Two years ago in 2016, Rolls-Royce rewrote the rule book for the future of true luxury mobility by presenting the Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 – codenamed 103EX – a radical vision of effortless, autonomous, connected, spacious and beautiful luxury mobility, as personal as each individual customer.

“When we revealed 103EX to the world in 2016, Rolls-Royce set the agenda for the future of luxury mobility. Since then it has become clear that other car brands have acknowledged our vision, so much so that they have adopted most aspects, apart from the most visionary and radical.” comments Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “Rolls-Royce’s vision in 2016 was, and remains, all-electric, completely autonomous, completely Bespoke mobility – coupled with ultimate luxury.”

Thanks to its unrivalled engineering capabilities, the customer’s Personal Vision will dictate how their Rolls-Royce will look. This is an uncompromised view of the future of luxury mobility that also embraces the luxury customer’s wish for the effortless journey –autonomous travel in a completely connected, fully autonomous vehicle.

The chassis of the future, created from the most advanced materials and powered by a zero emissions powertrain will underpin this vision. Advanced manufacturing technologies will enable customers to involve themselves even more in the design of the shape, size and silhouette of their personal Rolls-Royce vision, which Rolls-Royce would then manufacture to the customer’s specifications, making every Rolls-Royce a unique Bespoke masterpiece.

103EX itself, presented a vision to the world that acknowledges the fact that Rolls-Royces will continue to be the preferred marque of the most discerning, wealthy and powerful patrons in the world because of their preference for the presence and personal statement that only a Rolls-Royce can offer.

The Grand Arrival required by those people who make the world turn – whether royalty, heads of state or global superstars – is guaranteed by the visionary design of the Rolls-Royce 103EX.

This truth was reflected in the most dramatic aspect of the Rolls-Royce 103EX – the clamshell canopy and coach door. These stylish features allow the occupants to stand up from the best seat in the house, and descend from the futuristic lounge atmosphere of the cabin of 103EX clad in the finest silk, wool and wood.

“Rolls-Royce rejected the notion of mass-produced, carbon-copy modes of mobility two years ago with the launch of 103EX because of our intimate understanding of our customers’ thinking and their demands in the future,” concludes Giles Taylor, Design Director of Rolls-Royce.

Polestar, the new electric performance brand, has introduced the Polestar 1 to the public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show. The European debut follows its global media reveal in Shanghai, China, in late 2017.

“This is the public launch of the new Polestar 1, and our new electric performance brand. Electromobility is the main focus of today’s automotive industry, and Polestar is at the centre of this development, introducing world-class electrified cars and ground-breaking, customer-focussed services and offers,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Chief Executive Officer of Polestar.

“To date, we have received interest from over 6,000 potential customers wanting the Polestar 1 – a number which began gathering momentum from the moment the car was revealed. With our current plans to produce 500 cars per year, it’s possible that we have exceeded our production potential in these early stages. This positive reception to Polestar 1 really encourages us that our ‘Pure, Progressive, Performance’ brand proposition resonates very well with customers.”

Polestar will open pre-orders for the Polestar 1 on 13 March 2018 with a request to the list of potential customers to pay a fully-refundable deposit of €2,500. Pre-orders will open in the six initial launch markets announced in January, including China, the United States, Sweden, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands. An additional 12 new markets for Polestar 1 have been added and will open for pre-orders simultaneously, including Switzerland, the UK, Belgium, Finland, France, Poland, Austria, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Portugal and Canada.

“We will open pre-ordering of the Polestar 1 to eighteen markets which covers around 95 per cent of the geographical interest from potential Polestar 1 customers,” continued Thomas Ingenlath. “The deposit acts as a placeholder in the Polestar 1 queue and we are excited to see how the initial response translates into pre-orders.”

The Polestar consumer experience is based on a new subscription model, where customers will be able to subscribe to their Polestar car for two or three years. Linked to a host of connected and on-demand benefits like pick-up and delivery servicing, the no-deposit, all-inclusive subscription model has been designed to take the traditional hassle out of vehicle ownership with one monthly fee that includes sundries like insurance and maintenance, and allows the customer to focus on the enjoyment of driving. Customers will also be able to purchase the Polestar 1 outright if desired.

The Geneva Motor Show also marks the start of a world tour for the Polestar 1. Other regional reveal events are planned in China, the United States and elsewhere in Europe, which will allow customers, potential subscribers and brand fans to see the new Polestar 1 in key markets in the build up to the start of production in mid-2019. Development at the new Polestar Production Centre in Chengdu, China, is progressing with suitable pace. Having broken ground in November 2017, construction is on track for tooling installation and pre-production to begin as planned towards the end of 2018.

“The beautiful new Polestar Production Centre in Chengdu will become our manufacturing hub and the centre of Polestar manufacturing operations,” said Jonathan Goodman, Chief Operations Officer of Polestar. “With its Scandinavian design principles, expertly executed by Snøhetta of Norway, and its roots quite literally set in one of our main markets, the Polestar Production Centre not only serves as the birthplace of all Polestar 1 cars, but also a brand experience facility with a dedicated test track and other client-focused facilities which contribute to the world-class Polestar customer experience.”

The Polestar 1 is an Electric Performance Hybrid 2+2 GT coupe which produces 600 horsepower and 1,000 Nm of torque, as well as 150 km of pure electric driving range – the longest of any hybrid car in the world.

The Electric Performance Hybrid powertrain features an internal combustion engine powering the front wheels, while a double electric rear axle drive system powers the rear wheels from a total of 34 kWh of battery power. In combination, the Polestar 1 is an electric vehicle with the benefits of an internal combustion engine to supplement the electric drive over long distances when required.

The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe illustrates the meaning behind the letter ‘M’ at BMW in impressive style: it stands for ‘more’, more of everything. As well as dynamic excellence, the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe embodies a new facet of luxury for the BMW brand – ultra-sporty, extrovert and polarising.

“The BMW 8 Series will take over as the new flagship model of the BMW line-up and, as such, combines unsurpassed sportiness and elegance,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe offers a look ahead to the most exotic and alluring variant of the new BMW 8 Series.”

The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe is more than simply a luxury sports car with four doors. It symbolises a new and unique understanding of luxury. “The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe is designed to stir things up, to polarise – it should move you emotionally,” explains Domagoj Dukec, Vice President Design BMW M and BMW i. “With this car we want to reach people who are looking for something special and who want to stand out from the crowd. Here, BMW M is unmistakably taking luxury out of its comfort zone.” Like the BMW Concept 8 Series before it, the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe shows off BMW’s new design language, headlined by expressive surfacing that accentuates the car’s dynamism more vividly than before through its bodywork. A small number of precise character lines underline the graphic arrangement of the surfaces.

Low to the road and broad in stance, the eye-catching front end of the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe delivers an immediate promise of an exceptional performance experience. The muscular surfaces and precise contours of the bonnet hint at the driving capability bubbling intently under the skin.

The face of the new BMW 8 Series is evident in the new Concept’s front-end graphic. The contours of the radiator grille kidneys broaden as they descend towards the road, emphasising the car’s low centre of gravity. As on early BMW coupes, the kidney elements are linked by an unbroken grille surround, creating a large single element. The headlights are positioned slightly higher than the kidneys and give them the impression of sitting lower, which further emphasizes the car’s closeness to the asphalt. In contrast, the gold-coloured kidney surround brings an added air of exclusivity to the front end. Within the headlights, the lighting technology familiar from the M8 GTE endurance racer provides a dynamic, hexagonal interpretation of BMW’s signature four-eyed front end, distilling elements of modern-day motor sport and luxurious quality into its inner details. Meanwhile, brawny air intakes in carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) guide the air to where it is required.

Even when viewed from a distance, the proportions of the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe radiate the car’s dynamic character. A long wheelbase, long bonnet, flowing roofline and short tail create an elegantly sporty coupe silhouette. The emotionally rich surfacing reaches a climax in the car’s shoulders around the C-pillars, north of the rear wheels. Here, the roof flows into the rear by means of elegantly sculpted fins. Lower down, the muscular flared wheel arches offer a visual expression of the power working through the rear axle. The smooth transitions between surfaces exude a certain sensuousness, while the heavy tapering of the car’s shoulders combines with a wide track to bring extra definition and athleticism. Being every inch the BMW M car, the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe has a roof made from CFRP – which lowers the car’s centre of gravity both visually and physically – and aerodynamically optimised exterior mirrors.

The Saleve Vert paint finish, whose colour appears to change from green to greyish blue in different lights, creates a hugely effective surface composition and teams up with the gold-coloured window graphic, hallmark M gills, goldcoloured brakes, wheel rims and M twin exhaust tailpipes to give the car a headturning, all-new look.

The rear of the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe oozes the dynamic elan and visual impact for which M is renowned, and the wide track and flared wheel arches hint at the car’s performance capability. Horizontal lines break up the rear end stylistically, allowing the area below the rear spoiler to catch more light and adding extra visual agility. At the outer edges, the slim, sculpted rear lights with black glass covers underscore the car’s wide stance on the road. Below them, the bumper picks up the front apron’s dynamic theme. The prominent diffuser and two sets of familiar M twin exhaust tailpipes together send out a clear message of absolute performance.

The striking exterior of the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe combines the core values of BMW M with elegance and luxury to create a new and captivating form, and reveals a new and exciting facet of BMW M. The new model sees the BMW Group looking ahead to the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe and BMW M8 Gran Coupe, which will be presented during the course of 2019 and round off the BMW 8 Series family.

Aniruddha Haldar, Vice President, Marketing, TVS Motor Company and U. B Pandey, Head, Sales, TVS Motor Company at the launch of the TVS NTORQ 125 in Kolkata

TVS Motor Company, India’s third largest two-wheeler manufacturer and second largest scooter manufactuer today unveiled its first 125cc scooter, TVS NTORQ 125 in Kolkata at a price of Rs 60,250 (ex-showroom).  Aimed at a young target customer group, TVS NTORQ 125 has been developed based on the TVS Racing pedigree and comes with the state-of-the-art CVTi-REVV 3 Valve engine.  The scooter also marks the launch of an exclusive technology platform – TVS SmartXonnect – making it India’s first connected scooter.

Commenting at the launch event, Aniruddha Haldar, Vice President (Marketing) Commuter Motorcycles, Scooters & Corporate Brand, TVS Motor Company, said, “TVS NTORQ 125 is  sporty, stylish, high performance and a technology loaded scooter.  This scooter has been conceptualized, designed, developed and engineered for the youth. Apart from being a fantastic ride and overall automotive offering, it is also India’s 1st Bluetooth connected scooter. TVS NTORQ 125 has all it takes in form style, performance, features and technology to deliver customer delight to the youth of India.”

TVS NTORQ 125 embodies a sharp, aggressive style with a signature tail and LED tail lamps. The well-placed sharp cuts of the scooter accentuate its appeal, lending it a tapering, sporty look.  Equipped with a sporty stub muffler, an aggressive headlamp cluster and textured floor board, it has diamond cut alloy wheels which make a distinct style statement.

TVS NTORQ 125 is powered by the new generation CVTi-REVV 124.79cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 3-valve, air-cooled SOHC engine that churns out 9.4 PS at 7,500 rpm and 10.5 Nm of peak torque at 5,500 rpm. The additional valve in the engine accentuates the performance of the scooter which boasts of a top speed of 95 kmph and peppy acceleration.

TVS NTORQ 125 premieres the TVS SmartXonnect, an innovative Bluetooth-enabled technology which is paired to an exclusive NTORQ mobile App which can be downloaded from Google play store.  TVS SmartXonnect enables a host of first-in-segment additions to the fully digital speedometer, which boasts of 55 features including navigation assist, top speed recorder, in-built lap-timer, phone-battery strength display, last parked location assist, service reminder, trip meter and multi-ride statistic modes such as Street and Sport.

The ergonomics of TVS NTORQ 125 is developed with focus on comfort and convenience of the rider.  The scooter gets wider 110x80x12 tubeless tyres along with telescopic suspension and least turning radius to facilitate travel across all kinds of terrains.  Features such as pass by switch, dual side steering lock, parking brakes and engine kill switch are focused on creating a fulfilling ride experience.  To facilitate convenience of use, TVS NTORQ 125 comes with external fuel fill, USB charger, large under-seat storage and TVS patented EZ center stand.  The scooter is presently available in Disc variant to ensure maximum rider safety.

Equipped with unique Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs), TVS NTORQ 125 is available in the colour selection of Matte Yellow, Matte Green, Matte Red and Matte White.

(L to R) – Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons, Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors, N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons and Tata Motors and Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors unveiled the spectacular E-Vision Sedan Concept at the Geneva International Motor Show

Celebrating its 20th year at the 88th Geneva International Motor Show, Tata Motors continued its rich tradition of showcasing innovative concepts and offered a glimpse into its future product line-up. The company unveiled three stunning next generation concepts and introduced two completely new vehicle architectures.

Making its premiere in the European markets, the first unveil was the ‘H5X concept’ – a 5-seater premium SUV developed on the new ‘Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced’ Architecture, in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover. The second exciting showcase was the ‘45X concept’ – a premium hatchback, which is an amalgamation of futuristic design, advanced technology, intuitive connectivity and performance. The 45X will be built on the versatile – ‘Agile Light Flexible Advanced’ Architecture, which is capable of developing multiple body types.

(L to R) – Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors, Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons and N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman Tata Sons and Tata Motors at the European Premiere of the H5X concept at the Geneva International Motor Show 2018

The H5X and the 45X concepts are globally benchmarked cars that will create future international business opportunities for Tata Motors. Developed under the new Impact 2.0 design language, these concepts offer dynamic exteriors, luxurious interiors, intuitive features, future ready connectivity and infotainment, meeting the growing aspirations of the customers.

Tata Motors is committed to the Indian Government’s mission of electric mobility. Leapfrogging into the future, fueling the aspirations of electric mobility, Tata Motors marked its 20th year in Geneva with the unveil of its third spectacular ‘InnoVision’ – the E-VISION Sedan, which is an electric concept, for the future connected generation and the best so far from the IMPACT 2.0 design philosophy. Leveraging the strength of the OMEGA architecture, the E-VISION Sedan Concept is built on a modified, dedicated EV architecture – a modular, scalable and flexible architecture to address the range of performance attributes for long-range travel with class defining interiors.

(L to R) – N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman Tata Sons and Tata Motors, Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons, Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors and Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors at the European Premiere of the 45X concept at the Geneva International Motor Show 2018

Speaking proudly at the 88th Geneva International Motors Show, Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD Tata Motors Ltd., said, “It is a matter of great pride to be the only Indian OEM to participate at the Geneva International Motor Show, showcasing Indian automotive engineering capabilities through innovation in design and technology for the last two decades. As we celebrate 20 years of our participation at Geneva, we are proud to showcase three exciting concepts – the E-VISION Sedan, the H5X and the 45X – that represent the changing face of Tata Motors in our journey towards shaping the future of mobility in the country.  The E-VISION Sedan Concept is one of the most definitive and aspirational product by an Indian OEM and will be a game changer, reiterating our commitment to offer world-class design, technology and drive the EV revolution to build a sustainable future.”

Yutaka Yamashita, Managing Director, India Kawasaki Motors at the launch of the new showroom in Kolkata.

India Kawasaki Motors launched their first exclusive brand outlet in Kolkata. Refurbishing Kolkata’s biking culture, the 1,500 square feet brand outlet located in A J C Bose Road was inaugurated by Yutaka Yamashita, Managing Director of India Kawasaki Motors along with other important dignitaries of the company.

With the increase in demand for Superbikes and premium segment in the Indian market and 22 outlets running full-fledged, the Japanese automobile giant plans to open 10 more exclusive brand outlets by March 31, 2018. The Kolkata outlet will have different type of product variant which includes Sports, Sports Adventure, Super Sports, Off Roads and Endurance Bikes. The whole model line-up of Kawasaki including the flagship model of H2, H2 carbon, H2R, H2SX and H2SX will be available at the store.

Super bike market has shown a tremendous growth from the last few years with the variants and new manufacturer coming to the Indian market. According to SIAM the market on an average sells approximately 1,300 units annually. Companies are strategically working to gain momentum in this premium motorcycles market, where quality and price are unidirectional in line with the available international brands. India Kawasaki Motors contributes to the market share of more than 22 per cent of Indian market as compared to the premium segment.

“Kawasaki provides a complete biking lifestyle experience to enthusiasts all over the world. Kolkata is always considered in top 5 most important metro city where the number of bike enthusiast are more. We have already observed the market share of Kolkata has always played a vital role in contributing to our share in PAN India. As a whole Eastern India is always considered an important market in Kawasaki’s contribution, Kawasaki would like to analyse the demand and potential in this market, based on the analysis we will expand looking at dealer feasibility as well”, said Yutaka Yamashita, Managing Director, India Kawasaki Motors.

“Kawasaki is considered as one of the most coveted brands in India. We are extremely delighted to associate ourselves with India Kawasaki Motors. The flagship store will cater to all the needs of Kolkata’s bike enthusiasts. Working with Kawasaki will be an enriching experience that will enable both partners to grow”, said Atul Makharia, Director, Kawasaki Kolkata

“India Kawasaki Motors is at No. 2 position in the Indian market, we would like to explore Indian market and its areas where we can expand with the demand in the market. Currently with the niche market in premium industry we would definitely like to explore if the demand increases. With our expansion plans we will surely be at the top position” added Yamashita.

Hriman Motors LLP, a Delhi-headquartered startup, in a view to enhance India’s growing e-vehicle ecosystem, is working on building a 2-seater electric car with a battery that will never need to be replaced.

The RT90 will offer a 4G Connected IOT platform, with 200 kilometres maximum travel range per charge. A single charge will take about 10 minutes on a fast DC Charger and 1-2 hours on an AC Charger.

Currently the test horse that has been built is undergoing road trials and we can expect to see the car by mid of 2018 in the market.

Another key market that the 2-seater EV will target is the self-drive segment which has not taken off in India due to multiple reasons. Since the EV is a connected platform and can be tracked and managed via a centralised control framework – People coming down from a metro will be able to rent a car, go shopping and then return it at one of the drop points. Among the biggest selling car in China is the “Zhidou D2 EV” selling more than 5,000 units per months and clocking large fleet sales too.

Hriman Motors is working on building a committed ecosystem to unleash the future of mass public transportation. The cost per kilometre for the RT90 will be around 45 paisa (with Air Conditioner) as compared 7 to 10 rupees for fuel based cars.

In 2 years the company is coming up with three products – 2 seater Electric Car, 6 seater Electric City Commuter Bus and a 4 seater Electric Car.

The RT90 is using a state of the art German Electric Drive System with torque exceeding 90 Nm and a maximum speed of 70 kmph.

The RT90 will be reasonably priced and the team at Hriman Motors is working towards building an Aluminum Trellis Frame chassis with ABS and FRP panels. The Trellis frame will extend to the roof too, offering safety to the passengers just in case the car turns turtle.

The RT Transporter Bus, built in the same chassis too will be offered with a robust drive system and a solid aluminum frame all around the passenger cabin.

The RT Transporter Bus will be a 5+1 seater and run at 50 paise per km with AC. The RT Transporter Bus will offer safety, comfort, convenience, security and above all will be the ultimate upgrade to the e-rickshaws we see on the roads today.

Commenting on the development, Founder of Hriman Motors Dr Rushen Chahal stated, “Our goal is to build a safe, vehicle using the best of the technologies available in the market today. We are planning for the 5 years ahead and we expecting a huge jump in acceptability of the Electric Vehicles in India as have been the case in China. The government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the charging infra is available to the consumers and the smart cities project of the government has a provision of 100 plus charging stations in each city. These will be in addition to the community charging stations and personal charging facilities.”

Last year’s champions Sheikh Ajgar Ali and Mohammed Musthafa successfully defended their title at the Biswa Bangla JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 6, emerging victorious over Kolkata duo Subir Roy and Nirav Mehta separating the two teams by merely five penalty points. The five-day rally, India’s only tri-nation TSD (Time, Speed, Distance) rally, took 24 competitors across Nepal, North Bengal and Bhutan over 1650 kilometres and through challenging terrain to culminate at Darjeeling on Tuesday, February 27.

The competition remained close right from day 1 with the defending champions Ajgar and Musthafa leading from start to finish over the course of the five legs. Subir and Nirav put up a brave fight and could have clinched the crown had their luck played out differently. Unfortunately, two legs of the rally- Leg 2 and 3 – staged in Nepal were cancelled due to technical problems arising out of rallying through different time zones.

In the Open category, the team of Gagan Sethi and Dhiraj Arrora maintained their lead right from the first day and emerged champions with a cumulative score of 1,493 penalty points. The team of Govind Dalmia and Anand Agarwala from Siliguri finished a distant second with a cumulative score of 5,849 penalty points. Pranjal More and Milindo Paul, also from Siliguri, were in third position at the end of the rally with 7,006 penalty points. In the SUV category, Amit Dhanotia and Anuragh Agarwala emerged as the winners with 9,461 penalty points, while in the ‘Above 1300 cc category’, Pranai Rai and Nanki Kharki from Kalimpong were declared the winners with 11,124 penalty points. Another Kalimpong team comprising Bimal Kumar Poudel and Rajendra Gaire went home with top honours in the Under 1300 cc category with 64,064 penalty points.

The rally was flagged off from Siliguri in North Bengal jointly by Siliguri Police Commissioner Sunil Kumar Choudhury and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Inspector General Srikumar Bandopadhyay on February 23. Hundreds lined up at the flag-off venue with police and SSB brass and pipe bands playing different and popular tunes. The rallyists drove through Matigara-Kurseong Road, Khaprail Bazar and Panihati before reaching the vast dry bed of the Manja river, a tributary of Teesta river. They then drove through Naxalbari (which incubated the infamous ultra-left Naxal movement) to enter Nepal at Kakarbhitta.

The first leg of the rally took the competitors through dirt and dust tracks inside tea gardens and through lush forests. They also traversed through narrow village roads. At Kakarbitta, HD6 participants were accorded a warm welcome by the Nepal Automotive Sports Association (NASA). The rallyists then drove 466 kilometres on the busy East-West Highway to reach Chitwan for the night halt. Out of the total 521 kilometres that the competitors travelled on Friday, 74 kilometres was in the competitive section.

The second leg of the rally (which was later cancelled) was flagged off from the periphery of the world-famous Chitwan National Park, home to the endangered one-horned rhino, the Royal Bengal Tiger, bisons, elephants and a wide variety of flora and fauna. The second day’s 80 kilometer-long rally route traversed through hills, tropical forests, embankments of the Rapti river and dry beds of the Rapti’s many tributaries.

On the third leg of the rally (which was also cancelled later), the competitors started from the periphery of Chitwan National Park and drove through the Lothar river embankment, down the East-West Highway to enter the Itahari forest for another competitive section that took them over dirt tracks cutting through forests and then a dry river beds. They then entered India through Kakarbhitta and drove through Gajaldoba, which is being promoted by the West Bengal government as a major tourist attraction. The rallyists then crossed Lataguri to reach Murti, located beside the Gorumara National Park, home to rhinos and the white-headed bison. This day’s drive took the rallyists over 609 kilometers and through verdant forests and tea gardens. It was a thrilling drive through many tourist spots.

The fourth leg of the rally on Monday (February 26) got off to a bright start from Murti in the Dooars area of North Bengal on Monday morning and entered Bhutan a few hours later. The rallyists drove through a few dry riverbeds and scenic tea gardens. The 135-odd kilometre rally route included a few dirt tracks too. The competitors initially passed through some dirt tracks in the Gorumara forest and crossed Khunia More to get on to river beds. They drove down roads slicing through tea gardens in Bannarhat and in the vicinity of Binnaguri to get on to the national highway to travel through Alipurduar district, passed the entrance to Jaldapara National Park and Old Hasimara Bazar before entering the next competitive zone that took them through dirt tracks and gravel roads and on to a river bed. The rallyists then passed through the Chuapara Tea Estate and then Bhatpara Tea Estate.

After a sumptuous lunch at the sprawling director’s bungalow of the Bhatpara Tea Estate, the rallyists drove through another competitive section through tea gardens and dirt and gravel tracks before getting on to another river bed, and then driving through embankments and more dirt tracks to get on to another river bed. They then got on to the road to Jaigaon before crossing two more river beds and finally entering Bhutan.

On the final leg of the rally on Tuesday (February 27), the competitors were flagged off from Tashi Namgay Grand Hotel above Phuentsholing in Bhutan in the morning. They crossed into India at Jaigaon and drove past Jaldapara National Park, which is home to Royal Bengal Tigers, one-horned rhinos, bisons and elephants, the Binnaguri army cantonment and to Murti, from where the competitive zone started. The competitors then hit the hills and passed through Samsing, Gorubathan, Lava and the charming hill station of Kalimpong where they had lunch and then continued through the steep, tea bush-covered hills of Peshoke to reach Darjeeling in the evening through Jorebungalow. They covered nearly 250 kilometres, of which the competitive section covered 180 kilometeres.

The scenic and iconic Mall in Darjeeling provided the perfect setting to the prize distribution ceremony of the rally. Hundreds of local people and tourists gathered at the open venue where prizes were handed over to the winners in various categories by local dignitaries. Darjeeling district police chief Akhilesh Chaturvedi gave away the trophies and cheques of Rs 1,00,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively to Himalayan Drive 6 champions Sheikh Ajgar Ali and Mohammed Musthafa and runners-up Subir Roy and Nirav Mehta. Superintendent of Police (Operations) Amarnath gave away the trophies and a cheque of Rs 25,000 to the team of Captain Vijaykumar Sharma and Chandan Sen who finished third in the National category with 290 penalty points. The winners and runners-up in the Open category also got cash awards of Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

A galaxy of local dignitaries, including Nima Dorjee Sherpa who summitted Mount Everest eight times, Darjeeling additional district magistrate Pushpendu Mitra, and chairmen of various ingenious development boards, also handed over prizes to winners in the other categories.

The title clash in the National Category at the Biswa Bangla Himalayan Drive 6 has gone down the wire with defending champions Ajgar Ali and Mohammed Musthafa leading the rally by a whisker with 149 penalty points at the end of the fourth leg. Keeping them on their toes are the duo of Subir Roy and Nirav Mehta who are in the second position with 152 penalty points. The team of Captain Vijayshankar Sharma and Calcutta lad Chandan Sen have cemented their position in the third spot with 357 penalty points at the end of the penultimate leg of HD6.

In the Open Category, the team of Gagan Sethi and Dhiraj Arrora has consolidated their lead with 1,398 penalty points. While the teams of Pranjal More with Milindo Paul and Govind Dalmia with Anand Agarwala have scored 5,985 and 7,228 penalty points to occupy the second and third position respectively at the end of the fourth leg of HD6.

Today, the fifth and final leg of Himalayan Drive 6 was flagged off from Phuentsholing in Bhutan. The competitors traversed through thick forests and river beds in the Dooars regions before driving past lush green tea gardens to culminate the rally in The Queen of the Hills – Darjeeling.

The prize distribution ceremony will be held in Darjeeling at 11 am on Wednesday, February 28.

The fourth leg of the Biswa Banga JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 6, India’s only TSD (Time, Speed, Distance) Rally, got off to a bright start from Murti in the Dooars area of North Bengal on Monday morning and entered Bhutan a few hours later. The rallyists drove through a few dry riverbeds and scenic tea gardens. The 135-odd kilometer rally route included a few dirt tracks too.

Defending champions Ajgar Ali and Mohammad Musthafa maintained their lead at the end of the third leg (on Sunday, February 25), picking up just 14 penalty points to notch a final score of 99. The Subir Roy-Nirav Mehta duo, who were just one penalty point behind the lead team at the start of the third leg, slipped a little by picking up 18 penalty points. But with a total score of 104 penalty points – just five penalty points behind the defending champions – the championship is still very open. Captain Vijaykumar Sharma and Chandan Sen were lagging behind at third position with 259 penalty points.

In the local category, media professionals Gagan Sethi and Dhiraj Arrora maintained their lead and picked up 72 penalty points in the third leg, finishing Sunday with 772 penalty points. They were followed in a very distant second position by Pranjal More and Milindo Paul with a total score of 3,730 penalty points. Govind Dalmia and Anand Agarwala finished the third leg in third position with a total of 4,580 penalty points.

On Monday, the competitors initially passed through some dirt tracks in the periphery of the Chilapatha forest and crossed Khunia More to get on to river beds. They drove down roads slicing through tea gardens in Bannarhat and in the vicinity of Binnaguri to get on to the national highway to travel through Alipurduar district, passed the entrance to Jaldapara National Park and Old Hasimara Bazar before entering the next competitive zone that took them through dirt tracks and gravel roads and on to a river bed. The rallyists then passed through the Chuapara Tea Estate and then Bhatpara Tea Estate.

After a sumptuous lunch at the sprawling director’s bungalow of the Bhatpara Tea Estate, the rallyists drove through another competitive section through tea gardens and dirt and gravel tracks before getting on to another river bed, and then driving through embankments and more dirt tracks to get on to another river bed. They then got on to the road to Jaigaon before crossing two more river beds and finally entering Bhutan.