DC Designs' DC:S and Ambierod to be launched at Auto Expo

Famed car designer Dilip Chhabria or DC will display his sports car range at the 2008 Auto Expo. The DC sports car range would be called S and will come with a price tag of Rs 25 lakh.

Chhabria also plans to display his Ambierod concept at the New Delhi Auto Expo. The Ambierod is a hotrod in the tradition of the great American hot-rod cars.

<<<Ambierod concept photo

The S would be put into production depending on the response at the 2008 Auto Expo, said Dilip Chhabria. If there is good response, then the car would go into production. DC Design is planning to keep the number of the S at a limited 300 cars in the first year of the launch. The project is expected to incur an investment of Rs 60 crore. DC Designs may launch the S in the domestic and certain overseas markets.

DC Designs will source engines, transmission, suspension and the brake system from various global manufacturers, while it will itself make the chassis, body frame and lighting. The design will also be solely DC’s. The S is being made in such a way that it would offer 0-100 kmph in 3.7 seconds.

Then comes the Ambierod. The Ambierod design is based on the design of the oldest Ambassador. The super luxury Ambierod will be an expensive concept car. If produced, the Ambierod is likely to come in a Rs 4 crore price range, considering that it would come with an automated instrumental panel backed by satellite navigation system, rear vision camera, three LCD televisions, internet and videoconferencing-enabled flat bed and multi-coloured mood lighting. The Indian Express reported that the Ambierod will be built on a BMW chassis, and will have the exterior of an Ambassador.

Sorry for being a little confused here - hotrods with satellite navigation?

Something is wrong, or what Chhabria has in mind is not a true hotrod. We just will have to wait and see.

Dilip Chhabria also plans to start the DC College of Designs in August 2009 on the outskirts of Pune.

The luxury segment is the fastest-growing category in India with a growth rate of 26% in 2007. Chhabria has been quoted in a report saying that the custom-design vehicle market is experiencing a boom with Indian customers ready to spend about Rs.4-Rs.6 million ($100,000-150,000) for a custom-designed car, while customers abroad are willing to pay more than Rs.10 to Rs.20 million ($254,000-500,000).