At this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, luxury British sportscar and supercar maker McLaren Automotive has announced its ambitious, wide-ranging business plan that will take the company to its fifteenth anniversary.

Track25 is an evolution of the Track22 plan that was first launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016 and the updated plan now includes significant new milestones.

Track25 sets out a clear roadmap for future vehicles, production and technology that will allow the brand to continue to position itself as a major global player in the sportscar and supercar market.

McLaren is committed to ensuring that its sportscar and supercar range will be hybrid within seven years. True to the spirit of pushing the boundaries of technology to benefit drivers, McLaren will also evaluate new augmented driving features and help develop a lighter, superfast-charging, high-power battery system for performance applications that is expected to have over 30 minutes of electric range around a race track.

The company will also continue its drive to win the new supercar ‘weight race’ by ensuring, as it does today, that each of its products is the lightest in their segment. This complements a £50m investment in developing and manufacturing the future of lightweighting technology with the soon to-open McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC). Once fully operational, the MCTC will mean around 57 percent of vehicle content by value will be UK sourced.

Having launched the world’s first ever petrol-electric hybrid-hypercar five years ago with the iconic McLaren P1TM, fittingly McLaren plan to unleash its successor as part of the Track25 plan.

While staying faithful to the core idea of creating and hand-assembling the world’s best drivers’ cars, McLaren will remain focussed on crafting mid-engined sportscars and sportscars.

Investment in 18 new models or derivatives will help lift production by almost 75 percent over current levels to around 6,000 cars a year by the middle of the next decade. As now, all will be hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, England.

Alongside a focus on the on-track and on-road experience, McLaren will introduce technologies designed to improve the owning experience. Cars will feature enhanced cyber protection, improved vehicle tracking and over-the-air (OTA) software updates, allowing McLaren customers to benefit from new features without the need for inconvenient downtime at retailers.

Currently retailed in 31 markets around the world through an 86-strong retailer network, McLaren Automotive is looking at both expanding in existing markets as well as evaluating several major new markets including Russia, India and Central/Eastern Europe. Rising demand means the aim will be to reach 100 retailers within the life of the Track25 plan.

Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive, said: “Everyone at McLaren Automotive remains constant in their focus of designing and crafting the world’s best drivers’ cars. True to McLaren’s spirit, however, our ambitions, continue to grow and our £1.2bn Track25 business plan which covers 18 new models, including a new McLaren P1TM,, is clear proof of that. We are a luxury brand that is committed to investing in innovation, whether that’s in the development and manufacture of our own carbon fibre tubs as part of a new £50m British-based production centre, new powertrains with our entire range due to be hybrid by 2025 or the deployment of technology to enhance the driving and owning experience.

“As a global brand we are set to add more retailers in both existing and exciting new markets as demand for our products continues to grow. While our plan sets the direction for the next seven years to take us through to the middle of the next decade, we need to also pause and acknowledge the great effort, ingenuity and competitive spirit of all of our incredible people on which our success, both now and in the future, rests.”

The largest part of the McLaren Group, McLaren Automotive has a global workforce of around 2,300 people with headcount expected to remain broadly stable until 2025 across offices in the UK, US, Bahrain, China, Singapore, Japan and Spain.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will close the doors to its head office and manufacturing plant early to enable its skilled craftsmen and women the opportunity to watch England’s crucial game. In an unprecedented move, and for one evening only, all production will be suspended at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, which is the marque’s sole global manufacturing facility.

“The Rolls-Royce family is incredibly diverse and cosmopolitan: we have almost 50 nationalities represented at the Home of Rolls-Royce,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive Officer for Rolls‑Royce Motor Cars. “But as a proudly British company, based in West Sussex, we felt it was right, and important, to honour England’s success. Closing our doors early means a large group of people, who would otherwise have been working, have the chance to watch the game and share in the sense of national pride that comes with this great occasion.”

Vauxhall today revealed a first glimpse of a brand concept for the mid-2020s that will embrace its core brand values and provide a template for the future design of its production cars.

Clues to the final car’s appearance may come from cues seen in Vauxhall’s 2016 GT Concept, which was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show that year. “Design will be at the heart of everything that we do in future,” said Mark Adams, Vauxhall’s Vice President Design. “It will truly differentiate the Vauxhall brand, and make it sharper and more relevant to our core values. We are a proud British brand and design inspiration is all around us in the UK – from the bold ingenuity of James Dyson to the pure designs of Jonathan Ive – and this concept will embody that.”

Redefining the brand is an integral part of Vauxhall’s PACE! strategy, which will drive the company to a more efficient and profitable future. Based on this, Adams has revisited Vauxhall’s design philosophy and how it relates to the company’s core values.

One key element of the concept, revealed Adams, is the ‘compass’: “It presents a confident identity, by putting the Griffin emblem in focus by the centre-crease line. This line is an integral part of all our designs, along with the daytime running light signature that we will further emphasise on future vehicles.”

Stephen Norman, Group Managing Director, Vauxhall Motors summarised the importance of this feature: “Customers are our compass, too, so for them to instantly relate to our vehicles at an emotional level is vital. The Vauxhall brand is an integral part of British motoring life, and has been since 1903, so this concept has a huge responsibility to sustain its success into the future.”

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) has announced a proposed price hike on its models in the range of Rs 10,000 – Rs 35,000 and the revised prices will be effective from 1 August 2018.

Rajesh Goel, Sr. Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, “Due to the increasing pressure on input costs, impact of custom duty hike over past few months and higher freight rates, we are forced to consider increasing the prices of our cars. The increased price will be effective from 1 August 2018.” “The introductory price of the recently launched All New Amaze will also be revised from August,” he added.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. today announced availability of 2018 CD 110 Dream DX. The 2018 CD 110 Dream DX traces its legacy to Honda’s first mass motorcycle Dream D which was launched in Japan in 1949.

The 2018 edition of CD 110 Dream DX gets new gold graphics and chrome muffler protector. The CD 110 Dream DX gets a rear carrier which adds practicality and versatility. The long seat and wheelbase promises a comfortable ride while the strong and durable suspension promises a stress free commute.

Commenting on the new version, Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President – Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said,“The iconic CD brand has been winning the trust of millions of customers globally since 1966. Taking forward its legacy, 2018 CD 110 Dream DX offers the same level of trust and reliability. We are confident that the new edition too will garner good response from our customers especially when there are sentiments in rural demand.”

2018 CD 110 Dream DX is now available in four attractive colours – Black with Cabin Gold / Black with Green Metallic / Black with Grey Silver Metallic / Black with Red / Black with Blue Metallic. The 2018 edition of CD 110 Dream DX is priced starting at Rs. 48,641 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The 15th edition of Royal Enfield’s Himalayan Odyssey was flagged off from India Gate on Monday, July 9. Considered the holy grail of motorcycling, Himalayan Odyssey saw 60 motorcyclists including 10 women riders embark on a journey where they will be traversing some of the roughest terrains and highest mountain passes in the world, covering a distance of over 2,200 kilometres in 18 days on their Royal Enfield motorcycles. The contingent was flagged off by Rudratej Singh, President, Royal Enfield. As a long standing tradition, the lamas chanted prayers and blessed the riders at the flag-off ceremony held at India Gate.

Addressing the riders at the flag-off ceremony, Rudratej Singh, President Royal Enfield said, “Himalayan Odyssey is a testimony of Royal Enfield, which has for over 15 years been encouraging riders to do more with their motorcycles. The ride is symbolic of motivating others to make motorcycling a way of life. We are certain that the riders who have embarked on this journey ultimately come back as explorers because we are not just about motorcycles but pure motorcycling and exploration.”

This year, participants for the Himalayan Odyssey congregated from across India, including cities like, Chennai, Erode, New Delhi, Bangalore, Kochi as well as overseas locations like Dubai and Barcelona, to be a part of the expedition.

Though both the rides, Himalayan Odyssey and Himalayan Odyssey Women, was flagged off from Delhi together, they will take different ride routes before finally converging at Leh. Through the ride, the participants will traverse across the picturesque regions of the Himalayas in Ladakh as well as Spiti. Both the regions will throw hostile challenges at the riders in terms of weather and terrain.

Each turn exposing the riders to a new landscape like no other, eventually leading them to overwhelming beauty of the great Himalayan range.

Celebrating the fifth anniversary in India since reveal, Datsun has launched ‘Peace of mind’ package for a hassle-free ownership experience. Available to Datsun redi-GO, GO and GO+ customers across the country, this will be the first in class five-year extended warranty package offered by Datsun.

Commenting on the occasion, Jerome Saigot, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. said, “As Datsun, our aim is to deliver optimum value to our customers in India not just through the Japanese engineering and technology in our products, but also through a delightful after sales experience. With our new offering “Peace of mind”, we are taking the responsibility to deliver a hassle-free ownership experience that further enhances the promise of progressive mobility to our customers.”

‘Peace of mind’ will serve as a comprehensive service package which is set to offer a host of services that includes 24×7 road-side assistance, free insurance, with free pick-up and drop facilities along with a special scheme for Government employees both in service and retired.

5 years / unlimited km warranty : Takes care of entire car’s technical health with coverage for engine, AC Compressor, ECU, alternator, shock absorber and much more.

Free Insurance: During the first year of your ownership.

Special offer: Special Scheme for Government employees both in service and retired

Road Side Assistance: Free road side assistance, towing to the nearest Nissan-Datsun workshop. 24×7 customer helpline, lost key assistance, fuel assistance, battery jump start and hotel and cab arrangement in case of breakdown related emergencies.

Free Pick and drop: Free pick and drop for the car for servicing at Nissan-Datsun authorized workshops.

A vital advantage of the package is that it is transferrable to the new owner, in case the car is sold to someone else during the ownership period. Not only this, to ensure maximum customer satisfaction Peace of Mind is valid at all Nissan-Datsun touch points across the country.

Charles Frump, Managing Director, Volvo Car India at the launch of the all-new Volvo XC40 

Volvo Cars launched the much awaited entry luxury SUV – Volvo XC40 based on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA). It is the first product on the new CMA platform and completes the SUV line-up for Volvo. The platform is future-ready with electrification and active safety features. With a special introductory price of Rs 39.90 lakhs (ex-showroom, India) for limited stock, the XC40 R-Design is ready to take on the competitive and growing compact luxury SUV segment with its impressive list of technology and features.

“The XC40 is our first offering in the entry-level SUV segment and with this, Volvo completes its range across all luxury SUV segments – Compact, Mid-size and Full-size,” said Charles Frump, Managing Director, Volvo Car India. “It has an edgy design and a host of segment first intuitive technology that makes life less complicated. The launch of XC40 and our aggressive dealer expansion of one new dealer per month this year are the key success factors in achieving our ambition of doubling segment share by 2020.”

The new XC40 is an embodiment of modern Scandinavian design. Signature Thor’s hammer in a different rendition, unique tail-lamp cluster and a sculpted exterior in dual-tone colour makes this SUV look edgy. Its exterior proportions give the XC40 a true SUV stance. The interior has black leather and lava orange faux-wool tones to add to the trendiness and the cabin with 9-inch touchscreen has a good mix of materials that exudes a plush feel.

The XC40 is the only car in its segment to have radar based active safety features like city safety with steering assist, active at speeds up to 50 kmph it avoids collision from other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. Adaptive cruise control lets the XC40 maintain a safe distance on highways and other features like on-coming lane mitigation, driver alerts, run-off road protection and roll stability control reassures the driver and its occupants. The protective safety cage and 7 airbags keep the occupants safe in an unlikely event of a collision.

The XC40 is available in the R-Design trim with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder twin-turbo D4 diesel variant producing 193PS (190hp) and 400Nm of peak torque. The new generation powertrains are clean and comply with stringent European and Indian emission norms. The powertrain has an 8-speed geartronic gearbox and Haldex AWD with different drive modes – eco, comfort, dynamic, off-road and individual modes that provides you a varied choice of settings apt for your drive to work or an adventurous journey to your weekend destination.

Intuitive touchscreen in the centre stack simplifies the user experience in the XC40. All functionalities of the car are ergonomically designed to keep the driver focused on driving. Harmon/Kardon 13-speakers 600W surround is unique audio experience for any cars in the segment and the woofer is placed inside the dashboard for better acoustics. The cabin comes with leather seats as standard and the dashboard has piano black inserts around the touchscreen with aluminum inserts on the front to provide you with a sporty feel.

Other features worth highlighting includes panoramic sunroof, induction charging for mobile phones, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, two-zone climate control, 12.3-inch instrumentation cluster, 9-inch centre display touchscreen, distance alert, rear and front park assist pilot, diamond cut alloy wheel, power tail gate, hands-free power tail gate opening and closing.

These technologies and features standard in the XC40 R-Design makes it an attractive package in the compact luxury SUV market in India. The launch variant in Crystal White, Bursting Blue and Passion red is available across dealerships starting today.

The McLaren 600LT marks the beginning of the next chapter in the McLaren ‘Longtail’ (LT) story and at the same time sets a new sportscar benchmark as the fastest, most powerful and most track-focused – yet road legal – Sports Series McLaren has created.

Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive said, “The McLaren 600LT is only the fourth ‘Longtail’ McLaren in more than two decades. The McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ that began the lineage was one of the purest race cars in modern motorsport history. The 675LT resurrected the revered name, creating the purest distillation of the sheer driving pleasure embodied by all McLaren cars. Now we are further extending our very special LT family –albeit in limited numbers – and once again showcasing the ethos of optimised aerodynamics, increased power, reduced weight, track-focused dynamics and enhanced driver engagement that are the hallmarks of a McLaren ‘Longtail’.”

Inspired by the renowned McLaren 675LT and its iconic ‘Longtail’ racing predecessor, the McLaren 600LT is built to excel on roads and race circuits alike. The new addition to the LT family has all the physical hallmarks of a true McLaren ‘Longtail’, including a silhouette elongated by 74mm; it also has an extended front splitter, lengthened rear diffuser and fixed rear wing. In total, more than 23 per cent of parts (by number) are different on a standard McLaren 600LT compared to a McLaren 570S Coupe.

Extreme weight-saving measures were at the heart of the McLaren 600LT programme from its outset, with a reduction of 96kg against the DIN weight of a 570S Coupe targeted and achieved. Built using the lightweight carbon fibre monocoque chassis for which McLaren is renowned, the 600LT further benefits from new carbon fibre bodywork that lowers vehicle weight as well as optimising aerodynamic performance. Unique top-exit exhausts ensure that the new LT model has a distinct aesthetic appearance that identifies it as something particularly special, as well as delivering a substantial weight saving and an incredible aural experience.

The minimalist, track-focused interior has Carbon Fibre Racing Seats first seen on the McLaren P1, and lightweight Alcantara trim material features extensively. Super-Lightweight carbon fibre seats developed for the McLaren Senna are available in lieu of the standard seats if customers are looking for further weight savings, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) offers a range of features that includes a carbon fibre roof and cantrails and vented carbon fibre front fenders. With every lightweight option fitted, the lightest dry weight of the new McLaren 600LT is as low as 1,247kg.

To deliver the extreme performance appropriate for an LT, the McLaren 600LT is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-litre V8 engine that benefits from an uprated cooling system and reduced back pressure in an exhaust system that is even shorter and more extreme than that of the McLaren Senna. Peak power is 600PS (592bhp), with maximum torque of 620Nm (457lb ft) and the power-to-weight ratio of the McLaren 600LT at lightest dry weight is an astonishing 481PS/tonne.

The essence of a McLaren ‘Longtail’ is more though than its physical silhouette and more even than reduced weight and increased power; the absolute remit of the McLaren 600LT is to engage and excite drivers to the highest levels imaginable. To this end, the new model features the forged aluminium double-wishbone suspension and lightweight braking system from the second-generation McLaren Super Series; bespoke, track-focused Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres; quicker steering; sharpened responses from the throttle and brake pedals; significantly firmer engine mounts and exhausts that are mounted virtually behind the driver’s shoulder to bring the incredible sound of the powertrain into the cabin.

The new carbon-fibre bodywork and large rear diffuser deliver substantially increased downforce to further enhance the 600LT dynamic experience, especially on a track. The driver is encouraged by the deep-rooted and incredibly pure connection with the car to fully exploit the optimised aerodynamics, reduced weight, increased power and track-focused dynamics. This higher level of excellence and engagement is the ethos at the heart of the McLaren 600LT, just as it was with the McLaren 675LT models and the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ before them.

The dramatic ‘Longtail’ iteration of the McLaren F1 GTR made its debut during the 1997 season, the distinctive stretched silhouette earning it the now-iconic name. Only nine examples and the development prototype were built. In addition to the elongated bodywork that reduced drag and increased downforce, there were further developments beneath the stretched skin, including fully adjustable suspension and a sequential transmission.

Optimised through extensive weight-saving measures, the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ was more than 100kg lighter than the already flyweight, 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning, McLaren F1 GTR and became one of the most illustrious GT race cars of its time. The McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ took victory in five of the 11 rounds of the 1997 FIA GT Championship and finished first and second in the GT1 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The nearest opposition was almost 30 laps behind.

McLaren Automotive revived the legendary ‘Longtail’ name at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show, with the launch of the 675LT Coupe. Weight was minimised and aerodynamics were optimised, in parallel with power and driver engagement increasing. The track-focused dynamics were proudly obvious and only a limited number were available. True to the spirit of its ‘Longtail’ predecessor and the traits inherent to a car wearing the LT badge, the 675LT Coupé was at the time of launch acknowledged as the purest, most involving series-production McLaren supercar to date.

Responding to customer demand after the production run of Coupes rapidly sold out, McLaren created the McLaren 675LT Spider. The most focused, fastest and exhilarating open-top model to ever wear a McLaren badge, all 500 examples were sold within two weeks.

Volume of the new McLaren LT will also be strictly limited. Production of the 600LT Coupe will begin in October 2018 and last for around 12 months, with build slots scheduled around existing Sports and Super Series models, as well as the sell-out Senna, Senna GTR and BP23. The specialist carbon fibre body panels of the 600LT will also ensure that it is significantly rarer than its Sports Series brethren.

Like its 675LT predecessors, each 600LT will be hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey.

FCA India today rolled out the Jeep Compass ‘Bedrock’, a Limited Edition to commemorate its 25,000 sales milestone, achieved in less than a year of the SUV’s launch in the market. Bedrock will be available in the ‘Sport’ trim, comes with the 2.0-litre 173 PS turbo diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission, in 4×2 drive configuration.

Commenting on Jeep Compass Bedrock Kevin Flynn – President and Managing Director, FCA India said, “We are proud of what we have achieved with the Jeep Compass in less than one year of it being in the market. With the Jeep Compass, FCA India has secured its best sales within a 12-month period, in the last 10 years. We are celebrating our 25,000 sales milestone with Indian customers by giving them the Jeep Compass Bedrock Limited Edition.”

The Jeep Compass Bedrock Limited Edition will come with features like Reverse Parking Camera, 16-inch gloss Black Alloy wheels, side step for ingress, Bedrock-branded seat covers, black roof rails, premium floor mats, Bedrock decals and the Bedrock monogram.

Bedrock Limited Edition, 4×2, 2.0-litre turbo diesel with 6-speed manual transmission is priced at Rs. 17.53 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) will be available in three colours – Vocal White, Minimal Grey and Exotica Red.

FCA India celebrated the first year of Jeep Compass production on June this year in Ranjangaon, which is one of FCA’s four global manufacturing and export hubs. The Company has already exported over 8000 Jeep Compass SUVs to seven automobile markets now including developed destinations such as Japan, Australia, the UK and Ireland.

Flynn added, “The Jeep brand has gained a considerable amount of recognition in India and we thank our customers who have placed their faith in our brand and products so far. The FCA team has been working tirelessly to strengthen that faith by providing them with a top notch after-sales service experience, which is backed by our Mopar promise. ”

Currently, FCA India has 65 sales and service outlets across India and will increase the count to 70 this calendar year.