With a tally of over 6 lakh visitors over 5 days, the 2016 Auto Expo finally came to an end on February 9, 2015. The motorshow in Greater Noida hosted a wide array of cars, motorcycles, scooters, concept vehicles, and commercial vehicles. In addition to the vehicles, Auto Expo 2016 also saw a plethora of celebrities in attendance including, but not limited to, Sachin Tendulkar, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Virat Kohli, and Katrina Kaif.
Here is a list of the celebrities that launched and unveiled vehicles and visited pavilions at the biennial event.
1. Sachin Tendulkar - BMW 7 Series
The Master Blaster launched the all-new BMW 7 Series on February 3, 2016. Sachin Tendulkar also launched the second generation BMW X1 at the Auto Expo 2016, though deliveries for the car will begin only in April, 2016.
2. Ranbir Kapoor - Hero Splendor iSmart 110
Bollywood heart-throb, Ranbir Kapoor, unveiled Hero MotoCorp's first in-house developed motorcycle, Splendor iSmart 110, at the Auto Expo. The world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer also unveiled three other vehicles, namely, Xtreme 200 S, XF3R, and Duet-E. One must note, the XF3R is a concept bike, while the Duet-E is an electric scooter concept.
3. Katrina Kaif- Jaguar XE
Katrina Kaif made an appearance at the launch of the Jaguar XE. The new sedan, which will be assembled in India, costs between Rs. 39.9 lakh - Rs. 46.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and faces competition from cars like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series, and Audi A4. In addition to the XE, Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover also showcased the Jaguar F-Pace, Jaguar XF, Jaguar F-Type Coupe, Land Rover Discovery Sport, and Range Rover SVAutobiography.
4. Virat Kohli and Alia Bhatt - Audi R8 V10 Plus
Renowned Indian cricketer Virat Kohli along with Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt launched the latest iteration of the four-ringed carmaker's R8 sportscar. The new Audi R8 V10 Plus is priced at Rs 2.47 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) and comes powered by a 5.2-litre naturally-aspirated V10 engine that develops a humongous 610bhp.
5. Akshay Kumar - Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India
Indian cinema's Khiladi visited Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India's pavilion at the 2016 Auto Expo on Sunday. While Akshay Kumar, brand ambassador, HMSI, didn't unveil or launch any two-wheeler for the brand, he revealed that he has owned the CRF 1000L Africa Twin motorcycle. If you didn't know already, Honda will launch the Africa Twin motorcycle in India later this year.
6. John Abraham - Yamaha MT-09
John Abraham, whose love for bikes is no secret, launched the Yamaha MT-09 at the Auto Expo 2016. The latest Yamaha motorcycle is the flagship model of the MT series and costs Rs. 10.2 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
7. Anil Kapoor - Maruti Suzuki S-Cross Limited Edition
The veteran actor unveiled the limited edition of the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross, which is also an official partner of the second season of the Indian version of 24. The limited edition variant of the crossover gets features like spoiler in black paint, matte black ORVM garnish, foot well lamp with blue light, etc..
8. Karan Singh Grover - UM Motorcycles
Karan Singh Grover unveiled UM Motorcycles' Renegade range in India at the 13th edition of the Auto Expo. The American bike manufacturer's Indian arm announced the launch of Renegade Sport S and Renegade Commando, while the third motorcycle from the range, Renegade Classic, awaits a launch in India in June, 2016.
9. Manoj Bajpayee - Mahindra Jeeto
Manoj Bajpayee, brand ambassador for Mahindra Jeeto, graced the automaker's commercial vehicle zone at the expo. Mahindra Jeeto, a mini truck, offers a "modular range of 8 mini-trucks to cater to the varied needs of the sub 1 tonne load segment customers".
10. Zaheer Khan and Mohinder Amarnath - Nissan Micra Active and Terrano Limited Editions
Cricketers Mohinder Amarnath and Zaheer Khan were seen in attendance at the launch of the ICC WT20 Special Edition Micra Active and Terrano. Nissan, the official partner for ICC, brought in the cricket-themed editions of the two cars at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo to celebrate the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 2016.
11. Gul Panag - Triumph
Another celebrity who is known for their love for motoring, Gul Panag was spotted beaming from ear to ear at the Triumph pavilion at the expo. The company launched the 2016 Triumph Bonneville range and also showcased the latest model of the Triumph Thruxton R, which will be launched in India later this year.
Also Read: Auto Expo 2016 - Day 2 Highlights
