Qute’s odd proportions the result of making most of space ... · PDF filebut a quadricycle. Ever since the Bajaj Qute was unveiled at the 2012 Auto Expo (as the RE60), it’s been

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We drive the Bajaj Qute to see if this controversial quadricycle is a genuine alternative to an autorickshaw.UNBOXING THE QUTE

OCTOBER 2016 AUTOCAR INDIA 5150 AUTOCAR INDIA OCTOBER 2016 www.autocarindia.comwww.autocarindia.com

THE SMALLER THE car, the bigger the storm it stirs up. And in most cases, it is overblown. The Nano got activists screaming prophetically that hundreds of thousands of them would choke our roads. More recently, the Global NCAP has painted every small car in India it has crash-tested as a death trap.

The biggest storm, however, surrounds the smallest car yet. Except that it’s not technically a car, but a quadricycle. Ever since the Bajaj Qute was unveiled at the 2012 Auto Expo (as the RE60), it’s been mired in controversy. The argument: should quadricycles be clubbed with cars and be allowed for personal transport? Or, should they be in the same category as autorickshaws for

commercial use only (though the law allows individuals to own and drive a rick)?

The definition of Indian rules for this all-new category is the core of a heated debate that has the industry divided ever since Bajaj Auto laid bare its plans. Globally, quadricycles have a different set of regulations, which is not as stringent as those regular cars have to comply with. Here, the fundamental differences in the regulations between cars and autorickshaws centre around emissions and safety, and it’s the latter that has become a prickly issue. It is understandably so, given our nation’s inglorious claim of being No. 1 in the world when it comes to road deaths. The horrifically high

body count has made safety a highly emotive subject, but the trouble is the perception of what saves lives is not always rooted in hard evidence or facts.

Bajaj applied to the Ministry of Road Transport for the creation of a new quadricycle category, just a few months after the RE60 was unveiled. That raised the hackles of rival automakers that saw Bajaj with its first-mover advantage as the main beneficiary of this new class of vehicle. They wanted a level playing

field but as it’s turned out, it’s a minefield Bajaj has gotten into.

The government formed a special committee to draw out quadricycle regulations, but with everyone and their uncle putting in their vested two bits, finding a consensus wasn’t easy. When the first draft notification came out in August 2013, there were more inputs from various quarters, and it was only in February 2014 that the final notification was released. When the government nod for quadricycles finally came, it

‘Q’ differentiates quads from passenger cars. Qute sold in several countries; not India.

Qute feels very basic. Uses roll-up plastic covers for windows. Saves cost and weight.

Qute’s odd proportions the result of making most of space within regulated 3m length.

was based on regulations similar to Europe, but with more restrictions – the main one being that the quadricycle can only be used for commercial (transport) purposes and not as a private vehicle. Unlike in Europe, which has no maximum speed restriction, Indian regs set a 70kph limit. Other restrictions include a maximum length of three metres, a maximum weight of 450kg and power capped at 20hp.

These regulations haven’t given the quadricycle a free run, but for its detractors (read competitors) who continue to question its safety, they still aren’t tough enough. So, though the Qute has been given the green light by government authorities and is being exported to

several countries, it’s been dragged to court in India with several PILs slapped on it to stop it from going on sale. Entangled in this legal mess, Bajaj has pleaded its case in the Supreme Court, where a decision is pending. Until then, all that a deeply frustrated Bajaj can do is wait.

FROM THREE TO FOUR Never in the history of the Indian auto industry has a vehicle faced so much resistance and the best way to understand what the brouhaha is all about is to get up close and personal with it.

The Qute is oddly proportioned in a cute (pun intended) sort of way. The tightly regulated dimensions have been used to ◊

‘Upto 30kph, the Qute feels quite perky and responsive.’P

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OCTOBER 2016 AUTOCAR INDIA 5352 AUTOCAR INDIA OCTOBER 2016 www.autocarindia.comwww.autocarindia.com

Under-seat storage good for concealing valuables. The 216cc, single-cylinder engine is liquid cooled.

Spartan, no-frills cabin has basics like instrument cluster and audio system. Centre console design looks inspired by Nano’s. Inset: Sequential shift actually fun to use.

∆ make it as space-efficient as possible, leaving no room for style. It’s absolutely basic and the cabin feels as spartan as a cave. The biggest challenge for the Bajaj Auto engineers was to keep the Qute’s weight below the 450kg regulation. Unlike in Europe where quadricycle makers use lighter but more

expensive material like aluminium and even carbon fibre to keep weight down, the ultra-low-cost Qute didn’t have that luxury and had to use conventional steel. That meant stripping it of all amenities to get the weight down. There are no carpets, no interior cladding, no sound insulation to speak of and not even

windows – you get roll-up plastic flaps. An air-con? Forget it!

I have to keep reminding myself that the Qute isn’t meant to be a car but an autorickshaw with a fourth wheel, to re-calibrate my perceptions. And to put it in the right perspective, a regular three-wheel auto was wheeled out for me to directly compare.

Let’s start with the similarities. Both the Qute and the RE rickshaw have the same 180mm ground clearance and are powered by a single-cylinder, rear-mounted motor. The Qute though gets a slightly larger 216cc water-cooled motor that develops 13.5hp. Bajaj claims that it has achieved the optimum

‘Meeting the weight regs for the quadricycle was a big challenge.’

Large bins inside the doors can hold quite a bit of stuff.

BAJAJ QUTE

Price Rs 1.5 lakh (est, ex-showroom)L/W/H 2752/1312/1652mmWheelbase 1925mmTurning circle 7mKerb weight 400kgEngine 1 cyl, 216.6cc, petrolPower 13.5hp at 5500rpmTorque 19.6Nm at 4000rpmGearbox 5-speed manualTop speed 70kph (limited)Tyres 135/70 R12 (tubeless)

“Where to, sir?” Ferrying passengers in a Qute less stressful than in an autorickshaw.

The rear seat is comfier than in a rickshaw’s but not as easy to get in and out of.

balance of size with the Qute and the differences with the three-wheeler RE become apparent when you look at the weights and dimensions. The Qute is 60kg heavier at 400kg and though a bit longer and wider too, it has a similar overall footprint. It can’t quite turn on a dime like a rick, but has a seriously tight turning circle diameter of seven metres to do U-turns on the spot.

The biggest difference between a three- and a four-wheeler is the way they drive. Bajaj’s Chakan track was a good place to compare the dynamics of the two.

I can’t remember when I last drove an autorickshaw, but I had completely forgotten what it was like. The 1:1 steering on the single front wheel is super direct, so sudden inputs on the handlebar get the auto to teeter like a drunkard. In fact, my experience was an uneasy feeling of instability. Pushing as hard as I dared, I could feel the inside wheel lifting up through all the corners like a dog relieving itself at every tree. The good thing is that speeds are really low, so you have enough time to react before you really keel over. The brakes don’t inspire confidence either and you really need to stand on the brake pedal if you have to slow down in a hurry.

Jumping into the Qute presented me with an environment I’m completely familiar with – a steering wheel, three pedals, four doors, four wheels, and a roof. It’s roomy enough for four adults and a bit of luggage too, which works perfectly for short rides. You can’t slide in and out of it as easily as in an autorickshaw, but when it’s raining hard or freezing cold, the Qute is the one you’ll want to be in.

FIRST LOOK

The Qute’s low weight gives it a light-footedness you won’t find in a conventional car, and though it’s no sports car for sure (compared to a rickshaw it feels like one), it was much nicer to drive than I thought. Yes, it is crude with an engine that whines loudly behind you and a cart-like suspension that jolts your spine through every pothole. But the fairly quick steering and overall stability were really impressive. The sequential shift of the five-speed gearbox was actually fun and the brakes were pretty effective. The big surprise, however, was the perky throttle response and how smartly it shoots off the line. Because the Qute is speed-restricted to 70kph, it can get away with ultra-low gearing, which gives it a nice burst of acceleration till about 30kph.

The Qute feels far more stable, safe and secure than an autorickshaw, which answers the question if it’s a better alternative to one, pretty emphatically. It’s hard to fathom why the Qute has faced such bitter opposition, because, as a pure transportation tool in cities, it’s a no-brainer. Let’s hope the Supreme Court eventually thinks so too.HORMAZD SORABJEE

Tiny 135/70 R12 tyres help manoeuvrability. Space for a small bag in the nose.