Ambassador 2.0 to be launched in 2024

India's National Car a.k.a Indian Beetle - Ambassador, to be reimagined in its new avatar by Hind Motor Financial Corporation of India (HMFCI) and its French joint venture firm Peugeot

The Classic Ambassador from Hindustan Motors

Image source: Wikipedia

The King of Indian roads

After Morris sold the rights & tooling to Hindustan Motors in 1956, Morris Oxford Series III was launched as the Ambassador followed by Hindustan 14 and Landmaster in 1957 based on the Series I and Series II models. After around eight generations of the iconic vehicle, it would be interesting to see what the French automaker Peugeot and HMFCI has to offer!

It was truly the king of Indian roads because it was amazingly spacious, soft suspension with elliptical leaf spring, bold facia with circular headlamps and a huge grille, dimpled bonnet, curvy boot, high ground clearance, 1.5L engine displacement and more. Overall the car looked well-proportioned and was compared to the Volkswagen Beetle because of its bug shaped appearance. During its Mark II era, it had no competitors except Premier Padmini and the Standard Gazel.

Ambassador car was also a politician's favourite for a really long time and enjoyed monopoly, since not many models were available back then. Since early 90s we have seen the white Ambassador cars with a red siren and knew it belonged to someone from politics or government officials. That's the level of impact this beaut had on its country people.

Concepts

India's top automotive designer turned auto maker Dilip Chhabria unveiled the super luxury car Ambierod at Geneva Motor Show and Auto Expo in India, a concept based on the iconic car Ambassador.

The concept Ambierod by DC2 Design

Image source: Wikipedia

Ambierod was Dilip Chhabria's vision for the Hindustan Ambassador. DC made sure to retain the core elements; big front grille, dimpled bonnet, circular LED headlamps and tail lights, squared wheel arch, massive alloys and an exaggerated curvy boot. We do get to see some new and exciting features such as gullwing doors, modern interiors, low ground clearance, BMW chassis powered by V12 petrol engine.

The electric concept of the Ambassador as rendered digitally by DC2 Design

Image source: Facebook/@dc2design

An electric version of the iconic Ambassador was visualised by DC2 Design and would go into production if it meets minimum orders. It is mainly targeted at politicians, celebrities and the elite to own the national car with modern touch and fancy features. DC2 Design has made an attempt to retain the core elements with some enhancements such as bold and big front grille in chrome, angular LED headlamps, sharp boot as compared to the curvy ones before, reduced dimpled bonnet, protruding squared wheel arch, multi-spoke steel rims and has two doors. Overall, the concept looks quite stylish and yes, it does remind us of an Ambassador. It would be exciting to see the e-Amby hit Indian roads!

The World's Best Taxi

Top Gear's executive director Richard Hammond had organised a shootout in 2013 for the world's best taxi and our very own Hindustan Ambassador emerged as the winner leaving behind all the global brands.

The Ambassador taxi in the city of Kolkata

Image source: Pinterest

BBC has declared the Hindustan Ambassador as the world's best taxi beating off its tough competition from Great Britain's1997 Fairway, Mexico's 1970 Volkswagen Beetle, United States' Ford Crown Victoria, India's Hindustan Ambassador, South Africa's Toyota HI Ace, Germany's Mercedes E-Class and Russia's Streched Lincoln Town Car.

India's Hindustan Ambassador taxi in action competing for the world's best taxi title by BBC

Image source: Top Gear Fandom

It was not a race challenge but a battle to win the title where the cars crashed into each other & railings, flips & rolls, limousine split into two and more. Yet, in the final lap Ambassador was the winner leaving behind iconic cars Volkswagen Beetle and London Taxi! This title from a world renowned channel BBC and the programme Top Gear is a prestigious event for Indian Automotive Industry.

The Comeback

The electric version of the Amby has many puzzles, the most important one being; is it going to retain the vintage look or go crazy and modern? There have been quite some comebacks in the recent times like Jawa, Vespa, upcoming Lambretta and people have accepted them with open hearts. Let's wait and watch, if the new Ambassador is going to be equally promising and we get to see a lot of them on Indian roads, again.