Volvo Car India today announced that its first all-electric offering the XC40 Recharge will be officially launched on metaverse. The launch is planned on July 26 that will witness the much-awaited price announcement for the XC40 Recharge in India. Close on the heels of announcing that the XC40 Recharge will be the first luxury EV to be assembled in India comes another first. This will be the first time that the sunrise technology of metaverse will be used in India, to launch a car. Metaverse takes the internet to a new futurist 3-D level that is a combination of multiple different virtual spaces. The metaverse launch of the XC40 Recharge will usher a new era of digital connectivity offering a 3D experience. The Metaverse launch has been designed by Mindshare and its collaborative partners

“Volvo is known for harnessing the power of technology in providing safer and hi tech cars. Leveraging the capabilities of metaverse is just another example of Volvo Car using the latest technology from a vantage point in marketing. This is the first time in the history of the Indian auto industry that a new launch has been done on this platform. We are confident that the XC40 Recharge with its over 400km per charge range will be widely accepted by customers who are looking for an EV with all the safety and luxury features that Volvo Cars are synonymous with” said Mr Jyoti Malhotra, Managing Director Volvo Car India.

The XC40 Recharge pure electric becomes the latest one to join the locally assembled portfolio of Volvo Cars in India.

Talking about this unique initiative on the metaverse, Amin Lakhani, CEO, South Asia Mindshare said, “Innovation and creativity play a vital role and are contributing to the development of our industry. Creative marketing solutions driven by technology are what we aim to offer our clients. There is a constant effort to leverage emerging tech and create unique brand experiences for consumers. By collaborating and utilizing the strengths of partners such as Hogarth, Yonder, Grey, and Genesis BCW, Mindshare seeks to help businesses build deeper relationships with their audiences. We are excited to make Metaverse history with Volvo’s first-ever EV launch.”

Nissan India has appointed Mohan Wilson as Director Marketing, Product & Customer Experience, for Business Transformation for India market. Mohan Wilson replaces Sriram Padmanabhan and will take over the role effective July 1, 2022.

Mohan has worked across geographies in Japan, Hong Kong, Germany and India with cross functional experience of over 20 years in sales and marketing with expertise in areas of Brand building, MarCom, Product Marketing, Customer Experience, Corporate Strategy and Data driven Marketing. Prior to this, Mohan was head of Global Marketing Planning at Nissan Motor Corporation’s Premium car brand INFINITI at Global HQ in Japan and was a part of new Model Launch introductions for INFINITI globally with all-new QX60 & QX55.

Mohan Wilson in his role will report to Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, and will be based in Chennai. He will focus on transformation of the India business on future Product strategy for India, build a strong Brand with focus on Customer Experience and will leverage his experience gained at Nissan Motor Corporation’s Global HQ office in Yokohama, Japan.

Sriram Padmanabhan, who has overseen the successful launch of the Nissan Magnite in India as Director Marketing, Product & Customer Experience has been appointed Director Marketing, Product & Customer Experience for Nissan Motor Australia. In this newly created role, Sriram will report to Adam Paterson, Managing Director Nissan Australia and will be based in Australia.

Rakesh Srivastava, MD, Nissan Motor India, commented “Sriram has been an asset for Nissan India with strong contribution towards successful launch of Big, Bold, Beautiful Nissan Magnite under Nissan Next with Nissan Magnite generating a tremendous customer response with over 1 lakh bookings and receipt of the Global Nissan President’s Award. We welcome Mr Mohan Wilson to Nissan Motor India, his global exposure on premium cars would be key to build Nissan brand with focus on customer experience on Nissan NEXT transformation. “

With the world premiere of the ID. AERO concept car in China, Volkswagen is providing a foretaste of the brand’s first global fully-electric sedan. The future model will be positioned in the premium mid-size sedan segment. Its progressive, stylish and aerodynamic design allows the vehicle to impress with generous space in the interior. The production version for China is expected to go on sale in the second half of 2023. Volkswagen is also planning to start production of a European series version in Emden in 2023.

“With the ID. AERO show car, we are revealing a preview of the next member of the ID. family. A car with an emotional and at the same time extremely aerodynamic design, a range of over 600 kilometres, an extraordinary amount of space and a premium interior,” says Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. “With our ACCELERATE strategy, we are intensively driving forward the electrification of our model range. Following the ID.4, this model will be our next global car for Europe, China and the US. ”

The concept vehicle is almost five metres long and was designed based on aerodynamic principles. The roof slopes elegantly to the rear in coupé style and contributes to achieving an excellent drag coefficient of 0.23. Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) additionally permits short overhangs, a long wheelbase and an exceptionally spacious vehicle interior. The ID. AERO is equipped with a powerful lithium-ion battery with a net energy content of 77 kWh. Thanks to the interaction of the efficient drive system and the excellent aerodynamic properties, the ID. AERO achieves ranges of up to 620 kilometres (WLTP)5, making it suitable for long distances.

Electric offensive in China: With the close-to-production ID. AERO concept car, Volkswagen is stepping up its electric offensive in China as part of its ACCELERATE strategy. Following the ID.33, ID.43 and ID.63, the production version of the ID. AERO will already be the fourth fully-electric model series in China, with expected availability in the second half of 2023. Two versions are planned there – one for each Volkswagen joint venture. Based on its regional strategy, Volkswagen is aiming to become the leading supplier of sustainable vehicles in China. As early as 2030, it is planned that at least every second vehicle sold in China will be an electric vehicle.

Volkswagen is driving forward its electric offensive worldwide on the Way to ZERO. As the new flagship model of the ID. family, the ID. AERO will therefore be offered globally in future – also in Europe and North America in addition to China.

Elegant design characterised by aerodynamics, wrap-around light strip and metallic paintwork. Stylistically, the ID. AERO transfers the design of the ID. family to a sedan in the premium mid-size segment for the first time. The aerodynamically designed front end and roof ensure that air flows optimally over the vehicle. The air flow is calmed by the slightly drawn-in rear end with a separation edge. The sporty 22-inch two-tone wheels are designed in the style of a turbine and are integrated flush into the wheel housings. Classic door handles are replaced by illuminated touch surfaces, which reduce the drag even further. At the top of the silhouette, the bold tornado line and downward sloping roof line shape the design. The powerful shoulder section of the ID. AERO is located above the tornado line. The contour lines make the electric sedan appear flatter and give it a dynamic look.

The ID. AERO concept vehicle has a Polar Light Blue Metallic paintwork – a light metallic colour shade whose colour pigments create a golden shimmer effect in appropriate light conditions. The roof is painted in a high-gloss black to contrast with the vehicle body.

The front end is characterised by the ID. honeycombs typical for the ID. family. The front is horizontally split into two in the bumper and is a defining style element for the ID. AERO design. As another distinctive feature that makes the ID. AERO stand out in the crowd, a narrow light strip extends horizontally across the front out to the left and right of the illuminated Volkswagen badge and above the innovative IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights, wrapping into the wings and side panels. This light strip is continued visually to the rear end with a few interruptions. The dominant rear end features a striking dark light strip and LED tail light clusters with honeycomb structure that create an exclusive look.

The ID. AERO shows the versatility of the MEB. The ID. AERO demonstrates the flexibility of Volkswagen’s purely electric MEB architecture, which can be adapted for vehicles of different shapes and sizes. The MEB can be used across segments – from compact crossover or SUV and minibus through to spacious sedan. With the ID. AERO, the MEB therefore allows the ID. family to enter the mid-size sedan segment. The MEB also fully exploits the possibilities of electric mobility, allowing long ranges, a maximum of digital connectivity and over-the-air update capability.

It is expected that the production version of the ID. AERO for Europe will roll off the assembly line in the Emden plant in 2023. With volume production of electric vehicles, Emden will be one of the first Volkswagen plants of this kind in Lower Saxony and will make a decisive contribution to electrifying the model range and reducing the CO2 emissions of the overall new vehicle fleet.

Bentley Mulliner is to bring the iconic Speed Six back to life with a new and highly exclusive Continuation Series of 12 cars, each mechanically and aesthetically authentic to the Bentley racers that won Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. Created to honour the achievements of the original cars and while continuing to develop and preserve Mulliner’s heritage skills, the new Speed Sixes will become the second pre-war continuation project in the world after the Blower – both created by Bentley Mulliner.

The most successful Bentley racing car of its era, the Speed Six is regarded as one of the most important Bentleys in history, not only further demonstrating the marque’s world-beating performance credentials but also proving the concept of the Grand Tourer – a fast car that remained comfortable and luxurious, and capable of covering huge distances with ease. Every Bentley since has followed the same ethos.

The 12-car series has been designed, and will be developed and built, by the same team of Mulliner specialists that have created the Blower Continuation Series – the first pre-war continuation project in the world. This acclaimed run of 12 new 4½ litre ‘Blower’ Bentleys was based on the company’s own 1929 Team Car #2 – the most famous and valuable Bentley in the world, which raced alongside the Speed Six in 1930 – and sold out instantly. The same is true of the new Speed Six continuations, with all 12 cars already reserved by lucky customers around the world.

The Speed Six Continuation Series was announced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Adrian Hallmark, who comments:

“After incredible levels of skill were acquired by the Mulliner team through the development of the Blower Continuation Series, and with the success of the cars with their customers, a chance to honour the Speed Six is a fantastic next step. It’s vital that we protect, preserve and develop not just this important part of our heritage, but also the knowledge we’ve gained through working with these classic Bentleys. The Speed Six is one of the most important Bentleys in our 103 year history, and the 12 cars of the Continuation Series will embody the same values as W.O. Bentley’s originals, crafted by hand with the same meticulous attention both to engineering quality and to fanatical attention to detail. The lucky owners will be able to race their cars around the world, and truly relive the exploits of the original Bentley Boys.”

The Mulliner team will once again be supported by an incredible array of artisans from a number of automotive heritage specialists across the UK, delivering recreation parts that are not only physically identical but in many cases are crafted using the same techniques used in the 1920s. This dedication to complete and total authenticity is integral to the success of such a complex project.

The Speed Six
A high-performance version of the 6½ Litre, the Speed Six became the most successful racing Bentley, winning Le Mans in 1929 and 1930 at the hands of Woolf Barnato, Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin and Glen Kidston.

The Speed Six was an improved version of the 1926 6½ Litre Bentley. W.O. Bentley believed that the best way to increase power was to increase capacity, as opposed to Tim Birkin’s faith in supercharging. He therefore developed a new, larger engine to succeed the 4½-litre. With a bore of 100 mm and a stroke of 140 mm, his new straight six had a capacity of almost 6.6 litres. In base form, with a single Smiths five-jet carburettor, twin magnetos and a compression ratio of 4.4:1, the 6½ Litre delivered 147 bhp at 3500 rpm. 362 examples were built at Bentley’s factory in Cricklewood, north London, on a variety of chassis of different lengths depending on the body style requirements of individual customers.

The Speed Six chassis was introduced in 1928 as a more sporting version of the 6½ Litre. The engine was modified to liberate more power, with twin SU carburettors, a higher compression ratio and a high-performance camshaft, responsible for an increase to 180 bhp. The Speed Six chassis was available to customers with wheelbases of 138 inches (3,505 mm), 140.5 inches (3,569 mm), and 152.5 inches (3,874 mm), with the short chassis being the most popular. 182 Speed Six models were built between 1928 and 1930.

The racing version of the Speed Six had a wheelbase of 11 feet (132 in; 3,353 mm) and a further-developed engine running a compression ratio of 6.1:1 and developing 200 bhp. Two wins at Le Mans in 1929 and 1930 cemented the Speed Six’s place in Bentley history, with the 1929 victory setting a new benchmark for dominance at the race. Driven by Woolf Barnato and Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin, a Speed Six led from the first lap until the chequered flag, followed by a procession of three other Bentleys. A new lap record of 7:21 had been set by Birkin, taking 46 seconds off the previous best and requiring an average speed of 83 mph, and in covering 2,844 km a distance record was also attained. Such a dominant performance by one manufacturer was not seen again at Le Mans for nearly 30 years.

Recreating an Icon
To deliver 12 new Speed Sixes that are authentic to the design of the racers of 1929 and 1930, the Mulliner team has first created a complete 3D CAD model of the car, from both the original blueprints and detailed analysis of original cars. Two cars have been referenced for this process.

“Old Number 3” was the third of three Speed Sixes entered by Bentley into Le Mans in 1930. Despite a difficult race it survived the ordeal, and has been immaculately preserved since. Still fully road legal and actively raced by its owner today, Old Number 3 has been a valuable source of design details and reference points for the creation of the new cars.

Alongside Old Number 3, Bentley’s own Speed Six (GU409) – part of Bentley’s expanding Heritage Collection – is a 1929 road car wearing an identical four-seat Vanden Plas body to the original racers and restored to the same specification. GU409 will provide benchmark performance and handling data for the continuation cars, including a full power and torque curve for the 12 new engines to match – or beat.

The first new Speed Six in 92 years will be assembled in the second half of this year, and become the engineering test and development car for the project. Speed Six Car Zero will be retained by Bentley, joining Blower Car Zero as the forebears of the families they help to deliver.

The new BMW M340i xDrive 50 Jahre M Edition has been launched in India today. Locally produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai, the new exclusive edition can be booked through shop.bmw.in from today onwards.

BMW India celebrates 50 years of BMW M with the launch of its first special edition. The new BMW M340i xDrive 50 Jahre M Edition sets new standards of performance attributes that will satisfy and impress auto enthusiasts. Engineered by BMW M, it delivers a concentrated distillation of the 3’s sporting essence and unleashes its full dynamic potential. It flawlessly embodies BMW M’s pure passion for motorsport and delivers maximum performance to provide the ultimate adrenaline rush for the drivers.

The new BMW M340i xDrive 50 Jahre M Edition is available at INR – 68,90,000/-

The exterior design lends an exceptional sporty character and is exclusively available in BMW Individual paintworks – Dravit Grey and Tanzanite Blue. The large BMW Kidney Grille mesh inserts are framed by a single surround and split up by wide bars that link to the headlight units. It is further underscored by the exclusive 50 Jahre M edition elements such as High-Gloss Black Kidney Grille, elements in Jet-black including window surround, mirror caps, 19-inch M light alloy wheels, 50 Jahre M roundel in front rear and wheel hub caps. The car features the Adaptive LED headlights with BMW Laserlight which offers variable illumination of the road ahead.

The interior is designed to accentuate cabin spaciousness and the driver-focused cockpit. The sport seats with M-specific upholstery in a Sensatec/Alcantara trim provide excellent lateral support and have a great range of adjustment. The Anthracite BMW Individual roof liner, BMW Individual High-Gloss Shadow Line elements, M leather steering wheel with shift paddles, M seat belt and interior Individual trim strips in Piano Black and Galvanic embellisher adds to the cabin’s performance-oriented ambience. Ambient Lighting with six dimmable light designs creates an atmosphere for every mood while Automatic 3 zone A/C further enhances the in-cabin experience. Welcome Light Carpet, which is projected from the side sill, welcomes passengers in glamorous style.

The car is powered by 2,998 cc straight-six petrol engine which produces an output of 387 hp and 500 Nm maximum torque. It is accompanied by a characteristic sound thanks to the M Sport exhaust unit. The car completes the sprint from 0 to 100 kmph in 4.4 seconds, making it the quickest car to be produced in the country.

The car features BMW xDrive, the intelligent all-wheel drive technology and exclusive suspension components from BMW M GmbH such as the M Sport suspension, variable sport steering, and M Sport brake ensure precise handling and remarkable agility. The M Sport differential optimises traction and driving stability for different road surfaces, when changing lanes, and when accelerating out of a bend at a high speed.

A host of BMW ConnectedDrive technologies continue to break the innovation barrier in automotive industry such as BMW Live Cockpit Professional, BMW Virtual Assistant, BMW Gesture Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay® / Android Auto. Other key features include BMW Head-Up Display, Parking Assistant with Rear View Camera, Reversing Assistant, BMW Efficient Dynamics and Harman Kardon Surround Sound system.

BMW M Performance Accessories offer customers the ability to bring their personality to the vehicles. Two exclusive and optional 50 Years of M packages – Motorsport Pack and Carbon Pack can further enhance the sporty appearance and character of the car at a special attractive launch pricing. The Motorsport pack includes M Performance Steering Wheel, Selector Gear knob in Alcantara, Rear Spoiler in Matt Black to name a few. The Carbon pack includes Interior Trims in Carbon Fibre, M Performance Steering Wheel, Selector Gear knob in Carbon Fibre, Rear Spoiler in Carbon Fiber et al.

The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the legendary BMW M GmbH division and BMW India plans to celebrate this milestone by raising adrenaline to the next level. A series of prized ‘50 Jahre M Editions’, special M Accessories reminiscing the iconic brand, thrilling events and emotional campaigns have been set in motion to celebrate the ‘Power of M’.

Back in 1972, BMW Motorsport GmbH was founded with just 35 employees and a single aim – to create the world’s best sports cars. Following year, the BMW 3.0 CSL debuted at the Touring Car Championship and dominated the European Championship for the next six years. And that was only the start of many more outstanding automobiles and racing wins. Since then, BMW M GmbH has penned an unparalleled journey, fuelling BMW through development of high-performance track-dominating cars.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “M is the strongest letter in the world and in its 50th anniversary it is stronger than ever. Inspired by motorsport, BMW M philosophy is the perfect interplay of dynamics, agility and precision while being suitable for everyday use. However different the vehicles and their drivers might be – we all love the faster heartbeat, the adrenaline and goose bumps triggered by every M car. To celebrate M’s fascinating history, BMW India will launch 10 alluring ‘50 Jahre M Editions’ across the product portfolio. We are also excited to share that later this year we will launch BMW M Certified dealerships, a one-stop-shop for an unbeatable purist experience. Above all, this jubilee is dedicated to drivers, the brand’s friends and all M enthusiasts.”

10 distinct ‘50 Jahre M Editions’ will give customers an opportunity to express both their passion for motor-racing and their awareness of tradition. Stealing the spotlight will be special editions from the powerful M stable including the BMW M340i, BMW M4, BMW M5. The robust BMW Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) range will also get its own ‘50 Jahre M Editions’ combining the best of off-roading capabilities with high-performance attributes of M. Popular BMW sedans such as BMW 6 Series and BMW 5 Series will commemorate the anniversary year with their own exhilarating M Editions. These limited-edition models will be available exclusively online at shop.bmw.in only.

The first to launch will be a stand-out rendition of the highly successful BMW M 340i xDrive. Locally produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai, it is the first high-performance BMW with an M engine to be made in India. This car has the soul of the BMW 3 Series, amplified power of M and driving competence of BMW xDrive. Ever since it was introduced in 2021, the car has been continuously sold out due to tremendous demand.

Iconic and historically significant BMW M paint finishes and upholstery options will also be offered for select models. Style-defining colours such as Dakar Yellow, Fire Orange, Daytona Violet, Macao Blue, Imola Red or Frozen Marina Bay Blue refer to the various eras of BMW M.

Customers can add sporting character to every detail with three head-turning ‘50 Jahre M Edition’ accessories packages which will be available at an attractive launch pricing. The Racer’s Pack will be the perfect choice for those who like stronger muscle command in their vehicles with exterior accessories like Rear Spoiler in Matt Black, Side Sill Transfers in Matt Black and Key Fob. The Motorsport Pack goes a step further and gives a 360 makeover to the exterior as well as interior. It includes accessories like M Performance Steering Wheel, Selector Gear knob in Alcantara, Rear Spoiler in Matt Black to name a few. The Carbon Pack has been curated to give the car a fiery racing character inside out. Here, the list consists of interior trims in Carbon Fibre, M Performance Steering Wheel, Selector Gear knob in Carbon Fibre, Rear Spoiler in Carbon Fibre among others. The pairing of packages / accessories will vary from one model to another.

BMW M is putting down a marker for those who love tradition. Customers who opt for a BMW M automobile, special M Edition variants or a model equipped with an M Sport package will have their vehicle’s front, rear and wheel hubs decorated with M emblems inspired by the classic ‘BMW Motorsport’ logo. As an alternative to the conventional BMW emblem, it signals passion for racing and for the roots of the BMW M brand. The BMW logo with the shifted semicircles in blue, violet and red was first used in 1973 on the racing car of BMW Motorsport GmbH. In 1978 and with the debut of the BMW M1 the three color stripes slanted to the right and leaning on the letter M followed. Even beyond the motorsport scene it became a trademark with particularly high recognition value and identification power.

BMW India will also introduce dedicated M Certified Dealerships in India where enthusiasts will find everything M under one roof. Charged with the flair of M, these dealerships will provide the classic feel and ultimate high-performance experience that is associated with the brand.

Bajaj Auto has launched the all-new Pulsar N160 in India at a price of INR 1,25,824 ex-showroom (Kolkata) and INR 1,27,853 ex-showroom (Delhi). It is the latest addition to the Pulsar range, one of India’s most popular sports motorcycle. Equipped with segment-first dual-channel ABS, the Pulsar N160 is set to become a benchmark for performance and control in the entry sports motorcycle segment.

The design language boasts of dynamic and energetic character lines, tighter proportions, and modern aerodynamism. The muscular tank is contrasted with a sleek, stylish waist section that extends to a contoured step seat, making for an eye-catching profile. It is equipped with a sportier underbelly exhaust that growls at higher RPMs.

The Pulsar N160 is powered by a 165cc BS6 engine, which gives superior power and immediate throttle response. It delivers 16 PS of power and 14.65 Nm of torque with 85 per cent of peak torque available throughout the rev band for instant pick-up and the signature Pulsar rush. The Pulsar N160 provides impressive tractive effort and enables better passing acceleration in every gear.

The new Pulsar N160 is built on a tubular frame chassis that offers high torsional stiffness for superior handling. Further, the bike is equipped with a new precision-crafted underbelly exhaust system positioned close to its centre of gravity for improved balance. This, along with the mono-shock rear suspension, LED projector headlamps and 300 mm front disc brake and 230 mm rear disc brake make for a perfect street riding experience.

The segment-first Dual Channel ABS in the new Pulsar N160 inspires increased riding confidence by restricting wheel lockups during both front and rear braking. The stronger grip provided by wider cross-section tyres (Front 100/80-17, Rear 130/70-17) in the Pulsar N160 adds to the riding control of the motorcycle.

Sarang Kanade, President – Motorcycles, Bajaj Auto, said, “Twenty years ago, Pulsar pioneered the sports-motorcycling revolution in India. The Pulsar 250, the biggest ever Pulsar, launched on the new platform in October2021, received a tremendous response from customers, enthusiasts and experts alike. We are excited to extend the new platform to the 160cc segment. The new Pulsar N160 packs an exciting proposition that is built to deliver the perfect street riding experience”.

Women have been driving in metro cities for quite some time, and the country is witnessing an increasing number of women buying used cars, even in tier 1 and tier 2 cities. Recent insights by Spinny show an increase in the number of women buying cars from 28 per cent to 32 per cent in the first half of 2022. The reason for this growth can be attributed to the fact that more women are now financially independent and that great decision-makers prefer personal mobility over public transportation.

The report stated that most of the women consumers are relatively aged between 30 to 40 years. According to Spinny, the growing number of women buyers account to certain trends such as increased preference towards vehicle ownership and financing options, automatic and petrol variants cars, and cars less than five years old. In addition to this, the brand has seen increasing interest from the tier -2 market.

Spinny has seen significant growth and traction in business cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Delhi NCR. Women in these cities prefer buying the country’s top brands and car models such as Hyundai i20, Tata Nexon, Maruti Baleno, Maruti Swift, and Renault Kwid. When it comes to model types, hatchbacks are most popular with female buyers, followed by SUVs. Additionally, silver and red are the preferred colors, and an integrated in-dash music system is the most desired feature.

Commenting on the increasing trend of women customer category, Niraj Singh, CEO & Founder, Spinny, said, “We take heart in Spinny’s focus on quality and to make the car buying and selling process simple. We believe in determining what today’s car buyer seeks. With our focus on four pillars of Spinny assured designed to instate quality, customer experience & transparency people have come to trust used car companies & lifelong relationships with car buyers that we seek to develop. With the rising enquiries, it’s evident that women wouldn’t compromise in safety in transportation for any household”

The association of the company with badminton legend PV Sindhu has further enhanced its brand identity among young women buyers in the country and has provided an unprecedented experience in car buying and selling. Grit and resilience like hers will inspire women to realize their dreams and embrace independence.

Indian racer Jehan Daruvala came within half a second of his first Formula 2 win of the season in the Azerbaijan round’s Sprint race on Saturday.

The Red Bull-backed Prema driver crossed the line just 0.380 seconds behind ART’s Frederik Vesti at the end of a safety car-disrupted race.

The 23-year-old started third and, having vaulted into the lead with a masterful display of race craft at the start was on course for a dominant win around the unforgiving streets of Baku.

He had even kept the lead through the first of three safety car periods, which wiped out his 4-second advantage. But a slight lock up on cold brakes at the second safety car restart allowed Vesti to slip past just three laps from the finish.

Jehan said, “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed but I’m still happy with the race I did. I had a great start, had everything under control and felt I deserved the win. It’s a shame to miss out by such a narrow margin but we’ll take the positives from this and now focus on Sunday’s feature race.”

Saturday’s second-place finish was Jehan’s fifth from six rounds this season and 12th overall in Formula 2. It is also the fourth time this season that he has finished in the runner-up spot and keeps him third in the overall drivers’ standings.

Jehan, a three-time Formula 2 winner, will get another shot at scoring a strong result on Sunday when he lines up for the longer Feature race ahead of the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix.

BMW Group India has announced the launch of pre-monsoon service campaign for BMW and MINI vehicles across its dealer network. This special service initiative will ensure complete car readiness for the upcoming rainy season.

BMW Pre-Monsoon Service camp is conceptualised to offer useful information and tips on effective vehicle management, on-time maintenance and overall understanding of BMW and MINI vehicles. The program provides a comprehensive vehicle check and, if required, a basic Condition-Based Service as well ensuring that the car is in top condition.

The service is conducted by certified technical experts. Prior appointments can be booked at the workshop. Customers will also be able to check and update their details to receive special promotions and offers from dealers.

As part of BMW Group India’s comprehensive aftersales campaign, Pre-Monsoon Service special provisions have been made in cities that are venerable to heavy flooding during the monsoon season. Prompt support will be offered by a task force of certified technicians and service advisors. They will be deployed at various service points to bring flood-affected vehicles back on the road. Ordering of spare parts will be prioritized for quick turn-around time.

BMW Group India regularly conducts periodic service campaigns across the country to ensure that a BMW or MINI is always ready. Cars older than five years would get discounts up to 30 per cent under the ‘BMW Joy Rewards’ campaigns. Details of the offer and other vehicle checks would be available at the service camps.