Jeep India has introduced Jeep Wave Exclusive, a premium customer experience program that ensures a hassle-free and enhanced ownership experience by offering a range of services. The new program comes with the introduction of the new BS6 phase II compliant range and promises to offer a unique and premium experience beyond the showroom and through the customers’ ownership journey.

Jeep Wave Exclusive Program is available to the entire Jeep line-up, and is filled with exclusive benefits to deliver Jeep owners the utmost care and dedicated 24/7 support. The premium customer care program entails 3 years of Jeep Comprehensive Warranty, Jeep Express Service packages starting in 90 mins, Jeep Courtesy Edge & Segment First Customer Contact Programs – Jeep Genius and Jeep Adventure Concierge to help customers gain unparalleled ownership experience.

Commenting on the launch of this premium service program, Mr Nipun J Mahajan, Head of Jeep Brand India, said, “Jeep® Wave Exclusive is our commitment to an excellent and enhanced ownership experience for our Jeep customers. Jeep is a global premium brand, and we want our customers to experience the premium Jeeplife throughout their ownership journey. With the high-quality aggregates and uncompromised build, the Jeep Wave® Exclusive offerings will provide our customers with the peace of mind they expect from the brand.”

Listed below are the details of the Jeep Wave Exclusive initiative:

· 3 years Jeep Comprehensive Warranty that provides hassle-free customer experience covering all the parts with exclusions limited to consumables and wear & tear. This class-leading warranty across the range highlights the confidence Jeep India has in its products and service offerings.

· Jeep Express Service starting at 90 minutes offered for swift action on customer support. The same also assures quality service with time-saving benefits. As an added convenience, customers can also avail pick-up and drop-off services.

· Jeep Courtesy Edge offers a loaner Jeep SUV / mobility solution if mechanical repairs take longer than 96 hours.

· Jeep Genius Segment first exclusive online service for customers to explore full potential of their Jeep, Brand Capability & Product Features.

· Jeep Adventure Concierge Segment first exclusive offering for Jeep customers for their curated offroad Adventures

Jeep Wave Exclusive program will apply to all existing purchased or leased Jeep Brand vehicles except for the Jeep Comprehensive Warranty which will be available for vehicles purchased from April 1, 2023 onwards.

Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has announced the imminent launch of an all-new SUV for the Indian market that is coming soon.

Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said, “Today, when you think outside, when you think of exploration and travel, you think of an SUV. Hyundai has been one of the forerunners to induce new mobility experiences and we are all set to once again excite customers with an all-new SUV that is coming soon to take you places. As India’s leading smart mobility solutions provider, we are aiming to elevate the wanderlust in customers and democratize the Hyundai SUV life for our most loved customers.”

Built to bring out the explorer in you, this all-new SUV will evoke unfiltered experiences with advanced technology, superior safety & strong performance. This all-new SUV will enable customers with smart mobility experiences that exemplify the pulse of Gen MZ. Think outside is a true characterization of Hyundai’s all-new SUV as it reflects freedom of movement, a theme that is central to Hyundai’s global vision.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars India has announced five-star crash test results for the Virtus under the updated and more stringent Global NCAP testing protocols. The carline has received this safety rating for both adult- and child-occupant protection. The Volkswagen Virtus is now among a handful of cars in India to score a full five-star safety rating for both adult- and child-occupants under GNCAP’s updated crash test protocols. It now proudly joins the Volkswagen Taigun which was the Brand’s first India 2.0 project vehicle to achieve this coveted safety rating.

Commenting on the latest honour for the Volkswagen Virtus, Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said, “Safety, superior build quality, and performance constitute the Volkswagen DNA globally. It is a matter of great pride for the Brand that after the Taigun, the Virtus too has scored a five-star safety rating from Global NCAP. This is undoubtedly one of the biggest milestones for Volkswagen and the rating serves as a remarkable testimony of the Brand’s unwavering commitment to safety and quality standards. With the Taigun as well as the Virtus being awarded five-star ratings for both adult- and child-occupant safety, Volkswagen now offers the safest range of cars, including the global best-seller Tiguan, in the country.”

The Volkswagen Virtus offers 40+ safety features, including up to six airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Park Distance Control, Multi-Collision Brakes, Hill Hold Control, rear-view camera, rear fog lamp, tyre pressure deflation warning, ISOFIX child seat anchorage, and brake disc wiping. This range of safety features is complemented by a robust body which is built on the MQB A0 IN platform.

In July 2022 Global NCAP introduced new testing protocols wherein cars are mandatorily subjected to frontal offset, side mobile barrier, and pole side impact tests. Furthermore, all variants of the car being tested must come equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and pedestrian protection equipment, according to UN requirements, in order to be eligible for a five-star safety rating.

Hyundai Motor Company’s acclaimed IONIQ 6 Electrified Streamliner has won the prestigious World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle, and World Car Design of the Year, lauded by an international jury for its unique aerodynamic design and outstanding all-electric range. World Car Awards revealed the results at a ceremony held at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).

A jury of 100 automotive journalists from 32 countries chose IONIQ 6 from the top three finalists, all launched in 2022. This is Hyundai’s second straight triple honors at the World Car Awards. Last year, the jury named IONIQ 5 the winner in the same categories.

“We are thrilled to receive this prestigious honor two years in a row, which recognizes the tremendous talents and unrelenting efforts of everyone at Hyundai Motor Company to bring EVs like IONIQ 6 to market,” said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. “This honor reinforces our commitment to be a global leader in vehicle electrification and will serve to embolden our efforts as a smart mobility solutions provider.”

“We always want to connect with customers on an emotional level and with the design of the IONIQ 6 we have created truly one of a kind. The daring streamliner styling combines strong emotional appeal with aerodynamic efficiency to give exceptional range,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Global Design Center. “Inside, we set-out to create a personal studio which offers the mindful space and calm functionality which, we believe, elevates EV design.”

IONIQ 6 is the second model in Hyundai’s dedicated all-electric lineup brand, IONIQ. It takes full advantage of a bespoke Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) architecture to offer 800-V, ultra-fast charging capabilities for a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 18 minutes and a spacious interior.

With an ultra-low drag coefficient of just 0.21, IONIQ 6 is one of the most aerodynamic and energy efficient EVs on the market. The Electrified Streamliner’s WLTP rated range on a single charge is 614 km.The standard 2WD model with 18-inch tire achieves WLTP-rated energy consumption of 13.9 kWh/100km.

IONIQ 6’s many features include Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, driver assistance systems and advanced connectivity with over-the-air (OTA) software updates that offer the ultimate in-car experience. The spacious and ergonomic interior takes full advantage of the elongated 2,950 mm wheelbase to provide an array of empowering features, such as Dual Colour Ambient Lighting, Speed Sync Lighting, EV Performance Tune-up and Electric Active Sound Design (e-ASD), to enhance the electric mobility experience.

This year, the World Car Awards jury also named SangYup Lee as the 2023 World Car Person of the Year for his vital contribution to the most stunning and innovative concept and production cars unveiled in 2022, including Hyundai IONIQ 6, the All-new KONA and the N Vision 74 rolling lab.

In addition, IONIQ 6 has won prestigious awards during the past few months as it’s been named ‘Saloon of the Year’ at the 2023 GQ Car Awards and ‘New Car of the Year’ hosted by Le Guide de l’auto. Plus, it achieved a five-star safety rating and ‘Best in Class’ selection in the ‘Large Family Car’ category from Euro NCAP.

The IONIQ brand’s winning this year will help to energize Hyundai Motor’s efforts to accelerate its electrification strategy and become the world’s leading EV maker. Hyundai Motor plans to introduce 17 new BEV models by 2030, including Genesis luxury brand models, and aims to boost annual global BEV sales to 1.87 million units by 2030.

After three legs of thrilling motor sporting action that witnessed the competitors battling it out for top glory, the team of veteran rallyist Jogendra Kumar Jaiswal and co-driver Prakash Muthuswamy emerged victorious in the Pro-National Category at JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 9.

Exactly, four years earlier, at this very event (Himalayan Drive 7), Jaiswal and Muthuswamy narrowly missed out on the championship crown due to a last moment navigating error and had finished second to the team of Sk. Ajgar Ali and Md. Musthafa. But life has come to a full circle for Jaiswal and Muthuswamy as they edged passed the team of Ali and Musthafa at JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 9 to lift the winner’s trophy. If anyone thought motor sports was only for the young and adventurous, 65-year-old Jaiswal has completely debunked that theory and has promised to return next year to defend his championship title.

The ninth edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive supported by Experience Bengal, Government of Sikkim and Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) was flagged off by Honourable Tourism Minister, Government of India, Shri. G. Kishan Reddy from Siliguri’s Mayfair Tea Resort at 9 AM on April 2, 2023. Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, John Barla, Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista, the ambassadors of ten G20 nations, and senior officers of Government of India (GoI) and the West Bengal Government were present at the grand flag-off ceremony.

This edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive was an integral part of the prestigious G20 Tourism Working Group Global (TWG) Meet which was held in North Bengal. Delegates from 29 nations participating in the TWG Meet were also present at the flag-off of the three-day rally that traversed through the Dooars, Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills.

After the ceremonial flag-off, the 28 rally cars sporting the G20 flags and the flags of individual G20 nations participated in a convoy drive across Siliguri city before regrouping at Khaprail in the outskirts of Siliguri from where the competitive section of the first leg of the rally was flagged off. The competitors then drove through the Simulbari Tea Estate before traversing onto Mirik Road, Phulbari Bye Pass, Gajoldoba Barrage, Odlabari, Gorubathan, Damdim and Chalsa before finally culminating in Murti. Competitors covered 208 kilometres in the first leg of the rally and passed through river beds, river embankments, tea gardens and forests.

The second leg of the rally covering a distance of 194 kilometres was flagged off from Murti on Monday, April 3. This leg witnessed competitors pass through scenic tourist sports like Chapramari forest, Samsing, Lava and Pedong before taking to the road to Pakyong airport and then finally culminating at Gangtok.

The third and final leg of the rally covering around 140 kilometres was flagged off from Ganesh Tok in Gangtok by Honourable Minister, Power, Government of Sikkim, Shri M.N. Sherpa, Honourable Minister, PHE, Government of Sikkim, Shri Bhim Hang Subba and Honourable MLA of Soreng, Shri Aditya Golay. After the ceremonial flag-off, the rally cars once again sporting the G20 flags and the flags of the G20 nations took a round of Gangtok city. The competitors then congregated at Chungthang Road in Gangtok from where the competitive section of the third leg of the rally began. The competitors passed through Temi Tea Estate, Namchi, Jorethang and Hill Cart Road before culminating at North Point School. From here the competitors drove through Darjeeling town in a convoy and headed to Gorkha Rangmanch Bhavan.

The three legs of the JK Tyre Himalayan Drive covering a total distance of around 600 kilometres offered the opportunity to competitors to drive on varied terrain. In the first leg, the competitors negotiated through river banks, river embankments, rural roads and dirt tracks along with verdant tea gardens and dense forests. The second leg offered a combination of jungles, tea gardens and mountainous terrain. In the final leg, the competitors traversed through mountain roads along with passing through the picturesque Temi Tea Estate and a thrilling gravel section at the end of the mountain section.

A grand prize distribution ceremony was held at the Darjeeling Mall on Wednesday, April 5. Several dignitaries were present at the prize distribution ceremony which included Mr. Harsh Vardhan Shringla – Chief Coordinator – G20 Secretariat, Mr. Amar Rai – Former Chairman of the Darjeeling Municipality, Mr. Samden Dukpa – Joint Executive Director – GTA along with Mr. Sunny Kumar and Ms. Neha Tiwary from JK Motorsports.

In the Pro-National category, the team of Jogendra Kumar Jaiswal & co-driver Prakash Muthusawmy finished first with 262 penalty points followed by the duo of Sk. Ajgar Ali & Md. Musthafa with 305 penalty points in second position and the team of Santosh Kumar & Nagarajan Thangaraj finishing third with 476 penalty points. The teams of Souradeep Dutta & Sk. Ibrahim Ali and Sk. Anuriddha & Raj Kumar Mundra finished fourth and fifth with 670 and 698 penalty points respectively.

In the Open Class category, the team of Jasmeet Batra & Kashish Mehta emerged first with 2341 penalty points followed by the husband-wife duo of Sameeksha Srivasthava & Pulkit Srivasthava with 2943 penalty points. While the team of Highfill Syiem & Sagar Malappa took the third step on the podium with 3657 penalty points.

In the Promotional Class category, the team of Pranjal More & Milindo Paul finished first with 9294 penalty points followed by the duo of Preeti Khandelwal & Anagha Joshi in second position with 11748 penalty points and the team of Rakesh Goswami & Suraj Choudhury finishing third with 18888 penalty points.

The team of Jasmeet Batra & Kashish Mehta also took home the Best All Lady Team award.

Photograph by Ranadip Mandal

The ninth edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive supported by Experience Bengal, Government of Sikkim and Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) was flagged off by Honourable Tourism Minister, Government of India, Shri. G. Kishan Reddy from Siliguri’s Mayfair Tea Resort at 9 AM on April 2, 2023.

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, John Barla, Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista, the ambassadors of ten G20 nations, and senior officers of Government of India (GoI) and the West Bengal Government were present at the grand flag-off ceremony.

This edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive was an integral part of the prestigious G20 Tourism Working Group Global (TWG) Meet which was held in North Bengal. Delegates from 29 nations participating in the TWG Meet were also present at the flag-off of the three-day rally that traversed through the Dooars, Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills over three days.

After the ceremonial flag-off, the 28 rally cars sporting the G20 flags and the flags of individual G20 nations participated in a convoy drive of Siliguri city before regrouping at Khaprail in the outskirts of Siliguri from where the competitive section of the first leg of the rally was flagged off. The competitors then drove through the Simulbari Tea Estate before traversing onto Mirik Road, Phulbari Bye Pass, Gajoldoba Barrage, Odlabari, Gorubathan, Damdim and Chalsa before finally culminating in Murti. This first leg of the rally covered 208 kilometres and passed through river beds, river embankments, tea gardens and forests.

The second leg of the rally covering 194 kilometres was flagged off from Murti on Monday, April 3. It was a challenging leg that witnessed competitors pass through scenic tourist sports like Chapramari forest, Samsing, Lava and Pedong before taking to the road to Pakyong airport and then finally culminating at Gangtok.

The third and final leg of the rally covering around 140 kilometres was flagged off from Ganesh Tok in Gangtok by Honourable Minister, Power, Government of Sikkim, Shri M.N. Sherpa, Honourable Minister, PHE, Government of Sikkim, Shri Bhim Hang Subba and Honourable MLA of Soreng, Shri Aditya Golay. After the ceremonial flag-off, the rally cars once again sporting the G20 flags and the flags of the G20 nations took a round of Gangtok city. The competitors then congregated at Chungthang Road in Gangtok from where the competitive section of the third leg of the rally began. The competitors passed through Temi Tea Estate, Namchi, Jorethang and Hill Cart Road before culminating at North Point School. From here the competitors drove through Darjeeling town in a convoy and headed to Gorkha Rangmanch Bhavan.

The three legs of the JK Tyre Himalayan Drive covering a total distance of slightly under 600 kilometres offered the opportunity to competitors to drive on varied terrain. In the first leg, the competitors negotiated through river banks, river embankments, rural roads and dirt tracks along with verdant tea gardens and dense forests. The second leg offered a combination of jungles, tea gardens and mountainous terrain. In the final leg, the competitors traversed through mountain roads – both metaled and non-metaled along with passing through the picturesque Temi Tea Estate and a thrilling gravel section on the last leg of the mountain section.

The Prize Distribution Ceremony of the JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 9 will be held on Wednesday, April 5 at Darjeeling where the names of the winners will be announced.

Photographs by Ranadip Mandal

The ninth edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive supported by Experience Bengal, Government of Sikkim and Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) was flagged off by Honourable Tourism Minister, Government of India, Shri. G. Kishan Reddy from Siliguri’s Mayfair Tea Resort at 9 AM on April 2, 2023.

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, John Barla, Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista, the ambassadors of ten G20 nations, and senior officers of Government of India (GoI) and the West Bengal Government were present at the grand flag-off ceremony.

This edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive will be an integral part of the prestigious G20 Tourism Working Group Global (TWG) Meet which is being held in North Bengal now. Delegates from 29 nations participating in the TWG Meet were also present at the flag-off of the three-day rally that will travel to the Dooars, Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills over the next three days.

After the flag-off, the 28 rally vehicles displaying flags of the G20 Meet and G20 nations took a round of Siliguri city before heading to Khaprail and taking the dirt road towards Simulbari tea estate and on to a river bed. The first leg of the rally stretched over 220 kilometres. After crossing Garidhura, Mirik Road and Panighata Road, the competitors headed towards Gajoldoba barrage, crossed popular tourist destinations Gorubathan and Damdim before reaching the final destination of the first leg of HD9 – Murti.

This edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive will also be an integral part of the prestigious G20 Tourism Working Group Global (TWG) Meet which is being held in North Bengal now. Just Sportz Management Pvt. Ltd. an affiliate of Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI) , the national sports federation approved by Govt. of India, will run the JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 9 (HD 9) , a competitive TSD Car Rally from April 2 to April 5, 2023.

Himalayan Drive which has already run eight successful editions in 2013 , 2014 ,2015 , 2016 , 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 with the active support of West Bengal Tourism & other Govt. departments. The premier event has been able to showcase North Bengal as a premier destination for Adventure Sports to the entire nation.

The Rally also draws inspiration from Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal Ms Mamata Banerjee’s vision of Connecting various regions of Bengal & to its neighbours and encouraging People to People Connectivity in the region. Many of the previous editions have also travelled to Bhutan & Nepal making it a Tri-Nation Event. This has been another step in that direction and towards the aspiration of Biswa Bangla – Connecting Bengal To The World.

Though this year HD 9 is unable to travel to the neighbouring countries due to Covid restrictions , the core philosophy of connectivity & showcasing of North Bengal continue to be the core philosophy of the event.

JK Tyre & Industries Limited has been associated with Himalayan Drive as the Title Sponsor since its inception in 2013. According to Mr. Sanjay Sharma, Head –Motorsport – JK Tyre & Industries Limited said “We are really excited about the JK TYRE HIMALAYAN DRIVE 9. T It has been a privilege for JK Tyres to have been associated with event since inception & see it grow into it’s present avatar. Our association with Himalayan Drive has helped identify talent and build a culture of motorsport in the Eastern part of the country”

A total of 28 teams, including two All Ladies teams from all over the country will pit their driving and navigation skills against each other through tough terrains, including dirt tracks, river beds, and narrow and steep mountain roads, in the three-day event.

JK Tyre in their constant endeavour to promote and encourage women to take up to motorsport has given the opportunity to the winners of their annual JK Tyre WIAA Women’s Rally to Valley event which concluded in Nasik last week to experience the thrill of Himalayan Drive. The two winning teams of Parul Shah & Pradnya Chavarka and Preeti Khandelwal and Anagha Joshi from Mumbai have won themselves a sponsored drive and will be taking up the challenge.

According to JustSportz Pvt Ltd Director Mr. Tamal Ghosal, “The first eight Himalayan Drive Rallies have unlocked the great prospect of adventure sports in the Eastern Himalayas. It is fitting that Himalayan Drive has this year become part of a prestigious G20 event on tourism”.

Chairman of the Rally and Director, JustSportz Management Pvt Ltd, Siddhartha Sadhan Bose said: “It is befitting that India’s chairmanship of G20 will be celebrated through Himalayan Drive 9, which will be an event coinciding with the Tourism Working Group Global meet. We are extremely proud that we can showcase the tourism potential of this region to the delegates of the G20 countries and we will be very happy if we get participants from G20 countries to the future editions of Himalayan Drive”.

The second leg will be flagged off from Murti on Monday, April 3 morning. A very challenging route through narrow village roads, riverbeds and tea estates before traversing through the mighty Himalayas for this second leg that will culminate at Gangtok in Sikkim.

In the third and final leg commencing on Tuesday, April 4 morning, competitors will be flagged off from Gangtok and will take to the mountains, driving by steep gorges and verdant forests and popular tourist destinations like Namchi and Jorethang to culminate at Darjeeling.

The prize distribution ceremony will be held at Darjeeling on Wednesday, April 5 morning.

Photograph by Ranadip Mandal

The ninth edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive supported by Experience Bengal, Government of Sikkim and Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) will be flagged off from Siliguri’s Mayfair Tea Resort at 9 AM on April 2, 2023.

This edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive will also be an integral part of the prestigious G20 Tourism Working Group Global (TWG) Meet which is being held in North Bengal now. Just Sportz Management Pvt. Ltd. an affiliate of Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI) , the national sports federation approved by Govt. of India, will run the JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 9 (HD 9) , a competitive TSD Car Rally from April 2 to April 5, 2023.

Himalayan Drive which has already run eight successful editions in 2013 , 2014 ,2015 , 2016 , 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 with the active support of West Bengal Tourism & other Govt. departments. The premier event has been able to showcase North Bengal as a premier destination for Adventure Sports to the entire nation.

The Rally also draws inspiration from Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal Ms Mamata Banerjee’s vision of Connecting various regions of Bengal & to its neighbours and encouraging People to People Connectivity in the region. Many of the previous editions have also travelled to Bhutan & Nepal making it a Tri-Nation Event. This has been another step in that direction and towards the aspiration of Biswa Bangla – Connecting Bengal To The World.

Though this year HD 9 is unable to travel to the neighbouring countries due to Covid restrictions , the core philosophy of connectivity & showcasing of North Bengal continue to be the core philosophy of the event.

JK Tyre & Industries Limited has been associated with Himalayan Drive as the Title Sponsor since its inception in 2013. According to Mr. Sanjay Sharma, Head –Motorsport – JK Tyre & Industries Limited said “We are really excited about the JK TYRE HIMALAYAN DRIVE 9. T It has been a privilege for JK Tyres to have been associated with event since inception & see it grow into it’s present avatar. Our association with Himalayan Drive has helped identify talent and build a culture of motorsport in the Eastern part of the country”

A total of 26 teams, including two All Ladies teams from all over the country will pit their driving and navigation skills against each other through tough terrains, including dirt tracks, river beds, and narrow and steep mountain roads, in the three-day event.

JK Tyre in their constant endeavour to promote and encourage women to take up to motorsport has given the opportunity to the winners of their annual JK Tyre WIAA Women’s Rally to Valley event which concluded in Nasik last week to experience the thrill of Himalayan Drive. The two winning teams of Parul Shah & Pradnya Chavarka and Preeti Khandelwal and Anagha Joshi from Mumbai have won themselves a sponsored drive and will be taking up the challenge.

According to JustSportz Pvt Ltd Director Mr. Tamal Ghosal, “The first eight Himalayan Drive Rallies have unlocked the great prospect of adventure sports in the Eastern Himalayas. It is fitting that Himalayan Drive has this year become part of a prestigious G20 event on tourism”.

Chairman of the Rally and Director, JustSportz Management Pvt Ltd, Siddhartha Sadhan Bose said: “It is befitting that India’s chairmanship of G20 will be celebrated through Himalayan Drive 9, which will be an event coinciding with the Tourism Working Group Global meet. We are extremely proud that we can showcase the tourism potential of this region to the delegates of the G20 countries and we will be very happy if we get participants from G20 countries to the future editions of Himalayan Drive”.

After the ceremonial flag-off from Mayfair Tea Resort in Siliguri on Sunday, April 2 at 9 AM , the competitors will drive through tea gardens, embankments and riverbeds spread over many parts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts to reach Murti, a popular tourist destination. This first leg will also have a night stage.

The second leg will be flagged off from Murti on Monday, April 3 morning. A very challenging route through narrow village roads, riverbeds and tea estates before traversing through the mighty Himalayas for this second leg that will culminate at Gangtok in Sikkim.

In the third and final leg commencing on Tuesday, April 4 morning, competitors will be flagged off from Gangtok and will take to the mountains, driving by steep gorges and verdant forests and popular tourist destinations like Namchi and Jorethang to culminate at Darjeeling.

The prize distribution ceremony will be held at Darjeeling on Wednesday, April 5 morning.

Photograph by Ranadip Mandal

The Dalhousie Institute (DI) and Eastern India Motoring Group (EIMG) in association with Concourz Restorations joined hands to organise the inaugural edition of THE DI EIMG HERITAGE VEHICLE DISPLAY on Sunday, March 26, 2023. The event was held at the lawn and the courtyard of The Dalhousie Institute where a bevy of 75 heritage vehicles including four and two wheelers were displayed. The member of DI along with their guests were in for a visual treat as some rare and exotic heritage wheels made the onlookers drool in admiration and envy.

Established in 2020, EIMG has since been anchoring the revival of the heritage motoring movement in Kolkata. Under the leadership of Founder & President Mr. Shrivardhan Kanoria (himself a collector & restorer of national repute) and his team, EIMG has been instrumental in organizing some of the most widely appreciated and admired heritage motoring events in the city. These stellar events has provided the much needed impetus to heritage vehicle owners and restorers to pursue their passion with added zest to ensure that these beauties turn up at each event looking their best.

Founded in 1859, The Dalhousie Institute is a venerable social club with a rich legacy and heritage of its own. It was just a matter of time that these two organization – DI and EIMG – came together to create an evening of automobile magic. This collaboration was made possible with the effort of Mr. Subhajit Kumar, EIMG Secretary and a vintage & classic car collector himself – who acted as the bridge between DI and EIMG.

Kanoria had handpicked 75 heritage vehicles which was part of this grand display. The vehicles were segmented into four different categories namely Vintage Cars, Classic Cars, Indian Heritage Cars and Two Wheelers. All the vehicles selected for this event were spectacular in their own right with significant historical importance.

As many as five vintage Rolls-Royces graced the event, which included the 1923 Rolls-Royce 20HP, 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom I and 1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost – all three RRs from the Shrivardhan Kanoria Collection itself. Keeping them company was Jayawardhan Kejriwal’s 1929 Rolls-Royce 20/25 and the marvelous 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III owned by Azam Monem.  

Other praiseworthy vintage cars included Ananda Chowdhury’s 1913 Stoewer, Kunal Banerji’s 1926 Studebaker Erskine,  a rare 1931 Lancia Di Lambda owned by P.R. Agarwal, Late Sanjay Ghosh’s 1932 Ford V8, and Rajiv Ghosh’s 1937 Opel Cabrio.

Notable among the classic cars on display were Himanshu Ajmera’s 1947 MG TC, a 1947 Rover 14 P2 owned by Avik Naha, Sarojesh Mukerjee’s 1947 Rover 16 P2, 1948 Plymouth Special Deluxe owned by S.K. Lahiri, Late Sanjay Ghosh’s 1949 Buick Super 8, 1950 Austin A40 owned by Debaprem Chatterjee, Prithvi Nath Tagore’s 1958 Mercedes Ponton, 1963 Triumph Spitfire owned by Saikat Dutta and Sarmistha Hazra’s 1965 Hillman Imp.

The 1957 Fiat Elegant owned by Rajiv Ghosh and Subhajit Kumar’s 1964 Standard Herald stood out in the Indian Heritage Class while the 1923 Panther Sloper owned by Hossain and Terrence Lobo’s 1940 Triumph 3HW were the head turners of the two wheeler category. The atmosphere at THE DI EIMG HERITAGE VEHICLE DISPLAY was absolute electric with the heady mix of wheels, wine and live music by Velvet Ladder.

The Thanksgiving Ceremony was conducted by EIMG President Mr. Shrivardhan Kanoria wherein the beautiful mementos sponsored by Concourz Restorations were presented to the heritage vehicle owners and other important stakeholders.

In his thanksgiving address Mr. Kanoria said, “I would like to express my gratitude to the committee members of The Dalhousie Institute for their support and cooperation for making this event possible. Special mention to the Club President Mr. Jayajit Biswas, Sr. VP Mr. Kishor Sen, Jr. VP Mr. Leslie D’ Gama, and Club Secretary Mr. Michael Rao. Heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Subhajit Kumar for being instrumental for this collaboration between DI and EIMG. Lastly thank you to the other sponsors Telegraph T2, Exide and Apollo – for supporting this event.” The thanksgiving ceremony was followed by a sumptuous dinner hosted by EIMG President Mr. Shrivardhan Kanoria.

Images courtesy EIMG Photography Team – Ranadip Mandal, Deepanjan Sarkar and Kingshuk Sarkar.

South Korean carmaker Hyundai has launched the 2023 Verna in India with introductory ex-showroom prices starting at INR 10.89 lakh for the base trim and going up to INR 17.38 lakh for the top variant. At this price point, the Hyundai Verna has undercut its rivals like the Skoda Slavia, Honda City, Volkswagen Virtus, save for the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. The carmaker claims to have already received over 8,000 bookings. Customers can book the New Hyundai Verna online or at authorized dealerships across the country with an initial deposit of INR 25,000.

The 2023 Hyundai Verna is based on Hyundai’s Sensuous Sportiness design language. The New Verna features a split-headlamp setup at the front, with a large radiator grille flanked by the main headlight unit. A full-width LED DRL strip separates the bonnet and the front bumper. Moving to the sides, the new Verna features strong character lines, especially on the rear doors. The sedan has a sloping roofline with a shark fin antenna, and it rides on diamond-cut alloy wheels.

At the rear, the inverted L-shaped tail lights are connected together with LED light bar that runs across the width. The rear bumper features a dual-tone treatment, while the Verna badge is placed right above the LED light bar in the centre, just below the Hyundai logo.

The 6^th generation Hyundai Verna comes equipped with a free-standing dual-screen setup which houses a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster, as well as a touch screen infotainment system. The Verna features a dual-tone black and beige interior theme on the lower and mid variants, while the top-end trim(s) will don an all-black cabin with contrasting red highlights.

Creature comforts on offer with the 2023 Hyundai Verna includes a switchable type controller with dual functions, 8-speaker Bose premium audio system, three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport, ventilated front seats, an electric sunroof, electronic parking brake, LED headlights & tail lamps and 65+ connected features.

The 2023 Hyundai Verna is powered by the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that did duty in the outgoing model. It produces 115 PS of maximum power and 144 Nm of peak torque just as before. The New Verna is also available with a new 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine that puts out 160 PS of power and 253 Nm of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission will be offered with the new Verna as standard, while the latter will get an optional 7-speed DCT gearbox. The naturally aspirated petrol engine will also get an optional CVT. However, there will be no diesel engine on offer with the new generation Hyundai Verna.

The Hyundai Verna comes equipped with a range of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) like Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and more. The safety features include up to 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, VSM, traction control, TPMS, front and rear parking sensors and so on.

The new Verna will be available in four variants – EX, S, SX, SX (O). The colour options on offer on the new Hyundai Verna include Titan Grey, Tellurian Brown, Typhoon Silver, Fiery Red, Atlas White, Abyss Black, Starry Night, Atlas White with Black roof and Fiery Red with Black roof.