Opinion :Everything you want to know about ADV News, Photos & Exclusive stories.

What you see on the cover of November 2024 of the <a href="https://www.autox.com/magazine/" target="_blank">autoX Magazine</a> is a glimpse of our annual mega-test. Other than merely whittling this list of 50-odd vehicles down to the top-ten machines launched in the past year, what our annual mega test enables us to do is put our ear to the ground and get a real sense of which direction the winds are blowing in. Well, all signs point to it being a gust from the East!

Spoiler alert – there are two Chinese EVs in our top-five cars of 2024. And the reason for that is very clear – they really are that good, and they really do provide class-leading value. That China is a powerhouse in EVs is not a new phenomenon, but just how much of a powerhouse is worth considering. How about the fact that 70% of the world’s EVs are made in China? Or consider the fact that <a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/dhruv-behl/of-the-340-registered-ev-makers-in-china-only-one-is-profitable-byd-116457/" target="_blank">there are almost 350 registered EV makers in China. But only one of them is profitable</a> – BYD! And, yes, one of the two EVs in our top-five is a BYD.<iframe width="400" height="345" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QZ3yIvrZnSA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

 In Q4 of 2023, BYD overtook Tesla to become the largest EV manufacturer in the world. And in Q3 of 2024, BYD overtook Tesla in revenue for the first time. After all, BYD is the only truly vertically integrated EV manufacturer in the world today – producing its own batteries, motors, and chips. In fact, its proprietary blade batteries are perhaps the most advanced and safest battery packs around – so much so that even Tesla sources batteries for its Model Y from BYD.

Elon Musk did warn the world that it wouldn’t be the establishment that would pose a threat to his EV supremacy, but the real threat would come from China. That the traditional automakers are floundering is also not a revelation.

VW has spent the past several years developing its own EVs, but they’re simply not on par with the Chinese competition. So, VW is adopting Chinese EV platforms for its next generation of EVs – at least in China to start with. In the meantime, the German giant is planning to close three plants in its home market. Porsche, meanwhile, is talking about giving its new EV platforms ICE powertrains because of how dismal their EV sales have been of late. Across the pond, in the US, Ford is losing money on every EV sold and doesn’t expect to make a profit till 2027. The CEO of Ford, Jim Farley, even admitted to a Xiaomi SU7 being his current daily driver – presumably his way of checking out the competition. You know the world order has changed when the CEO of the car company that invented the assembly line is dailying a car made by a Chinese cell phone manufacturer.

Meanwhile, closer to home, the thaw at our Northern border may mean Chinese EV investment, which has been on ice in India thus far, may be a little closer to getting the green light. Politics aside, if the BYD Seal and MG Windsor are anything to go by, the emergence of the Chinese EV means that Indian car buyers are getting an up close and personal look at what Jim Farley and his colleagues have found – that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to compete with Chinese EVs.

The Chinese EVs That Have Been a Long Time Coming… Well, They’re Here!

You know the world order has changed when the CEO of the car company that invented the assembly line is dailying a car made by a Chinese cell phone manufacturer

Hollywood-style teaser-trailer. Dramatic voiceover accompanied by dark, foreboding visuals of a world at the edge of collapse:

Never before has the world seen danger like this. All around there is chaos and madness. Lives are at stake. Roads and highways are war zones, maiming people and taking away lives.

The terrible trio from India are wreaking havoc all around. The Oncomer: he’s coming against you! The Horner: he’s honking your brains out! Screenivas has taken on a deadlier persona… He is now Guerilla Glazz! There is no hope left. Unless…

Screen goes dark, with these words coming up in bright red, accompanied by an orchestral crescendo that abruptly stops: …unless a few unlikely heroes emerge to save us all… Coming soon to a road near you.

Scratching your head, wondering what’s going on? Well, it looks like you missed <a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/srinivas-krishnan/superhuman-characters-inspired-by-indian-roads-118655/" target="_blank">the first part of this column</a>, which recommended that the worn-out Marvel Cinematic Universe take inspiration from the Indian Road Universe. The IRU has better believable characters than the MCU and the sad bit is that the world hasn’t even had a glimpse of their mind-numbing superpowers. I outdid Stan Lee last month by creating three fine examples of supervillains (and their alter egos) from the Indian Road Universe: The Oncomer aka Sikander Fate! The Horner aka Awaaz Bahadur! Aaand… Trinetra Kalakar aka Screenivas transmogrifying into the fearsome Guerilla Glazz!

The best thing about the IRU is that many more amazing characters inhabit it – that’s obvious, given India’s teeming masses and the unique superpowers that suddenly manifest the moment they are behind the handlebar or the wheel. For example, some individuals sprout chest hairs while driving around in a white SUV with dark-tinted glass. While others, who have barely developed chin hair, can fly a few inches off the ground on a 100cc putterette with two more of their chin hair-less friends riding pillion. Amazing.

But these are lesser superpowers. We’re here for the heroic ones with super superpowers… Quick, grab a popcorn! (On second thoughts, don’t. At ₹420 for 90gm of salted popcorn in a regular-size tub at your nearest movie theatre chain, it works out to over ₹4,600 a kilo – that’s substantially more expensive than, um, 4 litres of an exquisitely engineered synthetic oil or maybe a half-decent full-face helmet… Just saying.)

<img alt="BHOLA BHARAT Aka THE WALKMAN" height="720" src="https://images.autox.com/uploads/2024/11/BHOLA-BHARAT-aka-THE-WALKMAN.jpg" width="720" style="width: 720px; height: 720px;">

<h2>BHOLA BHARAT aka THE WALKMAN</h2>

Superpower: Bhola Bharat has the ability to turn invisible – only while walking, hence his superhero name, the Walkman (not to be confused with a legendary 1980s electronic device). Policemen don’t see him, vehicle drivers and riders can’t see him, municipality officials in charge of keeping pavements unencumbered can’t see him, road planners who design stuff like pavements and road crossings also cannot see him, the electric company in charge of streetlights can’t see him… Heck, even in close quarters, the dog walkers who make their posh wards do potty on the road can’t see him.

Bonus superpower: The Walkman could have won Gold for India in the Olympics in many athletic categories, like 100/200-metre sprint, steeplechase and hurdles, and during the monsoon, high jump, long jump and triple jump. But he can’t because he is… invisible!

Backstory: Once Bhola was easily visible to everyone – he was especially unmissable when it was time to file income tax returns, fill bank KYC forms, during auspicious Diwali baksheesh days and even during election time. It was a transformative day for Bhola when a two-wheeler rider on the pavement shouted at him for walking on the pavement and blocking his way. That was the day he decided to turn invisible and become the Walkman.

Appearance: Like any of the 27% of Mumbai commuters who walk to work, unlike the 8% that use cars and the 7% on two-wheelers.

Signature dialogue: None; because his voice is very feeble.

<img alt="VALLY ROSY Aka ATGATT" height="720" src="https://images.autox.com/uploads/2024/11/VALLY-ROSY-aka-ATGATT.jpg" width="720" style="width: 720px; height: 720px;">

<h2>VALLY ROSY aka ATGATT</h2>

Superpower: Vally Rosy is an inspired biker. When he gets on a motorcycle, he is fully kitted – full-face helmet, riding jacket, riding boots, the works! No ride is too small for ATGATT, which stands for ‘All The Gear All The Time’ if you have not guessed. Remarkable superpower for being one in a billion in the world’s largest two-wheeler market, and that too, given India’s phenomenal weather and ambient conditions. Legend has it that he is not fully human, but half-man, half-bike.

Bonus superpower: He can recite all of Valentino Rossi’s achievements. And has a penchant for official Valentino Rossi gear and merchandise, from the helmet right down to the keychain.

Backstory: Vally was a conscientious child, always obeying the rules. At an impressionable age, he observed that the lives of a massive number of two-wheeler riders were being snuffed out on Indian roads. He decided that the only way to not become a statistic like them was to show he was different sort of biker: hence, the rules and the gear. A true inspiration.

Appearance: The number 46 appears everywhere around ATGATT physically and digitally – like an e-mail ID or Insta handle, for example.

Signature dialogue: I race to win (spoken with a strong Italian accent).Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/srinivas-krishnan/why-im-giving-up-on-telling-people-that-wrong-side-driving-is-wrong-and-dangerous-117771/" target="_blank">Why I'm Giving up on Telling People That Wrong Side Driving is Wrong and Dangerous!</a> 

Do you know of any characters from the Indian Road Universe? Let me know, we can make another sequel!

Superheroes from the Indian Road Universe - the Sequel!

We now know exactly what a jaded, uninspired dream factory like Hollywood needs: superheroes from the Indian Road Universe… Here’s the sequel.

As suggestions go, this is a pretty good one! It’s not mine unfortunately. Credit must go to Santosh Iyer, MD &amp; CEO of Mercedes-Benz India. In truth, this was more of a lighthearted comment, made while addressing an industry gathering organized by the Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI), but look beyond the jest and there could be some real merit to the idea.

For reference, the Big Mac index was devised by The Economist in 1986 as an informal way of determining if currencies are valued correctly. The theory being that the uniformity of a certain commodity (in this case, a McDonalds Big Mac) sold across markets and comprising of a host of common ingredients – bread, meat and vegetables, of course, but also wages, rent, etc. – should provide a real-world gauge of purchasing power parity (PPP). It has since become a global standard and an easily digestible (pun intended) way of coming to terms with the vagaries of global exchange rates.

The Mercedes Benz index won’t be nearly as precise, but more of a way of measuring the wellbeing of a market – which is to say the percentage of people aspiring to own a Mercedes-Benz at some point in their lives. After all, ‘Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz…’ isn’t just a chant for Janis Joplin, but one for pretty much all consumers around the globe knocking on the doors of opportunity and luxury.

Mercedes-Benz was the first luxury car manufacturer to enter the Indian market in 1994, and ever since then the three-pointed star has come to define the term ‘aspiration.’ Suffice to say, the Indian market today is fueled by this aspiration, and it’s very much a marker of the optimism and confidence in the country at present.Also Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autox.com/videos/2024-mercedes-e-class-lwb-india-review-so-much-tech-but-is-it-a-better-value-autox-118697/" target="_blank">2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class LWB Review</a>

So, perhaps the Economist ought to consider adding another feather in their cap by implementing the Mercedes-Benz index – first in India, and then across the globe, in order to measure the level of aspiration and wellbeing in different markets around the world.

Oh, and I’ll take my royalties in the form of a <a href="https://www.autox.com/new-cars/mercedes-benz/" target="_blank">Mercedes-Benz</a>, thank you very much.

The ‘Big Mac’ Index is All ̇Well and Good, But What We Really Need is a ‘Mercedes-Benz’ Index…

The three-pointed star has come to define the term ‘aspiration’ As suggestions go, this is a pretty good one! It’s not mine, unfortunately.

Georgia. The country, not the American state. Yes, the one living under the shadow of Vlad the Putin. I visited it recently on holiday and was affected by the anarchy and the weirdness of Georgia’s automotive culture to write about it here. In the ten days I lived in the Caucasian country, I crisscrossed it from east to west and went from the Russian border in the north to close to the Turkish border in the west. I drove over major highways, main roads, mountain sections, city roads, and more. The road quality is brilliant in some places, and, in others, I felt right at home – because they looked as if the maintenance was outsourced to the Mumbai municipal corporation.

Georgia is uniquely located as it borders Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. This places it right at the crossroads connecting all these countries. You get lumbering truck traffic on the international highways, transporting oil from Russia and machinery from Turkey. If you have a truck fetish, this is the place to be. You can salivate over giant DAF, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Ford, Scania and MAN heavies of all colours and vintages. You would also see Sinotruk Howo trucks, helping the Chinese companies and Chinese labourers build Georgia’s road infrastructure. Of course, as Georgia was part of the Soviet Union, there are the purposeful Kamaz trucks which are new, nasty-looking GAZ trucks of the Cold War era and handsome ZILs of an earlier vintage. In fact, in some houses in the countryside, these ancient ZILs are parked as if it’s the family runabout you’d take to go into town to buy provisions.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/srinivas-krishnan/opinion-how-companies-can-do-more-for-road-safety-than-individuals-and-even-the-government-117403/">How Companies Can do More for Road Safety than Individuals and the Government</a>

The car scene is bizarre. The country’s biggest export commodity is used cars – a business worth nearly a billion dollars a year – and its neighbouring countries and the ‘Stans take in a lot of these cars. Oh, and the locals too prefer driving these used cars as it is a lot cheaper than buying new ones. How does that manifest on the roads? Crazy. Georgia is an LHD country, but it picks up used RHD cars from Japan or Australia. So it can get a bit mental on the roads as many locals drive RHD cars in an LHD country.

Georgia takes in an enormous number of used cars from Europe, the US and Japan and has an army of mechanics and garages who work on these cars and re-export to Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan at a neat premium. Many of the cars are absorbed by the locals who take their own time to repair them. So they drive around in cars without bumpers, with fenders missing or wearing huge gashes. Virtually every other car looks like it has emerged from a recent crash, especially when you are near a port. The variety of cars is therefore bewildering – ranging from dusty Lada Nivas to muscular Camaros, and tight Subaru Foresters to bulky Toyota pick-ups. And then there are the Mercs. I thought Azerbaijan was the W124 capital of the world, till I came to Georgia. Virtually the entire production of W124s and W123s have all landed up here and still being used. Also many were gathering dust in parking lots; W124 restorers back home would weep in bucketloads if they saw these. To curb emissions, the Georgian government has banned the import of pre-2013 vehicles for local use – which has led to an upward spiral in prices. Compounding the problem is that the newer cars don’t run too well on their low-quality Russian and Azerbaijani petrol. The Georgians in the car trade are pretty mad at their Government.

With such a mind-boggling variety of machines on Georgia’s roads, I expected to see Mahindra and Tata SUVs here but didn’t spot one. I am sure there is a decent market for it in the Caucasian region. The one Indian OEM you would spot here is TVS, especially in the capital Tbilisi. You can see the occasional Apache, but it is the <a href="https://www.autox.com/new-bikes/tvs/ntorq-125/">Ntorq</a>, which is everywhere – with the Wolt delivery riders enjoying the full potential of this sporty scooter. And I suspect some of the Hondas here too are made in India.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/srinivas-krishnan/why-im-giving-up-on-telling-people-that-wrong-side-driving-is-wrong-and-dangerous-117771/">Why I'm Giving up on Telling People That Wrong Side Driving is Wrong and Dangerous!</a>

Have you heard of the Mitsubishi Delica 4x4? These are vans (passenger or cargo) with proper four-wheel drive running gear. And Georgia is the place you come to see the third or fourth lives of these quirky vans, many of them from the 1990s. Some parts of Georgia have steep mountain roads, usually in a state of disrepair. These Delicas have found new purpose by becoming the lifeline for these locals to go up and down these rough roads. I am sure the Delica is part of the local lore or folk songs here.

Most Georgians drive like we do, which is not exactly a compliment. If you ever plan to go there, do hire a car and drive around, RHD LHD same difference. I promise you, it will be fun.

Travel Tip: Planning a Trip to Georgia? You Might Feel Right at Home

This month, Srini has a travel tip – if you plan to drive in the country of Georgia, you’ll feel right at home. And it’ll be fun…

This is one of those feel-good stories that you’d once read in Reader’s Digest but now does the rounds in family WhatsApp groups. A man goes to the beach early in the morning only to see countless starfish washed ashore. In the distance he notices someone picking his way through, bending down and leaving them back in the water. He asks him why he’s doing it. The other person answers that if he didn’t do that, once the sun is up, the starfish will all perish. So our man says, “This beach is littered with countless starfish. Surely you will not be able to make a difference.” Hearing that, the saviour bends down, picks up another starfish, slides it into the water and says, “Well, it did make a difference to that one.”

I think that’s a pretty good life lesson, and I try to implement it on our roads by making a difference to that one rider, but as you’ll see, now I absolutely abhor that stupid story. While driving down a narrow one-way street, I spot a man with his wife and a small child riding a scooter against the traffic. I stop him and ask him, why are you doing this? He replies saying I stay nearby. “Look, you have a child with you. Why are you risking all your lives?” He shrugs it off. I say, “I am really concerned. You should not take such risks.” His wife now chimes in, saying, “Nothing happens. Don’t stop us.” So much for making a difference to that one. My friend who’s with me in the car laughs and says, “This is Mumbai. If you were in Gurgaon, you would have been shot by now.”

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/srinivas-krishnan/the-road-accidents-in-india-236-page-report-sheds-light-on-a-lot-but-is-also-depressing-115204/">The 'Road Accidents in India' 236-Page Report Sheds Light on a Lot, And it is Depressing</a>

The saviour complex in me is strong. Another day while walking, I spot another couple with two children riding against the traffic at a curve, completely blind to oncoming traffic. I stop them and tell them not to ride on the wrong side of the road. I am a bit harsh this time around. “Don’t you care about your children? Do you think they will survive if a vehicle dashes against you all?” To that, the woman says, “How can you say such a thing?” I tell her, “How can your husband do such a thing?” They ride off, narrowly missing a garbage truck. Too many starfish with a death wish and I haven’t managed to save even one yet.

Undefeated, I try once again with another fine gent who has to drop his child and maybe two of his neighbours’ to the school. It is as you’d expect, complete chaos in front of the school. It’s as if the institution (Estd 1940) sprung up just yesterday and people are suddenly caught by surprise that children have to be at the school at specific times of the day. How can an activity that is supposed to be clockwork be so unplanned? Anyway, our school dropper is riding against the traffic from a distance, mounts a sidewalk where I am deliberately standing to block his path. He mutters something and gets back on the road. But wait, there are many others behind him doing absolutely the same thing. I randomly stop one of them even when I know what the answer is going to be. He looks at me as if I am the one at fault, and blocking him from doing the noble activity of trying to get his child an education.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/srinivas-krishnan/is-the-car-free-movement-here-already-116098/">Is The Car-Free Movement Here Already?</a>

So much for that stupid starfish story. I am giving up. I thought at least one two-wheeler rider will acknowledge that riding on the wrong side of the road is wrong and is dangerous and that he will mend his ways. But no. The one trying to save his life is acting irresponsibly. Reminds me of another story. A scorpion wants to get to the other side of the pond. He asks the frog if it will give him a lift. The frog says, “Look, you are a deadly scorpion, I am afraid that you will sting me.” The scorpion dismisses him of his concern and assures him he will not do so, else he will also drown. So the frog trusts him and asks the scorpion to get on his back to take him across. Mid way, the scorpion lifts his tail and stings the frog, who croaks out just before dying “Why did you do that?” The scorpion says, “I can’t help it, it’s in my nature.” Well, so that’s what we are today, and no one can do anything about it. And we’re destined to live unhappily ever after…

Why I'm Giving up on Telling People That Wrong Side Driving is Wrong and Dangerous!

Srini plays the role of lone ranger against the peril of wrong side riding. But his will to fight the good fight is waning…

Now that may appear like a loaded statement, but the conclusion is surprisingly straightforward. The perks of this job have meant that I’ve been lucky enough to meet plenty of my heroes over the past couple of decades – the likes of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, Porsches, and other such exotics. And, with the odd exception, there’s been very little disappointment.

Needless to say, there’s been an overdose of awe, admiration, salivation and aspiration along the way. If I had to be specific, I would have to list several of the usual suspects – in no particular order, <a href="https://www.autox.com/videos/ferrari-488-pista-video-review-first-drive-103971/">the Ferrari 488 Pista</a>, McLaren 675LT, <a href="https://www.autox.com/reviews/car-reviews/lamborghini-huracan-sto-review-track-test-110627/">Lamborghini Huracan STO</a>, <a href="https://www.autox.com/exclusive-stories/porsche-experience-2024-the-911-gt3-rs-the-718-gt4-rs-a-racetrack-and-a-dream-debate-116468/">Porsche GT3 RS</a>, et al. I suppose these are to be expected, but truth be told it’s the race cars that really stand out – right from the mad Bowler Wildcat to the <a href="https://www.autox.com/videos/watch-us-race-the-mrf-formula-1600-make-it-on-the-podium-video/">MRF Formula 1600</a> single seater, not to mention the <a href="https://www.autox.com/exclusive-stories/legends-from-jaguars-past-driven-c-type-xk-120-e-type-108304/">1950s Jaguar C-Type</a>, which won Le Mans in its day. Surprisingly, though, the one that really made an impression was a “lowly” VW Polo. Now this particular machine was no ordinary hatchback, but the winningest WRC (World Rally Championship) car of all time – <a href="https://www.autox.com/videos/i-spun-a-world-rally-vw-polo-r-car-video/">the Polo R WRC</a> – which I had the pleasure of piloting briefly at VW’s top-secret proving grounds, Ehra-Lessien, in the North of Germany.

The thing about race cars is that they don’t have any pretensions. Everything is there for a reason – which is either endurance, or (importantly) speed! And race cars don’t have to worry about carving out space for the school run, or a trip to the shops. In most cases, the quest for even a tenth of a second can be manic and obsessive.

But the most bare-bones form of racing is go-karts. It’s go-karts that serve as the kindergarten of all F1 drivers. In fact, not only do they all start there, but they all go back there on a regular basis to hone their skills. So, it shouldn’t really be all that surprising that the greatest machine that I’ve ever piloted is a go-kart!

But, again, this wasn’t a run of the mill go-kart from your neighborhood amusement park – this was a 30-horsepower shifter kart at the Paul Ricard circuit in the South of France. And it was absolutely insane! It was so fast that I had to recalibrate my brain to come to grips with the sheer speed. It was so fast that it took my brain a few laps to catch up with my eyes. I would find myself in the braking zone, and before my frontal lobe could process the flow of information, I was already accelerating out the other end. But when my motor skills did finally catch up, the thrill was like nothing that I had ever experienced before – or have since. It was raw; it was immersive; it was incredible. And that’s why it’s such a shame that this most accessible of motorsports is not more prevalent in our country.

But, because go-karts offer literally zero pretense, in order to keep the four cars on the cover of <a href="https://www.autox.com/subscriptions/">this issue</a> honest – all cutting-edge modern day EVs – we’ve pitted each of them against a quartet of go-karts. So, don’t miss the cover story this month. It’s very special indeed…

Opinion: The Greatest Machine That I’ve Driven Over the Past Two Decades is…

It was so fast that I had to recalibrate my brain to come to grips with the sheer speed. It was so fast that it took my brain a few laps to catch up with my eyes.

If you’re a road user of any kind in India, you need to read this. If you’re in a position of any kind of influence in India, you need to read this. If you belong to any sort of organisation that’s interested in the wellbeing of its members, you need to read this. If you’re a child, ask the people who love you to read this. Why is it important to read this? Well, because the Government of India’s Ministry of Road Transport &amp; Highways has just released its ‘Road Accidents in India 2022’ report and you need to know what’s in it. Because – as someone wise said – without knowledge, action is useless and knowledge without action is futile.

1. On average, 462 Indians died on our roads every day in 2022. That’s 19 deaths every hour. If I present this data differently, perhaps you would be shocked: it’s the equivalent of a fully loaded Airbus A380 crashing EVERY SINGLE DAY on our roads, killing everyone on board. You might have come across this before, but it doesn’t take away the gruesomeness of it.

2. 168,491 people died in these crashes, almost a 10 per cent increase over 2021. Total number of crashes reported were 461,312 (up by nearly 12 per cent). Injuries went up by 15.3 per cent, to 443,366. In other words, despite all the increased awareness of road safety as well as overall safety standards, we drive or ride as if nothing will happen to us.

3. Highways (both National and State) accounted for 60 per cent of these 168,491 deaths. Point to note: these highways constitute only FIVE per cent of our road network.&nbsp;

4. Over-speeding is a major killer, as the report puts it, at over 70 per cent. The menace of driving on the wrong side, which has been ‘trending’ in India, is the next big cause. Remember, speed is nothing without control. Also on our roads, there are not many elements that you can control.

5. 67 per cent of all crashes took place on straight roads. And 55 per cent of all deaths occurred in open areas where there is not much human activity. That only means when there is no fear of enforcement, we will drive as we please.

6. Now this is the most painful statistic, according to me. 66.5 per cent of the deaths were of young Indians between 18 and 45 years of age. Imagine the impact this has on families.

7. No surprise that two-wheeler riders constituted 44.5 per cent of all fatalities. Oh, and pedestrians were the second-highest category of road users to die on our roads, at nearly 20 per cent. And who killed these 32,825 pedestrians? Two-wheelers at 28.4 per cent, followed by Cars, Taxis, Vans &amp; LMV at 24.5 per cent. So please be mindful, even if the pedestrians are at fault, because they have the most to lose.

8. In around 50,000 of two-wheeler deaths, be it riders or pillion, they were not wearing helmets. Also, 16,715 people died because they were not belted up – split almost evenly between drivers and passengers.

9. Oh, rear-end collisions caused the highest deaths, followed by hit-and-run cases and head-on collisions.

10. Now this is interesting. Despite all the increasing standards of safety, vehicles that were less than 10 years old accounted for 57.5 per cent of deaths.

11. The month of May continues to record the maximum number of deaths, while the time between 1800 and 2100 hours in the day also saw the maximum number of crashes.

India’s highways continue to be killers, riders are dying in huge numbers, pedestrians remain highly vulnerable, our demographic dividend is being frittered away and we drive and ride irresponsibly as if there are no consequences. In other words, nothing has changed. And that’s the depressing part, not the blown-up figures and gruesome statistics. What’s frightening is that, with the increase in vehicular density <a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/shivank-bhatt/opinion-what-india-needs-is-fewer-lanes-and-more-common-sense-114661/">plus more highways being built</a>, I don’t foresee these figures coming down.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/srinivas-krishnan/this-gandhi-jayanti-heres-what-we-can-learn-from-mahatma-gandhi-and-adopt-better-road-manners-114811/">This Gandhi Jayanti, Here's What We Can Learn from Mahatma Gandhi and Adopt Better Road Manners</a>

What’s the solution? The powers-that-be know exactly what needs to be done, but the intensity and urgency seem to be missing. But the blame should also fall on all of us. Behavioural changes are harder and take longer to make than infrastructural changes. That’s why, as individuals, we can contribute by being better, more responsible drivers – even if there is no enforcement. Road safety begins with each of us.

Opinion: The 'Road Accidents in India' 236-Page Report Sheds Light on a Lot, And it is Depressing

India’s highways continue to be killers, riders are dying in huge numbers, pedestrians remain highly vulnerable, our demographic dividend is being frittered away and we drive and ride irresponsibly as if there are no consequences. In other words, nothing has changed.

My favourite few days of the year, unequivocally, are the annual World Car Awards test drives in Los Angeles.

Members of the World Car Awards jury from around the world converge at The Westin in Pasadena – just a stone’s throw from the Angeles Crest Highway, arguably one of the best driving roads in the world – to test roughly two dozen of the World Car Awards contenders for the subsequent year. Of course, one of the reasons its great is because you get to pack in a lot of nice cars – ones that we, in India, wouldn’t ordinarily get to drive (American metal naturally, but also cars like the Toyota Supra that will never make it to our shores) – but also because it’s a microcosm of body-types, drivetrains and now, propulsion systems. So, it provides a window into which manufacturers are on the right path, and which appear to be straying off-course.

Let’s start with Porsche – one, because I’m unashamedly a fan and, second, because Porsche had a trio of offerings to sample this year – two of which I had never driven. The big one, of course, was the four-door Taycan EV. Now, Porsche has always said that they’ll make an electric sports car only if they can make it a Porsche first and an EV second – and that’s exactly what they’ve done. The first thing that strikes you is that it’s unmistakably a Porsche – it just feels right! The power delivery is simply astounding. And the levels of grip were such that my neck muscles had to kick into overdrive to brace against the g-forces – in a road car, on a mountain road! It was otherworldly, there’s no other word for it. The Taycan is incredible. Period!

At the other end of the spectrum was the 718 Spyder, which is about as bare-bones as cars get these days – with its 4.0-litre, naturally aspirated flat-six, manual gearbox and hand-operated soft top. And while the acceleration and grip won’t rip your face off, it was just more fun on this mountain road. The connection is primal, and the entire car becomes an extension of your body. The magnificence of that NA flat-six engine is the reason why no one wants a 718 with a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder instead. Meanwhile, the new 911 is as impressive as ever. That being said, it is perhaps too composed, too planted, and too capable to explore its limits on anything less than a racetrack. On the track, it’s mightier than even the current (991.2) GT3, but on the road, I actually miss the balancing act that you had to manage with previous 911s.&nbsp;

All sports cars these days, in fact, are developed on racetracks, and they appear to have gotten too fast and too capable to really enjoy them out on the open road. Which is why one of the cars that I enjoyed driving the most was the new Toyota Supra. It’s cousin – and the car it’s very obviously based on – the BMW Z4 was there too, and while it was more planted and faster, it simply wasn’t as much fun. The steering in the Supra felt more connected, as did the chassis – which had a tendency to be fidgety and move around more than the BMW. As a result, it was more involving, and I loved it! But I wouldn’t buy one, even if I had the choice, or the means, because they haven’t bothered to offer a manual transmission – which, in a car like this, is downright criminal.

Meanwhile, the Hyundai Motor Group was well represented. Both Hyundai and Kia showcased their brand new, full-size SUVs – the Palisade and Telluride respectively – and both are extremely impressive while offering exceptional value for money. The luxury brands should be very worried about the sustained development by the Koreans. The new Hyundai Sonata, meanwhile, sets a new benchmark in its segment – in terms of handling, interior styling and quality. It’s a great car – if you can get over its Martian face that is.

As for which machine I would take home if I had the choice… well, as impressive as the Taycan is, my vote would have to go to the 718. Nothing beats steering feel, an NA engine and a manual gearbox. Yup, I remain guilty as charged – a modern-day Neanderthal…

Read more:

<a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/dhruv-behl/print-is-not-dead-yet-106773/">Print is not dead yet</a>

<a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/dhruv-behl/india-finally-recognizes-motorsport-as-a-sport-or-does-it-106620/">India finally recognizes motorsport as a ‘sport.’ Or does it?</a>

The World Car Test Drives cement my Neanderthal disposition

Members of the World Car Awards jury from around the world converge at The Westin in Pasadena – just a stone’s throw from the Angeles Crest Highway, arguably one of the best driving roads in the world – to test roughly two dozen of the World Car Awards contenders for the subsequent year.

Formula 1 had a very short-lived tenure in the country. The government’s stance, essentially, was that F1 is an indulgence that we can ill afford – and that motorsport isn’t actually a sport!

Whatever their rationale, they failed to see just how the global spectacle that is F1 put the likes of Singapore, Abu Dhabi and, more recently, Baku and Sochi on the map. That, notwithstanding, consider the fact that Formula 1 racers are just as fit and train just as hard as any other athletes on the planet. Plus, from a very young age, they work their way up from the lower formulas – just as you would in any other sport. Sure, you need deep pockets to succeed in racing, but that’s true of many disciplines – and that’s where sponsors come in.&nbsp;

So, it was ground-breaking when multiple Asia Pacific and Indian rally champion – and all-around ace behind the wheel – Gaurav Gill was recently conferred the Arjuna Award by the President of India. Recognition at the highest level is not only a proud moment for him, but also for the entire motorsport community in the country. Perhaps minds are beginning to change.&nbsp;

But then a tragic incident took place during the first stage at the Rally of Jodhpur. Gill, who was the first car on a narrow special stage – a closed section of road in which the crew races against the clock – came around a bend and couldn’t avoid a family of three who had made their way onto the closed stage. Why and how they got there, presumably, is under investigation but it doesn’t take away from the fact that lives were lost in a horrendous accident that should never have taken place.&nbsp;

News reports following the incident suggest that Gill and his co-driver have been booked for culpable homicide. While the facts are yet to be ascertained, it would be a grave injustice if he’s charged with a crime for doing exactly what he was honoured for by the highest office in our land. Of course, if any lapses occurred at an organisational level, they should be investigated.&nbsp;

Drivers and participants put their lives in the hands of their teams and the organisers every time they don their helmets and get into their race machines. They wear their hearts on their sleeve and let their performance do the talking – just as all sports people do. It’s time for the powers at be to recognise the reasons why Gill was honoured in the first place – for bringing glory to our country and excelling on the global stage. It’s only natural, under the grave circumstances, for emotions to run high but that’s exactly why it’s even more important to look at the situation objectively and apportion blame only where it’s truly due. After all, the turn of events is traumatic enough as it is.&nbsp;

In a country that has the worst road safety record on the planet, rallying and racing performed to international standards in a controlled environment can actually be a powerful tool to demonstrate the virtues of a safety-first mindset – something that’s, unfortunately, an alien concept in our country. In the West, the motorsport culture is all pervasive. During the Mille Miglia in Italy, restaurants on the race route set out tables on sidewalks so that patrons can enjoy watching the cars go by during their dinner. At Le Mans, you’ll find entire families – little children in tow – enjoying the 24-hour spectacle during the wee hours of the morning. For that matter, during the heyday of Indian motorsport, the Sholavaram airstrip would attract up to 50,000 people on a regular Sunday of racing.&nbsp;

Not only does motorsport push the boundaries of technology, attract the brightest engineering minds, embrace the god given talent of athletes like Gaurav Gill, but it’s also a treat to watch – a true spectacle that pushes all the right buttons and leaves you awe struck! Well, for some of us anyway.&nbsp;

I can only hope that better sense prevails in the aftermath of this dreadful event, and we use this tragedy to inculcate better safety measures on our roads and during our race meetings.

Also read -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/dhruv-behl/the-kia-seltos-is-here-to-leave-a-mark-106528/">The Kia Seltos is here to leave a mark</a>

<a href="https://www.autox.com/opinion/dhruv-behl/the-motor-vehicles-amendment-bill-2019-benefits-us-all-106356/">The Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill 2019 benefits us all</a>

India finally recognizes motorsport as a ‘sport.’ Or does it?

Formula 1 had a very short-lived tenure in the country. The government’s stance, essentially, was that F1 is an indulgence that we can ill afford – and that motorsport isn’t actually a sport! 

Opinion