June 2014 issue of OVERDRIVE out on stands now
This June, OVERDRIVE anticipates a turn in the tide for the Indian automotive scene, hoping for the best from the new government. Â Mercedes-Benz catches up with the winds of change as it sails in with the impressive, new GLA-Class, making the cover of this month's issue. Further, we take the other luxury segment offerings from the German automobile manufacturer, including the 2015 C-Class and the ML 63 (complete with the AMG treatment) and make some delicious discoveries of our own.
Speaking of change, we drive Toyota's new 11th generation Corolla Altis to find out if it might just take over as the new benchmark for the D-segment and figure out if the promises of the Etios Cross hold good. Â We also examine the prospects of the face-lifted Volvo S60. Meanwhile, BMW's bigger and more luxurious X5 gets road tested on Indian soil this time. And we have explained the unlikely technologies that are making their way into production cars, case in point - the laser-based headlights in the BMW i8 and Matrix LED headlamps in the Audi A8L.
Taking forward from our previous issue, the new affordable Harley-Davidson Street 750 is put to the test to find out how it really holds out on the streets. We also make note of the Triumph Street Triple and weigh its value for money against its merits. The first ride of the feature-loaded TVS Star City++ gives away a lot about how the bike will survive in the cut-throat 110cc commuter segment. The test on Honda Activa's 125cc entry also gives away a lot, but we bring it out again anyway and pit it against the flamboyant Vespa S, the swift Rodeo and the smooth Swish.
This time around, we went beyond the regular and indulged our whims with some quirky experiences – This is what urged us to take the KTM 390 Duke out on the track, and this just whetted our appetite for the forthcoming RC390. Further, just for fun, we took a Continental GT and a Zuma 250 out on a 2700km tour with the Duke and came back unscathed. We couldn't quite say the same for driving across the scorching desert with the Dakar-winning, dust kicking monster of an X-Raid Mini All4. Bhutan got a right royal visit from Enfield owners, with our OD correspondent joining in, yet again, on a Continental GT. Our metal lust was a little hard to contain as we took in those classic and vintage makes at the Classic Remise in Berlin.
The change also sweeps over the motorsport arena, with a whole island in Kerala dedicated to motocross and Vijay Mallya's team Sahara Force India taking podium – all this and more in the June 2014 issue. We are not giving away any spoilers right here so you can hold your breath until you get your hands on the copy.