TVS Motor Company has announced an additional investment of £100 million in Norton Motorcycles which was acquired in April 2020. Norton recently opened its new manufacturing facility in Solihull, West Midlands, building British bikes in England using traditional hand-crafted techniques with modern-day machinery for consistently high quality.

Mr. Sudarshan Venu, Joint Managing Director, TVS Motor Company said, “TVS Motor Company is excited to announce an investment of about £100 million in Norton Motorcycle, the iconic British brand we had acquired in 2020. Some of these investments have already been made, leading to the creation of a world-class facility and the imminent launch of a re-engineered V4 SV and 961 Commando. A world-class team led by Robert Hentschel is working to bring Norton back to its rightful place. This investment will be towards electrification, cutting edge technology, world class vehicles, manufacturing, sustainability & the future of mobility. This is expected to create 250-300 direct jobs over the next 3 years and another 500-800 indirect jobs across the supply chain. The investments, spread over the next few years, will result in an exciting range of products for the global market. A brand-new facility has already been set up at Solar Park, Solihull, UK, which houses Norton’s state-of-the-art manufacturing capability and the company’s new global design and R&D hub.”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “Trade and investment between the UK and India is creating good jobs and sustaining livelihoods in both of our countries. I’m very pleased that TVS Motor Company has decided to join the legions of Indian companies investing in the UK, boosting our future mobility sector and driving economic growth.”

Norton Motorcycles’ new global headquarters houses state-of-the-art manufacturing capability and the company’s new global design and R&D hub. It forms a key part of Norton’s strategic growth plan on its journey to becoming a leading player in luxury and high-performance motorcycles. The manufacturing facility has been engineered to be highly sustainable and minimise waste.

This new facility is supported by the West Midlands Growth partnership, and the UK Government, and is a shining example of Anglo-Indian cooperation. Focused on bringing a renowned British motorcycle marque back to world-class levels of global business performance, Norton Motorcycles has defined its new brand approach that prepares it for an exciting and sustainable future.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars marks the 118th anniversary of the first meeting between its founders, Henry Royce and The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, England in 1904.

Through the combination of Royce’s engineering genius and Rolls’ talent for promotion, their company soon became recognised as the maker of ‘the best car in the world’ – a title that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly retains more than a century later.

Today, the marque’s pinnacle product – Phantom – is the ultimate expression of Bespoke luxury designed and handmade at the Home of Rolls-Royce, Goodwood. As part of its annual reflections on its origins and unique heritage, Rolls-Royce looks back through Phantom’s lineage, exploring how its namesakes evolved over the years to remain consistently at the apex of the Rolls-Royce offering.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said, “As we reflect on Phantom’s remarkable heritage, I am struck by the unique place it occupies in the hearts and minds of our most demanding Rolls-Royce clients. Phantom is the beneficiary of the most ambitious forms of Rolls-Royce Bespoke, transforming into whatever our clients want it to be. Indeed, Phantom is not only the ‘best car in the world’, but the best car for them in their world.”

THE ORIGINS OF EXCELLENCE

In the automotive industry’s earliest days, luxury car makers produced only the mechanical components (engine, transmission, chassis and so on) known as a rolling chassis, which underpinned the car. The bodies were designed and constructed by independent coachbuilders to the customer’s specification.

For manufacturers, including Rolls-Royce, improvements in design and engineering were directed almost entirely towards technical aspects of the car’s performance. These included reliability, hill-climbing capability, ease of control and a set of ride quality attributes still known collectively as noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

From the outset, Phantom earned the title ‘the best car in the world’ through the superior quality and designs of the rolling chassis – the finest platform on which coachbuilders could reach the very apex of their craft.

REDRAWING TECHNICAL BOUNDARIES

The Phantom family was born in 1925 when Rolls-Royce launched Phantom I. With its massive low-range torque, cutting-edge technology and ‘Magic Carpet Ride’, the new model immediately established the fundamental traits that would define the family for the next 100 years. Then, as now, Rolls-Royce declined to rest on its laurels, and by 1929, its successor was ready for the market.

Phantom II represented another step-change in engineering and technology. In 1930, the company unveiled the Phantom II Continental, which gave customers a choice of a more performance-orientated model for those who preferred to drive themselves. The ‘standard’ longer-wheelbase car was retained for chauffeur-driven use. This practice set the precedent for today’s Phantom and Phantom Extended.

THE NEED FOR SPEED

While the new Continental could attain speeds up to 95mph, it was still not as fast as some of its rivals. The company decided to resolve the matter once and for all. In 1934, applying its proven experience with aero engines, it developed a new 7.3-litre V12 engine, mounted on a new chassis. The resulting Phantom III, when fitted with lightweight coachwork, was capable of exceeding 100mph.

In 1939, Rolls-Royce produced an experimental car, nicknamed ‘The Scalded Cat’. In later years, this car was often loaned to influential individuals, including HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke was so impressed that he persuaded Rolls-Royce to build him a more formal version; the marque obliged with the first Phantom IV, delivered in July 1950. The car remains on front-line (albeit reduced) duty at The Royal Mews, under its pre-delivery codename, Maharajah. Though originally intended as a one-off, 18 Phantom IV cars were completed: 17 were sumptuously appointed commissions for other royalty and heads of state; the other, somewhat bizarrely, was built as a pick-up truck for use by Rolls-Royce as transport and on-the-road component testing.

A FINAL FLOURISH

In 1959, the marque launched Phantom V, equipped with its most up-to-date V8 engine. In 1967, the car underwent subtle technical changes that were deemed, at the very last minute, sufficient to justify its redesignation as Phantom VI.

By 1968 the only true coachbuilder left in Britain was Rolls-Royce’s own in-house company, Mulliner Park Ward. These magnificent cars soldiered on through the mid-1980s, until production dwindled to a mere two or three cars a year, and finally ceased altogether in 1992.

BRINGING VISIONS TO LIFE

Every generation up to Phantom VI was essentially a rolling chassis. The bodies were built to the owner’s individual requirements by some of the most famous and prestigious names in British and European coachbuilding.

While this was normal practice in the luxury automotive world, Phantom stood apart through its ability – thanks to Royce’s engineering genius and the excellence of the chassis’ components and construction – to carry coachwork of the very finest quality, weight and complexity.

At every stage in Phantom’s development, owners exploited its potential to the full, creating some of the most magnificent, eye-catching and radical motor cars ever to grace the road. And since the chassis and body were separate, it was possible for a subsequent owner to change the car’s appearance to suit their own taste and requirements.

Many Phantoms took on more than one guise over their long, often globe-trotting lives: in some cases, they were merely repainted; in others, the whole car was rebuilt from the chassis upwards, taking on an entirely new form and character. And for all their extraordinary diversity, every one of the examples shown below is a true Rolls-Royce in terms of its underlying engineering, materials and construction, performance, ride quality and comfort – and, above all, in being exactly as the owner wanted it.

1930 Phantom II (62GY)
This handsome Phantom II was coachbuilt by Hooper of London with a Dual Cowl Tourer body. At the request of the owner, a wealthy timber merchant from Texas, 50 additions were specified with touring intentions. These include a larger fuel tank, louvered bonnet and radiator two inches taller than standard. The car was originally purchased for the owner’s honeymoon and went on to tour the Continent extensively until 1939. The present custodian acquired the car in 1998 and has since won prestigious awards including the Louis Vuitton Classic Parfums Givenchy Trophy pre-war tourers and Most Sporting Tourer in the Biarritz Concours.

1933 Phantom II Continental (55MW)
This ‘concealed-head boat body’ was a speciality of coachbuilder Park Ward. Its main feature was the compact folding hood that, when fully retracted, was entirely concealed under the rear deck, giving the coachwork its distinctive uninterrupted line. The original upholstery was textured pigskin.

1933 Phantom Ill (3BT103)
This rare two-door sedanca coupé was coachbuilt by HJ Mulliner for Apsley Cherry-Garrard, one of the surviving members of Captain Scott’s last, fateful expedition to the South Pole in 1912. The car was originally finished in Primrose Yellow with a dyed Vaulmol leather interior; in the late 1940s it was repainted in black. The car was briefly owned by the legendary actor Sir Ralph Richardson; it then spent time in Wales and the USA before returning to the UK in the late 70s / early 80s. It sat neglected in a barn until 2018 when it was bought by its present owner, and has now been painstakingly restored using many authentic components, including original numbered engine parts.

1937 Phantom III (3BT85)
London coachbuilder Hooper & Co built several bodies in this striking saloon-with-division style, which looks fast even when standing still thanks to its semi-razor edge styling and swooping curves. The art-deco chrome-plated flashes to the body and wings simply enhance the sense of kinetic energy.

1965 Phantom V (5VD63)
This Phantom was originally owned by Wing Commander Patrick Barthropp. In 1968, John Lennon purchased the car from Barthropp coinciding with the launch of The Beatles’ White Album. In September 1969 he sold the car to Allen Klein, an American businessman.

The car appeared in the Oscar-winning film Georgy Girl (1966), the classic Let It Be (1970), starring The Beatles, Performance (1970), featuring Mick Jagger, and then prominently featured in The Greek Tycoon (1978) starring Anthony Quinn.

In 2016 after extensive restoration, Jody Klein, a longtime Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club member brought the car to the Concurs d’Elegance, Lincolnshire, where it was awarded first place for ‘Best In Class’.

The car currently resides in the United Kingdom.

1966 Phantom VI (5LVF65)
James Young, established in 1863, is renowned for creating some of the most elegant coachwork to ever grace a motor car chassis. Perhaps the pinnacle of their achievements was realised in their PV23 design, developed especially for the Rolls-Royce Phantom V chassis, with 22 such bodies being built.

This model was usually finished in black, but for 5LVF65 the lighter shade of Ivory further enhances the classic elegance of every curve and line from the pen of its acclaimed designer, A. F. McNeil.

The interior contains a remarkably spacious rear compartment, with the finest cabinetry work below the division glass. Champagne cloth to the rear compartment is chosen for greater comfort than the similarly coloured and more resilient leather that the chauffeur would enjoy.

2015 Phantom VII (Serenity Phantom)
Rolls-Royce created this magnificent Bespoke Phantom VII Extended for its display at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Inspired by opulent motor cars made for international royalty in the early 1900s, the rear passenger cabin is finished in a unique Smoke Green raw silk, specially handwoven and decorated with hand-embroidered and hand-painted Chinoiserie blossom motifs that took up to 600 hours to complete. The design also appears in the fascia and marquetry inlays in the rear doors; smoked cherrywood and bamboo elements, and details echoing the raked gravel in Japanese gardens complete the interior’s calm, natural ambiance. At the time, the Mother of Pearl exterior paint finish was the most complex – and expensive – the marque had ever produced.

2021 Phantom VIII (Phantom Oribe)
A unique collaboration saw the House of Rolls-Royce and the House of Hermès co-create a Bespoke Phantom for Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa. Named Phantom Oribe, the motor car features a Bespoke two-tone exterior finish, inspired by the client’s world-class collection of ancient Japanese ceramics, Oribe ware. In an unusual move, the Rolls-Royce paint was made available for use on the client’s private jet that the Phantom is paired with.

The interior is finished predominantly in Hermès Enea Green leather. The Gallery features an artwork based on a design by the celebrated French artist and illustrator Pierre Péron (1905–1988), who created many of Hermès’ iconic scarves.

AN ICON REBORN

At one minute past midnight, on January 1, 2003, the first Phantom VII was handed over to its new owner – the first motor car to be produced at the brand-new Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex, England. A thoroughly modern interpretation of the marque’s signature lines and proportions, as first set down by Sir Henry Royce himself, it was built entirely in-house by Rolls-Royce, with monocoque bodywork to a standard design rather than coachbuilt. In one important sense, however, it retained a link with its heritage, in that every car was hand-built by a team of skilled craftspeople. Furthermore, the marque’s Bespoke programme meant Phantom was effectively a canvas upon which patrons could realise their own visions and desires.

Over its 13-year lifespan, Phantom VII cemented Rolls-Royce as the world’s pre-eminent superluxury motor manufacturer, and its own place as the marque’s pinnacle product. But just like their predecessors, Rolls-Royce’s designers and engineers understood that perfection is a moving target: that Phantom was never ‘done’.

In 2016, Rolls-Royce presented Phantom VIII. This was the first Rolls-Royce to be built on the marque’s proprietary Architecture of Luxury, an all-aluminium spaceframe designed to underpin every future motor car produced at Goodwood.

Phantom VIII was specifically designed to be the ultimate platform for Bespoke commissions. This has resulted in some of the most technically ambitious and challenging projects ever undertaken by the marque’s designers, engineers and specialist craftspeople. It is also the only Rolls-Royce model to feature the Gallery – an uninterrupted swathe of glass that runs the full width of the fascia, behind which the client can display a commissioned work of art or design.

Volvo Cars reports sales of 47,150 cars in April, down 24.8 per cent compared with the same month last year. Demand is still strong, especially for Volvo Cars’ electrified vehicles and the share of recharge models as part of total sales continues to increase.

In April Volvo Cars electrified recharge models grew 18.7 per cent compared with the same month in 2021 accounting for 38.4 per cent of total sales. The share of fully electric cars stood at 10 per cent.

For the January-April period, Volvo Cars’ sales reached 195,445 cars, down 21.3 per cent compared with the same period last year.

In April, Covid-19 lockdowns in eastern China impacted retail deliveries in China and added more challenges to already weakened global supply chains, resulting in additional loss of production.

As previously communicated at the end of the first quarter, Volvo Cars informed of a supplier shortage of a specific type of semi-conductor, which will impact production during the second quarter. The company considers this a temporary setback and expects the supply chain restraints related to semi-conductors to improve during the second half of the year.

European sales for April reached 19,822 cars, down 23.2 per cent compared with the same month last year. Volvo’s electrified Recharge sales accounted for 51.4 per cent of the total sales in the region during the month.

Volvo Cars’ US sales for the month reached 10,022 cars, down 9.2 per cent compared with April last year, with Recharge models making up 44.1 per cent of the total sales.

China sales declined 47.8 per cent in April to 8,579 cars compared to the same month last year.

Volvo’s top selling model for the month was the XC60 with sales of 14,952 cars (2021: 17,925 units), followed by the XC40 at 13,876 cars (2021: 19,833) and the XC90 at 8,208 cars (2021: 9,371 units).

Ninety One Cycles, one of India’s fastest growing active lifestyle brands, has launched KTM’s brand new offering in India, the Chicago Disc 271. Ninety One Cycles has an exclusive partnership with KTM bicycles in India. Ninety One and KTM share a common vision of bringing in a revolution in one of India’s oldest mobility mediums – cycles, following an engineering-led, consumer-centric, disruptive approach.

A well-engineered MTB Bike Chicago Disc 271 is equipped with sturdy and durable TL Compatible Rims, KTM Line Rizer 680 mm handlebar mainly designed for mountain biking and SCHWABLE 27.5” tires that will provide the much-needed grip to cyclists on any terrain. Apart from boasting of its world-class KTM line stem, the bike will be available in three frame sizes, catering to the comfort of a diverse audience range, weighing approximately 15 kgs.

Speaking on the launch, Sachin Chopra, Co-Founder and CEO, Ninety One said, “Cycling in India is evolving at a tremendous pace with people from different age groups and economic backgrounds actively adopting bicycling as part of their daily commute and fitness regime. We are excited to bring KTM’s latest premium bike, Chicago Disc 271 to cater to users looking for a superior experience. Ninety One aims to deliver high quality well-engineered products to our consumers which is complimented by our successful association with KTM. We believe Chicago Disc 271 will set a benchmark in India, with best-in-class comfort, safety and convenience for the end user.”

Vishal Chopra, Co-Founder and Head of Digital, Ninety One said, “At Ninety One Cycles, we have played an active role in providing a seamless distribution infrastructure for KTM bikes, thereby meeting the robust demand from consumers across markets. Through our omni-channel model, customers can browse through and purchase the product directly online or through our countrywide offline network of retailers. We are confident that the Chicago Disc 271 will resonate with the varied needs and demands of cycling enthusiasts in India, further bolstering KTM’s brand salience in the country.”

The association of Ninety One and KTM makes for a powerful combination of two path breaking brands that collectively cater to both the leisure bicycle market and the performance bicycle market. The latest product offering, Chicago Disc 271 is priced at INR 62999/-. Through this association, the companies aspire to bring together the best of design, ergonomics and innovation in India’s bicycle industry.

British luxury supercar and hypercar maker McLaren Automotive announces the appointment of Michael Leiters as its new Chief Executive Officer from 1 July, 2022.

German-born Mr Leiters, 50, holds a doctorate in engineering and has held senior positions at Porsche AG and, more recently, was Chief Technology Officer at Ferrari.

Mr Leiters will be based at McLaren’s global-headquarters at the McLaren Technology Centre and the adjoining McLaren Production Centre in Surrey, England where all the company’s supercars and hypercars are hand-built.

Mr Leiters will lead the 3,000-strong workforce spanning all global activities, including the McLaren Composites Technology Centre, instrumental in innovating technology for the company’s ground-breaking high-performance hybrid series production supercar the McLaren Artura, deliveries of which are soon to commence.

McLaren now has more than 100 retailers in over 40 territories around the globe. Despite the pandemic, McLaren continues to see strong customer demand, particularly for its limited-production models with both the 765LT Coupe and Spider variants entirely sold out along with the Ultimate Series Elva.

Paul Walsh, Executive Chairman, McLaren Group said, “On behalf of everyone at McLaren, I am delighted to welcome Michael as the new CEO of McLaren Automotive. His extensive industry leadership experience combined with his passion for engineering and future technology will help guide and develop our team as we enter an exciting second decade.”

Michael Leiters, Chief Executive, McLaren Automotive commented, “I could not be more excited to be joining McLaren Automotive as CEO at this important moment in its journey. McLaren is already recognised as one of the world’s most admired luxury supercar companies. I look forward to growing that reputation for our loyal customers, employees, fans and partners as we write the next chapter in McLaren’s illustrious history.”

Showcasing the unique connection between art and automobiles, BMW Group India will exhibit the ‘Future of Mobility’ at the latest edition of India Art Fair being held in New Delhi from 28 April to 1 May 2022.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “Art is a beautiful way of seeing the world as it was, is and will be tomorrow. More than ever, India Art Fair reflects a unique blend of art, creativity and a strong awareness of evolving socio-ecological sensibilities. In the same way, BMW Group’s pioneering vision is reflected through its vehicles. Our electric vehicles are an expression of a sustainable future. Just like an artist develops a work around a central theme, BMW Group develops its e-vehicles around the core of sustainability – in form, function and emotion. As Joy is reborn, we are excited to share our vision with the world. The BMW iX and MINI Cooper SE have already won the hearts of auto enthusiasts in India. We invite everyone to come and experience the face of progressive e-mobility at India Art Fair.”

As the ‘Presenting Partner’ of the India Art Fair, BMW India has supported the evolution and exposure of modern Indian art and artists since 2012. Through this year’s collaboration, BMW India will exhibit progressive e-mobility with an exclusive display of its all-electric range.

The BMW iX is the first electric all-wheel drive vehicle by BMW. As BMW Group’s new technology flagship, it presents hallmark ‘Sheer Driving Pleasure’ with commitment to sustainability. Born electric, the iX imbibes principles of sustainability throughout its lifecycle, right from production to usage to end-of-life, making comprehensive use of natural and recyclable materials.

MINI is displaying the first all-electric MINI 3-Door Cooper SE at India Art Fair. The MINI 3-Door Cooper SE combines MINI’s inventive spirit and iconic design with instant torque, zero emissions and legendary go-kart feeling. It will play a significant role in inspiring creative individuals and trendsetters to drive the silent revolution. In addition to the BMW iX and MINI Cooper SE, BMW Group India is displaying another much-awaited upcoming all-electric product.

BMW India will also showcase ‘The Future is Born of Art’ commission BMW iX car ‘Suno’ by artist Faiza Hasan. ‘The Future is Born of Art’ is an initiative by BMW India and India Art Fair which aims to propel emerging Indian artists and further BMW Group’s commitment to promote art, sustainability and innovation. The BMW iX served as a canvas and inspired artists to reflect on the philosophy of ‘Sustainable Circularity’. Four selected artists were asked to submit proposals reflecting their unique interpretations of the theme. The winning design by Faiza Hasan will be reflected on the BMW iX as a car wrap and shown at the Fair.

Bentley Motors today announced a recruitment drive for 100 talented engineers as the luxury marque accelerates its forward-thinking Beyond100 strategy, the boldest plan of its kind in the sector. Working across multiple disciplines within engineering, a key responsibility will be to support delivery of the ambitious Five-in-Five plan, which commits Bentley to launching a new electric model each year, from 2025, redefining Bentley’s credentials as the benchmark manufacturer in sustainable luxury mobility.​

Further information on the current vacancies can be found at http://www.bentleycareers.com with applications opening today for 50 vacancies and increasing over the coming weeks and months to 100. Whilst the positions cover multiple disciplines of engineering and research and development, approximately 50 per cent are focused on electrical competencies as Bentley aims for full electrification of its product range within eight years.

Although roles are based at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, the company has introduced hybrid working – a blend of onsite and remote working. Within brand new engineering offices, following multi-million pound investment, Bentley has added collaboration zones to promote interaction, and moved to hot desks or no individual offices, to both save space and encourage more impromptu discussion and greater teamwork.

Commenting on the opportunities, Dr. Matthias Rabe, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Research and Development, said: “Bentley is in the middle of the most significant transformative phase in the company’s long and illustrious history. Extraordinary products has always been at the heart of our business, however tomorrow’s engineers face the most exciting challenges in a generation as we become an exclusively electric car business. We are looking for true innovators, who can create the new future of automotive, support our product ambitions and shape our Beyond100 vision as we aim for leadership within sustainable luxury mobility.”

As well as the need for electrical engineers, upcoming vacancies will cover the full spectrum of research and development, from UX/UI engineers within concepts and design, to Design Managers within development and validation of parts and whole vehicles, to Chassis Engineers working on production ready vehicles.

In a programme designed to create an inclusive, winning culture at Bentley by unlocking performance, the company is focusing on supporting its colleagues to become more agile, continuously learn, act sustainably and enjoy their work.

The company has significantly invested in people development, with colleagues taking part in over 30,000 learning activities in the past year, whether that be e-learning, virtual workshops or face-to-face activities.

Bentley’s emphasis on becoming an employer of choice forms a key part of the company’s Beyond100 strategy. This is underpinned by a focus on attracting a wide-range of talent, including problem solvers and digital innovators from all walks of life, with the aim of achieving greater diversity in management positions moving forward.

This commitment was endorsed by the Top Employers Institute which earlier this year named Bentley as the sole UK-based automotive manufacturer ‘Top Employer’ for the eleventh successive year, highlighting Bentley’s approach to employee wellbeing, values, ethics and integrity, alongside Bentley’s focus on sustainability, digitalisation and diversity and inclusion.

Underlining the significant growth in the used-car segment, Spinny released its Q1 trend report 2022. The report highlights several interesting insights about pre owned car buying across India. Owing to the enormous demand for contactless purchasing in the used-car industry, Spinny saw substantial growth in the first quarter of 2022. The brand’s purpose is to create a credible, efficient and reliable ecosystem for car owners in the used-car market space.

The report observed that over 55% of car buyers are first time buyers. They are in the age bracket of 25 to 40 years, average being 31 years. The company insights sees multiple factors and trends fueling this growth. Some of these trends include the accelerated shift of automobile buying and selling online, rising demand in the metro cities, progressive gender shifts, increased consumer preference towards vehicle ownership & used car buyers opting for financing.

Spinny’s business growth came on the back of several of these trends. In terms of favored brands, the country’s leading brands hold sway on Spinny.com as well with Maruti, Hyundai and Honda cars being home-delivered most often. Among model types, hatchbacks reign supreme in Spinny buyers wishlists, followed by sedans and then SUVs.

Speaking on Q1 insights, Niraj Singh, CEO and Founder – Spinny said, “A car is no longer a novelty, and increasingly in urban India, it is being regarded as a necessity. Through the pandemic and its aftermath, Spinny has stayed focused on its home deliveries and home test drives with our campaign – #WithExtraCare. The market has witnessed a tremendous hike in digital purchase. With our focus on the pillars of Spinny Assured® designed to include quality, standardization and the greatest degree of customer-centricity, people have come to trust a pre-owned car company and have helped us drive life-long relationships with car buyers. Our mission is to deliver quality cars to every household in the country and our numbers are reflective of our progress in that direction.”

Spinny has also reaped the demographic dividends characteristic of India’s economic makeup with 26% of its buyers being women & more than 80% opting for the convenience of home deliveries. The report also highlights that over 41% of Spinny buyers opt for online purchase. Finally, colors like white, grey and silver, specifically in that order, take the top favorite spots among Spinny buyers.

Spinny has recently launched its first national marketing campaign with the brand promise of “Khushiyon Ki Long Drive”. Highlighting the brand’s vision to turn the car buying and ownership journey into a simple and delightful experience, the heart-warming ads feature Sachin Tendulkar & PV Sindhu.

India’s Jehan Daruvala only just missed out on victory on Saturday, with the Red Bull-backed racer coming away with a second-placed finish in the Sprint race of the Formula 2 championship’s Imola round.

The 23-year-old, who started third, rocketed off the line to slot into second behind Marcus Armstrong, who took the lead.

Jehan kept the position through an early safety car and then a subsequent Virtual Safety Car period before unleashing his pace.

Overtaking proved to be tricky on the narrow Imola track, Jehan crossed the line 1.4 seconds behind the Hitech driver. His Prema team mate Dennis Hauger was third, completing a double podium for the Italian team on home soil.

His second-place in Imola was Jehan’s third podium from as many rounds this season and 10th overall in Formula 2. It also lifted him to third in the overall drivers’ standings.

Jehan said about Race 1, “Firstly, I got off the line better than the guys at the front but because I had to avoid Logan I lost some momentum and couldn’t get Marcus. But after that the race wasn’t easy. I was trying to put him under a lot of pressure early on in the race but it was really hard to follow especially in the middle sector. I had DRS but I was never quite close enough to mount an attack. I tried to cool down and give it a go at the end but again when I got closer I really struggled to follow. All in all we had great pace but couldn’t really use it much.”

Jehan followed up his podium with a points-paying finish in the Feature race, with the Red Bull-backed racer showing blistering pace to bounce back from an ill-timed safety car. Despite the safety car misfortune, Jehan remained unfazed and proved he had the pace to win.

Having started eighth, Jehan moved into the lead on lap 9, reeling off a series of consecutive fastest laps. He stayed in the lead for more than half the race and charged back up to ninth, after his pitstop had dropped him down to 14th. He also had the fastest lap of the race.

Jehan is the only driver to have to have finished on the podium in every round this season, and is also the lead Red Bull Junior in the standings.

The fourth round of the Formula 2 championship will be held at Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from May 20th to May 22nd, alongside the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix.

SR Dirt Track 2022 witnessed a huge adrenaline rush at Singur during the weekend of 16th & 17th April 2022 despite the extremely hot weather condition. This was the first time that such a competition has been organised here in Project SR Playground at Singur which witnessed a neck to neck competition among the top riders.

This event had 11 categories, divided according to engine capacity and modification, to make the competition as fair as possible. There was a separate exhibition class planned for the Veteran Riders as well. This event was the first ever event in India where electric Dirt Bikes competed with the Petrol Motorbikes. The total number of entries was 85 including some national level riders from other states.

Team Project SR, being the first ever manufacturer of Electric Dirt Bikes in the country, successfully performed as the Winning Team of the Event. And the Electric Dirt Bike took a clear lead over the petrol bikes in the mixed category (class 9). Bangaluru lad Suhail Ahmed made the event best timing of 5 minutes 8.773 seconds followed by Manmeet Singh Dhanjal, Sisir Raha and Uday Ganguly. Among several other riders who showcased grit and determination during the weekend, it was novice rider Indrashish Roy who displayed a promising performance.

Speaking on the occasion, Saurav Chatterjee and Sumanta Dey, the key organisers of this event explained the aim of the event is to woo the youth away from road racing to regulated motorsports, where safety of the riders is of paramount importance. They explained Dirt Track event is not only about raw speed; one has to match that with riding acumen and physical stamina as well.

The goal of FMSCI is to identify young budding talents from every part of the country and SR Dirt Track 2022 is a big step forward to that goal. Motor Sports Association of Eastern India and Calcutta Motor Sports Club who jointly organised this event wants to be the guiding force of many raw talents in the near future.

This event was the first ever event in the country where spectators witnessed the comparative performance of Electric Dirt Bikes against Petrol Bikes and opened a new future and scope for Electric Dirt Bikes in Indian Motorsports.