Gaku Nakanishi, President & CEO and Rajesh Goel, Sr Vice President & Director Honda Cars India at the launch of All-New 10th Generation Honda Civic in India.

Japanese carmaker Honda has launched the much awaited All-New 10th Generation Honda Civic in the Indian market. The Civic is Honda’s longest-running automotive nameplate and its largest-selling model globally. The new Honda Civic aspires to excitie the customer with an engaging driving experience, sporty exterior design, premium interior, impressive driving performance and an advanced set of technologies and innovations.

Presenting the All New Honda Civic to customers in India, Gaku Nakanishi, President & CEO, Honda Cars India said, “We are delighted to expand our product portfolio in India with launch of the iconic and our global best seller Honda Civic. This is Honda’s 3rd new model introduction in FY19 and the launch of Civic completes our premium sedan line-up in India.” “We have received an overwhelming response during the pre-launch phase and we believe that the All New Civic will have the opportunity to revive the executive sedan segment in India,” he added.

The 2019 Honda Civic boasts of a sporty and aggressive styling with a wide stance, sharply defined character lines, and an aggressive new face. The sporty exterior of the new Civic is further amplified by its chrome front grill, signature LED headlights, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), and distinctive C shaped LED tail lamps that truly highlight its unique brand identity.

On the inside, the 10th Generation Honda Civic presents a blend of spacious interior complemented by a modern and expansive cockpit design. Showcasing a completely redesigned cabin, the new Civic is integrated with premium quality soft-touch materials and an extensive package of intuitive controls that provide a unique customer experience.

Under the hood, the All-New Civic is powered by a 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol engine mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that offers a very responsive driving performance and better fuel saving.

Also introduced with a diesel engine option in India for the first time, Honda Civic comes with the 1.6-litre i-DTEC turbo diesel unit from Honda Earth Dreams Technology series mated to a 6-speed manual transmission offering an engaging driving performance and an ARAI-ratified fuel efficiency of 26.8 kmpl.

Building on the foundation of its ultra-rigid and lightweight body structure, the all-new Civic utilises the most sophisticated chassis design in the history of Civic. The MacPherson Strut Front Suspension is engineered to provide engaging performance and a responsive feel for the driver. Mounted on a rigid sub-frame, a first for Civic, the new Multi-Link Rear Suspension provides agile handling with high degree of stability, both during normal driving and in emergency maneuvers. For Indian specification, the ground clearance of the 10th Generation Honda Civic has been increased by 20mm at front and 15mm at rear as compared to global specification.

The all-new Civic is designed to provide a high level of collision performance in a wide variety of collision scenarios, including offset and full-lap frontal collisions, side and rear impacts. The Civic is equipped with a wide range of Honda’s active safety, passive safety and driver-assistive features.

The new Honda Civic will be available in five variants – V CVT, VX CVT and ZX CVT trims in 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol line-up and the VX MT and ZX MT grades with the 1.6-litre i-DTEC Turbo diesel.

All New 10^th Generation Honda Civic Prices Ex-showroom across India:

Enrollment has reopened at the Ducati Riding Academy. Providing courses and experiences since 2003, the academy has let more than 10,000 motorcyclists from all over the world hone their riding skills on a Ducati.

The big change for the 2019 international season is DRE Road Academy, the new DRE course designed to let everyone take control on a built-in-Bologna Ducati. Designed for novices and expert riders alike, the courses – held at the Modena racetrack – give participants the chance to put the new models in the Ducati range through their paces while ensuring they take their riding skills to the next level.

DRE Racetrack, instead, offers a steep learning curve plus plenty of fun and excitement, not to mention the most beautiful, highest-performing bikes in the Ducati Superbike range. There are four courses, sub-divided according to participants’ abilities and requirements: they range from Track Warm Up – for those who have never ridden on a track yet are eager to take the so-called “baptism of speed” – to the Champs Academy. In between lie Track Evo and Track Master, courses which let those who already have a certain experience improve ride technique and lap times even further.

DRE Enduro Academy is a valuable experience for those who like to ride off the beaten track. Sat astride the new Multistrada 1260 Enduro and Multistrada 950, participants will learn a swath of off-road techniques and tricks, all under controlled conditions and supervised by expert, qualified instructors.

DRE Travel experiences have also been revamped. Routes and activities have now been upgraded, thanks also to a fresh partnership with world-renowned tour operator Boscolo. The Dream Tour is an electrifying 5-day ride on your favourite Ducati through the stunning switchbacks and hills of the Tuscany-Emilia Apennines. The Adventure Tour is pure enthusiasm and enjoyment, a unique 4-day fun-filled ride experience in the midst of nature on the new Multistrada 1260 Enduro and Multistrada 950.

India Yamaha Motor (IYM) Pvt Ltd. has announced a new Darkknight edition for the Fascino scooter, enabled with Unified Braking System (UBS) along with additional feature like maintenance free battery. The price of the new Fascino Darknight edition is Rs. 56,793 (Ex showroom Delhi).

Motofumi Shitara, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India group of companies said on the occasion, “Yamaha is committed to establish its uniqueness through exciting, stylish and sporty products and experiences. Yamaha Fascino has already gone up and about its unique style and excitement in the market. The new DARKNIGHT edition will further create an urbane style which is in line with Yamaha’s efforts to add DARKNIGHT editions in many other two wheelers.”

Just twelve months after it was revealed as a concept car at the Geneva International Motor Show, the McLaren Senna GTR is revealed as a fully-fledged track machine – uncompromised, unconstrained and unshackled by road or racing regulations.

McLaren Automotive’s most track-focused Ultimate Series car has evolved in key areas to deliver on its promise of hypercar power and accessible handling with the aerodynamics and chassis of a thoroughbred racer. The result is a machine able to lap circuits faster than any McLaren outside Formula 1, providing its owners, of all abilities, with an unparalleled track driving experience.

The McLaren Senna GTR takes the road-legal McLaren Senna – already the lightest, most powerful and track-focused but road-legal car that McLaren builds – several steps further into the realm of ultimate performance. Without the constraints of road or racing regulations, the new Ultimate Series car is more powerful, weighs less, boasts an incredible 1,000 kg plus of aerodynamic downforce and uses suspension derived from McLaren’s GT3 race programme.

Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive, said: “The McLaren Senna GTR is a perfect example of our determination to bring our customers the Ultimate expression of track driving performance and excitement. The McLaren Senna was designed from the outset to be an extreme track car, but the 2018 McLaren Senna GTR Concept suggested how much more further we could go and now, free from the constraints of road car legislation and motorsport competition rules, we have pushed the limits of what is technically possible to advance circuit driving capability to another level entirely.”

The McLaren Senna GTR, which joins the McLaren Senna and McLaren Speedtail in the brand’s Ultimate Series, succeeds legendary predecessors the Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 GTR of 1995 and the McLaren P1 GTR of 2015 and keeps the name that honours the memory of three-times McLaren Formula 1 World Champion, Ayrton Senna.

Each new McLaren Senna GTR offers its owner virtually unlimited opportunities for personalisation by McLaren Special Operations Options, from paint colours in the MSO Defined portfolio to unique, multi-hued liveries as an MSO Bespoke commission that imagines a wholly individual expression of track car artistry.

Just 75 McLaren Senna GTRs will be built to customer order at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, UK, with first deliveries commencing September 2019. Priced from £1.1 million plus taxes, all cars were allocated to owners within weeks of the order book opening following the McLaren Senna GTR Concept debuting at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show.

Aston Martin DBX – the British luxury marque’s first SUV – has continued its intensive development programme this week at Pirelli’s official test facility, close to the Arctic Circle in Sweden.

Pirelli’s R&D Sottozero Centre at the Flurheden Proving Ground provides a range of extreme environments, from snowy roads to ice handling courses, allowing Aston Martin’s vehicle dynamics specialists – led by Aston Martin Chief Engineer, Matt Becker – to put the DBX prototype to the test.

Becker said, “The Aston Martin DBX needs to be ready for a wide range of multi-terrain surfaces, so in addition to testing the car in normal day-to-day situations, we need to test it in extreme conditions such as these. Testing these prototypes in cold climate conditions helps us to assess the car’s early dynamics and crucially ensure confidence inspiring sure-footedness on low grip surfaces. This car propels Aston Martin into a new segment and our engineering team are enjoying the challenges of developing a quality luxury SUV experience through this robust testing schedule. Progress is on-track and I am confident that we will deliver over and above what our customers would expect from an Aston Martin SUV.”

The Aston Martin DBX will go into prototype build at St Athan, Wales in mid-2019, before full production commences in 2020.

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.