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AN AMBY-TIOUS PAST ABOUT AMBASSADORS

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ambassador car fwd life

Text: Maria John      Photos: Various Sources

The grand old lady of the Indian roads laid to rest with many families in attendance.

An icon that could pack more than childhood memories could hold. A flailing of arms and legs that ensured that even chottu would fit in with all eleven of you. We were proud when we could make more space and revelled in our super power to adjust even more. We were proud when we channeled our inner gymnast to grab grandma’s halwa over your cousin’s cousin’s feet. We were proud when even Rocky could come on the trip with his tail wagging. We were proud when all of us could fit in with Aunty Tara’s foreign luggage and sped (more dawdled) to the airport so far away. We rushed Amma when she started her prayers before every journey so that Appa could play the music. We froze in the over efficient air conditioning and exercised our wiry arms rolling down the windows. The brand new leather grip to the steering wheel was always a fascination. And the breakdown of the car and yourself, marked the years that you grew up in. Punctured tires replaced, hot engines doused in drinking water and constant rumble of the engine which was a background track. The Ambassador was truly a king in every household. Washed down daily with love by ThankappanChettan and taken to the workshop almost every other day. It was a friend, an ally and an enemy at the best of times. But the Ambassador was a gentleman’s car, a sign of stature for established families and the sign of power for our politicians. The company might have stopped production, but the car will live on through many a family photo album. It was the ultimate Indian MUV, a title that is fought over by so many automobile manufacturers these days. The best bet yet on the Amby, as it was lovingly called, was when it won the world’s best taxi award organized by Top Gear. “The winner (best taxi in the world) was India’s virtually indestructible Hindustan Ambassador. It’s so tough that, although it now lives in World of Top Gear, with a quick wash and brush up, it could be back in service tomorrow – probably,” reads a statement from UK-based Motor Museum, Beaulieu.
The white ambassador was a welcome sight, the yellow and black ones waited impatiently at every transportation hub for passengers. The blue and purple ones were for the more adventurous. It multiplied as an ambulance with a wailing siren, a few banana leaves and garlands made it the ‘function’ car and an open boot with boxes strapped to it with rope made it the ultimate road trip vehicle. The ambassador reminds one of a simpler childhood, emptier roads and when starting trouble wasn’t just a phrase. Huffing and puffing past its golden jubilee, finally the memories have been laid to rest.

MEMORABLE MENTIONS

Mark Tully in Hindustan TimesMark Tully in Hindustan Times fwd life

“In those days, whenever I went out for a story, I found myself ending up in an Ambassador. I have done thousands of such journeys and we would often stop at a roadside mechanic since anybody could fix it in India those days: It was the only car of note!”

 

Suketu Mehta in Maximum CitySuketu Mehta in Maximum City fwd life

“The Ambassador is actively ugly but loveable in the way elephants are, with a jaunty visor and a wide grin. The Ambassador ad isn’t really touting the virtues of space. It’s saying that the kind of people to drive an Ambassador will always make more room. It is really advocating a reduction of personal physical space and expansion of the collective space.”

 

Anita Desai in A Devoted Son

Anita Desai in A Devoted Son fwd life

“For some years Rakesh worked in the city hospital, quickly rising to the top of the administrative organization, and was made a director before he left to set up his own clinic. He took his parents in his car—a new, sky-blue Ambassador with a rear window full of stickers and charms revolving on strings—to see the clinic when it was built.”

 

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Automotive

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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