Bajaj QUTE
BBC TopGear India|April 2019

We Say: Bajaj Testing Waters With This Quadricycle That Looks Like A Car

Girish Karkera
Bajaj QUTE

The term quadricycle may not evoke much interest for most Indians. But what we see here is a potential last-mile connectivity solution for urban India, with its congested and mostly ill-planned townships. Bajaj, a name synonymous with the three-wheeled autorickshaw, sees this vehicle as a natural progression for itself. Qute, in absolute terms, is a fourwheeled autorickshaw. What that means is it has similar shortcomings but offers better stability and protection from the elements (mostly, rain).

While Bajaj vehemently denies it, you can almost connect the birth of the Qute to the ambitious small car/vehicle project that Bajaj was to do with Renault. While the French wanted a Nano-rival, Bajaj soon figured that they could and would, at best, make what is a step below a fullfledged car – a quadricycle. Seemed logical too given its extensive history with the three-wheeled variety. A lot has changed and the Qute may not be quite connected in design or architecture to the concept shown at the Delhi Auto Expo in 2012 but it remains what its maker wanted it to be even at that time – not a car, but a quadricycle.

If you compare this to say, a Bajaj RE, there is not much in terms of mechanicals that have been borrowed. The chassis – being four-wheeled, compared to three – is different. The metallic body gets fibreglass doors and bonnet, in a bid to keep the weight down. The engine sits at the rear and gets 12-inch wheels. There are alloy wheels for the petrol version. Fancy?

Denne historien er fra April 2019-utgaven av BBC TopGear India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra April 2019-utgaven av BBC TopGear India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA BBC TOPGEAR INDIASe alt
Does It Fly?
BBC TopGear India

Does It Fly?

2024 TVS APACHE RR 310 ₹2.75 Lakh - ₹2.97 Lakh (ex-showroom)

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
Is It A Scooter? Is It A Bike? No! It Is The BMW CE 02
BBC TopGear India

Is It A Scooter? Is It A Bike? No! It Is The BMW CE 02

It is rare when you come across a moment where a company brings out a vehicle into the market without knowing who exactly they want to sell it to.

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
Aston Martin Valkyrie
BBC TopGear India

Aston Martin Valkyrie

The Aston Martin Valkyrie still looks like nothing else on four wheels. Probably because it isn’t.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
ONE-MAN BAND
BBC TopGear India

ONE-MAN BAND

We are a cynical bunch of people as we try our best to narrow down our vision and focus on the things that are lacking.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
CRISIS AVERTED! THE EXISTENTIAL KIND
BBC TopGear India

CRISIS AVERTED! THE EXISTENTIAL KIND

Finally, the Yezdi Adventure won’t be suffering from an existential crisis anymore.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
ROYAL ENFIELD HIMALAYAN
BBC TopGear India

ROYAL ENFIELD HIMALAYAN

ALTHOUGH IT IS A PERENNIAL ORDEAL FOR ANY MOTORCYCLIST to feel sad while parting ways with a motorcycle, it became even sadder for me this time around.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
TVS APACHE RTR 310
BBC TopGear India

TVS APACHE RTR 310

THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS - “IT IS A MENACE ON WHEELS”.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
ACE OF BASE
BBC TopGear India

ACE OF BASE

What happens when you take Porsche's old school entry level model and give it a very not entry level upgrade? This is a 914 as you've never seen it before

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2024
MOMS KNOW BEST
BBC TopGear India

MOMS KNOW BEST

Volvo's XC90 was the stereotypical Soccer Mom car. So how will the all-electric EX90 be received among the soccer pitches of Orange County?

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
THE THEORYOF EVOLUTION
BBC TopGear India

THE THEORYOF EVOLUTION

Ridged bladder seats, an inflating steering wheel and an AI track day coach... has Lotus hit on the supercar’s future, or gone mad’?

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024