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Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood Superstar, on Thursday 5th January, unveiled DC Design’s supercar, DC Avanti at the Auto Expo 2012.  DC Design, headed by Dilip Chhabria, is India’s leading automotive design firm that has always developed designs of prototypes and concept cars. The firm has now ventured into car manufacturing by introducing India’s first supercar.

Along with being a Show Car, the DC Avanti is capable of being transformed into a production ready vehicle. DC Design hopes to follow the footsteps of the Italian carrozzerias such as Bertone, Ghia, Pininfarina and Stola. These Italians have always designed and engineered exquisite sports cars and have come out with limited number of cars for the public.

DC Design aims to do the same with Avanti that will be manufactured by the start of 2013. In the past, DC Design has created remarkable designs along with prototypes for many global brands; however, the firm has never manufactured any of its own designs. With the launch of Avanti the design house has forayed into production. The DC Avanti will be manufactured at the firm’s facility in Pune.

Dilip Chhabria, Founder, DC Design said, “We are extremely ecstatic to present the DC Avanti today and it is a manifestation of not just the burgeoning interest in high end sports cars but also as a calling card for our own capabilities which have now progressed from mere styling in the early days to full prototyping and bespoke one-off manufacturing. Every country which has written its name in the pantheon of automobile manufacturing has invariably distinguished itself with sports cars by its own nationals and I thought that India rightly needs to be in this exclusive club.”

"The Indian market for high end automobiles is on a steep uphill curve as witnessed year-on-year and our focus is at the top end of this rarefied niche. The design is completely our very own as is the engineering and also the production process. Type approval and on-road tests would follow soon and we intend to simultaneously set up an all new facility at Talegaon near Pune to build this vehicle," said Dilip.

"We intend to produce 300 units of the Avanti in 2013-2014 and if all goes well we could ramp up production to go into four figures per annum. Till now DC Design was noted for its design and customisation but then we added complete engineering and prototyping to our roster of services and working for the world's biggest names helped us understand and add to our expertise," added Dilip.

Further, he commented that "the Avanti is an ongoing culmination of all that we have learnt and we intend to give a sports car to a select new emerging breed of car buyers who value good taste without compromising on performance and who don't need to spend a fortune on making the adrenaline flow."

DC Design will not develop the wheel of the Avanti supercar on its own during the manufacturing process as the firm will make use of ‘proprietary parts’, like drivetrain and suspension, of different car manufacturers.

DC Avanti is expected to be equipped with a Ford EcoBoost 2.0-litre, four cylinder, DOHC, 16 valve engine. The engine unit has prominent features like turbocharging with direct injection and VVT (Variable Valve Timing). With these features, the engine will be capable of producing power and torque comparable to that of the bigger 3.0-litre engine.

The maximum power delivered by the engine of the supercar is going to be 240 bhp at 5500 rpm, while the torque will be 366 Nm at 3500 rpm. It is expected that the supercar will provide excellent fuel economy. The car will also not face any problems in being exported as the engine and its parts are Euro 4 and 5 compliant. It can be easily converted into the upcoming Euro 6 legislation after a few tweaks in the ‘engine mapping characteristics’.

For easy handling, the car comes with a six-speed manual gearbox. The gearbox has been acquired from Ford Europe and its transmission is consistent and strong. Six-speed dual clutch PowerShift unit is the other option available in the car.

DC Avanti will be light in weight, with a strong chassis that will make use of square, rectangular and round divisions to give power and firmness to the car. The suspension will be sports car type comprising of ‘unequal length wishbones’ all over and functioning together with ‘coil cover shock absorbers’. This supercar with appealing exteriors will be responsive, efficient and swift and will give excellent performance. It will be incorporated with a hydraulically assisted rack and a pinion steering gear.

The makers of DC Avanti have also incorporated major safety features. Bosch will provide its newest ABS brake system and SRS airbag technology in Avanti. International Experts in the field will take care of the drive quality and handling and the car will be completely assembled at the firm’s new production plant in Talegaon near Pune. The top speed of the car will electronically be restricted to 250 kmph and will be fitted with 19-inch tyres. The dimension of the front tyre is 255/35-19, whereas the rear is 295/30-19-sized rubber. Huge 330 mm diameter ventilated disc brakes accessorised with AP Racing callipers that come as OE fitment, provide control and smooth handling to the driver.

DC Avanti has compact and sleek outer dimensions that are not seen in any vehicle belonging to the Asian automobile category. The car has a combination of concave and convex exteriors to provide it an aerodynamic advantage.

DC Design’s dedicated and self-managed sales and service network have been setup in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad. Four more stores will probably be opened this year. The bookings for DC Avanti will commence as soon as the Auto Expo is over. A limited number of models will be manufactured; hence the bookings are subject to availability. The deliveries will start from the fourth quarter of 2013. DC Avanti is expected to carry a price tag of Rs. 30 lacs (ex-showroom).

Specifications:

•    Engine Type – 2.0L Four Cylinder, Turbocharged engine with direct injection and VVT DOHC, four valves per cylinder
•    Maximum Power – 240 bhp at 5500 rpm
•    Maximum Torque – 366 Nm at 3500 rpm
•    Transmission Type – MMT6 6speed
•    Chassis – Tubular Space Frame, Jig built, TIG welded
•    Suspension – Unequal length double wishbones, coil cover shock absorbers
•    Steering and Brakes
•    Rack and pinion
•    330 mm ventilated discs (Front and Rear) AP racing callipers wheels
•    Front Rim Size – 8.5J-19
•    Front Tyres – 255/35 19” x 8.5 J
•    Front Track – 1680 mm
•    Rear Rim Size – 11J-19
•    Rear Tyres – 295/30 19” x 11 J
•    Rear Track – 1660

Overall Dimensions

•    Wheelbase – 2700 mm
•    Length – 4623 mm
•    Width – 1967 mm
•    Height – 1213 mm
•    Front Over Hang – 993 mm
•    Rear Over Hang – 930 mm
•    Ground Clearance – 155 mm
•    Dry Kerb weight – 1562 kgs

DILIP CHHABRIA PVT. LIMITED (DC Design) is a popular automobile design house in India. It was founded by Dilip Chhabria, who studied Transportation Design from Art Centre, Pasadena, USA. The firm has displayed its designs and products in popular auto shows of Geneva, Detroit, Japan, Frankfurt and Paris.

DC Design portfolio comprises more than 600 unique concepts, prototypes and vehicles developed. The firm delivers exquisite and quality products that can be compared with the best in the world. Its USP is offering top class quality at affordable prices. Its product range comprises cars, buses, luxury vans, passenger buses and many more.