Pimp My Ride! City may have New Owners of India`s First Indigenously Designed Developed and Derived sports car called the “DC AVANTI”. Take a Test Drive on this “Beast”, now going on at Hotel Taj Gateway Today and Tomorrow.
Mangaluru: Yes, we all know that quite a few cars lovers and owners in Mangaluru are driving around in the city in their posh cars like Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Hummer, Lexus etc- but pretty soon we could see a couple of India’s First Indigenously Designed Developed and Derived Sports Car called the “DC Avanti” on our streets. According to Ajay Rao Y-Manager –Marketing & Sales,DC Design Bangalore, the basic EX Showroom cost of the DC Avanti is Rs.44,15,000/- which adds on, based on the options you select and after that the on road price would be calculated. And yes, when I mean “Pimp My Ride” is that if you want to transform your Amby (Ambassador) and give it a Extreme Makeover to look like a Lamby (Lamborghini) or transform any other Indian model of cars into a different look, the folks at DC Design can do it. Let your dream car come into existence and make it look “Cool” on Mangaluru streets!
I only wish I had owned this car, because taking a ride on DC Avanti felt like I was out of this world. It simply zoomed through the crowded city streets, and on a clear highway road it can go 200 kmph. The car has a Body work of Carbon Fiber; Engine configuration -Turbo Charged I4; Valve Train-DOHC 16V; Fuel Delivery-Direct Injection; Power output-250 bhp: Manual Transmission;Turning Radius- (wheel base) 6 metres;Seating capacity-2; No. of Doors-2;Length-4550mm; Width-1965mm; Height-1200mm; Ground Clearance-170mm; Wheel base-2700mm; Has Air Conditioner and Power steering; Rear A/C- Vents No; Has Navigation system, Adjustable Seats, CD Player, CD changer, FM/AM Radio; Anti-lock braking system and Central locking ; Mileage-15 Kmpl
Call it “Made In India” or like the idea of PM Narendra “Make In India”, the man behind this concept and unique invention/design of DC Avanti is Dilip Chhabria. It takes a special kind of zeal to follow your vision, but it takes even more courage to close down a successful business to pursue a bigger dream. This journey began in 1983 when Dilip Chhabria returned to India after spending a year at General Motor’s Design Center in Detroit. Having studied Transportation Design from the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, his experience in the car mass-production business soon made him realize that his passion lay in developing and designing unique creations. He took the entrepreneurial plunge and started creating automotive accessories for the mass market.
They say passion breeds its own success and soon enough DC’s accessories became a favourite for automotive enthusiasts. Within a decade it became the largest accessory manufacturing outfit in the country. But this canvas wasn’t big enough for DC. From the start he knew that his goal was to design a whole car and not just some of its parts. Dilip Chhabria Design (DCD) was founded in 1993 with the dual aim of redesigning and modifying mass market cars to create one-of-a-kind automotive beauties for automotive connoisseurs as well as offering design and prototyping services to the OEM automotive sector. And a legend was born. DCD has produced more than 600 unique design cars; from supercars to a complete re-haul of the humble Ambassador. DCD has also provided design and prototyping services to the likes of Aston Martin, Renault and GM. Today DCD also designs and refurbishes aircraft interiors. DCD is now synonymous with bespoke luxury and avant-garde automotive design.
It is said that if you love what you do for a living then you will never see it as ‘just a job’. By that maxim Dilip Chhabria has possibly never ever worked a day in his life. For him the business of car design and modification is an amalgamation of his passion, hobby and work. In DC we see the marriage of an artist’s sensibilities and an engineer’s mind. He infuses each of his projects with an aesthetic awareness while simultaneously pushing the machine’s capabilities to a new level. Every DC creation is a signature extension of the artist’s personality and while never two of his products are the same, they are instantly recognizable as having made by the same master.
DC is also an accomplished painter and sculptor. The DC Art Gallery at Atria Mall, Worli showcases his work which has been executed in a variety of mediums from oil to acrylic. For the propagation of his unique thinking and approach to automotive design DC has partnered with the D Y Patil Group to start DYPDC Center for Automotive Research and Studies which will nurture the next generation of Indian automotive designers. Behind every successful business is a person whose passion and vision drives every facet of the organization. DC has become the authority in automotive design in India by single mindedly following his passion.
The cutting-edge of automotive design. Created every two years, DCD’s concept cars redefine the status-quo. These are limited edition collections priced by a few who won’t settle for just ultra-premium. This is what every car wants to grow up to be. DCD has custom interior and exterior variations available for Toyota Innova and Fortuner. There are also exterior body kits for Swift, i20, City and the Tata Nano. These modifications include luxury interiors, attractive exteriors and a whole host of technology options. That little DC logo on your car will mean that you are a part of an exclusive club that appreciates refined taste and do not settle for ordinary.
A unique, one-of-a-kind creation. A DCD masterpiece. A commitment to perfection in the chosen field. Only masters of artistry and craftsmanship can cater to such demanding requirements and fit them in a vehicle without compromising it. For example, creating a mobile office that caters to a company which likes to work on the move! Conceptualized and created to your exact specifications. An extension of your personality. Work closely with the DCD team to create a unique automotive that has been crafted especially for you, like a bespoke Italian suit. For those few whose luxury lives and breathes with them, DCD’s interior design brings sophistication and opulence to your home. Each creation is equipped with the latest technology and is the final word in comfort.
To know more about DC Avanti- It is a sports car produced by DC Design, an Indian design firm headed by Dilip Chhabria. Its name was based on the Studebaker Avanti. It was unveiled at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi .The Avanti is powered by 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo charged petrol engine producing 250 bhp with a six-speed manual transmission. The car body is reinforced with carbon fiber on both the interior and exterior, to create a strong, yet lightweight vehicle. The interior was designed primarily with leather which is used primarily on the doors, dashboard and seats. The instrument cluster,steering wheel, and AC are all included in basic units. The car is available in red, white, silver, blue, orange, grey or yellow, with black stripes, and also in Black, which is in Mangaluru for those who want to test drive it.This car is priced between 34 to 43 lakh rupees in India. As of March 2016 this equates to approximately $73,000 USD to $91,600 USD.
The headlamps are bi-xenon units with LED DRLS shaped like eyebrows. Foils are added at the back to boost air intake to complement a single air vent located on top. The vehicle also has a long low bonnet that dips in the middle to emphasize the DC logo. The car has all-wheel disc brakes and 20″ alloy wheels. It is powered by a 2-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged, petrol EURO-4 compliant engine, sourced from Renault. This is mated to a six-speed, dual clutch transmission, and drives the rear wheels.
If you are MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” fan, you already know what I am talking about. It’s my take on the memes that gained popularity after Xzibit’s similar sentences on the closure of Pimp My Ride episodes. This tingling sensation of getting your car dressed by a celebrity, Xzibit was indeed a hit in 2009 and a fad for a regular teenage American Youth. If you don’t know what I mean, I am talking one of MTV’s most popular shows, ‘Pimp My Ride’, which used to customize a car for someone absolutely free. The format goes like this: A car lover shows off his car and persuades the Pimp My Ride team to transform his/her car, the presenter or host (usually Xzibit) goes to the car owner’s house, has a look at the car, takes it to custom body shop, where the team generally rebuilds the interiors and exteriors from scratch; including engine in some cases.
But how much do we Indians love our car? Do we care enough to customize our car to match our personality? And if we intend to, do we have any options around to make this dream come true? What I intend to imply by this narration is, the excitement that you feel for your new car, wears out with time and your car merely becomes just a mean to get you from one place to another, not something you would like to show off or spend time in. If we had an Indian version of “Pimp My Ride”, I think it would definitely encourage people customize and maintain their ride. If you own a car, you know that buying a car is not difficult, with banks literally putting money in your hands. What you’ll find tricky is maintenance. It is expensive, with many unorganized, unrecognized service brands, and with increase in car sales, service sector is in demand. An Indian version not only will be popular, it may give a perspective to car-owners on how they can make their ride a cool place to hang out at. But until then, if you want your present vehicle get an extreme makeover with a “Cool” look, then DC Designs can help you.
For more details on DC Avanti and Custom Designing your present car contact: Ajay Rao Y Manager –Marketing & Sales Mob-9880018990 or Amith Kumar- Sales Assistant Manager at 9741414433
