Luxury takes a front seat

The moment your foot touches the accelerator it goes from 0 to 100 in less than 8 seconds

September 05, 2014 07:23 pm | Updated 07:23 pm IST

Cars showcased at the BMW Experience Tour 2014. Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

Cars showcased at the BMW Experience Tour 2014. Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

“We have 12 BMWs lined up. Two people per car,” instructs Nachiket, a certified BMW instructor from Mumbai. A bulky black X5 awaits me. It’s a SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle). I hop in and listen for further instructions on the walkie talkie. “All set?” comes the voice from it. Yes, except that I can’t find the key. Oh wait, this doesn’t need a key for ignition. Alright, where is the clutch? No clutch either. Ah, the joys of an automatic car. Hit brake, press the Start/ Stop button, the engine revs up and the seat belt protectively tightens its grip around me. Setting the gear to D (drive) mode I race ahead as the race track with its sharp curves, twists and turns beckons.

The BMW Experience Tour 2014 that’s being organised in 12 cities across India allows participants to experience driving the 1, 3, 5 and 7 series and X1, 3, 5 and Z 4. Chennai is the seventh stop. Shiny, new cars whizz past blowing dust on the tracks at The Madras Motor Race Track, Irungattukottai, the venue for the four-day event that winds up on Sunday.

There are two activities lined up. The first one involves a braking test. Like aircrafts on a tarmac waiting for its signal to take off, we line up our cars, one behind the other. After the five cars ahead of me, it’s my turn. “Vehicle number 6, ready?” That’s my cue to speed up, drive through the traffic cones and press the brake, with all my might, when he instructs me to stop. Two rounds of that and we are set for laps around the track. The thing about this vehicle is the moment your foot touches the accelerator it goes from 0 to 100 in less than 8 seconds. The first few minutes are a tad intimidating. Gosh there are so many controls, and instructions popping up on the iDrive. Five minutes later, it gets comfortable and I confidently cruise along, manoeuvring bends and driving between 120-130 kmph. Always good to know the vehicle you are in has a powerful braking system. Excited, I move into sports mode and turn off the traction. A blissful and pulsating half an hour later the laps end. This was fun. I disembark from the X5 feeling all heroic with my driving ability.

That’s when Frank Schloeder, Director – Marketing, BMW, asks if I would like to be driven around the track. Hopping into his 520d, I strap on my seat belt. Two other wide-eyed car freaks slide into the back seat. A minute later, it feels like being on a rollercoaster ride. Frank drives at 170kmph and brakes when you least expect him to. He’s got amazing control over the car. When the car screeches to a halt, we tumble out panting. This sure feels like a work out. After watching Frank in action my driving skill fades in comparison. “That’s because I have been driving BMWs for many years,” he laughs as another batch jumps into his sedan. He whizzes away yet again, leaving behind the smell of burnt rubber.

Other than Frank, Vikas Sared from Mumbai and Euearn from Malaysia, the other certified trainers too take people around the track for quick spins and they all come back awestruck. Just a word of caution though — don’t try to copy them on our roads. And note to self — Don’t forget that your car has a clutch.

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