There was an Amazon Echo Dot lying on the cabinet in my hotel room in Goa, when I checked in for the A-Class seda… sorry, limousine drive. It was plugged in — as if a previous occupant had done so — which made both me and the attendant who had brought me to my room wonder if I was in the right one. Puzzled, he left and promised to find out what was going on. I stood around and wondered whether to immediately leave the room (because COVID) or to investigate the Dot (because curiosity); the latter urge won.
It turned out that I was indeed in my assigned room, because next to the Dot was a card with a number of questions I could ask Alexa about the new A-Class, questions such as where my car was, what its fuel situation was, where I could find coffee shops (Alexa rather unhelpfully suggested several in Mumbai) and sundry others. I was suitably amused, and also struck by the fact that you can never seem to escape some kind of connected technology these days. You couldn’t call me a vocal proponent of it — I prefer to get in a car and just drive — but I do realise that buyers of today, especially younger ones, consider it an essential feature, surgically attached as they are to their smartphones.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
ELECTRIC VANILLA
It has everything that makes a regular EV, but does it stand out amongst everything out there?
HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE!
Just about everything you want in a rider-friendly dirtbike, now in a street-legal avatar!
THREE'S A CROWD?
The third 125cc bike in the Pulsar lineup the N125 will disagree
CARNIVAL CRUISE
The Carnival is back in town, and it's looking to make a statement. Let's see if the higher price tag brings added value and luxur
CLASSICAL ROMANCE
Much more of the same cannot be a bad thing... right? Right?
ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS
The new E-Class betters what it's always been good at being an office on wheels
MPV OR MVP?
An electric rival to the Innova? Or does it redefine the segment?
PAW PATROL
Experience the charm of open-air cruising with the sleek new Mercedes-Benz CLE
SLIDE WHIPS
Want to burn rubber and make doughnuts? Here's the recipe!
AN ORANGE SURPRISE
This Basanti will dance, jump, and sing through a titanium exhaust, just for you