Bollywood stars and their cars

Amitabh Bachchan:

The Big B as he is fondly addressed by his fans has a very big car collection too. The pride and joy of Amitabh Bachchan's car collection has to be the Rolls-Royce Phantom luxobarge regarded as the best luxury car on sale globally. Other cars in the Bachchan stable including Abhishek Bachchan's collection includes a Bentley Continental GT, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8, Toyota Landcruiser, Porsche Cayman S, Range Rover and many more. He also recently purchased the hot hatchback Mini Cooper S. Senior Bachchan's dream car is the Lamborghini LM002 which is the only SUV to be ever built by the Italian car manufacturer and was powered by a thoroughbred V-12 motor sourced from the Lamborghini Countach. According to reports Amitabh Bachchan owns the LM002 in London but there isn't any confirmation of the above. The Bachchan's also owned a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 supercar but it was sold off within months of acquiring it.

Sanjay Dutt:

Sanjay Dutt used to own an enviable collection of cars before he went behind the bars. Baba as he is popularly known by Bollywood celebrities was the first Indian to won the Ferrari 599GTB a two-seater grand tourer powered by a 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V-12 motor pushing out 620PS with a top speed of 330kmph. He also owned the Audi R8 supercar, Audi A8 W12 luxury sedan and the Rolls-Royce Ghost along with the Audi Q7 which was his daily drive. He also had a penchant for motorcycles and owned a Harley-Davidson Fatboy and the Ducati Multistrada that was gifted to him by Shahrukh Khan.

Salman Khan:

The most popular star has a huge collection of cars from sedans to SUV's and many more. The most expensive car in his stable has to be the Audi RS7 which was gifted to the actor recently and is powered by a twin turbocharged V-8 motor pumping out 560PS making it among the most powerful production sedan cars in the world. Other cars owned by Salman Khan include a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes-Benz GL 350CDi, BMW 7-Series, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Renault Koleos. Salman is also the brand ambassador for Suzuki India and owns the Intruder, Hayabusa, GSXR-1000 and Hayabusa superbikes.

Aamir Khan:

The perfectionist as he is called has a very good taste when it comes to cars. Aamir Khan seems to have an affinity for luxury cars as he is the proud owners of a Bentley Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce Ghost which are considered among the best luxury sedans on sale globally. Due to the threats he received, Aamir Khan also recently acquired a Mercedes-Benz S Guard. He was an erstwhile brand ambassador for Toyota India and was regularly spotted driven around in a Toyota Innova and Landcruiser before stepping up the car chart.

Shahrukh Khan:

Shahrukh Khan has a soft spot for BMW as he has owned various generations of the 7-Series luxury car in the past two decades. Other BMW cars owned by the "Badshah" of Bollywood include the BMW 6-Series convertible, 5-Series and X3 SUV. It is also reported that Shahrukh Khan has a Rolls-Royce at his Delhi residence. Recently Shahrukh Khan seemed to have shifted from BMW to Mercedes-Benz as he recently acquired two Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury sedans and a GL-Class SUV. He is also the brand ambassador for Hyundai India.

Ranbir Kapoor:

Ranbir Kapoor started his car career with a bang as the first car he brought when his movie released was a gleaming red Audi R8 supercar. Ranbir Kapoor had a soft spot for the car and he was seen at every Bollywood parties making a grand entry in the R8. But it seemed that the Audi R8 attracted too much eyeballs so the junior Kapoor replaced it with the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG which is a hot favourite among Hollywood celebrities. Other cars in his garage include the Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Range Rover. He replaced the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG with the G63 AMG and had said in an interview that his dream car is a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG now that the production for the gullwinged supercar has seized maybe his eyes are on the new Mercedes-Benz AMG GT which is soon to be launched in India.

John Abraham:

The biker boy of Bollywood has a soft spot for two-wheels and has owned an envious collection of superbikes from the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R to the Suzuki Hayabusa and a few Yamaha RD350's. John Abraham is currently the brand ambassador for Yamaha India and owns the VMAX and R1 superbikes along with the Aprilia RSV4. The jewel of John Abraham's car collection is the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 finished in a shade of stealthy black. Other cars in his collection include the Audi Q7 and a tuned Maruti Gypsy among others.

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Tata Nano GenX AMT Review

Tata Motors has really matured as a car maker. Just look at the Zest compact sedan or the new Bolt hatchback. These are cars that one would buy not because these were more affordable than the competition or because of some jingoistic sentiment... One would buy them for the design, the improvement in fit and finish, the usable space, the plethora of equipment, and quality. Yes, quality. Now I am not saying that the Zest or the Bolt are benchmarks in these aspects, but these can certainly hold their own in the face of some stiff and well established competition.

And I am hoping some of the learnings from these new cars would have rubbed off on the new version of Tata's smallest, most affordable and to an extent, infamous, 'car for the masses' - the Nano.

The Nano needs no introduction. Launched in 2009, it was a brilliant piece of engineering. Packing so much interior volume with such little on-the-road footprint. It was also affordable, efficient and hardy. But, thanks to poor positioning, not to mention lack of basic car related features and some recall issues, it never took off the way the whole world predicted it would. Now, with what Tata Motors calls the GenX Nano, at least Tata believes, it has a winner. But, is it?

Exterior Design / Style: rating_3.0_rating

First the design. And the Nano is without doubt a cute little small car. More so in this form wherein it gets a new front bumper and lower grille, revised and smoked head lamps and nice looking gloss black garnish on the hood. At the rear, again, the bumper has changed and it looks more current and palatable. Plus, the exhaust have moved to the left which was centrally located earlier. But, of course, the biggest change, is the rear opening hatch.

To keep the structural integrity intact, Tata Motors has strengthened the C-pillar area and revised the roof. With that cleared, let's look at convenience. There's a handle to help lift the hatch but to open it, one needs a key. Once opened, there's 94 litres of boot space; that's for the AMT version. The manual versions get a little over 100 litres thanks to a flatter engine cover. And what can this small boot hold? A couple of carry-on bags, some grocery and possibly a Chihuahua.

Interior andamp; Space: rating_3.5_rating

Inside, compared to the original Nano (and not the Twist, mind), it's a sea change here. The dash is lighter coloured, there are a couple of usable gloveboxes and there's also place to throw in a small bottle. But these changes appeared on the Nano Twist. For GenX Nano, there's a new steering wheel that's nice to hold and twirl; chrome outline for the AC vents and new instrumentation. Must say all these additions don't only help lift the image of the car, these are handy too.

Additionally, seats and door inserts get new fabric and overall there's more plastic all around instead of the interiors looking bare basic. In terms of equipment, the top of the line XT versions get front power windows, Bluetooth telephony, and a rear parcel tray with speakers integrated.

Space, meanwhile, has never been an issue with the Nano; in fact, it was one of the car's biggest USPs. And that continues on the GenX Nano too There's enough leg and knee room in the front and rear, respectively, and the shoulder room, though not great, won't have you nudging your co-passenger uncomfortably. Head room, of course, given the height of the car, is outstanding.

Ride andamp; Ease of Driving: rating_3.5_rating

What hasn't changed on Tata Motors' the GenX Nano is the seating position. Now, neither the seat nor the steering adjust for height, so you have this high seating with a relatively low steering position. It isn't ideal or exactly very comfortable. The visibility as before is a bit of a problem from the A-pillar but otherwise, all round, the visibility for a city car is fine.

You also have this really light power steering now which is acceptably quick and thanks to the automated manual transmission or AMT - which is a manual gearbox that uses hydraulic actuators to operate both the clutch and shift gears so that the driver doesn't have to - makes the new Nano a breeze to live with. Since there's no constant clutching-de-clutching required, it is effortless to pilot around the city, particularly in bumper-to-bumper peak hour traffic. And then its small dimensions mean, you can plug gaps in traffic, find parking even in the busiest of markets, and never worry about hanging U-turns; the Nano almost turns on a dime.

Ride for a car its size and weight is impressive too. We put it through potholes, big and small; drove over speed breakers at a fairly quick clip; and roughed it out a bit on undulating paver blocks, and apart from the rear shifting a bit, it was all good. No rude shocks, not much noise, and no real thuds either.

Engine andamp; performance : rating_2.5_rating

The engine is the same - two cylinder, 624cc with 38PS on tap. So expectedly, the Nano isn't fast. This engine now comes mated to a 5-speed AMT as an option while the manual version continues to get a 4-speed gearbox. Given the Nano has limited top end performance, we expected Tata Motors to have closed the ratios between each gear for the 5-speeder in order to better use the already small amount of torque.

Sadly, that's not the case and the AMT when left in full auto mode feels lethargic and unwilling to get a move on. The progress is slow and almost bothersome, especially when it comes to overtakes. Moreover, the AMT has significant lag between shifts and even in Sport mode (yes, the Nano now gets a multi drive mode) the progress isn't exactly exciting. We eventually ended up driving the GenX Nano in manual mode since it gave us better control over shifts and didn't leave us in too high a gear to battle slow kickdowns.

What the Nano needs now is a significant engine upgrade. The engine needn't be much larger, but it must have a high and flat torque curve and it must be high on refinement.

Price andamp; fuel efficiency: rating_4.0_rating

If there's one thing this engine can deliver on, it's fuel efficiency. The ARAI certified figure for the new AMT Nano is over 20kmpl. But what's surprising is that this, the AMT version, returns lower fuel economy than the manual even though the latter is a 4-speed unit, and this a 5-speeder. Tata Motors says, it could have gone for a higher ARAI figure, but it chose to settle for a lower figure, as this will be closer to what customers will get in the real world. As for pricing, the GenX Nano is expected to cost under Rs 3 lakh even for this top of the line XTA version, which is good pricing, no doubt.

Verdict: rating_3.0_rating

The Nano to me isn't a car for all seasons. And by seasons I don't mean summer, winter or rain, because on those counts the Nano works well and will keep you protected. What I mean is, it fails to deliver on a lot of things a car should. For instance, if I wanted a car for the city, the Nano works brilliantly, especially with the AMT and the light to use power steering and not to mention the compact size.

But, would I buy it if I was looking for a fun to drive car? No. Would I consider it if I wanted something to go up and down a hill and have a good laugh? No. And I wouldn't even consider it if I had to take a trip down to Chennai from Mumbai. Things I could certainly consider doing with its immediate competition.

So, who should buy the new Tata Nano then? If you are a first time car buyer who is going to use the car mainly in the city, the GenX Nano AMT is a good buy. It also works well for those looking at it as a second car in the household, you know for your college going kids or the wife to do the daily runaround.... The new Nano then is much improved, no doubt, but it still has some distance to go before it can become the default choice in the entry-level hatchback segment.

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When bollywood celebs pamper their wives with luxury cars

Picture Courtsey: iDiva

Shah Rukh Khan:

Shah Rukh Khan is known to shower his wife with lavish gifts from time to time. Last year, SRK gifted his wife Gauri a bullet-proof car on her 44th birthday after the superstar allegedly got threat calls from the underworld. Apart from this bullet-proof car, Gauri also reportedly owns a BMW 6-Series. According to reports, Gauri loves to drive cars and has been seen driving around in Bandra. Reports suggest, SRK is also very fond of cars and allegedly owns a BMW 7-Series, a 6-Series, a BMW convertible, an Audi Q6, a Bentley Continental GT, a Mitsubishi Pajero SUV, and a Rolls Royce Phantom.

Ajay Devgn:

Picture Courtsey: iDiva

Kajol is reportedly fond of cars, and Ajay Devgn has allegedly gifted his lady love not one but two cars. Reports suggest, Ajay had gifted Kajol an Audi Q7 on her birthday in 2009, while the first was car was a swanky Mercedes, which he gifted her on the birth of their daughter Nysa.

Akshay Kumar:

Picture Courtsey: Luxpresso

Akshay Kumar is another popular star who marked his wife Twinkle's birthday by presenting her an expensive gift. In 2008, Akshay Kumar surprised his wife with a Bentley Continental Spur which was worth Rs Three crore. The star wife was reportedly quite overwhelmed by the birthday gift.

Sanjay Dutt:

Picture Courtsey: India Everyday

Doting husband, Sanjay Dutt, gifted his wife, Maanyata, a Rolls-Royce Ghost on the birth of their twins Shahraan and Iqra in 2010. The car was reportedly worth Rs 3.8 crore , and was a stunning gift for the mommy dear.

Aamir Khan:

Picture Courtsey: Luxpresso

To celebrate the success of his wife's debut film Dhobi Ghat (2011), Aamir Khan bought his better-half, Kiran Rao, a luxurious BMW 5-Series.

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Five precautions women should take while driving late night

Ensure your vehicle is locked at all times:

Whether it is the same road that you drive down home every day from work, or it is a different route that you take after meeting up a friend at a social, make sure that you keep your car doors locked at all times. Do not keep your windows rolled down as well. Even if you roll down your window for any reason, ensure that you roll them down only by a few centimetres and not completely.

Use your presence of mind:

While you drive, some freak may try to distract you in an attempt to grab your attention. If such a situation ever arises don't lose your cool. Instead of getting into an altercation with that person, head straight to the nearby police station. Let the cops deal with the situation.

Ensure your mobile phone is charged:

Make sure your cell phone is fully charged, and you put a call to your near ones before you leave work. By this, they become aware of the time you left and also remain alert till the time you reach home safe. Keep your emergency contacts on speed dial. If you feel some danger lurking make sure you put a call to the one who can reach you fast. In case the possibility of getting help immediately is bleak, drive to a nearby police station. Don't fret and make sure you remain calm. Remember, you can solve several problems by staying calm, rather than panicking.

Keep your GPS on:

Turn your GPS on so that your location can be tracked. There are several apps available online for free that work in sync with your GPS and reveal your exact location to your family and friends even with the press of a button or by simply shaking your device. These apps are compatible with most of the smartphones. There are several apps that even click pictures and record audio/video and send them to your emergency contacts.

Be alert at parking lots:

Parking areas of your office and even your apartment are a haven for anti-social elements. Be alert before entering or leaving a parking lot. Keep a pepper spray handy. When sprayed into the face of an attacker, pepper spray is extremely irritating to the skin, eyes, mouth, throat and lungs. Its effect is immediate and powerful, and it can distract a person long enough for you to escape.

All pics used for representation only

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