After setting a new global sales record in 2018, Jeep welcomes 2019 as the year of an evolution. Jeep has always been an automotive pioneer starting in 1941 with the Willys-Overland, the first 4×4 vehicle, followed in 1946 by the Willys Wagon, which first introduced the concept of the Sport Utility Vehicle.

Its legendary reputation for off-road capability has lasted ever since. Today, Jeep is making another major evolutionary step by presenting its new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models. A no-compromise hybrid solution, which integrates the unmatched technical layout of each Jeep SUV, will power both the Jeep Renegade and Jeep Compass and turn them into vehicles that provide absolute freedom while taking their capability to the next level through eco-friendly technology.

Displayed at the Jeep stand in Geneva, these new plug-in hybrid models are rechargeable from an external power outlet and, as a consequence, can store more electric energy. This choice allows for the use of more powerful electric motors, which translate into a pure electric range of approximately 31 miles and about 80 mph full electric top speed for both Renegade and Compass.

The electric units work in synergy with the new 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine to increase efficiency and power overall. For the Renegade, the power sits in the 193 PS (190 hp) and 244 PS (240 hp) range resulting in outstanding on-road performance: 0 to 100 kmph  0 to 62 mph) is reached in approximately seven seconds. The same figures – although still pending homologation – are achieved by the first plug-in hybrid Compass which is also the fastest example of the model ever. The Compass with the simultaneous action of the internal combustion engine (ICE) and the electric motor delivers up to 244 PS (240 hp). In addition, the new Jeep SUVs with plug-in hybrid technology are more fun to drive courtesy of improved acceleration and fast engine response. They also deliver CO2 emissions lower than 50g/km.

With electrification, the Jeep range further improves its off-road capability thanks to the greater torque offered by the electric motor and the ability to adjust it with extreme precision while driving on the most challenging terrain, where a very low transmission ratio is needed. Thanks to the new electric all-wheel-drive technology (eAWD), traction to the rear axle is not provided by a prop shaft but through a dedicated electric motor. This allows the two axles to be separated and to control the torque independently in a more effective way than a mechanical system.

Renegade and Compass PHEVs feature a dedicated instrument cluster and infotainment screen, updated to help the customer with information related to daily hybrid driving.

While being loyal to its mindset of overcoming any limit, the Jeep brand continues to evolve, to develop and to bring its SUVs to the next level in line with its core values of freedom, authenticity and passion. Today the brand is embracing a new challenge and setting new standards.

Honda took to the stage at Geneva Motor Show to announce the further acceleration of its electrification ambitions. The company announced its intention to move 100 per cent of its European sales to electrified powertrains by 2025. This new ambition builds on the brand’s 2017 aim of two-thirds of its sales to be electrified by 2025, and places it firmly at the forefront of Honda’s global electrification shift announced as part of its 2030 vision.

Speaking at the press conference, Tom Gardner, Senior Vice President, Honda Motor Europe, said, “…since we made that first pledge in March 2017, the shift towards electrification has gathered pace considerably. Environmental challenges continue to drive demand for cleaner mobility. Technology marches on unrelenting and people are starting to shift their view of the car itself.”

Further proof of Honda’s electrification ambition was seen in the shape of the Honda e Prototype. Unveiled for the first time at Geneva, the car previews Honda’s first production battery electric vehicle for the European market. Positioned as an urban commuter, the car features a competitive range of over 200km and a ‘fast charge’ functionality providing 80 per cent range in just 30 minutes. It also features trademark Honda driving dynamics with a sporty rear wheel drive configuration. The production version of the Honda e Prototype will be unveiled later this year. Customers can register for updates on the Honda website now, and will be able to place a reservation for the car in selected European markets in early summer. To date Honda has received 15,000 registrations of interest for the Honda e Prototype.

Nissan has unveiled the IMQ concept crossover, equipped with its award-winning e-POWER system, and announced it will launch the electrified powertrain technology in Europe.

The technology will debut in European markets by 2022, Roel de Vries, Nissan corporate vice president, said at the Geneva International Motor Show.

e-POWER has been a hit with consumers in Japan, where it’s helped make the Nissan Note the country’s best-selling registered car. Combining 100 per cent electric motor drive with a gasoline engine that charges the battery, e-POWER cars give customers instant, smooth acceleration and excellent fuel efficiency.

Introducing the technology in Europe will reinforce Nissan’s leadership in electrified vehicles in the region, where the Nissan LEAF is already the best-selling electric car.

Building on the success of LEAF, e-POWER will be among a suite of new technologies coming to Nissan’s best-selling vehicles in Europe in the coming three years. By 2022 sales of electrified Nissan vehicles will increase five-fold, and by the end of that year will be double the market average.

“Already Nissan is the world’s leader in mass-market EV technologies and a fully electrified Europe is now within our sights,” said Roel de Vries, Corporate Vice President for Nissan Motor Company. “With e-POWER arriving on European roads within the next two years, we will bring the benefits of Nissan Intelligent Mobility to more customers and keep moving people to a better world.”

The IMQ, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, is an advanced technology and design showcase equipped with an all-wheel-drive version of e-POWER. It reflects Nissan’s position as a leader in crossovers, with a look that pushes the boundaries of what a European compact crossover can be.

The e-POWER system includes a gasoline engine with a power generator, an inverter, a battery and an electric motor. Used solely to charge the high-output battery, the gasoline engine always runs at an optimal speed. This leads to superior fuel efficiency and lower emissions compared with a traditional internal combustion engine.

Currently, e-POWER is available in the Note and Serena models in Japan. More than 70 per cent of Note sales and almost half of Serena sales in the country are e-POWER versions.

Nissan’s leadership in electrified cars is underscored by the news announced today that the 100 per cent electric Nissan LEAF has reached total global sales of 400,000 vehicles – cementing its position as the world’s best-selling electric car. Starting tomorrow (March 6), the Nissan LEAF e+, featuring a new and larger battery, will be available for customer orders on Nissan’s European consumer websites.

More than 3,000 customers have already ordered the 62-kilowatt-hour LEAF just a month after its global launch.

Nissan Energy has also taken center stage. Later this year, the Nissan Energy ROAM, a portable, weatherproof power pack will be introduced. The ROAM will use cells from previously-used LEAF batteries and provide a storage capacity of 700 watt-hours and a power output of 1 kilowatt.

Bentley has created the ultimate collector’s version of the all-new Continental GT to celebrate the company’s centenary in 2019.

The Continental GT Number 9 Edition by Mulliner is inspired by Bentley’s illustrious motor sport past and incorporates a number of distinctive features into one of the world’s most luxurious Grand Tourer. Just 100 examples will be hand built by Mulliner in Crewe, England, based on the Continental GT this year.

Number 9 Edition by Mulliner pays homage to Sir Henry Ralph Stanley ‘Tim’ Birkin – one of the original, ‘Bentley Boys’ of the 1920s and ‘30s. Birkin was a Bentley customer, investor and a racing driver, full of entrepreneurial spirit and ambition – and through the determined collaboration of man and machine, the 4 ½ litre ‘Blower’ was born.

No.9 was the supercharged Bentley ‘Blower’ Sir Tim raced at the 1930 Le Mans 24 Hours. He commissioned the production of a series of 4 ½ Litre Bentleys, powered by a supercharger developed with independent engineer Amherst Villiers. Power increased from around 110 bhp to 175 bhp with the supercharger installation. The imposing green car has since become the iconic racing Bentley of the pre-war years.

The Number 9 Edition by Mulliner is distinguished by No.9 badgework and a bold, matching front grille graphic. Customers have the option of either Viridian green or Beluga black exterior paint, with 21-inch, 10-spoke wheels also in these colours, plus Black Line Specification and carbon bodykit.

Inside the Number 9 Edition by Mulliner customers have the choice of Cumbrian Green or Beluga heritage hides, with increased gloss levels to the seats, inner door panel and other areas. Debossed ‘B’ logos adorn the seat headrests and door panels as they did the door pads of the 1930 ‘Blower’.

A uniquely crafted dashboard features Engine Spin on the centre console. Often known as ‘Turned Aluminium’, Engine Spin was a popular racing car and aviation finish in the 1920s and ‘30s as it limited light reflection.

The centre console of the vehicle is enhanced by the inclusion of an exclusive British Jaeger clock face. Developed through a partnership between Mulliner and British Jaeger, the clock is inspired by the original No. 9 ‘Blower’s’ dials and uses the same traditional manufacturing methods of race car dials from the vintage era.

The Continental GT’s revolutionary Bentley Rotating Display has been further enhanced with a Bentley ‘Blower’ artefact. The Continental GT Number 9 Edition by Mulliner features a wood insert from the seat of Birkin’s iconic 1930 No. 9 Le Mans race car, which was removed during a sympathetic renovation. This backlit piece is set in resin and situated in the middle of the centre dial of the rotating display, adding a piece of history to each car.

Each of the 100 cars also features 18K gold plated organ stops inspired by those in the No.9 ‘Blower’ and ‘1 of 100’ treadplates.

With the first Aston Martin Valkyrie prototypes beginning to take shape, now is the time to reveal the full performance figures delivered by Aston Martin Valkyrie’s hybrid powertrain.

The heart of the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s powertrain is its clean sheet Cosworth-built 65° naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine. Evoking the spine-tingling, ultra-high-revving F1TM engines of the 1990s, but benefiting from two decades of progress in design, material and manufacturing expertise, it sets exceptional new standards for maximum rpm and weight.

With a certified peak power output of 1,014 PS (1,000 bhp) at 10,500 rpm, it can continue on to a maximum 11,100 rpm. This is a world first for a naturally-aspirated, emissions-compliant road car. Peak torque is 740 Nm at 7,000 rpm. These peak outputs are purely delivered by the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine), with a further performance boost delivered by the battery hybrid system.

When describing the powertrain of a traditional road car, or even a conventional hybrid road car, it is easy to separate the main components and describe their individual roles. In the Aston Martin Valkyrie, where the design and engineering of each and every part has been approached with the meticulous ethos of Red Bull Advanced Technologies, out of their Formula One DNA for maximum efficiency and ultimate performance, many key components do more than one job.

Using the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s powertrain as an example, both the V12 engine and gearbox casing act as stressed members of the vehicle structure. The latter provides rear suspension mounting points, while also helping provide even greater structural rigidity and eliminating the weight of an additional rear subframe.

The battery pack integrates all relevant sub-systems and serves as the carrier for the vehicle’s power electronics, while in addition to its Power Boost and Energy Recovery System functions, the E-Motor aids the mechanical performance of the gearbox. Aston Martin Valkyrie exemplifies intelligent engineering wherever you look.

A KERS-style boost system akin to those fitted to F1TM cars, the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s hybrid system has been developed by two main technical partners; Integral Powertrain Ltd, who supplied the bespoke electric motor, and Rimac for the lightweight hybrid battery system.

As a result, the full hybrid system contributes an additional 162 PS (160 bhp) of power and a further 280 Nm of available torque with the certified max power output of Aston Martin Valkyrie standing at a stunning 1,177 ps (1,160 bhp) at 10,500 rpm. Equally, with the full hybrid system, peak torque will stand at 900 Nm at 6,000 rpm.

Vice President & Special Vehicle Operations Officer, David King said, “Aston Martin Valkyrie is set to be the ultimate hypercar in the automotive world and these performance figures underline that statement. Red Bull Advanced Technologies, Cosworth, Rimac and Integral Powertrain Ltd. have been fantastic partners in the development of this powertrain, ensuring that we have already created a hybrid system that is emissions-compliant and ready to begin fitting to our first physical prototypes. I am, as I’m sure the rest of the world is, incredibly excited to see and hear the first of these cars on track”.

Development of the Aston Martin Valkyrie continues under the guidance of Aston Martin Lagonda, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and project partner AF Racing.

The JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 7, India’s only international TSD (Time, Speed, Distance) rally, ended on an intense, patriotic note late on Saturday, March 2, with the participants paying homage to the martyrs of the Pulwama terror strike and the winners dedicating their victories to the country’s armed forces.

The four-time Himalayan Drive champions, Ajgar Ali and Mohammed Musthafa, made it even more memorable by their touching gesture of donating their entire prize money of Rupees one lakh to a fund that will help the families of the fallen CRPF soldiers.

The rally’s prize distribution ceremony at Club Montana Vista in Siliguri on Saturday evening commenced with the national anthem, followed by a two-minute silence in memory of the victims of the perfidy at Pulwama.

Among the dignitaries present were the Deputy Inspector General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Amit Kumar, Air Commodore (retired) S. K. Agarwal, Siliguri Range Deputy Inspector General of CRPF Sunil Kumar Sabita, Colonel Jagdeep Singh and Income Tax Commissioner Pankaj Kumar.

The dignitaries, including representatives of the sponsors, the competitors and the organisers, lit candles in front of a collage of portraits of the Pulwama martyrs. Air Commodore (retired) Agarwal, speaking on behalf of India’s armed forces, recalled his training as a fighter pilot and the commitment of soldiers to sacrifice their lives for the country.

He also recalled interacting with Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who was a high school student when Agarwal was posted at an IAF base along with Abhinandan’s father Air Marshal (retired) S Varthaman.

At the prize distribution ceremony that followed, most of the winners in the various categories dedicated their successes to the country’s armed forces. Rally champion Ajgar Ali from the port town of Haldia in West Bengal announced, to thunderous applause, that he would donate his prize money of One Lakh Rupees to the CRPF welfare fund for martyrs’ families.

The gesture was widely appreciated. Ajgar’s younger brother Shaikh Ibrahim, who came fourth in the open category, also dedicated his victory to India’s armed forces and thanked the country’s soldiers for guarding the country in the face of extreme adversities. The winners in the other categories also paid homage to the armed forces and to fallen soldiers.

After four days of cross-country rallying, the team of Ajgar Ali and Mohammed Musthafa successfully defended their title at JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 7. Hailing from the small port town of Haldia in West Bengal, Ajgar Ali, along with Erode’s Mohammed Musthafa, achieved the rare feat of winning their third successive title in the country’s only international TSD (Time, Speed, Distance) rally.

In the national category, Ajgar Ali and Mohammed Musthafa ended with a final tally of 1110 penalty points. Securing the second position were the team of Gagan Sethi and navigator Rajkumar Mundra with 1847 penalty points, while veteran rallyist Jogendra Jaiswal and co-driver Nagarajan Thangaraj were unlucky to end their JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 7 campaign in third position with 2035 penalty points.

In the open category, the team of Govind Dalmia and Anand Agarwal emerged victorious edging past Rohit Agarwal and Kunal Joshi to finish with 9149 penalty points. The Agarwal-Joshi team scored 9691 penalty points securing the second position. Finishing third in this category were the team of Suyash Raj and Mohammad Sharif with 10796 penalty points.

This year’s title battle saw a nail-biting finish. The team of Jogendra Jaiswal and Nagarajan Thangaraj who started the final day (Day 4, Saturday) as championship leaders lost their bid to the crown in the very final moments of the rally by missing the penultimate time control, picking up 900 penalty points due to this single error. The Jaiswal-Thangaraj team had a score of 690 penalty points at the start of leg 5 (Day 4) of the rally that was flagged off on Saturday morning from Kalimpong. They were followed closely by Ali-Musthafa duo with 703 penalty points and at distant third place were the team of Gagan Sethi and Rajku6mar Mundra with 1147 penalty points.

“We made a big mistake (by missing the second-last time control) and we handed the championship title to them (Ajgar and Musthafa). It is a disappointment for us, but the winners deserve the title. Such things happen and we have to take in true sportsmanship spirit,” said Nagarajan Thangaraj.

“We are very happy to score this hat trick. It was a very exciting rally and I can say that the seventh edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive was the best TSD rally in the country till date. The competitive sections were superb and posed a tough challenge to drivers, navigators and our cars. The rally routes were meticulously planned to ensure that tricky and tough challenges were thrown at the competitors and tested both man and machine,” said Ajgar Ali. He was also all praise for Just Sportz, the rally organisers. “This rally is always well-organised and everything is transparent,” Ali added.

This year’s victory takes the total winning tally of Ajgar Ali and Mohammed Musthafa to four Himalayan Drive titles (2013, 2017, 2018 and 2019) since the event was first held in 2013. The team of Sudip Ghosh and navigator Arindam Ghosh were the only other team to have won this title more than once (2014 and 2016). Anubhav De and co-driver Chandan Sen won the title in 2015.

The last leg of the rally was flagged off from the Kalimpong stadium by the Chairman of Kalimpong Municipality, Ravi Pradhan, in the presence of senior officials of Kalimpong district. Saturday’s leg was a tough one starting with a steep climb on the road from Mungpoo to Jorebungalow that was lined with verdant forests and offered majestic views of snow-capped peaks of the eastern Himalayas for a few kilometres. This was followed by another competitive section downhill through winding mountain roads of Rohini. The third and last competitive section was a tough drive stretching over nearly 23 kilometers through the bed of the Mechi river that forms the border between India and Nepal.

The JK Tyre Himalayan Ddrive 7, which was organised in association with EXPERIENCE BENGAL (West Bengal Tourism), covered 880 kilometers over four action-packed days. Competitors traversed through the verdant Dooars area of North Bengal to enter Bhutan to reach the enchanting Paro Valley before returning through the Dooars to climb up the Darjeeling Hills till Kalimpong and then descend to Siliguri in the final leg of this premier rally.

JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 7 not only promotes motorsports, but also showcases the enormous tourism potential of North Bengal and Bhutan. This rally has been playing a stellar role in developing ‘People To People’ connect between Bengal and its neighbours in this part of South Asia, besides being an important driver for tourism in the region. Apart from being the only international TSD rally from India, JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 7 is unique and distinct from all other motorsports rallies in the country since it covers a wide variety of terrain ranging from tarmac, river beds, dirt tracks, forest roads and mountainous roads.

After four challenging legs stretching over three hectic days and two countries, the title battle for the JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 7 is going down the wire with Jogendra Jaiswal and co-driver Nagarajan Thangaraj edging past defending champions Ajgar Ali and Mohammed Musthafa by a slender margin of 13 points.

In the national category, the Jaiswal-Thangaraj finished the fourth leg (on Day 3) with a total score of 690 penalty points, closely followed by Ali-Musthafa with 703 penalty points. At a distant third was the team of Gagan Sethi and Rajkumar Mundra with 1147 penalty points.

In the open category, the team of Rohit Agarwal and Kunal Joshi were leading at the end of Day 3 with 6364 penalty points, followed by the team of Govind Dalmia and Anand Agarwal, and the duo Suyash Raj and Mohammed Sharif occupying the second and the third positions in the leaderboard with 6829 penalty points and 7097 penalty points respectively.

With the competition for the top spot getting hotter, the final leg of the rally from Kalimpong to Siliguri on Saturday will prove to be the decider.

After a thrilling night leg that saw the competitors tackle dirt sections and sharp bends while traversing from Siliguri to Murti on Wednesday (February 27), defending champion duo of Sk. Ajgar Ali and navigator Md. Musthafa got off to a winning start finishing leg 1 with 311 penalty points. Closely following on their heels and separated by only nine penalty points were the team of veteran rallyist Jogendra Jaiswal and co-driver Nagarajan Thangaraj. In a distant third, but still in title contention, were the team of V Santosh Kumar and C Sakhtivel with 380 penalty points.

Having navigated through a night leg for the first time in Himalayan Drive, the competitors seemed visibly happy. Some of teams are locked in tight battle, being separated by only a handful of points, making the next leg crucial to stay relevant in the title contention. However, the first leg also saw two DNFs, one on account of hose pipe damage and having to head back to baser due to a personal emergency.

The second leg of the rally, India’s only international TSD (Time, Speed, Distance) rally, was flagged off on Thursday morning from Murti. The competitors drove through tarmac that sliced through the Gorumara National Park which is home to the one-horned rhino and the Asiatic elephant, and then through dirt tracks beside a river, past Binnaguri army base and the Hasimara Air Force station before crossing tea estates and then a river bed till the end of the competitive section just short of Jaigaon on the Indo-Bhutan border.

After completing immigration formalities at the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing, the rallyists started the climb up steep mountainous roads for over three hours to reach Paro. This stretch of the drive was thrilling with temperatures plummeting to below freezing point. A stretch of the highway to Paro was blanketed in thick fog that reduced visibility to near-zero.

The third leg of the rally from Paro to Kalimpong in the Darjeeling Hills will be the longest, covering over 300 kilometers.