Mahindra XUV 500 is Back With a Face Lift

 

XUV 500 gets a makeover to compete with Jeep Compass

Image Source - by author, Madan G Singh

I was among the first to own a Mahindra XUV 500 the flagship vehicle of Mahindra Motors. This vehicle comes in 5 variants and I bought the W-10 which is the top variant with a sunroof. It was the top model in its class and cost about Rs 20 Lakh. At that time and for the next two years this SUV held its own as the number one vehicle in its class on Indian roads. The vehicle was a little short on power as it generated 140 BHP with a 2299cc M-Hawk engine developed in-house by Mahindra. Patrons overlooked this and the vehicle is a familiar sight on Indian roads.

At that time there was no automatic transmission which was introduced later. Within limits, it was a good vehicle but things changed with the advent of the Jeep in India.

The new XUV has been made sleeker, with a better console and grill.  It is also having a 4X4 model and automatic transmission. The car is good but again it's difficult to match a cult vehicle like the Jeep. Mahindra is advertising the new model on TV and the press and one will have to see how much it will carry conviction in the light of the new SUVs launched.

My Review of the Mustang

 
I have a Mustang. Its a convertible model and the roof can be pulled back for an exhilarating drive. Mind you at anything above 150 MPH with the roof pulled down can be like Adrenalin in the blood. The Mustang has been christened as the original " Muscle Car" by auto enthusiasts. This is because of the immense power it packs under the hood. It is available in two engine specifications namely the V-6 and V-8 which means 6 and 8 cylinders. The V-8 has an output of 396 HP and a top speed of 200 MPH. I have personally driven the Mustang at 180 MPH and the car just breezed away without the trace of a ripple.

The car comes both as a convertible and a coupe and has only two doors. The model introduced in India is a coupe and the pleasure of driving with the roof pulled down cannot be savored. 

The Mustang is a low slung car and once you get in the driver's seat one will get the idea that you are hugging the road. This is inevitable, as its a racing car and the designers have designed it to keep the drag -coefficient low. The car has a six-speed automatic transmission that apart from a high BHP of over 300 and develops torque at 280@ 4000 RPM. The automatic transmission is a must for such a car so that the driver can concentrate on just handling the car and not worry about changing gears.

The car I own has 18-inch alloy wheels and manual AC. Frankly, if the hood is pulled up you don't need any air conditioning, as the wind whistles around your ear. The bucket seats are very comfortable and can seat 4 adults.  The car has a cruising speed of about 100MPH but sadly you can't run the car at that speed in India, except perhaps on the Pune-Panvel freeway. Maybe the Agra -Delhi freeway also. But you can still cruise around the city as it has an extremely powerful engine and the drive is effortless and will certainly make the eyes of the people turn, more so if you have an attractive passenger in the front with you. Lastly yes, the Mustang is an excellent advertisement for the owner to latch on to a good looking girl for company.

Imran Khan : The Lothario from Lahore is now Prime Minister of Pakistan

 

The Lothario who seduced innumerable women as well as led Pakistan cricket is now leading Pakistan.

 

The English dictionary has defined a Lothario as a man whose aim in life is to seduce women. Obviously, the name of the game is sex and Imran Khan certainly fits the title of the Lothario from Lahore. He was a  wonderful cricket player and he dominated the cricket world for over  2 decades. When he left cricket, he entered politics and formed the party Tehreek-e-Insaf political party. For two decades Imran Khan has been in politics, yet he  achieved nothing. But in the changed political circumstances with Nawaz  sidelined with not a little help from the army he has  become the prime minister of Pakistan.

Most of the opinion polls had been predicting that Imran's party will win the maximum number of seats in the Senate. This is so because the powerful political leader Nawaz Sharif had been sidelined and put in prison at the behest of the Army.

The army as we know in Pakistan call all the shots and General Zia ul Haq has the dubious distinction of having committed a judicial murder by hanging Zulfikar Ali Bhutto the erstwhile PM of Pakistan. His grandson Bilawal Bhutto is also not likely to win many seats and like Nawaz PML. The fact is the only party which could win ahead of these two is the party of Imran Khan. 

Imran Khan is made the right noises and in a  television interview when asked whether he was the support of the Pakistan army replied that he was not dependent on the support of the Pakistan army but the fact is that the army has a soft corner for Imran Khan and they have manipulated directions in such a way that this man become the prime minister of Pakistan.

Khan has led a colorful life. His second wife  published a book in which she has brought out many facts about Imran Khan and there are so many rumors that he had love affairs with many Bollywood actresses. Imran Khan fits the title of the lothario from Lahore. Imran is  not  a success but with Nawaz Sharif the main political force spending time in jail along with his daughter the army createda free field for him.

There is an old saying that a man who rides a tiger is eaten by the tiger. Imran may be feeling smug but this adage may well boomerang on him