WE TOOK A HONDA WR-V TO THE OTHER SIDE IN BHUTAN. AND HAVE ONE THING TO SAY. WHAT A COUNTRY
Sorry guys. I apologise for leaving an hour early, as something’s come up. I will leave you with this one goodbye song and join you all tomorrow. For sure. Enjoy.”
This might seem like a guy leaving a party or maybe even work early. It is. Sort of. It’s the Radio Jockey of Bhutan’s 107 Mhz station leaving at 1:30pm instead of 2:30pm. It might be a doctor’s appointment, or a lunch date. This about sets the tone for things to come in Bhutan with Honda’s WR-V. Why Bhutan?
The reason is simple. Why not? Honda had organised what they call the Drive to Discover. And you do what the title says. Drive to discover. Why the WR-V? I had the entire line-up of Honda cars. From the Amaze to the CR-V and even the Accord Hybrid. But if you aren’t sure of how things are going to be and where you are headed, a diesel six-speed manual with compact dimensions, enough space in the boot and rear seat, some body cladding and ground clearance to tackle loose gravel below and around the car wouldn’t be too much to ask.
What would be too much to ask is for Google Maps to show the actual directions to Phuntsholing – the town right at the border – rather than just a preview of the route. Apparently, Google Maps does not show precise directions in border areas lest someone enters the border by error and blames the navigation software. However, the road from Bagdogra, up to Jaigaon – about 160km – will take you to Bhutan Gate in Phuntsholing. And once you enter this gate, the difference is stark. From chaos, vehicles coming at you from all around, filth, seeping sewage, you enter a bastion of peace, discipline and cleanliness that’s separated by a mere line on a map. It’s like ten metres away lies an entirely different world – Bhutan – a land of more than 64 percent forests, and more importantly, no traffic signals.
Bu hikaye BBC TopGear India dergisinin November 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye BBC TopGear India dergisinin November 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
MG COMET
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THOUGHT THIS CAR TO BE COMPLETELY useless when it came out.
BMW i7
WHEN THE i7 PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND PARKED ITSELF next to the Mercedes EQA and the MG Comet, it just struck me that this is how the future will be.
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
McLaren's finest faces off Corvette's nat-asp swansong as the Brits and the Americans square up... in a Spanish playground. Expect fireworks
NEXT LEVEL
Thought the 750S was fast? The McLaren P1's successor - the W1 is ready to spread its wings
MANUAL LABOUR
Two cars from opposite ends of the performance spectrum with one crucial thing in common...
PRO VS SLOW
At last, we have our hands on the Valkyrie. But is its performance only accessible for the pros... or can anyone enjoy it?
THE OUTBURST OF OFFROADING
The high-volume market is a point of interest for all manufacturers here in India.
THE BATTLE OF CRUISER-COMMUTERS
WHO DOES THE BEST COMMUTER WORK WHILE NOT BEING A TRUE COMMUTER MOTORCYCLE?
LEAVING EVERYTHING ON THE TRACK
FT. YMRP ROUND 3 From being second, I DNF'd from the race on the last corner
BEHIND THE BARS,
THE DIFFERENT KIND