Luxury van from DC
DC Design has customised a Tata Winger to suit the exacting requirements of a demanding customer.
DC Design has customised a Tata Winger to suit the exacting requirements of a demanding customer.
Tata Winger and Force Traveller are two prime candidates as people movers in the Indian market. They command almost the whole of van market in the country to themselves. So, it wasn’t surprising when DC Design helped a real estate developer to chose the Tata Winger as a platform for a customised vehicle that would suit his exacting requirements. The end result according to Dilip Chhabria, Founder, DC Design, is an ‘Alphard’ class of vehicle that goes much beyond when it comes to an experience offered by a van. This one’s about offering an experience that is distinct and desirable, he mentioned. Without altering the wheelbase of the Winger, DC Design has created a customised van that offers a ‘limo’ experience through an exterior that seems to have been inspired by a stealth fighter, considering its wedge shape and a smooth surface throughout. Expressed Chhabria, that vans in India are a pejorative term. “Customers are willing to pay top dollar for the ‘Alphard’ genre,” he added. For those who may not know, Alphard is a flagship van offering from Toyota. It is a luxury van produced by the Japanese automaker since 2002, and marketed as a luxury car for chauffeur business. The Royal Lounge Alphard Toyota
introduced in 2006 elevated the platform a notch up by adding more exclusivity and luxury. In its third generation, the Alphard and its sportier version, the Vellfire, are not only highly regarded, but make a coveted piece of van culture in many parts of the world.
To elevate the humble Winger, an earlier version of the Renault Trafic in terms of its monocoque body construction and front-wheel drive driveline configuration, it wasn’t easy. The brief, according to Chhabria, was for a high interior volume, arm chair comfort and a lounge ambience. To be precise, the requirement was for a vehicle that offered a spacious standing height inside. This would inturn have to be combined with an overall dimension where the package would not be bigger than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class in footprint. It were these key points that tilted the scale in favour of the Winger, according to Chhabria. “We did consider the Traveller too, but the exacting requirements of the customer led to the selection of Winger,” he averred. The Winger scored over the Traveller for its tighter dimensions, lower floor height, front-wheeler drive driveline configuration and a general perception of being more a family vehicle than the one that is used by institutions
largely. It takes some time before the smooth rising roof-line and the smooth silhouette of the vehicle makes an impression.
It is clearly in the direction of a ‘mono’-volume van. Driving the point in place is the form. It nicely brings the form to the fore. If an impression of the van staying true to the motto of ‘form and function’ that most automotive designers have close to their hearts, is had, the customised luxury van, makes a distinct impression for certain. Accounting for some unique design elements where the front fascia has a sleek and wide ‘single slat’ grille, the van marks a departure from the large grilles adorned by most, the world over. Including the Alphard. In addition to the sleek and wide ‘single slat’ grille, the proprietary bi-xenon head lamps add to the ‘mono’ volume look the van extends. A good contrast are the round fog lamps built into the bumper.
The body, analysed and engineered by using true-blue automotive processes, according to Chhabria, has the luxury van carving out a unique identity for itself. If the large front glass rakes at almost the same angle as the front lower half, the roof and the portion behind is where the real ‘luxury’ dimensions lie. Said Chhabria, “In an effort to get the ‘mono’ volume effect right, and without disturbing the dimensions of the stock winger, we reduced the ‘tumblehome’. The reduced ‘tumblehome’ frees up more interior volume.” The smooth rise of the roof-line clears good amount of head room, and enough to provide a standing height. It, at the other end, provides a distinct wedge shaped appearance to the vehicle. Leave for the large front windscreen that offers very good visibility, the other windows have been carved out such that they fall within the realm of the brief. They are not out of proportion in the overall scheme of things, but tend to look a little small nevertheless. The smart alloys and low profile tyres add to the luxury quotient. They also underline a touch of sportiness. The chrome handles make a curious case of embellishment for certain. Revealed Chhabria, “To achieve the right effect, we zeroed on an all-carbon open piece body moulding. We also decided on an all-new flush bonded glazings. The 20-inch dia. alloys mark an increase of four sizes.” Drawing attention to the electric main saloon door, he revealed that the luxury van
will be used by the developer for individual commuting in gridlock traffic, and for promotional work.
To be also used to showcase the projects of the company, the vehicle has been fitted with LED tail lamps. Taking three months to shape up after an amount of time spent on preliminary work such as design, engineering and tooling, the luxury van is a veritable walk-in lounge, according to Chhabria. This, he stated, was facilitated by the lower floor and lower centre of gravity. “The lower floor and lower centre of gravity helped us to create a contemporary envelope,” he added. Following his own guts rather than to benchmark against customised luxury vans that prevail, Chhabria worked on the premise that there is only 10 per cent room for creativity, the rest, dictated strictly by regulations and competition. “There was liitle margin for us to wander away from the broad norm of ‘form follows function’,” he said. Post the creation of the necessary space, focus was on creating an interior that was luxurious and soothing; was cool and even funky to an extent. The key elements of the interior are an aircraft-like bezel roof with indirect lighting. If a three-seater sofa is arranged just behind the driver partition, the captain chair faces it. It has its back to the rear. With large directional air vents and reading lamps, the interior saw DC Design creating a one PC plug for one PC vacuum infused carbon body structure. “There’s large one PC side panel moulding with builtin handles and chrome accents, averred Chhabria. There’s also a conference all-function power seating.
If an amount of effort went into conveying a no-nonsense style on the outside, the effort for the interior was to ensure a private jet bespoke look and feel. It was, in fact, combined with a business lounge look, according to Chhabria. If the reclining captain seat points at power and luxury, it also reminds of the business-class seat on aeroplanes. An interesting part of the van’s interior is the ultra high-end audio and power retracting video system. There’s privacy partition, and power drapes too.