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Kushan Mitra

Kushan Mitra

The Pioneer

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The lights in our cars—‘daytime running’ to ‘dancing’ to LEDs revolutionised by Mercedes-Benz

Just a few years ago, it seemed like cars had tungsten headlights. Now every car has some form of LED technology on exterior as well as interior...

21.04.2024 30

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

‘Not bachelors in hostel anymore’—Ather’s Rizta scooter launch turns into a family outing

The Ather Community Day 2024 in Bengaluru saw participants travelling from as far as Pune, some riding all the way on their Ather scooters.

14.04.2024 20

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Blaming outsiders for West Bengal’s decline is not a solution. Change its politics first

If you ever want to witness what brain drain can do to a city, look at Kolkata.

08.04.2024 40

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Indian car markers had a good run in FY24. Now Tesla entry should worry them

While Indian carmakers are hedging their bets a bit, including on Hybrids as Maruti itself disclosed, this news of Tesla coming to India should worry...

07.04.2024 40

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Is India ready for hybrid cars? This is what the government is up to

Demand for the new, hybrid-technology-equipped Toyota Hycross and its Maruti equivalent, Invicto has shot through the roof.

31.03.2024 9

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

India is not ready for AI-driven cars. Govt regulations, chaos on roads, risk of drivers’ jobs

This isn't a 'Jetsons' world but Robotaxi is a reality now. It raises valid concerns about the future of millions of commercial drivers.

24.03.2024 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

EVs were propped up as future of cars. So why are UK and US falling out of love with them?

Mercedes-Benz had said it would move toward becoming an 'electric-only' company by 2030 but has now put it off. The UK govt has withdrawn subsidies...

10.03.2024 30

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Creta, S-Class, Q7—do car names matter? Skoda’s new competition shows they do

Skoda has set up a website where the public can make their suggestions for its SUV coming out next year. The brand director says the competition will...

03.03.2024 9

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Driving Volkswagen Virtus for 24 hrs to beat national record—engine, tyres, speed, and medal

I participated in the National Automotive Test Tracks in Madhya Pradesh's Pithampur and won a medal. The tracks include an 11.36 km four-lane banked...

25.02.2024 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

BMW 7 Series Protection—top car that makes you rev up its engine & rock up to The Oberoi

It’s not built on the regular production line but put together by hand by highly trained engineers at BMW facilities in Dingolfing outside Munich.

18.02.2024 30

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Kushan Mitra

Manual on hills—driving through Sikkim is not for the faint-hearted, if not for Honda cars

The Honda Car India’s ‘Drive to Discover’ event in Sikkim that also covered Darjeeling became a ‘drive to remember’. Here’s how.

11.02.2024 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Fortuner fiasco shows navigation apps can go rogue. Keep your wits about you

Navigation software can open up whole new scenic routes. But sometimes they can guide you into wild goose chases—or a set of stairs.

04.02.2024 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Tata Motors lands the right ‘Punch’ with their new electric car. It’s superior to Nexon EV

Tata Punch EV, with the larger battery and more powerful motor, is an excellent value proposition for those seeking a comfortable ride.

28.01.2024 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

I first drove Creta in 2015 and it was valuable. In 2024, it’s incredible value

The latest Creta will make sure it becomes almost impossible to be dethroned as the King of the C-SUV segment.

21.01.2024 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Automatic braking isn’t for Indian roads. Bharat NCAP should avoid making it mandatory yet

Carmakers like MG, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Tata have realised that buyers want Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, despite complaints about automatic...

14.01.2024 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Audi’s four rings shined bright in 2023. But India still a small market for luxury cars

Without volume, it makes little sense for Audi to start manufacturing units here. India is the world’s third-largest market for passenger vehicles,...

07.01.2024 30

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Watch 2023 in a driver’s rearview mirror—from Coimbatore to Nathu la and UNESCO site

Our recent trip to Chakrata revealed a new part of the northern hills. It is reassuring that there are still some places in the hills left devoid of...

31.12.2023 10

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Kushan Mitra

ICOTY Hyundai Exter had a trend in its favour—India’s love for SUVs not ending

Why buy a hatchback like the i10 Nios when you have an Exter that makes you ‘feel’ safer. Although we are still awaiting BNCAP tests for both...

24.12.2023 10

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Kushan Mitra

India can’t prevent road accidents but it can reduce fatalities—advanced tools, trauma care

One in every three accidents on Indian roads leads to a fatality. Developing road infrastructure cannot compensate accident fatalities that can be...

17.12.2023 7

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

There are no awful cars anymore. Reviewing is now more difficult

At a Monday meeting of the Indian Car of The Year awards, we discussed how jurors look at vehicles differently.

10.12.2023 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Tata Curvv, Kia EV9 to Tesla debut—2024 is going to be big for cars in India

From electric offerings, and long-wheelbase editions of premium sedans to major makeovers—2024 will see a slew of car launches.

06.12.2023 8

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

I discovered Hyundai IONIQ 5 N’s party trick. And boy, this car redefines EVs

The IONIQ 5 N has a peak power of 650PS with boost, which is insane, almost three times that of the IONIQ 5. And that power comes into play in the...

03.12.2023 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Switching off automatic braking on your car won’t help avoid accidents. Learn to operate it

It took me some time to get used to ADAS features and I’ve learnt to live with them. In fact, I even find features like the blind-spot warning...

26.11.2023 20

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Kia proved a new carmaker can come to India & succeed. But Tesla can’t — yet

'One has to remember that Tesla will need India more than India needs Tesla,' a senior executive at a carmaker company told me.

19.11.2023 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Diwali car discounts make for a great deal. But don’t drive home a soon-to-be extinct SUV

Festive discounts are not unique to the ‘meat of the market cars’; they are rife even at the luxury end, albeit not always in a direct form.

12.11.2023 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Odd-even rule & EVs are Swiss cheese in combatting pollution. Hybrid vehicles are key

If cleaning the air by reducing overall fuel consumption is the goal, the govt ought to look at hybrid vehicles. It's not 'yesterday's technology'...

05.11.2023 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Toyota’s solid-state batteries can solve EV problems big time. But I have my doubts

South Korean companies LG Chem and Samsung and Chinese manufacturers BYD and CATL, promise that the first generation of solid-state batteries will...

29.10.2023 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Indians are buying more SUVs, less ‘mini’ cars. An optimistic & pessimistic way to look at it

Sales for C-segment SUVs have gone ballistic due to the addition of smartphone integration and ADAS, but poor sales figure for lower-priced units is...

22.10.2023 30

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Magnite saved Nissan in India. Parked at World Cup matches, E-Z Shift has a bigger job to do

The E-Z Shift returned superb fuel efficiency and would be an ideal vehicle for someone looking to give their left leg a break from pressing the...

15.10.2023 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Hyundai India raised the bar with 6 airbags. But here is why you shouldn’t obsess over them

It’s a misconception that airbags save lives no matter how bad an accident. If you’re not belted in, hitting an airbag can feel like an uppercut...

08.10.2023 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 proves the luxury-EV combo is only getting stronger

Mercedes-Benz India MD Santosh Iyer admits that a lot more needs to be done to increase the appeal of EVs across India, particularly in terms of...

01.10.2023 9

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Dear drivers, ESC, VSM, HDC make driving safe but they are no substitutes for road sense

ESC is something that manufacturers will be forced to install on all cars if they want a three-star or above rating in the new Bharat-NCAP safety...

24.09.2023 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Nexon EV facelift works on three things—entertainment, entertainment, entertainment

The BMW i7 is a luxury behemoth, which can redefine the concept of ‘date night’. But there’s another car that matches up to it in this...

17.09.2023 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

India must not let China become for EVs what Saudi is for oil

What is the point of a 120kmph road if I can’t drive at least that fast. EV ecosystem must evolve in India.

09.09.2023 9

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

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