Cyrus Dhabhar was born and brought up in a motorsport family and cars run deep in his blood. As a passionate founder and head of a classic car club in Mumbai and an avid part of the vintage and classic car scene in the country, Cyrus prefers his cars older and simpler. That said, he loves everything on four wheels and the occasional two-wheeler as well. Cyrus currently is the Assistant Editor - AUTO for the NDTV Group.
The Honda Motor Company and Hitachi Automotive Systems have announced a joint venture to design, develop and manufacture motors for future electric vehicles. The new company will be based out of Japan in the current premises of Hitachi Automotive Systems in Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture and will also be receiving grants from the local government. The new electric motor manufacturing facility will help Honda increase the number of all electric or hybrid vehicles it makes and also to increase the number of full electric or hybrid models it offers. The joint venture will also be advantageous for Honda as it brings in Hitachi Automotive Systems which has decades of auto component manufacturing knowledge in as a partner in component manufacturing instead of being only a supplier.
Hyundai India has seen a drop in sales for cars sold in June 2017 as compared to the same month last year. Sales numbers for the June 2017 vs Sales for May 2017 are also substantially lower. As compared to June 2016 (39,807 units), Hyundai India only sold 37,562 units, which is a drop of 5.6 per cent. Compared to May 2017 though, which registered a total sales figure of 42,007 units, the drop in sales for June is even higher at 10.58 per cent. The drop in sales can be directly attributed to the uncertainly that GST would have brought to the minds of perspective buyers as tax rates have now been cut and cars have become cheaper. Hyundais sales figures for the first six months or H1 2017 were at 2,53,428 units. Comparatively, in H1 2016, Hyundai sold 2.43,442 units. The 2017 sales figures are cumulatively up by 4.1 per cent as compared to 2016.
With the Goods And Services Tax or GST about to be rolled out from July 1, 2017, there will be a considerable impact on car prices in India. The GST impact on cars and SUVs will makes most of the current models cheaper, while few will become more expensive. So, here's a detailed understanding of what gets cheaper and what becomes more expensive.
According to some media reports, the Tata Motors- Volkswagen Group joint development of a new platform that was meant to underpin the next generation mass market cars might get cancelled. Earlier this year at the 2017 Geneva Auto Show, Tata Motors and Volkswagen Group had signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a long term solution to platforms that would underpin the next generation of their small cars and smaller sedans and SUVs. The platform in question, the new Tata Motors Advanced Modular Platform or AMP would have underpinned the Indian version of the new Volkswagen Polo that has just been unveiled.
The monsoons are here. And with it all the muck, floods and incessant traffic jams that we have become so used to. The monsoon is also the worst season of the year for your car as it starts to accumulate mud, dirt and of course water in all the smaller crevices and gaps which can result in rust. So here are a few tips to keep your car spic and span in the rains and also some tips and tricks to help you drive safer and to keep your car protected from all the harm that it can go through.
According to rumours, the Ferrari 488 GTO will have over 700 bhp from its 3.9 V8 twin-turbo petrol engine and over 800 Nm of torque. The car will also go through a huge strip down in terms of weight with an estimated 100 kilogram diet to make it lighter and more agile. This process will most likely come from having thinner glass, a titanium exhaust, carbon fibre panels, race seats and the signature carpet-less stripped out interior. The new 488 GTO will also have a much much more aggressive aero package with active flaps and aero bits and a new look to match. Drive software like side slip control too is stated to be upgraded with the new GTO.
The BMW X3 has been one of the best selling SUVs in the Bavarian automakers portfolio. Launched originally in 2003, over 1.5 million new X3s have been sold in the last 14 years across two generations. In India, the BMW X3 has been a popular option for customers who wanted a Rs 50 lakh BMW but wanted an SUV instead of the staple 3/5 Series. And now, BMW has unveiled a new third generation X3 that is larger, more efficient and offers more tech than ever before. The BMW X3 will also get a set of two diesel and three petrol engines that have been thoroughly updated.
The prestigious World Car Of The Year Award has retained its top spot for the fifth consecutive year as the most visible and most important global automotive award program. The World Car Of The Year program was first formed in 2004 and comprises of a selection of automotive journalists from around the world. The 2017 World Car Of The Year Award winner is the Jaguar F-Pace and previous winners include the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and the Porsche Boxster. The World Car Of The Year also has multiple Indian Jury members including Car And Bikes own Siddharth Vinayak Patankar who is the Director of the WCOTY Steering Committee.
The short video shows Peter Parker in a brand new Audi SUV prototype driving with an annoying instructor who looks for every reason to dock points for driving fast, not holding the steering wheel correctly, braking too hard and too close to the car in front, etc. The video however does showcase the new Audi's capabilities of semi autonomous driving, auto braking and auto parking which makes Peter Parker's job a lot lot easier.
A few days ago, Hyundai unveiled its new subcompact SUV for the global market, the Kona. And now, sister company Kia has taken the wraps off its own answer to the ever growing subcompact segment, the all-new Stonic.
The new Volkswagen Polo is an evolution of the last generation in terms of overall design but as expected is slightly larger than before and of course, comes with a host of more features. The new VW Polo will make it to India eventually, but buyers will have to wait a few years for the popular premium hatchback. Here is why!
A compass is an instrument that has helped early explorers find worlds they did not think existed, and that's exactly the message Jeep Compass is trying to deliver in India. So, read on to know if the iconic American automaker has got the balance right with its most affordable offering.
Volkswagen have confirmed that the brand new next generation Polo hatchback will make its official global debut on June 16, 2017. The new Polo will be showcased in a special event in Berlin and will be telecast live across the world via the Volkswagen live streams. The new Polo though has been spied in and out with several spyshots showcasing how the hatchback looks. The new Polo is larger than its predecessor and is made on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform. The Polo will shares the MQB platform with the recently launched Volkswagen Tiguan that we have just driven (read review HERE) and the Skoda Octavia, which will be face lifted in India soon.
Porsche has unveiled a new limited edition 911. And it is the most powerful production 911 Turbo S ever made! Oh and yes, it is painted in a rather lovely shade of Gold! The new Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series from Porsche is limited to only 500 units worldwide and if you arent very excited about the golden paintjob, dont worry, it is available in other colours as well. The Turbo S Exclusive Series features 27 more bhp than the standard car too along with a set of very distinct racing stripes. Incidentally, this power upgrade makes it the most powerful Turbo S that Porsche have ever produced. The new car also features more luxurious interiors as compared to the standard car.
Kia has unveiled the design sketches for its new upcoming subcompact SUV, the Stonic. The new Stonic is essentially Kias version of the new Hyundai Kona and will eventually make it to India once Kia officially launches its cars in India. The new Stonic has a more crossover like design language as compared to the larger SUVs from KIA (or Hyundai) that features a more upright and more conventional SUV stance and design. The Stonic will be available in global markets by the end of 2017 and will be highly customisable. When it does make it to India, expect the new Stonic SUV to be sub 4-meters in length and go up against some tough competition like the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, the Ford Ecosport and a plethora of SUVs from Mahindra. The Stonic will also take on the upcoming Tata Nexon.
Maruti Suzuki, Indias largest car maker have put out the figures that shows the decrease in overall CO2 emissions from its range of vehicles over the last decade. The drop in CO2 emissions has been attributed to better technology for both its petrol and diesel power plants, new generation engines altogether and the introduction of start-stop technology like mild-hybrid systems that are currently available in the Ertiga and the Ciaz. The addition of several CNG equipped models right from the factory floor in the Maruti Suzuki lineup have also added to the drop in emissions along with new platforms that have dramatically decreased overall weight and are more mechanically efficient.
I rarely swoon over the way a car is or drive but the new Aventador S is genuinely that good a car. The old one was great but it did have its issues and now with the new one Lamborghini has really got the formula spot on. I have spent hours and hours on the Lamborghini configurator after I drove this car and I even came up with what could be my dream spec. But alas, for us mere mortals, the Aventador S is quite expensive with its Rs 5.01 Crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) price tag. Maybe Ill just get a 1:18 scale model than and hope to win the lottery someday. Because if you really do have the money to consider a Rs 5 Crore car, the new Aventador S has to be at the very top of your list!
Legendary automotive and industrial designer Tom Tjaarda has passed away. Tom was 82 years old and despite fighting an illness, was as enthusiastic as ever and planned to resume work soon when he succumbed due to medical complications. He is survived by his wife. The legendary designer is known most for his elegant and yet iconic sportscars from the 60s and 70s. The most famous of the lot is the DeTomaso Pantera and the Fiat 124 Spyder. The Fiat 124 Spyder of course has recently been reincarnated as a new model recently and even gets an Abarth version.
Technology evolves the world and everything in it. And art evolves with it. The BMW art car has seen an evolution from its inception back in 1975 through the decades with greats like Alexander Calder, Sandro Chia and of course, Andy Warhol all the way to 2017. To mark the 100th year of BMW, the German luxury car-maker had commissioned two art cars, one for 2016 and one for 2017. Incidentally, the BMW Art Car from 2016 is number 19, crafted by American modern art legend John Baldessari while this, the brand new Art Car for 2017 is Number 18. We were invited to the Minsheng Museum in Beijing as the only media outlet from India to take a closer look at the Art Car that befits the modernity of the 21st Century!
Maruti Suzuki offers a large variety of AMT powered cars in its portfolio. These include the entry level Alto K10 and Wagon R to the Celerio and the Ignis hatchbacks. In fact, about 40 per cent of all Celerio buyers and about 20 per cent of Ignis buyers opt for the AMT gearbox. The last generation Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire had the AMT gearbox but only with the diesel engine option. The new Maruti Suzuki Dzire gets the AMT gearbox with both the petrol and diesel engines. So lets tell you how it drives and if it is worth the average Rs 50 thousand premium over the manual versions.
