Bolt Drive to Lonavala with Tata Motors!!! #BoltDrives

It’s that time of the year I eagerly wait for to plan my travels. Kiddo starts her summer vacation this month end and lot of travelling lined up for the coming month. Meanwhile few of we blogger's were invited last weekend by Blogadda for a drive to Lonavala. What better way than escape to a nearby hill station, to beat Mumbai's summer. The drive was to test and experience the drive with the new Bolt by TATA Motors.

All we bloggers joined at Cafe Infinito at BKC, for a presentation and breakfast. We were briefed about the features of the New Tata Bolt (you can go through my previous post on the features here) and the schedule for the day. Blogger's were divided into groups of three with a supervisor in each team, and would drive the Bolt, Revotron or diesel version (which would be exchanged in the second half of the drive). I was in Team D1(the diesel version), and flagged off at Cafe Infinito after which we had the first activity for the day, the Suspension and driving test at the test track created at MMRDA ground. Even before we were flagged off, Captain Bolt, our guide for the day, an unseen, mysterious voice, called on the Tab assigned to our car and made us comfortable about the drive and the activities for the day. The Suspension test was to trace the dots creating picture of a car on a sheet of paper while the car was undergoing the suspension test, to show the balancing ability of the car, even while driving on those bumpy roads.

Then we started our drive to Lonavala. What better road can you expect than the Mumbai-Pune Express Way to take a test drive?? While its ePAS(Electric Power Assisted Steering) with speed sensitivity and active return function, made the driving comfortable, its superior cabin space added to the comfortable drive. We tried all the features of the car, throughout our drive. Its multi mode feature, ECO, city and Sport modes. The voice command, which recognizes most of the Indian accents and controls most of the car functions, like the temperature control of your A/C, the volume control of your audio system, even sending SMS, calling a person from your phones contact and many more. The car has also been given a sporty exterior style with smoked projector headlamps, flame-shaped tail lamps, dynamic alloy wheels and Floating roof.

Drive through the Mumbai-Pune Expressway

There was lot of tweeting and facebook updates going on throughout the drive and Captain Bolt was in constant touch with all the teams. Though we initially lagged behind the other teams, we joined them at Triose at Lonavala on time for the lunch. Had lunch, some chit chat with the blogger friends and then drove to Tiger's point. There was lot of photographing, clicking selfie with the Bolt, with the fellow bloggers, the group pic and lot of pics of the sexy Bolt at the Tiger's point, before we started our return drive.

Our final pit stop of the drive was CCD on the Express Way, where we rounded up the event with the social media contest winners declaration, refreshments and lot of memories from the day. A Sunday well spent at #BoltDrives with Bolt from Tata Motors in association with Blogadda.

Vintage Car Drive at Fort, Mumbai

Its always fun to explore the Fort area of Mumbai during Sunday mornings, when the road is quite and all for yourself. As I had mentioned in my previous post, I attended one of the workshops last Sunday at Asiatic Society, as part of Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. We reached quite early and hubby's joy knew no bound when he found few vintage cars parked at the parking lot near Flora Fountain. Not sure if this was part of Kala Ghoda Fest, these cars then drove on the main streets of Fort area. Here are few of the pics we clicked,

A Alfa Romeo

Though most of them were Fiat cars,

 

 

Left hand drive Fiat 500L

Not sure if this was Behemoth or Impala, can somebody help me in identifying the model?

Thoroughly enjoyed watching and clicking these cars.

Get Set Bolt!!!

I have mentioned in many of my previous posts, how my hubby's craze for driving and cars, has helped me travel more. The more he drives, the more I can explore;) When I received e-mail from Blogadda for the Get Set Bolt activity, I just grabbed the opportunity, without giving a second thought.
As part of the activity, few of we bloggers got the glimpse of the new Tata Bolt and were introduced to few of its cutting edge features which makes it stand-out in the present HatchBack segment. For the activity, I opted TCS Neptune a mall near-by my place, though Viviana was nearer, by the time I got to know about the Arena, the schedule at Viviana was long over.

The Bolt and its features, which makes it stand out in its segment:

Lot of considerations go before getting a car on road. I am stuck to my TV screens, every-time I watch Megafactories Tata Nano on Nat Geo, how each and every factor needs to be considered, especially when designing a car for Indian roads. So here is what Bolt comes with:

• Safety: What is the most important feature that you look for in any car? Yes, its safety, even before the looks and the price. The new TATA Bolt comes with the 9^th Gen ABs by Bosch for improved braking, Corner stability control and dual airbags, which makes the car more safer in its segment.
• Looks: 

• Exterior: Though the first look of Bolt reminded me of Tata Indica V2, the new tail lights and projector head lights, with sharp shoulder line profile gave it a refreshing look.
• Interior:
• Segment Superior: The interior is quite spacious and comfortable with rugby shoulder seats. 
• ConnectNext: 
• The touchscreen infotainment by Harman gives you the access to array of entertainment. 
• MapMyIndia's most localized maps with voice guidance, offers you the best smart phone based GPS navigation. 
• Advanced Bluetooth, voice command recognition, SMS notifications and read outs, keeps you connected with your world. 

•  Ride: Though I haven't taken the test drive yet, here is what I was told about its features,
• Multi Drive: Bolt comes with Multi Drive feature, where you get to select between Sport, Eco and City. Sport mode when you need a burst of power, Eco mode for excellent fuel efficiency, for those long drives on Expressways or City mode for a perfect balance between the two.
• Engine: Revotron 1.2T, with 84bhp, Turbocharged MPFi petrol engine and speed sensing steering wheel, make Bolt stand-out in the Hatchback segment. 
• Plush Ride: Driving on Indian road, is really not an easy task. You need not go off-road for adventures, as Indian roads in monsoon, are no less than any off-road adventure. The suspension provides plush ride quality which helps Bolt ride easily over potholes.

So go take a test drive (register here) to experience the all new TATA Bolt. For rate inquiry and online bookings do visit here. Meanwhile have a virtual tour of the car in the videos.

PS: Arena being in the company premises, photography was restricted.
“This post is a part of the Get. Set. Bolt. activity at BlogAdda.”

Yes, Car(Drive) and Connect(Travel) go together !!!

My hubby is fascinated of driving, he started his motor blog too, few years back, but with no time to update, its lying with few of his posts on automobile and auto-shows. And me being a travel freak, both our interests go together. He enjoys his drive and me my tours. Though we are still to plan a long trip by our car, the so called long drives we have covered is Mumbai to Bangalore, Dubai(UAE) to Musandam(Oman), keeping apart, few weekend destinations from Mumbai and Bangalore. With our daughter's academic calender out for the year, our travel plans too start for the whole year as per her vacation. And hubby plans his leaves. So a perfect tour does need a good planning.

Car Connect, so as it called is all about Cars and Connect(connecting you to cars or connecting different places through drives), for all those travel freaks, who love driving.

Cars: The website updates you with Car News and Car Launch, keeping you updated with everything going on in the automobile world. The best feature which I like is Compare Cars, if you are planning to buy a new car and still in the dilemma of choosing the better one, this feature helps you. Just enter the two car details and their expert team will guide you with the features of both cars, accordingly you can choose your pick as per your requirements. Also you can find the reviews of cars from fellow uses, which makes your choice easier.

Car description, feature along with links to reviews of the compared car

Connect: This section is the one of my interests. A place, you get to read travel  experience. Planning your trip and searching travel destination becomes more easier with Car Connect. Select your start point under Long Drive, you will get a list of travel guides shared by fellow travelers. Share your travel experience with Car Connect friends. They award you too, with fancy badges, to flaunt on your profile. Share more to grab more badges. Invite your facebook friends to read your travel experience. You also have Chat Room to chat with Carconnect members and expert team, to get instant advice.

My Car Connect Profile

Scope of Improvement of the website:

• More options to log into your Car Connect account, with email id or twitter account, as the only option now is with your Facebook account. 

Happy Driving and Sharing, with Car Connect!!!

This is a review of Car Connect