The Home-Grown Indian Sports Car - DC Avanti

Dilip Chhabria, a name that has been popular amongst Indians for quite a long time and the man behind iconic, yet, aesthetic and artistic designs, sculpted on bodies that run on four wheels. Being an artist himself, he does not choose merely to apply art on to cars but also to combine engineering sense with the designs.



The introduction of wild and stunning prototypes did make heads turn but most of the designs never entered production, until now.



The DC Avanti, the home-grown Indian sports car, a tag that now belongs solely to DC, the Indian Automotive Design House, has decided to start production and will be launched this April 15th. Featuring a flamboyant design with curves that run all along the outer shell, this aerodynamic mean machine is waiting to go for the kill. It features a one of a kind design, whereby the car is aptly suited for Indian roads and driving conditions. Test mules of the original were sent across to different cities to provide useful feedback to further fine tune the car and now, the stage is all set.



*Picture courtesy - Burnyourfuel

The DC Avanti was first showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo and was welcomed with much praise and was critically acclaimed. This crowd puller initiated an interest in several buyers and prompted DC to start production of a Sports car built for India. Two years down the line, DC had come up with a pre-production concept which was showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo and was received with an even greater response.

Specifications

Engine
2.0 Litre 4 cylinder Turbocharged Petrol sourced directly from Renault
Max Power: 250bhp@5500 RPM
Max Torque: 340Nm@RPM range: 2750-5000
Max Speed: 200Km/h*
Transmission is a 6-speed manual
* Electronically limited

Body
Length- 4565mm
Width- 2120mm
Height- 1200mm
Ground Clearance- 170mm
Roll cage frame
Carbon composites used on the body shell
Overall weight- 1580Kg
Mid-engine, Rear wheel drive
Front & Rear Disc brakes
20 inch wheels
Wheelbase- 2700mm

Interiors
TFT touchscreen infotainment system
Spacious interiors with user customisation options

Safety
ABS and EBD

The prominent feature of this sports car is the overall ground clearance at 170mm and is a respectable figure considering the cars that run on Indian terrain. The front features a bi-halogen projector set up headlamps and the rear tail-light section has been carved in a way that blends with the tail. DC claims the Avanti can do a 100km/h from a standstill within 6 seconds and we are quite unsure if the Avanti comes with a paddle shift option. The car is a made-to-order unit and offers several customisation options for the customer and has a waiting period of 2-3 months.



The overall price for this sports car is at 35 lacs and the booking price is 15 lacs. Although the Avanti offers ABS and EBD, it was strange to find why Airbags were not made standard for the model at such a heavy price tag.

Overall, this sports car is something to look forward to and should also lift the Indian Auto mobile design spirit. Let's wait and find out.