Should I buy the 1.4-litre diesel or the 1.6-litre petrol version of the Hyundai Creta? I cover approximately 800-1000km a month. Ride handling, mileage and maintenance are crucial details.
Mannoj Rajpall, via email
AAA Go for the 1.4 diesel which is quite punchy and refined. The 1.6 petrol may make more power and is much quicker, but for everyday driving the diesel is adequate. You also get the added benefit of lower running costs.
The GLE could be driven as the ‘crow’ or rather plane flies.
Straight roads and clear skies allow us to eke the most out of these big toys for big boys.
The GLE displaces sand by the tractor load as we corner around desert shrubs.
The three-pointed star shines bright in the wilderness.
Splendour among ruins: The GLE 450 AMG Coupe rests by the remnants of what was once a grand palace.
A bird’s eye view of what we do.
The uncluttered tail announces the car’s credentials.
Harrier: A slow forward flight motion, the harrier involves positioning the nose high at about 45 degrees. This is executed by constantly balancing the throttle and the lift against headwinds.
Prop-hang: One of the toughest aerobatic manoeuvres to pull off. The pilot balances the throttle against gravity to suspend the airplane mid-air, vertically – it is almost like flying the airplane like a helicopter, with the propeller serving as the blades.
Knife-edge: Involves flying the airplane on its side with its body perpendicular to the ground. The difficulty with this manoeuvre lies in the tendency of the airplane to turn when banked on its side and in losing altitude.
Inverted flight: The pilot rolls the plane around so that it is flying inverted. Essentially, everything is reversed, making this manoeuvre much harder than it seems to be. It gets more complicated the closer the airplane is taken to the ground.
The young pilot flies his plane from the car’s cockpit.
The wooden propeller is carefully screwed on to the engine before every flight with a dozen screws.
The balsa-wood body of the airplane holds several servos, a gyroscope, the fuel tank and batteries.
The complex remote control has multi-directional joysticks, kill switches and a tidy display.
Lights, camera and action: Neeraj, our director of photography, with the Arri Alexa film camera.
Behind the scenes: Our video team hard at work.
The walls of this church in Dhanushkodi still stand, 52 years after the rest of it was ravaged by a cyclone.
Ethanol blended fuels are fast emerging as an alternative to pure petrol. ARAI is conducting tests with some Maruti Suzuki cars including the Swift.
A WagonR, part of Maruti's six CNG models, gets a dose of gas at a fuel station in Mumbai. The hatchback delivers fuel efficiency of 26.6km/kg.
“To race is to live; all the rest is just waiting.” We take Silver Arrow racer Rudolf Caracciola’s advice seriously and run an impromptu drag.
AMG says it is an engine maker first, and we seem to have some of the best on sale here. Three individual engines and one variant power the cars sold in India. The range starts off with the record-breaking 2000cc turbo four, known as the M133. It powers the CLA 45 (red) and GLA 45. The M157 5.5-litr
Mercedes-AMG C63S.
Small car, big engine, always a recipe for success.
Aero plays a big role in adding stability today.
Mercedes-AMG CLA45.
CLA’s chin is too low for our conditions.
2.0-litre turbo engine makes 355bhp.
Mercedes-AMG E63.
Seats can be set for a tight embrace; a nice touch.
Essential config buttons are always on hand here.
Mercedes-AMG G63.
Stub side exhausts help deepen the growl further.
The LED strip is the only new bit here.
Mercedes-AMG GL63.
The AMG experience, uniquely enjoyed seven up.
Adjustable dampers essential for sport mode.
Mercedes-AMG GLA45.
One-piece race car-inspired seats look cool.
Splitter helps give SUV look.
Mercedes-AMG GT S.
Launch control allows you to rocket to 100 in just 3.82sec.
The GT S bends the laws of physics for sure.
Mercedes-AMG S63.
AMG pipes hint at what’s under the hood.
An AMG you don’t mind being chauffeured in.
Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe.
The seats are well put together and very comfy too.
Dynamic Curve helps the car lean into a corner.
Mercedes-AMG SLK55.
5.5 litres of V8 muscle help raise SLK game.
