Maximum City - Custom Art

NTF Design, which was set up in Delhi around eight months ago, has been doing some really eye-catching work with cars. And right on cue, this Honda City, which we drove, is a real crowd-puller...

Story & Photographs Vikram Gour

Reworked front and rear bumpers apart, what really catches your attention is the City's scissor doors. Snazzy sticker jobs are one thing, doors that swing up to let you in are altogether something else. I had to take this one for a spin, so I decided to take it down to the City Centre Mall in Gurgaon and see what people thought of this car.

Reaching my destination, heads are already turning as I'm slowing down. While the fancy stickers get a fair bit of attention, the clincher is when I stop and open the doors to get out. Once those doors go up, I'm surrounded even before I can get my feet out of the car. Now everyone wants to stick their head into the car. People want to know if these doors will be available as standard fitment from Honda, or is this a new model that'll be launched soon. Yeah right, you wish! A bunch of girls

The City's scissor-doors create a major stir wherever the car is parked. On top of that, the chromed, 8-spoke alloys and Japanese anime-style graphics make it look like something that was driven off the sets of 2 Fast 2 Furious. Now if only we can find someone who'll bolt on a turbo to this baby, and fit a NOX kit as well...

smile and proclaim that the car is 'very cute.' Well, if you insist. And one kid informs his Dad that this is the exact car in which he ought to be going to school in!

In the meanwhile, cars on the main road are slowing down to catch a glimpse of 'my' City, and we're causing a full-blown traffic jam. I see cops sauntering up to me and it's time to get the hell out of here.

Earlier, when I had a word with Navin Jain, Director, NTF, he said that in India, car customization is still a very small, niche segment. He explained NTF is looking at changing that by mass producing car kits and selling them across the country through retailers. They will also have more than one design available for each particular type of car, thereby ensuring better choice and more exclusivity. With regard to materials used by NTF, the company mainly uses PolyUrethane, which is extremely flexible and complies with European safety standards for all external add-ons. NTF's car kits are expected to hit the market by August/September 2006 a nd will be available across the country. Standing out from the crowd was never easier!

Source: Car India June 2006.