Polestar, the performance brand of Volvo Cars, has unveiled the Model Year 2018 Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar, complete with additional aerodynamic components made from lightweight carbon fibre material that increase downforce by 30 per cent for improved performance and handling. A limited number of 1,500 vehicles will be produced, with all cars receiving a unique number on the tread plate.

The new aerodynamic exterior package has been developed jointly by the engineers of Polestar and Cyan Racing, the motorsport partner of Polestar, with data and learnings derived from the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) programme where the team is involved in the title fight.

The aerodynamic enhancements include a new front splitter, side sills and a rear spoiler extension, all made in lightweight carbon fibre, increasing the downforce by 30 per cent. The new components increase grip and high-speed stability, providing a car with the duality of being at ease in everyday driving as well as providing the driver with further control and feedback on an inspiring stretch of road or during an evasive manoeuvre for example.

Many of these components were developed and tested during Polestar Cyan Racing’s recently-revealed secret Nurburgring test where a Polestar S60 claimed the record for the fastest four-door road legal car around the infamous Nordschleife circuit.

Other visual changes include high-gloss black Polestar diamond cut wheels, carbon fibre door mirror casings and a new colour; Bursting Blue Metallic. The interior has been updated with a new seat upholstery, blue contrast stitching and Polestar embroidering.

More than 250 components have been changed compared to the ‘standard’ Volvo model to create a car with all the usability and practicality of the Volvo S60 and V60, but also delivering all-year round sports car performance. Key component changes include the adjustable Ohlins shock absorber system and six-piston Brembo brake callipers with 371 millimetre discs.

The S60 and V60 Polestar retains the award-winning 367-hp Drive-E engine, one of the most powerful four-cylinder production engines in the world, with fuel consumption and emissions at a class-leading level of 7,8 l/100 km and 179 CO2 g/km.

“The Model Year 18 S60 and V60 Polestar models are the pinnacle of our road car programmes that we have been developing successfully since our first road car was launched in 2013,” said Jörgen Ronstad, Vice President, Product Strategy & Management at Polestar.

“The aerodynamic enhancements, combined with other small but important changes, further enhances our base philosophy of a performance car for all roads and conditions, transferring technology and learnings from track to road.”

A milestone production anniversary: over eighty years ago Volkswagen was founded. Since then, 150 million vehicles, including icons such as the Golf or the Beetle, have been built around the world at over 50 production sites in 14 countries. The brand’s current product portfolio includes over 60 models worldwide. Volkswagen moves people – across the globe. On Friday, August 25, the anniversary car, a blue Golf GTE, rolled off the assembly line in Wolfsburg. The plug-in hybrid is a symbol of the future of mobility at Volkswagen – and at the same time, it is testimony to a powerful team performance.

Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, addressed the team in Assembly Hall 12: “150 million vehicles – that means we have made the dream of owning a car come true 150 million times for customers all over the world. You and your day-to-day work are the basis for this success. My colleagues on the Board of Management join me in thanking all Volkswagen employees – at all our sites. This anniversary would not have been possible without your commitment.”

In 2017 alone, Volkswagen is launching over 10 new models worldwide. There will be 19 new SUVs in total by 2020. The I.D. family with the new electric architecture (MEB) then marks the start of the Volkswagen brand’s electric offensive from 2020. One million electric Volkswagens are to hit the road by 2025. Technological digitalisation, increasing connectivity and sensor technology bring entirely new perspectives. “In the present phase, it is vital that Volkswagen continues to develop successfully. Because we are a strong team, we get the job done, and we have a good plan for the future. We must consistently work on our performance in order to remain successful. Past success is no guarantee for the future”, Diess went on to say.

Chairman of the Volkswagen Group and General Works Council, Bernd Osterloh, commented: “150 million vehicles – that is a truly incredible number. It is 150 million Volkswagens that have taken their drivers hundreds of thousands of kilometers, commuting to work, enjoying leisure time, going on vacation, or traveling on business. This anniversary proves our colleagues have done a splendid job for generations. Here at Volkswagen, we build top-quality cars. And we will continue to do so in future. Our workforce has every reason to be proud of that.”

The series production of the Volkswagen brand began on December 27, 1945 with the Type 1 Kafer. In the post-war era, it was the Volkswagen Beetle that initially shaped the automobile industry. All in all, 21.5 million of this much-loved small car were built before production finally came to an end in Mexico in 2003.

The Volkswagen Golf topped the Beetle record. The 25 millionth Volkswagen Golf left the assembly line in Wolfsburg in 2007, by 2013 the number had already risen to 30 million. Today, Volkswagen produces the bestselling Golf in the seventh generation and has already built more than 34 million worldwide. For decades, the Golf has been the yardstick in the compact segment.

The Volkswagen brand’s product portfolio currently includes more than 60 models worldwide. Apart from the Beetle and the Golf, more than 20 million Passat, some 19.5 million Jetta and almost 17 million Polo have been produced.

The workforce at the main plant in Wolfsburg in particular has made a key contribution to today’s anniversary, building over 44 million vehicles since production began some 72 years ago.

As part of the biggest model offensive in its history, Volkswagen is extending its model range by adding a compact-class crossover: the T-Roc. The new crossover from Volkswagen brings fresh impetus to the compact SUV class. It offers a scope for personalisation, innovative digitalisation, great connectivity, leading driver assistance systems, dynamic engines and above all modern, expressive design. A car that is just as much at home in the city as it is on rough terrain.

Dr Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management, said at the world premiere in Italy: “The T-Roc sets a new benchmark in the booming SUV segment. With its functionality, dynamic handling and technology, the T-Roc embodies all good Volkswagen qualities. It marks a milestone in our SUV offensive.”

The SUV market is booming – especially in the compact segment. Experts estimate that the segment will almost double in size over the next decade. It is for this reason that Volkswagen is bringing in another attractive model in the compact SUV space, below the Tiguan: the T-Roc. With its package of features it should appeal to customers of every age, from young singles to empty nesters. With its sporty modern design, it stands for a new emotive Volkswagen style and thus sets a new course within the model range.

Snappy, sporty dimensions outside, great functionality inside – that’s the new T-Roc. The optionally front-wheel or all-wheel drive all-rounder combines the aplomb of an SUV with the agility of a sporty compact model. And it does indeed rock the segment – in varying ways depending on specification and above all colour combination. For the T-Roc is the first Volkswagen SUV that will be available to order in two-tone paintwork with visually contrasting roof section (including the A-pillars and exterior mirror housings).

Numerous design elements define the new five-seater’s style: at the front it is the wide radiator grille unit with integrated dual headlights and the repositioned light signature, which make the T-Roc unmistakable even at night. The lines of the elongated silhouette are on the other hand characterised by a particularly striking chrome element that runs from the A-pillars across the complete side roof line all the way into the C-pillar and is reminiscent in form of a coupe. The off-road look is enhanced by all-round, dark plastic trim, which protects the bodywork around the wheel arches and side sills, as well as the vehicle’s front and rear.

The interior has been adapted to the exterior design. It has a robust SUV feel and modern treatment of surfaces. The interplay between the Active Info Display and the specific infotainment system creates a new, digital and interactive cockpit. Via smartphone and Volkswagen Car Net it is possible to use a wide spectrum of online services and apps and to integrate the telephone and/or media library. Another feature being offered by Volkswagen in the new T-Roc is the “Security & Service” package (including Emergency Service, Automatic Accident Notification and Roadside Assistance).

The new T-Roc is positioned within the segment below the Tiguan and like the latter and the Atlas/Teramont is based on the modular transverse matrix (MQB). If all five seats are occupied, luggage space when loaded up to the top edge of the rear seat backrests totals 445 litres. The backrests can also be folded down in a 60/40 split, yielding luggage capacity of up to 1,290 litres. Hardly any other SUV in this class offers such a spacious package.

Even the ‘T-Roc’ base version comes with high-tech systems such as Front Assist area monitoring with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and the lane keeping system Lane Assist. Also part of the base specification are details such as air conditioning, the Composition Colour infotainment system, LED tail light cluster, visual underbody guard (black) and LED daytime running lights in the bumper.

Volkswagen will be offering the new crossover based on the ‘T-Roc’ specification version. In addition, two higher lines on a par with each other, ‘Sport’ and ‘Style’, are available in parallel for maximum personalisation of the T-Roc. While the T-Roc ‘Style’ is characterised by exclusive touches such as the interior’s decorative panels available in a choice of four colours, the focus in the case of the T-Roc ‘Sport’ is on sporty features such as the standard sport comfort seats.

In its market segment, the T-Roc is in a league of its own when it comes to its driver assistance systems. Standard features on all T-Roc vehicles include: the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, the active lane keeping system Lane Assist and the Front Assist area monitoring system with Pedestrian Monitoring and City Emergency Braking. The SUV can optionally be configured with ten further driver assistance systems. These include adaptive cruise control (ACC), Rear View reversing camera, the lane change system including Rear Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Monitor, lane keeping system Lane Assist, Park Assist including manoeuvring brake function, Traffic Jam Assist and Emergency Assist. The T-Roc can be adapted to the driver’s personal preferences via a range of further assistance systems that is exceptionally large for this vehicle class. In addition to adaptive chassis control DCC and progressive steering, these include electric operation of the rear hatch and starting system Keyless Access.

Like the larger Tiguan, the new T-Roc too is being offered with efficient turbocharged engines: three petrol engines (TSI) and three diesels (TDI). They are being offered partly with front-wheel drive and manual gearbox, partly with front-wheel drive, 4Motion all-wheel drive (including 4Motion Active Control as standard) and the dual clutch gearbox (7-speed DSG).

The I.D. Buzz concept car from Volkswagen is being further developed in preparation for its launch as a production vehicle. The Chairmen of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brands, Dr Herbert Diess and Dr Eckhard Scholz, announced their production decision today at the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California, a unique show for both extraordinary historic cars and new concept vehicles.

“Just the right place for the I.D. BUZZ,” explains Diess. “The vehicle is an important pillar in Volkswagen’s electric drive initiative and carries the Microbus driving feeling into the future.”

Within the framework of its further development activities, Volkswagen has also set a launch date for the I.D. Buzz, which will arrive at dealerships after the compact four-door I.D. model in 2022. Volkswagen is mainly targeting the markets in North America, Europe and China with both the I.D. Buzz and the I.D. family overall.

“After the presentations at the global motor shows in Detroit and Geneva, we received a large number of letters and emails from customers who said, ‘please build this car'”, Volkswagen CEO Dr Herbert Diess reported in Pebble Beach. It’s also no coincidence that the Board of Management chose Pebble Beach as the location to make its announcement, as Diess explained: “The Microbus, which is what the Bulli is called in America, has always been part of the California lifestyle. Now we’re bringing it back by developing Volkswagen’s next e-generation and by reinventing the Bulli as an electric vehicle.”

As was the case with the “Show Car of the Year” in Detroit, the production model will also have its batteries mounted in the vehicle floor. The electric drive doesn’t take up much space, which means the front and rear axles can be mounted very far apart from one another. This results in a long wheelbase and short overhangs, which makes for more space in the interior. “The vehicle therefore looks like a short compact van on the outside, even as it offers the generous interior space of a large van”, Diess explained. The result is a superior package that offers both the driver and passengers plenty of room for a comfortable journey.

Those who wish to use the model to transport cargo will get what they need as well: “Along with a minibus version, we’ll also be offering an I.D. BUZZ Cargo variant for zero-emission delivery operations in a Level 3 vehicle that boasts a high degree of automated driving capability”, said Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles CEO Dr Eckhard Scholz. “It’s an ideal electric van concept, particularly for inner cities.”

Ben Pon, whose family are very successful importers of Volkswagen vehicles in the Netherlands, also expressed great interest in the I.D. BUZZ in California. It was Pon’s father who inspired the development of the first VW Bulli (T1) with a sketch he made more than 70 years ago.

Although Volkswagen’s oldest and newest, very evocatively designed MPV will be separated by more than seven decades when the new model is launched, the I.D. Buzz has the original’s genes, as it offers maximum utilisation of space on the footprint of a midsize passenger car.

With a length of 4,942 mm, a width of 1,976 mm and a height of 1,963 mm, the concept car offers extraordinary space dimensions. The production version, which is based on the new all-electric architecture, will incorporate many design ideas from the concept car. It will also feature variable seating, interactive connectivity and highly automated driving.

Expansion of the electric vehicle range is part of Volkswagen’s Strategy 2025, which foresees more than 30 all-electric models by that time.

This 1954 XK120 SE by Pininfarina could be the rarest Jaguar ever.

After a full nut and bolt restoration taking 6,725 hours by specialists Classic Motor Cars (CMC), the wraps came off this unique Pininfarina bodied 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, USA.

The car was well received by the crowd of collectors and aficionados gathered at the event and finished second in class O-2 Postwar Closed. Peter Neumark, Chairman of the Employee Ownership Trust that runs CMC, said: “A great result! It was a privilege to take the cover off this long-lost Jaguar at one of the most important Concours in the world.”

He added: “The car was admired all day and we are delighted to be bringing a trophy home as a further testimony to the skills, dedication and attention to detail that we have in our business.”

This XK120 features unique bodywork by famed Italian coachbuilder and design house Pininfarina. It was first delivered to a Max Hoffman in 1954, who was an Austrian-born, New York-based importer of luxury European automobiles into the United States during the 1950s.

He was a petrol-head who inspired the production and refinement of several vehicles from the main manufacturers, which earned him entry into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2003. It is believed that Hoffman inspired Pininfarina to reinterpret the shapes of the XK and then unveiled it at the 1955 Geneva Motor Show.

After the unveiling in Geneva, the XK appeared at the Autocar Show later in April that year and Australian magazine Modern Motor reported that it was due to be exhibited at the Turin Motor Show in 1956, but never arrived due to the owner wanting to take delivery of it.

David Barzilay, Chairman of CMC’s operating board, said: “There is little trace of the car’s history, but we are certain that Hoffman was the supplying dealer, then first owner of the car and that there was only one XK120 by Pininfarina produced, which makes this one of the rarest Jaguars in existence.”

In 2015, CMC purchased the car from a German gentleman who bought it in the USA in 1978 with the intention of restoring it. Unfortunately, he never got round to it and eventually decided to sell. CMC took on the challenge and have restored every nut and bolt of the vehicle.

The team of specialists faced a number of challenges during the restoration, from finding the original paint colour to remaking the bumpers and rear window screen.

Barzilay said: “Some of the original parts were impossible to find so we had to remake items such as the bumpers and chrome work by hand from photographs. We had to scan the front and rear end of the car and make mock ups of the lights, which were then scanned and 3D printed. Smaller missing parts were also 3D printed in-house.

The rear window was missing so we also had to scan the window aperture and have a new rear screen made from the scan data.”

During the pre-restoration inspection it was found that Pininfarina had used the original XK body as a basis, and that, at some point in its life, the car was painted Burgundy and had the seats covered with tan leather.

Barzilay said: “There were no signs of the original paint colour and it all came down to the last nut and bolt. When the front screen was removed, we discovered a small section of original paint and used it as a colour match.”

He added: “The interior trim door cards were missing, along with the carpets and the original colour of the trim, but we discovered a small sample of original Ochre tan leather when we stripped the car down. This was colour matched and the original type and colour leather was used to recreate the interior. The shape and pattern of the door cards was created by looking at similar Pininfarina designed cars from the period.”

Restoration specification:

• Full body restoration including complete new front end, new rear quarter panels, inner arch panels, boot floor, sills and door skins
• Full chassis repair and repaint
• Front and rear bumpers remade
• 80% of the original chrome work remade
• Rear screen and screen surround remade
• Full interior re-trim
• Full engine and gearbox rebuild [Engine spec: XK 120 3.4 SE (C-Type Head) straight-6, Double SU H6 carburettor, 180 bhp (134 kW; 182 PS) at 5300 rpm]
• Suspension components refurbished
• Completed to original Jaguar equipment specification

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Quartet

One of the most enduring creative partnerships in the automotive industry reached another milestone today. First with the global debut of the Vanquish Zagato Volante, followed by confirmation that not only will the Vanquish Zagato Speedster enter production, but it will be joined by a spectacular Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake.

This ‘family’ of four Vanquish Zagato models will yield a total of 325 cars. As the first member of the family, production of the Vanquish Zagato Coupes commenced in late 2016. Next to enter production was the Vanquish Zagato Volante. Once again strictly limited to 99 cars (all of which have been sold), production has commenced and deliveries will be completed through 2018.

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster

Of the two remaining models, the Vanquish Zagato Speedster is the rarest, with a production run of just 28 cars. As you would expect from one of the most collectible and covetable Aston Martins ever, all 28 Vanquish Zagato Speedsters have been sold with deliveries scheduled for 2018. Completing the quartet, the Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake will also enter production in 2018, with a total build run of 99 cars matching those of the Coupe and Volante.

With all four cars based upon the Vanquish S, each Zagato enjoys the combination of 600 PS naturally-aspirated V12 mated to the smooth, slick-shifting Touchtronic III transmission. Together with adaptive damping – fine-tuned for each model – the Vanquish Zagato family promises exceptional driving pleasure that is every bit as stimulating and memorable as their design.

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster

The Speedster and Shooting Brake represent the two extremes of the Vanquish Zagato family. The former is an uncompromising roofless design that expresses the raw excitement of an open-top ultra-high performance sports car. The boldest aspect of the Speedster’s design is the Speed Humps that rise up to form streamlined cowls that flow back from the seats, representing Zagato’s signature ‘double-bubble’ roof. All the body panels are made from carbon fibre (like the other cars in the Vanquish Zagato family), while shared details, such as the Aston Martin Vulcan-inspired ‘Blade’ tail lights and repeated 3D Zagato ‘Z’ motifs in the front grille and rear vent meshes, create an unbroken stylistic thread that connects these otherwise individual creations.

The Shooting Brake is still a strict two-seater, but one conceived as an individual and exceptionally practical GT. The extended roof on the concept sketch bears the iconic Zagato ‘double-bubble’ surfacing complete with glass inlays to let light flood into the cockpit. The sculptural roof culminates in a powered tailgate that opens onto a luxuriously trimmed rear cabin area, complete with a tailored luggage set. With dramatic herringbone carbon fibre facia with anodised bronze rotary controls, extensive ‘Z’ motif quilting and the option of a fully aniline leather upholstery, the Shooting Brake is a fitting complement to the Coupe, Volante and Speedster.

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake

Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman, said of the Vanquish Zagato family: “We haven’t released Zagato models as a family before, at least not in this way, but the idea is not without precedent. Think back to the DB7 Zagato and DB AR1, or the V8 Zagato Coupe and Volante, for example. We’ve simply taken things a few steps further. Why create a family of Zagatos? Well, many of our customers want different things. Some prefer the purity of a Coupe, but others love the idea of something more extreme, like the Speedster. And yes, some of them have ordered one example of each. There’s always an over-demand from our clients and patrons. We could easily fulfill demand for more cars than this, but we want Zagato to remain something very special. We’re creating collectibles, future concours cars. With only 325 cars worldwide, divided between 99 Coupes, 99 Volantes, 28 Speedsters and 99 Shooting Brakes – they are still the rarest of the rare.”

Andrea Zagato, CEO of Zagato said of the enduring creative partnership: “Zagato’s relationship with Aston Martin began with my grandfather and the DB4 GT Zagato, almost sixty years ago. To have a creative ‘marriage‘ thrive for three generations is something as unique as the cars themselves. My family name is associated with all kinds of wonderful designs, but for many enthusiasts and collectors around the world those that combine the Z of Zagato with the wings of Aston Martin are the most special. Collaborating closely on the design of four complimentary, yet completely different Vanquish Zagatos has been an incredibly exciting challenge. I’m proud to continue the story my grandfather started and thrilled that our partnership with Aston Martin continues to realise such exciting cars.”

With the presentation of the new T-Roc in seven days’ time, Volkswagen will be introducing a new model that is set to make waves in the compact SUV class: the all-new crossover model boasts crisp proportions, a progressive design and a wealth of innovations.

In urban traffic or on long trips, the new T-Roc combines the effortless superiority of an SUV with the agility of a sporty, compact model. Both of these attributes are also reflected in the design, which adopts off-road features and infuses these with dynamism and urban appeal. At the same time, the T-Roc remains clearly recognisable as a Volkswagen. A style-defining feature in the front is the wide radiator grille with integrated dual headlights. Separate from the headlights, the housings for turn indicators and daytime running/cornering lights are positioned in the bumper, together with the light signature which provides the T-Roc with a distinctive appearance at night, too.

The new-look Honda Jazz has been revealed ahead of the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. As well as updates to the exterior styling and interior trim, the new Jazz will also be available with a 130 PS (96 kW) 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine for the first time in Europe.

Exterior changes align the Jazz with the latest Honda family style, incorporating the ‘Solid Wing Face’ headlight signature and grille. The front bumper is sharply sculpted, with more aggressive contours around the air vents. At the rear, shallower grille sections are linked by a gloss black trim strip above a trapezoid lower section. Updates to the exterior are rounded off by the addition of metallic Skyride Blue as a new colour option.

Honda’s 130 PS petrol engine combines high output with low fuel consumption, and complies with stringent Euro 6 emissions standards. It achieves fuel economy of 52.3 mpg and CO2 emissions from 124 g/km with the optional CVT automatic transmission. The CVT system itself has been revised to deliver a more linear and refined response under acceleration.

The 130 PS petrol engine is offered as part of a new Dynamic grade, which adds a thinner front splitter beneath the lower grille, and triple-strake diffuser to the rear bumper – both finished with a sporty red accent line. Dynamic grade also includes LED headlights, front fog lamps, side sill skirts, a tailgate spoiler and gloss-black 185/55 R16 alloy wheels. The interior features a unique pinstripe pattern on the upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, all of which are enhanced by orange stitching.

The new Honda Jazz retains the exceptional versatility of the previous model, including boot space of 354 litres (up to 897 litres with the rear seats folded down) and passenger space that is unrivalled in the class. Honda’s highly practical 60:40-split Magic Seat system allows for numerous cargo configurations, with a maximum interior loading length of 2,480 mm and maximum loading height of 1,280 mm.

Standard equipment on the Jazz includes cruise control, automatic headlights and the City-Brake Active safety system. Higher grades feature a 7-inch Honda Connect infotainment system, rear-view parking camera, keyless entry and start, as well as advanced safety technologies such as Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Traffic Sign Recognition.

A 102 PS 1.3 i-VTEC petrol engine will continue to be available across all Jazz trim levels, apart from the new Sport grade.

The new-look Honda Jazz will be available to order from November across Europe, with deliveries starting in early 2018.

Just ahead of its India debut on 21st August, Mercedes-AMG’s latest
sportscar for Indian customers, created the ‘fastest ever lap’ by any production car at India’s famed F1 circuit, the Buddh International Circuit. The lap timing set at 2 minutes and 09:853 seconds is the fastest lap timing by any production car on the circuit. The speed test was conducted by FMSCI and the AMG GT R was driven on the track by AMG Driver Christian Hohenadel.

Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India: “We are highly thrilled
with the accomplishment of the ‘Beast of the Green Hell’, which spearheads Mercedes-AMG’s model range globally. The Mercedes-AMG GT R which has spent a large portion of its development time at the Green Hell of the Nürburgring has proven its racing mettle at our very own Buddh International Circuit. It is only fitting that ahead of its India debut, the Mercedes-AMG GT R, holds the title of clocking the fastest lap ever by a production car in India. Mercedes-Benz has a formidable presence in the racing and motorsports arena, and this strong lineage is present in our vehicle design and technology, both in performance and aesthetics. The AMG GT R is an embodiment of Mercedes-AMG’s global expertise in creating a sports car that every performance enthusiast around the world, would like to own and experience every day.”

Akbar Ebrahim, President FMSCI , commented, “The FMSCI is happy to have been
part of this record attempt by Mercedes-Benz India . Our Technical delegate Raj Kapoor supervised the entire test and is happy to note that a new lap record has been created at the Buddh International Circuit by a production car, the Mercedes–AMG GT R. The FMSCI congratulated Mercedes-Benz India on this achievement and wishes them the very best in the introduction of this sports car in the Indian market.”

Numerous innovations and modifications bear witness that the road-going sports car has
racing DNA in its blood. The foundations for such exceptional driving dynamics come courtesy of the front mid-engine layout with transaxle, a 430 kW (585 hp) V8 biturbo engine, extensively modified suspension, sophisticated aerodynamics, active rear-axle steering, bespoke tyres and intelligent lightweight design.

In the true spirit of Independence Day, Triumph Motorcycles India and Smile Foundation have come together to support the cause of Girl Child Education. Continuing with the Triumph tradition of getting riders together for a good cause to commemorate this national event, Triumph is organising the ‘Ride for Freedom’ on August 15, across 14 cities in India.

The iconic British bike maker is reaching out to its 4000-strong customer base and beyond to get participants to donate towards Smile Foundation’s good work in the area of primary education. In the past too, Triumph has successfully sponsored the education of more than 200 girl children across communities. The number is set to grow manifolds.

Vimal Sumbly, Managing Director, Triumph Motorcycles India will himself be leading the ride in one of the cities – “I firmly believe that true freedom comes from education. And in a country like ours, where the female population is often disregarded, it is imperative we create opportunities for young growing girl children to learn, grown and evolve. I am certain that this year too, like every year, Triumph enthusiasts will support us and this cause.”

Smile Foundation is known for its exemplary work towards healthcare and education for children, livelihood and empowerment for women. It directly benefits over 400,000 children and their families every year. Its efforts also aid more than 200 live welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood women empowerment projects, in over 950 remote villages and slums across 25 Indian states.

Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder and Executive Trustee Smile Foundation said, “We immensely appreciate the efforts taken by brand Triumph in continuing to dedicate their valuable time, resources and energy to help us with our work and thankful to share our vision and to raise awareness on this issues.”

The “Ride for Freedom” will be flagged off and end at Triumph dealerships across cities.