Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), named its eagerly awaited global model, codenamed U321, as Marazzo. Derived from Basque, a sub-language of Spanish, the word ‘Marazzo’ means shark and is linked to the vehicle’s shark-inspired design.

The Mahindra Design Studio and Italian design house Pininfarina have collaborated closely during the design development process — as a result the Marazzo reflects a design language that is an integral part of Mahindra’s new generation of vehicles. Its shark-inspired design is evident in the streamlined and aerodynamic shape, in the overall silhouette and in the front grille inserts which resemble shark-like teeth and adds to the vehicle’s aggressive stance. The design cues further flow into the tail lamps that are inspired by the tail of a shark.

Marazzo is a globally developed product, engineered through a collaboration between Mahindra North America Technical Centre (MNATC) and Mahindra Research Valley (MRV) in Chennai. The pedigree and global product development capabilities of the MNATC team of engineers and the young team of experts at MRV have been instrumental in bringing a new level of refinement and engineering excellence to this model. Marazzo comes with a patented architecture, for a unique balance of smooth ride, agile handling, space and quiet cabin.

Speaking at the name reveal, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, M&M Ltd. said, “The shark-inspired Marazzo symbolizes the next generation of aspirational Mahindra vehicles. A collaborative effort of Pininfarina, Mahindra Design Studio, MNATC and MRV, Marazzo is born of a vision to design a global vehicle with quality and refinement keeping in mind the aspirations of our customers.”

Rajan Wadhera, President Automotive Sector, M&M Ltd. said, “The intense process of development and refinement of the Marazzo is comparable to any global vehicle and incorporates a number of innovations. This has delivered better space, smoother ride with a quieter cabin, best-in-class cooling, excellent safety and a tough body construction in the Marazzo. Infact the Marazzo has the largest footprint (wheelbase x front track) of any Mahindra vehicle. I am confident that it will set a new benchmark and become a game-changer in its segment”.

The Mahindra Marazzo has been benchmarked against global standards of quality, technology, testing and validation norms, safety, regulations and emission. It underwent the most rigorous testing any Mahindra vehicle has ever been subjected to. It will be manufactured at the company’s manufacturing facility at Nasik, in Maharashtra and is gearing up for a commercial launch before the end of Q2 FY2019.

After a week-long grueling offroading action, last moment surprises and unprecedented ups and downs on the leader board, veteran rallyist Jagat Nanjappa and co-driver Chetan Changappa of Coorg’s Team V5 Offroaders have emerged as the ultimate champions of Isuzu RFC India 2018. They have won the fifth season of India’s toughest international off-road motorsport competition with a total score of 2006 points out of 2600. With this win, Jagat and Chetan have become the second Indian, and the first offroader from South India, to win the coveted title ever since its launch in the country in 2014.

As the RFC India 2018 Champions, Jagat and Chetan will represent the country at RFC 2018 Global Series Grand Finale. The total benefits they have received amount to USD 10,000, including the entry fee, airfares as well as support towards car rental in Malaysia.

The overall second position was held by Malaysian driver Mervyn Lim (co-driver Alex Tan) of Team G.O.A. Fairmont with 1849 points. Defending RFC India Champion Gurmeet Virdi (co-driver Kirpal Singh Tung) of Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh clinched the third spot on the podium with 1800 points. Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal (co-driver Gurpartap Singh Sandhu) of Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh was at the fourth spot in the competition with 1742 points, while Dr Chaitanya Challa (co-driver Shabarish Jagarapu) from Hyderabad, also representing Team G.O.A. Fairmont, secured a spot in the top five with 1668 points.

After missing the title by just one rank last year, Jagat was elated upon completing the ‘unfinished task’ this year. He said, “This is an incredible feeling. I would like to thank my co-driver, my service team and my buddy – the Jeep – all of whom put up a fantastic performance. We enjoyed every moment of this competition, specially the challenging ones. We were prepared for a tougher and more competitive event this time and we knew that we had to maintain the lead from the very start. The conditions of the competition were highly unpredictable and kept varying from contender to contender. In the end, I think these conditions worked in our favor and piloted us to the victory.”

A nine-time Indian National Rally Riders Champion from 1986 to 1996 in the motorbike section, a Great Desert Rally Champion in 1988, Coimbatore Rally Champion of 1992, MASA Rally Mumbai Champion of 1993 and 1994, Jagat has had an illustrious motorsport career spanning four decades. Claiming the only remaining gem in his string of pearls, Jagat has finally added the RFC India title to the list of his achievements in the third attempt at the competition.

Jagat, alongside other podium finishers, category winners and special award winners, were felicitated at a glittering prize distribution ceremony held at the International Centre Goa in Dona Paula in the presence of Luis J.A. Wee (Founder & Creator, The Rainforest Challenge International), Ken Takashima (Deputy Managing Director, Isuzu Motors India Pvt. Ltd.), Capt. J. Shankar Srinivas (Vice President – Service, Customer Relations, EA & PR, Isuzu Motors India Pvt. Ltd.) and Ashish Gupta (Founder & Director, Cougar Motorsport Pvt. Ltd.).

According to Ashish Gupta, the organiser of Isuzu RFC India 2018, “We witnessed an unprecedented intense level of competition this year. Given that we continuously upgrade the toughness quotient of the Special Stages every year, with a supplementary addition of night stages this time around, I had expected the competition to be highly challenging. I am extremely happy that our contenders have managed to sail through such tough challenges as well. This proves that Indian off-roading is now attaining maturity and our off-roaders are no less than their international counterparts. I would like to congratulate and applaud all the competitors of ISUZU RFC India 2018 for their exemplary display of offroading skills, valor, hard work and determination throughout the course of the competition.”

On this occasion, Luis J.A. Wee was felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his unparallel contribution to the off-roading community. Wee launched the Rainforest Challenge in Malaysia in 1997. Today, it is counted among the top ten toughest motor races in the world and has 51 editions being held across 21 countries. According to Wee, “This award comes as a very pleasant surprise. I started the Rainforest Challenge over two decades ago with the objective of bringing the best off-roaders of a country on a single platform so that they could share knowledge and skills. It is gratifying to see the growth that RFC India has witnessed in merely five years since its launch and I am extremely happy to see the improvement in the competitors’ skills.” Wee also announced the extension of RFC Internationals’ agreement with Cougar Motorsport for another three years. Since Cougar Motorsport already has the franchise rights for RFC India till 2019, with this extension the organisation now has the rights to the event till 2022.

The other key awards that were announced include the Team Spirit Award to MOCA from Arunachal Pradesh, the Jungleman Award to Dushyant Khosla from Team G.O.A. Fairmont, the Most Unique 4X4 Award to Ranjith Babu and co-driver Gibin Vaidyan from Kerala Adventure Sports Club (KASC), the Environment Award to Eric Benny from Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh, the Best Service Team Award to V5 Offroaders from Coorg, the Recovery Champion Award to Raju Paul from KASC and the Team Award to Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh. The ‘Rookie of the Event’ award went to Chow Ujjal Namshum and his co-driver Ingpeng Mein for their brilliant performance at their debut in the competition this year.

With the top contenders breathing fire down each other’s neck at the Isuzu RFC India 2018, Day 5 of the week-long event saw the points-gap getting even narrower. At the time of the announcement of provisional results for Special Stages (SS) 18 to 21, veteran rallyist Jagat Nanjappa (co-driver Chetan Changappa) of Coorg retained his position at the top of the leader board with 1614 points out of 2100. This feat included being the top performer in two of the four stages for the day, thereby securing a straight 100 points in both the stages.

Defending RFC India Champion Gurmeet Virdi (co-driver Kirpal Singh Tung) from Chandigarh, who secured the second spot in the competition for the first time yesterday, also held on to his position in the points table with 1490 points. Malaysian driver Mervyn Lim (co-driver Alex Tan), who is driving for Team G.O.A. Fairmont, climbed one spot up to claim the third position with 1411 points. Chandigarh’s Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal (co-driver Gurpartap Singh Sandhu) and RFC India debutant Chow Ujjal Namshum (co-driver Inpeng Mein) from Arunachal Pradesh ended Day 5 at the fourth and fifth positions with 1366 and 1324 points respectively.

Jagat Nanjappa of Coorg’s V5 Offroaders said, “The competition over the last couple of days was defined by two things – participants’ luck and the mercy of the rain gods. While some people got certain stages in day time, others got to do them at night. We ourselves didn’t expect to be in the lead. It’s difficult to hold on to the ladder now that we have reached here, but we plan to somehow cling on to it.”

Nanjappa’s co-driver Chetan Changappa, who has played a pivotal role in the team’s success at the competition, remarked, “The main thing about this form of sport is the trust and the co-ordination between the driver and the co-driver. We excel on both these parameters and these have always been the core strengths of our team. The plan ahead would be to stay careful, give away no penalties or DNFs (Did Not Finish remarks) and keep our vehicle safe.”

Gurmeet Virdi and co-driver Kirpal Singh Tung, who are representing Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh, were the second fastest in two of the stages for the day, because of which it seemed likely that they might narrow the points gap considerably. Unfortunately, they ended up getting a DNF in SS20, which hugely impacted their final scores for Day 5. Gurmeet Virdi said, “Yesterday’s performance substantially helped me gain some ground. The jinx that I had been carrying since day 1 was finally broken yesterday and I did some good stages. We are now trying to reduce the gap between us and the leading vehicle. Our aim today was to not get a DNF in any stage but SS20 was a tough one and we could not finish it within the 15 minutes time limit. There are 5 more Special Stages over the next couple of days before the competition gets over and we are going to give it our best shot.”

Gurmeet was the winner of the 2016 and 2017 editions of this mega off-road motorsport competition. When asked if he feels any pressure on being the defending RFC India Champion, Gurmeet replied, “There is no pressure as such. But I won’t deny that I really want to make it a hat-trick of straight wins!”

SS18 at Isuzu RFC India 2018 required the competitors to go straight from the start point; then take a right; climb up on a small incline; take a right again; then winch up; followed by a slight turn and winching down towards the finish box. In SS19, the contestants had to enter a 6-feet deep water pit; get out of it from the other side and winch-up another 6-feet tall wall, while passing through a gate; then get into a box while reversing the car; once the car was stationary, participants had to lift up the driver’s rear wheel to about one inch above the ground; take out the spare-wheel and go around the vehicle with the wheel; put the spare wheel back; lower the vehicle; secure the lift-jack; and move towards the end box.

Despite being only a 20-meter long stretch, SS 20 turned out to be the most difficult stage of the day with 5 of the top ten teams in the score board getting a DNF in this Stage. It was a very technical stage requiring participants to start by traversing a series of boulders; after which they had to take a sharp U-turn and come back. SS 21 required participants to go upstream in the water stream, with all four tyres in the water; after which they had to winch up a 90 degree climb; get back into the water stream; and move towards the finish box.

RFC India debutant Chow Ujjal Namshum, who is looking to solidify his position at the points table, said, “I had no prior expectations whatsoever before the start of the competition. So, I was happy when I was at the third position, I was happy at sixth and now I am happy being at the fifth position too. However, I will try to put more effort to climb up a few more spots.”

Ujjal and co-driver Ingpeng Mein are representing Arunachal Pradesh’s Team MOCA at the competition. This is North-East India’s first ever participation at RFC India. Ujjal added, “We have travelled over 4,000kms to participate in this event and we certainly want to go back with some sort of an accolade. One of our squad’s team is already out of the competition. So my team is hoping for me to be on the podium. However, I ask them to keep their calm and just wish me well. In return I promise that I will try to do my job to the best of my capabilities.”

The day was crucial for Chandigarh’s Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal, who was sparing no effort to claim his lost glory at the top of the table. He said, “This is RFC India and the change in top ranks is all part of the game. I was doing well for the first two days and was at the top but then I had mechanical issues with my vehicle, because of which I couldn’t complete a few stages and the ranking went down subsequently. If you look at our competition, Mr. Nanjappa is a seasoned offroader while my fellow team-mate Gurmeet needs no introduction; so I understand that it will be really difficult to climb up the ladder ahead of these people.”

He further added, “Even today, I opened the SS20, which is being perceived as one of the toughest by many. My co-driver Gurpartap helped me through to the last obstacle of the stage, where I had to just winch up 10 meters to the finish box. My winch gave up at that point and I was flagged a DNF! So, I believe that it has a lot to do with luck too. Now, I have replaced my winch with due permission from the competition committee. After that, I have completed three stages, of which I was the fastest in one and scored fairly well in the other two.”

The next set of stages, from SS 22 to SS 25, will be held tomorrow at the same location at the Green Hills Agri Farm in Maina, Quepem, after which the competition will move to the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat in Dona Paula on 28th of July for the final stage and the announcement of the Isuzu RFC India 2018 Champion.

With the competition becoming more intense every passing day, Day 4 at Isuzu RFC India 2018, the country’s toughest international off-road motorsport competition, only added fuel to the fire as it witnessed some crucial ups and downs in the ranking order. At the time of the announcement of the provisional results for SS 10-17, veteran rallyist Jagat Nanjappa (co-driver Chetan Changappa) from Coorg climbed up to the numero uno spot on the leader board with 1261 points out of 1700.

Defending RFC India Champion Gurmeet Virdi (co-driver Kirpal Singh Tung) from Chandigarh climbed up two spots to claim the second position with 1199 points. Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal (co-driver Gurpartap Singh Sandhu) from Chandigarh, who was till now at the top of the score board, moved down to the third spot with 1087 points. Malaysian driver Mervyn Lim (co-driver Alex Tan) and Chow Ujjal Namshum (co-driver Ingpeng Mein) from Arunachal Pradesh were at the fourth and fifth positions at the end of Day 4 with 1064 and 1054 points respectively.

Jagat Nanjappa, who is representing Coorg’s V5 Offroaders, said, “We rolled-down in the first stage that we attempted today and ended up with a DNF. In the second stage, we faced technical issues with the 4WD setting of our vehicle. But then we pushed ourselves a little extra to make up for the lost points. Thankfully, things took a positive turn and the rest of the day went well for us.”

Gurmeet Virdi of Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh, who has finally claimed a spot in the top three in Season 5 of RFC India, said, “I had some luck riding by my side today as I managed to perform well in most of the Stages. I had zero DNFs and my timings were also good. The strategy ahead would be to complete all the stages and try to be one of the fastest vehicles, if not the fastest.”

Day 4 at Isuzu RFC India 2018 saw 4 Special Stages, SS 10 – 13, of varying difficulty levels running at Suquerbag in Quepem in Goa. These were followed by 4 more Special Stages, SS 14 – 17, that were held at night at the same location. In SS10, the competitors were required to go down a track; take a left turn in a deep pit; come up from the other side; then enter a box; take a U-turn towards left; come up, only to go down a little again; take a right and winch-up an incline; and then run towards the finish box. SS11 required the contestants to go clockwise after the start point; take a U-turn and climb up a stone wall towards right; while using winch at the first point and anchor at the second.

A short yet technical SS 12 had participants go down from the start point; take a left into the valley; then winch up a slope of around 45 degrees; go down and come back up again; before winching a distance of around 100 meters to the stop box. SS13 too had a drop just after the start point; after which participants had to take a left into the water stream; then go downstream, with all four tyres touching the stream throughout, and then exit a gate; take a U-turn and enter the stream again through the same gate; then trace their way in the stream towards a slope; before eventually winching up towards the finish box.

The night stages added an extra level of difficulty for the contestants as limited visibility meant that they had to be extra vigilant to ensure that they did not take a wrong step, which would lead to loss of points or damage to their vehicle.

RFC India debutant Chow Ujjal Namshum of Arunachal Pradesh’s Team MOCA, who started the competition at the third position but then slid down the ranking order, managed to climb one spot up to make a place for himself in the top 5 at the end of Day 4. He said, “As soon as the day ended yesterday, I knew that I was going to drop ranks. It had a lot to do with the rain-gods as well as my luck. I did all the stages, but I was a little slower. The competition still has a couple of more days to go. I have been driving safe and slow till now in order to ensure that I preserve my vehicle till the end. However, I plan to start taking more risks from tomorrow onwards.”

Another RFC India debutant Shruti Ranjan Pai, who leads the only ladies team at the competition, remarked about her journey so far in the competition, “I came here to learn and enjoy the sport. I perceived it to be all about adrenaline rush and speed but it turned out that it requires a lot of techniques as well as knowledge about the dynamics of your car. The first day of the competition was a bit of a shocker for me; it was like you are put in a deep-end, you don’t know how to swim and they are expecting you to float! It was raining continuously and the tracks were flooded with slush. So, I was apprehensive about going in some stages, but once I went inside, nothing mattered and I started enjoying it.” Shruti (co-driver Sara Fanning) is currently at the 29th position with 264 points.

The next set of stages will be held at the Green Hills Agri Farm in Maina, Quepem on 26^th and 27^th of July, before the culmination of the event at the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat in Dona Paula on 28^th of July.

After a tough start to the competition amidst heavy rainfall as well as a night stage on the inaugural day of Isuzu RFC India 2018, followed by a rest day to allow the contestants to recover, a clear weather and four more Special Stages (SS) greeted the competitors on the third day of India’s toughest international off-road motorsport event. At the time of the announcement of the provisional results for SS 6-9, Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal (co-driver Gurpartap Singh Sandhu) of Chandigarh remained at the top of the leader board with 687 points out of 900.

Veteran rallyist Jagat Nanjappa (co-driver Chetan Changappa) from Coorg also held on to the second position with 669 points while Malaysian driver Mervyn Lim (co-driver Alex Tan), representing Team G.O.A. Fairmont, jumped up eleven spots to claim the third position with 567 points. He was closely followed by the defending RFC India Champion Gurmeet Virdi (co-driver Kirpal Singh Tung) from Chandigarh with 565 points while Hyderabad’s Dr Chaitanya Challa (co-driver Shabarish Jagarapu) was at the fifth position with 526 points at the end of Day 3 of the competition.

Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal, who is representing Chandigarh-based off-road club Gerrari Offroaders, seems unfazed by the results on the scoreboard. He said, “There is no pressure on me whatsoever to retain the top position. I am just happy with how things have gone for me so far. I am not taking the rankings seriously as a large part of the competition is still remaining. My agenda in the coming days would be to complete all the stages without breaking my vehicle and enjoy the sport. I am hoping that my vehicle endures all the stress that I am putting on it.”

Jagat Nanjappa commented, “We are having a good competition so far, but it is too early to comment on anything. In our three years at RFC India, I have come to believe that things can change suddenly even at the end! So, we are just holding our horses and taking care of our machine.”

Day 3 at Isuzu RFC India 2018 saw 4 Special Stages of varying difficulty levels running at Suquerbag in Quepem in Goa. In SS6, the competitors had to go down through an ‘S’-shaped track; then climb up through two gates, using a winch. SS7 involved going down towards a track, where the contestants had two ascents in front of them; they had to first take the right slope; climb up; take a U-turn and come back down to the same spot; then take the slope towards the left; climb up and move towards the stop box.

SS8 required participants to speed-run for around 100 metres, after which they had to climb a 3.5-feet tall wall; go down an incline; make a U-turn; come back up; then climb up a steep slope of around 60 degrees and speed-run towards the stop box. In SS9, hailed as the toughest Stage for the day owing to large number of obstacles, the competitors started through a water pit; descended down a drop; then climbed up an incline using a winch or a sand-ladder; followed by another incline; then went through a gate and climbed up a slope yet again before moving towards the finish box.

RFC India debutant T Santosh Goud from Hyderabad, who is currently at the 24th position in the competition, remarked, “Since I had been a spectator at the previous edition of RFC India, I was expecting the event to be tough, but not so tough right from the first day itself! My aim right now is to survive and complete the event.”

Another RFC India debutant Chow Ujjal Namshum (co-driver Inpeng Mein) of Arunachal Pradesh’s Team MOCA, who surprised everyone on Day 1 of the competition by emerging on the third position in the ranking tables, slipped down to the sixth position at the end of the third day. He said, “I had nothing to lose on the first day of the competition as nobody had any expectations from me. So there was no pressure to perform. That really helped me to be me and do well. Having reached the top of the table on the first day, even my personal expectations have shot up. Going forward, I want to run every stage and try to get as less penalties as possible. I would play it safe for another day or two after which I will try to bring more speed in my efforts.”

The next set of stages will be held at the same location today and then at the Green Hills Agri Farm in Maina, Quepem on 26th and 27th of July, before eventually culminating at the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat in Dona Paula on 28th of July.

Heavy downpour and a surprise element in the form of a night stage on Day 1 of Isuzu RFC India 2018, the country’s toughest international off-road motorsport event, ensured a roaring start to the competition. At the end of Special Stages (SS) 1-5 of the competition, as per the Provisional Results, Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal (co-driver Gurpartap Singh Sandhu) from Chandigarh was at the top of the score board with 387 points out of 500.

Jagat Nanjappa (co-driver Chetan Changappa) from Coorg and Arunachal Pradesh’s Chow Ujjal Namshum (co-driver Ingpeng Mein) were at the second and third positions with 332 and 300 points respectively. The other two contestants who made it to the top five on the score board are Chandigarh’s Gurmeet Virdi (co-driver Kirpal Singh Tung) with 281 points and Hyderabad’s Dr Chaitanya Challa (co-driver Shabarish Jagarapu) with 268 points, at the fourth and fifth positions respectively. The contestants will be given a few hours after the announcement of the Provisional Results for protest, before the final results for SS 1-5 are declared.

The first day of the mega off-road motorsport event was held at an off-road location in Taluka Sanguem of Goa, with 38 teams attempting SS 1 to 5. Incessant rainfall made the tracks slippery and full of slush, making it extremely difficult for the contestants to tackle the stages. As per David Metcalfe, Chief Scrutineer, ISUZU RFC India 2018, “The stages were designed to be tough on the participants and their vehicles. While most of the SS were already quite demanding, the rains today have made them considerably tougher.”

The teams were allocated maximum 15 minutes for completing an SS, each one worth 100 points. The competitors who were unable to finish a task within the allowed time were given a DNF (Did Not Finish). Moreover, penalties were given to the teams for making mistakes like breaking a peg or a bunting or for touching a live winch cable. These penalties had a direct impact on the team’s cumulative score for that particular SS.

Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh’s Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal, who was at the overall third position at RFC India 2017, had an amazing start to the competition this year. He said, “The level of competition this year has definitely shot up. The tracks today were very slippery, because of which things became quite tricky. I even suffered a minor vehicular breakdown, which I have repaired now. Overall, my focus today was on preparing myself for the coming days. Hopefully, I will be able to do well.”

Jagat Nanjappa of Coorg-based V5 Offroaders, who was the first runner-up at RFC India 2017, said, “The first day has been good for us. We had no setbacks apart from some minor penalties and one DNF for SS1, which no one was able to complete. The tracks are quite challenging this year. So, the idea would be to play it safe and preserve the vehicle for as long as we can.”

SS1 was the most difficult SS of the day and remained unconquered till the end, resulting in most of the contestants getting a DNF and the others opting for a DNS (Did Not Start) remark. This Stage required the competitors to go through two very steep ascents before descending on the other side. They had to go through a gate and take a left, before taking another left and then come down. Thereafter, they had to go up again from another gate and then come down towards the finish box.

SS2 was another tricky stage and required the competitors to climb a huge incline, take a left, come down, go towards a gated box, open its bunting, enter and close the entrance bunting, open the exit bunting and pass, close-back the exit bunting of the box, before climbing up an incline, taking a left, and descending towards the exit box.

SS3 required participants to enter a stream of water; run 150 meters; climb towards right and then speed-run before eventually entering the stream again; climb up an incline towards left and rush towards the exit box. In SS4, the contestants crossed a water stream; went anti-clockwise around a tree; went through the stream again; climbed towards the left before entering the stream again; and went clockwise around the same tree before moving towards the finish box.

RFC India debutant Chow Ujjal Namshum (co-driver Ingpeng Mein) of Team MOCA from Arunachal Pradesh said, “Last year, I attended the event as a spectator and the rain this time is considerably more, thereby making the track full of slush and water. My first SS for the day was SS4, where I was the seventh competitor to attempt the Stage and I ended up being one of the fastest. That is quite heartening as we have practiced hard for the competition for two months straight. Let’s see how things unfold going forward.”

While the day was great for some and disappointing for others, there is still a long way to go before the Isuzu RFC India 2018 overall champion is announced. The competition will be held at Suquerbag in Quepem over the next two days and then at the Green Hills Agri Farm in Maina, Quepem on 26th and 27th of July, before eventually culminating at the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat in Dona Paula on 28th of July.

(L-R): Satoshi Uchida, MD, SMIPL and Sajeev Rajasekharan, Executive Vice President, SMIPL at the launch of Burgman Street

Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd. a subsidiary of two-wheeler manufacturer, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan has launched the much-awaited Burgman Street – a 125cc scooter and the descendant from its legendary Burgman portfolio.

Speaking at the launch of Burgman Street, Satoshi Uchida, Managing Director, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd. said, “The BURGMAN STREET creates a new category of scooters in India, focussing on the concept of advanced luxury riding. We are committed to offering premium, innovative and world-class products to customers. By bringing in the unique exposure of Suzuki’s international BURGMAN heritage, we believe that the BURGMAN STREET will be a ‘Special One’ in this segment that will herald a new era of luxury scooter riding in India.”

Sajeev Rajasekharan, Executive Vice President, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd. said, “The 125cc segment in scooters is a very exciting place currently where we also enjoy a strong leadership position. Equipped with exciting features, BURGMAN STREET redefines luxury and comfort in scooter segment in the country. The new BURGMAN STREET will not only help us strengthen our portfolio in this segment, but will also help us cater to a new dimension of scooter customers, who seek luxury and the joy of riding.”

The new Burgman Street is powered by a 125cc, 4-stroke air-cooled engine with SOHC 2 valve single-cylinder BS-IV Engine and produces 8.7 PS of power at 7000 rpm and 10.2 Nm of peak torque at 5000 rpm. The Burgman Street features SEP (Suzuki Eco Performance) technology, that offers a blend of fuel-efficiency and performance. The CBS on new Burgman Street enables operation of both brakes from the left brake lever, helping in maintaining a good balance between front and rear brake forces.

Burgman Street features a fully-digital instrument panel with a digital clock, fuel gauge, oil change indicator and a dual trip meter. The body mounted windscreen adopted from the design of international Burgman series, reduces the wind blast by improving the aerodynamics. The Burgman Street uses a long and comfortable seat, to give a sense of stability and comfort during long distance riding. The Burgman Street also scores high on utility aspects, with a convenient and secured lid equipped front pocket with standard fitment of DC socket and USB charger as accessory; and an under-seat storage capacity of 21.5-litres.

The new Burgman Street is available in Metallic Mat Fibroin Gray, Glass Sparkle Black and Pearl Mirage White, and is priced at Rs 68,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).

Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team’s Michael Metge continued his strong form on Day 3 to win the 35th edition of Baja Aragon. This is the first time the Sherco TVS Factory Rally team has won the Baja Aragon championship. Michael Metge starred in his first race with the Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team bagging his first victory at this Rally. Michael’s teammate and brother Adrien Metge also showcased strong performance and got on the podium with a P3 finish. Aishwarya Pissay unfortunately suffered an injury during the Rally and had to abandon the Rally at the start of Day 3.

Commenting on the Rally, David Casteu, Team Manager, Sherco TVS Factory Rally team says, “Baja Aragon was an intense experience for the team with multiple ups and downs, however, both the Metge brothers showcased tremendous character. Michael was excellent throughout the Rally, displaying immense professionalism and his performance has boosted the team’s spirit. Adrien also picked pace swiftly under pressure and harsh terrains to cement his podium finish. Overall, this has been a good start to the season and I hope we continue the same momentum going forward.”

Michael Metge

Commenting on his performance, Michael Metge, Racer, Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team says, “The Baja Aragon is tough and very competitive and I am thrilled to have maintained a consistent performance and finish at the top. This was my first stint with Sherco TVS Factory Rally team and I am grateful to them for the support. The RTR 450 is an amazing race machine which truly complements my riding style. I look forward to pushing my limits on it in the upcoming Rallies.”

Adrien Metge

“The Baja Aragon was my first Rally post my recovery.” said Adrien Metge, Racer, Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team, “Therefore, the pressure and expectations were tremendous. With the support of the technical crew and my team, I gained confidence through the Rally and managed a podium finish. This has fueled my confidence and I am now focused on improving my performance over the next Rallies.”

Piaggio India flagged off the very first edition of Vespa tours in Goa in collaboration with Piaggio 2W Dealer K.V Mototech in Goa. This guided tour gives participants a distinctive opportunity to ride the stylish Vespa along the scenic and peaceful roads and visit the unexplored locations in Goa.

Ashish Yakhmi, Head- 2W business along with Mangurish Kunde, proprietor of K.V Mototech, flagged off this first-of-its-kind tour to be held in India. The day long fun-filled Vespa tour offers participants the Vespa riding experience, in fascinating journey that lets them ‘Live More’, while traversing Goa’s quaint and unexplored beauty.

Goa is one of the most popular tourist destinations among Indian as well as foreign tourists. Majority of them prefer to visit the widely known places. Through this tour, the aim is to provide travellers with an extraordinary and authentic experience of brand Vespa and to gain perspective into the local culture. The destinations and the courses taken will be unlike any other; with an unique itinerary.

Vespa Tours is for travellers who want to discover new destinations at an exciting pocket-friendly package. The experience tour is available at an affordable price of Rs 2000 which includes helmets, fuel, experienced guide, a chance to partake of authentic Goan Food and exciting Vespa goodies. The itinerary includes trips to Betul Fishing Jetty, Betul Fort, Talpona beach, Chinchinim Village and many more breath-taking locations Goa has to offer.

BMW Motorrad India launched the all-new BMW G 310 R and the all-new BMW G 310 GS in India today. The two most-awaited motorcycles of the year are now available for test drives and are on sale throughout the BMW Motorrad dealer network.

Newly conceived from scratch, the all-new BMW G 310 R and the all-new BMW G 310 GS represent everything BMW Motorrad stands for and mark its foray into the sub-500 cc segment in India.

Dimitris Raptis, Head of Region Asia, China, Pacific, South Africa, BMW Motorrad said, “BMW Motorrad has a legacy of creating motorcycles with a unique appeal, some of which have created a proud history in the world of two-wheelers. Whether it is the performance, quality or handling, BMW Motorrad captures the pulse of true motorcyclists. Bringing the brand’s formidable experience and premium aspirations to the sub-500 cc segment, the all-new BMW G 310 R and the all-new BMW G 310 GS have opened up another important chapter in BMW Motorrad’s history and will lay a strong foundation for future growth.”

The all-new BMW G 310 R and the all-new BMW G 310 GS have been developed in Munich, Germany by BMW Motorrad and will be produced in Hosur, India by cooperation partner TVS Motor Company.

Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “BMW Motorrad has brought the
world’s finest premium motorcycles to India and created a distinct place for itself among
motorcycling enthusiasts within a short span of time. The all-new BMW G 310 R and the
all-new BMW G 310 GS will captivate the fast growing sub-500 cc segment and bring new
customer groups to the world of BMW Motorrad. The all-new BMW G 310 R is the perfect urban roadster for those who want to make pure motorcycling a part of everyday lives, whether it’s on an empty road or on the way to work. For those looking for an extra streak of adventure and fun, the all-new BMW G 310 GS is the answer. Both the offerings are set to redefine their segment as they are ideal for young people, novices, returning riders and many other motorcyclists.”

The ex-showroom prices are as follows:
The all-new BMW G 310 R : Rs 2,99,000
The all-new BMW G 310 GS : Rs 3,49,000

The all-new BMW G 310 R embodies the pure essence of a BMW roadster. It offers precisely what is needed for performance and comfort. It masters a range of disciplines; it’s just as happy winding its way nimbly and flexibly through the narrow city streets as it is travelling along country roads. The powerfully expressive design of the all-new BMW G 310 R instantly reveals its agile, dynamic character while making an unmistakable visual kinship with athletic family members such as the BMW S 1000 R. The striking headlamp, muscular fuel tank, attractive trim elements and characteristic roadster proportions of the front and rear give it a mature presence on the road. Compact proportions and a short wheelbase promise fast changes of direction, while the high rear conveys a lightness suggestive of the bike’s sporty genes. High-end details such as the standard upside-down fork, quality materials, supplementary fittings and excellent workmanship all reflect the finest within the segment, clearly underscoring the premium aspiration of the all-new BMW G 310 R.

The all-new BMW G 310 GS can be identified as a genuine GS at first sight. Nimble and agile in traffic, yet supremely robust over tough terrain, its agility opens up a whole new world of riding experience. Extremely compact, yet mature and comfortable, it is the perfect companion for adventures of everyday riding. With its high front fender, striking flyline, protective windscreen, and short but high rear, it features classic elements from the larger GS sibling models. The characteristic beak runs as a band of colour emerging from the headlamp mask across the fuel tank to the side trim. The high-quality luggage bridge comes as standard in the BMW G 310 GS, combining a striking shape with functional effectiveness.

The all-new BMW G 310 R and the all-new BMW G 310 GS are powered by a completely newly developed 313 cc water-cooled single-cylinder 4-stroke engine with four valves and two overhead camshafts together with electronic fuel injection. With an output of 25 kW (34 hp) at 9,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 28 Nm at 7,500 rpm, the engine is an ideal partner for dynamic riding pleasure. A remarkable feature of the engine is its backward-tilted cylinder in open-deck design with the cylinder head turned by 180 degrees, making it possible to position the intake tract at the front, viewed in the direction of travel. The motorcycles accelerate from 0 – 50 kmph in just 2.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 143 kmph.

The newly engineered 6-speed gearbox transfers the torque with an optimised transmission ratio. With a spontaneous throttle response, lively pulling power, full-blooded engine characteristics and a high maximum engine speed, both motorcycles deliver dynamic riding performance.

In terms of suspension, the all-new BMW G 310 R and the all-new BMW G 310 GS have a torsionally stiff, highly robust tubular steel frame in grid structure with bolt-on rear frame. The front wheel suspension is taken care of by a solid upside-down fork while at the rear there is an aluminium swinging arm in conjunction with a spring strut that is mounted on it directly. The suspension geometry is designed for easy handling, stability and a neutral cornering response, which makes for an active riding character and maximum riding fun.

Both motorcycles feature a high-performance brake system with 2-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) for efficient deceleration and short braking distances. The standard multi-function instrument cluster has a large liquid crystal display that offers excellent clarity and a wide range of information.

The all-new BMW G 310 R and the all-new BMW G 310 GS will be sold and serviced through the dealer network of BMW Motorrad that is present across many centres in India including Delhi (Lutyens Motorrad), Mumbai (Navnit Motors), Pune (Bavaria Motors), Chennai (KUN Motorrad), Bengaluru (Tusker Motorrad), Ahmedabad (Navnit Motors) and Kochi (EVM Autokraft). BMW Motorrad’s upcoming dealerships in Chandigarh and Kolkata will also start accepting bookings of the motorcycles.

For complete peace of mind and to ensure that the journey of pure motorcycling continues uninterrupted at all times, the all-new BMW G 310 R and the all-new BMW G 310 GS come with standard warranty for ‘three years, unlimited kilometres’, with an option to extend warranty to fourth and fifth year.