No way!

Will we ever see these cars in the country? No chance.

HONDA CIVIC TYPE R
Hardware: 2000cc, 200 bhp

Why: So the Civic is here and Honda have even satisfied us with paddle shifts. But for real enthusiasts, the Civic is the European one. Especially the one that says "Type R" on its boot and has 200 bhp under the hood.

The European Civic looks so futuristic, you'd expect Martians to get out of it. But for us it's just too small. And too damn advanced as well. We might have warmed up to the Vertus and the Vios of this world, but when it comes it cars, we still prefer them simple.

MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION IX FQ-340
Hardware: 2000cc, 340 bhp

Why: This is the car that really should have made it here. The Lancer Evolution is basically the same car as the Lancer/Cedia that's sold here. Except that this one makes you a God-fearing person the instant the loud pedal is worked at.

And given that the car's got rallying in its blood, the Evo would be ideal to kick up some dust on our roads. It has four doors and four-wheel drive as well. That means you and your family can land up at the mall sideways. It isn't that expensive either.

Honestly, we have been shouting hoarse about how this car makes perfect sense for India, but the guys at HM never seem to hear us. Anyway, we really hope we are wrong about this one because the next generation EVO X is just too extreme. And if the IX doesn't make it, the X never will.

SMART FORTWO
Hardware: 700cc, 61 bhp

Why: The Smart is so small, that if it were sold in America, it would come with a "This is not a toy, children may swallow" warning on it. But in a city like Mumbai, it would be perfect. Its 700cc motor is fuel efficient, but its 800cc 40 bhp diesel motor is as frugal as a Hero Honda Splendor. But at close to Rupees eight lakh, you would have to be incredibly brave to buy one. And by brave, we mean stupid.

MERCEDES SLR MCLAREN
Hardware: 5300cc, 617 bhp

Why: So Lamborghini is already here. And if things go to plan, Ferrari should be here soon too. As would Aston Martin. However Mercedes has been in the country for over ten years now and they have sold their most exclusive cars in India. From the S-Class to the Maybach and even the SL, we have lapped them all up.

However, at close to Rupees three crore, the SLR is just too exclusive a supercar for us. Maybe it could do well if they get a four-door LPG version.

DODGE RAM SRT10
Hardware: 8300cc, 500 bhp

Why: The Dodge Ram is so big that the first time you look at it, you wonder if Chrysler engineers accidentally multiplied all the dimensions by 10.

Seriously, this truck is so big, it's likely to make a dent on the planet before rearranging its bumpers if it were ever to have an accident. But that's if someone ever gets it anywhere in the first place "" it returns a ghastly three kilometres to the litre, you see. So now we really know why it isn't ever going to make it here.

BMW M3 CS
Hardware: 3200cc, 338 bhp

Why: The people from Bavaria should have a plant up and running by early next year and soon both the 3 and the 5 Series would be regular up-street furniture too. Sure there will be the odd Beemer fan who would shell out 7 Series money for the maniacal M3 too, but an M3 CS... you really have to be blue-blooded for that.

After all, for the extra cash, the CS is just 0.3 secs quicker to a 100 kph over the standard M3. Not to mention that ironically the CS comes with lesser equipment too. Something the strong "value for money" gene in us just wouldn't approve of.

Besides by the time BMW makes it to our shores, the new M3 would be out.

ARIEL ATOM
Hardware: 2000cc, 220 bhp

Why: This really isn't a car, it's a precision instrument. The Atom is so focused you half expect it to come with keys to your own race track. Now, the Ariel Atom comes with a 200 bhp engine and er, that's about it.

The good news though is that it's a Honda unit. Now given that the Japanese giant has been around in India for a long time, Atom owners in the country wouldn't have a problem with service. However with enough equipment (or the lack of it) to give an autorickshaw a complex, there is no way in hell that we would shell out Rs 20 lakh for this car. Well, not at least till we have our very own Talegaon Speedway.

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R32
Hardware: 3200cc, 246 bhp

Why: The Golf is the definitive big-small car. It's even been around for four decades now. It's reliable too and better built than some East Asian luxury cars. Which is exactly why it won't make it here.

Especially with the highly economical V6 motor that gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 155 bhp/tonne. Sorry, did we say economical? We meant massive. Anyway, the Golf might be a supermini, but with more power than a Mercedes-Benz S350, it is just way too super for our roads.