has to jump through along the way, but that only makes the final experience a whole lot more satisfying. The roads are stunning, as is the scenery pretty much all the way through. Dense, green forests go on for hundreds of kilometers – you can feel each one teeming with life, majestic creatures and thousands of years of stories to tell! You feel the altitude at points but the vistas thrown your way are completely different to Ladakh or Spiti. Some of the sites enroute are absolutely stunning – such as the dead trees standing inside (yes, you read that correctly) the famous Sangetsar Lake, or the awe-inspiring 100-foot tall Gorsam Stupa – all sure to take your breath away and provide a suitable reminder of the relative insignificance of human existence in the face of nature and spirituality!

The best part of the ride however, was the company and the trusty machines that saw us through all the way without any issues whatsoever. The Tiger 900 Rally Pro remains, in my eyes, the best motorcycle for the kind of riding we do. Nimble, light and with the perfect ergonomic design, it ensures minimum fatigue even after a the most challenging of riding days. Pretty much everyone who complains about it being “underpowered” cannot ride the bike to even 70% of its potential, but perhaps the bruised egos from being left behind on long highway stretches during parantha rides are too much to take! The updated Tiger 1200s accompanying us acquitted themselves brilliantly as well!
The most pleasant surprise however was the Scrambler 400 – keeping pace with the larger machines even on the tarmac stretches, and with the Bajaj handshake promising to be a great bike for beginner ADV riders, particularly when taking into account the affordable ownership costs!

Most importantly, the riders took all the challenges that came their way in their stride. They understood the limitations of the area and showed great respect towards the locals and their customs, which was extremely heartwarming for us to see. Their priorities lay in understanding more about the region and their motorcycles, rather than what was going to be served up for dinner and where we were going to stay which, in the rapidly evolving ADV-motorcycling space in India, is a really refreshing change!

The ride was a big one for the brand as well – Triumph’s first big ride since the handshake with Bajaj slightly over a year ago. With the hierarchy and key personnel now in place, the response to this ride was extremely positive, with slots filling up within a few days of it being announced! One of many steps being taken to ensure the Triumph community continues to grow country-wide.

Despite being a largely tarmac ride, it wouldn’t quite be an Xplorearth experience without its fair share of challenging stretches for the riders – whether it be summitting Sela Pass and Bumla Pass in the freezing rain, or a challenging off-road section inside Eagle Nest Wild Life Sanctuary – home to a rogue elephant we were fortunate enough not to cross paths with! Lots of learning for the group with regards to riding technique, the correct kind of gear and much more that they get to take back to any rides that will they got for in the future!

Arunachal is definitely worthy of its reputation as a stunning motorcycling destination, albeit one that is more complicated to plan out than heading off to Ladakh or down South. Parts of the region are still lost to time – a surreal experience for those taking a break from the corporate rigmarole to make the journey! The military presence is strong, much like Ladakh, and we are all grateful for the work they put in to protect our nation’s borders!

As JRR Tolkien said, “The world isn’t in your books and maps, it’s out there.” Just a few years ago, before the spectacular political implosion in Burma, you could have ridden from Arunachal all the way through to Thailand! Instead of experiencing the area through someone else’s YouTube Vlog, get moving, find an operator you can trust and go experience the magic of the North East – before it’s too late!

The post Breaking new ground first appeared on Turbocharged.

The X440 was envisioned for India and it shows in the way it rides. First off the design and consequently riding position is unlike the larger Harley cruisers we are used to and its roadster format means you sit upright which makes it quite easy to navigate through traffic and narrow roads. Then there is the ride quality that while firm, can soak up anything you throw at it. You can go through a concealed pothole at 80kmph yet not move an inch from your seat. Finally the engine. This 440cc air and oil-cooled engine puts out 27PS and 38Nm at very accessible rpm levels thanks to its long-stroke nature. And despite being long-stroke, the motor is quick to rev and devoid of vibrations. This makes it quite enjoyable on the highway where you can easily ride all day at triple-digit speeds.

The Neemrana plant is one of Hero MotoCorp’s six manufacturing facilities in India (and two overseas). It is called the Garden Factory and is the bikemaker’s crown jewel when it comes to sustainable workplaces. The factory is built like a garden with a lot of green zones within the plant and on the roof. In fact, if you look at it from a distance, you’d mistake it for a garden or a mall. Inside, the factory utilises green walls which consist of saplings planted vertically. Besides creating a soothing environment, these walls create an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Another highlight is the two ‘Big Foot’ air handlers which provide clean air throughout the factory without the use of ducts. This is done via positive pressurisation ensuring a dust-free environment. In fact, the environment is so clean, that the factory is one of the very few to have its welding section, manufacturing and assembly under the same roof. That is quite an achievement as welding is known to emit a lot of dust particles into the air.

The roof employs four large greenhouses where a host of vegetables are farmed using hydroponic farming that uses only two to three percent water compared to conventional farming methods. Once farmed, the vegetables are used in the factory cafeteria. How cool is that!

The factory roof has a clean look thanks to the steel trusses being situated on top of the roof. These trusses also give support to an array of solar panels that collectively generate upto 1.2 megawatts of electricity. Thanks to rainwater harvesting, the factory is already self-sufficient and it also recycles more than 95 percent of the water used. That’s a big step given that the factory is situated in the arid region of Neemrana in Rajasthan. Besides offering employment to the region, the factory also employs a sizeable women’s workforce and that too in non-conventional areas such as the weld shop.

The Harley-Davidson X440 is manufactured on one assembly line and uses the latest technologies to ensure almost error-free assembly. Most of the manufacturing process is automated with advanced robots while there are multiple Poka Yoke stations on the assembly line to prevent defective products from advancing. It starts with the in-house engine assembly room which leads to the main assembly line which starts with the engine and frame being married together. The painted metal parts are covered with a reusable plastic cover to prevent scratching. Once the motorcycle is ready to leave the assembly line, it is meticulously checked before sending it off to storage.

The motorcycles are stored via a unique Automated Storage & Retrieval System (ASRS). It consists of four multi-storey rack systems that automatically stack the motorcycles using a barcode & RFID system ensuring quick and hassle-free storage and retrieval. The Hero Neemnana factory is one of the coolest two-wheeler manufacturing facilities we have visited, not just for its clean and efficient manufacturing processes but also the green focus towards sustainability that helps not just the plant but its surrounding regions.

The post Green building first appeared on Turbocharged.

The fleet of motorcycles shod with the tyres are the Yamaha FZ-S, Suzuki Gixxer and Hero Xtreme 160R. These are shod with the Beamer HS+ at the front tyres. Then we have the Royal Enfield Classic 350 featuring the Terrabite DB+ at the front and rear and Royal Enfield Himalayan fitted with the Duratrail EB+ tyres at both ends. On the first day, we have a quick tour of TVS Eurogrip’s factory where we closely experience how a tyre is manufactured. It is a fascinating process that starts with sorting raw materials, forming a recipe depending on the tyre, mixing it all together to form a compound and ends by adding the treads and grooves to the rubber. 

The next day, we leave for Thekkady, a 330km round trip ride. First, we hop onboard the Hero Xtreme shod with the most road-bissed tyre in the range – the Beamer HS+. It comes in three different sizes – 90/90-19 52P TL, 80/100-17 46P TL and 100/80-17 52P TL. With 50km of pristine four-lane and two-lane highways, the roads feel blissful thanks to the fantastic front end feel and grip levels offered by the tyres. In fact, even under hard braking on dusty surfaces, the tyres remain composed. 

Post lunch, we jump onto a Royal Enfield Classic 350 shod with the Terrabite DB+ tyres. It is available in four sizes – 90/90-19 52P TT, 110/90-18 61P TT, 90/90-19 52P TL and 110/90-18 61P TL. The tyres feature an aggressive tread pattern given its intended usage on rough unpaved roads. The large block treads on the Terrabite DB+ do result in noticeable tyre noise at highway speeds but the tyres offer a good amount of comfort and the Classic 350 felt surprisingly eager to lean into corners even on smooth tarmac.

An hour later we make another quick stop where we hop onto the Royal Enfield Himalayan shod with the Duratrail EB+. TVS Eurogrip claims that these are the most trail ready tyres in their lineup but unfortunately, our route didn’t involve any such terrain to test them out. But we did get to test their on-road performance and they turned out to be quite impressive, especially with the cornering grip they offered on the ghat section just before Thekkady. 

The next day was fairly uneventful, except for the ride down the hill station where we were pushing slightly harder than the day before. Riding the Yamaha FZ-S, we were quite impressed by the feedback under braking and cornering that affords the rider more confidence.

Prices start at Rs 1,600 for the Beamer, Rs 2,125 for the Duratrail and Rs 2,100 for the Terrabite range of tyres. Overall, like before, this edition of TVS Eurogrip Tread Talks was a successful one, having given us a theoretical and practical schooling in the art of tyre making.

The post Adventure Calling first appeared on Turbocharged.

The adventure started from the moment we landed at Bagdogra airport in West Bengal. A quick lunch later, we started driving towards Gangtok, our stop for the day. Journalists were clubbed into twos and threes and allotted a choice of wheels between the Elevate, City and Amaze. As luck would have it, we were allotted the Amaze, the Elevate would have to wait. I was not complaining though, as one thing I have learned from driving all over India is having a compact footprint is always favourable for driving in the hills. Driving the compact sedan in the hills was not just easy, it was quite fun. The Amaze excels in inspiring confidence and I admit going faster in corners much to the chagrin of my co-passenger who said nothing but was clutching the door handle hard. I think he sensed me enjoying the drive and wanted in so we swapped seats. That too just in time, as after a few kilometres we ran into a huge traffic jam at the border of Sikkim and West Bengal, the result of a narrow arterial road, fragile mountainside and heavy traffic. I settled down in the comfortable seat as my co-passenger deftly navigated the chaos and soon we stopped for tea in the dead of the night. Except that it wasn’t. Up here in the mountains, the sun sets early and what seemed like 10pm showed 5pm on my wristwatch.

After we demolished several plates of momos (the best I have had so far), we were back on the road. The Amaze delivers a cushy ride and turns out to be quite comfortable even with less-than-ideal road conditions.

The goal for day two was to reach Nathu La top, a formidable pass that’s known for its high elevation, unpredictable weather and treacherous road conditions should snowfall happen. We also had the challenge of reaching there before 1pm, before the pass shuts down. This time we had the Honda Elevate and an additional journalist for company. It wasn’t a hassle though as the Elevate easily swallowed our luggage and offered enough room for us to sit back and relax. Soon we left civilisation and drove along the snaking NH 310 as it made its way up the mountains. As we climbed higher, the lush greenery and trees-lined views were replaced by a snow-covered barren landscape covered by a thick blanket of fog. As we climbed towards 14,000 feet, the air began to get frigid and thinner. While most cars struggle to climb because of the reduced oxygen, the Elevate did not display any such symptoms and had enough power reserves to tackle the steepest inclines. Nathu La needs to be on your Sikkim bucket list not just for the beautiful vistas but also for the fact that it’s one of the rare places where you are mere feet away from the China border. We didn’t spend a lot of time owing to the ever-looming threat of altitude sickness and headed back down to enjoy the calmness of the Tsong Mo lake which is one of the highest lakes in India.

Day three saw a leisurely start as our destination for that day was Pelling, that’s known for offering a breathtaking view of the mighty Kanchenjunga, the highest mountain peak in India. This time we hopped into the Honda City Hybrid, another first for me. While the City impressed with its space and quality, the hybrid powertrain impressed with its refinement and seamless transition between the petrol and electric motors. It felt effortless navigating the narrow hilly road out of Gangtok and a detour that took us through the heart of a bazaar. The City felt at home in the hills save for a couple of times when its underbody scraped navigating through broken roads. A missed turn had us reach the destination later than expected and as luck would have it, a cloudy sky hid the mighty Kanchenjunga from view. Maybe we would have better luck the next morning. The silver lining though is the City Hybrid’s phenomenal fuel efficiency wherein the fuel gauge needle barely moved after covering more than a hundred kilometres in the hills.

The next day, the fog hadn’t abated as we made our way to the Pelling Glass skywalk. The Kanchenjunga remained elusive though the climb up to the viewing spot is rejuvenating. Our next stop was Darjeeling. Nestled in the Eastern Himalayas, Darjeeling is the erstwhile retreat of British officers of colonial India and is world famous for its tea. While tea sampling was on the agenda, getting there was as fulfilling as it was adventurous. The road to Darjeeling is narrow, steep and winding through tea estates, while broken in places. It’s a challenging drive and I was glad to be back in the Elevate. The commanding driving position let me see above the overgrown tea hedges while the supple suspension soaked up even the worst of ruts. The light controls ensured a stress-free drive and soon we reached our destination — Ging Tea House to sample some world-famous Darjeeling tea. As expected, it is as refreshing as driving the Elevate. Soon we headed to Kalimpong, through the Darjeeling main road, whose traffic can easily compete as one of the worst in the world. Thankfully I was relaxing in the spacious and comfortable rear seat. I even managed to catch a glimpse of the famous toy train, the miniature train that runs on a narrow gauge and has been awarded world heritage status by UNESCO. It was a treat to see the train snaking its way through the chaos, hooting its whistle.

The next day we headed back, after an eventful four days on the road. The 12th edition of Honda Drive to Discover had delivered on its name. It took us on a journey to discover what’s a hidden jewel in India. More importantly, the drive served as a fantastic testbed for Honda’s India lineup. While the Elevate delivered as expected, I was more impressed by the City and Amaze. Both sedans were put to the test and came out with flying colours and both the vehicles and the enchanting land of Sikkim have left a lasting impression.

The post Mystical Journey first appeared on Turbocharged.

This piece of oasis I am referring to is a tiny village called Bera, near the Jawai dam. A few weeks back when I was invited to the Tiguan Experience Day, I got a chance to drive the full-sized premium SUV on what was a purpose-built off-roading course. And that had me thinking – how would the Tiguan fare in a real world ‘off-road course’ where I’m also trying to spot ‘Mr Spots’. Then there’s the fact that compared to other big cats like the tiger, lion, Jaguar and also the cheetah, the leopard has a smaller and more athletic build which endows it with greater agility. Just like the Tiguan!

Of course, it’s hard to deny the fact that with its sharp design, elegant interiors and overall polished impression, the Tiguan will convince you that it is a set of wheels for the urban-dwelling corporate executive who usually gets chauffeured around for meetings. In fact, that’s also how comfortable its rear bench is. But let that not take away from the fact that the Tiguan is an immensely capable SUV thanks to its solid engineering. It is ideal for the kind of adventure I was heading out for – a leopard safari, which also involves a heavy dose of off-roading on the rocky hill formations made from lava that erupted from volcanoes ages ago!

The Tiguan also looks smashing – it is equipped with a set of sleek-looking headlamps incorporating the brand’s IQ.Light, which are full LEDs and get an adaptive function. The sharp lines also make for an unmistakable stance from the sides, along with the neat-looking 18-inch alloy wheels that get one of the coolest features around – self-levelling hub caps, something previously seen only on uber-expensive cars like Rolls Royces. Likewise, the interiors will have you assume you’re in an SUV wearing a luxury badge on its hood. Neat, understated and highly functional, like a full-sized German SUV should feel from inside, with its soft-touch plastics, large screens and the abundance of leather all round, not to forget, a large panoramic sunroof and top drawer fit-finish levels.

Jawai sits a 1,000km away from our base in Pune, a distance the Tiguan simply gobbled down. Its mile-munching abilities bear testimony to the Tiguan’s status as Volkswagen’s global best-seller. The 2.0-litre TSI engine offers 190PS and 320Nm, making it effortless to drive, also courtesy of Volkswagen’s tried and tested 7-speed DSG that sends power to all four wheels using the German marque’s renowned 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. I have to also mention here, the Tiguan’s paddle shifters are the piece-de-resistance for me, especially on long highway drives. They simply inject a sense of enthusiasm that has you try to use them at every possible opportunity with their alacrity.

All this, while you’re safely cocooned inside and revelling in the comfort of the plush seats, enjoying the impeccable ride quality that will have you feeling fresh even after several hours behind the wheel. On the same note, the Tiguan is a Volkswagen and that translates to sporty dynamics that believe you sitting in an SUV that has a ground clearance of 200mm and not a sedan! So while straightline stability is as good as it gets, the Tiguan will also have you break into a smile around corners with its planted feel and steering responses, something I was enjoying around the bends as I closed in on the Gujarat-Rajasthan state border. My smile didn’t fade away even when I hit the pothole-ridden country roads in Rajasthan as the Tiguan simply soaked it all up.

I soon found myself hitting up Jawai, where some of the narrowest lanes I’ve driven through welcomed me. The Tiguan’s 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat ensured I was able to sit up and get the best possible visibility of the road ahead. It almost felt like the Tiguan had wrapped itself around me and shrunken in size. The Tiguan and I found ourselves running out of tarmac soon and it was then time to try out the off-road mode on the section leading up to the vantage point, which included a mix of mud and rocks both. Now, the locals use dedicated 4×4 vehicles for safaris, but given my experiences with the Tiguan, I was confident the SUV will soldier ahead. Of course, it’s off-road abilities are what help the Tiguan stand out and this full-sized premium SUV is a classic example of how looks can be deceptive!

Its excellent approach and departure angles afforded tonnes of confidence as did the 200mm of ground clearance. The bigger star of the Tiguan’s show though are its 4MOTION all-wheel drive system which was doing a brilliant job of transferring and managing the amount of torque being sent to all four wheels, and the little rotary dial on the centre console that was allowing me to choose from the terrain modes which include Snow, Tarmac, Off-Road and Off-Road Expert. The latter lets you customise settings, thereby allowing you to tailor powertrain responses to suit your driving conditions. Effectively, the Tiguan feels so capable off-road, it negates the need for a 4×4 system and a transfer case.

Here’s an interesting fact I learned from the locals: the leopards live in natural caves and rock shelters in the hills surrounding the village of Bera, which were formed millions of years ago due to volcanic eruptions. Bera is home to inhabitants of the Rabari tribe and surprisingly, there have been no human-animal conflicts and the harmony is an unspoken rule of sorts where human beings do not try to interfere with the animal’s whereabouts.

The Indian Leopard can adapt itself to varying environments. For example, the weather in Rajasthan gets rather hot during the day but temperatures cool down quite a bit at night. To draw the parallels, the Tiguan can easily adapt itself to urban conditions or get outdoorsy, depending on what you ask of it. Be it crawling through peak hour traffic, highway duties or treading off the beaten path, the SUV is always up for it all. I also have to say, leopards are among my favourites when it comes to big cats given how gracefully they go about their business – just like the Tiguan! And Jawai is one of the only places in the world where they co-exist peacefully with human beings, which is a wonder in itself!

As we proceeded further into the hills to spot the magnificent animal, Ed was ready with his camera and the massive lens we’d carried with us while I drove on. Suddenly, looking through his binoculars, our guide declared he’d spotted a couple of leopards nearby. I instantly found myself driving in stealth mode, thanks to the quietness of the 2.0-litre TSI engine, while Ed climbed up through the panoramic sunroof’s opening with his big lens!

We weren’t hoping to spot leopards as easily, but turns out, we were in the right place at the right time, thanks to the Tiguan’s swift manners. Watching the big cats was a treat for the eyes, given the way the leopards were walking and we also spotted their cubs who seemed quite playful! But it isn’t just the leopards that we were looking forward to. Our guide had also mentioned about a ‘hill climb’ that’s considered a true challenge for any SUV and I just knew I had to take the Tiguan there!

As we drove to the base of the said hill, I switched to Off-Road Expert mode, checked the settings, looked up at the steep incline, let out a cold breath and decided to give it a go. The incline was steep enough to frighten me but the strong, consistent surge of torque from the 2.0-litre TSI engine at low revs egged me to go on. The Tiguan maintained traction even though the incline was getting steeper by the inch and soldiered on without a hitch! Can’t deny I also felt very safe – the Tiguan is a Volkswagen which is a huge assurance on the safety front in itself. It feels solidly built and also gets six airbags along with a slew of safety features that help with peace of mind while making the Tiguan feel like a world-class premium SUV!

As they say, the view from the top is always to be savoured and when I got to the top and got out to look around, I simply couldn’t stop smiling. The sense of accomplishment was immense for me, while our guide was left gaping, as moments ago he wasn’t really sure the Tiguan would make it to the top! The view of the hills, greenery and water leading up to the Jawai dam was a sight to behold, especially with the sun just about to go down beyond it all, painting everything in front of me in a highly captivating shade of orange. It isn’t every day that you get to savour such moments and the Tiguan has helped it all feel surprisingly easy. Like I said at the start, it’s an SUV that refuses to be judged!

The post Special Feature: Call of the Wild – Unexplored Rajasthan in Volkswagen Tiguan first appeared on Turbocharged.

My journey commences with navigating the chaotic New Delhi traffic and the Hilux makes it feel easy. Once you get past the large dimensions, the light steering and relatively short turning radius helps navigate through the notorious “shortcuts” of the capital. I admit, at 5325mm it is pretty long to be domesticated as an urban vehicle but the controls are easy and the massive pickup almost shrinks in size around you.

The only anxiety is the diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration in the Hilux. All BSVI diesel vehicles come factory fitted with a DPF unit which keep engine emissions in check. As this technology better operates on highways, getting stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic is a nightmare for the DPF as it needs optimal temperature and certain variables to meet the needs for regeneration. At slow speeds, the soot keeps on accumulating thus choking up the DPF and the vehicle can go into the limp mode if one doesn’t manually regenerate the DPF using the button provided or floor it at 70kmph plus speeds on the highways. To my surprise, the Hilux’s DPF regeneration is quick even in heavy traffic.

After an hour or so, we are driving down the wide six-lane Grand Trunk road that connects New Delhi to Chandigarh. This is one of the many places where the Hilux shines. The long wheelbase adds to the planted feel even at high speeds. The 2.8-litre diesel motor mated with the 6-speed automatic transmission packs some serious power and torque figures. 204PS and a massive 500Nm are accessible from 3000rpm and 1600rpm respectively, enabling the motor to run relaxed at highway speeds. Cruising at speeds between 80-100kmph, the instrument cluster indicated a fuel economy of 14kmpl, a good number for the large vehicle and despite me not lightfooting the accelerator pedal.
And just like that, 270 kilometres later, I find myself at the foothills of the Himalayas. It is time to experience how well the Hilux can handle itself on the twisties. As I climb higher towards Shimla, the roads get narrower and the switchbacks increase in numbers. The Hilux has some body roll as you’d expect from a ladder-framed pickup but it doesn’t really bother you. In fact, you can take on corners at speeds, thanks to the confidence inspired by the grippy tyres. Shimla is a famous tourist destination throughout the year with a constant traffic flow throughout the highways. Here’s where the automatic gearbox with hill hold-assist kept fatigue at bay.

Soon we left civilisation behind as we climbed further into the Himalayas. The vistas shift from a beautiful, green Pine tree-laden landscape to the rather majestic and equally mesmerising barrenness of the Himalayas. The rustic-brown mountains stand tall in stark contrast to the clear blue skies — always a sight to behold. The cherry on top of the cake is the turquoise blue shade of the Sutlej river running along the black Tarmac making it the perfect home turf for the Hilux. This is it! It’s time for the Hilux to shine and flex its muscles. The moment I see an accessible approach to the river bed, I can’t resist engaging 4-Low and diving in. The rotary 4WD transfer switch is positioned near the centre console instead of a lever and is quite convenient to use. Just a push and twist on the switch and you are set. The rear solid axles come with an electronic differential lock making offroading a cakewalk. When you are crawling on undulating terrain such as a river bed, you will find yourself in a situation where at least one of the wheels is exposed to low or no traction resulting in the vehicle getting stuck. The differential lock is a major help in such situations. It distributes equal power to both the wheels on the axle so that the wheel with traction also spins rather than the wheel with no or least traction getting all the power unnecessarily. I am impressed by how casually it got to the other side of the river bank.

To think of it, these technologies that we now possess were either non-existent or unpopular amongst Indian customers till a few years ago. We have come a long way since then.
A few photo sessions later, the tarmac ended and the typical Himalayan roads started. Hardly levelled, freshly chiselled from the earth, the marks of the excavator are still fresh. it’s a good patch to test the pickup’s ride comfort. It houses a traditional leaf-spring setup at the rear which isnt’t comfortable for second-row passengers unless you run low air tyre pressures or load the bay with heavy luggage. I decide to go down a few PSI and it helped quite a bit. The Hilux ironed out most of the undulations and rough patches with ease. It is fun to tap the throttle and literally glide over everything on our path.

It is now time to conquer the mountain passes. After climbing the mountains for quite a while, we are greeted by the snow-clad mountain passes. The sun is setting behind the mountains leading the temperatures to drop below zero. I can feel the air getting thin as I climb higher but it does not seem to affect the Hilux’ performance. The snow is barely a few inches tall but it’s a perfect change of scenery. The electronic differential lock kicks in automatically in 4×2 mode making the drive pretty smooth and I don’t have to shift to 4H or 4L. It’s impressive how seamlessly the electronics work with their mechanical counterparts and help me reach my stop for the night. This trip to the Himalayas proves that the Toyota Hilux stands true to its legacy as an indestructible lifestyle pickup.

The post Two To Tango first appeared on Turbocharged.

The Himalayas are all about magnificence and mystique. While the mountains look magnificent, standing where they have been for centuries now, the tiny villages in them, thousands of feet above sea level, feel simple yet mystical. These villages also hide lots of tales and folklore that are waiting to be told. In fact, no matter how many times you visit the Himalayas, there’s always more to explore! It’s like the region mesmerises you and makes you want to keep coming back to discover more. I’ve been visiting the Himalayas for over a decade, but it still feels like I’ve just about scratched the surface.

These mountains, especially the Spiti valley, are also home to monasteries that are centuries old, and have a lot of folklore surrounding them. While the Key, Tabo, Dhankar and few others are the more popular monasteries, there’s a few others that have stories waiting to be told. Like the Lalung monastery that’s over 1,000 years old, sits at 12,000 feet above sea level and was one of the 108 monasteries built to revive Buddhism. I’d also heard it has a willow tree in its premises that’s as old and was a marker of sorts for the monastery to be built there. Now, that’s a story that begs to be told, also making me want to scratch the perennial itch to explore the Himalayas!

The true joy of exploring the region, especially the Lahaul and Spiti Valley, is in driving up in a hardcore, 4×4 SUV though, like the Maruti Suzuki Jimny. Having enjoyed a cult status globally for decades, the Jimny has now made it to our shores. And given where the tiny little village of Lalung sits high up in the mountains, getting behind the wheel of the Jimny for this trip was a no-brainer. Starting from New Delhi I headed north towards Himachal Pradesh, and as the highway started winding up the hills after Chandigarh, the air got nippy, having me break into a smile. The Jimny felt perfectly in sync with the conditions, its 1.5-litre petrol engine offering enough grunt to make rapid progress. 

A few hours later as I passed the perpetually crowded hill station of Shimla, the Jimny showcased more of its strengths, like the compact dimensions and tall seating that helped me negotiate through the chaotic traffic on narrow roads with ease. Crossing the towns of Narkanda and Rampur Bushahr I was also appreciating the Jimny’s comfort as the seats feel perfectly cushioned and let you spend long hours behind the wheel, adding to its suitability for roadtrips. A major landslide ahead meant we were forced to take an alternate route towards Spiti, passing through some villages and going downhill on a kilometre-long off-road stretch before rejoining the highway. This is where the Jimny’s four-wheel drive and hill descent came in handy, offering the kind of confidence only a hardcore SUV could have on the loose soil and rocks. 

The sun was going down by the time I rejoined the highway – sunsets are early in the mountains – meaning I called it a day in Reckong Peo. The next morning I woke up to the view of mountain peaks with the snow on them glistening in the early morning sunlight. And as I walked towards the Jimny, the sight of the SUV standing in the empty parking lot against snow-capped mountain peaks made pulling my phone out to take a picture irresistible! Then there was the crisp mountain air, that was also far cleaner than what you and I take into our lungs in our concrete jungles. Can’t deny there’s a charm to the cold air hitting your face too! An early morning cup of tea done, after exchanging pleasantries with the aged, soft-spoken Himachali man running the little food joint, I was on my way, aiming to cross places like Nako and Tabo early.

However, the smooth tarmac turned into Spiti’s infamous, broken, gravely, rock-laden surface soon. Connectivity to Spiti has improved thanks to constant repair works by the BRO (Border Roads Organisation) but owing to the altitude, remoteness of the region and above all else, the constant landslides, a lot of the stretches are difficult to maintain. I was not having to bother at all in the Jimny though. That’s because where the tarmac ends, the Jimny’s game begins as a 4×4 SUV. It is equipped with some potent hardware like a ladder frame chassis, solid front and rear axles and Suzuki’s AllGrip Pro system including four-wheel drive and low range that help the Jimny turn into a proverbial mountain goat. Driving it in city you won’t realise what these do, but drive to a place like Spiti and the Jimny takes to bad roads like a fish does to water.

Ride quality on broken roads is excellent thanks to the brilliantly tuned suspension and you don’t need to flinch, brace or slow down on bad roads. In fact handling and stability got better as I went faster, pointing towards the Jimny’s strong engineering roots and prowess at tackling non-existent roads. Add to that its ground clearance of 210mm along with the excellent approach and departure angles of 36 degrees and 47 degrees respectively and you know you’re talking serious abilities. All this, in stock form, with standard highway tyres! Not surprising, the Jimny has spawned numerous ‘Jimny owners’ clubs’ around the country already and buyers are engaging in serious off-roading with it, many even going in for purpose-built parts. Safe to assume the Jimny is building a legacy of its own in India too, like it has globally!

Of course, there is no dearth of natural trails in Spiti which make for great adventure if you like off-roading. Besides its abilities I was also enjoying the comfort and safety of the Jimny’s cabin as it is well-equipped for a hardcore SUV and packs in features like connected technology, voice commands, a 9.0-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, navigation, instant fuel efficiency and more. The Jimny is thus a brilliant amalgamation of creature comforts and serious abilities which makes it special, something I was discovering on this roadtrip.

The sense of authority with which the Jimny was helping me drive towards Lalung, without needing to slow down for anything plastered a smile on my face. That smile only grew wider at the sight of Lalung village – a tiny hamlet with just a handful of houses. As I got closer, I spotted the monastery, and the 1,000 year old willow tree outside as well! The cold air coupled with the quietness and sense of calm in the monastery’s premises had a very soothing effect and as I walked through the gate, an elderly gent looked at me and said ‘Julley’, a greeting in the local dialect. I responded back and asked him if I could visit the sanctum, to which smiled and nodded excitedly. The doors are locked usually but he promptly fetched the keys to unlock them and inside the tiny room, I felt a calm I’ve not felt in a long time. I then sat down with him outside, soaking in the heat of the early morning sun, quizzing him about the monastery and its tales.

Legend has it that if a twig was planted there and it survived, the monastery built there would too. That’s how the willow tree came about and has been a witness to the Lalung monastery’s existence from the time it was constructed. I was also told ‘Lalung’ means land of the Gods and that even the mountains behind the monastery change colour depending on the mood of the Gods. Some even say the paintings of the deities inside the monastery appeared overnight, yet another mystical tale. It’s difficult to know how are true, but these are tales I wouldn’t have gotten to know about, had I not decided to follow my craving for discovering something new in the Himalayas yet again.

As I soaked the warmth of the sun, I couldn’t help but reflect on the Jimny as well. It had made for an amazing couple of days in Spiti, taking me to places where only a hardcore, 4×4 SUV like it would dare to go. The Jimny had thus proved to be that dependable partner who gives you the confidence to forge ahead, irrespective of how challenging the conditions are. It also felt rock solid, just like the mountains I was driving it through. And visiting the Lalung monastery, soaking in its history and listening to tales of the 1,000 year old spiritual place that it is, had turned out to be a grand culmination of sorts for this roadtrip to Spiti. But like I mentioned before, the Himalayas have numerous trails like the one that took me to Lalung. And many of these lead to places that have numerous tales that are waiting to be told!

The post The Mountain G.O.A.T. first appeared on Turbocharged.

Roadtrips are always fun. This time though, we decided to go a step ahead and make ours a special one. Over the years, Hyundai’s Great India Drive has given us an opportunity to club driving, an activity we enjoy the most as petrolheads, to exploring our vast country and discover something new about it. This year’s GID turned out to be extra-special though. 2023 marked 50 years of Project Tiger, the biggest and most successful conservation program for the large cat globally. And as our national animal, the tiger has always been a subject of immense interest, besides which I was excited to get to drive through the Nilgiri mountain ranges and also spot a tiger hopefully, in the Mudumalai National Park.

Our choice of wheels was Hyundai’s newest SUV, the Exter. It is the smallest SUV in Hyundai’s line-up, but contrary to popular belief, that adds a certain charm to it. One reason behind this is that the Exter combines the character of an effortless urban SUV with an adventurous streak unlike anything else at its price point, offering a very unique all-round experience. It’s design also makes the Exter stand out, especially in this ‘Ranger Khaki’ paint scheme that complements the Exter’s suitability as an outdoorsy SUV.

We started out from Coimbatore, first heading towards the picturesque hill station of Ooty that sits tucked away in the southernmost section of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu. The early morning traffic getting out of Coimbatore was a surprise, but the Exter felt effortless thanks to its direct steering and compact dimensions. The Exter is also on offer with a AMT (including paddle shifters, an industry- first!), but we were driving the manual version that has a light clutch which ensured driving at crawling speeds was a breeze.

We also crossed several villages where we found ourselves surrounded by scores of two- and three- wheelers, but the Exter ensured I was able to keep my cool by offering an excellent view from behind the wheel. It was also staying true to its character, allowing me to negotiate through the unruly traffic with utmost ease. Soon after Mettupalayam we started climbing uphill and the highway turned into a set of narrow twisties. As we ascended, we were also greeted by some stunning views as the clouds seem to have come down to greet us. This is also where the Exter’s 1.2-litre, four cylinder petrol engine showcased its strengths, helping make it feel perfect for the driving conditions. With 83PS and 114Nm on tap and a particularly strong bottom end grunt, the free-revving engine ensured I could accelerate quickly and didn’t need to shift down too often either. The slick-shifting 5-speed manual gearbox kept me enthused too. Effectively, coupled with its small size and direct steering the Exter’s affable powertrain helped me overtake other vehicles and squeeze through gaps without breaking a sweat.

Passing through the picturesque tea estates in Coonoor was a joy and spotting the toy train was an added bonus. That’s besides the bonuses offered by the Exter in the form of its extensive feature list which includes an 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, fully-digital instrument cluster with switchable themes and multi-lingual support, voice commands in multiple languages, electric sunroof, in-built navigation and more. The Exter’s striking design was turning heads too, especially with the unique H-shaped LED DRLs at the front and gloss black applique at the rear. And while it is a compact SUV, the Exter’s interiors make it feel like a much larger SUV belonging to a segment above, thanks to the spaciousness coupled with high quality plastics and upholstery. The large glass panels and sunroof add to the cabin’s airiness, besides accentuating its suitability as an SUV for explorers.

Soon after crossing Ooty we headed down towards Mudumalai. The SUV made light work of the narrow downhill sections, helping us descend effortlessly, while the clean forest air outside gave us an opportunity to roll our windows down to breathe the fresh air and listen to the sounds of nature. But guess what, the Exter lets you enjoy the same even with its windows up. Its infotainment system packs in a range of ‘sounds of nature’, from those of sea waves to sounds from jungles, making for a soothing feel, irrespective of where you are driving to ensure you are never far from the calmness of nature.

Mudumalai is one of the biggest tiger reserves in India and is spread across an expansive 32,000 hectares. It is home to around 162 tigers, a highly commendable number. Sitting at 1,140m above sea level the park features a network of fair weather tracks and observation towers. Wildlife is visible along the highway too, making for a convenient option for those short on time. We spotted throngs of deer out for grazing, who seemed unperturbed by the vehicles whizzing past, barely metres away. The sight made me smile, since such a peaceful co- existence of human beings and animals is rare. 

We also spotted a lone Sambar and hundreds of monkeys, even before going in for our jungle safari. The Exter in fact felt perfectly at home even inside the forest, especially with its compact footprint, ease of driving and 185mm ground clearance. The safari was quite an experience and we spotted various wildlife, including some rare sightings like the Indian bison, a sloth bear, some hyenas and Indian langurs sitting on a grand Indian fig tree enjoying the fruit. But unfortunately, the king of the jungle, the tiger, seemed elusive. We were told the latest spotting was that of a tigress a couple of days ago, which raised our hopes, but all we managed to spot was a pugmark!

The Mudumalai forest reserve is reputed as a safe haven for Indian Tigers and over the years, their numbers in the national park have grown steadily as its environment is ideal for them to thrive. This is besides the fact that the Indian government’s Project Tiger has expanded from just nine tiger reserves to as many as 53 Tiger reserves over the past five decades. In fact not just tigers, these reserves have also helped other endangered flora and fauna to thrive. Of course, one cannot ignore other environmental advantages of Project Tiger either, like curbing and controlling carbon dioxide levels, micro-climate enhancement, aiding rainfall and many more. 

Project Tiger was setup in 1973 and it is noteworthy that thanks to it, India plays a pivotal role in tiger conservation globally today. Our nation is also home to 75 percent of the world’s tiger population — a fact worth roaring about! And exploring the jungles the way we did with it, the Hyundai Exter was feeling like a playful and energetic little tiger cub, ready to roar. It may be Hyundai’s smallest SUV but defies confinement to concrete jungles and is certainly excellent for exploring new places, or heading out into the wild like we did with it!

The post Rising Roar first appeared on Turbocharged.