The sixth edition of Monsoon Drive, one of eastern India’s most coveted TSD (time-speed-distance) rallies, culminated on Sunday evening with Calcutta duo Subir Roy and Nirav Mehta winning the prestigious motor sports event with 65 penalty points making it their sixth consecutive win in 2017. The team of Uday Ganguly and Amit Kumar Saha finished second with 80 penalty points, followed closely by rally veteran Jogendra Jaiswal and Nagarajan Thangaraj in the third position with 83 penalty points.

There was a grand prize distribution ceremony and a musical show at the seaside destination of Digha on Sunday evening. The ceremony was graced by Tamluk Lok Sabha MP Dibyendu Adhikary and other dignitaries.

Monsoon Drive 6 was flagged off at Country Roads, a popular weekend retreat nestled in the lap of nature at Panchla in Howrah district on Sunday morning. Competitors drove down to the industrial town of Haldia in the first leg of the rally and got a restart from the Haldia helipad. They were flagged off for the second leg by Chairperson of Haldia Municipality Shyamal Adak, Indian Oil Corporation Executive Director C.K. Tiwari and Haldia Dock Complex General Manager Amal Dutta.

In this leg, the competitors navigated through Haldia town and narrow rural roads before hitting dirt tracks that took them through idyllic rural Bengal. The tracks cut through lush green paddy fields and fish ponds as well as villages dotted with mud huts, and presented a tough challenge to the competitors. This leg traversed through 30 kilometres of challenging dirt roads and 15 kilometres of village roads.

Dibyendu Adhikary observed that the ‘safe driving’ objective of the rally is in perfect sync with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Safe Drive Save Life’ mission. “This rally will encourage youths of this part of Bengal to take up motorsports,” he said.

“We are absolutely thrilled to win this rally. We have had podium finishes at many rallies organised by Just Sportz, but this is the first time we are in the first position,” said Nirav Mehta. The Monsoon Drive 6 is the sixth consecutive win for Subir and Nirav, who have won very prestigious rallies like ‘Dakshin Dare’ and the ‘Taj Agra Rally’ in recent months this year. “We have been participating in all Just Sportz rallies like the Himalayan Drive and the Monsoon Drive and we have had podium finishes, but this is the first time we have come first. We have broken the jinx,” he added.

Significantly, Monsoon Drive also witnessed participation from renowned rallyists from other parts of the country as well. “I look forward to participating in Monsoon Drive because of the new challenges it poses ever year and also because this rally is so well organized,” said Mohammed Musthafa, a top-ranking navigator from Erode in Tamil Nadu who has many national wins under his belt.

There were also five novice teams. Of them, the team of Soumyajyoti Das (driver) and Bijoy Mazumdar (navigator)–both first-time rallyists–scored the minimum penalty points and emerged in first position. “It has been an awesome experience. There are many things I learnt and I shall be participating in more rallies from now on,” said an ecstatic Soumyajyoti.

Tollywood’s reigning superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee ceremonially flagged off Eastern India’s most coveted TSD (Time-Speed-Distance) Rally from the Acropolis Mall in Kolkata on Saturday evening in the presence of West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Director General Sri Jagmohan.

The 250 kilometre rally will start from Country Roads at Panchla in Howrah district at 7.30 am on Sunday and traverse through rural and dirt roads in Howrah and East Midnapore districts to conclude at the popular seaside retreat of Digha at around 3 pm. The prize distribution ceremony, to be graced by Tamluk Lok Sabha MP Dibyendu Adhikary, is scheduled to be held at Digha at 8 pm on Sunday.

Prosenjit-starrer ‘Yeti Abhijaan’, an adventure-thriller slated for a Puja release, is the prime partner of the rally. Prosenjit, who plays the role of the amiable detective ‘Kakababu’ in the film, said at the flag-off ceremony: “The character of Kakababu is adventurous by nature and the association with Monsoon Drive 6, an adventure motorsport event, emphasizes the true grit and character of Bengal’s quintessential detective.” He wished the organisers and competitors of Monsoon Drive 6 all the best and hoped that Kakababu’s return to the silver screen will be a great success.

Sri Jagmohan, referring to the ‘SAFE DRIVE SAVE LIFE’ campaign promoted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said: “TSD Car Rallies promote safe driving skills and habits among competitors and this goes in a long way in preventing accidents and casualties on the roads”. He thanked the organisers for adopting ‘SAFE DRIVE SAVE LIFE’ as the motto of the rally.

As many as 28 drivers and their navigator partners from all across the country are participating in this Rally, which is going to test their driving as well as navigation skills. Some of the top contenders expected to be in the title hunt will be in reigning national champions Sk. Ajgar Ali and Md. Musthafa (winners of Desert Storm 2017), Subir Roy and Nirav Mehta (winners of Dakshin Dare),veteran rallyists Jogendra Jaiswal, Sandip Mukherjee , Sumit Mukherjee as well as champion navigators from South India Prakash Muthuswamy and Nagarajan Thangaraj  are participating in the prestigious rally.

The first 5 editions of Monsoon Drive held in 2012 , 2013, 2014 ,2015 and 2016 were huge successes. These events have gone a long way in popularizing TSD Rallying in the Eastern Region. The 250 kilometer-long rally through the dirt terrain landscapes of Howrah and Purba Medinipur districts can be very tricky and is a Navigator’s challenge. It is expected to be a challenging event that will test man and machine to the maximum. It is also to be noted that the Government of West Bengal, especially the Police Administrations of Kolkata, Howrah Rural and Purba Medinipur have provided enthusiastic support to this Rally.

Caterham has unveiled the new, limited edition Seven SuperSprint at this weekend’s Goodwood Revival as part of its 60th-anniversary celebrations.

Reflecting the anniversary, 60 SuperSprints destined for the UK and European markets go on sale today, completing the pair of special models that have topped and tailed the anniversary year. The similarly retro Seven Sprint was launched at the same event 12 months ago, with all 60 cars sold within a week, quickly becoming the fastest selling Caterham Seven to date.

Offering the ultimate in gentleman racer style, alongside the hearty power of its 95bhp Caterham Works Racing-tuned, three cylinder engine, the Seven SuperSprint is as at home on the road as it is on the circuit.

A unique Brooklands windscreen, quilted and stitched seats trimmed in Innes tan Scottish Muirhead leather, a wooden-rimmed sports steering wheel, and 1960s-style racing livery ensures that the driving experience is nothing short of sepia-toned race nostalgia.

The Seven SuperSprint is available in six paint schemes, all featuring their own signature colour and named after classic race circuits including Aintree (green with orange noseband), Hockenheim (silver with red noseband) and Imola (red with white noseband).

With 1960’s race style front of mind, Caterham has also created a single-seater option, which comes complete with a tonneau cover for the more serious pilot looking to strip out as much weight as possible.

Graham Macdonald, Caterham Chief Executive Officer, said: “Motorsport and the purist thrill of driving a lightweight race car is in the Caterham Seven’s DNA and are elements that run like a thread through every car we build today, 60 years after the first Seven was made.

“We started our 60th anniversary year with the glorious throwback Sprint – aimed at the more discerning chap or lady driver. As we approach the end of our year of celebration, it makes perfect sense that the car bookending the celebrations is a racer of a similar vein.”

Simon Lambert, Chief Motorsport and Technical Officer, added: “Like the Sprint, this is unquestionably the Seven Caterham would have developed if we had been here in the mid-sixties – and it benefits from being injected with the passion and power of the modern incarnation. The visual appeal of our new baby is only outclassed by a driving experience that puts you straight behind the goggles of Stirling Moss and Innes Ireland.”

The BMW Group has chosen IAA Cars 2017 in Frankfurt to present the modern racing essence of a MINI – in the form of the MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept. Inspired by the carmaker’s legendary triumphs in the Monte Carlo Rally exactly 50 years ago, this design study embodies undiluted dynamic flair and the ultimate in driving fun – on both the race track and the road. The concept car picks up the baton from the 2012 MINI John Cooper Works GP and 2006 MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit. Produced in strictly limited numbers (2,000 examples worldwide for each), these two models explored the outer limits of their performance capability at the time.

“The MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept is all about the unfettered feeling of driving and levels of performance found in motor sport competition,” says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad. “This is driving fun in its purest form.”

Significantly wider than the current MINI, the design study exudes dynamism and power. Large front and rear aprons, side skirts and a prominent roof spoiler create a confident appearance. The use of lightweight materials such as carbon fibre optimises the car’s power-to-weight ratio whilst evenly balanced weight distribution ensures MINI’s signature go-kart handling.

“If you know about MINI, you’ll be aware of the brand’s long and successful history in motor sport,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “The MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept brings together the full suite of defining MINI design features and showcases them at their sportiest and most exciting. What we’re looking at here is maximum performance, maximum MINI.”

Large air intakes and precisely moulded air deflectors dominate the front end, which cuts a low-to-the-road figure. Crisply cut add-on elements frame the smooth MINI silhouette and highlight the track focus of the MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept when viewed head-on. The space between the main body of the front end and the air deflectors further strengthens the car’s presence. The exterior is finished in Black Jack Anthracite paint – which shimmers between grey and black– and the accent colour is Curbside Red metallic (a matt red shade). Curbside Red metallic provides a fresh take on the classic John Cooper Works red and visually accentuates the optimised geometry of the performance and add-on parts.

At the centre of the front end, distinctive MINI design cues such as the elliptical headlights and hexagonal radiator grille sharpen the car’s identity. Elements such as the powerdome, including the prominent air scoop in the bonnet, hexagonal honeycomb radiator grille and air intakes in the front apron intensify the car’s sporty appearance. Further colour accents in Highspeed Orange enhance the visual impact of the headlights and air intake.

The lower edge of the large front apron reach down close to the road, while the car’s wide track and prominently flared wheel arches promise top-level handling and high cornering speeds. Another technical highlight is the front apron’s all-carbon-fibre construction, which reduces the car’s weight. The carbon matting is now directly visible and presented with a high-gloss paint finish with a red hexagon graphic.

In keeping with MINI design language, the narrowing windows and rising shoulderline creates a wedge shape from the side and gives the car the appearance of powering forward even before it turns a wheel. Lower down, voluminous surfaces fuse into a muscular body and endow the flanks with agility and dynamism. The car number 0059 references the year the classic Mini was born: 1959.

Carbon-fibre side skirts provide the body with its lowest edge. 19-inch Racetrack lightweight wheels in a classic multi-spoke design underline the design study’s performance aspirations. Contrasts in Curbside Red metallic – together with the Highspeed Orange on the inside of the rims – and the GP logo bring extra verve to the wheel design. Elsewhere, Curbside Red metallic and Highspeed Orange provide highlights to the exterior mirror bases and door handles respectively.

Surfaces on the rear are bordered by precisely formed air-channelling elements and the positioning of the LED rear lights on the outside underscores the car’s dynamic focus. Sophisticated touches, such as the half-Union Jack on each side, represent a nod to the concept car’s British origins, while also providing a sporty, technical flourish. The prominent roof spoiler is a visual statement of intent and slots cleanly into the geometry of the side elements.

Like the front end and flanks, the lower section of the car has a precise and dynamic design. Carbon-fibre air vents and air deflectors are in optimum positions, and the two rain lights at the outer edges at the rear improve visibility in wet races. The distinctive central twin tailpipes low down at the rear embody the John Cooper Works DNA to eye-catching effect.

The interior of the MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept is pared back to its core elements with its roll cage joined on board by little more than a pair of low-mounted bucket seats with five-point belts and a cleanly-designed instrument panel. Gearshift is by paddles on the steering wheel.

All the elements of the interior are focused directly on the driver. The display and control concept with digital instrument cluster and Head-Up Display places relevant information directly in the driver’s eye-line, allowing absolute focus on the road to be maintained. Interaction between driver and car is otherwise digital, including touch-control adjustment of suspension settings in MINI’s familiar central instrument. It is left to the large emergency cut-off button and the traditional MINI toggle switches with start/stop button to provide a bridge between the digital and analogue worlds.

A rear seat bench, headliner and conventional door trim panels are conspicuous by their absence, sacrificed in the interests of minimising weight. Instead, the surfaces between the elements of the roll cage and the rear compartment are trimmed in lightweight panels with textured details and a hexagonal pattern. This creates a transition between the unadorned rear and more design-rich front cabin. The doors are opened using recessed grips with fabric straps, leaving the driver and passenger to climb out through the roll cage in typical racing car style.

The interior combines its pared-back sporting forms with eye-catching elements and bold colour accents. The result is a face-off between the less familiar aesthetic of a racing-car bodyshell and the exclusivity of high-quality production-car appointments. Against the backdrop of the white basic space, black, patinated smooth leather on the head restraints and bolsters provides a neat contrast with the back-and-white knitted textile in the central section of the seats. A new 3D knitting technique provides a classy and modern feel, while red accents make a visual statement. The aluminium roll cage stands apart clearly from the black 3D-printed parts in the doors and instrument panel, and a lightly-structured trim element with hexagonal graphic reinforces the sporty, modern look. Curbside Red metallic adds a colour accent to selected functional components and Highspeed Orange acts as a complementary colour on the belt straps, inscriptions and the stitching of the steering wheel and seats.

With 3D printing and 3D knitting techniques, MINI is bringing technologies to the interior of the concept car which will enable both tool-free production and simple personalisation in the future.

The character of the MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept is defined by a motorsport heritage which stretches back over more than five decades. Indeed, the classic Mini was transformed by legendary sports car designer John Cooper into a byword for driving fun on the road and an extraordinarily successful competitor on the racetrack and rally scene. A motorsport career which began exactly 50 years ago included three overall victories in the Monte Carlo Rally. Today, the John Cooper Works name is synonymous with products and models where quality is rooted in established motorsport know-how and an association with the British premium small car which dates back to 1959.

B. N Pandey (centre), Zonal Head, Sonalika ITL  and Munish Kumar (right), Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Sonalika ITL at Sonalika International Press Conference in Kolkata

India’s youngest and the third largest tractor brand, Sonalika International Tractors Ltd, emerges a leader in > 50 HP category by selling 254 tractors during April- July. In West Bengal, Sonalika ITL registered a strong growth in volumes of 1278 units and increase in market share to 17.2 per cent from April to July this year as against 1084 units with a market share of 16.2 per cent for the same period last year.

In the eastern region, the company has recorded volume growth of 18 per cent which is more than the industry this year till date. Sonalika ITL holds the second position among the tractor brands in West Bengal in April- July. The company also registered as the number one tractor manufacturing company in > 50 HP segment category for the month of June. As per the data released by TMA – an authorised body of India Tractor Manufacturing Companies.

Munish Kumar, Senior Vice- President, Marketing & Sales, Sonalika ITL, said: “West Bengal is an important market in the east for Sonalika ITL, owing to the state being a largely agricultural economy with 96 per cent of the 7.23 lakh farm families being marginal and small farmers. Customer-centricity is at the core of what we do and we strive to provide highest quality products to our farmers in India and globally, adept to needs of agriculture community.

To further empower the rural youth and farmers, we have set up a skill center in West Bengal. This center provides agriculture related skills such as technological advancement in farming, farm mechanization etc. along with running various awareness programs for farmers.”

Sonalika has a vast dealer network of 900+ dealers across India accompanied with one of the largest stockiest network of 300+ stockiest in India. In the eastern region, the company have 10 district level stockiest.

Recently, Sonalika ITL inaugurated an integrated tractor manufacturing plant in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. The plant is spread across an area of more than 85 acres and is fully equipped to manufacture 3 lakh units with a roll out time of around 2 minutes. Given its scale and production capacity, the Japan major, Yanmar has partnered with Sonalika and will gets its global tractors manufactured in this plant.

The Skoda Karoq is a sport utility vehicle with character: its emotional and dynamic design with numerous crystalline elements showcases Skoda’s new design language. The compact SUV measures 4,382 mm in length, 1,841 mm in width and 1,605 mm in height. The long wheelbase of 2,638 millimetres guarantees plenty of room for passengers. The boot has a volume of 521 litres with the rear seats in the default position. Folding the rear seats forward increases the boot capacity to 1,630 litres. Skoda has incorporated several ‘Simply Clever’ ideas into the new compact SUV including the virtual pedal, which opens the boot hands-free and the optional VarioFlex back seats. In combination with the VarioFlex rear seat, the storage space is flexible and holds between 479 and 588 litres. The VarioFlex system consists of three separate rear seats that can be individually adjusted and completely removed – the compact SUV is then converted into a van with a maximum load volume of 1,810 litres.

The Skoda Karoq is the most digitalised vehicle in Skoda’s model range. This is the first time a fully customisable digital instrument panel has been offered in a Skoda. The displays can be personalised and are linked to the infotainment system. The vehicle’s extensive network ensures a comfortable and safe ride for driver and passengers alike. All connectivity solutions serve to improve the flow of information, and enhance the entertainment and safety. The Skoda Karoq offers the latest infotainment systems. All capacitive touch displays feature Skoda’s characteristic glass design. Skoda Karoq passengers are always online thanks to the LTE module and WLAN hotspot, to which each passenger’s mobile device can connect.

The new mobile online services of Skoda Connect are divided into two categories: the Infotainment Online services provide the information and navigation; the Care Connect services provide assistance in breakdowns and emergencies. For example, the emergency call feature automatically calls for assistance in the event of an accident. Additional online services are available on the Skoda Connect app, enabling users to remotely check, configure and find the car via their smartphone.

Intelligent networking between car and smartphone reaches a new level in the Skoda Karoq. The phone box with inductive charging links the smartphone to the roof antenna and simultaneously charges it wirelessly.

The Skoda Karoq also offers new driver assistance systems. Among others, Park Assist, Lane Assist and the traffic jam assistant enhance driving comfort. Blind Spot Detect, Front Assist with innovative pedestrian protection and the emergency assistant increase safety on the road. The compact SUV offers a comfortable light concept with full-LED headlights and rear lights, as well as ambient lighting for the interior.

Five engine variants are available, including two petrol engines and three diesel engines with outputs ranging from 85 kW (115 hp) to 140 kW (190 hp). Both petrol engines and two of the diesels are new to the programme. The displacement capacities are 1.0, 1.5, 1.6 and 2.0 litres. With the exception of the most powerful diesel, all powertrains can be ordered with a manual 6-speed gearbox or 7-speed DSG. The 2.0 TDI with 140 kW (190 hp) comes as standard with 4×4 drive and 7-speed DSG. The new 1.5 TSI offers cylinder deactivation.

The Skoda Karoq chassis sets new standards in its segment, demonstrating its quality even off the beaten track. From the Ambition equipment line up, driving profile selection with the modes Normal, Sport, Eco, Individual and Snow (4×4) is available on request.

Honda is set to unveil its CR-V Hybrid Prototype at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, previewing the brand’s first- ever electrified SUV powertrain available in Europe. The Hybrid Prototype also features revised styling that previews the forthcoming European specification CR-V model range.

The CR-V Hybrid Prototype represents the first time that the all-new CR-V has been shown at a European motor show. It retains the familiar silhouette of the world’s best-selling SUV, with an evolutionary design that is sophisticated and sporty. Wider, taller and longer than the previous version, the Hybrid Prototype of the new CR-V has fresh exterior styling, with a wider stance through the broader, muscular wheel arches.

The new SUV achieves a balance of elegance and athleticism, with thinner A-pillars that increase the shoulder volume of the car, but also a larger wheel and tyre combination. Sharper contours are present on the bonnet and rear quarters, and the nose incorporates the latest Honda family ‘face’ with its signature headlight graphic.

The two-motor i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) system in the CR-V Hybrid Prototype comprises an electric propulsion motor, a 2.0-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder Atkinson cycle gasoline engine for electrical energy generation and propulsion, and a separate electric generator motor. The hybrid system does not need a conventional transmission, fitted instead with a single fixed-gear ratio that creates a direct connection between moving components, enabling a smooth transfer of torque within the system.

The i-MMD system determines how to use fuel and electrical energy in the most efficient way, meaning there is no requirement on the driver to adjust between the three driving modes; EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive.

In EV Drive, the propulsion motor draws its power solely from the batteries, delivering zero-emissions driving. In Hybrid Drive, the gasoline engine supplies power to the electric generator motor, which in turn delivers power to the electric propulsion motor. In this mode, excess power from the gasoline engine is diverted back via the generator motor to recharge the battery pack. In Engine Drive, the wheels are directly driven by the gasoline engine, with an ‘on-demand’ peak power ‘boost’ available from the electric propulsion motor.

In most urban driving situations, the vehicle will move between Hybrid Drive and EV Drive for optimum efficiency. Engine Drive is engaged as needed for brisk acceleration and for efficient highway driving.

The 2018 CR-V will also be specified with Honda’s 1.5 litre VTEC Turbo petrol engine, with a choice of either 6-speed manual or continuously variable ‘CVT’ transmission. All-new CR-V will not feature a diesel powertrain in European markets.

More details about the all-new Honda CR-V for Europe will be confirmed when the production specification vehicle is unveiled early next year. The new SUV will be officially launched in European markets in 2018.

Another chapter in Nissan’s performance car success story has begun, with the arrival of the upgraded 370Z MY18.

The enhancements create a contemporary new finish to the coupe’s classic design. Upgrades include black door handles and a black rear bumper fascia. Dark-tinted headlamps and rear combination lights – previously only available on the NISMO model – are now standard.

MY18 gains a new distinctive 19-inch alloy wheels and a stunning new Red Metallic exterior body colour is available (not on NISMO grade).

Nissan has partnered with respected performance brand EXEDY to integrate a new high-performance clutch into manual versions of the 370Z MY18. Perfecting the downshift, this reduces driver pedal effort and delivers even greater levels of gear change precision and comfort.

The NissanConnect Premium infotainment system, featuring a seven-inch touch-screen, sat-nav, DVD player and rear-view camera, is standard on GT grade as well as the 370Z NISMO.

The 370Z MY18 retains all the features which have helped it become a highly desirable choice for performance car enthusiasts. Power comes from a 3.7-litre 328 PS V6, driving the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic transmission. The 370Z NISMO remain on sale without the MY18 upgrades.

Optimum weight distribution and a refined suspension combine to deliver outstanding ride quality and dynamic handling for enthusiastic drivers. The 370Z remains the only car in the segment to offer Syncro Rev Control – the world’s first fully synchronised down/up shift rev control system on a manual transmission.

Nissan’s Z-car success story began in 1969 – almost 50 years ago – with the launch of the Fairlady Z / Datsun 240Z. Five generations of successors have remained true to its spirit of high performance, timeless design and affordability.

Each model – from the original through the 280ZX and 300ZX, to the reborn 350Z and today’s 370Z – can be recognised by its distinctive long bonnet and short rear overhang.

The classic Z-car interior is always dominated by a simple three-spoke steering wheel and three circular gauges.

Ryan Gains, Chief Marketing Manager, C-Segment and Sports Cars, Nissan Europe, commented: “For nearly half a century, Nissan’s Z-car series has built a cult following with sports car fans with a passion for performance and quality. The Nissan 370Z MY18 remains true to this legacy, further elevating driving dynamics and classic design to new levels.”

Alfa Romeo is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legendary 33 Stradale, a model renowned for its blend of cutting-edge technology, racing mechanics and beauty.

Designed by Franco Scaglione, the 33 Stradale was first debuted on 31 August 1967, on the eve of the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Monza.

A true example of the Italian marque’s values, the 33 Stradale combines timeless beauty with technology derived from the Tipo 33, Alfa Romeo’s legendary race cars. The 33 Stradale is also adorned with the iconic Quadrifoglio, the four-leaf clover badge first used by racing driver Ugo Sivocci in 1923 and now as a modern day mark of best-in-class performance technology, as demonstrated in the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Alfa Romeo is commemorating the 33 Stradale and the 33 project of racing cars with a special exhibition at the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese, Milan. Alongside a prototype 33 Stradale, the display includes five of the six concept cars derived from the 33 chassis, including Carabo, Iguana, 33/2 Speciale, Cuneo and Navajo. Also on display are the 33/2 Daytona, 33/3, 33 TT12 and 33 SC12 turbo racing cars.

The exhibition at the Museo Storico is open to visitors from 31 August during Museum opening hours. It is the first in a programme of events run by Alfa Romeo, the Museo Storico and FCA Heritage, the department dedicated to promoting the historic legacy of FCA’s Italian brands, to celebrate the 33 Stradale’s 50th anniversary.

Swedish premium car maker Volvo Cars will bring a new standard of safety and user experience to the small premium SUV segment with the launch of the new Volvo XC40 this autumn.

Developed around the challenges of modern city life, the XC40 aims to make the daily urban commute less stressful and more enjoyable, because drivers in the segment can now rely on the award-winning safety, connectivity and infotainment technologies known from Volvo’s acclaimed new 90- and 60 series cars.

“The XC40 is our first car in this rapidly growing segment and has a clear focus on navigating today’s hectic city environments. Building on Volvo’s heritage as the leader in safety, the new XC40 will offer the best possible safety standards combined with an easy-to-use interface and convenient connected services,” said Hakan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive of Volvo Cars.

The XC40 is Volvo’s first car on its new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), and includes a range of technologies introduced in its 90- and 60 series siblings, which are based on Volvo’s larger Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).

Volvo’s approach to safety and user experience builds on a philosophy it calls the Circle of Life: a constant improvement of standards and technologies, based on consumer insights and real-life data.

Safety and driver-assistance features offered on the XC40 include Volvo’s semi-autonomous Pilot Assist system, the latest generation of City Safety, Run-off Road Protection and Mitigation, Cross Traffic Alert with auto brake, and the 360 degree camera that helps drivers manoeuvre their car into tight parking spaces. These and other technologies make the XC40 one of the best-equipped small premium SUVs.

“Modern city life presents complex challenges for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. With the XC40, we aim to reduce the so-called cognitive load on the driver. While our safety and driver-assistance systems actively identify and mitigate potential conflicts, you as a driver can relax more and therefore enjoy city driving,” said Malin Ekholm, Vice President Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

While the starting point for each new Volvo is the most advanced safety and driver-assistance systems, the new XC40 also benefits from the high levels of safety and infotainment found in its larger stablemates.

“We built a confident, easy-to-use and convenient everyday user experience based on real-life interaction and research, starting from our foundation of leading safety. The XC40 is a car for a generation of consumers that expect full connectivity. All the screens have been optimised for a safe, easy and efficient interaction, to support active city driving,” said Odgard Andersson, Vice President Vehicle Software & Electronics at Volvo Cars.

“Like the larger XC60 and XC90 SUVs, the XC40 features Volvo’s connected Sensus infotainment system, centred around the now familiar large, portrait-oriented touch screen. Easy to use and intuitive, the Sensus interface allows drivers to access a host of functions and services,” concluded Andersson.