Mortal Combat

Sweden goes up against Germany and challenges the top runners head-on. Can it redefine the benchmarks?

- Agasti Kaulgi

The Rajputs were probably one of the most ferocious fighters from ancient India. They defended their borders and lands for decades from the Mughals and then the British. In due course of their rule, the soil they fought for was soaked in their blood, vast plains and mighty deserts they ruled were transformed into huge battlefields.

But that’s all history now. Their weapons only occupy the museums and gigantic palaces built by some of the significant Rajputs now serve as luxurious hotels to the rich and famous from around the world. But the heritage lives on, and the scars on the walls of the forts tell a story. Rajasthan is brimming with history. A history of heroes, battles, victories and losses.

There’s another battle brewing up. No, not amongst the maharajas this time, and it’s not for land, either. It’s a three-way battle among European luxury heavyweights. No brownie points for guessing why we chose Rajasthan as the arena for this clash. And like all big battles, the Europeans have brought their best weaponry out. The hunter might become the hunted, and a new monarch might emerge. The stakes are high.

For starters, the SUVs competing in this battle bring in the maximum numbers in the SUV game for all these makers. And to get a bigger piece of the pie, all these SUVs are equipped with tech we could earlier find only on their bigger siblings. But times have changed and the buyer is getting more demanding by the day.