McLaren Automotive will bring the full force of its expertise in hybrid powertrain engineering to the supercar class next year with the introduction of the new Artura, a High-Performance Hybrid (HPH) developed with the benefit of more than half a century of McLaren knowledge, experience and engineering achievements in race and road cars.

All-new in every respect, the Artura marks the beginning of a new era for the pioneering British company. Building on the expertise in electrification first showcased in the McLaren P1TM hybrid hypercar unveiled in 2012 and more recently the Speedtail Hyper-GT, which entered production this year as McLaren’s fastest ever car with a top speed of 403kmph (250mph), the Artura is McLaren’s first High-Performance Hybrid series production supercar.

“Every element of the Artura is all-new – from the platform architecture and every part of the High-Performance Hybrid powertrain, to the exterior body, interior and cutting-edge driver interface – but it draws on decades of McLaren experience in pioneering super-lightweight race and road car technologies to bring all of our expertise in electrification to the supercar class”, said Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive.

The new Artura marks the debut of an all-new compact twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine, designed to combine with an electric motor in a new lightweight High-Performance Hybrid powertrain that retains the performance benefits of McLaren’s larger capacity V8 engines and has the additional attraction of improved torque response at low engine speeds to deliver scintillating acceleration. The Artura can also run on electric power alone for everyday emission-free urban journeys.

The first car to be built on an all-new, platform architecture optimised for electrification and designed and manufactured in the UK at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre, the Artura furthers McLaren’s commitment to super-lightweight engineering principles that have their roots in motorsport. The additional mass of the High-Performance Hybrid system, for example, has been largely offset by the application of weight-saving technologies throughout the chassis, body and powertrain. Additionally, the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) at the heart of the Artura not only enables the car’s class-leading weight advantage, it is also the base for the dynamic excellence inherent in every McLaren.

Nissan will reveal the price of the All-new Nissan Magnite on its launch in India on December 2, 2020. Customers will now get to experience the all- new Nissan Magnite and book it across all the Nissan showrooms in India.

“The upcoming launch of the all-new Nissan Magnite is a symbol of Nissan’s commitment to the Indian market for the discerning customers. The “Carismatic” SUV will come at a special introductory price with many special offerings for many of the Customers who have eagerly been waiting for its launch” said Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India.

2020 has been an imperative year for Nissan, right from the concept teaser to the global unveil to experiencing the SUV in the production state to now gearing up for the price and booking announcement.

“The all-new Nissan Magnite plays a vital role in Nissan NEXT. The all new Nissan Magnite is an SUV that is made in India, made for the world. As we continue to prioritize and invest in the Indian consumer, who is aspirational and discerning with vehicles, we aim for the all-new Nissan Magnite to be the first product that will enable sustainable growth. ” said Sinan Ozkok, President, Nissan Motor India.

At the heart of the all-new Nissan Magnite is the ‘Made in India’ engine, the HRA0 1.0-litre Turbo, which delivers maximum power of 100PS and maximum torque of 160Nm, while claiming to deliver fuel-efficiency of 20kmpl (ARAI figure).

The HRAO Turbo engine is available with a choice of either a 5-speed manual or a X-Tronic CVT gearbox. With Nissan’s cruise control and wider gear range, the all-new Nissan Magnite aims to delivers seamless performance even in peak city traffic. Its D-STEP logic control computer software uses dynamic inputs like vehicle speed, accelerator pedal position and application speed to determine the ideal gear ratio needed to deliver an exhilarating drive and smooth highway cruises.

“RNAIPL is proud to have begun the production of the HRA0, a first-of-its-kind Turbo engine in the country to offer such robust performance. Truly, the all-new Nissan Magnite is a testimony to Nissan’s global SUV DNA of relentless innovation, advanced technology, and Japanese engineering,” said Biju Balendran, MD & CEO, RNAIPL.

The HRAO Turbo engine borrows ‘mirror bore cylinder coating’ technology from world-class sports cars such as the Nissan GT-R, thus reducing resistance inside the engine, cutting weight, improving heat management and combustion, thus delivering smooth acceleration and efficient fuel use.

The HRAO Turbo engine also features six technical improvements that result in better fuel economy, lower CO2 emissions at 118.5g/km. The engine provides a new experience of responsive and quicker acceleration, whilst also refining noise, vibration, and harshness through improved powertrain and road noise isolation, resulting in a quieter cabin. The HRA0 1.0-litre Turbo engine also provides up to 50 per cent better acceleration compared to naturally aspirated engines, especially in take-off and overtaking situations.

Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, commented: “The all-new Nissan Magnite embodies our philosophy of Nissan-ness, which stands for empowering people through breakthrough products and technologies. The development emphasizes on creating an effortless and highly enjoyable driving experience, while reducing emissions and offering great mileage – a compelling combination that every car owner can appreciate.”

The HRAO Turbo engine’s elastic accessory belt is made of a special material allowing it to run without a tensioner, reducing weight and friction, further improving fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions. The compactly designed cylinder head, which features an integrated exhaust manifold and plastic cover, provides improved engine packaging and reduces the number of ducts for better and faster catalyst warming, resulting in cleaner emissions.

With a maximum power of 72 PS and maximum torque of 92 Nm, the all-new Nissan Magnite will also be available with the B4D naturally aspirated petrol engine. Paired with Nissan’s dual VVT system that delivers maximum response at all revs and ensures optimum acceleration, the B4D is the ideal choice for those looking for an engine that is easier to maintain.

Bentley Motors has outlined plans to become a global leader in sustainable luxury mobility with further details of its Beyond100 strategy revealed today. With the promise to offer truly sustainable luxury, Bentley will reinvent every aspect of its business to become an end-to-end carbon neutral organisation as it embarks on its second century. The target is driven by a transformation programme across Bentley’s entire operations and products. This includes switching its model range to offer exclusively plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicles by 2026, and full electric vehicles only by 2030.

The announcement highlights Bentley’s plans to provide extraordinary mobility for the next century, evolving from the world’s largest producer of 12-cylinder petrol engines to having no internal combustion engines within a decade, reinventing itself as a leader in sustainable luxury mobility.

The Beyond100 strategic plan is an extension of two decades of forward thinking, innovation and achievement. Acutely aware of the responsibility to consider its environmental, social and economic impact, Bentley has transformed its 80-year-old headquarters into the UK’s single carbon neutral luxury car factory. In parallel, the luxury marque has grown to operate in more markets than ever before, 68, while creating a long-term, consistent, sustainable business model, a truly solid basis to build for a second century.

Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bentley Motors, said: “Since 1919, Bentley has defined luxury grand touring. Being at the forefront of progress is part of our DNA – the original Bentley boys were pioneers and leaders. Now, as we look Beyond100, we will continue to lead by reinventing the company and becoming the world’s benchmark luxury car business

“Driving this change includes, and also goes beyond our products, delivering a paradigm shift throughout our business, with credibility, authenticity, and integrity. Within a decade, Bentley will transform from a 100 year old luxury car company to a new, sustainable, wholly ethical role model for luxury.”

Bentley’s aim to become an end-to-end carbon neutral luxury car brand by 2030 will be underpinned by a structured, business-wide sustainability programme. This includes the development of electrified models throughout the range, and further improvements on its operational environmental impact, that of its tier one supply chain and collaborating with its retailer network.

Bentley’s approach to redefining its business model will be built around its accelerated journey towards electrification. Having already committed that every model line will be offered with the option of a hybrid variant by 2023, with Bentley’s first pure electric model to be launched in 2025, Bentley is today announcing a move towards zero emission mobility.

Following the introduction of the first Bentley fully electric model in 2025 – Bentley’s first cradle to grave fully carbon neutral car – Bentley will exclusively offer plug-in hybrid and electric models only within its range in 2026. By 2030, this will change to battery electric vehicles only.

Bentley’s electrified future was previewed with the reveal of the all-electric EXP 100 GT concept car in its centenary year, which also featured a multitude of sustainable materials. These included 5,000-year-old copper-infused Riverwood, traditionally produced wool carpets and a leather-like textile upholstery made from a bi-product of wine-making. Bentley will continue to use only sustainably sourced materials throughout its current, and next generation of cars.

Last year, Bentley’s production facility in Crewe became the first luxury automotive factory in the UK to be certified carbon neutral by the Carbon Trust. This followed two decades of implementing innovative solutions, including a water recycling system in the paint shop, local tree planting, installation of a 10,000 solar panel carport, taking the total number of on-site solar panels to 30,000, and a switch to renewable-only electricity sources.

The Crewe facility will continue to improve its environmental operations. By the end of this year, all suppliers will have passed a sustainability audit, verifying their sustainability credentials. In the future, by the end of 2025, the company intends to reduce its factory environmental impact by focusing on energy consumption, CO2 emissions, waste water, use of solvents in the paint process and becoming plastic neutral. This will result in a climate positive factory by 2030, actively reducing levels of carbon in the atmosphere, while in parallel the business invests in renewable energy and forestation projects.

Achieving sustainable luxury mobility relies heavily on a sustainable business model, and Bentley’s aim is to become the world’s benchmark luxury car business, financially resilient and recession-proof. The challenging economic situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in Bentley undertaking its biggest change programme in a century.

This change programme was driving for consistent financial resilience through rapid productivity improvements across the business, and a fundamental restructure. Previously announcing a voluntary release and redundancy programme with the aim of a workforce reduction of 1,000 permanent colleagues, this figure was reduced to 800 colleagues, including around 200 contractor positions.

Furthermore, the success of this voluntary release programme has resulted in a much smaller number of those remaining at risk of compulsory redundancy, less than 10, although Bentley continues to investigate opportunities to avoid this outcome if possible.

The results from this comprehensive cost and investment structure has placed the business in a position to achieve a positive financial performance for the full year 2020, in spite of the extenuating external circumstances. This platform will create a sustainable, consistently profitable business model for the next 100 years.

Achieving sustainable value creation is in large part down to the growth and collaboration of Bentley’s extraordinary people. Designing and building Bentleys of the future will require a greater diversity of talent, achieved by retraining in some areas and by developing and attracting a wide-range of talent including digital innovators and creative thinkers.

Bentley will continue to work with local schools and colleges to develop local talent in South Cheshire, building even closer links with the Crewe Engineering & Design UTC, which Bentley is a founding partner of. This includes becoming the employer of choice in the automotive sector with a clear brand, vision, mission, values and purpose. Bentley is focused on attracting diverse candidates and is targeting a management population of 30 per cent by 2025 that is truly diverse, increasing today’s figure of less than 20 per cent.

The company is committed to handcrafting cars in Crewe for the next 100 years, whilst also preparing for a digital future, and has confirmed it will be investing in two new Research and Development buildings, a vehicle test centre and a dedicated launch quality centre. This expansion and greater focus on digitalisation reinforces Bentley as a values-led organisation, matching customer values of sustainability, innovation and collaboration, which is more important than ever in a digital world.

Redefining digitalisation throughout the organisation extends to many of the brand’s valued customers. Bentley is building a network of connected services individual to the customer achieved through product visualisation, co-creation and a digital journey. This will deliver a truly 360 degree, curated customer experience.

As well as accelerating the product journey towards electrification, Beyond100 opens a new era for Bentley’s bespoke division, Mulliner, which now has a three-portfolio structure comprising Mulliner Classic, Mulliner Collections and Mulliner Coachbuilt. The recently revealed Bacalar signifies the start of this new age as the first member of the Mulliner Coachbuilt family and incorporates elements of the sustainable materials showcased in EXP 100 GT.

For 100 years, Bentley has defined grand touring. To maintain the brand’s reputation for delivering extraordinary customer journeys, means appealing to existing and new luxury customers who seek socially acceptable brands, driven to be pioneers and role models of sustainability, with Beyond100 placing Bentley Motors firmly at the vanguard.

Built on the philosophy of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’, Nissan India has unveiled their much-awaited B-SUV, the all-new Nissan Magnite. This is the company’s first ever product under the Nissan NEXT strategy for the Indian market, scheduled to be introduced in the second half of FY 2020-21.

The all-new Nissan Magnite was unveiled to the global audience via a virtual event. Key spokespersons from Nissan’s leadership teams in Africa, Middle East, and India (AMI), presented the live streamed event, with Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, driving in the all-new Nissan Magnite.

“The all-new Nissan Magnite plays a vital role in our Nissan NEXT strategy and represents Nissan’s undeniable commitment to the Indian market as a customer-centric organization. The car reiterates our brand philosophy of keeping customers at the heart of everything we do to deliver exciting products for enriching experiences. As we continue to prioritize and invest in the Indian consumer, who is aspirational and discerning with vehicles, we aim for the all-new Nissan Magnite to be the first product that will enable sustainable growth. Nissan will continue to be the primary brand in India,” said Sinan Ozkok, President, Nissan Motor India.

The all-new Nissan Magnite is a testimony to Nissan’s global SUV DNA of innovation, technology, and Japanese engineering. It features latest technology as a part of Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM), the company’s vision as to how vehicles are powered, driven, and integrated into society.

The all-new Nissan Magnite is made with the blend of style and functionality, its first-in-segment Flare Garnet Red (Tint-Coat) Colour exudes premium-ness through depth and quality, symbolic of India’s dynamic and vibrant energy. There are nine body colours, five monotone and four dual tone are available to suit customer tastes.

The car has sleek headlamps assembled with lightsaber-style turn indicators, while its L-shape LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and dominating front grille is unlike any other design in the B-SUV segment. When it comes to the interiors, the all-new Nissan Magnite has achieved the best level of packaging and seating comfort. Its horizontal instrument panel structure double deck console makes it wider, spacious and provides plenty of functional storages. Along with that, the all-new Nissan Magnite also has a tech pack which has a wireless charger, air purifier, puddle lamps and ambient /mood lighting, premium speakers (JBL powered by Harman).

With 60-40 split foldable rear seats for utmost flexibility, it is the most spacious B-SUV, which has a huge ‘couple distance’ (distance between the driver and side passenger) of 700mm + rear knee room of 593mm + rear headroom of 76mm. The front seats are designed to create an open interior space, delivering the spaciousness that one would experience while sitting in the rear, also known as the ‘one-class-above’ knee room.

The all-new Nissan Magnite’s luggage room capacity (336L) is top-level in its class and can accommodate 3 suitcases.

A first in its segment, the all-new Nissan Magnite is also equipped with one of Nissan’s top support technology, the Around View Monitor (AVM), which gives the driver a virtual bird’s eye view from above the vehicle.

The all-new Nissan Magnite, is spacious and premium as it is equipped with intuitive packaging and human-centric engineering, such as the best-in-segment 7-inch TFT meter with welcome animation and tyre pressure monitoring system and 8-inch infotainment display with full flush touchscreen, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and built-in voice recognition. It also comes with Nissan’s innovative technology, Nissan Connect, that offers 50+ features (geo fence, roadside assistance, smart watch connectivity etc.) to transform the car as per customer needs.

Nissan Magnite is powered by the all-new HRA0 1.0-litre Turbo engine is first of its kind in the country and is available with Manual 5 speed and X-TRONIC CVT gearbox. The HRA0 1.0-litre Turbo engine adopts “mirror bore cylinder coating” technology from world-class sports cars such as the Nissan GT-R that reduces resistance inside the engine, thus delivering smooth acceleration and efficient use of fuel. It also features 6 technical improvements that result in better fuel economy, lower CO2 emissions. The HRA0 1.0-litre Turbo engine provides a new experience of responsive and quicker acceleration, whilst also refining Noise, Vibration and Harshness through improved powertrain and road noise isolation, resulting in a quieter cabin.

With Nissan’s signature X-TRONIC CVT gearbox, Cruise Control and wider gear range, the all-new Nissan Magnite delivers seamless performance even in peak city traffic. It’s D-step logic control computer software uses dynamic inputs like vehicle speed, accelerator pedal position and application speed to determine the ideal gear ratio needed to deliver an exhilarating drive and smooth cruises on the highways.

The all-new Nissan Magnite’s features are developed in compliance with Indian safety regulations to ensure customer safety. Built with high strength and impact absorbing efficient body structure, it is equipped with safety features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), speed sensing door lock, central locking and SRS dual airbag system with pretension & load limiter seatbelt for driver and passenger.

Nissan’s unique Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system increases the all-new Nissan Magnite’s stability, allowing the driver to have better control, especially in poor weather conditions. Additionally, the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) helps improve the driver’s braking ability while maintaining control of the vehicle in an emergency.

“Given the growing popularity of B-SUVs in India, we aim for the all-new Nissan Magnite to redefine the segment and surpass customer expectations in the country. It is the ideal aspirational upgrade for hatchback customers in India who are weighing their options and looking to own a world-class SUV, from a globally renowned brand that has a strong SUV heritage,” said Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India. “The all-new Nissan Magnite is truly a complete package as the big, bold, beautiful and carismatic B-SUV that offers best in class space for family and friends; dynamic design and high ground clearance, HRA0 1.0-litre Turbo engine for thrill seekers; and advanced Japanese technology for today’s discerning customers and tech enthusiasts. We are confident of its capability to become a game changer in the Indian market,” he added.

TVS Motor Company today launched the TVS NTORQ 125 SuperSquad Edition inspired by Marvel’s Avengers. The Company has associated with Disney India’s consumer products business to introduce a special SuperSquad edition of TVS NTORQ 125 – inspired by the iconic Marvel Super Heroes.

In 2018, TVS NTORQ 125 SuperSquad Edition will comprise three new enticing offerings, namely Invincible Red, Stealth Black, and Combat Blue inspired by Iron Man, Black Panther, and Captain America respectively. The edition brings forth finer nuances associated with each Marvel Super Hero through the product design. To further delight the enthusiasts, the fitting campaign tagline for the edition is ‘Play Smart. Play Epic’.

Speaking on the occasion, Aniruddha Haldar, Vice President (Marketing) – Commuter Motorcycles, Scooters & Corporate Brand, TVS Motor Company, said, “We are excited to launch the TVS NTORQ 125 SuperSquad Edition inspired by Marvel’s Avengers. With this association, our common Gen Z consumers can ‘Play Smart. Play Epic’. We have all had our favourite Super Hero, with whom we relate. We find ways to celebrate this relationship. The TVS NTORQ 125 SuperSquad Edition, gives new expression to this ageless fascination. The initial feedback has been nothing short of EPIC. We are sure that this too will be a blockbuster!”

The SuperSquad logo and the iconic Avenger’s ‘A’ are prominently placed on the front panel, leg shield, and below the speedometer.

Stealth Black

Inspired by Black Panther, this edition packs in the jet-black colour along with hues of purple. The scooter sports elements from the Black Panther suit as a large part of the decals. For enthusiasts, it packs more surprises with the signature salute Wakanda Forever and the inclusion of the number 66 (1966), denoting the year when the character was introduced in the Marvel Universe.

Invincible Red

Inspired by Iron Man, the decals replicate his Red and Gold suit giving it a stellar look. The Iron Man helmet is embossed on the leg shield, while the arc reactor finds its way to both panels. Enthusiasts will be delighted with the Mark XXIX encryption on both panels which signifies Fiddler, Iron Man’s 29th suit, along with the number 63 (1963) indicating the year when the character was introduced in the Marvel Universe.

Combat Blue

Inspired by Captain America, the scooter gets the blue, white, red colour tone associated with the First Avenger. True to the character, it sports the number 41 (1941), the year when Captain America was introduced in the Marvel Universe. The shield is at the front of the scooter and the edition flaunts Super Soldier on both panels with pride.

The TVS Connect App of the SuperSquad Edition is powered by SmartXonnect and will come with customised UI, inspired by the characters. The app opens with the silhouette of the respective characters and then important elements such as Captain America’s shield, Iron Man’s suit and Black Panther’s eyes along with the character crest are consistent across the app interface. Each app screen is crafted with a unique character trait of the selected Super Hero, making it a complete Marvel experience.

TVS NTORQ 125 SuperSquad Edition is priced at Rs. 77865 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Jaguar Land Rover India, today announced the launch of the New Land Rover Defender in India. Offered with a 2.0-litre Turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 300 PS and 400 Nm of torque, the New Defender is available in two distinct body styles, the very sporty 90 (3 door) and the versatile 110 (5 door). The New Defender 90 is priced from INR 73.98 Lakh and the New Defender 110 is priced from INR 79.94 Lakh (ex-showroom India). Deliveries of Defender 110 have now begun while deliveries of Defender 90 will commence from Q1 of FY 2021.

Rohit Suri, President & Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd. (JLRIL) said: “So far, under Land Rover, we had the Discovery product pillar and Range Rover product pillar available in India. With this launch, the third product pillar, Defender, is now available. This, in many ways, completes the Land Rover brand story and we are very excited about expanding the reach and appeal of Land Rover amongst our customer base. The New Defender will make its place in the hearts of many people with a curious mind, love for authentic adventures, passion for travel and who dare & wish to go above and beyond in life. Such individuals transcend barriers of age, gender, profession, with their free spirited nature and fearlessness, just like the New Defender”.

The design of the New Land Rover Defender is reimagined for the 21st century. The Defender, a symbol of strength, is known for its durability and rugged capability. Elements such as the solid shoulder line, minimal front and rear overhangs, Alpine light windows, round headlights, side-hinged rear tailgate and externally mounted spare wheel are typical characteristics that are retained from the original model. 

The New Land Rover Defender is a highly customizable vehicle. Customers can choose from seven exterior colour options including Fuji White, Eiger Grey, Santorini Black, Indus Silver as well as options such as Tasman Blue, Pangea Green, and Gondwana Stone that are exclusive to the Defender. A range of 9 wheel designs from 45. 72 cm (18) pressed steel rims to 50.8 cm (20) alloys are also provided on the New Defender.

Retaining practicality and functionality at its core, the Defender’s cabin has an ergonomic design that offers 5 + 2 seating configurations with an innovative optional front row centre seat also known as jump seat. The rear load space delivers maximum practicality with the 110 providing load carrying capacity from 231 litres for the 5+2 seater with all rows up, to 2,380 litres for the 5 seater with the second row folded down. The second-row seatbacks are split 40:20:40 for maximum flexibility, while load space rails on the floor of the luggage space come with a range of load retention accessories to prevent smaller items from moving around inside.

The standard model uses resolve textiles while the S & SE use Grained Leather with a Robust Woven textile and HSE gets high-grade Windsor Leather with Steel-cut premium textile from Kvadrat, which is a 30 percent wool blend. Customers can select veneers from amongst rough-cut Walnut or Natural Smoked Dark Oak Veneer while powder coated colours like Dark Grey and Light Grey are standard with the option of product-inspired white for all the exposed parts. The materials used provide a perfect balance of tactility, softness and durability to the minimalistic and functional interior, making every journey truly comfortable.

To retain signature cues from the original design, accommodate a family of body designs and to support the diverse powertrain options in the future, the vehicle has been designed on the bespoke D7x platform. The lightweight all-aluminium monocoque construction of the D7x Architecture makes the Defender three times more rigid than traditional body-on-frame designs and the stiffest Land Rover ever made. This strong, stiff structure provides the perfect foundation for the 4×4’s advanced all-independent chassis.

Delivering transformational breadth of capability and on-road handling, Defender is in a category of its own. The Configurable Terrain Response and Terrain Response 2 enhances the All-Terrain Capability and allows customers to personalise the off road system preferences. Rewarding on-road handling with Adaptive Dynamics provides a connected driving experience and supreme long-haul comfort across all terrains and in all conditions. Adaptive Dynamics is available with Electronic Air Suspension, allowing customers to fine-tune the driving characteristics. The system’s adaptive dampers monitor body movements up to 500 times per second and respond almost instantaneously to optimise control and comfort.

For off-roading, the New Defender has an impressive maximum Approach Angle of 38 degrees, maximum Break over Angle of 28 degrees (31 degrees on 90) and maximum Departure Angle of 40 degrees. With Wade Sensing screen on the infotainment system, the Defender has a water wading depth of 900 mm. The New Defender delivers a maximum towing capacity of 3,720 kg coupled with a roof load capacity of 168 kg.

The New Defender offers a series of technological advancements adding to the durability and capability of the vehicle. It introduces Land Rover’s new Pivi Pro infotainment system. The next-generation touchscreen is intuitive and user-friendly, requiring few inputs to perform frequently used tasks, while its always-on design guarantees almost instant responses.

The New Defender sports the next-generation Electronic Vehicle Architecture (EVA 2.0) supporting SOTA (Software-Over-The-Air) updates. SOTA allows customers to receive updates without visiting the retailer. Within the lifetime of the New Defender, the embedded diagnostics system will be able to alert customers about issues and either prevent or resolve them automatically as a data connection replaces a traditional toolkit.

The Infotainment in the New Land Rover Defender includes a 25.4 cm (10) Touchscreen with Connected Navigation Pro and a 31.24 cm (12.3) high-definition Interactive Driver Display. It can be personalised to include a full-screen map, phone and media functionality. The vehicle also offers ClearSight Rear Mirror, which uses a live video feed to ensure that you always enjoy an unobstructed view and ClearSight Ground View which is available as a part of the 3D Surround Camera system. ClearSight Ground View allows you to effectively see ‘through’ Defender’s bonnet and displays multiple exterior views, including the vehicle’s underside and wheels. For comfort, the vehicle has an optional Meridian Surround Sound System (700 W), which includes 14 speakers and a dual channel subwoofer, heated and cooled seats and premium cabin lighting gives you 10 configurable options so you can match your surroundings to your mood, personality, or driving style.

Allowing customers to explore unlimited possibilities, the New Defender offers choice from among 170 individual accessories and four distinct Accessory packs, including:

• Explorer Pack: It’s equipped with features such as the Expedition Roof Rack, a Raised Air Intake to wade through the deepest of waters, Exterior Side-mounted Gear Carrier to store items, Wheel Arch Protection, Front & Rear Classic Mudflaps, Spare Wheel Cover, and Matte Black Bonnet detail that makes it ideal for those who want to defy conventions and conquer uncharted landscapes.
• Adventure Pack: Designed to equip you for the wild, the pack features an Integrated Air Compressor to inflate tyres on the go, Portable Rinse System to wash off while you are on the trail, an Exterior Side Mounted Gear Carrier and a Seat Backpack to store items, Front and Rear Mudflaps, Bright Rear Scuff plate and a Spare Wheel cover.
• Country Pack: With Front & Rear Classic Mudflaps, Bright Rear Scuff Plate, Portable Rinse System, Wheel Arch Protection and Loadspace Partition, it equips you when you decide to embrace the elements and make every journey truly memorable.
• Urban Pack: It lends touches of individuality for your vehicle with the use of Bright Metal Pedals and Rear Scuff Plate, Front Undershield and a Spare Wheel Cover.

BMW India has launched the first-ever BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé in the country. Locally produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai, the car is available in a diesel variant at all BMW India dealerships from today onwards. The petrol variant will be launched later.

Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “The first-ever BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé brings BMW’s successful four-door coupé concept into the segment for the first time. The car injects a fresh dose of individuality, aesthetic appeal and emotional engagement to everyday usability. Driving enthusiasts will experience a new interpretation of sheer driving pleasure in this power-packed model resonating the true BMW DNA. As the latest BMW, the first-ever BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé will attract newer target groups who aspire for a stylish and luxurious entry into the world of BMW and value performance and quality above all. This car is an irresistible choice for individuals who live life to the fullest.”

The first-ever BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé blends the comfort of a sedan and the sportiness of a coupé. The stylish design stands out with an elongated silhouette and frameless doors. The spacious and sophisticated interior suits all kinds of travel. The powerful engine ensures performance and acceleration.

The first-ever BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé adapts perfectly to a dynamic lifestyle and also to personal taste. This is visible through a choice of attractive design variants – the Sport Line and M Sport. Each variant has distinguished exterior and interior design elements creating an individual personality.

Sport Line celebrates the gust of adrenaline with sporty style and self-confidence. M Sport bestows a masculine character with distinguished ‘M’ design elements evoking the racing spirit. The first-ever BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé offers many features like Panorama Glass Sunroof, Parking Assist with Reverse Assist, Illuminated Interior Trim, BMW Live Cockpit Professional, Gesture Control, Wireless Charging and BMW Virtual Assistant among others.

The first-ever BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is available in two diesel design variants which are locally produced. The car has been launched at attractive introductory prices (ex-showroom) as follows:

BMW 220d Sport Line : INR 39,30,000

BMW 220d M Sport : INR 41,40,000

The first-ever BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé seamlessly transfers the elegant aesthetics of its larger stablemates. The exterior embodies a modern and athletic design with precise lines and sculpted surfaces creating a fascinating interplay of light and shade. The standout characteristic is its stretched silhouette, four frameless doors and prominent shoulders with side taper at the C-pillar which gives it a sporty, low and broad-set stance. Slightly angled full-LED headlights form the prominent BMW four-eyed face and draw attention to the BMW kidney grille giving a fresh interpretation to the classic BMW icons. The full-LED tail-lights extend into the centre of the rear end and provide an all-new take on the familiar BMW ‘L’ shape with a single slim light element and a distinctive sweep to the side.

Despite its sporty appearance, the interior is designed to accentuate cabin spaciousness and the driver-focused cockpit with exquisite materials. The newly designed Sport Seats with electrical memory function offer greater long-distance comfort. The elegant coupé form with generous cabin space welcomes the rear passengers with easy entry and ample kneeroom. Adding to the sense of space is the standard large panorama glass sunroof. The large 430 litres luggage compartment can be expanded by folding down the 40/20/40 split rear seat backrest. The rear seat can be folded down completely to create more space. The illuminated trim, a segment-first, retains normal appearance in daylight but functions as decorative lighting elements with a space-shaping effect in the dark. Ambient Lighting with six dimmable designs creates an atmosphere for every mood.

The car has front-wheel-drive architecture in which the engine is positioned transversely, thereby saving space without compromising on the driving dynamics. To reduce understeering, an ARB technology (actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation system) works in combination with DSC (Driving Stability Control). The BMW Performance Control system increases the stability of the car by targeted braking of the wheels.

The engine offers superlative performance and acceleration. BMW TwinPower Turbo diesel engine melds maximum power with exemplary efficiency and offers spontaneous responsiveness even at low engine speeds. The two-litre four-cylinder diesel engine of the BMW 220d produces an output of 190 hp and a maximum torque of 400 Nm at 1,750 – 2,500 rpm. The car accelerates from 0 -100 kmph in just 7.5 seconds.

The eight speed steptronic sport automatic transmission performs smooth, almost imperceptible gearshifts. At any time, in any gear, the transmission collaborates perfectly with the engine, enabling it to develop its full power and efficiency. For even greater driving pleasure, it comes with steering wheel paddle shifters and cruise control with braking function. Using Launch Control, ambitious drivers can achieve maximum acceleration with optimized traction from a standstill. Using the Driving Experience Control switch, the driver is able to choose between different driving modes to suit the driving conditions – ECO PRO, Comfort and Sport.

A host of BMW ConnectedDrive technologies continue to break the innovation barrier in automotive industry. Modern cockpit concept BMW Live Cockpit Professional includes 3D Navigation, a 12.3 inch digital instrument display behind the steering wheel and a 10.25 inch Control Display. The occupants can operate a number of car functions simply by speaking to their BMW Virtual Assistant. Hands do the talking with BMW Gesture Control that recognizes six pre-defined hand movements for control of a number of functions. The smartphone holder integrated into the centre console allows inductive, Wireless Charging for mobile phones. Parking Assistant with Rear View Camera makes parking in tight spots easier. The Reversing Assistant provides unmatched support in reversing out of a parking spot or through narrow driveways. It keeps a record of the last 50 metres driven and assists by taking over the steering. Wireless Apple CarPlay ensures seamless smartphone connection with the car to access several functions.

BMW EfficientDynamics includes features such as 8-speed Steptronic Sport Automatic Transmission, Auto Start-Stop, Brake-Energy Regeneration, Electronic Power Steering, 50:50 Weight Distribution and ECO PRO mode in Driving Experience Control. BMW Safety technologies include six airbags, Attentiveness Assistance, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist, ARB technology (actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation system), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), electric parking brake with auto hold, side-impact protection, electronic vehicle immobilizer and crash sensors, ISOFIX child seat mounting and integrated emergency spare wheel under the load floor.

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is available in four exciting colours – Alpine White (non-metallic) and in following metallic paintworks – Black Sapphire, Melbourne Red and Storm Bay. Sport Line is exclusively available in Seaside Blue colour also. The M Sport variant is available in two additional exclusive colours – Misano Blue and Snapper Rocks. The choice of upholstery combinations includes Sensatec Oyster | Black and Sensatec Black | Black.

Nissan India will virtually unveil its much-awaited B-SUV, the Nissan Magnite, to the global audience on October 21, 2020. The Nissan Magnite is a feature-rich premium offering for the future, with stylish design and strong, dynamic road presence.

The Nissan Magnite has been tested at Nissan’s world-class testing facility, the Nissan Tochigi Proving Ground, where other models such as the Nissan GT-R and Nissan Ariya, have been tested.

“The Nissan Magnite has been specially designed in Japan, keeping in mind the requirements of our Indian customers. It is a bold offering in the sub-four-meter category, and we are confident that the Nissan Magnite will redefine the B-SUV segment by breaking boundaries. We are very excited to bring this game-changing product to India,” said Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India

Leveraging Nissan’s global SUV heritage and advanced Japanese technologies, the Nissan Magnite is a true reflection of the ‘Nissan-ness’ philosophy of empowering people through breakthrough products and technologies.

With an array of best-in-class and first-in-class features, the Nissan Magnite delivers on all four of Nissan’s key pillars – bold exteriors, interiors, technology and performance.

Ushering in the festive season, Honda 2Wheelers India launched the H’ness-CB350 at a special starting price of INR 1.85 lakh (ex-showroom, Gurugram, Haryana). Taking forward the legacy of CB brand, H’ness-CB350 comes with advanced new features and the classic old-world charm.

Elaborating on H’ness-CB350, Atsushi Ogata, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “We are overwhelmed with the love & appreciation H’ness-CB350 has received from customers. It demonstrates customer’s confidence in brand Honda and reinforces our commitment towards them. Refined performance, technology and unrivalled reliability – ‘CB’ is the answer to the aspirations and passion of young riders all across the globe.”

Honda H’ness-CB350 comes with a dual-tone fuel tank with bold Honda mark provides a heritage inspired look that attracts every eye on the road. The front 7 Y-Shaped alloy wheel of H’ness-CB350 gives a distinctive modern look. Wider tyres (19-inch front tyre & 18-inch rear tyre) of H’ness-CB350 improve stability in different road condition.

The specially designed exhaust system comes with a large tailpipe of 45mm that optimizes balance with the muffler capacity, producing an unforgettable roar every time you wind on the throttle. Exhaust pipes are double skinned to prevent heat discoloration and intact the visual appeal for long.

At the heart of H’ness-CB350 is the big powerful 350cc, 4 stroke OHC single-cylinder engine equipped with PGM-FI technology. The air cooling system in the engine maintains highly dense air intake to improve efficiency and keeps the engine temperature within ideal range. The piston cooling jet improves engines thermal efficiency which in return improves fuel efficiency.

The max torque of 30 Nm at 3000 rpm delivered from the engine makes it an easy going versatile motorcycle for daily city commute or longer weekend rides. The evolved sensors, developed through computer simulations, allow riders to tame the machine as per their wish without compromising with the comfort and controllability. Main shaft coaxial balancer placed on the cylinder eliminates both primary and secondary vibrations.

Dual channel ABS prevents wheels from locking when brakes are applied in emergency or when operated on slippery roads ensuring a greater sense of confidence. Anchoring the motorcycle is a large 310mm disc brake up front and 240mm rear disc providing adequate braking performance. Chrome plated dual horn not only add to rider’s convenience but also amplify the premium look.

Half-duplex cradle frame in steel pipe is used for a soft steering feel. Load allocated to the front is optimized by mounting the engine at low position to lower the centre of gravity, which immensely impacts the overall riding feel and maneuverability of the motorcycle. Engine Start/Stop Switch gives convenience to start/stop the engine with the flick of the same switch. For emergency stops and safety in low visibility conditions is hazard switch feature. Dual seat with superior cushioning provides a comfortable sitting to the rider on the go. Fuel tank capacity of 15 litres gives a sense of freedom from frequent pit-stops during long rides.

Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) supports the rider to mitigate rear wheel slip caused by abrupt throttle grip operations providing the rider a sense of security while riding in different conditions. It can be switched ON/OFF through a switch on the left side of meter. A ‘T’ indicator in the digital display flickers when the system is engaging.

Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (HSVCS) allows riders to connect his smartphone with the motorcycle via Bluetooth through HSVCS application and toggle between the features such as navigation, music playback, phone calls, incoming messages and weather updates using buttons on the left side of the handlebar. To facilitate complete concentration on riding the information accessed will be communicated from the helmet headset speaker.

Assist and Slipper Clutch makes the gear shifts smoother while reducing clutch lever operation load ensuring less fatigue and more comfort during rides that involve frequent shifting.

The advanced digital-analogue speedometer presents intelligent information on the go. It integrates details like HSTC, ABS, Side stand indicator with engine inhibitor, ECO indicator, HSVCS, gear position indicator and battery voltage meter. Adding more to the whole riding experience are fuel efficiency details displayed in 3 modes – real time mileage, average mileage and distance to empty.

Full LED Setup (both front & back) allows to cut through the dark streets in a style.

Delighted by the response of customers for H’ness-CB350, Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Truly bringing in the festivities, we are happy to announce the attractive starting price of H’ness-CB350. The excellent response since the global premiere of this model is very encouraging and customers can look forward to the ultimate fun of riding the “Made in India” CB legacy this festival. With a special introductory price of INR 1.85 lac (ex-showroom, Gurugram), we are confident that H’ness-CB350 will attract the mid-size motorcycle enthusiasts.”