Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2018 i Car India

CHINA’S LEADING PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding), have announced changes in management at Group Lotus, with Feng Qingfenq succeeding Jean-Marc Gales as Global CEO. Qingfeng will replace Gales as Global CEO immediately, with Gales choosing to leave for personal reasons, and set to become Chief Strategic Adviser to the Lotus Chairman, Daniel Donghui Li. Geely Holding acquired a controlling stake in Group Lotus in 2017. The majority holding of 49.9 per cent of shares of Malaysia’s Proton from HICOM Bhd (DRB); Lotus’s former parents.…

KOLKATA IS THE LATEST CITY TO RECEIVE A NEW VOLVO CARS DEALERSHIP AS THE Swedish company continues its aggressive expansion in India that will see a new dealer partner launch every month for the next six months, with a target to double their market share by 2020. Located in Rajarhat, the new 3S (sales, service, and spares) facility is SPL Volvo, which boasts of an 8,100-sq ft showroom and a 20,000-sq ft state-of-the-art service facility. Volvo have seen increased brand awareness and a higher desirability factor over the past few years, stemming from the popularity of the xC90. The new xC40 will also be in dealerships this month. Furthermore, assembly for the S90 saloon has also commenced at their facility near Bengaluru. The luxury saloon becomes the second car on…

THE NEW BMW x3 xDRIVE30I petrol-powered SUV has been launched in Luxury Line trim at Rs 56.90 lakh (ex-showroom); Rs 20,000 more than its diesel counterpart. It is being locally assembled at the company’s plant in Chennai. The x3 30i Luxury Line comes with a chrome front grille, two-tone cladding in matte grey and chrome trim, an air-breather in chrome, and 19-inch alloy wheels. Powering the car is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine which produces a peak 252 PS and 350 Nm. The engine is paired with an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission and xDrive all-wheel drive, which helps the X3 accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds. The BMW x3 xDrive 30i is only the second petrol-powered SUV in its class and will go up against the…

MERCEDES-BENZ INDIA HAVE introduced the new S-Class Coupé in India, priced at Rs 2.55 crore (ex-showroom), that now packs a 4.0-litre BiTurbo V8 behind the new Panamericana grille. The first S 63 Coupé arrived to replace the CL-Class and it brought the two-door luxury car into the present. Since then, Mercedes have several iterations with a numerous choice of cylinders and outputs. The S 63 Coupé is the most dramatically different model, with a restyled face and a smaller, more powerful V8 engine. With 612 PS and 900 Nm, the 4.0-litre V8 makes 27 PS more than the old 5.5-litre unit and matches the power of the old “65 AMG” specification. The power is transferred via the new nine-speed multi-clutch automatic transmission to all the four wheels. The new AMG…

I am thinking of gifting my daughter a car. She is 20 years old and has been driving since she got her driving licence. Her college happens to be on the outskirts of the city and she has to pass through a heavily congested area before reaching the final 15-km highway stretch to her college. Since it will be her first car, I am not keen on investing too much money in it; say, less than Rs 4 lakh for a top-end model. Can you please suggest the best option in the entry-level hatchback market? My priorities are inexpensive maintenance, good interior, and fuel efficiency. I am open to both petrol and diesel variants, and manual as well as automatic options. Prasad Oomen, Kochi Dear Prasad, Based on your requirements,…

TOYOTA’S 2019 STAR CARS: THE LOWDOWN The Auris stops being boring It’ll be built in the UK. Styling is transformed, while the engine choice is the C-HR’s 1.2-litre turbo and two hybrids, a 1.8- and 2.0-litre. A Gazoo version is on the cards. RAV4 goes funky Like the Auris, there’s no diesel power for the next RAV4, which reaches Europe next year ― choose between a 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.5-litre hybrid on the TNGA platform. The Supra is reborn Look beyond the motor sport body-kit ― the Supra Gazoo Racing Concept previews the 2019 production car. Insiders vow it’s far more hardcore than its BMW Z4 sibling. SAYING TOYOTA ARE ON A ROLL IS QUITE an understatement. Traditionally, understatement is a very Toyota quality — but that’s changing fast…

SPARKLING LIKE STARS IN THE NIGHT SKY, THE full-LED headlamps shine bright in the day. The new Mercedes C-Class line-up stands glistening in the morning light. We’re just outside the airport in Luxembourg, some 350 kilometres away from the company’s home in Stuttgart, and we’re heading to Germany to see how the most comprehensive update to the C-Class brings it into the future. The C-Class is one of Mercedes’ most popular models worldwide and the facelift brings with it some major revisions; with almost 6,500 new parts, 80 per cent new electronics, and a 50 per cent new interior. First, of course, is the new face, distinguished by the revised grille on AMG line models, earlier reserved for the AMG C 43 — single-slat on a star-studded mesh — and…

NO, I HAVEN’T MENTIONED SALOON, COUPé OR CABRIOLET BECAUSE, as luck would have it, I managed to sample all three! This time, the C-Class Coupé is destined to show up in India. Twenty-three more horses. That’s what else is new in the C 43 4MATIC from high-performance arm AMG. The 3.0-litre BiTurbo V6 puts out a full 390 PS. It’s still not the 401 that the E 43 received, but we’ll take it. As with the Benz line-up, the new AMG C 43 now gets the split-slat grille with black mesh seen on the AMG C 63. The new C 63 — revealed only in two-door form — gets the new Panamericana grille first seen on the AMG GT R. The C 43 rear gets a sharper-looking diffuser and a…

HYUNDAI’S PHILOSOPHY FOR progress has been to offer more features than its rivals, features that are often only seen in cars two and three rungs up the premium-ness ladder. This policy seems to be paying dividends, too, with Hyundai quickly climbing up the sales charts and becoming one of the most popular car-makers in India. The Creta, launched in 2015, has been part of this success story and carved out a meaty chunk of the market for itself when it first appeared in the showrooms. In fact, it also won the prestigious Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) award and the equally prestigious Car India Automobile of the Year Award the year it came out. If it’s sustained success you’re after, though, you can’t just choose to sit still, resting…

REMEMBER THE BIG AND BOLD BMW 5 SERIES GRAN TURISMO? Well, that GT is out of the company’s portfolio and replacing it is the new 6 Series GT which carries forward the same design sentiment we saw in the 5 Series GT. Why did BMW ditch the earlier GT and bring in this new one? It has to do with the company’s new nomenclature, where odd numbers are reserved for more traditional sedans and the even-numbered models covering coupés and convertibles, the only exception being the 3 Series GT, which, given the new naming logic, might get replaced with the 4 GT; but that is in the future. BMW have made it quite simple to understand what you are getting depending on Series number, and since we got the 6…

IT WAS NAIL-BITING ACTION DURING Rally Italia Sardegna when Belgian driver Thierry Neuville beat a dominant Sébastien Ogier literally on the finish line. The first five stages of the rally were really fun as the overall lead kept changing with everyone trying to find their footing. Initially, it was Ogier who won SS1 and was in the lead. On Friday, however, Andreas Mikkelsen of Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT took the lead from Ogier during SS2 and maintained it for a good four stages before Ogier reclaimed it during SS6. This was the moment when Ogier started dominating the Italian rally as he ended Friday with an 18.9-second lead. Behind Ogier was Hyundai’s Neuville, who had to fight with his team-mate, Andreas Mikkelsen, and Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Ott Tänak to slip…

IN 2018, PORSCHE ARE MISSING FROM ACTION IN THE LMP1 CLASS; however, the German team is part of the smaller GTE Pro class where they performed exceptionally well. The factory team had two 911 RSRs on the grid with Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and Michael Christensen taking charge of No 92 RSR. The second RSR, No 91, was shared among Richard Lietz, Frédéric Makowiecki, and Gianmaria Bruni. As the lights went out, No 92 RSR took the lead and held on to it right until the end, eventually winning the race in the GTE Pro class, thus giving Porsche their 106th Le Mans victory. No 91 RSR, however, did not have an easy time cruising to second place as Makowiecki was involved in a 90-minute duel with a competitor. The…

THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY our readers concern the running cost of a car and its reliability. That is why the long-term test is very important. When a manufacturer sends a car for a road test, they make sure the car is in tiptop condition and we report on how the car behaves and performs under the test conditions. When the car is with us for a short period of four to five days, it is not possible to calculate its running cost. However, when we spend a few months with the car, it becomes possible to calculate the same. There are very few manufacturers who offer long-term test cars and Mercedes-Benz are the only premium car manufacturers who give us long-term test cars. This shows that they are…

POLESTAR, NOW THE ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE SUB-BRAND OF Volvo Cars, have announced “Polestar Engineered” performance upgrades for the new 60 line of cars, including the xC60, V60, and the upcoming S60, as a complete “offer”, applying Polestar’s expertise to the cars’ wheels, brakes, suspension, and engine control unit. The upgrade will raise the output of the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain from its net peak of 407 PS and 640 Nm to 422 PS and 670 Nm. The offer also includes lightweight wheels, one-piece Brembo monobloc brake calipers finished in gold, black-chrome exhaust pipes, and multi-link front and rear suspension that incorporates Öhlins shock-absorbers with a dual-flow valve. The strut bar and adjustable shock-absorber design are shared with the Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid performance car. Polestar Engineered makes its début…

IT WAS QUITE AN INTERESTING PROPOSITION when Porsche invited us to one of their facilities to take a closer look at the upcoming third-generation Porsche Cayenne. We were excited to see how much the Cayenne has changed and, honestly, it did not disappoint. To begin with, the new Cayenne looks much sleeker than before because Porsche have reduced the overall height and increased the overall length while retaining the same wheelbase. The new Cayenne is also wider than before. In terms of design, Porsche have taken things to the next level by drawing inspiration from their iconic 911. This has made the new Cayenne appear more streamlined. The front end features a wider grille that gives it a lower stance. The new, sleeker full-LED headlamps also add to the dynamic…

HONDA AND GENERAL MOTORS (GM) HAVE ANNOUNCED AN AGREEMENT TO MANUFACTURE new battery components that include the cell and the module for their all-electric vehicles. GM already have their next-gen battery system developed, which will also be sourced by Honda, according to the new agreement. The collaboration will help both companies in the development of their electric vehicles. GM and Honda have collaborated earlier on a project wherein they formed the industry’s first manufacturing joint venture for a hydrogen fuel-cell system. The intent of this operation was to make fuel-cells more affordable and also develop systems for hydrogen storage. This venture is currently on track and is expected to bear fruit by 2020. With the world’s major car manufacturers all moving towards cleaner, emission-free movement, and with more and more…

THE NEW, BIGGER, LONGER, NINE-SEATER MAHINDRA TUV300 Plus is now available in three variants, P4, P6 and P8, priced between Rs 9.47 lakh and Rs 10.87 lakh (ex-showroom). The new TUV 300 Plus is based on the existing TUV300 platform which, in time, will replace the ageing Mahindra xylo. It is 401 mm longer and 27 mm lower than the standard car, though the width and wheelbase are identical to those of the standard TUV300 at 1,835 mm and 2,680 mm respectively. Visual changes include a redesigned rear end and larger 16-inch wheels with 215/70 rubber. The TUV300 Plus borrows the mHawk120 2.2-litre powertrain from the xylo, which produces 120 PS and 280 Nm. However, here it gets a new six-speed manual transmission. It is also equipped with micro-hybrid technology…

TATA MOTORS HAVE INTRODUCED THE limited-edition Tigor Buzz, available in petrol and diesel, priced at Rs 5.68 lakh and Rs 6.57 lakh (ex-showroom) respectively. The Tigor Buzz is based on the XT trim level with the manual transmission and gets some signature design cues, including a gloss black roof, piano-black wing mirrors, dual-tone wheel covers and a front grille with red colour inserts each, and “Buzz” badging. Inside, there are Berry Red air-vent surround rings and premium fabric seats. The XT trim level brings with it standard ABS with EBD and corner stability control, dual airbags, and a reverse parking assist, among other features.…

Fego Float Car Seat INDIA BOASTS OF CLOSE TO 55 LAKH KILOMETRES OF SWEET, sweet tarmac to drive our cars on. However, this isn’t always tarmac really, but sometimes broken roads, mud roads, and a variety of other road-like bits in various stages of disrepair. When you carry speed through the bumps and breaks, or just drive for long stretches of time even on smooth roads, you can feel the effects on your back and behind more than anywhere else. The constant strain taken by your body on these trips leads to tiredness as well. Feel Good Innovations claims that its latest innovation is an ideal solution to help soothe commutes in your car, both long and short. They have created the Fego Float, an air-cushioned seat accessory which the…

MEWAR, THE MIGHTY KINGDOM THAT came into existence almost 1,500 years ago, has been at the centre of Rajput royalty for centuries. Founded by Guhil in AD 566, the state of Mewar has some really interesting architecture that is so rich and vibrant that we decided to explore it as a fitting heritage site for our Architectural Gems of India series. We headed to the royal city of Udaipur to visit the famous City Palace Museum, an initiative by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), Udaipur, a site that houses royal artefacts and is open to public. For this particular expedition we had to have a royal ride and this is where Hyundai came into the picture. Since we are conducting this series in association with Hyundai Motor India,…

I’LL TELL YOU WHAT THE 488 PISTA IS LIKE TO drive in a moment, but first join me in the passenger seat at Fiorano, Ferrari’s test circuit. At the wheel is chief test driver Raffaele de Simone and that steering wheel is currently pointing in the opposite direction to the way we’re travelling (and we’re travelling very quickly). He’s calmly explaining exactly how he and his team have developed the Pista’s chassis electronics and demonstrating the result by deftly flicking that chassis sideways at three-figure speeds. As introductions go, it’s a viscerally impressive one. The whole car is viscerally impressive. Named after the Italian word for “track” (and so much better-sounding when pronounced as pee-sta by an actual Italian), it has some big boots to fill: it’s the fourth model…

FROM LAWRENCE OF ARABIA TO MARK Thatcher, plenty of people have mislaid their marbles in the desert. You might say the same of car-makers, over whom the Dakar and other desert races exert an irresistible attraction, even though there’s scant evidence that many of us care a jot for what some unshaven French drivers of undoubted talent but questionable sanity get up to for a fortnight in January. Volkswagen had a dose of Dakar fever in the middle of the Touareg’s so-far 15-year life, using the Touareg badge on its successful contender in 2009-2011 and never mind the fact that the production model has always been closer to CR-V than dune buggy. And then, snapping out of the madness, VW started to act as if it had never happened. ‘Desert…

FOR THE URBAN POPULATION, THE BIGGEST NIGHTMARE IS, perhaps, manoeuvring through heavy traffic on a busy day while managing meetings and work appointments. The only panacea to reduce this terrible feeling would be a comfortable vehicle (ask those who spend nearly 12 hours on the road). And this is where the newly launched Hyundai Elite i20 CVT fits in snugly — a car designed for hassle-free city driving and effortless cruising. It’s a rather timely launch since Hyundai’s automatic and CVT variants in the premium compact segment have jumped from a nominal four per cent in 2015 to a substantial 14 per cent this year. The new Elite i20 CVT continues to sport the 83-PS, 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine. If you recall, the previous-generation car came with the now defunct…

Can Kia’s first seriously hot car really live with the benchmark BMW and Audi? Really? Maybe, it can… KIA HAVE TRANSFORMED THEMSELVES from a company selling other people’s cast-offs to one that’s looking to go toe-to-toe with the very best. The current Sorento has already pushed Kia into the £40k (Rs 36 lakh) territory, but the Stinger faces an even tougher battle. Will notoriously badge-conscious BMW and Audi buyers really be prepared to drive a car whose logo still carries more “budget” baggage than Lidl’s travel section? Kia know the Stinger has an uphill struggle, so are winching it to the top with the help of a bigger body, smaller price and, at least with the GT-S version tested here, top speed and power figures that eclipse all of its…

ROUND ONE OF THE VOLKSWAGEN AMEO CUP 2018 SERIES kicked off on 23 June at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. This one-make championship, which aims to provide a platform for rookie drivers, confirmed a grid of 20 drivers for the 2018 season. The driver selection process got under way in January with a number of rounds for fitness and driving ability. Volkswagen have stayed with their 2017 Ameo race car for this year, too, making no major changes in the machine, apart from a few tweaks here and there, making the car quicker. The first round, however, saw 18 of the 20 drivers take to the grid, where more than half of the competitors were racing for the first time in this event. Nevertheless, the level was high as…

NEW THIS MONTH HYUNDAI ELITE i20 CVT The popular hatch drops its old torque converter for a smoother CVT automatic. Available in two trims, from Rs 7.11 lakh (ex) PORSCHE CAYENNE The third-generation Cayenne has arrived, only in 550-PS turbo-petrol V8 guise for now. Available to order from Rs 1.92 crore (ex) LEGENDS PRICES Ex-showroom, Pune (subject to change) BO: Available only by order NA: Price not available FEATURES F: Front only D: Driver airbag only O: Optional equipment ASTON MARTIN BENTLEY BENTLEY FERRARI FERRARI HONDA HONDA HYUNDAI ISUZU LAND ROVER LAND ROVER MAHINDRA MARUTI SUZUKI MASERATI MERCEDES-BENZ MINI NISSAN RENAULT ROLLS-ROYCE TATA TATA VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN VOLVO…

AUDI HAVE TAKEN THE WRAPS off their new SUV and it has stayed true to its concept cues. A high-rise SUV with coupé styling, the Q8’s design has been inspired by the Audi Sport Quattro. The Q8 Concept was first showcased at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show as a plug-in hybrid, but the production model is powered by some familiar combustion engines. The design is striking with highly pronounced lines ― fast becoming popular on Ingolstadt’s latest, particularly the new A8. The Q8 also has an equally striking Singleframe octagonal grille, which débuts the new face of the Q family. A “widemask” connects to the distinctive headlamps. The spoiler at the front and the large, shapely air-intakes further enhance the Q8’s aggressive appeal. It also gets frameless doors which allow…

IT’S ALIVE AND KICKING! THE ALL-NEW BMW Z4 LOOKS READIER than ever. It is being developed with agility and driving dynamics in mind, with the début model expected to sport the M40i powertrain ― a signature BMW in-line six TwinPower Turbo motor with 340 PS. At the Autodrome de Miramas in the south of France, the new car is being put through the rigours of the facility, with long ovals, motorway rings roads, slaloms, and different surface types. The suspension has been lowered and now comes with electronically-controlled dampers which soften and harden up the ride, depending on the road surface, thanks to inputs from an on-board computer. The Z4 also sports M light alloy wheels, an M Sport braking system, a newly developed front axle, and an electronically-controlled rear…

ON 8 JUNE 1948, THE FIRST PORSCHE car was signed off. Over the past 70 years, Porsche have given us some exceptional works of automotive prowess. Now there are some more. Porsche revealed their latest Concept, the 911 Speedster, marking the next coming of the legendary body style complete with the “double-bubble” detailing. It’s built as a throwback to the very first 356 “No 1” Roadster. With a 4.0-litre atmospheric boxer-six making over 500 PS, borrowed from the GT3 line, paired to a manual transmission, the Speedster promises to be every bit the driver’s car it’s expected to be. The 70th anniversary celebrations continued with Porsche confirming that their Mission E will be called the “Taycan”, meaning “lively, young horse”. The all-electric model will be offered with a combined system…

BENTLEY MOTORS HAVE LAUNCHED THE V8 PETROL POWERED Bentayga in India at a base price of Rs 3.78 crore (ex-showroom). The latest variant of the Bentayga packs a petrol engine a third lower in displacement ― a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine making 550 PS and 770 Nm. It comes mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive. To distinguish the V8 variant from the pricier W12, Bentley have altered some of the standard kit. For instance, the front matrix grille is now finished in black, the fuel- and oil-filler caps are a bit simpler, the dashboard uses Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus instead of Burr Walnut, and the pattern on the leather upholstery is different from what the W12 offers. Other changes include the exclusion of Bentley’s Dynamic…

THE NEW MINI COOPER LINE HAS BEEN LAUNCHED FROM RS 29.70 LAKH (Ex-SHOWROOM) in both petrol and diesel. The refreshed Cooper line packs several design changes and mechanical updates while retaining the familiar front end. The tail-lamp layout resembles the Union Jack. Inside, there’s new leather upholstery, piano-black trim, back-lit elements, and sports seats. MINI are also offering the optional Excitement Pack and Wired Pack, which offer more specific upgrades, including a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and navigation system. On offer are the MINI Cooper S 3-door and Cooper S Convertible with the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, making 192 PS and 280 Nm, now paired to a new seven-speed dual-clutch Steptronic Sports automatic transmission with shift-by-wire. The Cooper D gets a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with 114 PS and 270 Nm.…

TRAINING IN OFF-ROAD DRIVING I would like to learn how to drive off road. It looks like a lot of fun but I’m afraid that my car might get stuck and/or damaged if I do something wrong. If I take my family Safari to play around in the mud, my wife will shout at me for sure. Is there any school or something where I may learn how to drive off road in a safe and controlled environment where people are around to help me out if I get stuck? Dileep Thakkar, Surat Dear Dileep, It’s interesting to know that you want to go off the beaten path. There is actually a school that can teach you the art of off-roading. Mahindra run the Mahindra Adventure Off-road Training Academy at…

1 A BIG FAN OF CO2 Direct Air Capture requires banks of fans, known as contactors, to draw in air from the atmosphere. The air then passes over sheets of corrugated plastic coated in potassium hydroxide to separate out the CO2. A typical installation would capture up to 984,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, equivalent to the emission of 2,50,000 cars. 2 ADD HYDROGEN In a separate process, hydrogen is generated by electrolyzing water using green energy such as wind or solar power. Deserts are an ideal location for their solar efficiency. 3 NOW THE SCIENCE BIT The hydrogen and CO2 are then combined in the first of two chemical processes. The first creates syngas, which is reacted again to produce the synthetic fuel. This can be burnt in pure…

SHIKHA JAIN GRADUATED IN ARCHITECTURE FROM the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi, and obtained a master’s degree in architecture from the Kansas State University, USA. Her doctoral work on the havelis of Rajasthan from De Montfort University (PRASADA), Leicester, UK, received the Research Award from the Indian Institute of Architects in 2004. She is a visiting faculty for Urban Conservation in the Department of Urban Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and visiting fellow at the UNESCO Category 2 Centre at WII, Dehradun. Recently she authored a book, entitled Living Heritage of Mewar — Architecture of The City Palace, Udaipur, published by the MMCF. She has a vast experience in the cultural heritage of India that ranges from steering conservation projects for various state governments in…

EQ Boost An electric-motor assist that supplements low-end power and delivers smoother and more immediate acceleration to compensate for the brief period taken to build up the revs and consequent turbo-lag. It is based on a 48-volt electrical system. That brings more advantages, including a gliding mode at triple-digit speeds with the engine switched off, and recuperative braking with intelligent engine stop when coasting. The start/stop system operates comfortably thanks to the belt-driven starter/alternator, as the engine restarts silently and quickly, with low vibrations. Even the water pump is electrically driven for more optimal need-based cooling performance. LED High Performance Headlights The new generation of lighting not only looks extremely sharp, but also illuminates the way ahead very well. Several individual diodes are used to create the light pattern for…

The K900 is the size of the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class INDIA’S HUGE POPULATION AND ITS DEMAND FOR CARS seem to attract manufacturers from all corners of the world, the latest entrant being Kia Motors of South Korea. They are setting up a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Anantpur district, Andhra Pradesh, close to the Karnataka border. Before they launch their first product in 2019, however, Kia Motors invited us over to Korea for a first-hand dekko at their products, their R&D, and their fuel-cell development facility. The last time I had visited the Namyang R&D centre was in 2008. This R&D facility is shared with Hyundai and a sea change has taken place over past 10 years. The first Kia car was produced in 1974. Thus,…

INDIA’S URBAN JUNGLE IS GETTING MORE AND MORE cluttered. New high-rises, more people, more traffic, less time. To keep up with the pulse of city life, you need a car that fits right in. Big enough to fit five, small enough to slot into a cramped parking space, and convenient enough to be used for the odd weekend getaway when the opportunity presents itself. Sub-four-metre compact sedans are all about big city living and Honda’s offering to the segment has been given a thorough makeover. We often allude to design philosophies followed by manufacturing giants such as Honda when describing what the car looks like and you won’t find a better example than the Amaze when it comes keeping the familial theme going. The front end with its distinctive chrome…

Gunned from the line in four-wheel-drive mode, the M5 explodes out of the blocks ENZ MIGHT CLAIM TO HAVE INVENTED THE MODERN supersaloon with their mighty SEL 6.9 back in the mid-1970s, but it was the BMW M5 that perfected the art a decade later. And for over 30 years the recipe has remained broadly similar: a stonking great engine stuffed into a rear-drive chassis and clothed with a discreet four-door bodyshell. But not any longer. Just as the sugar tax has changed the composition of our favourite evil drinks without having an impact on their visual appeal, so has the realization that supercargrade power is now too much for the average Joe to handle in less than ideal conditions and quite possibly slower and less fun as a result.…

THE WORLD’S HISTORIC RACING event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, saw the Japanese dominate it, eventually emerging victorious after 24 gruelling hours. Considerable intense action was witnessed along with penalties and confusion; however, Toyota Gazoo Racing’s stellar performance ultimately saw them bag the 24 Hours of Le Mans trophy and also extend their lead in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). This year the Germans were conspicuous by their absence in the LMP1 class. This put Toyota in the spotlight, for the Japanese team were the only one on the grid with two hybrid TS050s competing for LMP1 supremacy. The starting grid saw 10 LMP1 cars start, with Toyota leading the way, followed by Rebellion Racing, and SMP Racing on second and third row respectively. As the lights went out,…

THE MRF MMSC FMSCI INDIAN National Racing Championship (INRC) 2018 got under way at the Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore, and it was quite an exciting weekend. The championship saw a lot of action from both open-wheeled racers and touring cars. The season started off with a bang, full of all the action and passion that come with motor racing. From precision driving, insane comebacks and cars lying in the mud the wrong way up, the weekend did not fail to entertain all those who showed up. The weather gods were kind, too, and though there was the prospect of rain, the track remained dry and the temperature clement. If this round is a sign of things to come, 2018 will surely be a fairly good year for Indian motor racing.…