Since Maruti didn’t have any new facelifts of its existing models as it has already launched various BS-4 compliant models, it decided to show what modifications you could do with your current Maruti. I for one was awestruck by the potential of these hatchbacks and I wonder why modification stereo types exist.

Modified Swifts:

Let’s start off with the Swift which is the most modification friendly car in India. Auto Expo saw two of these one a very usual modified Swift in Red with white stripes and a pretty good body kit which you can live with, the other had outrageous Alien machine sort of modification. Modifications were done on the interior as well, with dashboard material and colors changed and Stock seats were replaced with very comfortable old school sports coupe kind of ones.

Modified A-Star:

Modifications done on all these Marutis included exterior body kits like, front and rear bumpers and side skirts and even a spoiler in the case of A-Star which definitely was the most craziest mod on the show. A-Star’s body kit must have taken more quantity of molten plastic than all the other mods combined. It was so enormous that it looked like a lotus with endless layers of pink petals.

Alto Xcite:

The best modified cheap car award (if there was one) has to go to the Alto Xcite. Selling at 22,000units a month, it is definitely the most lovable cheap car in India. With that Maruti could have called it a day but no. Maruti has given the Alto a new avatar for the Expo. What we have here is the reincarnation of 70’s best looking hot hatchs. I am even tempted to call it the DB5 of cheap cars. This amazing blend of paint job and red blue racing stripes running down the sides is hugely responsible for the outcome. The 70’s style alloy wheels and tire threads seal the deal. This package wins me over completely.

Modified Ritzs:

The best mod on the entire floor has to be the Ritz blue whose modifications are done very tasteful and the fit is finished to the last millimeter. The color is fresh and the interior refreshing. The other Ritz, the one is gold is quite a show dog on the outside with a big hollow front grill. Again the interior is as neat as plain paper.

Wagon R Hiker:

The most happening mod on the floor has to be the Wagon R Hiker not because everyone was rampaging towards it but because it had the most amount of things on it, including a ladder. Interior is done in a mix of black and orange which is alright expect for the hideous center console orange cover.

Estilo Elegenza:

Estilo Eleganza as it is named, this modified Estilo is the most uninteresting mod on the floor, it would have been better off if it didn’t have any of those body kits on or if it was painted in a different color.

Modified SX4:

Let alone the body kits, the enormous radiator grill, what is kick ass about this SX4 mod is its alloys.

Grand Vitara Modified:

There were two Grand Vitara modifications on the floor one in purple and another in a greenish gold paintjob which is unique and the alloys it sports look like a sharp Kung-Fu weapon. On top of these mods this Vitara has a spare wheel on top of it. But for some reason a big SUV doesn’t fit well in a family full of hatchbacks.

Swift Dzire Luxury:

Swift Dzire Luxury was more of a sportier mod than luxury. Out of all the mods the Dzire luxury was the only one which looked familiar.

Scorpio Special Edition:

This Special Edition gets the trim treatment with European leather upholstery kind of thing. On the outside it gets a few checkered flag stickers and that’s about it, oh ya only a 1000 of these will be made. If you are into fine interiors you might want to act fast.

Scorpio Lifestyle Modified:

This Scorpio was spotted outside of Pragati Maidan where the Auto Expo is going on. Best guess is that it’s a modified version of Mahindra’s Scorpio Lifestyle which is made only up on special orders by Mahindra’s Customization Department. Some call it the Platoon, why? Cos some guy named his customized Scorpio Platoon and the name kind of got stuck.

Xylo Celebration Edition:

Xylo Celebration Edition gets a bit more than the European leather upholstery treatment. This edition gets a DVD player, a new music system, blackened B and C pillars, roof ski racks,new pearl paint job and distinguishing Celebration Edition Decals. Again only a 1000 of these will be made available.

Xylo Modified:

M&M showcased the body kitted Xylo we saw on the 2009 Autocar Performance show. This body kit costs 3.5 lakhs and include some seriously bonkers modifications. Click here to read more on this one.

Mahindra was one of the few who took this show seriously. Beside its “Great escape” crusade which involves a Scorpio pick-up going up and down a well gripped ramp outside the expo hall, it did put up a good show on the inside.

Mahindra showcased a new kit for its MPV Xylo which involved outer body skirts, front & rear bumpers much like the new muscular Scorpio, totally bizarre taillight and a inside filled with apples (not the fruit). The entire set up costs extra 3.5lakh rupees. It is uncertain whether it’s a technological showcase or it is up for sales.

Image Gallery:

The Dilip Chhabria designed Nano body & paint job was showcased at the 2009 Autocar performance show. This time the picture spoke more about DC’s work on this one. The front is well designed keeping in mind the design character of the Nano DC has made in quite comical. But DC went too far with the rear literally, feels like the rear bumper extends a meter away. Though everything is plastic the rear feels plastickier, a slight rear-end and there goes your 40k off the 80k price tag for the Nano kit.

Click this for Dilip Chhabria’s entire carnation car kits

Click through for the Image Gallery

Image Gallery:

Stinger a customized version of the original Bolero was showcased for the second time at the Autocar performance Show. Since we weren’t around the report the first time we are doing it now. After its first unveiling at last year’s APS the car was launched this April.

Stinger has a 95bhp engine and custom built front guard with bunch of all sorts of lights thrown on it. The bonnet has an array of opening to dissipate engine heat. All this and a custom paint job and interior mods it is destined only to be an off-roader.

The Bolero Attitude is a two door version of the Stinger. With hummer like paint job and 4 roof lights both these off-roaders look cool.

Travis Pastrana’s Shoe Bike:

Ken Block’s Subaru Trax STI:

Ever wondered how cool it will be to actually have your car customized by DC? Well, wonder no more. Go to a Carnation center near you to get your ride pimped up by the Auto style Guru of India.

Carnation is a multi-brand car service outlet promoted by the ex-CEO of Maruti Udyog Mr. Jagdish Khattar. DC is a designer whose designs put star trek star ships to shame, but DC was not able to make his designs come in to a proper customer based market because of the lack of marketing and supply chain. That’s where Carnation & Kahttar come in. While DC provides the design Carnation takes care of the Sales. That’s what the carnation website calls “ The Artist meets the Enabler”

Carnation and DC has collaborated this scheme in which customers can get their cars modified by the DC designed kits at a Carnation center. Currently kits are available for 4 models which include Toyota Innova, Honda City and Suzuki Swift. The Nano Job is currently under development and the kit will be available from next year.

The city job costs Rs 60,000 to Rs.75,000. The swift work Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 60,000 and the nano which is the cheapest of the lot is no more cheap with the most toiled kits worth Rs. 70,000 to Rs 80,000. The kits for the City and Swift include exciting front and rear bumpers, bonnet enhancements, side skirting and fog lamp.

While the City and Swift get the facial treatments, Innova undergoes by-pass surgery with completely reworked interiors which would easily be mistaken for a private jet cabin. With leather seats that recline to 150°, a privacy partition, a 19’’ LCD TV with optional Satellite TV, a Sound System with DVD player, a Beverages Chiller, Fold-out tables and ample leg room you would want to never reach your destination. The exteriors are reworked with accentuated bumpers and air ducts, easy-access platforms and aircraft styled roof module.

During the launch of this new venture DC (dressed like a Don from a bad mafia movie) told the press “ “Our aim is to make the customization business a mass market one. In the West, between two and five per cent of the total component business is from customization and there is a similar potential in India. Our customization kits would be made available through all the Carnation stores.”

When Mr. Kattar addressed “Our endeavor is to create ‘experience destinations’ for our customers, a nationwide world-class car care backup network and warranty will provide customers the assurance that their beautifully customized cars are in good hands when they need to be serviced.”

Carnation has 11 outlets in the country with one in Chennai , Amritsar, Noida, Kochi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

Its picture time! (sorry couldn’t make it more interesting)

on a personal note, a little more stretch would have been nice