Cars in Japan are known, simply, as cars. It's like how the Chinese refer to their lunch. It's just rice mixed with whatever animal isn't required to show up that morning at the state-funded chemistry lab. There's no Chinese lunch in China and there aren't any JDM cars in Japan. To them, they're simply lunch and cars. It could be alleged, therefore, that there's an entire breed of enthusiast cars that hasn't received its due nametag and the western patronisation that typically follows the IDM scene. That's short for Indian Domestic Market, for those of you who couldn't figure. Welcome to something you've been a part of all your life.
Think about it. It's quite an illustrious list, even if you look at just the last couple of decades. The Ford Ikon 1.6 SXi, Maruti Suzuki Zen, Mitsubishi Lancer, Honda City... okay, so most of these are hand-me-downs from elsewhere in the world but it's in India that they found an identity and celebration.
The first-gen Honda City made in 1981 was, for instance, so ghastly, Honda had to stuff a free scooter into its boot just so someone would buy it. Look up 'Motocompo' on the web. In India, though, there's hardly a more coveted name than the City, as unimaginative a nameplate as it may be. A little better on imaginative nomenclature is the Alto. A musical range lower than a soprano and higher than a tenor. Yes, sure.
Mash the accelerator pedal into the flimsy carpeting behind it and some form of high-perched musical note does emerge from its footwell.
The Maruti Suzuki Alto is a fast car. It may be the slowest car in this issue (Karl's VW doesn't count, okay?) but it's among the most fun.
You need to have spent long enough behind the wheel of a featherweight, front-engined, front-wheel-drive car to know what kind of dramatics it holds the ability to perform. Wait, we're in India in 2024 - we've all spent long enough in that kind of car!
Esta historia es de la edición January 2024 de Motoring World.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 2024 de Motoring World.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
DESTINI REWRITTEN
With a pretty major design overhaul, has the Hero Destini 125 found a new footing altogether?
OLDIE'S GOLD?
History makes yet another comeback with the BSA Gold Star 650. Is it what you were hoping for?
THE HIGH OF THE TIGER
Triumph's big cat is in its most ferocious avatar yet
LAUGHTER HOURS
This! This is the greatest single of all time!
BULL'S EYE?
Audi's new flagship SUV — or a budget Lamborghini Urus?
DARK HORSE
The Alcazar is now available in a new avatar, and the multi-faceted SUV deserves more attention than it got in the past
CURVV-BALL!
Tata's new mass-market SUV coupe may have more than a few tricks up its sleeve
GIVEN A RAISE
The EQS SUV looks like an EQS sedan on stilts but it offers a lot more than that
FOR MUCK'S SAKE!
No scooters, commuters or old bikes... this year's Pune Off-road Expedition was serious work
ALL THE WAY UP!
Exploring the vast landscape of Ladakh with Renault India's lineup - why would we say no?!