Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2019 i Car India

THE PRESENT AUDI R8 WILL BE THE LAST OF ITS KIND. Car Magazine’s own Georg Kacher had reported earlier that the new R8 replacement, expected by 2023, will be an all-electric supercar. The RS e-tron is likely to be an evolution of the e-tron Gran Turismo concept and will be driven by a powertrain sourced from Rimac. Audi are believed to be tying up with the Croatian electric hypercar makers who also have several technical tie-ups with other global automotive majors, including Pininfarina. This news points to some serious performance potential for Audi and a major boost to electro-mobility. Under the skin could be a 93.4-kWh battery pack and around 500 kW (680 hp) or more on tap, with a range of about 450-500 km. However, with the Rimac connection,…

FILTRATION TECHNOLOGY AND THERMAL MANAGEMENT SOLUTION provider UFI Filters recently launched their first aftermarket production facility at Bahadurgarh in NCR. The new plant will be a dedicated unit for the company’s aftermarket operations serving both the local spare parts market and export requirements. The company claims that the plant will meet European Standards for processes and quality and will be ISO 9001-certified. Spread over an area of 5000 sq m, the plant will employ around 300 employees at full capacity. The initial production will be to the tune of six million filters annually, including cabin filters and air filters for cars and heavy vehicles, as well as dedicated hydraulic filtration spares. Set up with an investment of €10 million (Rs 790 crore), the plant has the capacity to produce six…

HYUNDAI HAVE INTRODUCED THE NEW ELANTRA IN INDIA, PRICED between Rs 15.89 lakh and 20.39 lakh (ex-showroom), with a petrol engine only. Both manual and automatic transmissions are available. Hyundai claim that the 2019 Elantra is India’s first fully connected, BS VI-compliant premium executive sedan. In its new avatar, the Elantra looks sharper than ever with headlamps that converge to a point at the new sleek grille, a sharp, aggressively styled front bumper, and a bold design language that extends all the way to its slim, coupé-like tail. The snazzy tail-lamps complement the overall stance. Additionally, the 2019 Elantra also boasts of 34 new features thanks to the inclusion of Hyundai’s Blue Link tech. Of these 34, Hyundai say, 10 were developed specifically for India. Blue Link comprises seven main…

LEXUS INDIA HAVE INTRODUCED THE ALL-NEW RX 450H L, THE long-wheelbase, seven-seat version of the luxury SUV, from Rs 99 lakh (ex-showroom). The five-metre-long RX 450h L has a pair of L-shaped LED headlamps with integrated daytime lights and animated LED turn-indicators that light up sequentially. Inside, it features theatre-style seating and a new touch-display screen together with the Lexus remote touch interface. Connectivity includes smartphone incorporation, a phone holder, USB port, and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Voice control is via native cloud connectivity or the smartphone’s operating system assistant. Navigation, too, can be the in-built system’s or the smartphone’s. Power continues to come from the self-charging hybrid electric driveline. It comprises the 3.5-litre V6, Atkinson-cycle petrol engine which is now BS VI-compliant, making 262 hp and…

THE NEW ŠKODA KODIAQ SCOUT, WHICH IS THEIR NEW OFF-ROAD friendly variant, has been launched in India. Priced at Rs 34 lakh (ex-showroom), the new Kodiaq Scout will attempt to eat into the sales of the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour. The Kodiaq’s Style and L&K variants are more comfort-focused. The Scout, on the other hand, is aimed at those with a more adventurous bent of mind. The new Kodiaq Scout features new skid-plates front and rear, side skirts, roof-rails, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior remains plush and features Alcantara and leather, wooden trim, and the works. Škoda are using the same 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine that makes 150 hp and 340 Nm, mated to a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. It now has Škoda’s “intelligent off-road-mode…

AMONG THE MOST ICONIC CARS OFF ROAD AND EVEN ON it, the commanding Mercedes G 350 d — celebrating its 40th anniversary — has been launched in India from Rs 1.50 crore (ex-showroom). The new G-Class is bigger overall and brings more equipment and offers more customization than ever before — with more than a million possibilities. Its tall stance and front grille and clean lines give the car an imposing presence. MultiBeam LED headlamps are standard kit, as are 18-inch wheels. More standard kit includes Nappa leather upholstery, automatic climate control, a large touchscreen, and creature comforts including Mercedes connect with its embedded SIM card and COMAND Online. The ‘G Manufaktur’ program offers extensive exterior and interior customization. Each G-wagen is hand-built and needs 100 hours to be finished.…

WHEN I ARRIVED IN SURAT TO JOIN up with Toyota for this drive, I was told that I was there in the capacity of an observer only. The reason, Toyota’s senior officials from Japan and other key markets would be taking the wheel themselves. The idea behind doing this is Toyota’s Genchi Genbutsu philosophy. According to this philosophy, Toyota want to visit ground zero and find out issues themselves rather than relying on hearsay. This way they can understand their customers’ concerns better and improve their products accordingly. This philosophy is one of the cornerstones on which the brand was founded. And it was this noble sentiment that would fuel this drive in India and elsewhere in the world. The drive started in Bengaluru and was to come to an…

NOTHING STOPS TRAFFIC IN ITS TRACKS AND IS A MAGNET FOR stares like a Ferrari sports car finished in Rosso Scuderia — a bright and rather bold shade of traditional Maranello red. The GTC4Lusso T looks just as menacing to behold as its non-T V12 twin, with a face reminiscent of its earlier two-door naturally aspirated sibling, the 458 Italia. The glaring face looks sporty yet aggressive and eager to attack from the word “Go!”. Yet, there’s more to it. It’s more than a car designed to go fast and turn heads every inch of the way. Yes, it does that, doubtless, but it can do what few other Ferrari models can — thrill four occupants at the same time. The key difference between the GTC4Lusso, like the FF it…

Two-speed gearbox On planet EV, there’s nothing unusual about the Taycan’s front gearbox: two planetary gearsets, single speed. But its decision to engineer a two-speed rear gearbox is unusual: every other performance EV in the market uses single-speed reduction gearboxes and relies on an e-motor’s flexibility and torque to cover every conceivable road speed, from rush-hour crawling to v-max. But Porsche’s obsession with reducing weight, bulk, and thermal degradation led its engineers to a different solution: a two-speed gearbox, shifted not by the driver but by the car’s ECU. There’s a short-ratio first gear, for brutally effective standing starts, and a taller second gear for increased efficiency and a higher top speed. Integrated with the rear limited-slip differential, the gearbox is a thing of beauty inside, like a scaled-up Swiss…

THE SCOUT IS THE LATEST VERSION OF THE Kodiaq which sits under the Style and L&K variants. But it’s easier to identify the Scout thanks to its silver highlights on the front and rear bumpers, silver-finished wing-mirrors and “Scout” badging on the front fenders. These small updates give it a more rugged stance and set it apart from the more corporate appearance of its siblings. Look closer and you’ll notice that the 18-inch alloy wheels now get a two-tone finish. Another interesting change is that this is the first model in India that wears the “ŠKODA” lettering on the tailgate instead of the car brand’s winged arrow logo. The big USP of this variant lies inside, though. Immediately, the all-black treatment makes the cabin stand apart from the beige interior…

TYPICALLY UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER IS A GIVEN AT THE Wales Rally GB and the drivers had a tough time on the first day of the rally. In the lead for most of the day was Kris Meeke (Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team). The Toyota man kept his calm and fended off all of his challengers until misfortune struck him in the final few kilometres of the day. Meeke went off track after overshooting a hairpin in the final stage, allowing his teammate, Ott Tänak, to take the lead at the end of the day. Sébastien Ogier (Citroën Total World Rally Team) also managed to slip through and took second place, ahead of Meeke. Saturday’s route encompassed almost half of the competitive distance in this rally. Drivers had to be extra…

IF OUR SOURCES ARE TO BE BELIEVED, TOYOTA WILL BRING in the all-new Corolla sedan to India next year, having already discontinued production of the present model. Furthermore, only the Hybrid model may be offered. For over 50 years, the Toyota Corolla has been among the bestselling cars worldwide. Launched in 1966 in Japan, it was soon exported to Australia barely a month later. The Corolla earned the bestseller crown for the first time in 1974. It has since been manufactured in 15 countries and sold in over 150 countries, racking up nearly 48 million sales. It was available in hatchback, saloon, and estate guises, depending on the market. In 1997, it overtook the legendary Volkswagen Beetle in sales figures worldwide. In India, the Toyota Corolla’s story began with the…

UNITI, A SWEDISH ELECTRIC CAR START-UP, HAVE INTRODUCED THEIR IDEA OF PERSONAL mobility in the form of a compact three-seater electric hatchback for urban users: the Uniti One. The Uniti One pure EV is priced from £15,100 in the UK (or Rs 14 lakh), which includes the government subsidy of £3,500 (Rs 3.2 lakh). It embodies Scandinavian-inspired design with a smartphone-like ethos with its ultra-efficient performance, three-seat layout, and compact urban design. The One has been designed in response to today’s changing transport needs as well as to provide flexibility for the future. It is 3.22 metres long, 1.71 metres wide, and weighs just 600 kg. It has been created from the ground up to be an urban electric vehicle, optimized for efficiency, sustainability, and affordability, while maximizing interior space…

TATA PRO EDITION MODELS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, adding features such as parking sensors, app-based connectivity, a sunroof, and chrome packs, priced between Rs 29,999 and Rs 1.09 lakh, depending on the car model. To boost sales and to cash in on the festive season, the Indian carmakers have introduced special Tata Motors Genuine Accessories packs for their existing cars. These include the Tata Tiago, Tigor, Nexon, Hexa, and Harrier, all of which can be upgraded with the Pro Edition options. For instance, by paying Rs 29,999, Tiago owners can upgrade the hatchback with a pack comprising a pop-up sunroof, ambient lighting, sunshades, a camera with display on the rear-view mirror, and a centre arm-rest. Similarly, Harrier owners who opt for the Pro Edition pack need to shell out Rs 1.09…

THE WAIT IS OVER AS THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE 488GTB, the new Ferrari F8 Tributo, has arrived and the Prancing Horse dealers are now accepting orders. The F8 Tributo is priced from Rs 4.02 crore. This is the base starting price excluding options and personalization and before taxes. The Ferrari F8 Tributo gets the potent 3.9-litre turbocharged 90° V8 petrol engine with all of 720 hp and 770 Nm of peak torque. The two-door essentially matches the output of the hardcore 488 Pista but is about 50 kg heavier owing to more comfort and conveniences packaged in what is a sport-luxury grand-tourer. Even so, its performance is staggering. The sprint from 0-100 km/h takes 2.9 seconds, while 0-200 km/h takes just 7.8 seconds. The top speed is 340 km/h. These…

THE S-PRESSO IS THE LATEST COMPACT OFFERING FROM MARUTI Suzuki. It has been launched in both manual and automated variants, priced between Rs 3.69 lakh and Rs 4.91 lakh (ex-showroom). Based on the Future S Concept shown at the Auto Expo 2018, Maruti Suzuki prefer to call the S-presso a mini-SUV. Seeing the success of the Renault Kwid, another compact car with an SUV-like design, Maruti Suzuki have decided to launch the S-presso in the same segment. Powering the new S-presso is a BS VI-ready K10B, 1.0-litre petrol engine that delivers 68 hp at a lower 5,500 rpm with a peak torque of 90 Nm at 3,500 rpm, while delivering a fuel efficiency of up to 21.7 km/l. The engine will come paired with either a five-speed manual transmission or…

THE NEW AUDI A6 IS FINALLY HERE WITH THE EIGHTH-GENERATION model being launched in India in two trims, Premium Plus and Technology, starting at Rs 54.20 lakh (ex-showroom). The new A6 is the eighth-generation model of the popular executive saloon. In India, Audi will only offer the 45 TFSI turbo-petrol variant that is powered by a mild-hybrid, 2.0-litre, BS VI-ready, four-cylinder engine making 245 hp and 370 Nm. It is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and power will be delivered to all four wheels via quattro all-wheel drive. The new A6 gets the Singleframe hexagonal grille with sharp LED headlamps and LED daytime lights. The rear gets new LED tail-lamps, blended together by a flowing strip across the boot-lid. Inside, there’s a new MMI touchscreen and a 12.3-inch…

THE NEW TATA TIGOR EV HAS BEEN LAUNCHED IN INDIA FROM Rs 10.44 lakh (ex-showroom). Following the initial run of Tata Tigor EV cars that were introduced for government and fleet customers, Tata Motors have now launched the Tigor EV extended-range version. Three new variants are being made available: XE+, XM+, and XT+. The new Tigor EV also qualifies for the benefits under the FAME II scheme. The new Tigor EV gets a larger 21.5-kWh battery pack that allows for a long driving range of up to 213 km. Peak output is 30 kW (41 hp) with a peak 105 Nm of torque. The battery cooling system is designed to ensure consistent performance even in extreme temperatures. There are two charging ports: one for slow AC-point charging and another for…

THE HILLY ROADS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PUNE IS, perhaps, a perfect location for a car review. Simply because you get to drive through the city before reaching the highway and then on to the beautiful twisties. Driving the 730Ld facelift with its clever tech, the latest iDrive system, and a bunch of new features feels like it manages to adapt to the changing conditions fairly well. No brownie points for guessing it’s the 2019 version; the massive kidney grille must have been the talk of the town lately. Though all that chrome is really hard to miss, you do get accustomed to the grille’s proportions soon enough and, somehow, I feel that the bling may actually work for the BMW in some of our markets. There are several other…

Honda Jazz The new, fourth-generation Honda Jazz was developed with the intention of becoming the global standard compact car without compromising on space and usability. As such, the development team pursued the emotional aspect, endowing the Jazz with the four dimensions of comfort that enable it to be better suited to the daily lives of varied customers. That said, the new Honda Jazz will be offered in various types so that customers can select the model fits their lifestyle and needs. These include the Basic, Home, Ness, Luxe and Crosstar. The Crosstar is a special variant and features an exclusively developed exterior design as well as 16-inch alloy wheels. The Jazz will only be offered as a hybrid, and will be the first compact Honda to get the new e:HEV…

THE ENTRY-LEVEL SEGMENT is the bread-and-butter segment and Maruti Suzuki have enjoyed the largest share of the pie for the longest period, starting with the Maruti 800 and then with the Alto. Then came the Tata Nano, but that did not give Maruti the sort of competition that was expected. It was much later that the Renault Kwid came along and Maruti felt the heat. The second problem was that the hatchbacks in a higher segment were eating into the entry-level segment. Even as we face a slow-down in the automobile industry, there is one segment that seems to be doing well, or at least holding on to the numbers, and that is the SUV segment. Maruti are trying to cash in on that by launching the SUV-styled entry-level S-presso.…

IT WAS LECLERC ON his fourth consecutive pole for the Scuderia — a feat Ferrari had not witnessed since the year 2000 when Michael Schumacher wrapped up the season with consecutive poles at the last four races, going on to win each one of them as well. This time, however, it was a very different situation. It was Leclerc who feared the long start straight costing him his lead and that’s exactly what happened. Sebastian Vettel managed to slipstream his way down and take the lead through Turn One. Further back, as Daniel Ricciardo in the Renault made his way down the inside of Antonio Giovinazzi’s Alfa Romeo, Giovinazzi had nowhere to go, clipped Ricciardo, and went wide, as Romain Grosjean’s Haas had its inside rear straddle the wheel of…

THE THIRD ROUND OF THE JK TYRE FMSCI National Racing Championship (NRC) turned out to be crucial in deciding the fortunes of the top drivers before they head to Delhi for the final round later this year. The action was split between two classes; the LGB Formula 4 and the Novice Cup. All eyes were on Vishnu Prasad (MSport) as everyone was expecting him to bounce back after a spate of bad luck in the previous round. LGB FORMULA 4 Race One Sandeep Kumar A (Dark Don Racing) was the fastest man on the grid and started from pole position, ahead of teammates, Ashwin Datta and Diljith T S. The start was great for the boys from Dark Don Racing and they drove in tight formation, constantly defending their podium…

VOLVO HAVE INTRODUCED THEIR FIRST-ever — non-Polestar — all-electric car in the form of the XC40 Recharge P8 AWD. The car is built on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) that was created with electrification in mind from the outset. The battery pack modules are mounted low in the floor on either side, below the seats. The 400-volt system will enable no-compromise electric mobility with a host of modern connectivity solutions. For starters, the car’s infotainment runs entirely on Google’s Android operating system. Think of it as a larger version of a smartphone but with space and the ability to move and take you with it. It will fully support Google Assistant, Google Play, and Google Maps. It also means over-the-air updates and a fresh interface as and when any changes…

TO CELEBRATE 60 YEARS OF THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH THE Italian design house, Zagato, British luxury sport car makers, Aston Martin, have introduced an even more powerful and exclusive DBS, the DBS GT Zagato. Only 19 will be made and each example is priced at £6 million (Rs 55.5 crore)! The model is set to become a true modern classic, being unveiled alongside the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation at the Audrain’s Newport Concours in the United States, completing the DBZ Centenary Collection. The modern twin to the DB4 GT Zagato, the DBS GT Zagato packs 770 hp from its 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 petrol engine. Shown in Supernova Red — an exclusively reserved shade for the DBS GT Zagato “Centenary Specification” — with contrasting exposed carbon-fibre accents and Satin Black and Gold…

THE HARDER-CORE, MORE POWERFUL VERSION OF THE BMW M5, M5 Competition, has been launched in India from Rs 1.55 crore (ex-showroom). The BMW M5 has received further treatment from the famed M division and the result is the more powerful M5 Competition. The M TwinPower Turbo, V8 petrol engine delivers 625 hp at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 750 Nm between 1,800-5,860 rpm. This means an increase of 25 PS from the “normal” M5 while the torque remains the same but is delivered over a wider rev-range. Power is delivered via the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission to the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Performance has gone up from the standard car with 0-100 km/h dismissed in a claimed 3.3 seconds and 0-200 km/h dealt with in 10.8 seconds. The…

LAMBORGHINI INDIA HAVE INTRODUCED THE HURACáN EVO Spyder from Rs 4.10 crore (ex-showroom). The open-top car joins its coupé counterpart launched earlier as the second model in the V10 Huracán Evo range. The Huracán Evo Spyder combines open-air driving with the prowess of the Huracán’s evolutionary technologies. It adopts the next-generation vehicle dynamic control and aerodynamics developed for the coupé, with the naturally aspirated V10 engine making a higher power output and incorporating titanium intake valves. Rear-wheel steering and a four-wheel torque vectoring system are centrally controlled by Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata (LDVI) — the Central Processing Unit integrating and controlling every aspect of the car’s set-up and dynamic behaviour, even anticipating the next move and needs of the driver. The Huracán Evo Spyder’s 5.2-litre V10 puts out 640 hp…

THE NEW RENAULT KWID HAS BEEN LAUNCHED IN INDIA, FEATURING bold new styling and modern design elements, priced from Rs 2.83 lakh (ex-showroom). The Renault Kwid has always been a popular little hatchback with more than its fair share of all-road ability, even referred to as a mini SUV. The new model looks every bit the modern European car with its sharp LED headlamps, daytime lights, and detailing. It also brings a choice of two engine and transmission options, both 12-valve, three-cylinder petrol units: an 800-cc unit with 54 hp and 72 Nm and the 1.0-litre with 68 hp and 91 Nm. The 0.8-litre is available with only the five-speed manual, whereas the 1.0 has the option of either manual or automated manual transmission. The new Renault Kwid measures 3,731…

THE TOYOTA GLANZA HAS RECEIVED A NEW ENTRY-LEVEL VARIANT in the updated G M/T, now priced at Rs 6.98 lakh (ex-showroom), undercutting the mild-hybrid option by Rs 24,000. The reason for this price drop is because the mild-hybrid powertrain has been made optional and the G has also now received Suzuki’s latest BS VI-compliant “K12” 1.2-litre, four-cylinder motor, also seen in the other variants at launch. This motor, as with the other variants, makes 83 hp and 113 Nm. The Glanza G M/T gets standard LED projector headlamps with light guides, ABS, dual front airbags, and ISOFIX child-seat anchors. It also gets smart entry and push-button start, making it a well-equipped entry variant. It is also offered in the higher V trim with a five-speed manual transmission and in the…

THE NEW SINCERA SN832I SERIES OF TYRES LAUNCHED BY FALKEN Tyres cater to the small and mid-size segment for hatchbacks, sedans, MUVs, and compact SUVs. The Sincera SN832i tyres will be available in 27 different sizes for rim sizes of 12 to 16 inches. They come equipped with a new tread compound and a deeper tread depth that ensures high mileage and extra-long life. The tyres also feature an asymmetric tread pattern with wide, straight grooves to enhance the two key attributes of a tyre: comfort and durability. In addition to these, the new four-rib pattern design features wide, straight, and lateral grooves for better grip in the wet. There is a technology in the new tyres, called “Silent Pitch Variation”, which enables the tyres to adopt pitch arrangement and…

IF YOU FOLLOW CAR INDIA ON THE REGULAR, YOU KNOW that we do really like our road trips. There’s no better way to get to grips with a car than to get in, drive off, and post some serious numbers on the odo. Which brings us to the Vitara Brezza and this drive. For a journey this massive, you need a car with some serious cred. Well, the Vitara Brezza has it. Our Automobile of the Year and ICOTY winner from a few years back, one of the most loved compact SUVs in India, and the first in its segment to hit four lakh sales. So far, so impressive. But what happens when you show the Brezza some serious action in terrain that changes from low-lying and rainy to high-altitude…

AS I STAND AT THE BASE OF THE COLOSSAL STATUE OF UNITY, standing just a shade under 600 feet tall on a placid river island in Gujarat, I can’t help but take a deep breath of contentment. The air is crisp, the statue is a sight to behold, and there is a shiny orange Hyundai Venue parked in front of it, the key nestled safely in my pocket. As majestic as the statue is, I can’t linger too long in its shadow, a road trip awaits. The ceremonial flag-off has been completed, time to get this adventure under way. I have a bit of drive ahead of me, the first stop on this journey is at Car India’s hometown (and mine), Pune city. Those 550+ kilometres I need to cover…

THEY TOYOTA GLANZA IS THE latest premium hatchback to hit the market and we thought we would see what it was all about by undertaking a leisurely coastal road trip. Or to Go Hatchin’ as Toyota calls it. We started from Chennai and made our way towards the French-inspired beach town that is Puducherry. The road connecting these two cities is, of course, the legendary Eastern Coastal Road and driving along on it is an absolute pleasure. The surface is smooth and unbroken, the road is wide and, boy, do you have some breathtaking views to keep you company! The glistening beaches, the crashing of the waves, and swaying palm trees all dart in and out of sight as you drive along. I had the top-end CVT variant of the…

Be in no doubt, yanking its tail time and again is an experience to be savoured — and then recovered from THERE IS, OF COURSE, AN OFFICIAL PRESS LAUNCH FOR THE Taycan going on. I could have driven the Turbo S (no turbos, obviously, but Porsche’s 21st-century badging philosophy is somehow less nonsensical than most) from Oslo, European home of the electric car, to Copenhagen. From Porsche’s perspective, you can see why: lots of chargers, plenty of wind farms for photographic symbolism, and some stretches of photogenic if hardly exciting road. No, thanks. The Taycan may lack an engine but it’s still a Porsche and one about which — full disclaimer — we’re more than a little excited. My passenger ride earlier this year revealed the flagship Taycan to be…

You sit low in an evocative front-engined sports car driving position, rear axle just behind you DIFFICULTY STARTING conversations? Need an ice-breaker? Try driving a Toyota Supra. Everybody wants to stop and talk to you about it. ‘So much better than it looks in the pictures!’, the gent walking his dog down Bala high street proclaims, telling us he’s been considering one as a replacement for his TVR. ‘Does it still have the 2JZ engine?’ the knowledgeable-beyond-his-years lad in Ffestiniog wants to know. And most others are simply curious to know what on earth it is. ‘I haven’t seen many Toyotas like this,’ the middle-aged biker in Betws-y-Coed murmurs. Which sums up this new sports car’s purpose and its challenge: to stir interest in Toyota as a brand, while also…

AFTER THE THREAT OF TYPHOON HAGIBIS HAD passed, it was a one-day programme as qualifying took place early on Sunday, ahead of the race that very afternoon. Sebastian Vettel made a statement, going fastest to put his Ferrari pole, with his teammate, Charles Leclerc, only managing second-best. Even so, that meant a front-row lock-out for the scarlet cars. Mercedes-AMG had to be content with the second row, with their charge being led by Valtteri Bottas, ahead of his teammate, Lewis Hamilton. It took less than a minute for everything to go wrong for Ferrari. As the five lights went out, Vettel was a split-second too eager and managed to jump the starting light, stopping again within the limit before he got going. However, that delay was enough for Valtteri Bottas…

Over the past few months, the Santro has seen some truly horrendous conditions, with roads simply washed away in the downpour and dirt from landslides making ungainly heaps where tarmac once lay. While many other premium examples have led to a bone-jarring ride and ear-cracking thuds dealing with these conditions, the Santro has taken them all in its stride. The outstanding little hatchback has proved that its more-than-adequate ground clearance, phenomenal suspension set-up, and quality interior are as good, if not better, as what anyone can expect from a car in its price range. Apart from a few niggles — wash/wipe settings, no rear wiper, no rear parking sensors — it completely belies its price based simply on the way it feels. It’s been my companion through a lot this…