On the occasion of Earth Day, Mahindra Electric, announced a collaboration for a pilot EV project in Hyderabad with the intention to replicate the same model in other cities soon. The pilot will see Meru deploy a fleet of eVeritos, the all-electric sedan by Mahindra. The Mahindra eVerito will be available for booking in Hyderabad through Meru’s mobile apps, website, call centre, and will also be available at the Meru Zone at Hyderabad airport.

The services will be available at the same fare as governed by the Telangana Government’s radio taxi fares for sedans. Mahindra Electric has been pioneering the EV movement in India for close to a decade, while Meru has been running their entire fleet on green fuel for the past 11 years in cities where CNG is available. Both organisations have been taking conscious steps towards environmentally friendly practices and this association is in sync with these philosophies. Mahindra Electric is India’s only EV manufacturer with indigenously developed EV technologies that have won global accolades. The Mahindra Group has one of the most diversified portfolios of electric vehicles with the e2oPlus hatch, the eVerito sedan, the eSupro minivan and panel vans and its electric rickshaw, the e-Alfa Mini.

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Staying committed to its promise of electric vehicles, German car maker VW has just unveiled its fully-electric super sports car, the I.D. R Pikes Peak. With 670bhp, 650 Nm of torque and weighing less than 1,100 kg, the super sports car will take on the iconic Pikes Peak hill climb in Colorado Springs, USA, this summer. The goal is to beat the existing record of 8:57.118 minutes for electric cars at the “Race to the Clouds”. To achieve this, the I.D. R Pikes Peak will positively sprint into the future. The car has a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of just 2.25 seconds, making it faster than Formula 1 and Formula E cars.

The I.D. R Pikes Peak was unveiled in Ales, France, before taking to the racetrack for the first time at its roll-out. “Volkswagen’s goal is to reach the pinnacle of electromobility with the I.D. family. As such, Volkswagen’s involvement on Pikes Peak not only sets the trend for our future in motorsport, but is also of great symbolic significance in the truest sense,” said Volkswagen Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand with responsibility for Development, Dr. Frank Welsch. World-class driver and defending Pikes Peak champion, Romain Dumas, will be at the wheel of the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak for the attempt to break the existing record for electric cars.

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For the first time ever, Audi is launching a long-wheelbase version of an SUV. It stretches 4.77 meters long and offers plenty of space for five people and loads of luggage. The German car maker is presenting the new Q5L at the Beijing Motor Show. The long version of the successful SUV is aimed specifically at customers in China. You can choose between five equipment lines and two performance versions of the 2.0 TFSI – the quattro all-wheel drive system is standard. Audi customers in China traditionally prize cars with roomy interiors and high prestige value. Audi currently offers three models with an extended wheelbase – the A4L, the A6L and the A8L. Now the Audi Q5L is being added. Compared to its original base, its wheelbase and exterior length have each increased by 88mm.

The Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense city safety systems come standard in all lines; in addition, there are assistance packages for the city and for suburban streets. Starting with the Lifestyle line, LED headlights are available as an option with the highly convenient Matrix LED technology. The panoramic glass roof is also standard. Like the Q5 with a normal wheelbase, Audi also produces the Q5L in a joint venture with FAW-VW in CKD production in the Changchun plant in northern China. A part of the prefabricated components come from Audi’s plant in San José Chiapa, Mexico. With the new Q5L, Audi is seeking to further expand its strong position in the Chinese SUV market. Sales will launch in summer 2018.

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Suzuki Motorcycle India has launched its first sub-1000cc big-bike, GSX-S750 in India Sporting the DNA of the GSX-R series, the GSX-S750 blends the aggressive street bike looks with a friendly riding character. Powered by a legendary supersport engine, the GSX-S750 has a 749cc four-cylinder fuel-injection engine that produces 108bhp and 81Nm of torque. The engine is specially tuned and refined to maximise its potential on the streets and on winding roads. Meticulously designed bodywork, featuring a chiselled fuel tank, vented front fender, light rear fender, molded mirrors, and angular tail section with integrated LED taillight; every aspect of the GSX-S750 speaks of raw power, predictable performance and functional beauty that defines a true apex predator.

Further, ensuring a greater riding confidence is the three-mode traction control system that ensures superior control over engine output helping prevent rear wheel spin. Mode one is for sport riding, mode two for typical road conditions and, mode three delivers maximum traction control when riding in poor conditions. The compact Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) by NISSIN further firms-up the rider’s grip on road, while keeping a check on weight. The GSX-S 750 is equipped with inverted front forks and a customisable lightweight, brightness-adjustable LCD instrument panel amongst other features. The bike will be available in two different colour variants – Blue and Red – and is priced at Rs 7.45 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi).

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Honda’s little Monkey bike has always been an iconic motorcycle. After being in production for nearly 50 years Honda has just given its little monkey a new lease of life. First developed in the 60’s, now, Honda’s genuinely iconic mini-bike has been re-imagined for the current times. While the styling still draws inspiration from the original, for 2018 the Honda Monkey Bike is complemented by modern and upscale touches such as USD forks, twin rear shocks, LCD instruments, IMU-based ABS and full LED lighting. The bike also looks very cool and fun loving thanks to the compact and scaled down dimensions, and miniature looking components. The glossy 5.6 litre fuel tank is finished in the same paint colour as the frame, swing arm and rear shocks, and proudly wears a historical 3-D Old Wing design Honda logo.

The chromed steel front and rear mudguards – plus the evocatively-stamped exhaust shield, circular mirrors and high-rise handlebars – all pay homage to the original. With a weight of just 107kg, it gets a 125cc air-cooled engine that can deliver 9.2bhp and 11Nm of torque, and can deliver a fuel economy of 67km/l. These figures promise to offer a big bag of fun to ride around town with. The 2018 Monkey 125 will be available in three colour schemes – Banana Yellow/Ross White, Pearl Nebula Red/Ross White, and Pearl Shining Black/Ross White. There is no news of the bike coming to India yet. However, with the Honda Navi being a big success in India, there does seem to be some interest for such a cute and lovable machine, but at a reasonable price.

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With the all new Audi RS 5 Coupé, Audi Sport is presenting its first model to feature the new RS design philosophy in India. The Coupé’s all-new 2.9 TFSI bi-turbo engine produces 450bhp and delivers 600Nm of torque. The standard quattro drive distributes the power to all four wheels. The distinctive racing details coupled with high performance of a V6 engine makes the new Audi RS 5 Coupé the most desirable model in the Audi A5 family. The top model in the A5 family sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 250 km/h. Both turbochargers of the 2.9 TFSI engine unit are centrally positioned inside the V of the engine and each of them supplies a single cylinder bank.

The B-cycle combustion process with central direct injection represents a new level of efficiency within the RS family. Audi Sport signifies the transition of Audi’s racetrack technology into production ready performance cars. Born on the track, built for the road – the all new Audi RS 5 Coupé is the gran turismo among the RS models from Audi Sport. Priced at Rs 1.1 crore, the all new Audi RS 5 Coupé is now available at all Audi dealerships across India.

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India Kawasaki has launched the Ninja 400 for Rs 4.69 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. The lightweight, sharp-looking, high-performance, sport model offers excitement and ease of riding to a wide range of customers. Clad in sharp new Ninja styling, the New Ninja 400 delivers greater performance than its predecessor care of all-new engine and chassis that are more powerful and significantly lighter. Not only does the Ninja 400 offer stunning, high-quality looks, its stronger engine performance, light, predictable handling and relaxed, sporty riding position make it both fun and easy to ride. On the technical front, the Ninja 400’s all new 399cc delivers higher performance and controllability.

The higher performance can largely be credited to the new downdraft intake, which is accompanied by a larger airbox offering increased intake efficiency. The smooth response and abundant low-end torque facilitate throttle control for new and experienced riders alike. The Ninja 400 also has a potential to compete with models having relatively higher power and engine capacity. Few noteworthy elements like largest brake disc in class, more rigid front fork and sporty riding position which can accommodate a wide range of rider sizes and riding situations make Ninja 400 very unique. Besides a cover for the radiator fan directs engine heat away from the rider, contributing to rider comfort.

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Ferrari had selected the 87th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show for the world premiere of the new 12-cylinder berlinetta, the 812 Superfast, the most powerful and fastest Ferrari in the marque’s history. Just days after it was revealed, the car was subsequently launched right here in India. This new Ferrari not only introduces a plethora of innovative features but is also particularly significant as the V12 series marked the official start of the glorious Prancing Horse story in 1947, 70 years ago this year.

The 812 Superfast thus ushers in a new era in Ferrari 12-cylinder history, in doing so building on the invaluable legacies of the F12berlinetta and F12tdf. It is aimed at clients demanding the most powerful and exclusive Ferrari in the range: an uncompromising sports car that will deliver exhilarating driving both on road and track yet also be comfortable enough to allow its owners to enjoy it as an all-round experience.

The latest Berlinetta is headlined by a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre (300cc bigger than the F12’s engine) V12 that churns out 789bhp and 718Nm of torque. The 812 Superfast’s dual-clutch transmission has specific gear ratios which, combined with shorter up and down-shifting times between gears, sharpen throttle response still further. The 812 Superfast is equipped with leading-edge control systems and components, resulting in unparalleled handling and roadholding. It’s the first Ferrari to sport EPS (Electric Power Steering) which, in accordance with Ferrari’s uncompromising engineering approach, is used to fully exploit the potential of the car’s performance and, through the complete integration with all the electronic vehicle dynamics controls – including the latest 5.0 version of Ferrari’s patented Side Slip Control (SSC) – make its powerful performance easier to handle and even more thrilling to exploit. You can get your hands on the new 812 Superfast for a price of Rs 5.2 crore in India.

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Fresh of its big scandal and suffering from heavy fines, it seems that nothing was able to slow down the sales of German car company VW despite the heavy hit to its reputation. However, the VW Group has just made a major announcement to go green across all its brands, which seems to be the trend of nearly everyone these days. The Volkswagen Group is driving forward with the transformation to e-mobility. 16 locations around the globe are to produce battery powered vehicles by the end of 2022. This was announced by Matthias Muller, CEO of Volkswagen AG, at the Group’s Annual Media Conference in Berlin. The Group currently produces electric vehicles at three locations, and in two years’ time a further nine Group plants are scheduled to be equipped for this purpose. To ensure adequate battery capacity for the massive expansion of environmentally-friendly electric mobility, partnerships with battery manufacturers for Europe and China have already been agreed.

The contracts already awarded have a total volume of around EUR 20 billion. A supplier decision for North America will be taken shortly. A number of innovations from the Group were presented last week at the Geneva International Motor Show, among them the Audi e-tron, the Porsche Mission E and the I.D. VIZZION, another member of the Volkswagen I.D. family. From 2019, there will be a new electric vehicle “virtually every month”, Müller said: “This is how we intend to offer the largest fleet of electric vehicles in the world, across all brands and regions, in just a few years.”

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TVS Motor Company has launched the new 2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. A big part of the TVS Apache RTR series, the new TVS Apache RTR 160 is the most powerful 160cc motorcycle, creating a new benchmark in the segment. The new Apache RTR 160 is born of the six-time Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (INMRC) winning motorcycle – (Group B RTR 165) and gets the 4-valve, oil-cooled engine that offers best-in-class performance. The Apache RTR 160 is available in both Carburetor and EFI variants that come with the 159.7 cc, single-cylinder oil-cooled engine that churns out 16.8bhp and 14.8 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed super-slick gear box that offers a precise and powerful riding experience. TVS Apache RTR 160 4V comes with the TVS Motor Company patented Double-cradle Split Synchro Stiff Frame Design, which gives excellent high-speed stability and best-in-class handling on/off- track.

The mono-shock suspension, engineered and precision-tuned by inputs from TVS Racing riders, contributes to the razor-sharp handling and agility through the corners. Placing paramount importance on safety, the TVS Apache RTR 160 Fi 4V comes with both rear and front disc brakes while the Carburetor motorcycle is available in Disc and Drum variants. With a fully-digital speedometer, the design of the new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V offers sleek styling along with the race-spec aspects of the INMRC race machine – RTR 165. The forward biased stance with tight proportions is complemented by the aggressive headlamp, chiseled body and a sleek, sharp tail. The TVS Apache RTR 160 series is available in three stunning colours, namely, Racing Red, Metallic Blue and Knight Black.

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