Kia India has announced the launch of its fourth and latest ‘Made-for-India’ offering, the three-row recreational vehicle, Carens with prices starting at INR 8.99 Lakhs (ex-showroom, pan-India).

The Kia Carens is available in five trim levels: Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury, and Luxury Plus. The vehicle comes in 7-seater configurations from Premium to Luxury trims, with the Luxury Plus trim offering both 6- and 7-seater configurations.

The Kia Carens is offered with three engine options: Smartstream 1.5 Petrol, Smartstream 1.4 T-GDi Petrol, and 1.5 CRDi VGT Diesel, mated with three transmissions – 6MT, 7DCT, or 6AT.

During an exclusive media drive event held in the national capital, we got an opportunity to spend some quality time with the Kia Carens. Read on to find out about everything you want to know about the Carens.

Design and Engineering

For the first time, the Carens’ styling introduces the “Opposites United” design language to India. The two main pillars on which Carens’ exterior development was based were futuristic and bold design. It is the result of a collaboration between the Kia Design Centre in Namyang, South Korea, and the Indian design team.

Key highlights of the exterior features Kia signature tiger face with digital front grille, star map LED DRLs with crown jewel LED headlamps, star map LED tail lamps, sky light sunroof, R16 – 40.62 cm (16-inch) dual tone crystal cut alloy wheels and chrome rear bumper garnish with diamond knurling pattern.

Kia Carens is available in eight colour options with three all-new colours – Imperial Blue (New Colour), Moss Brown (New Colour), Sparkling Silver (New Colour), Intense Red, Aurora Black Pearl, Gravity Grey, Glacier White Pearl and Clear White.

Interior and Comfort

The Carens interior is sophisticated and plush, wrapped around a high-tech dashboard specifically created to appeal to the always-connected consumer. The car’s interior has many storage spaces throughout the cabin, and the first-row seats are ventilated, adding to the car’s convenience factor. The Carens packaging is one of the most important factors to consider and offers adequate room for adults in the third row, thanks to the longest wheelbase in its class.

Key highlights of interior are 2nd row one-touch easy electric tumble seat, Bose premium sound system with eight speakers, smart pure air purifier with virus and bacteria protection, Kia Connect next gen connected car technology, ventilated front seats, 31.7 cm (12.5-inch) full segment LCD cluster with advanced 10.6 cm (4.2-inch) colour TFT multi-information display, cabin surround 64 colour ambient mood lighting and smartphone wireless charger with cooling function.

Powertrain and Transmission

Kia Carens offers a surprisingly wide range of powertrain choices in its class with three engine options – Smartstream 1.5 Petrol, Smartstream 1.4 T-GDi Petrol and 1.5 CRDi VGT Diesel. These are mated to three transmission options – 6-speed manual, an intuitive 7-speed DCT and 6-speed automatic. Additionally, automatic variants of the Carens offer multi-drive modes for added convenience and driver-confidence.

Ride and Handling

The Carens is supported at the front by McPherson struts and the rear by a coupled torsion beam axle setup. With disc brakes all around and across the board, the ride quality has been tuned to absorb everything in its path, providing a compliant ride quality and high comfort. Despite its external dimensions, the handling and maneuvering is nibble and the throttle response is both prompt and precise. Body roll is well contained and ground traction is impressive for its size.

Safety

The Kia Carens is a true family car, offering several active safety features. The model comes with Robust 10 Hi-Secure Safety Standard Package, a first in India. Included as standard across all trims of the Carens are 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hill-Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC), Brake Assist System (BAS), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Rear Parking Sensors, Highline TPMS and All-Wheel Disc Brakes.

While the ESC protects the car from the loss of traction, HAC and DBC let drivers confidently drive on uphill and downhill roads. Additionally, the VSM ensures occupant safety by offering stability to the car when the driver must perform sudden braking and turns.

Continuing this focus on safety, the Company has also offered Front-Parking Sensors, Highline TPMS, and Rain-Sensing Wipers with the car, giving utmost confidence to the driver at all times and allowing them to fully focus on road conditions ahead.

Kia Connect

With Carens, the connected car platform gets a complete revamp with the next-generation Kia Connect app, which replaces the previous UVO system. Kia Connect now hosts updated and exciting features with added safety and convenience. One of the major updates with Kia Connect is the enhancement of OTA (Over the Air) Map and System Updates, which is now capable of updating software without visiting the Kia workshop. The Carens will come equipped with 66 connected car features and what is more exciting is that the AVNT of the vehicle now supports ten native languages.

Verdict

Kia Carens is a brilliantly packaged product suitable for slightly bigger Indian families who wish to travel together. The Carens is offered in as many as 19 variants with prices ranging from INR 8.99 to 16.99 lakhs – very aggressive pricing strategy by Kia, plus the wide range of variants will allow Kia to cater to an even more diverse set of customers.

In addition to the exciting pricing, the Carens also offers maintenance cost as low as 37 paisa per kilometre. The company continues to personalise the vehicle servicing process for its customers and offer a competitive maintenance cost for all its models in the country. The design is appealing, the interior is practical and spacious, the ride and handling is very comfortable and nimble – all of which makes this a great value proposition.

The Carens also offers a robust safety package which includes 6 airbags, DBC, VSM, HAC, ESC and All-Wheel Disc Brakes, to name a few, comes standard on all five trim levels, making the Kia Carens one of the safest family movers. With the Carens, Kia has produced a winner which is capable to rival the best in the segment.

Kia Carens Pan India Ex-Showroom Prices in INR:

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Pan India (Ex-Showroom Prices in Lakhs)
Premium	Smartstream1.5 Petrol	6 MT	8.99
Smartstream1.4 T-GDi Petrol	6 MT	10.99
1.5L CRDi VGT Diesel	6 MT	10.99
Prestige	Smartstream1.5 Petrol	6 MT	9.99
Smartstream1.4 T-GDi Petrol	6 MT	11.99
1.5L CRDi VGT Diesel	6 MT	11.99
Prestige Plus	Smartstream1.4 T-GDi Petrol	6 MT	13.49
7 DCT	14.59
1.5L CRDi VGT Diesel	6 MT	13.49
Luxury	Smartstream1.4 T-GDi Petrol	6 MT	14.99
1.5L CRDi VGT Diesel	6 MT	14.99
Luxury Plus (6 Seater)	Smartstream1.4 T-GDi Petrol	6 MT	16.19
7 DCT	16.99
1.5L CRDi VGT Diesel	6 MT	16.19
6 AT	16.99
Luxury Plus (7 Seater)	Smartstream1.4 T-GDi Petrol	6 MT	16.19
7 DCT	16.99
1.5L CRDi VGT Diesel	6 MT	16.19
6 AT	16.99

Volvo Cars is integrating and testing a new wireless charging technology in a live city environment together with selected partners, evaluating its potential for future electric cars.

Over a three-year period, a small fleet of fully electric Volvo XC40 Recharge cars will be used as taxis by Cabonline, the largest taxi operator in the Nordic region, and charged wirelessly at stations in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The wireless charging test is one of many projects outlined within the strategic initiative Gothenburg Green City Zone, under which designated areas within the city are used as live test beds for the development of sustainable technologies.

“Gothenburg Green City Zone lets us try exciting new technologies in a real environment and evaluate them over time for a potential future broader introduction,” said Mats Moberg, Head of Research and Development at Volvo Cars. “Testing new charging technologies together with selected partners is a good way to evaluate alternative charging options for our future cars.”

The charging stations used in the test are delivered by Momentum Dynamics, a leading provider of wireless electric charging systems. The charging starts automatically when a compatible vehicle parks over a charging pad embedded in the street, allowing drivers to conveniently charge without getting out of their car.

The charging station sends energy through the charging pad, which is picked up by a receiver unit in the car. To easily align the car with the charging pad, Volvo Cars will use its 360-degree camera system. For the fully electric XC40 Recharge cars, the wireless charging power will be more than 40kW, making the charging speeds around four times faster than a wired 11kW AC charger and almost as fast as a wired 50kW DC fast charger.

In total, the Volvo cars will be used for more than 12 hours a day and drive 100,000km per year, which also makes this the first durability test of fully electric Volvo cars in a commercial usage scenario.

Other partners involved in the wireless charging project include the company’s own Swedish retailers Volvo Bil and Volvo Car Sörred, Swedish energy company Vattenfall and its charging network InCharge, the city energy company Göteborg Energi, and Business Region Gothenburg, a municipal economic development agency owned by the City of Gothenburg.

Last year, Volvo Cars took part in launching the Gothenburg Green City Zone initiative, which aims to achieve emission-free transport by 2030. Using a real city as a testing ground will enable the company to accelerate development of technologies and services in the areas of electrification, shared mobility, autonomous driving, connectivity and safety.

Setting a new milestone in its India presence, BMW Group Plant Chennai has rolled out the 1,00,000th car locally produced in the country. A BMW Individual 740Li M Sport Edition has received this special badge.

Mr. Thomas Dose, Managing Director, BMW Group Plant Chennai said, “It is a day of great joy and pride for us as the 1,00,000th ‘Made-in-India’ car drives out of our assembly lines. This accomplishment is a result of the team’s hard work, efficiency and consistency which ensures that every BMW or MINI car locally produced here in Chennai is of the same international quality standards as any other BMW plant across the world. Highly skilled employees, advanced manufacturing processes along with state-of-the-art technology and a strong focus on sustainability provided the necessary ingredients for this success. At the same time, increased localisation of up to 50 per cent and a robust collaboration with local supplier partners has created more value for everyone in the ecosystem. BMW Group Plant Chennai looks forward to raising the bar in sustainable manufacturing excellence further as the India story grows.”

BMW Group Plant Chennai started operations on March 29, 2007 and is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. The BMW Group has continuously increased the number of its locally produced car models. Currently, 13 models are locally produced – BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, BMW 3 Series, BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine, BMW M340i, BMW 5 Series, BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo, BMW 7 Series, BMW X1, BMW X3, BMW X4, BMW X5, BMW X7 and MINI Countryman. Making sustainability a top priority, the plant runs on 100% green electricity. The total number of employees at BMW Group India is over 650.

Hyundai Motor Company today unveiled a strategic roadmap to accelerate its electrification ambition as it pursues sustainable progress for the company. President and CEO Jaehoon Chang and other executives presented the plans to shareholders and investors, and other various stakeholders at the ‘2022 CEO Investor Day’ virtual forum. The company also unveiled targets for sales and financial performance to be achieved by 2030.

The roadmap for Hyundai’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) is supported by: strengthening BEV line-ups, optimizing manufacturing capacity, and securing hardware and software competitiveness. Under the plan, the company aims to boost annual global BEV sales to 1.87 million units and secure a 7 percent level of global market share by 2030. Hyundai also presented its mid-to long-term financial goals. The company earmarked KRW 95.5 trillion of investment for future businesses by 2030, including KRW 19.4 trillion for electrification and KRW 12 trillion for software capabilities.

By 2030, Hyundai also targets to achieve an operating profit margin of 10 percent or higher in EV businesses by enhancing competitiveness in hardware and software capabilities with an expanded line-up. On a consolidated basis, it aims to secure an operating profit margin of 10 percent.

“Hyundai is successfully accelerating its transition to electrification and becoming a global leader in EVs despite a challenging business environment caused by the global chip shortage and ongoing pandemic,” said President Chang. “Along with our seamless efforts to improve EV value, Hyundai Motor will continue to secure its business sustainability as a ‘Mobility Solutions Provider’ through advanced technologies of not only hardware but also software.”

Strengthening BEV line-ups

Hyundai Motor raised the annual BEV sales target to 1.87 million units by 2030 from previously announced 560,000 units by 2025. The company aims to take 7 percent market share in the overall global BEV market.

Hyundai plans to introduce 17 BEV models;11 Hyundai marque models along with six models from Genesisluxury brand by 2030 as it seeks to expand BEV spectrum.

The new Hyundai BEV models will include three sedan models, six SUVs, one light commercial vehicle as well as one new type model. This year, Hyundai begin sales of IONIQ 6, followed byIONIQ 7 in 2024. Genesis luxury brand, the BEV line-up consists of two passenger cars and four SUVs, including the Electrified GV70 launching this year.Starting in 2025,all newly launched models from Genesis will be electrified.

Optimizing EV Manufacturing Capacity

Hyundai Motor aims to establish a high efficiency manufacturing process for BEV production to accelerate its transition into electrification. Hyundai Motor Global Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS), the cornerstone for innovation in the company’s mobility value chain, will build a human-centered manufacturing innovation platform. The platform is expected to bring dramatic innovation in production efficiency through a flexible production system, advanced level automation and digital twin technology. The innovation will be expanded to global plants in the future.

Beyond existing BEV production facilities centered in Korea and the Czech Republic, Hyundai plans to gradually expand its BEV manufacturing bases, starting with an Indonesian plant that recently started operation. The Indonesian plant will start BEV production this year to help expand production volume.

As BEV production bases expand, the company is trying to increase the local procurement rate of batteries through strategic alliances with battery companies in major regions, including the U.S., to secure sufficient battery supply. Through these alliances, the company expects to obtain more than 50 percent of its next-generation lithium batteries for BEVs starting in 2025.

In addition, Hyundai will also diversify battery sourcing to consolidate the competitiveness of future BEVs. The company has secured sufficient battery supplyto meet its sales targets by 2023. Hyundai plans to continue cooperation with various battery companies with an aim of securing 170GWh of batteries for its models, including Genesis luxury brand by 2030.

Regarding the next-generation batteries, such as solid-state battery, Hyundai is cooperating with various global partners to improve energy density and cost efficiency.

Securing Hardware and Software Competitiveness

Hyundai Motor plans to introduce an Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA),evolved fromthe electric global modular platform (E-GMP)that is the foundation of IONIQ 5 and GV60, successfully launched in 2021.The IMA will beutilized not only to as Hyundai Motor’spassenger BEV platformbut also as its exclusive purpose-built vehicle (PBV) platform,helping to streamline production processes and reduce cost.

The IMA is being developed to standardize not only a chassis but also battery system and motor. The innovative architecture can be used for BEV modelsin all segments, improving driving range.

Unlike the existing BEV development system, which has different types of battery packs for each model, IMA can be equipped with standardized battery packs to attach flexibly regardless of the model to improve cost efficiency. Through the cell-to-pack system, the new architecture can secure sufficient energy density and shorten charging time.

Standardized five type of motors also will be installed on IMA according to model needs. This modular motor system can secure competitiveness in terms of cost and weight as well as motor efficiency.

Hyundai Motor will also strive to develop software architectures to provide a satisfyingownership experience for customers. The company plans to apply an over-the-air (OTA) update to new models that will be launched starting at the end of 2022, and expand it to all Hyundai models by 2025. In addition,the number of integrated control units can be reducedby one-third by 2030.

In terms of autonomous driving technology, the Highway Driving Pilot (HDP), a Level 3 autonomous driving function, will be applied to Genesis G90 starting in the second half of this year. The Motional, the autonomous driving joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, plans to expand the service area of an IONIQ 5-based robotaxifollowing its commercial service commencement in 2023 and start self-driving delivery services this year through partnerships with Uber Eats.

Hyundai will achieve software transformation by expanding the business areas of mobility, connectivity and other services based on data,and enhancing software competitiveness. To do so, the company will establish specialized centers of excellence for software developmentin Korea and abroad.

By 2030, the company will invest a total of KRW 12 trillion to boost competitiveness in software capabilities, including KRW 4.3 trillion ontechnology development,such as connectivity and autonomous driving, KRW 4.8 trillion on strategic investment for startups and research institutions, and KRW 2.9 trillion on information and communications technology (ICT). After 2030, the company targets the revenue from software-related businesses to take approximately 30 percent of total sales.

Financial Targets

Hyundai also disclosed mid- to long-term financial goalsrunning through 2030, including an investment of KRW 95.5 trillion. Out of the total investment, KRW 39.1 trillion will be allocated for research and development, and KRW 43.6 trillion for capital expenditures to enhance business competitiveness, while KRW 12.8 trillion will be dedicated to strategic investment.

The KRW 95.5-trillion expenditure plan includes KRW 19.4 trillion for investment into electrification field to expand EV production capability, build charging stations and engage in strategic technology alliances.

By 2030, Hyundai aims to achieve a target of an operating profit margin of 10 percent or higher in EVs by increasing sales volume and innovating cost structure. Strengthened EV line up, development of efficient next-generation batteries as well as IMA will help the company to meet its financial goals.On a consolidated basis, the company set a goal of an operating margin of 10 percent.

As the company shared early in this year, Hyundai aims for 13-14 percent of consolidated revenue growth and 5.5-6.5 percent annual consolidated operating profit margin in 2022. The company aims for total vehicle sales of over 4.3 million units.

The first all-electric MINI 3-Door Cooper SE was launched in India today at an ex-showroom price of INR 47,20,000. Available as a completely built-up unit (CBU), all available units were sold out during the pre-launch booking in Q4 2021. MINI India will be delivering the cars to the pre-launch customers from March 2022, earlier than promised. Bookings for the next phase of deliveries will start from March 2022, exclusively on the MINI Online Shop – shop.mini.in.

The MINI Electric is the best of both worlds, giving you the iconic character of MINI with all the benefits of going electric. Emitting zero emissions, it’s the perfect combination of sustainable driving, thrilling driving performance and iconic MINI design. The MINI Electric is reinventing urban life. It is inspired by its roots, progressive yet iconic, a true trailblazer. The car is changing the face of mobility and continues MINI’s tradition of making creative use of urban space with its eye on the future.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “10 years into the country, MINI India is proud to bring the first all-electric car in the compact premium segment. In line with our ‘Digital First’ strategy, it is also the first series model exclusively available for booking on the MINI Online Shop and was completely sold out during the pre-launch booking phase itself. The MINI 3-Door Cooper SE combines MINI’s inventive spirit and iconic design with instant torque, zero emissions and a low centre of gravity that enhances its legendary go-kart feeling. It paves the way into the future of MINI as an E-brand (E-lectric E-commerce E-xperience). The MINI 3-Door Cooper SE will play a significant role in inspiring creative individuals and trendsetters to drive the silent revolution.”

The MINI 3-Door Cooper SE comes with a Smart Wallbox charger with a fixed charging cable and one-time installation.

MINI will globally be a fully electric brand after 2030. The MINI 3-Door Cooper SE paves the way into the future of MINI as an ‘Electric E-commerce Experience’ brand. The all-electric MINI 3-Door Cooper SE is the first model to combine electromobility in an urban setting with the hallmark MINI brand attributes. The dimensions, design, space and interior ambience are based on the conventionally powered MINI 3-Door Hatch.

The cars design blends modern aesthetic aerodynamic lines with new eye-catching signature details. Dynamic lines and a crisp, clean style combine with the wide track and short overhangs to give the MINI 3-Door Cooper SE its taut athletic presence. Striking ‘Energetic Yellow’ accents further enhance its unique appearance on the road. The sleek, captivating front grille has been given a very modern interpretation, embodying both MINI history and the future. The all-electric MINI is designed to complement vibrant city life and maximise your driving experience.

Distinctive headlights are accompanied by the new eye-catching side scuttles that house LED indicators and the Energetic Yellow ‘S’ logo. Mirror Caps in Energetic Yellow along with new design elements of the Piano Black exterior lend an even more individual appearance. The exclusive 17 inch / 43.18 cm Electric Power Spoke alloy wheels outlined in Energetic Yellow add to complete the all-electric MINI’s sleek design. The asymmetrical spokes lend them a unique appearance and are aerodynamically optimised to improve efficiency. The car is available in four unique exterior colours – White Silver, Midnight Black, Moonwalk Grey and British Racing Green.

The interior comes with the exclusive MINI Electric Interior Surface and sports seats with Cloth/ Leatherette Combination Upholstery in Black Pearl/ Carbon Black. The new multifunction steering wheel in Nappa Leather integrates more functions yet reduces the number of control surfaces. The new 5-inch/ 12.7 cm digital Multifunction Instrument Display in a sleek Black Panel design provides key driving information. It is brilliantly complemented by the 8.8-Inch/22.35 cm high-resolution, full-colour touchscreen. In addition, the audio control unit and the function buttons for hazard warning lights and driver assistance systems are integrated harmoniously into the circular control unit. Innumerable, finely integrated lighting strips and spots create ambient lighting that sets the right mood for every drive. Striking accents in ‘Energetic Yellow’ extend to the start/stop toggle switch, gear lever and unique badging on door sills.

The MINI Electric drive takes the legendary go-kart feeling to an entirely new and fascinating dimension with zero emissions and instant torque. With 184 hp/135 kW and a maximum torque of 270 Nm, the electric MINI sprints from 0-100 km in 7.3 seconds. Dynamic yet silent, the all-electric MINI offers an entirely new driving experience. It is powered with a battery capacity of 32.6 kWh and a driving range of up to 270 km.

MINI 3-Door Cooper SE ensures fast and hassle-free charging.

• 50 kW DC Charger – 80% in 36 mins.
• 11 kW AC Charger – 80% in 2 hours 30 minutes.
• 2.3 kW AC Charger– 80% in 9 hours 43 minutes.

In an exclusive edition of only 99 automobiles, a strictly limited number of the M850i xDrive Gran Coupé were created by Jeff Koons and BMW during several years of close collaboration. With THE 8 X JEFF KOONS, the most elaborately designed vehicle in all of BMW’s history will be presented to a global audience for the first time on the occasion of Frieze Los Angeles. BMW is a long-term partner of the art fair; Jeff Koons is represented globally, and at Frieze Los Angeles, by Pace Gallery.

Jeff Koons, artist, comments: “My edition of the BMW 8 Series is my dream car! It is very special to me and I’ve wanted to create a special edition BMW for a long time. It is sporty and flashy as well as minimalist and conceptual. I can’t wait to drive it and ride in it, and I hope that people will enjoy the Gran Coupé just as much as I do. On the car, the lines are getting bigger on their journey from the hood towards the trunk, creating a sense of forward movement just as the ‘POP!’ and the vapor thrust design elements do. The blue colour resembles the vastness of space and I like the idea of the car being a global car. What matters is how we relate to each other and our awareness of everything we are surrounded by. For the driver and all passengers, there is a heightened state of pleasure. This is what my car has to offer.”

Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG: “BMW thrives on constantly seeking out new challenges! Working with Jeff Koons again has inspired us all – throughout headquarters and across our plants in Germany. Never before in the history of our company has a BMW been created with such an extensive design effort as THE 8 X JEFF KOONS. A ‘rolling sculpture’ that will not only be displayed as a coveted collector’s item in museums but will also be allowed to flourish on the road as a genuine BMW.”

The expressive and striking design combines eleven different exterior colours ranging from blue to silver as well as from yellow to black. Only four cars will be painted each week. The multi-colored interior is comprised of high-end materials, fine leather and a cupholder lid with an edition badging and the artist’s signature. The seats are made up of the striking red and blue which reflects the colors of superheroes from the comic book universe as well as those of the company’s high-performance unit BMW M. Overall, the energetic and powerful design includes both elements of pop art as well as geometric patterns paying homage to the sporty 8 Series Gran Coupe’s intricate contours and shape. The exploding lines of color at the rear, in turn, are their own unmediated homage to the artist’s 2010 BMW Art Car, while the “POP!” on each side as well as the vapor thrust imagery symbolize the power and speed of THE 8 X JEFF KOONS, according to the artist.

Over 200 hours of manual work were spent by highly specialized professionals at the BMW Group plants in Dingolfing and Landshut on the exterior paintwork alone, where the color samples were often applied with magnifying glasses. “Energetic,” “tantalizing,” and “strong” is how international media described the car, following the publication of first design studies on the occasion of the cooperation’s announcement in early September 2021 at Munich’s Pinakothek der Moderne museum. “Dozens of engineers and designers have given their all to celebrate our partnership and make his vision come true,” said Oliver Zipse. The artist himself spent many days on site at the Dingolfing plant over a period of numerous months discussing design options with the BMW employees involved. “I was thinking very intensely about it: What is the essence of the 8 Series Gran Coupé? What is the essence of power? How to create something that exemplifies all the energy of the BMW 8 Series that is also able to touch upon the human element?”

Each vehicle comes with a large-format certificate signed by Jeff Koons, which in addition to Oliver Zipse’s signature also contains the individual Vehicle Identification Number of the respective vehicle. The artist also designed the dust jacket of the Driver’s Manual. One further signature of the artist is let into the cupholder panel. Koons deliberately chose the Bavarian blue from the BMW logo.

The original BMW 850i was the first model of the 8 Series launched in 1990 and was celebrated as creating a new perspective of progress in advanced motoring, appealing to the connoisseur who acknowledges elegance and performance as the ultimate blend of perfection. THE 8 X JEFF KOONS also continues this tradition.

In 2010, the American artist already created a unique BMW M3 GT2 Art Car which performed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and was unveiled at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. That same year, the rock singer Bono from U2 wrote in an editorial for the New York Times that Jeff Koons should have a part in designing the car of the future. BMW and Koons continued the conversation and in early 2020 decided on a limited edition of the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé, which had its world premiere in January 2022.

Initially, THE 8 X JEFF KOONS will be on display for the general public in Manhattan’s Rockefeller Plaza before one vehicle from the edition, signed on the tailgate by Jeff Koons, will be auctioned off at Christie’s in New York on April 4. All proceeds from the highest bid will go to the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC). Jeff Koons has been personally involved with this nonprofit NGO for over two decades.

Following its world premiere, THE 8 X JEFF KOONS will be presented at numerous art fairs and events in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including the 16th Istanbul Contemporary, Paris Photo, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Art Dubai, West Bund Art & Design Fair Shanghai and Art Basel Hong Kong.

Initiated by French race car driver and art aficionado Hervé Poulain and conceived in collaboration with the founder of BMW Motorsport Jochen Neerpasch, the first BMW Art Car was commissioned when both asked Alexander Calder to design Poulain’s BMW race car in 1975. Since then, 19 artists from throughout the world have created BMW automobiles of their time. The BMW Art Cars by Roy Lichtenstein, Esther Mahlangu, Jenny Holzer, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Ólafur Elíasson, Frank Stella, Robert Rauschenberg, Cao Fei and John Baldessari, among others, are all inspired by developments in art, design and technology. Jeff Koons designed the 17th BMW Art Car in 2010, the BMW M3 GT2, which also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. On the occasion of 50 years of BMW Group Cultural Engagement last year, the Art Cars entered the digital realm and are presented in augmented reality since then. Via the free Acute Art app, the digital rolling sculptures are accessible to everyone around the world at any time.

Mercedes-Benz has rolled out a new-age marketing campaign “Are you AMG-ready?” The new campaign announces Mercedes-Benz India’s shift to new age performance marketing and underlines an important strategic move by the company to target social-media-savvy AMG customers who are highly active on Instagram, some of them being semi-influencers in their own right. The latest campaign redefines the marketing playbook by leveraging ‘Instagram’ as its hero channel for promotion.

The campaign is a departure from the regular media mix and leverages customer-insight driven performance marketing, catering to the lifestyle of AMG customers. It is designed to bind existing customers to the brand and conquer new target groups, while focussing on the timeless AMG spirit. The campaign introduces a new imagery and a confident tone- freedom-loving and rebellious – offering a glimpse of upcoming product campaigns that are set to excite the AMG customers and performance enthusiasts during the course of the year.

Commenting on the new campaign, Santosh Iyer, Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India remarked, “The “Are you AMG-ready?” campaign aims at making the brand more desirable while simultaneously reaching new target groups. It showcases Mercedes-Benz’s sharp customer focus by repurposing the media mix to ensure maximum engagement with customers. Our AMG customers are adrenaline loving, feisty spirited digital natives who seek instant reaction and constant engagement from the brand. They are performance purists whose passion for the AMG brand has led them to become semi-influencers in their own right. The campaign salutes our AMG customers, their inspiring AMG spirit and passion for performance, which will strengthen the AMG brand further.”

“The campaign acknowledges the evolving psyche and AMG lifestyle of our customers and invites them to explore the infinite possibilities just like the powerful and scintillating personality of the AMG performance brand itself. We firmly believe “Are you AMG-ready?” campaign will redefine the marketing playbook for the future, and set a new instance for new-age performance marketing in India. The campaign also is a precursor to the introductions of some of the most exciting AMG products this year.” Elaborated Mr. Iyer

The campaign video has been ideated and conceptualized by renowned British star photographer and filmmaker Rankin’s agency, Rankin Agency London.

The campaign includes numerous Instagram assets each telling an individual story. They focus on four highlight vehicles from the AMG model portfolio: two historic milestones in the shape of the SLS AMG Electric Drive and the 300 E 5.6 AMG (“The Hammer”) as well as two current vehicles in the form of the Mercedes-AMG G 63 and the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series.

Embraced with efficiency and sporty looks, the AMG models are the true adrenaline of the luxury car. It is a blend of luxury, sportiness, performance, and team spirit; qualities that customers always rely on. AMG is currently systematically driving forward the transformation of the company and redefining the future of Driving Performance. True to its qualities, the campaign is built on the principle of creating a strong relationship between the brand and the customers who are bold, highly spirited, and powerful just like AMG.

Continental Tires has introduced its new range of CrossContact AX6 SUV tyres in India. The new all-terrain Generation 6 CrossContact AX6 tyres provide excellent durability, low noise, and tread design engineered for a blend of control and performance on all terrain and wet road conditions.

The SUV sales in the country have been significantly growing in the past few years. As per reports, the share of SUV and crossover sales in total passenger vehicle sales across India was approximately 38 percent in 2021 compared to a mere eight percent in 2001. The shift in consumer preferences has created a demand for high-performance tyres for SUVs in India.

The CrossContact AX6 tyres are designed for performance and are perfect for ever-changing road conditions across the country and enable a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride. The tyres ensure grip on loose surfaces like gravel and provide additional traction on off-road surfaces. Further, they offer short braking distances in wet road conditions.

According to Samir Gupta, MD Continental India, “The CrossContact AX6 tyres are designed specifically keeping in mind the various conditions found both on-road and off-road. The tyres are highly suitable for markets like India, which feature various geographies, road conditions, and growing SUV demand. They are a perfect fit for any driver who spends most of their time on the road but requires more traction when heading off the beaten track.”

He further added, “Markets across the globe have widely appreciated the CrossContact AX6 tyres, and we hope to see similar results in India.”

One of the essential factors while off-roading is the traction and grip provided by the tyres. The open tread pattern of the CrossContact AX6 tyres provides maximized edges and contact area, helping in additional off-road traction. The tyres also include traction grooves with gripping teeth that prevent the loose surface sliding through the tread grooves. In addition, thanks to the Silica Tread Compound, the polymer structure that grips on the road give excellent traction and braking on wet and slippery roads. The sipped pattern on the tyres further aid the grip of the tyres.

On the other hand, the large tread blocks, and tough tread compound, aid in minimizing the stone retention and resisting cutting and chipping of tyres, which leads to excellent durability and robustness. The innovative design features the noise blockers in the shoulder of the tyre to block sound waves and unnecessary noise generated by the tyres and provide a smooth and quieter ride.

The CrossContact AX6 tyres are available for the latest range of SUVs in India.

Kia India today announced completion of 5 lakh dispatches from its Anantapur plant, including both domestic and export market. With this, the company has also surpassed the 4 lakh sales milestone in the country and has already exported over 1 lakh cars to more than 91 countries, since it started shipping Seltos in September 2019. Kia India also became the number one utility vehicle exporter in the country, with a market share of over 25 percent in 2021.

Tae-Jin Park, Managing Director and CEO, Kia India, said, ”Half-a-million is a big number and we are proud to have attained this milestone in less than 2.5 years. Ever since our inception in India, we have focused on providing great value to our customers through our ground-breaking products and services. Today, Kia is a part of 4 lakh Indian families and we are extremely grateful for the affection bestowed upon us by our esteemed customers. Now, with the Carens already launched, we are confident of achieving our next milestones at a much faster pace, creating new benchmarks that will chart the course of our growth journey in the country.”

The London Concours, presented by Montres Breguet, has revealed that its 2022 edition will celebrate arguably one of the greatest marque of all time: Mercedes-Benz. Running from the 28th to 30th of June at the Honourable Artillery Company in the heart of the City of London, the show will feature iconic examples from the company that invented the motorcar; a consistent flagbearer for innovation, luxury and engineering excellence from its inception to the present day.

The London Concours will assemble exquisite models from this hallowed manufacturer, whose history can be traced back to the first internal combustion car, on the HAC’s immaculately manicured lawns. The line-up will span the decades, assembling the brand’s landmark cars, all high points for both luxury and performance.

The array of stunning motorcars will include genuine automotive icons such as the 300 SL ‘Gullwing’, to many the most beautiful car ever produced. The 300 SL, codenamed ‘W 198’, made its debut in February 1954 at the International Motor Sports Show in New York; the crowds had never seen a road car like it. With a streamlined body, cloaking an innovative lightweight spaceframe, and 215 bhp straight-six engine – the first to feature direct fuel injection – the Gullwing was capable of 155mph, remarkable in the mid-1950s. A similarly stunning roadster version followed in 1957 and in all 3,258 cars were built by the time production ceased.

The Honourable Artillery Company will also welcome the roadster tasked with succeeding the 300SL: the SL ‘Pagoda’. Launched in 1963, Mercedes-Benz’s drop top of the 60s and early 70s has also gone down in history as one of the most revered automotive shapes of all; simple, elegant and of the highest quality. The SL was offered with a series of inline-six-cylinder engines, ranging in size from 2.3 to 2.8-litres, giving sprightly performance. Often specified with both a soft top and removeable hard-top, the ‘W113’ was a favourite of the great and good; owners in period included Juan Manuel Fangio, John Lennon and Sophia Loren.

June’s event will also play host to a modern Mercedes-Benz created in the 300SL’s image: the SLS Coupe – a modern interpretation of the ‘Gullwing’. Launched to the world in 2009, the high-performance SLS echoed its antecedent’s design, a strict two-seater with a long bonnet and of course, those dramatic doors. The SLS also acted as a direct successor to the SLR McLaren, and featured a snarling, naturally aspirated, 563 bhp 6.2-litre V8 which propelled it to a top speed of 196 mph. The SLS evolved over its production run, culminating in the savage, bewinged ‘Black Series’ cars. All variants of this stunning GT car are now sought-after modern classics.

Guests will also be able to revel in the details of one of the rarest modern Mercedes-Benz: the CLK DTM Coupe. Launched in 2004 to celebrate the marque’s victory in the 2003 German Touring Car championship with Bernd Schneider at the wheel, the DTM looked outlandish, with its vented body work and dramatically flared arches. Performance lived up to the wild looks, with a 582 bhp 5.4-litre supercharged V8, propelling it from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds and on to a (limited) top speed of 199 mph. With only 100 examples produced, the CLK DTM remains one of Mercedes-Benz’s rarest and most sought-after performance models.

This June there will also be a chance to savour one of the most luxurious limousines ever created: the stately Mercedes-Benz 600 LWB ‘Pullman’. A technological tour de force, this limo set new standards for both performance and opulence when it was launched to the world in 1963. The ‘Grosser’ featured a silken 6.3-litre V8, affording it suitably imperious performance. The 600 LWB was a favourite of heads of state and celebrities alike, with a diverse list of owners ranging from Saddam Hussein to David Bowie. With only 428 LWB examples built, this summer’s event will present a rare opportunity to pore over the details of this titanic automotive icon.

These sensational Mercedes-Benz, and many more, will be exhibited at the event in June, the ultimate automotive extravaganza, in the heart of the City of London. Further announcements will be made about the exiting further classes in the coming weeks and months, as we build up to the 6th edition of the show, set to be another occasion of complete automotive indulgence.

Andrew Evans, London Concours Director, said: “We are extremely excited to reveal that this summer’s ever popular ‘Great Marques’ class will celebrate the seminal automotive brand – Mercedes-Benz. Long associated with style and luxury, qualities central to our event, we will assemble the rarest and most alluring examples from this wonderful, storied manufacturer – all in an immaculate setting in the heart of the City of London. Guests to the Honourable Artillery Company will be treated to an astonishing array of cars, as well as delectable food and drink options, and a carefully curated line-up of designer brands and boutiques, at the summer’s ultimate automotive garden party.”