Motor Sports Association of Eastern India (MSAEI) in association with Calcutta Motor Sports Club (CMSC), India’s first ever motor sports club, will organise the Haldia Speed Fest 2018 on Sunday, April 8, 2018. This 2 Wheeler Supercross and 4 Wheeler Autocross motor sporting event will be held at Cals Ground, Tetulberia, Haldia.

Any enthusiast having a regular 2W/4W driving license and passion for riding/driving can participate in this event. A stock motorbike/car can be used for participating in this event without any hazard. But all competing motorcycles/cars must be electrically and mechanically in perfect running condition and the competitors must comply with some safety equipment requirements.

Speed and thrill is always enjoyed by people who love to ride/drive. A Supercross/Autocross opens up the opportunity for common people to taste the thrill of motor sports in a safe and controlled environment instead of risky driving behaviour on the roads. Nearly 100 participants are expected to lock horns for the top honours including former national champion Suhail Ahmed.

Much anticipated 2018 Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm was flagged off from The Great India Place Noida mall today amidst much fanfare.

In its 16th edition, the rally is set to explore new terrains, covering a total distance of 2300 kms. The rallyists will be navigating through Rajasthan’s picturesque landscape over a span of six days, traversing through Bikaner and finally concluding in Jaisalmer on March 23, to announce the champions. The highlight being the longest night leg covering a distance of 160 kms in Jaisalmer.

This year marks the highest participation of over 250 motorsport enthusiasts in the history of Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm. Participating across four categories – XTreme, NDure, Xplore and Moto, the rallyists will be challenging the terrains of Thar Desert with temperatures as high as 40°C. These extreme conditions will prove to be the ultimate test of vehicles and the mental and physical capabilities of the participants.

Announcing the 16th edition of Desert Storm, Sanjeev Handa, Vice President, Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, “In order to connect with the youth of India, Maruti Suzuki keeps the thrill and adventure alive in participants and audience through pioneering motorsport rallies. Considered as the perfect blend of thrill, beauty and cars, Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm has been the most anticipated rally set in the dunes. Each year, we try and bring in more excitement and challenges to raise the bar higher. The longest night leg and 70% of new tracks in the overall rally route is our answer to ‘what’s new?’.”

The rally will see 6 times champion Suresh Rana representing Team Maruti Suzuki Motorsport in the Xtreme category battling for the title again with over 50 tough competitors. Vitara Brezza and S Cross is also set to make its debut in the Xtreme category, CS Santosh, R Nataraj are betting big in the Moto category, along with another 48 bikers.

A strong women contingent is also a part of Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm with over 12 women participating across categories, with presence of renowned rallyists like Aishwarya Pissay, Shuchi Thakur over others.

The journey begins tomorrow with rally moving to Bikaner for Leg 1.

Strengthening its outreach to the emerging Tier II and Tier III cities, India’s largest luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz India, announced the launch of its unique customer centric programme – ‘Mercedes-Benz Brand Tour’.

Brand Tour focuses on reaching out to regions with potential customers who have always aspired to own a Mercedes-Benz, but have not had the chance to experience the brand due to an absence of a showroom in their city. The Brand Tour aims at engaging with customers by offering a brand experience such as test-drives, off-roading, and showcasing the entire product portfolio, along with providing Mercedes-Benz Certified, Customer Service and flexible financial services.

A uniquely curated brand experience, Brand Tour acts as a brick and mortar showroom for potential customers, enabling them to witness the Three Pointed Star experience. Mercedes-Benz commenced the Brand Tour by travelling to Aurangabad, Udaipur and Allahabad and will travel to 11 more cities including Haldwani, Ranchi, Arunachal, Shimla, Thirunalveli, Vizag, Gandhinagar. Vapi, South Goa, Kannur and Shimoga.

Speaking on the occasion, Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-
Benz India said, “India’s growth has given a major economic boost to its Tier II and III
markets and with this growing economy, we now have an expanded customer base
and favourable wealth distribution in the country. Mercedes-Benz is known for its
customer centric approach, and Brand Tour is one such concept, which helps us,
creating a stronghold in the largely untapped Tier II and III emerging markets. With
Brand Tour we aim to unlock the market potential of smaller cities while providing
customers easy access to the unique and renowned Mercedes-Benz experience. We
are confident that the initiative will help the brand expand its footprint and penetrate
deeper into the Indian market.”

This initiative aims to enhance awareness, brand recall while connecting with
consumers at an interpersonal level. The locations of Brand Tour are selected
strategically based on demand and growing fondness for luxury brands in India’s
emerging cities. Brand Tour will have all the elements of a regular showroom such as
branding and audio-visuals, which will intrigue consumer interest at the venue. The
customers will be able to enjoy the thrill of off-roading and experience key features
and capabilities of Mercedes-Benz SUVs. They will also experience the pre-safe
features of Mercedes-Benz sedans – C-Class and E-Class. Customers can engross
themselves through special Mercedes-Benz applications, schemes, merchandise and
F&B available at the venue. Potential buyers can also test-drive cars, make enquiries
on service packages and make bookings on the spot.

McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the bespoke division of McLaren Automotive, is extending its Sports Series offering with the 570GT MSO Black Collection. Featuring new MSO Bespoke Carbon Black exterior paint, as well as an MSO Defined Titanium SuperSports Exhaust and Sport Pack dynamic handling package to further amplify its sporty character, the collection is limited to only 100 examples globally. Priced at £179,950 in the UK, the car promises to be a true collectable and offers enhanced driving thrills and a wealth of unique MSO content.

The exterior of the vehicle is finished in Carbon Black, a striking and extremely deep colour, developed specifically by McLaren Special Operations. The stealth theme extends to the MSO Defined Black Pack replacing standard-fit Dark Palladium components including front and rear splitters, side skirts and air intakes with black. Completing the look are the 5 Twin-Spoke Lightweight Forged Wheels with a new Gloss Black Diamond Wheel Finish shed with Pirelli P Zero Corsa Tyres and Black Brake Calipers with Carbon Ceramic Brakes.

The luxuriously-appointed interior of the McLaren 570GT is further enhanced with new MSO Black Collection Trim, which includes a unique combination of Jet Black Leather with Carbon Black Alcantara accents on the centre tunnel, lower instrument panel, headliner, steering wheel and speaker surrounds. The Electric and Heated Memory Sports Seats are wrapped in Semi-Aniline Leather featuring unique MSO logo embroidery on the headrests. The high attention to detail continues with an MSO Defined Ignition Key painted in Carbon Black and a bespoke Dedication Plate located under the centre console. A Panoramic Roof incorporating a UV-filtering black privacy tint glass is standard and can be upgraded at additional cost to the MSO Defined Electrochromic Panoramic Roof that was recently introduced to the MSO Defined range for the 570GT only. The electrochromic roof – a cost option at point of vehicle purchase – allows customers to select their preference from five different degrees of tint using electrochromic ‘smart glass’ technology.

The McLaren Sports Series is renowned for delivering a thrilling driving experience and the 570GT MSO Black Collection continues this tradition. The car features carbon-ceramic discs combined with the new dynamic Sport Pack, which gives customers sharper dynamic settings of the 570S Coupe and Spider. Increasing the drama even further is the MSO Defined Titanium SuperSports Exhaust with Nano Black finisher, which reduces the weight of the vehicle by five kilograms and provides a crisper exhaust tone which is 5dB louder than in the standard system. The 570GT MSO Black Collection also includes the GT Upgrade Pack comprising Vehicle Lift, Rear View Camera, Power Adjust Steering Column and the ground-breaking 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Audio System.

Rob Melville, Design Director at McLaren Automotive commented: “McLaren Special Operations allows our customers to fully express themselves through their cars; and the new 570GT MSO Black Collection is no different. Black is a colour associated with elegance, power and authority whilst also surrounded by a certain air of mystery. The end result remains true to the luxurious nature of the 570GT but we managed to further amplify its sleek, sporty character with a wealth of new MSO Defined options which I am sure will delight discerning owners.”

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.