Fit and Fat

Fat people are funny. When they run, when they jump, when they try to stand and especially when they try to turn around. It takes a lot out of them. I know that because I'm a fat guy. And when I say that fat people are funny, I don't even think they are aware of it.

I've been made fun of being fat ever since I was a kid. I was lethargic, inactive, averse to athletics and definitely not the fastest around. I always wished I could have been like those strong and sporty guys. Well, I've had to wait for 23 long years but my wishes have finally come true.

So what happened? Did I start taking steroids? Did I change my diet plan? No. I just purchased the brand new Maruti Ritz. No longer am I the guy who never reaches the finishing line. Now I am a powerful machine with ample power and torque for those high speeds and a great pick up.

I'm aerodynamic and fast. Zipping through the lanes with graceful movement. I still may be big with a large and strong frame that provides for my stability. But that doesn't mean I'm not flexible. With a tight turning radius of 4.7 metres, I shall be doing the turns in no time.

And no longer shall I be huffing and puffing after every round. With an excellent fuel efficiency of 21.1 kmpl, I think my lungs shall be game for more.

The Ritz website.

I happened to log on to the Maruti Ritz official website today. All the buildup in the auto mags only served to tickle my curiosity. More to find out how different it is from it predecessor, ‘Splash’, than anything else. The official Maruti Suzuki site lists a direct link to www.marutisuzukiritz.com on the page detailing Ritz specs.

First things first – it is a neat design, no doubt about it. The navigation is smooth and simple and the layout is eye pleasing. What takes the cake though is the interactive introduction to some of the Ritz key features. Hovering over the car, both its exterior and interior, you get quite a good idea of what those techie terms like ‘Flexible 60:40 Rear Seat Split’ translates into reality. Clicking at different spots pops up a message box simplifying the lingo into the layman’s tongue.

A nice little intro to the most awaited hatchback, I would say. Unless of course you are already on your way for the test drive.

My Daddy Strongest…

It’s the K12M engine. The word is pretty much being thrown around nowadays. But only someone who’s been tuned into the Indian auto scene can really make any sense out of that alphanumeric combination.

The Ritz brouhaha is reaching its crescendo now. The K12M engine that the slick car nestles under its hood is far from cute, no matter what impression the car gives. The four-cylinder is a behemoth at 1197 cc and packs in quite a punch with 85 ps at 6000 rpm. Among the domestic products Indian roads have played host to, this one promises to be the daddy of them all.

The car is stylishly packaged, no doubt. However, what makes the Ritz launch worth the wait and the shout is really the power and torque the new Maruti is capable of unleashing from under its hood. The waterfall interiors and the boomerang taillights notwithstanding, it is what this mean little machine can do on the Mumbai Pune expressway that I’m waiting to experience.

Aqua Car

I met an old friend the other day. From college times. And then followed the usual reminiscing about the past. But it wasn’t the usual “do you remember the time we…” sort of regular boring chat. Thankfully, yours truly and the man in question had been involved in more than one incident no short of hilarity.

The guffaws came in droves when we took to talking about an years old weekend trip to Gorai. Our man had just bought a second-hand Santro and was on cloud nine over his first car. The wee hours of Sunday morning saw us and the car parked on the beach gazing into nothingness, listening to the waves, guzzling beer and solving African poverty.

The high tide was supposed to mark the time of departure. And stick to the plan we did. But unbeknownst to us, the beach kid of curves inwards towards the part that we were parked at. Needless to say, by the time the waves got to our car, the rest of the beach, which was further extended, was already under the waves, literally trapping us. I can remember a few moments of panic and then stepping out of a car bobbing with the waves. Frantic attempts of retrieval, feelings of confusion, a man with a bullock cart and a rope, a car being pulled out of waves by two sturdy bulls and a hysteric friend guffawing and cursing the fact that he had no camcorder to immortalize the tragedy…

We didn’t see much of the Santro after that. He has moved on. To a Zen and then to a WagonR to be precise. His next buy is going to be a Ritz. Wise choice, I would say. The Ritz is being touted as the car with the best drivability to hit Indian markets. Its suspensions have been modified from the ‘Splash’ version to meet Indian road conditions. The ground clearance too is apt for our ever potholed roads. Not that it is going to help against the waves…

Gorai is going to be a far throw from the Ritz, assures my friend. For his sake, I hope he is right.

What a show

I was in Frankfurt last year when I decided on visiting the IAA International Motor Show. Being a huge fan of automobiles, this was my dream chance to see some hot wheels alongside some conceptual ones. I reached a little early as I didn't want to miss out on any spectacle.

Upon reaching there, I was bewildered by the sight that stole my vision. I was amidst these fascinating creations that would be driving the future. The Jaguar XF, a 600 BHP Bentley, 580 BHP Audi, an Aston Martin DBS, mini coopers, maserati's, nissan's and the works.

They all stood in shimmering glory. Even touching them was a privilege worth flying half way across the world. I was simply stunned! Even the show girls didn't seem half as attractive as some of these cars. And it would take a lot out of me to even vouch for that.

But one sight really baffled my mind. Amongst these legendary cars was the debut of another. And behold! it was an Indian car to boot by a manufacturer that is well versed with my family tradition. The car was called 'Splash' made by none other than Maruti. A sexy looking hatchback that not once looked like a misfit in the showroom. Heck, it even managed to get a lot of foreign car aficionados gawking at the beauty.

A breathtaking dashboard that looks like a waterfall, blue coloured interiors, massive storage space, music remote on the steering wheel, revolutionary shape, jazzy orange lights on the meter, a brand new K12 engine with BSIV compliance. This car had all it takes to become an international car.

When talking to some of the foreign nationals about the wonders that is car-making, they seemed to be very well surprised by my language skills and expertise on the subject.

Going by the Splash and my new found international acceptance, I'd say 'we Indians have arrived'. ;)