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| There is not a sassier rear in the world. Pity then that you'll mostly see the front in your rear view mirror after passing it. |
INDIA’S first “super car” has caused quite a stir in South Africa, molsty among BMW M5 drivers. They dismiss the edgy-looking Avanti as a backyard job.
Unveiled by Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan at the New Delhi Auto Show recently, its builder DC Design hopes the Avanti will take the company from its add-on-more-bling roots to a maker of properly fast cars.
DC Design announced at the show last month that initially, it wants to build 200 cars a year. The advice from Durban’s fast boys and Pietermaritzburg’s spinning crows can be summarised as: “Come win a few races first, DC.”
The specs of the Avanti fall very short of supercar standards. DC Design expect the Avanti to do the 0-100 km/h dash in under seven seconds.
That is about twice too long. Mostly because the first models will be powered by a 265 hp, four-cylinder
turbo petrol engine from Ford, and later a 400 hp turbo V6 Honda engine. Both engines transfer power to the rear wheels with a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission.
turbo petrol engine from Ford, and later a 400 hp turbo V6 Honda engine. Both engines transfer power to the rear wheels with a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission.
The engines are tuned in the U.K. and will be shipped to India in crates where they will be installed in the cars. Much like the engines, most of the other components that go into the cars will also be imported into the country. However, the aluminium body and interiors panels are manufactured at DC’s Talegaon plant in Pune. The first showroom will be launched in Hyderabad.
At least DC Design has taken its dream a lot further than the Barnard, South Africa’s earnest but seemingly fruitless attempt to build a proper supercar. — WR.
