Formula One fans will be hearing a lot about Juan Manuel Fangio this season as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel battle to match the late Argentine’s 1950s feat of five world championships.

Only Michael Schumacher, with seven, has won more titles and equalling the German’s tally is still largely the stuff of dreams.

“I saw something about being up there potentially with Fangio, so that is quite an exciting prospect,” Hamilton said when his new Mercedes W09 car made its track debut at Silverstone in February.

The Briton is the bookmakers’ favourite to defend the title in what will be the first season to feature two four-times champions together on track.

Vettel could be breathing down Hamilton’s neck, a decade after his Ferrari team last won a title, but may find Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo running alongside if not in front.

Even Mercedes recognise it might be best for the sport, in its second year with US-based Liberty Media running the show, not to have a fifth successive season of domination by the Silver Arrows.

But it’s not their job to make life easier.

“If you look from outside, does a long term dominance of the team damage the spectacle? Yes it does,” team boss Toto Wolff told reporters.

“We’ve seen that with the successes from Ferrari in the years 2000 and Red Bull a couple of years ago…”

“I think the most healthy situation for Formula One is a very competitive environment where multiple teams are able to win, the championship goes down to the wire…these are clearly the ingredients it needs.”

That could also happen, if predictions of a tight three-way tussle at the top come true, and Hamilton for one would welcome the challenge.

Exactly who stands where will likely remain unclear until well after Melbourne, which is not always the best guide to long-term form. Vettel won a year ago and led for 12 races before it all fell apart.

“Mercedes are going into this championship as very much the favourites,” says Red Bull boss Christian Horner, whose team won four titles in a row with Vettel between 2010 and 2013.

Hamilton disagreed: “I think Red Bull are the fastest at the moment, potentially,” he said on Wednesday. Ferrari have kept their own counsel.

If not Hamilton or Vettel, there is a 20-year-old with an army of orange-shirted supporters waiting impatiently for his time to come.

Verstappen, winner of two of the last six races of 2017, looks a champion in the making and a big question this year is whether he will have a car good enough to mount a substantial challenge.

If he does, then expect Ricciardo to be very much in contention as well.

Reliability will be crucial, with the engine allocation reduced from four to three and the season enlarged to 21 races.

An even bigger battle is brewing behind the top three with former champions Renault and McLaren, now using the French engines, aiming to push Force India out of the fourth place they have occupied for the past two years.

McLaren’s double world champion Fernando Alonso will also be creating headlines of his own with Le Mans and a full world endurance season as well as Formula One.

Toro Rosso, embracing the Honda engines that caused so much grief for McLaren over the past three years, have had an untroubled time in testing and could cause something of a reappraisal.

Ferrari-powered Haas also appear to have raised their game.

Sauber’s Charles Leclerc, the Monegasque who won last year’s F2 title, and Russian Sergey Sirotkin at Williams are the rookie debutants.

The French Grand Prix returns after a decade away, at Le Castellet, while Germany is back after a year’s absence. Malaysia has gone.

Off track, Liberty and the governing FIA face tricky talks about the future direction of the sport, and what kind of engine to use from 2021, with Ferrari threatening to walk away if they do not like what is on offer.

And then there is the ‘halo’, the head protection device that has changed the look of the cars and makes its race debut with drivers already largely accustomed to it.

By the time the championship is won, it may be less of a talking point than Fangio.

Jaguar Land Rover India introduces the Jaguar XE and XF in India with the lightweight and efficient all-aluminium Ingenium petrol powertrain. The new 2.0 l (litre) Ingenium petrol motor is offered in both 147 kW (200 PS) and 184 kW (250 PS) outputs and is mated to an 8-Speed electronic automatic transmission with Jaguar sequential shift and all surface progress control. The Jaguar XE powered by the Ingenium petrol starts from Rs 35.99 Lakh while the Jaguar XF starts from Rs 49.80 Lakh.

The Ingenium petrol engines use Jaguar Land Rover’s low friction all-aluminium-intensive design to provide excellent thermal properties and lightweight construction for improved efficiency and enhanced vehicle dynamics. The new petrol units deploy twin scroll turbos to reduce lag, optimising power output and efficiency. Continuously Variable Valve Lift technology improves air delivery to both engines. This technology provides fully variable control of the intake valve lift for optimum efficiency, power and torque across the rev range.

Rohit Suri, President & Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd. (JLRIL), said: “The Jaguar XE and XF have done tremendously well in India and with the entry of the refined and efficient Ingenium petrol powertrain on our award winning sedans, we expect more customers to enjoy the thrilling drive experience these two cars offer.”

The 147 kW powertrain is offered on the XE Pure and Prestige as well as the XF Prestige, while the 184 kW powertrain is offered on the XE Portfolio and XF Portfolio.

Volkswagen Motorsport will focus even more on production-based racing in the future. With the hugely successful Golf GTI TCR and the new Polo GTI R5, Volkswagen is able to offer its customers attractive cars for circuit racing and rallying. The long-term commitment as engine manufacturer in Formula 3, which has yielded a host of international stars, will end in 2018.

“In the future, we will place even greater emphasis on Volkswagen products. The Golf GTI TCR is already an important ambassador for the brand in many racing series around the world, and we are pursuing the same goal with the new Polo GTI R5,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets. “Both cars are not only attractive propositions for professional customer teams, but also represent top-class cars for talented youngsters. This way, we are also able to continue our long-term philosophy of offering youth opportunities. The many national, regional and international series, in which the Golf GTI TCR and Polo GTI R5 are in action, allow the young drivers to develop step by step at the wheel of a Volkswagen.”

“In Formula 3, Volkswagen can look back on a remarkable record. For more than three decades, Volkswagen teams and drivers have enjoyed great success against teams from other manufacturers – we are sincerely grateful to them for this. We will continue to provide our customers with consistent support, in order to bring the 2018 season to a successful close in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and at the FIA Formula 3 World Cup in Macau,” Sven Smeets added.

Volkswagen Power serves as career catalyst towards Formula 1, Le Mans and DTM

Between 1982 and 1991, seven Volkswagen drivers won the title in the German Formula 3 championship alone. They included such motorsport stars as record Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, record Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen and record DTM champion Bernd Schneider. Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz junior and Brendon Hartley are among the current crop of Formula 1 drivers to have gained valuable experience with Volkswagen Power in Formula 3. With ten victories to its name, the two-litre, four-cylinder Volkswagen engine is the most successful Formula 3 engine in history at the iconic Macau Grand Prix.

Pirelli’s digital revolution, which has made it possible for the tyre to gather and transmit data, take a new step forward. At the 88th Geneva International Motor Show, Pirelli showcased its Cyber Car technology, developed for Original Equipment in cooperation with major car makers. Cyber Car enables the tyre to directly interact with the car’s on-board electronics and in particular with driver assistance systems, delivering important information about the car’s operation to ensure a safer drive with enhanced performance. The new Pirelli system will be on the market by the end of the year on board the most innovative cars, both electric and traditional, of the major car makers.

Cyber Car is the latest application of Pirelli’s Cyber Technologies platform, which was launched in 2002 with the aim of providing maximum integration between tyres, cars and drivers. Cyber Car, in fact, follows on from the Cyber Fleet system, designed for fleets, and Pirelli Connesso, intended for everyday motorists. In particular, Pirelli Connesso, which was launched last year on the American market, is about to debut in the main European countries.

Placing sensors in the tyres themselves is an integral part of Pirelli’s Perfect fit strategy, focussed on the development of made to measure products and services that meet the personal requirements of drivers as well as the specialisations of car manufacturers. Pirelli’s Perfect fit solutions also include the P Zero Colour Edition and the development of specific tyres for individual cars, denoted by special markings on the sidewalls (with different markings for each manufacturer).

The tyre is the sole point of contact with the road surface, so it’s able to collect a large quantity of information crucial to a driving that is safer, more effective and more efficient, both in terms of environmental sustainability as well as cost savings for the driver. From a technical point of view, all of Pirelli’s Cyber systems are based on a sensor placed on the inside of the tyre connected to the Pirelli Cloud. This sensor, which weighs just a few grams, monitors the operating status of every tyre and transmits the data to an electronic control unit. The information collected is delivered to an app, in the case of Pirelli Connesso, or to the car’s on-board systems as well as an app, in the case of Cyber Car. Pirelli Cyber Technologies use specific systems to talk directly to the driver (with Pirelli Connesso), or to fleet managers (with Cyber Fleet), or to both car manufacturers and drivers at the same time (with Cyber Car). These systems equally apply both to traditionally-powered as well as electric cars. The same base technology, but different and specialised applications.

Cyber Car also informs the driver, through the carmaker’s interface, about the standard operating parameters of the tyre, such as vertical load, temperature and pressure, which allows timely intervention if the pressures are wrong. Tyre maintenance becomes an easier job, thanks to specific information about tread wear and how the tyres should be seasonally rotated.

The Cyber Car can additionally enable access to a suite of bespoke services that can be further personalised to suit individual needs, such as car valeting, roadside assistance, and servicing.

The first models fitted with Cyber Car will arrive this year; with a number of manufacturers already at an advanced stage of integrating Pirelli’s technology into their own systems.

The next evolution will be the Cyber Tyre system: the tyre of the future, based on a technical platform capable of collecting even more data, transmitting information to the car’s on-board systems with every rotation of each wheel. Even though this technology isn’t on sale yet, its initial application is already in action on the Ferrari FXXK: the 1000-horsepower development hypercar that is only for track use.

TVS Motor Company today launched the new 2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V with prices starting from Rs 81,490 for Carburetor variant and Rs 89,990 for the EFI variant (ex-showroom Delhi).

A testimony to the racing legacy of the TVS Apache RTR series, the new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is the most powerful 160 cc motorcycle, creating a new benchmark in the segment. The new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is born of the six-time Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (INMRC) winning motorcycle – (Group B RTR 165) and gets the 4-valve, oil-cooled engine that offers an impressive performance.

Sudarshan Venu, Joint Managing Director, TVS Motor Company, said, “The TVS Apache series has always embodied pure racing performance. This Racing DNA is seen across the entire range from RTR 160 to the RR 310.  With the launch of the all new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, we have created an exciting product that will appeal to customers around the world.”

Speaking at the launch of the new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, KN Radhakrishnan, President & Chief Executive Officer, TVS Motor Company, said, “In over 10 years of its existence, the TVS Apache RTR series has created phenomenal customer delight.  The new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is an exciting addition to the TVS Apache RTR series.  It is the most powerful 160cc motorcycle in India and embodies the latest racing technology with best-in-class performance. We are confident that the new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V will set the precedence with its superior performance and dynamic racing look.”

The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is available in both Carburetor and EFI variants, with the latter christened as TVS Apache RTR 160 Fi 4V.  The motorcycle gets a 159.7 cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 4-valve, oil-cooled engine that churns out 16.8 PS at 8000 rpm (EFI) and 14.8 Nm at 6500 rpm(EFI), 16.5 PS at 8000 rpm (Carb) and 14.8 Nm at 6500 rpm (Carb). The engine is mated to a 5-speed super-slick gear box that offers a precise and powerful riding experience.

Staying true to its racing pedigree, the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V claims to have the most powerful 160cc engine, enabling the best performance in its class and boasts of a top speed of 114 kmph (EFI), 113 kmph (Carb). Complete with best-in-class power-to-weight ratio, the motorcycle does an astounding 0-60 kmph in 4.8 seconds(EFI) and 4.73 seconds (Carb).

TVS Apache RTR 160 4V comes with the TVS Motor Company patented Double-Cradle Split Synchro Stiff Frame Design, which gives excellent high-speed stability and best-in-class handling on/off- track. The mono-shock suspension, engineered and precision-tuned by inputs from TVS Racing riders, contributes to the razor-sharp handling and agility through the corners.  Placing paramount importance on safety, the TVS Apache RTR 160 Fi 4V comes with both rear and front disc brakes while the Carburetor motorcycle is available in Disc and Drum variants.

With a fully-digital speedometer, the design of the new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V offers sleek styling along with the race-spec aspects of the INMRC race machine – RTR 165.  The forward biased stance with tight proportions is complemented by the aggressive headlamp, chiseled body and a sleek, sharp tail.  The motorcycle boasts of a compact race design with chequered flag decals on the tank, a fitting homage to its winning streak on the race track.

The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V series is available in three stunning colours, namely, Racing Red, Metallic Blue and Knight Black.

Datsun India today announced the launch of Remix Limited Edition of Datsun GO and GO+, priced at Rs 4,21,000 and Rs 4,99,000 respectively. With new hood and roof wraps, all black interiors and new dual-tone colour combinations, the Remix editions will be available at all Nissan and Datsun dealerships across-India starting today.

Jerome Saigot, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Datsun brings together the heritage of Japanese technology and contemporary design that appeal to our target consumers. The Remix variants are a fantastic addition to the Datsun portfolio and we are delighted to introduce the exclusive Onyx Black colour option in Datsun GO model. We are confident that the Remix Limited Editions of GO and GO+ variants will definitely turn heads on the roads.”

Styled with trendy exteriors, Datsun GO Remix has been introduced in an exclusive onyx black colour remixed with attractive orange decals. Also, the Datsun GO+ Remix comes in a dual-tone storm white colour styled with exciting orange and black decals. The Datsun GO and GO+ Remix are also available in Storm White and Dual-tone Silver respectively.

Remixed inside out, the limited edition models come with nine new features such as remote keyless entry, hands-free Bluetooth audio, trendy seat cover, all black front grill, stylish black wheel covers, piano-black interiors, rear sporty spoiler, stylish chrome exhaust finisher and chrome bumper bezel.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. today announced the price of its brand new 160 cc motorcycle X-Blade. Showcased for the first time at Auto Expo, the stylish X-Blade is priced at Rs 78,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Elaborating how X-Blade offers a great value proposition, Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President – Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd., said, “The aggressive and futuristic new X-Blade has been designed for millennials and Gen-Z. As promised, we have started the dispatches of X-Blade in March 2018. Armed with more style, Honda’s tried and tested HET 160cc engine, and superior technology, X-Blade creates a new benchmark with several segment first features in its class and that too at an attractive price of Rs. 78,500 (Ex-showroom, Delhi).”

Honda X-Blade boasts of a dynamic design featuring a commanding front stance with a futuristic segment first LED headlamp resulting in a brighter light throw than standard halogen lamps. A 9 LED position lamp setup ensures that the X-Blade stands out of the crowd. Adding to the sophisticated look are razor edged LED tail lamp and high rigidity sculpted fuel tank. That’s not all, while a sharply designed grab rail increases the aggression of the rear, a rear tyre hugger fender protects the under body from mud accumulation. A dual outlet muffler with a chrome tip has been used to add to the sporty look.

Powering the X-Blade is Honda’s trusted 162.71 cc HET engine which provides an ideal balance of performance and efficiency. Producing 13.93 bhp at 8,500 rpm and peak torque of 13.9 Nm at 6,000 rpm X-Blade also promises faster acceleration and better load carrying capacity. The engine has been specifically designed to deliver good low and mid-range performance.

Balancing sportiness with practicality, X-Blade has been fitted with a link type gear shifter for precise and smooth shifts. A wide 130 mm rear tyre and mono shock rear suspension promises better handling while cornering. Being an all-rounder the stylish X-Blade also focuses on comfort and safety with a long seat, seal chain and hazard switch. A street tech digital meter increases convenience with presence of a service due indicator, digital clock and a gear position indicator.

Bookings for the X-Blade can be made all Honda dealers across the country at Rs 5,000. The X-Blade will be available in 5 sporty colours – Matte Marvel Blue Metallic / Matte Frozen Silver Metallic / Pearl Spartan Red / Pearl Igneous Black and Matte Marshal Green Metallic.

BMW Motorrad has announced the debut of its unique riding experience – BMW Motorrad Safari – in India. Conceptualized exclusively for BMW motorcycle owners, BMW Motorrad Safari will offer the ultimate riding adventure on two wheels. The riding experience will be organized in four varied formats to maximise participant’s sense of exploration and adventure – Deccan Safari, Mountain Safari, Desert Safari and International Safari – each exploring different destinations every year.

The series will kick-start with the BMW Motorrad Deccan Safari from Bengaluru to Kabani from 23-25 March 2018.

Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “Motorcycling is a unique way to explore one’s passion for travelling, discovering new terrains and enjoying a sense of freedom. Owning a BMW Motorrad bike opens up a world of experiences for our customers. Through a unique riding engagement like BMW Motorrad Safari, we will introduce them to new adventures and help them discover what they can do with their Motorrad bikes. Riding is even better when you have company on the road. BMW Motorrad Safari will create outstanding moments, stories and journeys for everyone who is a part of it.”

BMW Motorrad Safari is a touring style event, which runs for 5 to 7 days, starting and ending at the same location. It is a completely guided tour on pre-decided picturesque routes where riders enjoy a mix of accommodation, entertainment and food along the way. Route maps are shared in advance and BMW Motorrad experts guide participants throughout the ride. To ensure a relaxed ride, participants are allowed to go at their own pace and soak in the sights along the route. Socialising is a big part of BMW Safari life. It is an opportunity to meet like-minded people and create life-long memories.

In a world premiere event at the Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen presented the I.D. VIZZION concept car – the new flagship of the electric I.D. Family. With the I.D. VIZZION, Volkswagen defines the saloon of tomorrow and beyond: autonomous driving, effortless control via augmented reality, and adaptive learning thanks to artificial intelligence. The I.D. VIZZION thus achieves a new dimension of comfort, convenience, safety, and sustainability.

Dr Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management, “Upon first glance, the I.D. VIZZION demonstrates how the All-New Electric Architecture gives us a completely new type of freedom in designing the vehicle interior and exterior.” Indeed, this concept car transfers the charismatic design DNA of the innovative I.D. models into the world of large saloon cars. In the process, the lounge-like interior was redefined as well. Thanks to its new vehicle architecture, the car offers its passengers a level of spaciousness beyond that of typical premium-class vehicles in the five-metre category. This particular feeling of spaciousness is part of the vehicle’s unique comfort experience.

Operating the I.D. VIZZION is fully effortless thanks to intuitive interactions between human and machine using augmented reality, mixed-reality eyewear (HoloLens), and voice control functionality. Augmented reality entails the use of virtual control elements and displays which are projected inside the car. Passengers view these features with their HoloLens and operate them using gesture control. The car’s communications technology has advanced to make it a virtual assistant which is capable of learning and responds empathically. The I.D. VIZZION offers one thing above all: greater personal space. That is because it is a smart device on wheels that does not require a driver and thereby becomes a chauffeur. Because it is so comprehensively connected that it is part of the digital world. Because it gives its passengers space to relax, communicate, or work while on the road.

The I.D. VIZZION demonstrates how Volkswagen is introducing new innovations year after year on its path to the future and is making driving more exciting than ever: while user operation via augmented reality gives an outlook on the year 2030, automated driving at the highest level is already conceivable starting in 2025. Yet the design of the I.D. VIZZION, the electric all-wheel drive system with two electric motors and 225 kW system output, and its operating range of up to 665 kilometres point towards the year 2022. This is the year when the initial version of the I.D. VIZZION with conventional controls will be launched.

With the I.D. VIZZION, Volkswagen is also demonstrating the excellent overall potential of the newly developed technological basis for the I.D. Family – the All-New Electric Architecture. Dr Frank Welsch, Board Member of the Volkswagen Brand, Technical Development Division, “The technological design principle of our I.D. Family is hard to deny: its dimensions, battery, and drive system are scalable. This allows us to occupy multiple segments and meet customer demands – up to and including a large touring saloon.”

Taken in total, the I.D. Family represents the advent of the electric mobility age for the Volkswagen brand. Dr Diess said, “We plan to build around one million all-electric vehicles per year already by 2025. The compact I.D. and the I.D.CROZZ SUV will make their debut in 2020. They will be followed in 2022 by the I.D. BUZZ large capacity passenger vehicle, as well as the I.D. VIZZION already mentioned which is being presented in Geneva.”

Rohit Suri, President & Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India at the newly inaugurated showroom in Kolkata

Jaguar Land Rover India today announced the opening of Lexus Motors’ new showroom facility in the Rajarhat area of Kolkata. Lexus Motors has developed a state-of-the-art multi-level facility which was inaugurated by Rohit Suri, President & Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd (JLRIL), Binod Agarwal, Director and Vedant Agarwal, Director, Lexus Motors.

This showroom facility is designed and equipped to provide the highest quality sales experience. The facility can display 11 cars enabling the display of almost the full range of products from the Jaguar and Land Rover portfolio.

Rohit Suri, President & Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd (JLRIL), said: “We are delighted to introduce our new showroom facility in Kolkata and are committed to easing accessibility for our customers to Jaguar and Land Rover products in the city. The opening of this ultra-modern showroom facility for our esteemed customers in an upcoming part of the city is in line with that objective.”

Jaguar Land Rover India inaugurates new showroom in Kolkata

The Jaguar range in India includes XE (starting at ₹ 35.85 Lakh), XF (starting at ₹ 46.46 Lakh), F-PACE (starting at ₹ 60.02 Lakh), XJ (starting at ₹ 100.80 Lakh) and F-TYPE (starting at ₹ 134.33 Lakh). All prices mentioned are ex-showroom prices in India.

The Land Rover range in India also includes the Discovery Sport (starting at ₹ 42.48 Lakh), Range Rover Evoque (starting at ₹ 50.20 Lakh), All-New Discovery (starting at ₹ 71.38 Lakh), New Range Rover Velar (starting at ₹ 78.83 Lakh) Range Rover Sport (starting at ₹ 93.82 Lakh), and Range Rover (starting at ₹ 166.42 Lakh). All prices mentioned are ex-showroom prices in India.

Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are available in India through 27 authorised outlets in Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kochi, Karnal, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Noida, Pune, Raipur, Vijayawada and Surat.