Maruti Suzuki Celebrates This Navratri With The Celerio

Maruti Suzuki gears up for the festive season, with the roll out of 'Celerio Dil Thi Gujarat Maate' a special campaign designed exclusively for Gujarat. The campaign is aimed to leverage the popular Navratri festival to strengthen its connect with customers and promote sales.

This is the first time Maruti Suzuki is organizing such a customized market specific campaign to connect with the customer at a local level in Gujarat. The campaign includes a host of interesting activities like TV Commercials, print advertisements, radio spots, digital, Cinema, hoardings etc., which are designed in Gujarati language and reflect the unique culture of the state. All these activities will reach out only to the audience of Gujarat.

Mr. Anand Prakash, Commercial Business Head, West Zone, Maruti Suzuki India said, "Through 'Celerio Dil Thi Gujarat Maate' we aim to make Navratri even more special this year. The campaign is special as it draws similarities between different aspects of Celerio with different facets of people of Gujarat. Innovations like the TV Commercial specifically developed for Gujarat market can be viewed only in the state. We are hopeful that people in Gujarat will appreciate our efforts and enjoy the festivities with full vigor."

The campaign will run from today, 8th September to 22nd October 15. Other activities during the period include display at malls, bowling alleys and a digital engagement contest 'Style Icon' of Gujarat.

Celerio was launched by Maruti Suzuki in 2014 and has already crossed the 1 lakh sales milestone. It was the first car to introduce the Auto Gear Shift transmission in India. Celerio is available in Petrol, CNG and Diesel fuel options. Celerio diesel with a fuel efficiency of 27.62 km/l ranks among the top three most fuel efficient vehicles in India.

Hamilton Dominates At Monza, Extends Championship Lead

Lewis Hamilton won the Italian Grand Prix extending his lead over team mate Nico Rosberg. Hamilton also survived a post-race investigation into his starting tyre pressure. The win was his his seventh of the season on Sunday and the third win at this circuit. The 40th career win moves him just one victory behind the legend Ayrton Senna and Ferrari Driver, Sebastian Vettel. Nico Rosberg was unable to finish the race as the engine of his car caught fire . This was also his first DNF of the year. He is 53 points behind team mate Hamilton.

Hamilton completely dominated in Italy, as he set the fastest lap times in all the practice sessions, in qualifying and also set the race’s fastest lap. Vettel, the four-time world champion picked up the fourth Monza podium finish of his career with second place to his credit. 

Williams Felipe Massa took the third place after holding off team mate Valtteri Bottas to secure his second podium finish of the season. Team Williams earned 27 points in Italy which is the biggest single race haul of the year.

Both Force India had a top ten finish at this circuit. They collected 14 points after Sergio Perez came home sixth and Nico Hulkenberg seventh. It was also the team’s fourth double points finish in 12 races this season. This also helped the team to maintain the fifth slot with 63 points in the Constructors standing.

Daniil Kvyat came home tenth also the fourth race in a row in which he’s scored points. It was a disappointment race for Team Lotus as both their drivers had to retire before the end of the second lap for the third time this season. Pastor Maldonado has now completed just three of the last 96 racing laps. 

Drivers standing after Monza race:

1. Lewis Hamilton-252
2. Nico Rosberg-199
3. Sebastian Vettel-178
4. Felip Massa-97
5. Kimi Raikkonen-92
6. Valtteri Bottas-91
7. Daniil Kvyat-58
8. Daniel Ricciardo-55
9. Romain Grosjean-38
10. Sergio Perez-33

Tough Weekend For Aditya in Malaysia At Audi R8 LMS Championship

Indian ace driver, Aditya Patel, put in an impressive performance to finish fifth in race two of the fourth round of the Audi R8 LMS Cup at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia last weekend, 6th September.

Starting fourth for the first race, Patel found himself in the path of a spinning Marchee Lee while fighting for the lead on turn two of the first lap. While Lee recovered from the spin, Aditya was forced to retire with damage to his car.

The incident meant that Aditya would start last for the second race as he had not recorded a lap time in race one. After starting last on the grid for race two, Aditya fought a gritty race up to fifth only to finish right behind the pole sitter, Alex Yoong, who finished fourth. The race was won by Marchee Lee of Hong Kong.

After the race, Aditya said "It wasn't the most ideal weekend. Marchee’s mistake cost me my race but at least we managed to claw something back in the end and get some points out of the weekend. The second race was one of the most exciting races I've driven, having started last and moved up through the field. I’d like to thank my sponsors, JK Tyres, Audi India and Jubilant for all their support." 

Malaysian driver and defending 2014 R8 LMS Cup champion, Alex Yoong has climbed the ladder and leads the championship with 101 points. Cheng congfu is second with 97 points. Aditya has slipped to third position with 90 points to his credit.

Alex Yoong after his win said, "I’m very happy to have won Round 8. There was a lot of nice pressure today, a lot of people who came out to support me – my father hasn’t been to a race track in 10 years. I knew Round 8 was going to be close and it would be difficult to win. I knew I had to push really hard at the beginning and try to save my Push-to-Passes and when Marchy came up at the end, I had lots of Push-to-Passes left, which allowed me to get the fastest lap and take pole position for Round 9."

The next round commences at Fuji Japan on 10-11 October. Stay tuned.

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

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