Test Drive, Good Old, Good Old, Health Notes, FAQs About The Prostate.

(From Business Today (India))

Byline: KM, Muscle Mani, Ananya Roy

TEST DRIVE

Shrimp And (Giant) Squid

In the space of a week, this writer drove the most expensive and the most inexpensive offerings from the country's largest carmaker. One costs a bit more than Rs 2,00,000, the other is nine times as expensive. One has no fancy gizmos, the other looks as if it were designed by someone at George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic (OK, not quite, but close enough).

First, the new-look, tuned up Grand Vitara xl-7. This is a rich man's toy, and fun is an extremely weak adjective to describe it. On the road, it chews up the tarmac with consummate ease, maxing the speedo out at a tad below 200 KPH. Off the road, it is a stone grinder, sliding about when you switch the four-wheel option off, but coming pretty close to a rally car when you do switch it on and take it into a power slide. This baby rocks.

The first version of the Vitara suffered from dowdy looks; the new one looks suspiciously like the Honda CR-V, but is better equipped. A glitzy Kenwood CD/cassette system decorates the middle of the faux wood dash. The seats are leather, and those unlucky enough to sit at the rear can relax with the dual-AC cooling their heads off. Be warned! In the hands of a slightly excitable driver, back-seat riders might just lose their last meal. And wannabe owners should be prepared for a severe hit on their wallets as this thing drinks petrol as if there were no tomorrow.