Jaguar Land Rover India Records 45 Percent In Jan-Mar 2016 Quarter

Jaguar Land Rover India today announced a strong growth of 45 percent for the Jan-Mar 2016 quarter period, crossing 1,000 units, on the back of extremely high demand for sales of its recently launched new models such as All-New Jaguar XE and Discovery Sport.

Mr. Rohit Suri, President, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd (JLRIL), said: “The Jaguar and Land Rover brands are now firmly established in India. The All-New Jaguar XE, which we introduced in the Indian market in February 2016 in petrol derivatives, has received a tremendous response. Also, the demand for Model Year 2016 Jaguar XJ, Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport continues to be extremely robust. We thank our esteemed customers for choosing Jaguar Land Rover and making this strong growth possible.”

The Jaguar range in India also includes F–TYPE (starting at INR 125 Lacs in CBU form), locally manufactured XF (starting at INR 47.7 Lacs), locally manufactured XJ (starting at INR 99.99 Lacs) and locally manufactured All-New XE (starting at INR 39.90 LACS). All prices mentioned are ex – Mumbai, pre-octroi.

Nissan inaugurates two new dealerships in Mumbai

Nissan Group of India has inaugurated its its two new retail outlets at Chembur and Kandiwali, Mumbai. The dealerships were opened by Arun Malhotra, managing director, Nissan Motor India Private Limited. Nissan now has a network of 215 touch points across 165 cities.

Arun Malhotra, MD Nissan Motor India Pvt Ltd inaugurating Shakti Nissan in Chembur

The company has a commitment to operate 300 sales and service touch points by the end of the March 2017. In the last few months, Nissan has increased its network in the state of Maharashtra to 34 sales and service outlets. 

Speaking about the dealer openings, Arun Malhotra, managing director, Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. said, “I am delighted to inaugurate these two new dealerships in Mumbai. Adding them to the Nissan network in Mumbai marks Nissan’s three dealership openings in Mumbai in the last six months. We continue to expand our reach and provide our customers with best-in-class products and services together with our dealer partners.

Mercedes-Benz India introduces the C 250 d

The country’s largest luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz, today redefined the mid-size luxury sedan segment in India, by introducing the all new C 250 d. The C-Class which is offered in C 200 and C 220 d variants, remain one of Mercedes-Benz’s highest selling models and a key product in its unmatched offerings in India.

With the introduction of the new C 250 d, ‘The World Car of the Year’ Mercedes- Benz now presents the fastest and the most powerful car in its segment. The launch of the C 250 d is also significant, as for the first time Mercedes-Benz introduces its revolutionary 9G-TRONIC transmission in the C-Class. The C 250 d was launched by Mr. Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes Benz India.

The new C 250 d’s 4-cylinder diesel engine is the most powerful and fastest in the segment. The engine features an ECO start/stop function which drives efficiency. The engine produces 150 kW at 3800 rpm with a maximum torque of 500 Nm between 1600-1800 rpm, which is the highest in the segment.

Navigation software and map data in the C 250 d, is set on a SD memory card and displays instructions in the instrument cluster for the driver. The spoken instructions are issued through the built-in loudspeakers.

In addition to the standard safety features such as ABS, BAS, ESP, ASR, Hill Start Assist, etc., the C 250 d remains the leader in terms of measures designed to guard against any danger and initiate protective measures. ATTENTION ASSIST warns the driver when it detects typical signs of drowsiness in steering behaviour. PRE-SAFE system comes with belt tensioners for driver and front passenger seats, closing function for side windows and panoramic sliding sunroof and positioning of front passenger.

Nico Rosberg wins the Australian Grand Prix in style

Nico Rosberg won the Australian Grand Prix clearly 8 seconds ahead of reigning champion Lewis Hamilton. This was also his fourth successive Formula 1 victory in an Australian Grand Prix. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel sneaked in third.

The highlight of the race was Alonso walking away safely when his McLaren ran into the rear of Esteban Gutierrez's Haas, slammed into the wall and flipped.
The red flag was used and a 20 minute stoppage to the race.

Rosberg edged Hamilton wide at Turn 1 which allowed Raikkonen to sneak in through on the inside to move to second. Hamilton was sixth behind the Ferraris, Rosberg and even Toro Rosso's Max Verstappen and Felipe Massa's Williams. Four laps later, Hamilton overtook Massa. 

Raikkonen soon retired from third as his Ferrari gave way to power-unit failure leading to flames from the engine cover. Rosberg managed to hold his ground over the closing laps to take his 15th victory in Formula 1.

Ricciardo claimed fourth, followed by Massa, with Romain Grosjean scoring points for Haas on its debut. Force India's Nico Hulkenberg was seventh, followed by Valtteri Bottas for Williams. Daniil Kvyat was very unlucky as his car retired before the start.

Race results:
Pos Driver               
1 Nico Rosberg-Mercedes                         
2 Lewis Hamilton-Mercedes                  
3 Sebastian Vettel-Ferrari                        
4 Daniel Ricciardo-Red Bull/TAG Heuer
5 Felipe Massa-Williams/Mercedes         
6 Romain Grosjean-Haas/Ferrari                 
7 Nico Hulkenberg-Force India/Mercedes
8 Valtteri Bottas-Williams/Mercedes         
9 Carlos Sainz-Toro Rosso/Ferrari          
10 Max Verstappen-Toro Rosso/Ferrari         

Mini Convertible launched in India at Rs 34.90 lakhs

Mini has launched the new Convertible in India at Rs 34.90 lakh. The Convertible is longer, wider and taller than its predecessor and also gets a longer wheelbase. The chassis has been strengthened to make up for the lack of a roof, while the fabric roof can be deployed in 18 seconds at speeds of up to 30kph. However, the strengthening and roof-folding mechanism has added to the weight of the convertible which is about 115kg more than its hard-top sibling.

The Convertible is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine developing 189bhp and 28.55kgm of torque. The engine also comes with an overboost function that raises peak torque to 30.6kgm for a short period of time. This makes for a quick performance with Mini claiming a 0-100kph sprint time of 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 233kph. The engine is paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox.

The Convertible comes with a large list of add-on options to customise the interiors. The boot too is larger than before at 215 litres with the roof up, and 160 litres with the roof down. In terms of safety, the Convertible gets a deployable single-piece roll bar that rises from behind the rear seats when the sensors detect the possibility of a rollover situation. Additional safety systems include ABS, traction control and stability control to name a few.

The Mini Convertible is available in the petrol Cooper S guise and as a CBU import only.

Source

TVS Motor Company rolls out all new TVS Victor in Maharashtra

TVS Motor Company has rolled out its much awaited motorcycle, TVS Victor. With this launch, the company now has the widest product portfolio. 

First launched in 2002, TVS Victor had a glorious run. Among the top-selling commuter segments bikes in the country, TVS Victor was the first product indigenously developed by TVS Motor. It received excellent reception from buyers and took the market by storm clocking over 40,000 units each month way back in 2002.

The TVS Victor houses an advanced and refined 3-valve Ecothrust engine. An electric start fires up the 4 speed powertrain to churn out 9.6 PS  of power@ 8000 rpm with a torque of 9.4 Nm @6000 rpm. 

The new TVS Victor delivers an excellent mileage of 76 km/l under standard TVS test conditions. It carries an 8 litre fuel tank (including 2 litre reserve). The motorcycle has a wheelbase of 1260 mm with a ground clearance of 175 mm. TVS Victor comes in both disc and drum brake versions and is built on single cradle tubular frame.

Telescopic oil damped front suspension and 5 step adjustable hydraulic series spring suspension at the rear ensure smooth ride and handling. The new TVS Victor comes with new mirrors and instrument panel. The new 55 watt headlight is brightest in the segment.

It is available in six colours with contrasting graphics including Red, Black Red, Black Silver, Grey, Silver and Blue. It comes at a starting price of Rs 49,188 equipped with drum brakes, while the disc brake variant is priced at Rs 51,188 (both ex-showroom, Maharashtra).

Jagat Singh and Nagarjuna A wins the Truck Race, at T1 Prima Truck Racing

The Tata T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship, entering its 3rd season was held on March 23 2016 at the Buddh International Circuit. Indian drivers, Jagat Singh and Nagarjuna A won their first ever T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship in the Super Class category, organized for Indian truck drivers, in its third edition. These drivers were selected through one of the most comprehensive training and selection programs, for Indian drivers, from Tata Motors fleet customers' operations across the country.

       
We witnessed high speed action as the powerful Tata Prima T1 Prima Trucks roared at the Buddh International Circuit. Season 3 of the T1 Prima racing witnessed over 50,000 audiences who cheered on the speeding Prima trucks. Trained by some of the best race instructors in India over a period of three months, the winners took home Rs 10 lakh a piece.

In the Pro Class which had international truck racing drivers, David Jenkins of Team Tata Technologies won the race followed by Rick Collett and Graham Powell, both driving for Team Tata Motors in an action packed race.

T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship 2016 results:

SUPER CLASS (Indian Drivers)
Race 1
Jagat Singh                                          
Malkeet Singh                                   
Rajkumar Mahato                            

Race 2
Nagarjuna A                                       
Bhag Chand                                        
Anand                                                   

PRO CLASS (International Drivers)
Race 1
Mat Summerfield                            
Graham Powell                                 
Rick Collett                                          

Race 2
David Jenkins                                     
Rick Collett                                          
Graham Powell         


               

12 Indian racers finalized for the T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship 2016

What a fantastic day it has been. The Tata T1 Prima Truck racing, entering in Season 3 kicked off today at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC). Tata Motors also announced the final 12 Indian truck racers, who will compete in the SUPER CLASS category. This will be the first year that the Indian drivers debut in the championship, all thanks to Tata Motors.

The 12 Indian drivers selected for the championship are Nagarjuna A, Bacchu Singh, Rabinder Yadav, Bhag Chand, Rajkumar Mahato, Jitendra Singh, MD Parvez, Jagat Singh, Anand, Mohd. Iliyas, Malkeet Singh and Syed Akram Pasha

The new Indian Truck Driver Race selection and training program has been done under the first-ever T1 Racer Program (TRP) by Tata Motors. These Truck Drivers have been selected who are employed with Tata Motors’ key customers, from all across the country. 

The T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship will continue to host experienced international drivers representing six teams, featuring 12 Tata PRIMA race trucks. 

This season we are going to witness two race categories and four races:

• Two SUPER class – Comprising of Indian race truck drivers 
• Two Pro class - Comprising of Internationally acclaimed drivers with proven experience in the field of truck racing.

The Indian drivers will be seen competing in black PRIMA race trucks which are identical in look and build. The 12 coloured trucks competing in the PRO CLASS will represent six teams, who participated in the previous two seasons of the championship, with one new team.

Tata Motors has also partnered with some of the country’s leading automotive brands for this Season, WABCO, JK Tyre, Castrol, Cummins, Tata Motors Finance and Tata Technologies.

For those who want to know the specifications of the Tata Prima race trucks, it is powered by 370 BHP @ 2100 RPM and has a top speed of just over 130 Km/h.

TVS Motor Company launches Powerful Four Stroke TVS XL 100

TVS Motor Company has announced the launch of its new four stroke TVS XL 100 in Madhya Pradesh. 

The all new TVS XL 100 is powered by a 99.7cc four stroke engine which delivers 4.2PS power with excellent initial pick up and a top speed of 60kmph. TVS XL 100 returns best in class mileage of 67 kmpl under simulated test conditions as per TVS Motor standards.

The ergonomics of the all new TVS XL 100 have been designed to ensure a more comfortable riding position. Additional features include an easy kick-start, bold style muffler, bigger tank and stainless steel brake cable.

The all new TVS XL 100’s bold styling is complemented with attractive graphics and comes in five colours of black, red, green, blue and grey. Along with TVS XL Super and TVS XL Super Heavy Duty, TVS XL 100 is currently available across all TVS dealerships in Madhya Pradesh. TVS XL is priced at Rs. 30,248 ex showroom in Madhya Pradesh.

15 year old teen from England wins the Dubai's World Drone Prix

Dubai hosted the first ever World Drone Prix last weekend, 12th of March. The winner was a 15 year old pilot from England. Luke Bannister of Somerset led Tornado X-Blades Banni UK to win a $250,000 purse, part of $1 million in prizes handed out in the inaugural edition of this race.

You can see some of the action in this video.

At the event, it was announced that Dubai will host a World Future Sports Games next year in December and will include robotic swimming, running, wrestling and car racing, as well as drone flying.

"We are trying to bring the future closer to us," said Mohammed al-Gergawi, the United Arab Emirates' minister for Cabinet affairs.

At the World Drone Prix, the four pilots sat in racing-style seats, their eyes covered by goggles allowing them to watch a feed from a camera on their drone. The drones raced on a course behind them, zipping along a white track that occasionally reached up to pinch at the speeding aircraft for 12 laps with the skyscrapers of the Dubai Marina behind them.
At the end of the race, it was Luke who thumped his win.

Source

ICICI Bank launches Ferrari range of credit cards

ICICI Bank today announced the launch of its new range of co-branded credit cards in association with the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer, Ferrari. The Ferrari credit cards will be available in two variants – Ferrari Platinum Credit Card and Ferrari Signature Credit Card. Available on the Visa platform, these cards offer a wide range of exclusive privileges to complement Ferrari and motor racing fans’ lifestyle.

Exclusive benefits with the Ferrari Credit Cards by ICICI Bank:
-An all-expense paid invitation for top spenders each calendar year, to attend an official Ferrari Challenge race, visit the Ferrari factory & museum as well as participate in an event conducted by Ferrari (with Ferrari Signature Credit Card by ICICI Bank)
-A Scuderia Ferrari watch as a complimentary joining gift (with Ferrari Signature Credit Card by ICICI Bank)
-Upto 20% discount on Ferrari branded products at the Ferrari Store in Maranello, Italy
-Upto 15% and 10% discount respectively on Ferrari merchandise available at the Online Ferrari Store and Myntra.com

Other benefits:
-Complimentary Access to domestic airport lounges in India
-‘Buy One Get One’ offer on www.bookmyshow.com
-15% savings on dining bills at over 800 restaurants across India through Culinary Treats Program
-Waiver of 2.5% on fuel surcharge valid on a maximum spend of Rs 4000 per transaction at all HPCL pumps

One can apply for a ‘Ferrari Credit Card by ICICI Bank’ by visiting any ICICI Bank branches, by logging into their internet banking account at www.icicibank.com or by sending an SMS to 5676766 with the text, “Ferrari Card”.

Volvo S60 Cross Country launched at Rs 38.9 lakh in India

Volvo has launched the S60 Cross Country in India at Rs 38.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). The S60 Cross Country was first unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in 2015.

The four-door sedan is built to do some occasional off-roading as well, as apart from the raised height – up by 65mm over the standard S60. The car comes with all-wheel drive as standard and comes with an impressive ground clearance of 201mm.

The S60 Cross Country is powered by the 2.4-litre D5 five-cylinder diesel engine used in the standard S60. The motor, a  2.4-litre D4, develops 189bhp, 42.83kgm of torque and sends power to all the wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Equipment available includes electric front seats, satellite navigation, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, front, side and curtain airbags, a laser assisted autonomous braking from speeds upto 50kph, hill descent control and hill start assist as part of the company’s City Safety system and a tyre pressure monitoring system amongst others.

Volvo is expected to launch a slew of new models in India this year. The car maker is likely to introduce its Polestar performance division sometime during the year, with a performance version of the S60 sedan.

Source

Suzuki launches ‘Made in India’ Baleno in Japan

After the overwhelming success of Baleno in India, Suzuki Motor Corporation, parent company of Maruti Suzuki India Limited launched ‘Made in India’ Baleno in Japan.

Baleno, first exhibited at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Sept 2015, was launched in India on 26th October 2016. Baleno is manufactured only in India at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar facility in Haryana.  Since its launch, Maruti Suzuki has sold over 38,000 units of Baleno cars in domestic market. Baleno will be exported more than 100 countries.

Baleno’s stylish design, spacious interiors, features and Suzuki’s latest technologies make it the ideal compact hatchback. With its “Liquid Flow” design theme, compact body, and spacious interior and efficient powertrains all on a new-generation platform - the Baleno offers style, utility, manoeuvrability, driving performance and fuel efficiency. It also offers comfort, especially on long-distance journeys, with plenty of space for adults in both the front and rear, as well as generous luggage space.

Bookings open for the exciting new compact hatchback Tata TIAGO

Tata Motors will commence bookings for its much-awaited stylish compact hatchback, Tata TIAGO from March 10, 2016, onwards. The Company has also launched an exciting opportunity for all car enthusiasts and Messi Fans in India to own the Tata TIAGO and meet the international sports icon, Lionel Messi, the global brand ambassador for the company’s Passenger Vehicle Business Unit.

Customers above 18 years of age can book a TIAGO either online or at any of the Tata Motors’ Authorized Dealership with a payment of INR 10,000 and become eligible to avail this once-in-a lifetime experience. The participating customer will be further requested for a response to the question ‘I love Tata TIAGO because…’ and basis the most creative response, the company will shortlist the first set of qualifiers. The final five winners, selected through a lucky draw, would be eligible to take any one person of their choice to visit Barcelona and meet the football legend, Lionel Messi. The winning entries will be announced after 30 days from date of closure of the promotion period on www.tatatiago.com. 

Harley-Davidson India opens First Dealership at Coimbatore

Harley-Davidson India will inaugurate its first dealership in city of Coimbatore, bringing its legendary motorcycles and world renowned culture to riders and enthusiasts in Coimbatore.

The Western Ghats Harley-Davidson is located at 1018, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore – 641018 and starting tomorrow enthusiasts can drop by to schedule a test ride or see the latest riding gear, and motorcycle parts and accessories. It will offer 13 motorcycles models by Harley-Davidson India, including the newly launched Sportster 1200 Custom. 

Since, the beginning of retail operations in India in 2010, there are over 12000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles on Indian roads. This growth is attributed to the company’s success in building a strong leisure motorcycle culture in India, a rapidly expanding dealer network, and an unrelenting focus on delivering a great customer ownership experience.

Jaguar Land Rover Inaugrates Its 3S Dealership Facility In Aurangabad

Jaguar Land Rover India has announced the opening of its world-class facility in Aurangabad. This state-of-the-art 3S facility was inaugurated by Mr. Cyrus P. Mistry, Group Chairman, Tata Group. 

This integrated state-of-the-art 3S (Sales, Service and Spare parts) facility has a fully equipped 12 bay workshop with body, paint and Approved facility (Certified Pre-owned vehicles). 

This dealership facility will enable customers to access a range of Jaguar and Land Rover products, including the Jaguar XF, XJ, F-TYPE and the All-New XE. For Land Rover, this will include, the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Discovery 4, Model Year 16 New Range Rover Evoque and New Discovery Sport. 

Suzuki Hayabusa now Made in India, will cost Rs 13,57,135

Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited has begun assembly of its flagship motorcycle - the Suzuki Hayabusa - at its plant in Gurgaon, Haryana. With the advent of the Make in India program, SMIPL are keen to support and strengthen this promising initiative to transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub.

The Suzuki Hayabusa is one of the most renowned and cult motorcycles across the globe.
The Suzuki Hayabusa will be imported as CKD (Completely Knocked Down) Kits and the specifications of the motorcycle shall remain unchanged as compared to its CBU (Completely Built Up) counterpart which has been imported from Japan all these years.

Mr. Kenji Hirozawa, Vice President Sales & Marketing, SMIPL, said, “India is one of the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. This is a clear indication of the high demands in this ever growing market. Along with growth, comes maturity. Coupled with growth in lifestyle and infrastructure, there is an increasing demand for Big Bikes by the Indian Enthusiast. SMIPL shall cater to this by starting assembly of our most widely selling big bike, the Suzuki Hayabusa. We firmly believe in the Make in India program and this another step to show our support even in the big bike market.”

The Hayabusa shall be available at the Suzuki Big Bike Dealerships for Rs 1,357,135 (Ex-showroom Delhi) in March 2016.

Maruti Suzuki Alto touches 30 lakh sales milestone

Alto, India’s top selling model for over 10 years in a row, has crossed the 30 lakh sales milestone in the Indian market. It took about 15 years and 6 months for Alto to achieve this historic figure.

Additionally, over 3.8 lakh Alto have been exported to over 70 countries with Srilanka, Algeria, Chile, UK and Netherlands being its top markets.

The Alto comes with two engine options – 800 cc and K10 – and a CNG fuel variant. Keeping in mind the customer’s needs Alto K10 is offered with the clutch-less Auto Gear Shift Transmission (AGS) technology. It is also the only brand in its segment to offer driver airbag as an option from base variant onwards.

Canadian Boxer Cody Nixon dies in Ferrari crash, vehicle cut in half

Canadian Boxer Cody Nixon and his two friends were killed in a high-speed car accident next to Jumeirah Lake Towers in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to sources. They had rented a high-performance Ferrari 458 Spyder for their visit to Dubai. 

The driver, whose identity has not been confirmed, is reported to have hit a curb on Al Sarayat Street at high speed, causing the car to hit a lamp post before "splitting in half" and killing all three.

The accident took place near Jumeirah Lake Towers at about 12.40am on Sunday, according to Colonel Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of Dubai Traffic Police.

"We received a report of an accident on Al Sarayat road near Jumeirah Lake Towers, where a car swerved, hit the curb and the driver lost control and hit a lamp post," Col Al Mazroui said.

Honda Cars India Limited launches New Amaze, price start at Rs 5.29 lakh

Honda Cars India Ltd. has introduced the much awaited, new Honda Amaze with Bold New exterior styling, One Class Above premium interiors and several New-Age features. The new Amaze now comes equipped with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Dual SRS Airbags will become standard offering across Honda line-up, including current models, by April 2017. Additionally, the customers of the new Amaze can opt for Dual SRS airbags from the base variant.

The new Amaze sports a bolder and wider stance from the front. The newly designed Front Bumper and Dual Chrome Front Grill, coupled with New Classy Rear Combination Lights further accentuates the exterior styling giving a new look to the car.

The 1.2 L i-VTEC petrol CVT variant of Honda Amaze gives an impressive fuel economy of 18.1 km/l as per test data. The new Amaze features includes the Integrated Bluetooth Audio System with Hands Free Telephone (HFT) & Mobile Phone Audio Streaming for an engaging ride. The Automatic Air Conditioner with a neat knob-less design and digital display offers a very premium feel to the interiors. The lower variants adopt a similar theme of Big Screen Digital Display with Digital AC controls.

The new Amaze will be offered in 4 grades in both petrol and Diesel. – E, S, SX and VX in Manual Transmission. Additionally, CVT Transmission will be available in S and VX petrol grades. The New Amaze will be available in 7 colors – New and Exclusive Bluish Titanium Metallic, Carnelian Red Pearl, Urban Titanium Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Golden Brown Metallic, Taffeta White and Orchid White Pearl.

New Honda Amaze 2016 Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi):

Petrol Variants:
E MT – Rs 5.29 lakh
S MT – Rs 5.95 lakh
SX MT – Rs 6.80 lakh
VX MT – Rs 7.19 lakh
S CVT – Rs 7.19 lakh
VX CVT – Rs 8.19 lakh

Diesel Variants:
E MT – Rs 6.41 lakh
S MT – Rs 7.29 lakh
SX MT – Rs 7.82 lakh
VX MT – Rs 8.19 lakh

Volkswagen hits the heights in Mexico with Latvala and Ogier

Back in business, and making history for Volkswagen in the process – Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) claimed an important victory at the Rally Mexico. The Volkswagen duo enjoyed an emphatic return to form, dominating the rally to triumph ahead of team-mates Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and fight their way back into the title race. 

They also presented the Polo R WRC with its twelfth win in a row, equalling the longest winning run in the history of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). The latest success sees Volkswagen draw level with its own record of a dozen successive victories, meaning the Wolfsburg-based car maker can set a new record at the coming rally in Argentina. The win also marked Latvala/Anttila’s first at the Rally Mexico, and the 16th of their careers.

Lamborghini Centenario unveiled at 1.75 million Euros (exclusive taxes)

To celebrate Ferruccio Lamborghini's 100th birthday, Lamborghini is producing the gorgeous Centenario super-car at a price of 1.75 million Euros (US$1.3M/INR 12.88Cr). It was introduced at the 2016 International Geneva Motor Show. The car hits 0-100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds and a 0-300 km/h of only 23.5 seconds. The Top speed it reaches is over 350 km/h (217 mph).

Only 40 will be made. There will be 20 coupe-style bodies and 20 roadster versions of the Lamborghini Centenario. According to sources, all 40 cars have already been purchased by customers around the globe. The Centenario boasts of 770 horsepower (566 kW) output and limited to 8,600 rpm, making it the most powerful engine by Lamborghini upto date. The Lamborghini Centenario weighs 1,520 kg giving it a weight to power ratio of 1.97 kg/hp (3,351 lb, 4.4lbs/hp). The car's total length is 4.924 m (16.2 feet) and it sits 1.143 m (3.75 feet) high.

The Centenario has scissor door panels. With 20-inch wheels at front and 21-inch wheels at rear, there is a distinctively big and low appearance to the car's corners. The Centenario features a high-definition 10.1-inch touch screen with Lamborghini's connectivity suite with Apple Car Play and Internet connectivity. Road and track telemetry are included as well, allowing the owner to track and record performance. Bespoke helmets are included in the Centenario's cargo compartment to encourage track readiness.

Renault launches the all new Duster starting at RS. 8.46 Lakh

Renault India has announced the launch of the new Duster range starting at RS. 8.46 Lakh. The New Duster range which was recently unveiled at the Auto Expo 2016 includes India’s first 6 speed Easy – R AMT and also boasts of more than 32 new changes along with superior engineering, styling, safety and comfort features. 

The New Duster features New ‘CMO10’ & ‘T4 E&E’ architecture enabling enhanced safety and superior ride and handling. The New Duster with manual transmission is available in five trim levels – Standard, RXE, RXL, RXS, and RXZ, with both diesel and petrol powertrains on offer. While the introductory petrol base variant is priced at Rs. 8,46,999 (ex-Delhi), the top of the line AWD (4x4) variant is offered at an introductory price of Rs. 13,56,999 (ex-Delhi). Along with this, the all new Duster will also come with India’s first 6 speed Easy – R AMT in a diesel powertrain at an introductory price of Rs. 11,66,999 (ex-Delhi). Bookings for the New Duster is open across dealerships starting today or you can book it through the Renault DUSTER App, available from the Google Playstore. 

The New Duster diesel is powered by a K9K 1.5 litre dCi engine (common rail direct injection) and will deliver maximum power of 110PS@4000rpm and peak torque of 245Nm@1750rpm. The engine is mated to a 6 speed manual transmission delivering fuel efficiency of 19.72 kmpl (ARAI).

Exterior: The new Duster flaunts completely refreshed front and rear looks, Electrically Adjustable & Foldable ORVM’s with turn indicators, Waterfall LED Tail Lamps, Hawk Eye Cluster Headlamps, Firefly Fog Lamps, 16: Gun Metal Finish Alloy wheels and Kayak Roof Rails. The New Duster will also be available in Cayenne Orange color.

Interior: The new Duster’s boasts of a Crimson-Black Interior Theme with sporty Double Spacer Fabric for AWD, and a Cedarwood-Black Interiors theme with Premium Embossed Fabric for other variants. This comes along with classic Dual Tone Soft Touch dashboard.

Other features include, new rear view camera with guidelines, New Automatic Air Conditioning, New Auto-up/down window with anti-pinch, New Media Nav, and New Centre Fascia. In terms of essentials of safety, the New Duster includes ABS, EBD with Brake Assist, Dual Airbags, ESP & Hill start assist.

Mercedes-Benz to revise the showroom prices of its entire model range by 3% to 5%

India’s largest luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India today announced an upward revision of the price of its entire model range effective from March 15, 2016. The price increase would be between 3% and 5% depending on the model. 

The imposition of an ‘infrastructural cess’ as well as an additional ‘luxury tax’ announced in the Union Budget 2016, has negatively impacted the prices of the Mercedes-Benz model range. In addition, a weakening currency coupled with rising input costs has been exerting significant pressure to the bottom-line. The combination of all these factors led Mercedes-Benz India to upwardly revise the prices of the entire model range.

Ford Expands Ford Smart Mobility at Mobile World Congress, Unveils New Kuga

Ford CEO Mark Fields today unveils the new Kuga SUV and will confirm Ford’s SYNC 3 connectivity technology is coming to Europe and commit to tripling Ford’s engineering investment in semi-autonomous vehicle technologies as the company continues to expand its Ford Smart Mobility plan. 

Fields will also confirm FordPass, the company’s new customer experience platform, debuts this year in Europe. New partners for FordPass include BP and Mobile City, a leading mobile parking payment company. FordPass also will integrate Ford Carsharing, run with Germany’s Flinkster Carsharing.

The sophisticated new Kuga will offer technologies and updates to make driving simpler, safer, more enjoyable and more affordable. These include Ford’s new SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system, innovative driver assistance technologies, an ergonomic and comfortable interior and a new 120 PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine.

The sophisticated new Kuga will offer technologies and updates to make driving simpler which include Ford’s new SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system, innovative driver assistance technologies, an ergonomic and comfortable interior and a new 120 PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine.

The bold and sporty new Kuga that debuts at Mobile World Congress also will offer Ford’s Perpendicular Parking technology that helps drivers park hands free in spaces alongside other cars; an enhanced version of the Active City Stop collision avoidance system; and Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System for optimised visibility in low light. Further sophisticated technologies include Hands-Free Liftgate and Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive.

These will include Traffic Jam Assist and Fully Active Park Assist that Fields announced Ford will roll out in the next three years.

Mahindra KUV100 clocks massive bookings in one month of launch

Flipkart and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., India’s leading SUV manufacturer, have received an overwhelming response both Online and Offline for the new KUV100 post its launch on Flipkart last month. 

  
India is estimated to become the 3rd largest auto-mobile market in 2016, expected to be worth US$145 billion. It is already the 2nd largest two-wheeler market in the world. 

Targeted at the youth and first time car buyers, the KUV100 is contemporary with new age technology. The car is available in 7 exciting colors of Fiery Orange, Flamboyant Red, Dazzling Silver, Aquamarine, Pearl White, Designer Grey and Midnight Black.

Mahindra recorded over 21000 bookings within a months’ time of its launch both on Flipkart and offline. Interestingly, 45% percent of the bookings on Flipkart came from top 5 cities which reiterate Flipkart’s stronghold in top e-commerce geographies in India.

Bugatti Chiron unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show at $2.61 million (Rs 17.77 crores)

Bugatti has unveiled the Chiron at a whopping price at $2.61 million (1871128 British Pounds) successor to the Veyron. The beauty car is faster and more powerful than its predecessor. 

Image: Bloomberg

According to sources, Bugatti Chiron is powered by a 1,500-horsepower, W16 engine with 1,600 newton meters of torque. Bugatti engineers said it comes with a unique linear power curve that will hit 60 mph (96kmph) in less than 2.5 seconds and 186 mph (300kmph) in just over 13 seconds. Hold your breath, the Top speed of the beast Chiron is listed at 500 km/h (311 mph).

Image: Bugatti

There are five distinct drive modes- the Auto EB mode, for daily driving in regular conditions; the Autobahn mode, which comes with a special top-speed suspension adjustment for highway conditions; the Handling mode made especially for race track fun; the Lift mode, which enables easier access for ramps and garage; and the Top Speed mode, which is activated by a top-speed key and is to be used only in the most extreme circumstances.

Image: Bugatti

It has a new aerodynamic system that changes according to speed and conditions, F1-level brakes, 19-inch wheels, and a full titanium exhaust system. The air vents on the side, wide front face look and the square LED lights on the low looks classy.

The dashboard includes an analogue speedometer offset by HMI gauges on the side. Light accents say the word “Chiron” throughout, plus there's a matching set of Bugatti Chiron leather luggage. The Illuminated C-bar in the interior is the longest light conductor in the automobile industry. 

Honda All Ladies Race makes a historic debut at HOMR Season

Yet another chapter was added to Chennai’s Motorsport legacy when city’s riders Sarath Shankar Kumar, Aravind B and Rihana Reya clinched the respective championships to bring curtains on the 2015 Honda One Make Race Championship 2015 at the MMRT, here on Sunday.

Sarath Shankar Kumar from Ten 10 Racing, who came into the final read with an unassailable lead, clinched the CBR 250R Championship without having to take to the tracks on Sunday. His 186 points tally was built on the back of 6 consecutive wins including ‘a double’ at the Buddh International Circuit during Round 4. His absence from the grid was fully capitalized on by Ranchi’s Sumit Lucas Toppo (Pro Lap Racing) and Chennai’s Dinesh Kumar D (United Tech Torque Racing), winning Race 1 and Race 2 respectively. Sunday also witnessed Ten 10 Racing clinch the Team Championship for 2015 season.

The CBR 150R Championship escalated into a 3-way showdown between joint leaders Sivanesan S and Aravind B (from Chennai); and Kishoar VS from Coimbatore, who had started the day on pole position. However, in the final race, Aravind B edged-out Sivanesan to the second spot and claim championship glory after latter had failed to finish his race.  Kishoar VS, from Coimbatore, showed great composure to clinch both the races on Sunday, and finish the Championship on third position.   

In a step towards achieving a greater democratization of Motorsport, and to encourage more women participation, Honda today flagged-off the first ever Honda All Ladies Race in Chennai. Amid huge cheers, 10 women from all over India took to the grid for this historic race. In the end, despite Pune’s Pooja A Dhabi best-efforts, it was Chennai’s Rihana Reya who rallied brilliantly to jump two-places from her starting position and emerged triumphant in this inaugural race. Pooja finished second while Soundari (from Chennai) who finished third.

Picture Gallery: SKODA Superb

ŠKODA AUTO India has launched the third generation of its flagship model, the SKODA Superb at Rs 22.68 lacs (Ex-showroom Mumbai). The Superb will be powered by the new 1.8 TSI/132kW (180PS) and the 2.0 TDI/130kW (177PS). ŠKODA will reintroduce the exclusive Laurin & Klement (L&K) moniker which will be placed at the top of the model range. The new Superb will be available in 4 colours: Candy White, Brilliant Silver, Magnetic Brown, and Business Grey is available at all SKODA dealerships across the country.

Sharing a few pictures from the event: