Comments
Get ready to see more Ferraris, Porsches and Audis on the roads.
We're not hinting at an increase in demand or sales, but at the new lifestyle choice among the rich and uber-rich.
Club Torque is a first of its kind car club where members can book these top-end luxury car models and vroom around town.
Ride in luxury
Best suited for a high networth party or for a weekend get-away, members are entitled to a certain number of days behind the wheel of the exotics of their choice – the number of days varying with each membership level.
A concept which is popular in the UK and the US, this club is meant to provide a platform for car enthusiasts and high networth individuals to connect.
“As the ownership and maintenance of the cars is difficult and expensive, it is a practical concept in India. These cars are only available to the members of our club. There is a limit to the number of members we accept. We already have 11 members and plan to close membership at 30,” said Amit Jain, CEO, Club Torque, which is only one-month-old.
The club has a cap of six members per car, which means new cars will be added to meet member demands.
Top-end models
At present, the club has Ferrari F430, Audi R8, Porsche 911, BMW Z4 and Mercedes E-Cabriolet as a part of their collection.
The club has three kinds of membership – elite, sports and enthusiasts, with an annual membership fee of Rs 15 lakh, Rs 8 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively.
Each member can get up to 80 days of car usage annually.
“Members can use the cars for a minimum of three days and maximum of ten days at a stretch,” said Jain, who has displayed some cars at the Mumbai International Boat Show. Each car is completely insured and in case of an accident, members would have to pay the difference, if the bill exceeds the insured amount.
Criteria for applicants
However, money doesn't guarantee membership, says Jain. There are a number of criteria that applicants of the club have to meet. “We do an initial soft profiling, check the past driving record before considering the membership,” he said . And if you're below 25 years, you will have to wait to get your hands behind the wheel.
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.