Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. today unveiled the Grazia125 Repsol Honda Team Edition in India. The motocycles of the Repsol Honda Racing Team have inspired the graphics and design theme of this special edition along with vibrant orange wheel rims to accentuate the excitement of the racing fans in India.

Speaking about Honda’s Racing DNA, Mr. Atsushi Ogata, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd said, “Repsol Honda racing team infuses the spirit of competing in the extreme challenge on the racetrack. With rich legacy paving the way for Honda’s bright future in racing, we are delighted to unveil the Grazia125 Repsol Honda Team Edition for racing enthusiasts in India.”

On this special occasion, Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director, Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “The unveiling of Grazia125 Repsol Honda Team Edition brings the spirit of racing, catching the fascination of MotoGP fans yet again. Its sportier looks and trademark orange, red & white scheme of smart graphics teamed up with a sporty engine makes it an irresistible package for racing enthusiasts.

Mahindra Logistics Ltd. (MLL), has announced its acquisition of Meru.

The acquisition is a strategic move to consolidate and expand MLL’s business in the enterprise mobility space.

Meru Cabs, a ridesharing company founded in 2006, revolutionized the way people travelled in cabs by offering AC cabs at their doorstep with a single call. Today, Meru has a significant presence in the airport ride hailing segment and provides on-call and employee mobility services to corporates in India. Meru also has a large number of Electric vehicles in their fleet.

The addition of Meru under its brand, will further strengthen MLL’s mobility business. MLL is already a leader in its Enterprise Mobility Service (ETMS) business, which operates under the ‘Alyte’ brand. With this acquisition, MLL will enhance its range of mobility solutions with strategic focus on enterprise customers and electric mobility.

Speaking on the occasion, Rampraveen Swaminathan, MD & CEO, Mahindra Logistics Ltd. said, “I am pleased to welcome Meru, a pioneering brand in the shared mobility space in India, to the Mahindra Logistics family. The acquisition complements our mobility services portfolio with an expansion in airport ride-hailing and on-call services. We anticipate significant synergies by leveraging the combined capabilities in supply, technology management and Electric mobility. The combined capabilities of Meru & Alyte will enable us to better serve our B2C and enterprise customers with an expanded portfolio of services delivering on a promise of safety, customer excellence & sustainability.”

Hyundai Motor Company has revealed teaser images of the sleek and spacious SEVEN, an all-electric SUV concept to be fully unveiled at AutoMobility LA later this month.

SEVEN captures Hyundai Motor’s future design and technology innovation in the electric mobility era and hints at a new SUV model coming to the IONIQ family, the company’s dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) brand.

The teased images reveal a form following function design that dares to diverge from traditions of the internal combustion engine era. SEVEN’s lighting architecture is defined by Parametric Pixels, IONIQ’s unique design identity connecting analog with digital emotions.

SEVEN’s interior suggests a premium and personalized lounge ambience, deepening the space innovation that Hyundai Motor has shown with IONIQ 5. Furnishings trimmed in sustainable materials offer a refined, eco-friendly mobility experience that reflects the changing lifestyles of its customers.

Nissan India announces its partnerships with Zoomcar and Orix driving its platform ‘Nissan Intelligent Ownership’ for Nissan and Datsun customers in India. The Subscription Plan is well-suited to the Indian customers’ progressive and asset-lite lifestyle. The ‘Nissan Intelligent Ownership’ model is available in Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune.

The Nissan Intelligent Ownership Subscription Plan is transparent with no hidden costs as the customer is only paying a nominal refundable security deposit at the start of the subscription and subsequently pay a fixed monthly fee basis of selected tenure. The customers can book the desired subscription plan on Nissan India website in the available locations.

The Nissan Intelligent Ownership subscription plan covers all maintenance costs including scheduled and unscheduled repairs, tire and battery replacement, 24×7 roadside assistance, cost of paperwork, zero depreciation insurance, registration fee, road tax and RTO expenses. It also comes with a FASTag, standard accessories and pick-up and drop facility.

“Customer’s lifestyle is progressively evolving and this initiative by Nissan, Zoomcar & ORIX empowers the customer on being asset-lite with strong saving potential. The Nissan Intelligent Ownership subscription plan is very innovative with Share-Back in the subscription space as its affordable, flexible and provides enjoyable car ownership experience with saving potential for Nissan and Datsun customers,” says Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India.

Greg Moran, CEO & Co-Founder Zoomcar said, “We are delighted to partner with Nissan Motor India and ORIX to offer flexible subscriptions as an alternative to vehicle ownership. It is simply the most affordable and quickest way of acquiring a seamless personal mobility option. At an overall level, Zoomcar continues to focus on adding enterprise partners such as Nissan to our industry leading vehicle subscription-based enterprise software program. The flexibility, convenience, and inherent affordability of car subscriptions will continue to attract new segments of customers to personal mobility, and we’re thrilled to be a major part of this transformation.”

Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Sandeep Gambhir, Managing Director and CEO, ORIX Auto Infrastructure Services Ltd. (OAIS) said that “Subscription is clearly emerging as a great new channel for customers to drive their preferred Cars. We are witnessing an increased need from customers to have personalized and customized solutions and flexible ownership options as against the traditional ways of owning cars, and Subscription does just that. ORIX India and Nissan have been working closely on this initiative over the last couple of months and in line with Nissan’s vision customer-centric product offering and add more flexibility, we are confident that the flexibility and the convenience of the subscription offering with surely tick the right boxes in customers mind and would enable more and more customers to drive the Nissan vehicles”

Maxxis Tyres is one of the world’s largest tyre brands. The company delivers high-quality tyre products to customers in 180 countries and employs more than 30,000+ people. Maxxis India (Maxxis Rubber India Private Limited) started its business in the year 2015 in India. Maxxis is currently an OEM tyre supplier to some of the mainstream two-wheeler manufacturers like Honda, Hero Moto Corp, and Yamaha apart from some four-wheeler majors like Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra, Tata, Jeep in India and many more. The company is expected to play a vital role in achieving Maxxis’ global vision to become one of the top five tyres manufactures in the world by 2026. In an email interview with Power Drive, Mr. Chu Tsang Chih (Kurachi), Director, Maxxis India, opens up about the Company’s future roadmap, growth plans and product strategy for the Indian market.

1. How is Maxxis Tyre driving ahead in the times of the ongoing global pandemic?
The Covid pandemic created disruptions across the globe and for all industries. Having said this, we have collaborated closely with our suppliers and dealers through which we have gained accelerated momentum. Our process ensures our partners / suppliers have the resistance to overcome challenges. Also, during the pandemic, our focus has been on safety and quality which make certain that our suppliers and partners do not compromise on these factors, especially amidst the second wave of the covid pandemic. Also with end-to-end visibility, Maxxis is positioned to tackle any challenge while continuing to grow and meet customer demand. Maxxis achieved the highest OE sales after the pandemic with an average sale of over 2.4 lakh tyres. Despite Covid – 19 pandemic, the company had sufficient supply and storage of raw material capacity to consider OEM orders smoothly due to the effective forecast methodology.

2. Presently which OEMs are among your top clients in India?
Maxxis has formidable strength in the OEMs market where our quality and technology enable us to better serve our OEM partners. We have partnered with some of the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturers- Hero Moto Corp, Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India Limited, Yamaha Motor India and Suzuki Motorcycles.

3. Tell us about your future OEM partnerships and investment plans in India?
We are working on new alignments and partnerships with new set of OEMs for the two-wheeler market as well as working on expanding our portfolio for the replacement market.

4. Which are the company’s best-selling products in India? What do you attribute to the success of these products?
Maxxis produces the highest quality products with an increasing focus on safety and reliability, hence our products are developed from a combination of superior raw material and world-class technology.
Below are the Maxxis best – selling products in India:

• Extramaxx tyres – The Extramaxx tyres have been witnessing huge demand. The tyres have been made up of the world’s strongest Aramid Fibre, and the dual compound technology minimises rolling resistance while improving stability and tyre life.

• M6182- M6182 is perfect for both serious off-roading and city driving. Its powerful directional semi-lug pattern gives great stability whether you are riding in a straight line or attempting a challenging sharp-corner-stunt. This tyre is suited for all weather conditions be it Dry or wet, patchy, or smooth land.

• M6304- The M6304 is designed for serious off-roaders. Its large tread blocks with deep grooves give more stability, better water channelling and outstanding durability. This tyre is perfect for all geographical and weather conditions and suited for long off-roading drives.

• M6000/M6000R- The M6000/M6000R is science in design. Its reinforced side wall strength and computerized tread pattern gives rear wheels a whole new definition. Created to challenge wet and dry roads with better speed handling and unwavering stability, the M6000/R takes the joy of riding to a whole new level.

• M6301- The M6301 is designed to take the rough with the wet. Its special Lug pattern treads, with effective water dispersal abilities, manoeuvre wet roads with panache. Take a dry road, and its large tread blocks come into play, giving high surface contact and the stability and power, every rider seeks.

• M6305- The M6305 has a special nylon-ply construction design. Its deep tread grooves give better water channeling and great traction on any kind of off-roading terrain. In short, its durable, stable and dependable.

5. Tell us about your present sales channel in India.
We have created a robust network of 35+ distributors and 3000+ dealers in India. We are further looking at amplifying our touch points for effective customer outreach.

6. What are the new products that we can expect from your stable in the near future?
Currently, our portfolio covers 82% of market’s users’ scenario and we plan to raise it more than 90% this year. The various line-up of tyres for sports bike with different applications for road and weather conditions will be introduced in a very short time. We are also going to launch products in cruiser/touring segment. Apart from this, we have put many products in new product development mode for E-vehicle segment by looking at its potential in upcoming time which will help us to capture market share of 15% becoming one of the top five tyres manufactures in the world by 2026.

7. What is your comment about the trends in the domestic tyre industry?
According to the India tyre market report by IMARC Group, the market to reach a volume of 245 Million Units by 2025 growing at a CAGR of 4.8% during 2020-2025. Moreover, the growing radialisation for providing additional mileage, increase use of smart tyres, and improve the driving experience for vehicles has further augmented the product demand which has boosted the tyres sales in the country, thereby positively influencing the growth of the India tyre market. Customers are preferring light sports and cruiser motorcycles due to increasing per capita income, availability of financial aids and improving lifestyle. Moreover, EVs are along in demand due to lucrative government subsidies as a part of buying encouragement and heavy investment done by two wheeler manufacturers. As a result, premium tyre segments and Electric two wheeler tyres are gaining demand.

8. What are the aspirations of the company in the next five years and how do you wish to accomplish this?
With the long-term vision to achieve a 15% market share by 2026, we are working diligently towards strengthening our ecosystem. As a technologically progressive brand, we will be introducing new path-breaking technologies. In the last 6 years, we have introduced the latest technologies to cater for our technology-centric customers. Also, with a clear push to EVs by the Government, Last year, we launched the M922F which has a special edge when it comes to tyre designs for electric two-wheelers. The new M922F tyres are built with specialized compound technology which helped us in producing lighter tyres. This lighter weight in turn reduces energy consumption by five to ten per cent, enhancing the range of an electric two-wheeler. Also, we are further strengthening our product portfolio and has plans to launch products in the cruiser/touring segment. Recently we have introduced Maxxplore, Extramaxx – 2, M116 – Rib pattern in more than 15 sizes and in sports motorcycle segment. We have also launched a premium sports tyre Extramaxx for Honda Hornet 2.0, and more than 15+ sizes has been introduced. We will be expanding our network base with current tally close to 3500 dealers pan India and firming new OEMs partnerships. Maxxis has been continuously working to meet our diverse customers demographics and needs.

As the successor to the Audi V8, the A8 has been the brand’s leading edge in the luxury saloon segment of Audi’s portfolio since 1994. The Audi A8 is a symbol of and a trailblazer for the status and prestige of the brand. The fourth generation of the luxury saloon, which Audi introduced in 2017, raised it to a new level concerning power, look, and equipment. As an initial series model, the A8 revealed the future design language upon its launch and consequently it is essentially the progressive face of the brand to the present day. The sharpened design coupled with established technologies and outstanding comfort in the back seats defines Audi’s premium conception in this segment. The saloon thereby represents the symbiosis of masterful comfort and sporty handling and it, therefore, covers the full breadth of driving experience. With precision in all details and many intelligent functions, the new A8 is a high-value technology pioneer.

The Audi A8 is a saloon that represents status and exudes authority – now that it has been reworked, its exterior is even more representative, confident, and athletic. The base of the Singleframe grille is now wider and chrome angles that increase in size from bottom to top adorn its grid. The side air intakes are more upright and just as freshly styled as the headlights, whose lower edge on the outside creates a distinctive contour. To summarize, the newly designed and precisely orchestrated design elements in the front area significantly increase the A8’s presence and authority and sharpen the profile of the brand’s top model.

From a side view, the luxury saloon’s progressive character is particularly eye-catching. The roof dome runs flat. Stretched lines in the body of the car emphasize its length, wide wheel arches hint at the standard quattro drive system. In all model variants, the rocker panel area has a concave shape and ends in a blade pointing toward the road. The rear is dominated by wide chrome clasps, a customizable taillight signature with Digital OLEDs, and a continuous, segmented light strip. The diffusor insert in the bumper is delicately accentuated and redesigned with horizontal bars. The Audi S8 presents four flow-optimized pipes under a circumferential contour – typical of the Audi S model. They are one of its characteristic sporty design details.

Beyond the basic exterior, Audi is offering its customers the chrome exterior package and the new S line exterior package. The latter gives the front a dynamic touch and differentiates even more from the basic model: a distinctive blade in the area of the side air intakes augments the frontal view – very similar to the S8. The look is even more defined with the additional black appearance package. The colour swatch for the A8 includes eleven colours, among them the new metallic district green, firmament blue, Manhattan grey, and ultra blue. Also new in the Audi A8 are five matte colours – Daytona grey, florette silver, district green, terra grey and glacier white. In the Audi exclusive program, the car is painted in the customer’s chosen colour.

The product enhancements only minimally change the dimensions of the Audi flagship in the luxury saloon segment. The A8 has a wheelbase of 3.00 meters (9.8 ft.), length of 5.19 meters (17 ft.), width of 1.95 meters (6.4 ft.), and height of 1.47 meters (4.8 ft.). The S8 is about one centimetre longer. The body of the A8 follows the same principle as the Audi Space Frame (ASF): it is made up of 58 percent aluminium parts. The passenger compartment consists of hot-formed steel components supplemented with an ultra-high-strength, extremely torsionally rigid rear panel made of a carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer. Magnesium strut-tower bars complete the lightweight construction concept. The body’s commanding rigidity lays the foundation for precise handling, excellent comfort, and acoustic tranquillity onboard.

Comparable with video projectors, the Digital Matrix LED headlights use DMD (digital micromirror device) technology. Each headlamp contains approximately 1.3 million micromirrors which dispersed the light into tiny pixels, which means that it can be adjusted with the greatest precision. One new function that this enables is lane and orientation lights for highways. Here, the headlights emit a carpet of light, which illuminates the driver’s lane particularly brightly. Above all, the orientation lights particularly help drivers intuitively stay in their lane at road construction sites. The Digital Matrix LED headlights can generate dynamic coming home/leaving home functions upon unlocking and leaving the car. They shine like projections on the ground or the wall.

The enhanced A8 comes with Digital OLED rear lights (OLED = organic light-emitting diode) as a standard feature. When ordering the car, there are two rear light signatures to choose from – three with the S8. When the “dynamic” Audi drive select mode is chosen, the lights change to a further signature that is only available in that mode.

In conjunction with the assistance systems, the Digital OLED rear lights have a proximity indication feature: if another vehicle comes within two meters (6.6 ft.) of a stationary A8 from behind, all the OLED segments are activated. Additional functions include dynamic turn signals as well as coming home and leaving home sequences.

The interior of the A8 is comparable with a spacious, widely tailored lounge – it offers an open, feel-good space. Its architecture is strictly horizontally oriented to emphasize its width. The formal language is still always restrained. In the dark, the ambient light package plus (standard with the S8) elegantly stages the interior and there are reading lights in the rear that use Matrix LED technology.

The range of seats and seat equipment in the enhanced A8 is varied, very comfortable, and radiates the highest degree of authority – especially for the back seats, where many options are available. The relaxation seat in the A8 L is the apex of the program. It offers numerous adjustment options and a footrest on the back of the passenger seat. Passengers can use it to have the bottoms of their feet warmed and massaged to various degrees. The relaxation seat package includes a back massage with 18 pneumatic cushions, electrically adjustable comfort headrests, an optional continuous centre console – also available with an optional fold-out table – four-zone deluxe automatic air conditioning, and the new screens in the rear.

The high-quality workmanship underscores the A8 interior’s workshop character. That goes for the precise perforations in the seat covers, the electrically opening and closing decorative trim, the air vent doors, or the velvety leather in the comfort headrests. The seats are upholstered with Valcona leather as a standard feature. Alternatively, Valcona leather is also available as an option with the possibility of choosing the new colour cognac brown. New to the program is the sustainable microfiber material Dinamica for the door panels, which can also be used for the pillar trim or the roof lining.

The MMI touch response operating concept in the Audi A8 relies on two displays (10.1-inch and 8.6-inch) and natural voice operation. The dialogue starts by calling out “Hey Audi!” The completely digital Audi virtual cockpit, with the standard head-up display, completes the display and operating concept and emphasizes the orientation to the driver. Important information is displayed directly in the driver’s line of sight.

MMI Navigation plus is standard in the enhanced Audi A8. It is supported by the third generation modular infotainment toolkit (MIB 3). The likewise standard online and Car-2-X services from Audi connect augment the navigation system. They are divided into two packages: Audi connect Navigation & Infotainment and Audi connect Safety & Service with Audi connect Remote & Control.

Attractive options are also available for the infotainment hardware. The new screens in the back are tailored to the expectations of today’s rear-seat passengers. That means two 10.1-inch displays with full HD resolution attached to the backs of the front seats. They display content from passengers’ devices and can receive numerous audio and video streams via casting, including from well-known streaming platforms, TV media libraries, or cellular networks.

The rear seat remote, which is now firmly mounted to the centre armrest, allows many comfort and infotainment functions to be controlled from the back seat. The control unit, with its OLED touch display, is about as big as a smartphone.

There are about 40 driver assistance systems available in the enhanced Audi A8. Some of them – including the Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense front safety systems – are standard equipment for the series. Options are clustered into the “Park,” “City,” and “Tour” packages. The assistance package plus consolidates the packages.

The highlight of the “Park” package is the remote park assist plus: it can automatically manoeuvre the large saloon into and out of a parallel or bay parking space. The driver does not even need to be in the car for it to do that.

The “City” assist package includes intersection assist, cross-traffic assist, side assist, exit warning, and the Audi pre sense 360° safety system, which induces a side crash enhancement in combination with the active suspension.

The “Tour” assist package, which is standard in the UK, is particularly comprehensive. Its central system is adaptive cruise assist, which adjusts longitudinal and lateral guidance throughout the vehicle’s speed range. Behind the assistance systems in the Audi A8 is the central driver assistance controller (zFAS), which continuously calculates a model of the environment.

The enhanced Audi A8 is available with four engine options. The 3.0 TDI and the 3.0 TFSI are V6 units, while the 4.0 TFSI in the S8 is a V8 with cylinder on-demand technology. The TFSI e plug-in hybrid model combines the 3.0 TFSI with an electric motor.

The 3.0 TDI is in the Audi A8 50 TDI quattro and the A8 L 50 TDI quattro. It brings 210 kW (286 PS) of power and 600 Nm of torque. The diesel engine accelerates both the A8 and A8 L from zero to 100 kmph (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds and on to the electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), which is uniform across all A8 models.

The 3.0 TFSI drives the Audi A8 55 TFSI quattro with 250 kW (340 PS. From 1,370 to 4,500 rpm, it delivers 500 Nm of torque. From a standing start, it reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.6 seconds.

The Audi S8 – inspirational performance in the luxury class
The Audi S8 TSFI quattro is the sporty top model in the series. The biturbo V8 generates 420 kW (571 PS) of power and 800 Nm of torque from 2,050 to 4,500 rpm. It does a standard sprint in 3.8 seconds. The COD system also increases efficiency in the S8. Sound flaps in the exhaust system sharpen the sound when desired. Additionally, the strongest model in the A8 family comes off the assembly line with particularly extensive standard equipment. Among other things, it comprises a unique combination of innovative suspension components, such as the predictive active suspension, sport differential, and dynamic all-wheel steering. With distinctive design elements in the interior and the exterior, the sporty character is purposefully staged.

All the previously mentioned motorizations come with mild hybrid technology (MHEV) as a standard feature, which uses the A8’s 48-volt main electrical system.

The Audi A8 60 TFSI e quattro and the A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro are the plug-in hybrid models (PHEV) in the series. The 3.0 TFSI is supported by a compact electric motor. The lithium-ion battery in the rear can now store a net 14.4 kWh (gross: 17.9 kWh) of energy – significantly more than before. With 340 kW (462 PS) of system power and 700 Nm of system torque, the Audi A8 60 TFSI e quattro goes from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds (A8 and A8 L).

Plug-in hybrid model drivers can choose between four modes. “EV” stands for fully electric driving, “Hybrid” for an efficient combination of both drive system types, and “Hold” for conserving the available electric energy, while the combustion engine charges the battery in “Charge” mode. The maximum charging capacity – with alternating current – is 7.4 kW. Customers can use the compact e-tron charging system for that in their garage at home or the mode 3 cable when they are on the road. In Europe, the Audi e-tron Charging Service grants access to approximately 250,000 charging points.

All engines in the Audi A8 are connected to a fast and gently toggling eight-step tiptronic. Thanks to an electric oil pump, the automatic transmission can change gears even when the combustion engine is not running. The constant all-wheel drive quattro with the self-locking centre differential is standard, optionally supplemented with the sport differential (standard in the S8, not available for plug-in hybrid models). It actively distributes torque between the rear wheels during fast cornering and thereby makes the handling even sportier and more stable.

The standard suspension system in the enhanced Audi A8 impresses with its balanced character. It combines sporty driving fun with confident comfort, due in part to the distinct driving profiles that the Audi drive select handling system has on hand. The adaptive air suspension with controlled damping is standard. Progressive steering is another standard feature. Dynamic all-wheel steering is also available as an option. It is standard equipment in the Audi S8.

The highlight of the enhanced S8 is the predictive active suspension. It can load or unload each wheel with additional power individually via an electric motor and thereby actively regulate the position of the chassis in any driving situation. Predictive active suspension gives the driving experience in the enhanced Audi S8 a fascinating range. When dynamic mode is on in the Audi drive select system, the large saloon shows its sporty side. It firmly turns into corners, the roll angles are small, and the body hardly dips when braking. In comfort+ mode, by contrast, it smoothly breezes over unevenness. Here, the steering works in conjunction with the front camera, allowing it to recognize unevenness within the system limitations and predictively regulate the actuators.

In comfort+ mode, the predictive active suspension has a special feature: its integrated curve tilting function reduces the lateral acceleration that acts on the occupants. Upon entering a curve, it elevates the side of the body on the outside of the curve and lowers the other side, thereby tilting it into the curve up to three degrees. At speeds between 80 and 130 kmph (59.7 to 80.8 mph) and lateral acceleration of up to 0.4g, cornering is scarcely noticeable.

While driving straight in comfort+, the predictive active suspension compensates for pitching movements in the chassis. To help with getting in and out of the car comfortably, the body raises and lowers itself by up to 50 mm (2 in.).

The wheel range for the enhanced Audi A8, which goes from 18 to 21 inches, including new designs.

The all-new Kia EV6 electric crossover has been voted ‘2022 German Car of the Year’ in the ‘Premium’ category of the ‘German Car of the Year’ (GCOTY) awards. The prestigious accolade comes at a time when the innovative crossover continues to make its highly anticipated debut around the world.

The EV6 fought off competition from a series of contenders to take the top honour, with the innovative crossover beating a diverse set of rivals that included the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Volkswagen ID.4, Audi Q4 e-tron and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, among others. A jury consisting of 20 automotive journalists evaluated new models with a base price of between 25,000 and 50,000 euros to determine the overall category winner.

“The EV6 is not only the first Kia based on our new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), it’s also the first car that incorporates our new and bold Opposites United design philosophy as well as the all-new company logo,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer at Hyundai Motor Group. “The EV6’s emotional design, dynamic performance, impressive driving range and ultra-fast charging capabilities truly mark it out as something special. We are proud to receive the German Car of the Year’s Premium award that acknowledges the brilliant work of our dynamic Kia team.”

In addition to the three main categories that included ‘Compact’, for vehicles priced under 25,000 euros, ‘Premium’, for vehicles priced between 25,000 and 50,000 euros, and ‘Luxury’, for vehicles priced over 50,000 euros, the competition also included an additional ‘New Energy’ category, which represented electric vehicles powered solely by batteries or hydrogen. The Kia EV6 ranked highly in this category by coming second, just behind the category winner Hyundai IONIQ 5.

“It’s fantastic to see the EV6 win the ‘2022 German Premium Car of the Year’ award,” said Jason Jeong, President at Kia Europe. “While the first deliveries of our innovative electric crossover have only just begun, this honor is clear recognition that the EV6 is already setting new standards for driving range, performance, interior space and technology.”

The all-new Kia EV6 brings long-range, zero-emissions power, 800V ultra-fast charging and distinctive styling to the crossover SUV market. The EV6 enables the vehicle to achieve up to 528 kilometers of driving range from a single charge on the WLTP combined cycle, while advanced 800V charging technology means drivers can charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes.

The EV6 also is the first dedicated BEV produced by Kia using the all-new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), and forms the first part of Kia’s transition to the new era of electrification under the new brand slogan, ‘Movement that inspires’. Kia, under its ‘Plan S’ strategy, plans to introduce 11 EV models in total by 2026 including seven dedicated BEVs based on E-GMP.

Available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, customers can choose between long-range (77.4 kWh) and standard-range (58.0 kWh) high-voltage battery packs. The 77.4 kWh battery pack is paired with a 168 kW (229 PS) electric motor powering the rear wheels, while AWD models featuring two electric motors can produce a total of 239kW (325 PS). A performance oriented all-wheel drive EV6 GT featuring 430 kW (585 PS) and the ability to accelerate to 100 kmph in just 3.5 seconds will go on sale at the end of 2022. The 58.0 kWh battery pack is paired with a 125kW electric motor powering the rear wheels, while AWD models featuring two electric motors can produce a combined 173kW (235PS).

Volvo Car India has launched two new petrol mild-hybrid models – the luxury sedan S90 and the Volvo’s best-selling mid-size luxury SUV XC60. These launches are in line with the company’s aim to a complete petrol portfolio by end of 2021. The launch took place at the Volvo Cars Dealership in Kolkata, SPL Volvo Newtown, Rajarhat.

The New Petrol mild-hybrid Volvo S90 is priced at Rs. 61,90,000, ex-showroom and the New Petrol mild-hybrid Volvo XC60 is priced at Rs. 61,90,000, ex-showroom. Both these models come with several advanced features that enhance the Volvo driving experience. Features like Digital Services giving access to Google apps, other apps and services which offer hands-free help with Google Assistant, best-in-class navigation through Google Maps are available in both the models. The cars also feature the intuitive, next generation infotainment system that offers customers both personalisation and a connectivity.

In addition to the new petrol mild-hybrid cars and new technologies, the company also announced 3 years’ Volvo Service Package at a special price of only Rs 75,000 plus applicable taxes. This can be bought with the new launched cars. This is an introductory offer only during the current festive season which includes regular maintenance plus wear & tear cost over 3 years.

“Kolkata has been a very important market for us and is amongst the fastest-growing metro cities and home to aspiring and affluent families. Volvo Cars believe in providing the best-in-class experience to its esteemed customers and ensures a top-notch customer experience throughout the customer journey. The luxury mobility customer in Kolkata has always been safety and features conscious and we are confident that they will find our technology loaded new offerings exciting.” said Mr. Rajeev Chauhan, Director Network & Product, Volvo Car India.

Volvo Car Group has teamed up with Google on integrating an infotainment system powered by Android with Google apps and services. Volvo is committed to safety and sustainability and offer its car users the most advanced features.

The S90 is Volvo’s premium 4-door, 5-seat flagship sedan. It is built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), Volvo’s advanced modular vehicle platform. The SPA platform has resulted in the strongest Volvo cars to date because of extensive use of boron steel, as well as numerous safety systems designed to protect people inside and outside the car.

Winner of the World Car of the Year title in 2018(the immensely popular XC60 has now advanced safety upgrades like Volvo Cars’ latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) sensor platform, a modern, scalable active safety system that consists of an array of radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors.

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal today signaled his commitment to promote ecofriendly mobility by increasing the use of Kia’s first dedicated EV, the new EV6 crossover, at a handover ceremony at the Rafa Nadal Academy in his Spanish hometown of Manacor, Mallorca.

At the event, Nadal was provided with a customized EV6 GT-Line as a demonstration of the two longstanding partners’ shared vision for creating a better world and to inspire a new generation of drivers to embrace electric mobility. The ceremony followed the European launch of the EV6 crossover and served to highlight Kia’s new brand purpose – “Movement that inspires.”

In line with the commitment, Nadal will actively use the EV6 crossover for his personal mobility in Mallorca as well as at major tennis tournaments such as the 2022 Australian Open. Furthermore, he has expressed his interest to convert all vehicles used at the Rafa Nadal Academy and Rafa Nadal Foundation to electric vehicles by 2022.

“My job naturally requires a lot of travel, and my lifestyle is not fully sustainable. But I’m determined to make the necessary changes where I can, starting with my personal use of the EV6 crossover in Mallorca and beyond,” said Nadal at the event. “I feel lucky to have the support of Kia and the new EV6 that will help drive my commitment. I would like to encourage others to join me in driving these kind of vehicles wherever possible.”

The ceremony was illuminated by a tennis court, dubbed the “EV6 Court,” whose lighting system was electrically powered by a customized EV6 GT-Line. The first dedicated electrified crossover vehicle by Kia boasts an advanced V2L (vehicle-to-load) function and serves as a portable, self-generating power supply.

“We at Kia strongly believe in our ethos that movement inspires ideas. The EV6 is the model that embodies this new brand ethos of ours, and we feel privileged to have Rafa on our team as our global brand ambassador for the past 15 years,” said Artur Martins, Senior Vice President and Head of Kia’s Global Brand and Customer Experience Division. “He is not only one of the greatest athletes in history but an icon of inspiration who constantly strives to make a positive impact in the world through his diverse social contribution activities.”

The EV6 crossover was launched to play a key role in Kia’s new vision to offer accessible, sustainable and innovative mobility solutions to people around the world. It represents a pioneering solution for future electrified mobility and aims to elevate the industry standard at a time the automotive world at large is quickly transitioning toward full electrification. The EV6’s vehicle-to-load (V2L) function demonstrated at the EV6 Court of the Rafa Nadal Academy can supply up to 3.6KW of electricity and be used conveniently as a portable power supply for leisure and other everyday activities.

TVS Motor Company recently announced the launch of the TVS iQube Electric scooter. As part of the company’s expansion plans, the scooter was launched in 22 new cities, including Kolkata, on the same day. TVS iQube Electric is a green and connected, fun to ride urban scooter powered by an advanced electric drivetrain and next-gen TVS SmartXonnect platform.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. K.N. Radhakrishnan, Director & Chief Executive Officer, TVS Motor Company, said, “TVS Motor Company is transforming into a digital age company offering world class Green and Connected products. As India moves ahead, its mobility solutions would increasingly be experience-led, and nowhere is this felt sharper than among the youth of India. Our focus on India’s youth is embodied in the first of the TVS electric portfolio. TVS iQube Electric is a blend of an advanced electric drivetrain and the next-gen TVS SmartXonnect platform. After a successful response in 11 key markets in India, we are thrilled to bring our electric scooter to Kolkata, along with 21 new markets on the same day, and are confident to scale great heights. The TVS iQube Electric ecosystem is built around digital platforms that enable complete digital retail experience to customers.”

TVS iQube Electric is equipped with a 4.4 kW electric motor to deliver high power and efficiency with no transmission loss. The scooter has a maximum speed of 78 kmph and traverses 75 kms with a full charge. The scooter can sprint from 0 to 40 kmph in 4.2 seconds.

TVS iQube Electric is equipped with proprietary next-gen TVS SmartXonnect platform, advanced TFT cluster and TVS iQube app. This app offers multiple features such as Geo-fencing, remote battery charge status, navigation assist, last park location, and incoming call alerts/SMS alerts.

TVS iQube Electric comes with innovative features for delivering conveniences such as Q-park assist, multi-select economy and power mode, day and night display, regenerative braking, and provides a noiseless and comfortable ride.

Available in a striking white colour, TVS iQube Electric is designed to reflect the contemporary lifestyle, and the design is stylish, subtle and functional. It is equipped with crystal-clear LED headlamps, all-LED tail lamps and sports an illuminating logo.

TVS iQube Electric can be booked through the website with a booking amount of INR 5,000. This will be followed by an end-to-end transparent digital purchase experience and customer relationship assistance for purchase and support. The customer can also avail of attractive finance schemes offered by TVS Credit. TVS has also initiated completely contactless delivery of vehicles to customers keeping their safety and convenience in view.

TVS Motor Company is committed to providing customers with comprehensive charging support, ranging across multiple charging options. Customers can avail of the recommended choice of SmartXHome, which offers a dedicated home charging solution with BlueTooth connectivity, live charging status and RFID enabled security. At present, charging units for the scooter will be installed at three locations in Kolkata. Further, the company is developing an expansive public charging ecosystem by expanding network strength across the city.

TVS iQube Electric will be available in select dealerships across Kolkata from today, at an on-road price of Rs.116491 (post FAME II subsidy).

Salient Features
• Max speed of 78 kmph
• 0 to 40 kmph in 4.2 seconds
• Q-park Assist
• Regenerative Braking
• Geo-fencing
• Navigation Assist
• Remote Charge Status
• Smart Ride Statistics
• Range Indication
• Battery charge status
• Over-speed alert