Lewis Hamilton Wins The Belgian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton clinched victory at the Belgian Grand Prix ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg. Lewis, starting from pole position (sixth in succession) had complete control throughout the race and crossed the chequered flag 2.058 seconds ahead of Rosberg. The Briton has 227 points after this race followed by the German's Nico Rosberg 199 and Vettel's 160. 

The win also extended his championship lead to 28 points. Rosberg had a bad start as he fell to fifth place and Force India Perez moved to second place during the race. Ferrai couldn't capitalize much in its 900th F1 championship race.

It was also the 80th podium for Hamilton equalling the mark of his childhood hero and the late Brazilian champion Ayrton Senna. It was tough luck for the four time champion Sebastian Vettel. Looking for a podium finish, he suffered a right rear tyre failure on the penultimate lap after Ferrari’s gamble of one stop strategy. French driver Romain Grosjean of Lotus grabbed the opportuity for the third place. It was Grosjean's first podium of the season and also his first podium since the 2013 US Grand Prix.

"Great job, thanks so much for everything guys. It was an amazing weekend for me. Incredible job by the team throughout weekend. Today was a dream ,the whole weekend the car was fantastic." said Hamilton after the win

Russian Daniil Kvyat finished fourth for Red Bull team followed by Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India. Brazilian Felipe Massa of Williams and Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari finished sixth and seventh respectively. Dutch driver Max Verstappen of Toro Rosso finished a creditable eight spot after strating 16th on the grid. Nico Hulkenberg of Force India had to retire on the grid with mechanical problems. Last year's winner Australian Daniel Ricciardo retired too facing engine's power failure at the on lap 21.

Audi Launches The A6 Matrix At Rs 49.5 lakhs

Audi India announced the launch of A6 Matrix At Rs 49.5 lakhs (Ex Mumbai and Delhi). This is Audi's sixth launch for Audi this year after the launch of the Audi R8 LMX, Audi RS 7 Sportback, Audi TT Coupé, Audi RS 6 Avant and the Audi Q3.

The A6 was first highlighted at the Frankfurt Motor show in 2014. The A6 Matrix sedan features new LED headlamps, new tail lights with improved bumpers and side sills. On the safety front, the A6 Matrix gets eight airbags, two for the rear seats. 

It also gets an updated MMI with remote control for rear passengers.  On the engine front, it is powered with an updated 2 litre TDI engine generating 190 hp (140 kw) and is mated to seven-speed S tronic transmission. 

"With the new Audi A6 Matrix, we are writing the next chapter in an excellent success story. The Audi A6 Matrix sets new standards in innovative technology that makes the sedan even more efficient, more powerful, more intuitive and more sophisticated than ever. The car features Audi Matrix LED headlights, signature Singleframe grille, new engine and transmission and an advanced infotainment system along with comprehensive updates to the profile and design. The new Audi A6 Matrix with its ‘Engineered Intuition’ is a brilliant performer inside out and when you buy it, you couldn’t have asked for a better driving companion as #ItJustKnows. The new Audi A6 Matrix is our sixth launch this year. We have seen increasing demand and success with our launches and are confident of setting new benchmarks for the luxury car industry in India," said Mr. Joe King, Head Audi India.

Honda Activa Achieves Landmark, Crosses One Crore Sales Mark

Honda Motorcycle set a new record by crossing the one crore unit sales. Activa, launched in 2001 is the only scooter to hit the milestone. More than 2.1 million units of the Activa range were sold in the last financial year. The Honda Activa range consists of three scooters - Activa 3G, Activa i and the Activa 125. Also, it was the largest selling automatic scooter in June and July 2015. More than 2.5 lac scooters were sold in a single month in July 2015.

The Activa currently holds a 59 per cent share in the Indian scooter market. The company claims that Activa, since its debut has become the market leader in just 3 years.

Mr. Keita Muramatsu – President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, "This achievement is more significant since Activa (an automatic scooter) has gained the trust of One Crore happy families in India. From reactivating the scooter segment in India in 2001 to leading the Scooterization of industry today, Honda’s iconic Activa has changed the way Indians ride to fulfill their dreams. We thank our valued customers and families who have made Activa the most preferred choice of families for commuting in India."

Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, "A decade ago who would have bet that a scooter would once again be the largest selling two-wheeler in India. But today, Activa has broken the glass ceiling. We believe this demand for automatic scooters will continue to rise. And to further extend its undisputed market leadership and meet the future demand, Honda will continue to innovate its products and services."

Volkswagen India Celebrates Onam With Offers On New Vento And Polo

Europe’s leading car manufacturer, Volkswagen has announced offers on the New Vento and Polo across Kerala. Customers can avail a range of benefits and an assured Gold coin on every booking. As part of the celebration, Volkswagen customers can avail deals on car finance and other valuable offers on new car purchases. Attractive offers in after sales services include road side assistance, 3-years free insurance and other attractive benefits.

Mr. Kamal Basu, Head - Marketing & PR, Volkswagen Passenger Cars

Mr. Kamal Basu, Head of Marketing and PR, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited, said, "Onam is traditionally a time to usher in prosperity and mark new beginnings. With the Volkswagen Golden offers, it is our effort to go the extra mile and be a part of celebrations along with our customers in this festive season."

These offers are valid until August 31, 2015 across all Volkswagen dealerships in Kerala.

Polo:
• 3 years free insurance
• 3rd year free extended warranty
• 3 years annual maintenance contract

New Vento:
• Exchange bonus of Rs 20,000
• Loyalty bonus of Rs 20,000

Datsun Launches GO NXT Limited Edition at Rs 4.09 Lakhs

Datsun has introduced limited Edition of the hatchback, Datsun GO NXT ahead of the festive season in India. This Festive Edition will be available between August to December 2015 and 1000 units will be available. Datsun GO NXT Limited Festive Edition offers add-ons worth Rs 20,000 at a minimal price increase of Rs 5,000. 

The Datsun GO is a modern five-door, five-seat hatchback car and features rear parking sensors, remote central locking and chrome exhaust finisher. In addition, the car boasts piano black interior finish on the dashboard, meter console and around the gear shifter. 

The rear parcel tray and body side mouldings on the outside add to the convenience and appeal. On the engine front, it offers 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder engine which gives maximum power output of 67bhp @5,000 RPM and a peak torque of 104Nm @4,000 RPM.

Arun Malhotra, Managing Director - Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. quoted, "We in India save most of our purchase decisions for the festival season. Datsun GO has been purposefully designed for Indian market rather than adapted to fit and boasts best in class space, performance and economy. With the NXT Festive Edition, we are offering a host of convenience features that add to the functionality, practicality and appeal of the car." 

Shamim Khan Wins Gulf Monsoon Scooter Rally For Fourth Time

Shamim Khan from Nashik and riding a Mahindra Rodeo won the 2015 Gulf Monsoon Scooter Rally taking his win tally to four overall. Shamim, driving for Team Mahindra won the demanding 35-km race in a timing of 31 minutes and 59 seconds in penalties. He has earlier won in 2003, 2004 and 2010. The Gulf Monsoon Scooter Rally was sponsored by Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd. and organised by Sportscraft on Sunday. Shrikant Karani, founder member of Sportscraft has organized more than a remarkable 350 events and also entered its name in Limca book of records. 

Defending champion R Natraj of TVS Racing was forced to pull out immediately at the first Time Control itself due to mechanical failure of his scooter. He was among four who failed to finish. Pune’s Pinkesh Thakkar of Team Ceat, astride a Kinetic Honda, was second in 33 minutes and 45 seconds, while Bhopal’s Syed Asif Ali of TVS Racing, astride a TVS Wego, third in 33:54 seconds. 

"This was the toughest of all the monsoon races I have competed in. It did not rain so heavily during the race, but, as a result, the surface at the finish was sandy and loose. It was difficult to launch that final burst on the home straight at the time controls," said Khan, while nursing his injuries suffered from the bad fall he had.
The two women riders who braved the challenge admirably deserve special mention. Nidhi Shukla of Team Ceat, riding a Suzuki Access, completed the course in 46 minutes.14 seconds, while Vishakha Falsunge, on Honda Activa, was completed in 1 hour, 11.28 seconds penalty points.

The rally was flagged off by from Hotel K Star in Belapur CBD by Nilesh Garg, Channel Sales Head Gulf Oil Lubricants. Riders had to exercise extreme control while negotiating the steep inclines, hairpin bends and water-logged stretches they encountered. 36 out of 40 drivers completed the rally this year. Bhopal’s Mohammed Ali Khan on a Suzuki Swish, reached 4th (34 minutes, 32 seconds) and was adjudged the best and awarded the late Firdosh Vajifdar trophy for his spirited riding. While Shamim Khan won the overall title and topped in the 160 cc 4-stroke class, Thakkar won the 81cc to 110cc class 2-stroke class. Former champion Manjeet Singh Bassan, of team Ceat, astride an LML Vespa, won the 111cc to 160cc class, finishing in 35.37 seconds. 

WRC 5 Unveils Regional Pack Shots

Bigben Interactive and French racing game developer Kylotonn Games is all set to unveil the front-pack artworks of WRC 5, the official 2015 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) game. The date hasn't been confirmed yet for WRC 5, however it is scheduled for Autumn 2015 release and will be available for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PS Vita and PC.

Players around the world will find different cars featured on the pack shot of WRC 5, highlighting the popularity of manufacturers, teams and drivers in each region. Here is the selection of cars and drivers:

United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and East Europe (Except Poland) : Kris Meeke - Citroën DS 3 WRC - Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT

France and Benelux: Thierry Neuville – Hyundai i20 WRC – Hyundai Motorsport

Australia and New Zealand: Hayden Paddon – Hyundai i20 WRC – Hyundai Motorsport – Hyundai Mobis World Rally Team.

Spain, Italy, South Africa and Poland: Robert Kubica – Ford Fiesta RS WRC – RK World Rally Team

Germany, Switzerland and Austria: Sébastien Ogier – Volkswagen Polo R WRC – Volkswagen Motorsport

The Science Of Speed.

Speed Isn't Everything, It's The Only Thing!

Honda Sports Bike CBR 650F Launched For Rs 7.30 lakhs

Honda Motorcycle unveiled five new models at RevFest 2015 conducted in Mumbai including the CBR 650F . Akshay Kumar, brand amabassador for Honda Motorcyle graced the event. Other bikes launched were the 110cc motorcycle LIVO, 160cc CB Hornet 160R, the new CBR 250R and new CBR 150R. 

L to R - Akshay Kumar, Mr. Y.S Guleria_ SVP, Sales & Marketing, HMSI, Mr.Keita Muramatsu_ President & CEO, HMSI Mr.Noriaski Abe_ CEO, Regional Operations, Asia Oceania and Taapsee Pannu, Celebrity

Honda’s 650cc is powered by 649cc, liquid-cooled, 16 valve DOHC engine, in-line 4 cylinder mated with 6 gearbox engine. It gives maximum power of 88.2PS at 11,000 RPM. CBR 650F comes with Honda Ignition Security System (H.I.S.S) that automatically disables engine starting by means of electronic control. The meter displays Digital Speedometer, Digital Bar Tachometer, Dual Trip Meter, Digital Bar Fuel Gauge and a Digital Clock. 

CBR650F has split six spoke wheels and has 180mm wide tyre at rear. The sports bike has 320mm double disc brakes in front and 240mm hydraulic disc at the rear. The Clip-On handle bars helps rider lean more. The mono shock suspension offers 7-stage spring preload adjustment. The sports bike has launched at Rs 7.30 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) will be available at selected showrooms across the country.

The Honda CB Hornet 160R sports a 160cc single-cylinder engine similar to the CB Unicorn. The engine churns out a maximum power output of 14.5bhp at 8,000rpm and 14.61Nm of peak torque. Features of CB Hornet 160R:

• Dynamic Mass forward design
• Tough & Sharp shape with Position lamps
• LCD Digital meter
• New Wave Disc with CBS
• Wide Rare Tyre
• Short edgy tail with “X” shaped LED
• Quick acceleration with High performance Honda 160cc engine

The Honda CBR 250R receives the new sports graphics and colour. The motorcycle will sport a 249cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke engine that churns out 26PS of maximum power and peak torque of 22.9 Nm. 

Honda CBR 150R also gets new graphics and colour options. The CBR 150R is a 149cc, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder engine and gives 18.5PS of power and 12.66 Nm of torque. 


The new 110cc LIVO is a 110cc 4-stroke advanced Honda engine an comes in 4 colors – Athletic Blue Metallic, Pearl Amazing White, Sunset Brown Metallic and Black; and is available for sale in two variants Self-Drum-Alloy and Self-Disc-Alloy. The new LIVO is priced at Rs 57,090 for Self-Drum-Alloy; and Rs 59,590 for Self-Disc-Alloy (Ex-showroom, Mumbai).

Chevrolet Complete Care Program Introduced In India

General Motors India has announced Chevrolet Complete Care Program for all new and existing customers. Under the Chevrolet U-First initiative, women customers will be provided free pick up and drop off of their Chevrolet cars for service, by the Chevrolet Authorised Workshop.

Arvind Saxena, President & Managing Director, General Motors India said, "Our customers here in India, just like others around the world, have high expectations. Our goal is to demonstrate to our customers that we truly care about them throughout their ownership experience. We want to establish complete trust to earn customers for life through Chevrolet Complete Care. The Chevrolet Promise is industry first and remains unique by virtue of our commitment to refund any excess periodic or scheduled maintenance cost at the end of 3 years or up to 40,000 kilometers, whichever is earlier. The programme is applicable on Spark, Beat, Enjoy, Sail, Sail Hatchback and Cruze."

Customers can also extend the total warranty of their vehicles up to 1,50,000 km/5 years at a nominal cost under Chevrolet Warranty. In addition, 24x7 Roadside Assistance Program is provided free for 3 years with all new purchases. 

GM India overall operates 231 Chevrolet sales outlets and 257 service outlets throughout the country.

FCA Launches Abarth 595 Competizione In India For Rs 29.85 lakhs (USD $46750)

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India has announced the launch of its much awaited iconic Italian brand, FIAT Abarth 595 Competizione. The iconic Abarth 595 Competizione was unveiled at the Buddh International Circuit where we have seen three seasons of Formula 1 being hosted. It also showcased the all new Punto Abarth which has a 1.4 litre four-cylinder turbocharged T-Jet engine.

The 595 Competizione is a 3-door hatchback, powered with a 1.4 L T-Jet engine producing 160 PS of power, and races from 0-100 in just 7.6 seconds. The maximum torque generated is 230 Nm@2750 – 3000 RPM with the top speed estimated to be around 210 kmph. The 595 Competizione features large 17 inch alloy wheels to ensure it remains gripped to the road. The exterior body is made up of steel and it is a forward wheel drive car. The Abarth 595 Competizione comes with ventilated brake discs. The Abarth 595 Competizione is provided with infotainment system, Xenon headlamps, rear parking sensors and Monza exhaust systems. 

The steering wheel is small, leather wrapped with multifunction buttons cladded on it. The bright round dials behind the steering favours sportiness. The 595 launched in India comprises AMT transmission with paddle shifts mounted on the steering wheel. It features well contoured hand stitched leather seats. It comes with two driving modes, normal and sport for an enhanced driving experience.  

Technology features in the Abarth 595 Competizione includes, electric sunroof, TTC (Torque Transfer Control), TFT instrument cluster, Blue & Me handsfree system with USB port, Front suspension with FSD valve and Koni FSD rear suspension.

The Abarth 595 Competizione will be available in four colours - Iridato White, Scorpione Black, Cordolo Red and Campovolo Grey. The company in its inaugural year will be introducing the 595 Competizione through the CBU (Completely Built Unit) route.

Speaking on the launch, Kevin Flynn, President and Managing Director, FCA India Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. said, "We are extremely pleased to introduce the iconic Italian brand - Abarth from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' stable to our customers in India. The flagship model Abarth 595 Competizione, a sports performance coupe, is renowned world over for its sheer performance, iconic style and rich heritage. With this launch, we are hoping to bring this same legacy to our Indian customers and are confident that Abarth would provide a superior driving experience."

Roland S. Folger Appointed Managing Director and CEO for Mercedes-Benz India

Mercedes-Benz today appointed Roland S. Folger as the Managing Director and CEO of its India operations. Roland S. Folger will replace Eberhard Kern who will assume a new role for the European market. Eberhard Kern served three years in India and the growth strategy of Mercedes-Benz India has been enhanced including the expansion of the production capacity. In 2014, Mercedes-Benz India achieved sales history by crossing the five digit sales number. After six years, Mercedes-Benz today leads the luxury car market in India.

Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented, "It was an enriching and a humbling 'India experience' for me. After heading India operations for three years, I can confidently state that in my entire three decades of Daimler career, the stint in India remains the most memorable one. It is very satisfying to see the immense growth of Mercedes-Benz in India as our sales volumes nearly doubled from 2012 to 2015. I am confident that the brand will scale new heights with the able leadership of Roland. ”

Roland Folger, currently the President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia stated, "I have worked across various countries and cultures but have always been fascinated with India as a nation. India’s rich cultural diversity, its people, their varied customs, different languages, diverse topography combined with its status as a rising economic power, makes it one of the most interesting markets to grow the business today. With my experience across business divisions I look forward to pursue the 'India story' further and make the foundation of Mercedes-Benz even stronger in this dynamic country. We have one of the finest teams and dealer partners on-board with us and I am eager to be part of it."

Roland Folger will take the new responsibility of heading Mercedes-Benz India from 1st of October 2015. He was appointed Vice President for Sales, Marketing and After Sales at MBUSI in Tuscaloosa, where Mr. Folger was part of the pioneering team that introduced the first M-Class in the USA.