India’s first indigenous sports car, DC Avanti is scheduled to launch in early 2015. The vehicle was first showcased as a concept at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo. Deepak Chopra’s Avanti will be priced at Rs 35 lakh (approximately, ex-showroom, Mumbai).
In terms of dimensions, the DC Avanti is a bigger than the Lamborghini Gallardo. The Avanti is 4550mm long, 1965mm wide and 1200mm in height, while the Gallardo measures 4,345mm in length, 1,900mm in width, and 1,165mm in height. Its ground clearance of 170mm is very apt for the Indian driving conditions. What adds more to its handling and drivability is the box section space frame chassis. The top of the chassis is made of various carbonfirbe components, which have been developed by in-house engineers. The car is assembled with the 20-inches wheels, affixed with 255/35 front tyres and 295/30 rear tyres.
The DC Avanti features a mid-mounted 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engine, positioned between the seat back and the rear wheels, that churns out a maximum power of 248bhp with 24.6kgm of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is the only available option. Powerful 330mm ventilated four-pot disc brakes at the front and 295mm at the rear enhance braking capabilities of the car. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a standard offering, which has been developed by Continental. The car gets a double wishbone on all four wheels, monotube with gas-charged shock absorbers suspension system, using coil springs for better dumping, which ensure comfortable drive even on rough roads.
Talking about the cabin, the Avanti comes loaded with several features such as a three-spoke steering wheel, a centre console with stacked screens, hooded dials, a touchscreen infotainment system, chrome surrounds and body coloured separators and soft touch buttons for the air-conditioning system. The production version is likely to get a digital instrument panel with few changes on the centre console.
