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On the Tougher Terrain – Thrills of Off roading

Thrills of Off roading

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Off-roading_Nithin-nambiar

The roar of the machines,the thrill of driving, Off-roading is all the adrenalin rush you could ask for

Off-roading is an overused term in  recent times and it must be due to the accelerated exposure the common man has been receiving by means of all the races being held in and around our beautiful state. But unfortunately, there are more doubts than understanding in the minds of people about this exhilarating sport.

What is Off-roading? It can be defined as, ‘the activity of driving or riding a vehicle on unsurfaced roads or tracks made of materials such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural and manmade terrains.’ But in the real sense, it just means driving over, or under, things that one would usually avoid while sitting in the cockpit of a fourwheeler. And the vehicles used for this sport are just as awe-inspiring and rugged as the sport itself. These are some real mean machines which have been modified and often ‘built’ from ground up by off-roaders or car enthusiasts. Various 4WD (four-wheel drive) vehicles are used, but the most common are the Maruti Gypsy and Mahindra’s Thar, 540D & 550D.

Living on the Edge

This sport is far beyond mere entertainment for those involved. It is more of a lifestyle. The spirit of this adventure has gone too deep into their blood and brains that they now buy 4x4s only for the sake of going off-road. And, several automobile manufacturers have started concentrating on developing fully off-road oriented machines. But the vehicles still have to undergo various upgrades in order to truly perform off the road. The off-road vehicles
necessarily need to be equipped with several ways to make swift movements across rough terrains such as rocks, sand, mud, grass, articulation and slush pits. The list goes on. The modifications that an off-road vehicle pass through depends on the driver and the form of off-roading activity the vehicle is intended for.

The possibilities are endless. In Kerala, the main modifications found on such vehicles include, strengthening pivotal points in the vehicle, adding manual or automatic differential lockers, upgrading to mudterrain tires, lifting the vehicle a few inches, fitting snorkels (for increasing water-wading depths and providing cold air-intake for the engine), freeflow exhausts and various recovery gear like Winches, Hi-Lift jacks, Towstraps etc.

Off-riding_fwd_life

It is mandatory in most events and races to have a ‘spotter’ or ‘co-driver’ in the car, who assists and guides the driver through special obstacles. The skills of a co-driver in guiding his driver through the track is what will get them the trophy in a race or his skills is what will help the driver get his vehicle out to safety during various track race drives and forest fun drives. Having a capable co-driver really ups your chances of winning in any form of racing, it’s just the same here too. Kasargod’s Musa Sherif is one of India’s leading co-drivers and is an avid off-roader himself. He is the codriver of Gaurav Gill, four-time INRC (Indian National Rally Championship) champ and the winner of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship 2013.

All Work, All Play

Gone are the days of ‘play less, work hard’ in order to build a happy life, and relaxing retirement. People work harder and harder every day because they want to lead a comfortable life. Even the richest man on earth could working hard to keep his billions on track. Because he needs to make his tomorrow a smoother and creamier.

In a world like this, who would want to get behind the wheels of a heavilymodified and aggressive 4×4 having a much-extended ground clearance, fitted with a monster off-road tyres and drivetrains, while jumping in your seat trying to navigate on mud tracks and inhaling hot, dusty air and smoke? The ones having off-roading in their DNA.

Off-riding_fwd_life_fly_wheel

Flywheel is blessed to have a powerful team of fearless off-road maniacs with such a DNA who are constantly involved in off-roading activities and are quite used to with the phenomenon of uncanny adrenaline rush. Which is why Flywheel has a separate wing for showcasing the off-roading life and is named as FAST (Flywheel Automotive Support Team).

Catching Fire

The number of off-roading events happening on rough terrains in the countryside have been increasing lately after drivers and viewers have started to enjoy adventure and fun in equal measure. ‘Dirt-2 Racing’ organised by MechOutlawz by a private engineering college in Kollam district was FAST’s latest encounter with mud. The event got life in Kannanalloor on March 13 which was inaugurated by Ronny Varghese, RTO, Kollam. The chief guest of the event was Hani Mustafa (Autoexpert and Chief Editor- Flywheel). The Flywheel track organisers included Aravind Sasidharan, Sujeesh Kolothody, Abi K Santhosh and Rajmal Babu.

Out of 35 heavily modified off-road automotive participants, 16 were petrol and 19 were diesel engines. Kurian Kurian won the first prize in Petrol segment and Jose Cheerankuzhi came first in the Diesel category. Runner up of both Petrol and Diesel categories was Suraj Thomas.

Words by Hani Musthafa      Photographs from Nithin Nambiar

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Mahindra Thar Roxx: Where Power Meets Style

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The long-awaited Mahindra Thar Roxx has finally arrived, and it’s making waves in the automotive world. With a blend of rugged performance and modern style, this 5-door variant is a game-changer in the off-road segment. Whether you’re an adventure enthusiast or someone who appreciates a vehicle that commands attention, the Thar Roxx is designed to impress.

The Thar Roxx presents a more comfortable and family-friendly alternative to the regular Thar, offering enhanced features and greater value. It’s the perfect solution for car buyers seeking an SUV that’s capable of going anywhere and doing anything while still being practical and comfortable for the family. The Mahindra Thar Roxx is priced competitively, with the base model starting at Rs. 12.99 lakh, and the top model going up to Rs. 20.49 lakh (average ex-showroom).

The 2.2-litre 4×4 mHawk diesel engine in the Mahindra Thar Roxx offers two power outputs 150bhp/330Nm with the six-speed manual transmission and 172bhp/370Nm with the six-speed torque converter automatic. It features Crawl Smart for precise throttle control over obstacles and IntelliTurn for executing tight U-turns or navigating tricky off-road trails. With a water-wading depth of 650mm, and impressive approach and departure angles of 41.7 degrees and 36.1 degrees respectively, it’s well-equipped for challenging terrains. The 4XPLOR terrain modes, including Snow, Mud, and Sand, further enhance its off-road capabilities. Driving the Thar Roxx is both smooth and exhilarating, whether accelerating from a standstill or overtaking other vehicles just press the accelerator, and it effortlessly overtakes almost anything on the road. The automatic gearbox is particularly noteworthy for its smooth shifts, quick response, and alertness, making it ideal for both city and highway driving. The Thar Roxx easily reaches and cruises at higher triple-digit speeds, with the diesel engine and automatic transmission combo offering excellent efficiency when cruising between 95-100kmph, making it a great highway SUV. City driving is also a breeze thanks to its light and responsive steering, which makes tasks like parking and performing U-turns effortless. The visibility is decent, the ride quality improves as speeds increase, and its straight-line stability is impressive. The brakes are particularly confidence-inspiring, with a strong bite and a progressive feel that enhances the overall driving experience.

 

The steering of the Mahindra Thar Roxx feels unresponsive and unnecessarily heavy around the center at three-digit highway speeds, requiring constant corrections to maintain a straight line. It also shakes and feels harsh when driving over bumpy or pothole-ridden roads, and tends to bounce continuously on undulating road sections at higher speeds. The brake pedal has a significant amount of travel before the braking effect begins, which can be disconcerting. Additionally, the automatic Thar Roxx lacks paddle shifters, which might be a drawback for some drivers. Once you exceed 100kmph, there is noticeable wind noise inside the cabin, and driving consistently at these speeds can cause a substantial drop in fuel efficiency.

 

The Mahindra Thar Roxx is offered in seven distinct colors: Tango Red, Stealth Black, Everest White, Deep Forest, Nebula Blue, Battleship Grey, and Burnt Sienna.

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The All New Mahindra Thar 5 Door

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The automotive industry is abuzz with excitement as Mahindra introduces the much-anticipated All-New Thar 5-Door variant, taking the iconic off-roader to new heights. The most recent update on Thar reveals fresh information about its features, interiors, and design. Here is everything we currently know about the larger Mahindra Thar.

The three-door model on which the five-door Mahindra Thar is based may continue to influence its design and feature set. Highlights of the features could include aggressive wheel cladding, cruise control, remote keyless entry, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, TPMS, power windows, square tail lamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a roll-cage. It is anticipated that this Mahindra SUV will be powered by a 2.2-liter Hawk diesel engine and a 2.0-liter Stallion turbo-petrol engine. Options for transmissions are probably going to include six-speed manual and automatic models. Prices for the Mahindra Five-door Thar are anticipated to vary from Rs. 15.00 Lakh, depending upon the version chosen.

The 5-door Thar’s overall appearance is almost unchanged from the smaller model, with the exception of a few tiny grille adjustments and an updated round headlamp signature. Additionally visible from this angle are the front parking sensors. In addition to the two extra doors, the side profile features 19-inch alloy wheels that are designed differently from the 3-door model. The spare wheel is still installed on the tailboard and the rear profile appears to remain unaltered.

The new dashboard’s dual-tone black and brown theme is the first thing you see inside the vehicle. Additionally, this dashboard has a larger touchscreen entertainment system (maybe a 10.25-inch one), resembling the one found on the upgraded XUV400 electric SUV. This screen is expected to include Mahindra’s ArdenoX connected car technologies in addition to wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 

This version, with five doors, is expected to compete with the Force Gurkha and Maruti Suzuki Jimny five-door models.

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Mustang Forever

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It isn’t often that we see a classic muscle making waves even after being a standard mark for about 6 decades, but the charisma it holds on is far more impactful than what we see in the vehicles of today.

The 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is clearly the wet dream of any American muscle lover, just look at everything it has. The 2-door coupe FR layout car had an initial Windsor V8 in it as the engine in its 1st generation, while the current successor has a V8 Coyote in it. The 4 transmission car of the late 60s is still a statement piece which can be seen in many movies owing it to be either the inspiration for the modification or the devil itself.

The devilish beauty which has a 250 horsepower, capturing a top speed of 206 kmph making it go 0-100 km in just 8 seconds. This truly is a beast of the classics that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Words By: Goutham Satheesh

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