Auto Expo 2014

The biannual Auto Expo India 2014 during 7-11 February was the big event of month. Though the show is about new car launches, I have always been attracted to the concept cars and the oldie-goldies in the vintage stand. Attending was also important because most of the cars and bikes never actually arrive on our roads here. This was the time to get a glimpse of things to come, a vision of the future, even a figment of some talented team’s creation.

As usual some things marred the whole experience. Till 2012, the venue was Pragati Maidan. Considering the ironic traffic mess it creates every year, it was moved to Delhi’s outskirts. The 60-kilometre drive took three hours from Gurgaon, through Delhi and to Greater NOIDA. After spending another 45 minutes searching for parking in an open field, we trekked to Knowledge Park 2 where the show was on. The ocean of humanity drowned out the machines. We were there on Saturday, which drew 110,000 visitors through the day. If that wasn’t bad, Sunday saw 120,000 according to a report. Entry cost us Rs.300 a ticket.

Anyway, looking at the bright side- Indian Auto companies looked good this time. Though it will take them a while to catch up with the rest of the world, their desire to make futuristic rides entirely from local talent could not be ignored. 

Speaking of the big boys of the game - one could clearly sense that this was barely a flake on the tip of the iceberg of what they display in Europe and Japan. Nevertheless their mean machines saw the love they have always enjoyed even before they got here. Enough said. Now the photos-

Home-grown Mahindra & Mahindra showcased an electric sports car. Their Design Studio pinned up sketches done on-the-spot, which was a clear intent to incubate bright sparks for future projects. 

Dilip Chabria's DC brand, which for all these years ‘pimped’ your existing ride with add-on kits and gizmos, came out with the Avanti- their first sports car, which pulled a buzzing insane crowd.

Harley Davidson and Triumph had people hanging around and gazing for longer at the Street Bob and Rocket III.

Triumph Rocket III

Bajaj auto was looking at a cult image with their multi-coloured, low-cost hatchback called the RE60.

Tata was there with their concepts. But their European acquisition was the real magnet. Jaguar’s racing spirit won hearts, and those machines weren’t even moving!

My heart went out for the vintage collection. Restored and polished GT Mustang, BSA, Indian Chief and a Rajdoot Bobby stood proudly in the last hall.

 Rajdoot Bobby

 Indian Chief 

There was one hall which sadly did not pull many visitors and that was the alternative energy display. They had cars and installations pushing ideas on electricity and solar energy. Looks like fossil fuels will rule for a few more decades.

We could not see everything.  Some smart idea it was to put Audi, Mercedes and BMW in the same hall. The crowd was so thick here that we decided to skip it.

Getting out of there was another ordeal. Though we hated the whole experience of jostling through crowds just to look at machines we would never see again, it just had to be attended.

Some conclusions: fuel efficient hatch-backs, SUVs, family carriers like Honda Mobilio, and VW Taigun got more attention. General public has become more civil despite the space crunch. This is also the first time there were so many children at any Auto Expo, so the decision makers are getting younger.