Top Gear India Magazine Launched

Dippy · 18th August 2005, 21:59

Apart from JC there is even a one pager from James May.

Quote:

Looks like ACI has someone other than OD to worry 'bout.

I doubt whether ACI was ever worried about OD.

In the first issue the Range Rover Sport story and the Enzo vs MC 12 are a treat to read

Dippy

autopsyche · 18th August 2005, 23:19

I think in the coming months the top spot fight is gonna be between ACI and TG, overdrive i doubt is gonna keep up to them with the absence of their editor and Car magazine just doesnt look that strong enough to me. TG with the backing and marketing of times group would be able to pull it off i guess.

I particularly liked the story on the RR Phantom drive in Dubai.. especially the part where they mention that they constructed the 400m flyover from the airport to avoid that one stop light to give that hotel a 7 star status!

tsk1979 · 19th August 2005, 01:08

Disagree. If you read the cover story, they talk about soon to be launched Tata Dicor. Considering its a Sept issue, and dicor was launched beginning august, they should have had a complete road test of the car. I am sure good magazines like BSM/ACI will have road rests.

The article quality was great and so were the cars, but its Top Gear India. I can publish a great magazine with 300 pages writing about the best cars of europe and japan, bit when you talk about a local car magazine, its the quality of the content pertaining to that country.

My take on Top gear. Well they wanted to launch a magazine, So they picked up some articles they already had, and did a hurry up job through the tests and all. For example in Getz/Swift/Palio test there is one line devoted to indica which says something like "Its not as refined but also a good buy regarding the price" Nothing more. This is unprofessional.

Infact Top Gear screamed all the way "I am a Times group magazing, you will see pretty girls and prettier cars, but dont expect more".

But one thing i give it kudos : Its the first Page 4 car magazine

Rtech · 19th August 2005, 10:03

Picked up my copy yesterday. First impressions were good - paper quality great, a lot of content (or so it seemed).

But, many of the articles seem to be hashed together - short one page articles, which just seemed to be put there to fill up space and add bulk. As tsk mentioned, it doesn't seem like a very proffessional job to me.

However, we need to give these magazines a few months to settle down before we judge how good they really are.

artofzen · 19th August 2005, 11:14

Couldnt find TG in TVM.I guess its available in cochin.
@steeroid

id u check out the photos in Topppp giyer (MAL)?.Its all very good ones.Should give a copy to Rudra sir.

merve_extreme · 19th August 2005, 11:47

very good content.but i find that there are many contradicting arguments.

but i like the way they are straight forward about things.typical TG.

veyron1 · 19th August 2005, 16:35

well, just picked up my first copy, and all i can say is.... the first editions of the ACI and OD were never even close to this sort of quality and content. yes, the standards have risen since then, but i'm saying this as the result of an effective comparo between all of them irrespective of time...

and trust me, i feel like the mag has tremendous potential....and i also feel like a lot of O.D customers are gonna switch, too.....ACI don't need to worry, their ground is safe....

another gulliver in the making...?? perhaps....but the competiton has someone serious to worry about now....

p.s- i found that the adverts are in typical times fashion.... what are those ads of the kohinoor,and other crap doing in an auto mag....???????

sridhar24 · 20th August 2005, 11:03

Picked up my copy of TG India and its great to read, especially the international articles. The quality is just as good as ACI, hope they maintain the same levels in future. The buyers guide has very straightforward veiws about cars.

GTO · 20th August 2005, 11:20

I loved the new Top Gear! The international content is fabulous (expectedly), and some local articles like the one by Ranjit Lal had me in splits. Good job! The first issue appears to have too much of an international bias but I guess its only a matter of time before the content gets heavily localised.

The graphics and layout is stunning, Its a bit confusing at first but I guess familiarity will set in after 1 - 2 issues.

The only area of improvement in my opinion is the quality of Indian photos versus the ones imported from their UK counterparts. I mean, check out the CLS pictures. They are downright pathetic in quality - It looks like they used a disposable Kodak for the same. And couldnt anyone wipe the car dry before clicking?

GTO

P.S. Also surprised to see Autocar loyalist Vardhan Kondvikar as part of the Top Gear India.

ported_head · 20th August 2005, 11:27

Flipped through the TG yesterday. I guess for the money you can't beat the content. But too much international content. I was hoping to see the TG style taking to the Indian content. Some good veteran auto hacks though. I wonder if domestic profanity will make it to indian TG. I was also surprised to see Gautam Sen at the helm, after the Auto Motor und Sport fiasco.

Aditya · 20th August 2005, 12:38

I got my copy of Top Gear on the day that it was launched and absolutely loved it. The articles are very interesting and at Rs. 60 per copy, it's great value. I kinda like Gautam Sen's style. Loads of international content is another thing that I liked.
Top Gear will certainly raise the bar and to match it, I'm sure Autocar India, which has been great over the years, will raise their standards.

Bob · 20th August 2005, 15:41

hi im looking for topgear too

two days ago we went to enigma disc at jw marriot but management told us there is private party is going on
search about that and finally we get information it's launching party of top gear
so at last we went to coffeshop of jw

BOB

Dippy · 20th August 2005, 16:54

Bob the TG launch was at The President not Enigma at JW

Dippy

sridhar24 · 20th August 2005, 18:25

I don't think TG will have so much international content in the coming issues as in the inagural issue and will have lesser pages. If iam right i read an article by Vardhan Kondvikar, wasn't he ACI guy?

ajmat · 20th August 2005, 18:48

I picked it up and was a bit cynical till I glanced through the articles - if this is a normal issue - it looks good, there is enough content even without Clarkson and May - although they are willing to bite and snipe about cars over here. CAR India were too nice .

most of the journalists are pretty senior and speak straight with a "nothing to lose" attitude. A good start!

18th August 2005, 23:19	#32
autopsyche Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Delhi, Indi Posts: 1,519 Thanked: 33 Times View My Garage	I think in the coming months the top spot fight is gonna be between ACI and TG, overdrive i doubt is gonna keep up to them with the absence of their editor and Car magazine just doesnt look that strong enough to me. TG with the backing and marketing of times group would be able to pull it off i guess. I particularly liked the story on the RR Phantom drive in Dubai.. especially the part where they mention that they constructed the 400m flyover from the airport to avoid that one stop light to give that hotel a 7 star status!
	() Thanks

19th August 2005, 01:08	#33
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Disagree. If you read the cover story, they talk about soon to be launched Tata Dicor. Considering its a Sept issue, and dicor was launched beginning august, they should have had a complete road test of the car. I am sure good magazines like BSM/ACI will have road rests. The article quality was great and so were the cars, but its Top Gear India. I can publish a great magazine with 300 pages writing about the best cars of europe and japan, bit when you talk about a local car magazine, its the quality of the content pertaining to that country. My take on Top gear. Well they wanted to launch a magazine, So they picked up some articles they already had, and did a hurry up job through the tests and all. For example in Getz/Swift/Palio test there is one line devoted to indica which says something like "Its not as refined but also a good buy regarding the price" Nothing more. This is unprofessional. Infact Top Gear screamed all the way "I am a Times group magazing, you will see pretty girls and prettier cars, but dont expect more". But one thing i give it kudos : Its the first Page 4 car magazine
	() Thanks

19th August 2005, 10:03	#34
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Picked up my copy yesterday. First impressions were good - paper quality great, a lot of content (or so it seemed). But, many of the articles seem to be hashed together - short one page articles, which just seemed to be put there to fill up space and add bulk. As tsk mentioned, it doesn't seem like a very proffessional job to me. However, we need to give these magazines a few months to settle down before we judge how good they really are.
	() Thanks

19th August 2005, 11:14	#35
artofzen BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: VOCI-LHR Posts: 735 Thanked: 68 Times View My Garage	Couldnt find TG in TVM.I guess its available in cochin. @steeroidid u check out the photos in Topppp giyer (MAL)?.Its all very good ones.Should give a copy to Rudra sir.
	() Thanks

19th August 2005, 11:47	#36
merve_extreme Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,359 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	very good content.but i find that there are many contradicting arguments. but i like the way they are straight forward about things.typical TG.
	() Thanks

19th August 2005, 16:35	#37
veyron1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,424 Thanked: 52 Times View My Garage	well, just picked up my first copy, and all i can say is.... the first editions of the ACI and OD were never even close to this sort of quality and content. yes, the standards have risen since then, but i'm saying this as the result of an effective comparo between all of them irrespective of time... and trust me, i feel like the mag has tremendous potential....and i also feel like a lot of O.D customers are gonna switch, too.....ACI don't need to worry, their ground is safe.... another gulliver in the making...?? perhaps....but the competiton has someone serious to worry about now.... p.s- i found that the adverts are in typical times fashion.... what are those ads of the kohinoor,and other crap doing in an auto mag....???????
	() Thanks

20th August 2005, 11:03	#38
sridhar24 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,046 Thanked: 88 Times	Picked up my copy of TG India and its great to read, especially the international articles. The quality is just as good as ACI, hope they maintain the same levels in future. The buyers guide has very straightforward veiws about cars.
	() Thanks

20th August 2005, 11:20	#39
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,534 Thanked: 300,743 Times View My Garage	I loved the new Top Gear! The international content is fabulous (expectedly), and some local articles like the one by Ranjit Lal had me in splits. Good job! The first issue appears to have too much of an international bias but I guess its only a matter of time before the content gets heavily localised. The graphics and layout is stunning, Its a bit confusing at first but I guess familiarity will set in after 1 - 2 issues. The only area of improvement in my opinion is the quality of Indian photos versus the ones imported from their UK counterparts. I mean, check out the CLS pictures. They are downright pathetic in quality - It looks like they used a disposable Kodak for the same. And couldnt anyone wipe the car dry before clicking? GTO P.S. Also surprised to see Autocar loyalist Vardhan Kondvikar as part of the Top Gear India.
	() Thanks

20th August 2005, 11:27	#40
ported_head Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 2,387 Thanked: 20 Times	Flipped through the TG yesterday. I guess for the money you can't beat the content. But too much international content. I was hoping to see the TG style taking to the Indian content. Some good veteran auto hacks though. I wonder if domestic profanity will make it to indian TG. I was also surprised to see Gautam Sen at the helm, after the Auto Motor und Sport fiasco.
	() Thanks

20th August 2005, 12:38	#41
Aditya Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 17,841 Thanked: 77,069 Times View My Garage	I got my copy of Top Gear on the day that it was launched and absolutely loved it. The articles are very interesting and at Rs. 60 per copy, it's great value. I kinda like Gautam Sen's style. Loads of international content is another thing that I liked. Top Gear will certainly raise the bar and to match it, I'm sure Autocar India, which has been great over the years, will raise their standards.
	() Thanks

20th August 2005, 15:41	#42
Bob BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: vadodara.(guj).india Posts: 43 Thanked: Once	hi im looking for topgear too two days ago we went to enigma disc at jw marriot but management told us there is private party is going on search about that and finally we get information it's launching party of top gear so at last we went to coffeshop of jw BOB
	() Thanks

20th August 2005, 16:54	#43
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,561 Thanked: 2,469 Times	Bob the TG launch was at The President not Enigma at JW Dippy
	() Thanks

20th August 2005, 18:25	#44
sridhar24 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,046 Thanked: 88 Times	I don't think TG will have so much international content in the coming issues as in the inagural issue and will have lesser pages. If iam right i read an article by Vardhan Kondvikar, wasn't he ACI guy? Last edited by sridhar24 : 20th August 2005 at 18:26.
	() Thanks

20th August 2005, 18:48	#45
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,864 Thanked: 27,975 Times View My Garage	I picked it up and was a bit cynical till I glanced through the articles - if this is a normal issue - it looks good, there is enough content even without Clarkson and May - although they are willing to bite and snipe about cars over here. CAR India were too nice . most of the journalists are pretty senior and speak straight with a "nothing to lose" attitude. A good start!
	() Thanks