Motors That Matter in 2011

Here’s our guide to the stuff that will have Clarkson dribbling like a toddler.

McLaren MP4-12C

Hopefully they’ll give it a proper name before it’s launched, but the new McLaren promises to turn the supercar genre on its head and not just in the driving experience. The company does have previous form when it comes to road cars, having produced one of the all-time greats with the F1.

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The MP4-12C looks a little ordinary compared to Italian exotica, but does create more of an impact when you see it for real. More important is the engineering and technology beneath the skin. Using motor racing know-how, the 12C has a carbon fibre tub for a chassis. The strength and lightness this affords is incredible, meaning the entire car is an extremely lightweight 1,300kg. Even the dashboard has the McLaren logo on it indented because it saved 2.4 grammes…

McLaren’s 35 dealerships will have 100% parts availability at all times – unheard of before now – and if you still have any doubts just consider that both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have helped develop it. Enough said.

Aston Martin Cygnet

It’s little more than a Toyota iQ with an Aston Martin grille and an extremely luxurious interior, but the Cygnet should keep the bureaucrats happy by reducing Aston Martin’s overall CO2 output, meaning they can keep making polar-ice melting V8 and V12 engines for the rest of the range. Which is a good thing. Each car will combine hand-crafted luxury with urban usability, but driving thrills will still be the preserve of ‘proper’ Astons. Q, please don’t make Bond drive one of these…

On sale: you wish. 0-100kmph: 11.8 seconds. Top speed: 171kmph. Price: about Rs 20 lacs

BMW 1-Series M Coupe

The original M3 was one of the all-time great driver’s cars and BMW has struggled to produce anything since that has recaptured the magic. This could be the car to bring it back, though, with a twin-turbo, 335bhp engine that provides huge grunt for a small car. It’ll be rear-wheel drive, too, which will make it ideal for smoking tail spins in the local multi-storey.

On sale: May. 0-100kmph: 4.9 seconds. Top speed: 250kmph. Price: about Rs 30 lacs

Range Rover Evoque

It started life purely as the LRX concept car to show the possible future direction of Land Rover styling and ended up going into production virtually unchanged. Except for a Range Rover badge and a silly name. Still, it’s an extremely cool car and has already come to define a new market place sector: the baby premium SUV. Front or four-wheel drive will be available and the 148bhp diesel motor will do 58mpg. Up yours, greenies!

On sale: this summer. 0-100kmph: 7.1 seconds. Top speed: 194kmph. Price: about Rs 45 lacs

2011: Year of the electric car?

With the government stumping up toward the cost of buying one, if you mostly drive in the city, an electric motor could make sense. Here’s what to expect:

Reva NXR

Reva NXR will be a three door four seater EV and has top speed of 104 kmph covering 160 kms distance in one charge. Expected price for the car would be around Rs10 lacs.

Renault Twizy

One of three electric Renaults to go on sale this year, the Twizy is a fantastic, futuristic vehicle. A two-seat, four-wheeled urban scooter, it should cost no more than Rs10 lacs.

Tata Indica Vista EV

Expected to launch this year, Tata Indica Vista E could cost close to Rs5-6 Lacs, which seems a terrific value for money for an EV that offers a range of up to 200 Kms for a recharge time of 8 hours and a nought to sixty kph dash in 10 seconds.

From the March 2011 issue of FHM India.