Opinion: Hope floats
The Auto Expo is all about hope. You hope that there will be an exciting bike that will be launched or a car that makes you rub your hands in glee but doesn't burn a hole in your pocket at the same time. In the 2012 Auto Expo, the biggest 'hope' for me is the launch of Triumph Motorcycles in India. The British manufacturer is planning to launch seven of its bikes in India. But the one that gets my adrenaline pumping is the Daytona 675. Triumph is bringing down these bikes as CKDs. So the biggest draw will be their pricing. If they price it right then I see me selling my soul, whatever is left of it, to get a Diablo Red Daytona 675. They will launch their bikes only in 2013 so I will have to wait but the Auto Expo will give me an idea of their pricing and sales strategy.
There is also hope that Yamaha will introduce something that will excite the enthusiast. A scooter range seems most likely but I hope there is a 250cc bike lurking somewhere. The KTM Duke 200? Not during the Expo. The wait continues. Another key launch for me is the Peugeot 208. This hatchback is definitely something to look forward to. For those going to visit the Auto Expo, do swing by the Nissan stall where you can get to see the legendary GT-R. Feast your eyes because this is one car that doesn't look likely to come to India anytime soon. The launch of the BMW M5 is also another exciting factor. You can add one more to the 'dream cars available in India' category now.
And one of the other biggest draws for me is the announcement of the Etios Liva racing series. This one-make racing series will give Indian motorsport enthusiasts one more reason to practice their 'heel and toe'. The more races we have the more motorsport becomes accessible and more importantly, it gains popularity among the masses which will help in drawing sponsors. I hope I can convince Toyota to let me take a lap in one of these cars. Well, hope floats!
Starts Rs 1.62 Crore
4395cc
Automatic
625
750
6.8 Kmpl
Starts Rs 1,02,700
149cc
5-Speed
12.40
13.60
-NA-
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