Kia India registered a sale of 11,050 units, making it the 4th most sold car brand in the country in May 2021. The company has secured a 10.7 per cent market share in the month, which is the company’s highest-ever monthly share ever since its launch. Kia’s latest product for the Indian market – Sonet, has emerged as the sub-compact SUV segment leader in May and is the highest contributor to overall company sales of Kia with 6,627 units. This is followed by Kia’s mid-SUV Seltos, which has sold 4,277 units. Both Sonet and Seltos are amongst the top 10 cars sold in India in May’21

Commenting on the sales performance, Mr. Tae-Jin Park, Chief Sales and Business Strategy Officer, Kia India said, “We are pleased with our sales performance during this challenging environment. The on-going second wave of COVID-19 pandemic made things tough for all businesses and automobile industry was no exception, as normal business operations got disturbed. In these tough times the relentless efforts of our teams and partners enabled Kia India to achieve its highest ever market share of 10.7%. We are confident that the need for personal mobility and pent-up demand will drive the recovery for the entire industry in the months to come.”

In the beginning of May, Kia India launched the refreshed Seltos and Sonet. Speaking about their performance, Mr. Hardeep Singh Brar, Vice President and Head of Marketing & Sales, Kia India added, “We are receiving an overwhelming response for the recently launched refreshed Seltos and Sonet from the Indian customers. This is a true testament to our understanding of the needs of the customers here and our sales performance shows that we are providing them with the right product. It is noteworthy that both Sonet and Seltos are amongst the top 10 most sold cars and Kia India has already crossed consolidated sales of 2.67 lakh vehicles this month within just 22 months of start of sales in India.”

Ford is giving enthusiasts an exclusive opportunity to help create a new Ford Performance model.

The company has announced a new Puma ST special edition will be developed in collaboration with fans via an innovative series of online polls.

Marking the first time Ford has enabled customers to vote on the design of a vehicle that will actually go into production, Twitter and Instagram users will between June 1 and June 10 be given the chance to choose a range of design features for the limited-run version of the first Ford Performance SUV ever offered in Europe.

The winning choices will be turned into reality in the final specification for the Puma ST special edition, which will be built at Ford’s Craiova manufacturing facility, Romania, and available to purchase later this year.

By placing their votes in polls at Ford’s Twitter and Instagram channels in markets across Europe, Ford fans can decide the colour combinations of elements including the model’s paint, decals, brake callipers and seatbelt stitching, as well as choosing between a badged or de-badged exterior. In addition, the name of the special edition model will be decided by the fans.

Participants will be able to choose from alternatives for each element, with each vote open for 24 hours. The final specification and name of the Ford Puma ST special edition will be revealed on June 18.

“We know our Ford Performance fans want their vehicles to look as good as they drive, and there’s no better way to discover what our performance customers love most than to put them in the driver’s seat and let them make key decisions about the appearance of our new Puma ST special edition,” said Amko Leenarts, director, Design, Ford of Europe. “This is human centred design in action, and we can’t wait to see how the final version turns out. It’s going to be a huge thrill to see the real thing out on the road.”

Launched in late 2020, the Puma ST introduces acclaimed Ford Performance driving dynamics to the innovative Ford Puma compact SUV and is powered by a 200PS 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine for 0-62mph acceleration in 6.7 seconds.

Sports Technologies include selectable Drive Modes including Sport, Track and Eco, as well as a unique-in-segment limited-slip differential option, patented force vectoring springs and unique suspension and steering specifications for exceptional cornering responses.

Ford and its Team Fordzilla esports team also last year unveiled the Team Fordzilla P1 concept, designed with collaboration between the company’s designers and the gaming community.

Almost 250,000 fans voted on Twitter to choose elements including seating position, cockpit style and drivetrain to create the ultimate virtual race car. The final design was turned into a full-size replica for an online reveal.

Kia has revealed the first official teaser images of the all-new Sportage – the fifth incarnation of the brand’s most popular SUV model.

Due to be revealed in July in Korea, the new Sportage has been carefully crafted to establish new benchmarks in its segment – for its advanced exterior and interior design, connectivity tech, and responsive yet highly efficient powertrains. In September, and for the first time in the model’s 28-year history, Kia Europe will unveil a dedicated European version of the Sportage.

Revealed earlier this year to great acclaim from the design community, Kia’s new design language – Opposites United – is at the core of the Sportage, influencing every aspect of its appearance and character. The early images hint at an assertive and cutting-edge presence for the SUV – paying homage to nature’s perfection and simplicity whilst connecting with the brand’s new design direction.

The new Sportage has a muscular stance and a strong yet refined silhouette. Notable new details include the crisp, taught character lines that ripple across the surfaces. The front creates an instant and thought-provoking statement, with a detail-orientated black grille graphic spanning the width of the face. At the rear, muscular shoulder lines drop gently to meet slim daytime-running lamps, which flank the new Kia logo and Sportage emblem.

The interior design sketch reveals a driver-orientated space that plays with boldness in character, softness in qualities and innovation in technology. At the core is a beautifully sculpted integrated curved display.

“Taking inspiration from an ethos we created where nature meets modernity, the new Sportage challenges design norms with an adventurous yet contemporary exterior and a beautifully detailed and pioneering interior,” said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Design Center. “With new Sportage, we didn’t simply want to take one step forward, but rather move to a completely different level within the SUV class.”

Six months after its introduction in the market, the Ducati Multistrada V4 family has reached the milestone of 5,000 models sold. Motorcycle number 5,000 was purchased by the German Ducatista Karl-Heinz Lebensieg, who ordered a V4 S Sport version in Full configuration from the Ducati dealer in Ingolstadt.

To celebrate this occasion, Mr. Lebensieg was invited from Ducati Motor Deutschland to the dealer in Ingolstadt, where he received a sculptural reproduction of the Multistrada V4 together with a personal letter certifying the motorcycle’s serial number.

Presented to the world during the 2021 Ducati World Première, the Multistrada V4 is a motorcycle in which Ducati performance and sportiness are combined with unprecedented ride comfort and a versatility that allows it to be used on all roads and in all driving conditions. Equipped with the V4 Granturismo engine, the Multistrada V4 has record maintenance intervals (valve clearance check every 60,000 km), offers an integrated navigation system with dedicated maps that can be viewed directly on the large dashboard and is the first motorcycle in the world to be equipped with front and rear radar.

To meet the different needs of its customers, Ducati has created different configurations for the models that make up the Multistrada V4 family. The online configurator, available on the Ducati.com website, allows you to explore these possibilities and customize the bike by choosing the accessory packages and aesthetic variations that best suit your needs, and then send the ideal model directly to your trusted dealer.

All the models of the Multistrada family can be ordered from dealers in the Ducati network. The standard version is available in the sporty Ducati Red colour, while the V4 S model is present, in addition to red, also in “Aviator Grey”, and can be requested with one of the configuration packages (Essential, Travel, Radar, Performance, Full), both with alloy wheels and with spoked wheels. The third version of the range is the Multistrada V4 S Sport, which offers a particularly aggressive dedicated livery and the standard Performance package with Akrapovič exhaust and carbon front mudguard.

On 28th May, Maserati celebrates a significant anniversary; exactly 60 years ago, the Tipo 61 achieved an amazing victory at the seventh edition of the Nürburgring 1,000 kilometres, the great endurance classic held at the Nordschleife in Germany which reached the height of its splendour and popularity in those very years.

With this success, the Maserati Tipo 61 driven by Masten Gregory and Lloyd Casner recorded a memorable double, winning again just one year after the victory achieved in 1960, with Stirling Moss at the wheel alongside Dan Gurney.

The cars were customised with white and blue paintwork, the colours which inspired the Maserati MC12 Stradale, as a tribute to these victories. This supercar, which dominated the early 2000s, recently handed over the torch to the new MC20, renewing the racing spirit that has always been integral to Maserati’s DNA, and which is preparing the way for the Trident’s motorsports comeback.

The Tipo 61 was the best known of the series of five models designed by Giulio Alfieri, nicknamed “Birdcage” for its unusual chassis, an intricate structure containing about 200 tubes, combined in a complex assembly that resembled a birdcage. This construction method provided a more rigid chassis that was also lighter than the other racing cars of the time, making this two-seater barchetta the ultimate and best solution for front-engined, rear-wheel drive racers.

Maserati began building the Tipo 60 in March 1959, but by November of the same year it was already being transformed into the Tipo 61, to comply with the technical regulations required to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours. The displacement of the four-cylinder engine was modified to 2,900 cc, while its power output became 250 hp at 7,000 rpm. Otherwise, the car retained the layout and solutions already adopted for the Tipo 60. Moreover, its weight increased from 570 to 600 kg and its top speed from 270 to 285 km/h.

In spite of its massive power output, fuel consumption was still fairly low, and this was vital in endurance races, where the Tipo 61 was able to reduce the number of refuelling stops.

In just three years of production, from 1959 to 1961, the Tipo 60 and the Tipo 61 reigned supreme on the international racing scene, with power and speed that led to a series of extraordinary wins, continuing the victorious tradition of Maserati which now, at the start of its new Era, is once again planning a future in motorsports, under the banner of the MC20.

The new normal of citywide lockdowns and working from home means that the cars spend more time in parking than being driven on the roads. To address this concern and keep your car in good shape during the lock-down, Ford bring to you some tips that can be followed.

1) PARK IN A CAR SHED OR USE A CAR COVER: When the car has to stand for a longer time, park it under a shed to keep it safer and cleaner. In absence of a shed, invest in a quality cover as it will keep the car from rusting and fading under the sun. Avoid using the cover indoors so that the moisture evaporates faster especially in humid weather.

2) CHECK THE TYRE PRESSURE: To maintain smooth contact between the vehicle and the road, the car tyres cannot be over or under-inflated. If the car is idle for a longer period, the pressure in the tyres tends to reduce. Hence, it’s important to check the tyre pressure regularly, especially during the lockdown. Also, keep a check on the valves and valve caps for leaks.

3) DON’T ENGAGE THE HANDBRAKE, PARK THE CAR IN GEAR: When parking the vehicle for a long time, find level ground and avoid engaging the handbrake as rust might form at the point of contact between the brake pads and the disc/drum, causing it to jam. Alternatively, be smart and use wheel chocks to keep it from rolling and leave the car in first gear.

4) FILL UP THE FUEL TANK: One of the major problems of leaving a car unused is rusting on the inside of the fuel tank. Low fuel level can have a detrimental effect on the fuel pump – it will wear the pump out faster. Low fuel level might also allow condensation to develop in an empty tank, inviting corrosion. So, fill the car to the brim with quality fuel and ensure the tank is sealed properly as well.

5) DISCONNECT THE BATTERY: Removing the battery if the car won’t be used for a long time is a good idea. Greasing the terminals and the wire ends prevents rusting. Alternatively, start the vehicle every fourth or fifth day and idle the engine for a few minutes to ensure that the battery is working normally.

6) CHANGE ENGINE OIL AT REGULAR INTERVALS: A car’s health is majorly determined by the quality and integrity of its engine oil which keeps all moving parts well lubricated and traps out all the dust, dirt and sediments keeping the wear and tear minimal.

7) KEEP THE INTERIOR CLEAN: Like the exterior, it is important to keep the interior of the car clean. For this, start the car every fourth or fifth day and start the AC and the blower – this helps in removing the dust or other particles present in the cabin. Don’t leave any eatables inside and ensure to close the car window.

FordPass app allows customers to check vehicle health as well as remote features like start/stop, lock/unlock, locate your vehicle etc. on their FordPass equipped vehicle.

Kia India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kia Corporation, has announced its new corporate name – ‘Kia India’ as a part of its new brand identity and brand purpose of ‘Movement that Inspires’. The name change which symbolises Kia becoming an enterprise that invests in and produces more than just vehicles to offer a long range of sustainable mobility solutions. The brand has removed the word ‘Motors’ from its earlier name after ratification by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and will now function under the corporate identity of Kia India Private Limited. The company has changed its logo and name at its Anantapur manufacturing facility and will carry out the same at its dealership in a phase-wise manner.

In line with its brand re-launch, Kia India is breaking away from its traditional manufacturing-driven structure to a more purpose-driven business. The new brand purpose – “Movement that inspires” signifies Kia’s ambitious plans of leading the future mobility revolution in India with premium products equipped with unique design and segment-first features, digitized services and complemented by one of the largest networks. As part of its new brand identity, Kia India has also changed the brand logo to compliment the new brand name, which signifies Kia’s bold and innovative approach and underscores the brand’s commitment to driving the change in the Indian automotive industry.  

Being India’s young automobile disruptor, Kia India has set new benchmarks in the Indian automobile industry and has been able to achieve several milestones in a very short period of time. In over one and a half years of sales operation in India, Kia has emerged as the 4th most sold car brand and the fastest carmaker to achieve 2,50,000 sales figures in the country. Along with leading the connected car revolution in India with over 1,40,000 connected Kia cars on Indian roads, Kia also aims at offering cutting-edge features with multiple specification choices for its customers to choose from.

Bentley Motors marks 75 years of car production from the luxury marque’s iconic factory in Crewe, England. During this period, 197,086 luxury cars – 97 per cent of Bentley’s entire production – have been handcrafted, an extraordinary milestone when considered that just 38,933 were built before modern day models such as the Continental GT and Bentayga were introduced from the turn of the century.             

Remarkably, records show that 84 per cent of all cars built in Crewe for the UK market are still on the road today, with that number growing at unmatched levels. Bentley is currently building 85 cars per day; one month’s output, two decades ago.           

Commenting on the significant achievement, Peter Bosch, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Manufacturing, said: “For 75 years Crewe has been synonymous with luxury car manufacturing – a global showcase of craftsmanship and quality.  In that time, our colleagues have produced some of the world’s most iconic and desirable products, including cars for global royalty and unique personal commissions.

“Beyond bricks and mortar, this milestone pays homage to the colleagues who have built our brand in Crewe, and I’d like to express my thanks and admiration for their dedication over three quarters of a century.

“With our most recent investment we have transformed our historic factory into a collaborative modern campus; a carbon-neutral, innovative, low environmental impact site that retains the best of our heritage while looking strongly to the future.  In many factory areas, modern, digitised production systems complement traditional craftsmanship skills employed on our cars since 1946.

“As we cautiously emerge from the pandemic, we look forward to welcoming our customers back to Crewe to experience our unique factory and meet our colleagues in person.”

Although Bentley’s history dates back to 1919, Crewe became part of the luxury marque’s story in 1938; the Pyms Lane site transforming from potato fields to a significant manufacturing base for the Merlin aeroplane engines, a key pillar of the war efforts. Selected due to its strong transport links and ready supply of skilled labour, at peak in 1943, the Crewe factory employed over 10,000 colleagues.

With car production having ceased in the war years, the former home of the company in Derby was committed to building new-era jet engines in 1946, meaning a new location was required. Colleagues had to be retrained in techniques necessary for car manufacture, such as painting, anti-corrosion preparation, body mounting and woodwork.     

The Bentley Mark VI became the first car to be built entirely at Bentley’s Crewe works and the first to be offered with a pressed-steel body shell as standard. The 4.3-litre straight six engine used at launch was upgraded to a more powerful 4.6-litre unit in 1951. Coachbuilt cars were still available, but the Mark VI signalled the dawn of a new era in Bentley car production and became one of the marque’s biggest selling cars in history.         

What followed prior to the modern era were many iconic models of their time produced in Crewe, including the R-Type Continental, Turbo R, Arnage and Azure.  

Arguably the biggest change to Pyms Lane, Crewe, took place in 1998, following the acquisition of Bentley by the Volkswagen Group. The Group immediately invested significantly to modernise the factory and transformed the company into the one that exists today, creating a platform for an illustrious period in the history of Bentley Motors.          

Pyms Lane has remained the focal point for Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe since the company arrived in 1938. What stands today are industry-leading facilities that are fully carbon neutral, the first luxury car brand to achieve such a feat.       

Over the coming weeks, Bentley’s subsequent investment in Pyms Lane will be realised with the opening of an Engineering Test Centre and R&D building – both of which will further support Bentley’s journey towards electrification.

The ambitious plans Bentley has for car production were outlined as part of its ground-breaking Beyond100 strategy. The company aims to be end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030, with the Crewe factory climate positive thereafter.

Bentley will move to full electrification – PHEV or BEV only – by 2026, then switch the entire model range to battery electric vehicles by 2030. The industry-leading Beyond100 strategy will transform every aspect of the business as Bentley accelerates into its second century of luxury car production.

TVS Motor Company has announced that the TVS NTORQ 125 has crossed the sales milestone of 1 lakh units in international markets. 

In 2018, TVS NTORQ 125 was launched as the first Bluetooth connected scooter in India and has since secured its place like no other. Over the years, the brand has become synonymous with industry-first technology, style and performance in select international markets.  Today, TVS NTORQ 125 is present in 19 countries across South Asia, Latin America, Middle East, and ASEAN.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. KN Radhakrishnan, Director & CEO, TVS Motor Company, said, “We are delighted that our smart scooter, TVS NTORQ 125, has achieved the 1 lakh sales milestone in international markets. Since its launch, the scooter has become a favourite among Gen Z customers globally. The scooter’s striking appearance, connected technology and superior performance have been a hallmark of the TVS NTORQ 125 brand experience.  This achievement is a reinforcement of our commitment to grow the TVS NTORQ brand by setting benchmarks in innovation and creating aspiration for customers.”

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced that Anders Warming has been appointed Director of Design. He will join the company from 1 July.

Warming, 48, joins Rolls-Royce Motor Cars from Warming Design, the company he founded in 2019. His experience includes almost 20 years in senior positions in the BMW Group, including Head of Design at MINI and Exterior Chief Designer at BMW.

Outside of BMW, Warming held various senior design positions in companies including Borgward and Volkswagen.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said, “It is with great pleasure that I welcome a person with the depth of experience and creativity of Anders Warming to the Rolls-Royce family. As our Director of Design, he will have a key role in defining our future aesthetic direction and realising our clients’ dreams and aspirations. Anders joins us as we move forward to full electrification of our brand, which will shape Rolls-Royce for decades to come. He will face the challenge of upholding the fundamental design principles of Sir Henry Royce himself, which have guided us for over 100 years.”

He continued, “To become the Director of Design for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is the most prestigious and challenging brief in the luxury industry. It offers unique opportunities for innovative creativity, imagination and exploration of new genres. I have no doubt that Anders, with his extraordinary wealth of experience and talent, will excel in his new role and we are all looking forward to working with him at Rolls-Royce.”

Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President, BMW Group Design, commented, “Anders Warming has a proven track record as an extremely creative and passionate designer with a keen eye for detail and craftsmanship and since he has spent most of his career in our design team, I am sure he will integrate very quickly.”

Anders Warming said, “It is a tremendous privilege and a humbling experience to be asked to take up this role. I am personally thrilled to be joining Rolls-Royce and am fully committed to the challenges presented by this great and historic brand as it moves into the future.”

Warming originates from Copenhagen, Denmark. He graduated in Major Transport Design at the Art Center College of Design, Vevey, Switzerland and Pasadena, USA.