TVS Scooty Zest 110 3000 km Long Term Report

Just yesterday I wrote a story for our newly-launched sister site Gizmoids about Adobe being bothered about its proprietary and trademarked brand-name “Photoshop” becoming a generic name for any digitally manipulated image. Writing that report I wondered why they didn’t see it as a compliment-the fact that Photoshop has become the industry standard, a name so ubiquitous that it has transcended the realm of professionals and seeped into mainstream popular culture. Digging a little deeper, I found that Adobe had clear grounds for its worry. Xerox didn’t like it when its trademark became a generic name, neither did Google and Bayer, the last one the maker of the now commonplace aspirin.

TVS’ success with its Scooty brand is something on similar lines. Since its launch in the nineties, the Scooty has revolutionized commuting not just for millions for college girls, but a vast number of urban commuters of both sexes. Here was a four-stroke (initially two) scooter that had space to carry your groceries and some notebooks, was reasonably frugal, and was a hoot to ride in the city thanks to its gearless variomatic transmission. The public lapped it up.

We don’t know how TVS Motors feel about the Scooty name now being used to denote everything from Honda Activas to Kinetic Blazes to Vespas but their accounting department surely can’t be complaining. Ever since its launch, the Scooty has been in continuous production and TVS has kept it fresh over more than two decades with timely updates, both cosmetic and mechanical.

This one here, though, was an all-new machine upon its launch.

For starters, it has got a larger heart, the 109.77cc CVTi unit that also does duty in the Wego and Jupiter. Peak power is rated at 8 PS at 7,500 rpm and there’s 8.7 Nm of torque coming in at 5,500 rpm.

The design has also been updated to keep up with the latest trends and it looks pretty, especially in that signature turquoise, without being overly feminine. It is still a Scooty- as evident in that integrated and elongated front fender-but one that has been updated to present day. I personally dig the side profile the most. Stylish albeit understated scoops and cuts along with minimal stickering make the Scooty Zest 110 one of the best-looking scooters in the market today.

The folks at TVS had the Scooty for delivery in Pune so I picked it up from the showroom and it became my long-termer by default. Despite the proven advantage scooters have over motorcycles for commuting, I wasn’t too enthusiastic about riding one. I like shifting gears manually, using the upper part of the rev range to surge past slow moving auto-rickshaws and sleepy call-center cab drivers. I like the superior handling and, finally, there’s the manly feeling of having something between your legs.

Then I moved to Mumbai. I needed a long termer now more than ever and so, after two weeks of commuting to the Motoroids office in auto-rickshaws, I went back to Pune to get the Scooty. The ride back, almost all 150 kilometres of it, the rain gods refused to show any mercy on the two of us. But it was this ride where I fell in love with the scooter.

Even on the superbly-paved NH4, it is impossible to go above the ton mark in the monsoons safely, with visibility at a minimum, and fog and mist swirling around me. So I decided to take this rain-soaked ride as an opportunity to just cruise slowly, take in whatever I could see of the scenery, and maybe do a little introspection on my new responsibilities at the Mumbai office.

Once I entered that zone, the Scooty proved to be the perfect accomplice. The footboard did a fine job of keeping the mud and rain away from my legs, and the relaxed riding posture meant that I could keep on riding without breaks even in this weather. And when I did stop for a break, I could stash my full-face helmet under the seat – something that few scooters can claim to do.

It has been a month now for the Scooty and I in Mumbai, and we are both warming up to the city. The engine is zippy enough for my daily commutes, and she’s decently frugal for the fun and convenience she offers, although I haven’t had an opportunity to test her fuel efficiency yet. The fuel filler cap is also located under the seat, all of which translates into rather frequent and long trips to the petrol pump.

But that aside, I like the fact that I can now carry my MacBook Air and some other stuff to work, and buy groceries on the way home from work, without lugging along a backpack.

When you are commuting daily, sometimes with bleary eyes and sometimes before you’ve had your caffeine shot, the last thing you want is an involving riding experience day in and day out, no matter how committed a biker you are. The weekends (and trackdays and new review machines for us) are there for that. This is where the Scooty proves itself as a trusty workhorse, a machine that will transport you from A to B in comfort and convenience, and with no drama at all. It is the unobtrusive wingman, the trusty friend that is happy to stay in the background if its presence is not needed, but can rise to the occasion when needed.

The rains have been clearing up in the last few days, so my wingman and I have many more adventures to experience in this city of dreams, the city that never sleeps.

Top 9 most powerful production motorcycles in the world

Power, you can never have enough of it. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In the motorcycling world though, power isn’t everything. It has been conclusively proved that more power doesn’t always necessarily translate into a faster bike, and anything around the 45-50hp mark is more than enough for most motorcyclists’ day to day lives.

And yet, we just can’t resist gawking over spec sheets, poring over brochures, and lusting after the most powerful bikes in existence. There’s something about them, the imaginations of thrill and excitement that we conjure when astride a motorcycle with frankly incongruous amounts of power. The knowledge that you can unleash the seven levels of hell if you want to, that you have all that power at the flick of your wrist is oddly satisfying.

Here we have compiled the nine most powerful production motorcycles in existence today. We could have rounded it out to ten, but the tenth seed was so far off the mark when compared to these nine, that we thought it wouldn’t be fair to put it in this rarified list. We have also excluded track-only, one-off, and special edition vehicles, as the power and figures of most of these vehicles vary wildly, and it would be unfair to add them to this strictly-curated list. Enjoy.

9. MV Agusta F4 R 312 – 190hp

MV Agusta doesn’t make too many motorcycles in its chequered history, but when they do, the world sits up and takes notice. Despite its jaw-dropping beauty, the F4 was written off by many after more than a decade of gracing the living rooms of moneyed connoisseurs, but then they came up with this even more ferocious beast of a machine. It also held the record of the fastest production motorcycle (311kmph) for quite some time, so there’s that.

8. Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R – 193hp

Also known as ZZR1400 in some circles, it was Kawasaki’s answer to the undisputed king of top speed, the mighty Hayabusa. And what an answer it was. Although decried a bit at first thanks to its looks, or lack of it rather, its performance was nothing to laugh about. This isn’t a bike meant for posing, it is a missile designed to propel you down the straight and narrow as fast as the laws of physics will allow.

7. BMW HP4 – 193hp

The BMW S1000RR came out of nowhere in 2009, taking everyone by surprise, shattering speed and power records, and sweeping almost all Bike of the Year awards. Not one to rest on their laurels, BMW has kept on fine-tuning it and honing it with such methodical precision as only the German can. They also introduced a number of iterations of the bike, and this, the HP4 is their wildest ride yet.

6. Suzuki Hayabusa GSX R 1300R – 197hp

Ahh, the Dhoom bike, the one that restarted it all. The one that took the gentlemen’s agreement and smashed it to smithereens, laughing all the while to the bank. The ageing Japanese falcon has still what it takes with 197hp from its 1340cc engine.

5. Kawasaki Ninja H2 – 200hp

We ourselves are a bit surprised to find the heavily anticipated Ninja H2 in the middle of this list, rather than at the very top. This just shows how far technology has progressed in the last decade. If we were including track-only machines in our mix, then the H2’s bigger, badder brother, the H2R, would have decimated all comers with its whooping 300hp of power. As it stands, the H2 though, is still a manic machine at 200hp.

4. Yamaha V-Max – 200hp

The V-Max, a power cruiser, is a bit of an oddity in this list dominated by superbikes and hyper tourers. What isn’t odd though, is its 1679cc engine that produces exactly 200hp of power.

3. Yamaha YZF-R1 – 200hp

All-new for 2015, the YZF-R1 is a technical marvel, meant to decimate all usurpers to the throne who has been strutting while Yamaha lay dormant for the last few years. With its 998cc engine churning out a monstrous 200hp, we certainly think it has what it takes. Did we also mention that Rossi helped develop it? Did we?

2. Ducati 1299 Panigale S – 205hp

With 205hp from its 1285cc engine, the 1299 Panigale S is the most powerful production motorcycle in existence right now, if you don’t count the ultra-rare Vyrus that also just happens to have a Ducati-sourced engine.

1. Vyrus 987 C3 4V R – 211hp

The inclusion of the Vyrus at the top of this list caused a row at the office, and it almost came to blows before the boss had to placate everyone down with some choice takeaway from the Chinese eatery downstairs. Some felt that it doesn’t really count as a mass-produced motorcycle, and if we include it, we also have to count other exotics like the MTT Y2K, the Dodge Tomahawk, and the Boss Hoss.  Others felt that it is now being produced in a pretty sizeable quantity, hence it ought to be here. In the end we went with the latter. At 211hp, the Vyrus wins the crown of being the most powerful motorcycle on sale today.

Do you agree with our list? Do you feel that we missed out any motorcycle more powerful than the ones on this list? Sound out to us in the comments below.

Online Fund Transfer in France Makes Life Easy For Everyone

France is a wonderful country for work as well as leisure.

Citizens from the EU who wish to work in one of the country's many diverse regions will find it a worthwhile experience whereas non-EU citizens will need a visa and will have to satisfy quite a few rules and regulations.

Independent minds are welcome

Anyone who is thinking of setting up their own business in France will be delighted to discover that the country relaxed its rules this year.

Leading UK accountants Ernst & Young claim that anyone from the EU who does want to set up their own company in France will be able to do so in four days. That's a considerably shorter time than in any of the other G20 countries.

A money transfer in France is easy and there are thousands of cash pick up locations throughout the country.

Setting up a business is complex for anyone who doesn't have a thorough grasp of the French language and it may be sensible to seek advice, either in the UK or in France. It's also important to become fully conversant with French business etiquette and letter writing.

Even French business emails are more formal than those in the UK or the USA.

Financial solvency is important

In common with anywhere else in the world, if you don't have sufficient capital to develop a business and cope with the lean times, the business might fail. Anyone who wants to make use of an online fund transfer to France during the early days of the business will find this facility very useful.

French banks, in common with many others throughout Europe don't give out loans easily, and if a company doesn't have an established trading record then it's very difficult source financial help.

Work as a freelancer

It's not just small businesses that can flourish in France. Anyone who has saved money elsewhere and wishes to use a money transfer in France can easily establish themselves as a freelancer. It's important to register your tax status before starting work and then the rest is up to the individual.

Locating to a perfect rural idyll is ideal for an accessible online fund transfer to France but if the freelancer relies on the Internet then life mightn't be too rosy. Always check before committing yourself to a new lifestyle and ensure your plan is viable.

France is a beautiful country, the climate is wonderful, and the food is fantastic and if you love a good debate in a café, the people are interesting too. Just ensure that you have access to reliable money transfer in France in order to fulfil your dream.

Has Anyone Got A Tattoo of Your Brand? 3 Steps to Grow Brand Recall

A brand serves as an important placeholder for your company's reputation. This means good business for you and peace of mind for your customers.

When people have a good experience with a brand, they're more likely to make a repeat purchase. In other words, they become brand loyal, even when given the choice to buy a competing product.

This leads to brand recall, and the cycle repeats itself resulting in enormous growth potential.

Here's something to contemplate. Rumor has it that more people have the motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson™ tattooed on their body than any other brand name in the world. Whether its truth or fiction, it's at least plausible. Now that's loyalty!

If you've been reading my series on Branding, by now you now that we're talking about a process of creating distinctive and durable perceptions in the minds of your customers.

We do this by distilling what your company represents down to its purest essence - something that your target audience can grasp in a matter of moments - a look, a feel, a song, a sound.

The effort to brand your company or yourself can pay off handsomely, sometimes to the tune of billions of dollars. In my branding talks, I refer to this as a business' growth factor.

The brand of the #1 soft drink company in the world is so tightly monitored - so Mega - that I'd be at risk for possible intellectual property right infringement if I used their name in this article.

However, that company's CEO once famously said he could walk into any bank anywhere in the world and take out a loan... based on their brand value alone! Imagine that kind of clout in your business.

In fact, this soda company's global market penetration is so strong that people can identify the white-on-red logo even without seeing the brand name. I don't even have to say their name, but I'm sure you know which soda company I'm talking about. We're talking about a growth factor to salivate over.

People who closely identify with a brand are not only more likely to buy what they bought a second time, but they also will buy related items from the same brand.

In fact, they'll recommend the brand to others and even remain brand faithful in spite of a competitor's price cut. That's the kind of brand identity that anchors true loyalty and spurs mega growth.

I know you're asking "How can I relate this to my business?"

So the question to ponder is this... how can you take these lessons and generate your own brand growth factor? Here are 3 practical recommendations to get your customers to stick to make repeat purchases.

1. Make It Memorable

Your company can't benefit from referrals and repeat business if people don't remember your name. When it comes to making your brand memorable, try using an unusual color combination, the way FedEx does with their purple and orange.

Use shapes and sounds that convey your brand's image, or even distinctive behavior or gesture. Jingles, cartoon characters and spokesmen are great for this.

We all remember our first trip to Les Schwab Tires, because the mechanics are trained to drop their tools and literally run to your car to provide service.

Savvy career professionals use a style of clothing to make their personal brand memorable. Author Tom Wolfe was known for his famous white suits, and Flo from Progressive Insurance is unmistakable with her retro look and flippant attitude.

Develop your own unique image and make it stick in the minds of your buying public.

2. Keep It Familiar

Branding has a big effect on customers and non-customers alike. Think about that catchy jingle that just won't get out of your head. It's familiar, isn't it?

Psychologists have found that familiarity leads to affinity. In other words, when people get to know you, they like you. This means people who have never even done business with you may recommend you even when they're not your customers - simply because they know your brand.

Seeing your ads around town, having one of your pens in their desk drawer, or seeing your social media posts all add up to contributing to your growth factor.

Those who are familiar with your brand will spread the word the next time a friend or colleague is looking for your kind of referral.

3. Be Rock Solid

When consumers make a buying decision, there's less risk in choosing a brand name over an unknown commodity. With an established brand, you can spread the respect you've garnered.

This means your latest, greatest product, service or location can gain acceptance in spite of newcomer status. But start by being reliable in the first place. Mind your reputation, and keep it clean.

For fun, I play the jazz trombone in a 17-piece swing band. Recently our band was hired to perform in our region's largest winery, Chateau St. Michelle, where we delighted visitors with party music to augment their wine tasting experience at the Chateau.

St. Michelle established a good reputation with regional winery tours which are close to a major metropolitan city, thereby solidifying its brand and goodwill with millions of wine lovers.

Subsequently, the winery added brand extensions to their mix with new sub-brands at various price points. With this approach, the primary brand benefits from the positive perceptions generated from both their premier line and their affordable line.

Following these 3 steps to brand recall can lift what you sell out of the realm of a commodity and contribute to your growth factor. Instead of dealing with price-shoppers, you'll have customers who would gladly pay more for your company's goods and services.

Playing It Safe in Business

What are some ways you play it safe in business and what are they costing you? If it feels like your business is "going nowhere" and you need to do something different, let's look at some ways you might be "playing it safe" and ideas to break out of that rut.

1) Have you been sticking with the same target market without ever questioning your choice?

Perhaps you chose this target market years, even decades ago. You have a lot of experience working with them, but there is little or no challenge any more. In fact, you may find yourself resenting certain aspects about your clients. It's like the boredom and predictability many long-married couples experience. There are no surprises or variety. If that's true, it's time to upgrade or revise your target market. Look at adding a whole new market slice to your current market or exploring new ways to serve. Start with examining any atypical clients you've had. When they have been a pleasure to work with, these outliers may be the beginning of a new market for you.

2) Have you been playing it safe by offering the same services and products without revision or addition?

Maybe you're even actually selling to an outdated market that no longer exists. Your market is looking for new ideas. What can you do to update your offerings? Do you need to eliminate some items and add new ones? Do you need to think about combining services or combining products with services? What is the current market demanding and how can you fulfill that need?

3) Are you playing it safe in your marketing efforts?

Are you going to the same networking events and talking to the same people and not wanting to move out of that comfort zone? Are you sticking to the same old "tried and true" marketing efforts-even though diminishing returns has made them a waste of time? It's time to consider some new approaches, focus, and methods. Do you need to explore some new networking venues? Does your website reflect favorably on your business? Do you have marketing materials that effectively present your business? What do you need to update, revise or revamp?

4) Have you developed cynical attitudes towards prospects, the current economy or your target market?

Do you feel defeatist, so you don't take any risks or don't go out of your way to win business? Have you gotten sloppy about follow-up or customer service? Have you lost your sense of caring about your clients? Look at the source of your irritation and negativity and see what it suggests. Often this means you might consider "firing" unpleasant clients or getting yourself an "attitude adjustment". You may need to change unworkable circumstances or gain some new and inspiring knowledge. Take action to correct the cause of your unhelpful behavior. Don't let it continue.

5) Do you spend your time rearranging the deck chairs?

Do you clean your office and organize your pens and avoid working with customers or marketing to new areas? Do you keep telling yourself that you can't get anything done because your office is in a shambles? Do you spend your time on computer games, emails, chats, ans surfing the net? Do you convince yourself that there wasn’t any real work to do anyway? Do you believe that your activities could bring you business down the road?

Get real about your motivations and acknowledge that you're avoiding. Choose priority activities (marketing for instance) and put your major efforts there. Consign the "time wasting" stuff to "outside-work" hours.

Every 2016 Presidential Candidate Is a Brand, But They Lack Trust and Authenticity

Essentially each Presidential candidate is a brand. They develop a special persona which they hope will emotionally appeal to their target audience, they own a distinct brand name (e.g. Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton), and they make brand promises which they believe are relevant for their constituencies. These are the core principles of good branding. Ultimately a successful brand will want a relationship with its target customer that is based on trust, authenticity and credibility.

But why are these foundational attributes so lacking for every Presidential candidate in 2015? The Edelman Trust Barometer revealed that government and Congress are the least trusted institutions or people for the fourth consecutive year, hitting a new low of 41% in 2015. This glaring problem of mistrust did not happen overnight. 

These perceptions grew over time because past candidates' promises did not honestly reflect their true values (e.g. Romney changing his tune to appeal more to extreme conservatives), their promises were never delivered (e.g. Governor Sam Brownback of Kansas promising that lower taxes would ignite economic growth in his state), and how the changing diversity of the American electorate was not fully acknowledged.

Further, behind this decline of trust is the absence of authenticity for these Presidential brands. John Grant, author of "The New Marketing Manifesto", states that "authenticity is the benchmark against which all brands are now judged." Trust and authenticity are closely related: trust reflects more of an emotion than a cognitive belief, while authenticity is a conclusion about one's persona and set of values. Both require consistency, balanced with a willingness to adapt to the changing dynamics of your target audience, yet without undermining one's core values and attitudes.

The primary elections generally are decided by a restrictive audience - members of either the Republican or Democratic Party. The brand messages of these candidates are designed to appeal to the passions of the most intense influencers in each party, intent on forming a strong bond with them. According to Pew Research in 2014, "steadfast and business conservatives", 22% of the population, make up 36% of the "politically engaged" Americans, while the "solid liberals", 15% of the population, make up 21% of these engaged. 

Their promises end up shaping the political persona of these candidates, and with the over-simplistic stereotyping by the media, the primary selection process pushes their brand image further to the right or left, beyond the interests of mainstream voters. All this undermines their sense of authenticity and even erodes their ability to connect with regular voters.

Then there is the sizeable yet less predictable political middle, 57% of the electorate, who are traditionally not as involved in the primaries, but will ultimately decide the Presidential election. This central segment has more divergent views, and many will vote based on their emotions such as trust, and who they feel is most "authentic".

 If history repeats itself, Americans will hear a different, nuanced set of promises and values after the primaries; their previous positions aimed at the extreme ideological ends of the political spectrum during the primaries will become rationalized in less credible terms. The net result will be a revised brand image that is inconsistent, distrusted and less authentic.

The anatomy of the electorate continues to transform, especially with the emergence of Millennials and minority segments such as the 55 million Hispanics (17% of the population today). Generally most in these groups are not party members so their influence in the primaries is limited. Pew research in 2014 indicates that 50% of Millennials consider themselves "independent" (versus 39% for Generation X, the next highest), although many don't trust government anymore and may not vote in the Presidential election.

There is a lesson here for business CEO's (also very distrusted, at only 43% according to the Edelman Trust Barometer) and marketers, who should learn from politicians' tendency to make promises that can't be delivered. Research in a recent Ad Age article, "Three Hidden Reasons Why Brands Struggle With Authenticity", reveals that executives often wear their "business hat" and voice opinions expected for their business persona, which often are not realistic or match what their customers want most. 

Their exaggerated or misplaced promises are a primary reason for the public's lack of trust in them. It would make sense for Presidential candidates and business leaders to conduct a comprehensive brand audit of themselves (such as those we offer) to ensure they reach that elusive mark of "authenticity" before embarking on a new political or marketing initiative.

2015 Audi A6 Matrix 35TDI facelift review: The Blue Pill

The new A6 Matrix, as they call it, has been given a thorough overhaul by its Ingolstadt based maker, along with a suffix that reminds us of the now somewhat forgotten, but once legendary Wachowski Brothers. Udaipur with its beautiful palaces, lakes and turban clad smiling faces was in stark contrast to the post-apocalyptic world depicted in the 1999 sci-fi flick. Nonetheless, with Audi asserting strongly that #ItJustKnows everything, I felt like one Thomas A. Anderson aka Neo as I ‘entered the Matrix’ for a drive.

Design and Styling

Let’s start off with those Matrix headlamps the new car derives the suffix for its name for. And like the digital world created by the all-encompassing software controlling the world in the aforementioned Hollywood flick, where there weren’t any lines to differentiate reality and magic, the A6’s technology is here to amaze you. Comprising an array of LED lights controlled by light sensors, the technology is capable of turning a select set of LED bulbs off so it doesn’t dazzle the driver in the car travelling in the opposing direction. Pretty cool, huh? We’ve seen the tech in action in a few other cars as well, including the R8, RS6, TT and the new A8L we just reviewed.

So along with cutting edge tech gifted by the flagship A8 L, the A6 also gets a sharper shape for those eyes. Audi asserts that shape of the DRL’s on the new headlamps resembles an arrow, though we struggle to find one there. It looks futuristic for sure, though.

The headlamps, however, aren’t the only big change up front. The bumpers, as is the case with almost all facelifts, have been completely revamped, and now feature wide side air scoops, with chrome laden horizontal slats running across them. They do manage to lend the car a sportier stance up front. The grille has been given its due revamp, and gets the Audi Singleframe treatment for this version. The seven horizontal slats on the previous model have been replaced by eight chrome drenched units.

On the sides, Audi haven’t tinkered much with the panels. The size of the new, 10-spoke wheels has increased from an earlier seventeen inch to eighteen now, along with a surprising improvement in the ride quality too, but more on that later. The new car is available only in the top-spec S-line trim, a badge for which finds its place above the front fender.

At the rear, the car gets sleeker, sharper, more horizontally oriented LED tail-lamps that mimic the frontal treatment with turn indicators now lighting up progressively in the direction you intend to take the turn. The exhaust pipes now take a sporty, trapezoidal shape with chrome tips, and they peep through a newly introduced grey coloured sporty faux diffuser which also features a honeycomb mesh. There’s also a newly introduced chrome garnish at the bottom of the trunk lid with A6 and 35 TDI badges placed on top of it on either side.

While the proportions and size of the A6 Matrix isn’t a departure from the model it replaces, the new version looks decidedly sharper, more modern and sportier. The good news is, a major part of those changes isn’t just cosmetic, with the Matrix headlamp trying its bit to solve the ‘dazzling’ conundrum auto engineers have been faced with for the longest of times.

Engine and transmission

Generally facelifts don’t have much to offer in this department. The new A6 is an exception, though. The 2.0 liter TDI engine under the bonnet is the same unit as the one on the previous unit, though some fine tuning has pumped up the power output by 7% while pushing the fuel efficiency up too by 5%. This simultaneous increase in power and fuel efficiency in most modern cars is a bit surprising, and in most cases can be attributed to the advances made in the automotive tech. The change, however, isn’t sometimes very perceptible from the seat of the pants, though.

The 2.0 liter diesel unit churning out 190hp of power at 3800 – 4200 rpm and 400 NM of peak torque between 1750 and 3000 rpm makes the new A6 capable of going from nought to 100km/h in about 8.5 seconds, while the top speed is specified at 232km/h.

Those numbers, while, much superior to most cars you’ll find on the road, don’t translate into a heady, enthusiast-oriented experience from behind the wheel. With its generous torque and efficiency oriented setup, the 35 TDI loves cruising briskly at speeds comfortably above the ton mark. It’s at its best between the 2000-3000 rpm mark where that four pot motor spins away merrily and quietly blurring whatever you see through the peripheral vision. It’s a capable family carrier, very comfortable, efficient and effortless – capable of shortening distances reasonably quickly. It won’t however, shove you back in your seats the way some of the bigger engines in the Audi family would, though. We were absolutely smitten by the performance of the 3.0 liter TDI on the Q5 Quattro we took out for a near 3000km round-trip. That engine, in our humble opinion, is a more natural match to the size and stature of the A6. All that said, however, price plays a significant role in this segment, too; and with the A6 delivering comparable performance and segment leading features at the least price, you cannot really complain.

The engine is mated to a new 7 speed S-tronic dual clutch transmission which appropriately replaces the Multitronic CVT on the previous version. S-Tronic is one of the most capable transmission systems out there, and we had big expectations with the change, though at the end of it we were a tad underwhelmed. The transmission does its duty splendidly for most part. Our only grumble being the relative reluctance of the transmission to drop a cog or two when summoned at lower revs.

Driving through some winding roads leading up to the picturesque Ranakpur, we were obstructed many a times with slow moving traffic, and had to align our speed to give way to oncoming traffic. Upon getting a clearance and burying the right pedal, however, the transmission showed some unwillingness in pushing the revs up instantly. To see the tacho needle trying to climb up lazily at 1500 rpm when the accelerator pedal is almost about to kiss the floor is rather uncharacteristic of that transmission. That wee moment of disinclination somewhat puzzles you – it’s not what you have known that dual clutch tranny for. The S-Tronic has a reputation for being one of the most blazingly quick, the most addictive and the most capable auto transmissions out there. Fret not though, Audi have provisioned for steering mounted paddle shifters as standard on this one, and that part works like a charm as it always has. Manual shifts are crisp, quick and reassuring, and is the recommended way to hoon this ride if you’re in a mood to carve those corners spiritedly.

The tacho is redlined at 4800 rpm, which is also the point till where the tacho needle swings up to before upshifting in dynamic mode, pedal to the metal. There is no dearth of torque on this mill, with a strong mid-range allowing you maintain good speeds with minimum load on the engine. It gets a tad noisy post the 3000 rpm mark, though the sound never turns bothersome.

An efficient, torquey and more powerful powerplant, the new 2.0 TDI unit on the new A6 is very well suited for the majority of the audience.

Driving dynamics, ride and handling

The first thing you notice as you put that thing in motion is its incredibly light steering feel for such a big car. The A6 Matrix was an absolute breeze weaving through the narrow, chaotic streets of Udaipur featuring dogs, elephants and everything in between. The steering doesn’t weigh up well enough even as you build speed, though at no point does the car’s stability appear to be affected by the fact. Since we were driving through the city in comfort mode, we shifted to dynamic on the fabulous NH 76 so as to add some lead to the helm. We did feel some weight, though it wasn’t much.

An astonishing aspect of the new Audi A6 Matrix, though is its new Adaptive suspension and the resultant ride quality that’s nothing short of exemplary. While the car absolutely demolishes the challenges thrown by even the most vicious potholes in comfort mode, even dynamic mode is incredibly absorbent. Once off the butter smooth NH 76, you have to take the state highway 32 for Ranakpur, which is a narrow, winding road with deceptive, never-ending undulations – the type that would rock the occupants inside if you try driving over them too fast. The A6, even in dynamic mode, took everything in its stride delightfully well, even with some spirited driving on our way up.

While one may be inclined to write tomes on the connected feel of the steering and a sport suspension as a true enthusiast, it’s actually an absorbent suspension you need on most Indian roads to go fast without causing damage to a car. Sure, there is body roll, a bit more than what we expected in dynamic mode, but an Audi with a 35TDI badge isn’t exactly meant to be entirely performance oriented. The light steering is devoid of any feel, though it’s fairly precise.

The A6 Matrix in effect, thus isn’t the sharpest tool to dart around switchbacks, but it would brave all the hostilities presented by the relentless Indian roads to give you and your family a ride that would leave you dumbfounded. And that’s what really matter for a premium family sedan in this segment, more so in India.

Interior and equipment

Audi has made some noteworthy stylistic and feature related changes inside the cabin as well. The MMI infotainment system gets upgraded to the Radio Plus version with some new features and now gets a voice dialogue system. The new voice dialogue system allows you to either use some simple pre-listed voice commands using its own program, or connect your phone (Android or iPhone) and use the voice assistants on the respective phones with the car’s microphone and audio. Sound output is provided by a 600 watt Bose system which has been designed specifically for this car and with a good audio source, sounds great all the way up to full volume.

Another important change is the new drive selector lever. As the Multitronic CVT transmission from the previous version gets replaced with an advanced S-Tronic, so does the selector lever with better ergonomics. Steering wheel gets pedal shifters as standard.

The dashboard for the new car has been overhauled too with new styling and trim. The wood inlays on the dashboard are now in fine grain Ash Natural Brown, with no lacquer so one could see and feel the quality of the wood clearly. The thumb wheels for air vent control and seat configuration controls now get aluminium accents for a richer, more premium feel. Features like eight airbags and handwriting recognition get carried over from the previous version.

Audi Drive Select lets you choose from Comfort, Dynamic, Auto or Individual modes. The big change here is the introduction of the Adaptive Air Suspension which can now dynamically change its stiffness based on the drive mode selected or the road surface. The power retractable eight inch central screen gets a new navigation system.

The new screen makes use of the fast Tegra 30 graphics chip from Audi’s partner Nvidia. The screen also displays the happenings behind the car through a rear view camera when you put it in the reverse gear.

The new A6 gets a central arm-rest with some space inside for the powered front seats which are supportive, well bolstered and feature a memory function for passenger too.

There is a four zone automatic air conditioning system which includes rear A/C vents both between the front seats and in the B-pillars. Audi claims that the car also has sensors which detect the position of the sun and increase the intensity of the air flow from the air vents on the side where the sunrays are falling directly. The face-lifted A6 Matrix can also be ordered with ventilation and massage function for the seats.

The car gets its upholstery in Milano leather which can be had in three colors – black, beige or the newly introduced Nougat Brown. Co-driver seat is adjustable from the rear to maximize legroom, while ambient lighting, auto dimming interior mirrors and a sunroof come as standard. We do miss a panoramic sunroof, but looking at the other features and the price of the car, we really can’t complain.

The boot is a generous 530-liters, though we could have done with a few more cubby holes for stuff like cell-phones and wallets.

The interior of the Audi A6, especially for the price is packed to the gills and is built to exacting German standards. There isn’t really anything we can complain about, especially with the magical ride insulating the occupants completely from the taxing Indian terrain.

Verdict

The new Audi A6 looks much sharper, more modern and resultantly a much stronger value for money proposition in its Matrix avatar. It may not be the most powerful, or the sharpest car to drive in the segment, but it outclasses the competition with its generous set of features, while still being available at a segment beating price. It’s not the car for the out and out enthusiast, but if a spacious, utterly comfortable and feature laden mid-size premium car is what you’re looking for, we’d very strongly recommend you test drive this one. The Audi A6 Matrix will cocoon you in its loving arms and create a virtual reality that disconnects you from the cruel realities of our world – somewhat in a way those human farm cells did in its namesake movie.

Price as tested : Rs 49.5 lakh ex-showroom