Weekend Wanders

As the value of the Weekend Getaway goes into overdrive, auto majors are offering the below-40, money-minting Indian corporate swanky ‘Weekend Class’ options to drive away in, says DEV CHATTERJEE

Indian car lovers have never had it so good. With automobile manufacturers falling over themselves to pamper customers with newer and sleeker models, competitive prices, the latest technology and innumerable financing options, it’s no surprise that cars throng metropolitan roads like a metallic-hued, St.Patrick’s Day procession.

Enter a new concept in this four-wheeled melee: desi car-maker Maruti Udyog Limited, and the Italians, Fiat Auto, are introducing the concept of weekend travelling with the launch of two station wagons, the Baleno Altura from the Maruti stable and Siena Weekend from Fiat. Targetted at the adventurous sections of the moneyed upper segment, who would rather spend Saturdays and Sundays travelling in the countryside — rafting, mountain-biking or fishing — than watch Weekend TV on Sony, or prime time HBO, the two new station wagons might just bring about a road travel revolution.

If Fiat, which owns the famous Ferrari brand, has its way, it will make ‘‘Everyday a Weekend’’, as its advertisement for the recently launched Weekend claims. The car, in direct competition with Maruti’s Baleno Altura, has generous interior space and a versatile luggage area, keeping weekend travel in mind. Moreover, since very few people in India drive off alone for a holiday, roomy car interiors makes sense, and the success of Telco’s ‘mini truck’, the Sumo, shows that there is a market for station wagons. ‘‘The Siena Weekend is reliable, conceived to travel on Indian roads, and stylistically appealing. It’s a versatile car, which can be driven to work and for leisure,’’ says E. Ferrero, Director (Commercial), Fiat Auto.

The Baleno, on the other hand, has been positioned as a vehicle for large families. ‘‘The Baleno Altura has been launched to tap the premium segment of the lifestyle market. It’s a niche product for those who want space and probably a second vehicle,’’ says MUL Managing Director, Jagdish Khattar. Also, ‘‘we understand the value of joint family system and the Altura is the perfect vehicle for large families,’’ adds a top Maruti official.

After a test drive in the Siena Weekend in and around Rajasthan’s Sariska tiger reserve, we were not surprised when it got a perfect 10 from hordes of auto journalists. The reasons are quite obvious. The car is cheaper than the Altura by over Rs 90,000 and offers value for money. The petrol version of the Weekend sports a price tag of Rs 7.27 lakh, while the diesel model has been priced at Rs 7.87 lakh, ex-Delhi. In Mumbai, the Weekend is a bit cheaper, at Rs 7.21 lakh for the petrol version and Rs 7.76 lakh for the diesel. Unfortunately, Maruti’s Baleno Altura does not have a diesel option, which can dampen its sales.

Though the Tatas had made an early attempt to introduce the concept of a large family car with the Tata Estate, it failed, because the vehicle was launched ahead of time and its quality was not up to the mark. Now, with five-day weeks being the norm for an increasing number of upwardly-mobile urban families, the concept of a weekend car seems to have arrived. As Fiat’s Ferrero explains: ‘‘We are targeting Siena Weekend at those customers who are below 40, have worked abroad and know the value of weekends. This car will interest thousands of B-segment motorists who own a Zen, Santro or Matiz.’’

Both the Weekend and the Altura have powerful engines, which will make driving on country roads a pleasure. While the Weekend’s petrol version has a 1581 cc engine, delivering 98 hp at 5500 rpm, and is designed specifically to counter the vagaries of Indian roads, the Altura’s 1600 cc MPFI engine promises an even smoother ride. ‘‘The Weekend’s hi-tech engine and aerodynamic body styling ensure that the car gives good fuel returns. Low running costs, easy handling, great carriage at a good price and substantial boot space to store those bikes and golf clubs are its most striking qualities,’’ claims G. Ravina, Managing Director, Fiat Auto. Indeed, the Weekend — which has independent front and rear suspensions and power steering — held its own on Rajasthan’s dilapidated highways, and the mileage averaged about 11-13 kms per litre.

Safety features, such as a fire prevention fuel cut-off system, collapsible steering column and impact protection valves, abound on both the Weekend and the Altura. Unfortunately, two auto journalists met with accidents while test driving the Weekend at a speed of over 120 kmph, though the safety devices bailed them out of any serious injury. Additional safety features on the Weekend like airbags and anti-lock braking system (ABS) cost Rs 60,000 extra to install, but if you take our advice, it’s Rs 60,000 well-spent.

Though car sales have come down in the past four months, auto manufacturers believe that the graph is set to rise, as the growth in IT spearheads growth across other sectors. No wonder, Fiat hopes to sell about 600 Weekends by the end of this year, and 1,500-2,000 units in 2001.‘‘Indian consumers are now becoming more mature. The Weekend is an important model because it will open an entirely new segment in the market,’’ believes Ravina.

Hopefully, with better road infrastructure, fewer pot-holes and weekend travel becoming the buzz, consumers will be looking forward to sedans and estates with plenty of luggage space, to travel long distances.

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