Building on a remarkable 70-year racing pedigree, David Brabham has announced Brabham’s return to manufacturing at a gala event in central London, with the global launch of Brabham Automotive’s first product, the stunning BT62.

The Brabham BT62 continues the legendary ‘BT’ naming convention established by founders Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac in the 1960s and honours the legacy of the marque’s greatest and most memorable cars.

With headline figures that point to the potency of the car, the new Brabham is pure-bred for the track and capable of setting blistering lap times. The BT62 boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 730PS per tonne, a dry weight of just 972kg and is powered by a Brabham naturally-aspirated 5.4 litre capacity V8 engine.

Heralding the start of an exciting new chapter for the iconic marque, the BT62 has been specifically designed, developed and tested to reward like no other. Designed from the ground-up and featuring a host of unique engineering details, the Brabham BT62 draws on the project team’s vast experience to create a car without equal. Crafted from lightweight carbon fibre, the BT62’s exterior surface and aggressive aerodynamic package combine to strike the optimal balance between function and form.

Celebrating the company’s proud Anglo-Australian roots, the launch took place at Australia House in London, home to the Australian High Commission, set amidst a breath-taking assembly of historic Brabham racing cars and memorabilia evoking memories and charting the remarkable successes of the marque’s illustrious past.

Speaking at the unveiling, Managing Director, David Brabham said, “It’s with great pride that I honour and continue my father’s legacy in revealing the next chapter in the evolving Brabham story. The team we have in place, and the vision it shares, provides a solid platform for Brabham Automotive to execute its long-term business strategy. Our first step to deliver on that strategy is the Brabham BT62, a car truly worthy of carrying the iconic Brabham name.”

The Brabham BT62 has been designed and engineered to demand more from its driver. It’s a car for those who want to challenge themselves and their limitations to experience driving in its purest form.

Those fortunate enough to own a Brabham BT62 will join the Brabham driver development programme, where their physical ability and determination will be raised to a place where the performance potential of both driver and vehicle can be fully exploited together as one.

With a base price of £1m plus local taxes, and before options, production of the Brabham BT62 will be limited to just seventy cars in recognition of Brabham’s 70-year heritage; the first 35 of which will celebrate the 35 Grand Prix victories won by Brabham over its thirty-year reign in Formula 1.

The Brabham BT62 unveiled on the night was liveried in celebration of Jack Brabham’s green and gold BT19 and his historic victory at the 1966 French Formula 1 Grand Prix at Reims, the year in which he made history in becoming the first (and to date only) driver to win a World Championship in a car of his own construction. First deliveries of the Brabham BT62 are expected later this year.

Led by multiple Le Mans winner, David Brabham, Brabham Automotive has been established as a manufacturer of high performance vehicles which challenge and reward the driver in equal measures.

With a long-term plan in place and a phased product development programme already underway, the company’s ultimate goal is to see the iconic Brabham name return once again to compete on the race track, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans firmly in its sights.

Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India at the launch of the all-new MINI Countryman

The all-new MINI Countryman was launched in India yesterday. Locally-produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai, the second-generation all-new MINI Countryman will be available in both petrol and diesel variants with deliveries beginning from June 2018 onwards.

The two petrol variants include the MINI Countryman Cooper S and MINI Countryman Cooper S JCW Inspired while the diesel variant includes the MINI Countryman Cooper SD.

Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “The all-new MINI Countryman is built for adventure and an ideal companion for city trips to country getaways and long journeys. The second generation of the MINI Countryman represents a more distinctive and mature proposition of an ultimate all-rounder with ample space for you and your family. It is a perfect fit for an urban environment offering unique driving comfort, refined interiors and clever functionality. Every road marks the beginning of a new chapter, whether it’s a winding country road or the bustle of the city, now you can truly unleash your inner adventurer.”​

“MINI has been recognized for its ideas, inspiration and passion. We want to continue this successful story with a refined brand strategy and a visually-renewed identity. The latest redesign of MINI logo and showroom brings in a new chapter in the inspiring history of the brand. The purpose of reinventing ourselves is to become even closer to the MINI target group ideology that is progressive, creative and modern.” Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India further added.

MINI Countryman Cooper S JCW Inspired is equipped with John Cooper Works aerodynamic kit, rear roof spoiler and impressive 18-inch JCW thrill spoke alloy wheels. John Cooper Works influence continues in the illuminated cockpit with the JCW sports leather steering wheel. The car is equipped with premium features such as the ‘Leather Cross Punch’ Sport Seats, Harmon Kardon Hi-Fi Speaker System, MINI Find Mate and the MINI Wired Package. The MINI Wired Package includes Navigation System Professional and MINI Connected XL 8.8-inch screen with Touch Controller and Bluetooth mobile connectivity.

MINI Countryman Cooper SD features the Cooper SD engine for the first time in India that delivers 190 hp and 400 nm torque. With superior handling, no city corner or hill climb is a challenge. The Panorama Glass Roof and Electric Seat Adjustment with memory further adds convenience and driving fun.

MINI Countryman Cooper S offers more premium technology and design features than ever before. With the Automatic Tail Gate, Cruise Control, LED Headlight, Fog Light, Multifunction steering wheel, Centre armrest in front and rear and the Radio MINI Boost 6.5-inch as standard, the all-new MINI Countryman comes ready for any adventure.

The all-new MINI Countryman will be available in five colours: Island Blue, Light White, Chilli Red, Melting Silver and Thunder Grey as well as British Racing Green offered exclusively for the MINI Countryman Cooper S JCW Inspired.

The all-new MINI Countryman will be available with Leatherette Carbon Black as standard upholstery and Leather Cross Punch Carbon Black for the all-new MINI Countryman Cooper S JCW Inspired.

The ex-showroom prices (effective June 2018) of the three variants are as follows –

MINI Countryman Cooper S (Petrol) : Rs 34,90,000

MINI Countryman Cooper SD (Diesel) : Rs 37,40,000

MINI Countryman Cooper S JCW Inspired (Petrol) : Rs 41,40,000

TVS Motor Company has bagged top honors in J.D. Power 2018 India Two-Wheeler Customer Service Index (2WCSI), Two-Wheeler Initial Quality Study (2WIQS) and Two-Wheeler Automotive Product Execution & Layout (2WAPEAL) Study.

J.D. Power annually ranks the two-wheelers in terms of best in class product quality, best in class APEAL quality and best in class service quality through a detailed survey with over 10,000 customers.

TVS Motor Company has been ranked number No. 1 for the third consecutive year in the J.D. Power 2018 India Two-Wheeler Customer Service Index Study (2WCSI) for exceptional customer service. The 2018 India 2WCSI Study is based on evaluations from 7,436 two-wheeler owners in 45 cities across India.

In the 2WAPEAL Study, TVS products have been ranked No. 1 in each of the product category – TVS Jupiter in scooter segment, TVS Apache RTR 180 in motorcycle premium segment, and TVS Star City+ in motorcycle economy segment. The 2WIQS Study has ranked TVS Star City+ as best quality product in the economy segment.

“It is a special moment for TVS Motor Company to have bagged top honors in the J.D. Power 2018 study, including securing the 1st position in J.D Power India Two-Wheeler Customer Service Index Study 2018, for the third consecutive time. We endeavor to constantly strive and meet the evolving consumer needs and remain focused on providing a superior ownership experience for our customers. This recognition is a testimony to our efforts to deliver absolute customer delight through Total Quality Management. We would like to appreciate our dealers and their employees for consistently delivering best in class customer service”, commented KN Radhakrishnan, President & CEO, TVS Motor Company.

(Extreme left) Antony Cherian Kurian, General Manager, Centre of Excellence – Sales Production Capacity Planning System – Ford India along with US Consul General Craig Hall (extreme right) at the launch of Ford Freestyle in Kolkata

Ford India has announced the market launch of the much awaited all-new Ford Freestyle in Kolkata with prices starting from Rs 5.09 lakh for the base Ambiente petrol trim and Rs 6.09 lakh for the base Ambiente diesel variant. This global product from Ford combines SUV-like design ques, peppy drive and innovative technologies to target the young brigade who aspire to own a SUV-like vehicle in a compact size and a pocket friendly price.

The designers at Ford deserve a pat on the back to create a car that is both contemporary and dynamic in appearance. The Freestyle uses design elements common to SUVs, albeit in a more compact dimension. The Freestyle grille with three-dimensional mesh gives this car a sportier look. The front bumper has sculpted sections – that add to its SUV-like look and rigidity. While the skid plates on the front and rear, makes the car every bit the off-roader.

The 190 mm ground clearance helps the Freestyle to smoothly sail over the speed-bumps and undulations on the road without the fear of causing any damage to the under-carriage. The 15-inch tyres with stylish alloys wheels add to the masculine look of this cross-hatch.

Step inside, and the Ford Freestyle will welcome you with its dual tone interiors that looks elegant. The seats are well cushioned and provide good lumbar support. The passenger compartment is spacious with adequate leg room for both front and rear passengers. Like all Fords, the Freestyle has several storage compartments, more than 20 of them, to tuck away everything that you may need on your trips – from water bottles and munchies to your umbrellas and change to pay the toll – there is space for everything.

The Ford Freestyle will also feature Ford’s in-car infotainment system, SYNC 3 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen which allows drivers to control their entertainment and their connected smartphone with conversational voice commands. SYNC 3 system is also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible.

The Freestyle will come with a host of convenience features including, a reverse parking camera, keyless entry and a push start. The automatic climate control on the Freestyle is a chiller and capable of bringing cabin temperature down from upwards of 40-degrees to a comfortable 20-degrees, in less than 15-minutes.

Powering the Freestyle is Ford’s all-new, three-cylinder 1.2L TiVCT petrol engine that is small, light, and aims to combine performance with fuel efficiency. The naturally aspirated engine generates 96 PS of peak power and 120 Nm of torque to deliver a spirited drive and is sure to appeal to the young and the young-at-heart. Customers will continue to have a choice to opt for Ford’s tried and tested 1.5L TDCi diesel powertrain that generates 100 PS of peak power and 215 Nm of torque.

Both engines will be paired with an all-new, five-speed manual transmission that is slicker and more responsive. Ford claims that this new manual transmission is almost 15 per cent lighter and helps improve fuel economy while reducing NVH. According to the company, the new transmission requires 40 per cent lesser gear oil than its predecessor too.

The engineers at Ford has done a commendable job in achieving the right balance between ride quality and handling making the all-new Ford Freestyle a joy to drive. The suspension set up is well tuned for Indian road conditions and absorbs most undulation with relative ease. The all-new Ford Freestyle stays firmly grounded while making sharp turns at corners and has no body roll.

Both engines will be paired with an all-new, five-speed manual transmission that is slicker and more responsive. Ford claims that this new manual transmission is almost 15 per cent lighter and helps improve fuel economy while reducing NVH. According to the company, the new transmission requires 40 per cent lesser gear oil than its predecessor too.

Ford has been championing the cause of safety in their vehicle for some time now and has introduced the Active Rollover Prevention (ARP) with the Freestyle. The system works with Electronic Stability Control and applies brakes on relevant wheels to decrease engine torque and help prevent any potential rollover situations.

The Freestyle also comes equipped with other safety features like TCS, ABS with EBD, hill launch assist and EPAS among others. In addition to this the Freestyle also comes with standard dual airbags across the variant line-up. For those looking for greater safety, Freestyle will offer up to six airbags on top Titanium+ trim.

The Freestyle will be available in six colours, including a new White Gold, Canyon Ridge, Moondust Silver, Oxford White, Smoke Grey and Absolute Black.

Ford Freestyle Ex-Showroom Prices: 

Ambiente :  Rs 509,000 (Petrol); Rs 609,000 (Diesel)

Trend:   Rs 599,000 (Petrol); Rs 699,000 (Diesel)

Titanium – Rs 639,000 (Petrol); Rs 735,000 (Diesel)

Titanium+ Rs 694,000 (Petrol); Rs 789,000 (Diesel)

Sean Connery with the Aston Martin DB5 

Aston Martin is today celebrating 70 years of its world-famous DB bloodline, as the luxury British marque unveiled its latest DB family of sportscars for the first time at the 2018 Beijing Motor Show – the V12 and V8-powered DB11 coupe and DB11 Volante.

The famous letters stand for David Brown, referring to the legendary British industrialist David Brown who bought the company in 1947. Over time, the DB brand has become as iconic as the Aston Martin wings themselves and continue to this day with the DB11 model; unveiled today in a striking Volcano Red colour scheme, which would have been the favoured choice of Aston Martin’s previous owner.

Aston Martin DBR9 Le Mans

Brown’s legacy has meant that over the last 70 years, DB-badged Aston Martins have become among the most coveted of all cars, with just under half of all Aston Martin’s produced adorning the famous letters. Driven and adored by thousands of loyal Aston Martin customers worldwide, including the world’s greatest secret agent. DB Aston Martin’s have also won some of motorsport’s greatest prizes, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Sports Car Championship.

Aston Martin President & CEO Dr. Andy Palmer said, “For 70 years, DB has remained at the core of Aston Martin’s DNA and continues to represent a mark of quality, performance and above all, Aston Martin’s heritage. The DB11 Coupes and Volante you see here today in Beijing are no different. They carry the same virtues of their predecessors and are the product of the same passion that David Brown gave this great British company during his tenure. DB is and always will be an important cornerstone of this business, as we continue to move forward into our Second Century of crafted world-class sportscars”.

David Brown took over the eponymously titled engineering firm founded by his grandfather in 1860. A petrol-head to his bones, Brown built his first car aged just 17 by fitting an engine and gearbox into a chassis he had welded himself. He called the result the ‘Davbro’.

Continuing into a career of engineering and manufacturing, the announcement that David Brown had bought Aston Martin came on Valentine’s Day in 1947. Paying the princely sum of £20,500 for the company, Brown had the facilities, technical know-how and capital needed to create the all new generation of Aston Martins essential to securing the company’s future. After also obtaining Lagonda for £52,500, Brown acquired the WO Bentley-designed 2.6-litre twin-cam straight six engine, which was vital to the success of his new cars.

Aston Martin DB1

The first car announced on Brown’s watch was already under development when he arrived. Launched as the 2-litre Sports in 1948, the car was retrospectively referred to as ‘DB1’ from 1950.

Aston Martin DB2

However, it was the DB2 of 1949 whose beauty, performance, handling and quality established the Aston Martin character for the post-war generation, realising Brown’s vision for the company; one that exists in scarcely altered form to this day.

Aston Martin DB4

The DB2 survived in continually updated form until it was replaced in 1959 by the faster, even more svelte DB4, the first new production Aston Martin to be built on the Newport Pagnell site the company still occupies to this day.

Aston Martin DB5

Though there were five distinct series, including the DB4 GT, the DB4 was replaced by the DB5 in 1963, the year in which it was also immortalised by its gadget-laden appearance in the third James Bond film Goldfinger. The DB5 in turn lasted two short years before the larger, more spacious and comfortable DB6 took over the reins.

Aston Martin DB6

The William Towns-designed DBS of 1967 was intended to become an additional model to run alongside the DB6, but the V8 engine designed for it would not be ready for another two years and went on sale powered by the DB6’s six-cylinder engine. The DB6 would stay in production until 1970, eventually selling in far larger numbers than either the DB4 or DB5.

Aston Martin DBS

The DBS was a complete departure – larger, wider, equipped with a De Dion rear axle and, after the 1969 launch of the DBS V8, a four-cam V8 engine that would stay in production until the 21st century.

Aston Martin DB7

Sir David Brown – who had been knighted in 1968 – reluctantly sold Aston Martin in 1972 and it would be 23 years before his initials would appear on the marque’s cars again. After chairman Walter Hayes offered Brown the title of Honorary Life President, Brown granted Aston Martin’s use of his initials once more, affording a new Aston Martin the greatest possible start in life. It was called the DB7. Unfortunately, Brown didn’t live to see it after passing in 1993, the year before the model went on sale.

Aston Martin DB9

By the time a completely new Aston Martin was ready in 2003 – the first built at its Gaydon headquarters – the advance in technology, quality and performance was so great, Aston Martin jumped the DB8 number and called the new car DB9. The DB9 begat the second DBS and Bond’s first Gaydon-built company car, while the V8 Vantage-based DB10 earned the honour of becoming 007’s first ever fully bespoke road car.

Aston Martin DB10

With the new DB11 and soon to-be-launched DBS Superleggera, the DB brand continues to form the backbone of Aston Martin’s Second Century Plan.

Aston Martin DB11

Today, the DB nomenclature is as fundamental a part of Aston Martin as it was 70 years ago. Not just as a core component of the Aston Martin product range, but a key part of its identity too.

Japanese carmaker Toyota has launched the Yaris mid-size sedan in India at an introductory price of Rs 8.75 lakh for the base J trim and going up to Rs 14.07 lakh for the top-of-the-line VX trim with the CVT automatic (prices ex-showroom, India). Bookings have also opened for an amount of Rs 50,000.

The Toyota Yaris has been launched in four variants, with each trim getting the option of a CVT automatic. The Yaris comes with a single petrol engine option – 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder engine – that produces 107hp of maximum power and 140Nm of peak torque. The powertrain is mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or the optional 7-step CVT automatic gearbox.

The Yaris gets some segment-first features like gesture control for the touchscreen infotainment system, a tyre pressure-monitoring system, 60:40 rear seat split, adjustable three-neck restraints for the rear seat, roof-mounted rear air-conditioner with ambient lighting, a powered driver’s seat and front parking sensors. Paddle shifters are on offer on the higher CVT variants. On the safety front, it gets gets all-wheel disc brakes, front and rear parking sensors, seven airbags (including a driver knee airbag), Hill-Start Assist, ABS, EBD and ESP.

The variant-wise ex-showroom prices of the Toyota Yaris is as follows:

J – Rs 8,75,000 (MT); Rs 9,95,000 (CVT)

G – Rs 10,56,000 (MT); Rs 11,76,000 (CVT)

V – Rs 11,70,000 (MT); Rs 12,90,000 (CVT)

VX – Rs 12,85,000 (MT); Rs 14,07,000 (CVT)

The Toyota Yaris will compete with petrol variants of the Honda City (Rs 8.71- 13.70 lakh), Maruti Suzuki Ciaz (Rs 7.83-10.63 lakh), Hyundai Verna (Rs 7.99-12.56 lakh), Volkswagen Vento (Rs 8.19-12.49 lakh) and Skoda Rapid (Rs 8.36-12.21 lakh) (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).

At this price point, the Yaris is more expensive than its rivals in the Indian market.

The Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak completed its first laps at the racetrack in Ales. The fully-electric super sports car, developed for the iconic “Race to the Clouds” in Colorado Springs (USA), will attempt to break the record for electric cars at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 24. Between now and then, the spectacular prototype, which generates 500 kW (680 hp) and features a twin-engine powertrain, will undergo a strict programme of testing – initially in Europe, then in the USA. The man in the cockpit for the car’s first outing was Romain Dumas, who will also be at the wheel of the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak for the record attempt at the end of June.

“It was absolutely fantastic to see the completed I.D. R for the first time, and to take it out for its first spin,” said Romain Dumas, who is a three-time winner of the hill climb on Pikes Peak. “What Volkswagen has managed to put together from scratch over the past few months has my greatest respect. I had obviously seen initial pictures of the car – but it is even more spectacular in the flesh. We now have a packed schedule of testing ahead of us, and I am looking forward to every metre!”

Competing in his 93rd MotoGP race, Marc Marquez rode the RC213V to his sixth straight win of the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas MotoGP, the Spaniard having been unbeatable at COTA since the circuit was added to the calendar in 2013. It was also Marc’s 12th consecutive victory on U.S. asphalt, an amazing statistic.

Also impressive today was Marc’s Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, who is recovering from the surgery he underwent less than two weeks ago, and who put in an incredible effort to earn seventh place.

With his first win of 2018, Marc now stands second in the World Championship Classification with 45 points, just one point down on Andrea Dovizioso. Dani sits in 11th place with 18 points.

Now the MotoGP field will transfer back to Europe for the Continental phase of the season, starting at Jerez, Spain, on May 6.

Marc Marquez said, “This weekend I really gave it my all. Today I was totally focused, as I wanted to remain perfect here at Austin. I don’t think that ever in my career have I had such a race, pushing so hard from the first lap. Today I felt that this was the right way and was able to do it, in part because my bike’s setup helped me a lot, so thanks to everyone in my garage as they’ve worked really well and hard. Yesterday I was a bit ill, and even today I didn’t feel I had perfect energy, but it turned out to be a good race anyway – a lonely one, but sometimes it goes like that. Last night when I was going to sleep, I thought about the strategy, and today I followed it. Even in the warm-up, I tried to simulate the first laps of the race, going out on new tyres and with a full tank. That was in the plan. I told the team that I wanted to try to lead the race from the beginning and pull a gap. So in the first three or four laps, I pushed a bit more than usual, and then I managed the advantage. Today I had special motivation. There was a lot of pressure, but I like the pressure, as it helps to keep focused. I felt a special feeling on the last lap, when I passed in front of Nicky’s flag. So, I’m happy with the result and for recovering ground in the Championship, but now we go back to Europe, where we must be consistent, because look who’s leading the standings: Dovi, the most consistent rider! The feeling with my bike is very good, and the same has been true in Qatar and Argentina, so we’ll try and continue this way.”

Dani Pedrosa commented, “I’m more than satisfied with having been able to finish this race and get some good points, and I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me in these days, as well as all the fans for the support they gave me. Honestly, before coming here I wasn’t even sure I would be able to do the practices. It was a tough weekend, especially at this track; in some other circuits you might handle the situation a little better with a bit less effort, but this one is super-physical. I wasn’t able to enjoy the race like I usually do, even though I took some painkillers that eased the pain a little. That allowed me to focus a bit more, though I don’t have much strength. I had a decent start and tried to stick with the guys in front as much as possible. In the end I struggled to control my bike, but I managed and I’m happy with the outcome. Now we have some more days to try and recover as much as possible before Jerez. It’s a track I like, so we’ll see how much better I’ll feel.”

In line with the vision of enriching people’s lives, Nissan in India has saved 95 million litres of water over the past four years though an innovative cars wash technique called Foam Wash. Introduced in 2014 at most of the service centres across India, the Foam Wash technique uses only 90 litres of water per car compared to the conventional car wash which consumes 162 litres, thereby reducing water consumption by 44 per cent. Car washes at service centres are a major component of after sales and servicing of customers’ vehicles that require a large amount of water.

Commenting about the initiative, Sanjeev Aggarwal, Vice President, After Sales at Nissan Motor India Pvt. said, “Nissan aims to contribute towards sustainable development of society through our product and services. The Foam Wash initiative is quite popular amongst Nissan and Datsun car owners and allows us to collectively save water, time and contribute towards a sustainable eco-system.”

Catering to the growing popularity of the AMT vehicles in India, Tata Motors is all set introduce another product intervention – Nexon with HyprDrive Self-Shift Gears (S-SG). Tata Motors claims that the Nexon HyprDrive Self-SG is the first AMT in India to have Multi-Drive modes (3 modes – ECO, CITY, SPORT) in automatic transmission. The bookings for the car commences today, across all its authorised dealerships, in India, at an amount of Rs 11,000 only.

With the introduction of Nexon Hyprdrive S-SG, Tata Motors has branded all its 2 pedal transmission cars as Hyprdrive while all the AMT variants from the Company will be now termed as Self-Shift Gears (S-SG).Nexon Hyprdrive with S-SG will be available in both petrol and diesel option.

According to Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, “Since its launch in 2017, the Tata NEXON has set new benchmarks in India’s fastest growing SUV segment and has been one of the most appreciated products from the house of Tata Motors. With the AMT market in India thriving, we are all set to leverage this opportunity by introducing our LEVEL NEX star player on the pitch – the NEXON with HyprDrive Self-Shift Gears. This car has been one of the most awaited products in the AMT segment and we are confident that this product will not only be high on convenience but will also thrill the customers with its sporty drive performance. We look forward to introducing many more such path breaking products in the near future.”