Tag: motoring

The New MINI Convertible Stardust Edition launched In India

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The new MINI Convertible Stardust Edition was launched in India today at an ex-showroom price of INR 62,90,000. The car will be available in the country as a completely built-up unit (CBU) and can be booked exclusive via the MINI India website. Deliveries for the same will commence immediately.

Mr. Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India said, “The new MINI Convertible is the perfect car for those who are open to fun and also enjoy making a distinct lifestyle statement. With the ‘Stardust’ limited edition, we are dialing up that sense of exclusivity a notch higher. The thought behind this special car was to capture the shifting, indefinable colours of the sky at twilight – blending a deep dusk-grey paint with shimmering champagne details that mimic stardust. The Stardust edition is engineered for MINI fans who view their car not just as a mode of transport, but as a bold expression of individuality. It is a vehicle that remains magnificently rare by design, and even rarer on the road.”

The exterior design of the new MINI Convertible Stardust Edition focuses on classic MINI characteristics. The front end shows the typical face of the brand with its iconic round headlights and the newly designed front grille. Standard LED headlights have three light signatures to emphasise the car’s character. A specially orchestrated welcome and goodbye animation with MINI logo projections on the sides enhances the emotional connection even before you get in. On the side, the clean sporty lines create a striking contrast along with the short overhangs and long proportions.

The athletic body is finished exclusively in a striking Sparkling Copper Grey metallic paint. To match, Mirror Caps are available in Vibrant Silver. The vehicle’s bold aesthetic is anchored by aerodynamically optimized 18-inch JCW Rallye Spoke Alloys finished in Vibrant Silver. The rear view is characterised by the flush design of the vertically aligned LED rear lights. The rear section is divided by a black handle strip with striking model badge, whose horizontal alignment emphasises the car’s wide stance.

Paying homage to the brand’s iconic British heritage, the premium black roof is designated as the MINI Yours Soft Top, distinguished by its signature woven Union Jack graphic. The electrically folding soft top can be fully opened in 18 seconds, even at speeds of up to 30 km/h. At the same time, the window bars and side windows are lowered to provide a completely unobstructed view of the surroundings. The soft top closes in 15 seconds at the touch of a button. It can also be partially opened to act as a sunroof, to a length of 40 centimetres, regardless of speed. When the top is open, the MINI Convertible Stardust Edition has a luggage compartment volume of 160 litres. When closed, it expands to 215 litres.

With its clean shapes and minimalist controls, the interior of the new MINI Convertible Stardust Edition evokes the design of the classic Mini. The focal point in the cockpit is the round high-resolution OLED display. Known as the MINI Interaction Unit, it combines the functions of an instrument cluster and a central display. Like all new-generation MINI models, the MINI Convertible Stardust Edition uses MINI Operating System 9. Its intuitive interface is inspired by smartphone apps and feels instantly familiar to users. The MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA) can be activated by saying “Hey MINI” to control a wide range of functions such as navigation, telephony, entertainment and others. The innovative MINI Digital Key Plus turns the smartphone into a car key via the MINI App and can be transferred to different users, along with their personal vehicle settings. Head-up Display projects all relevant information directly in the driver’s line of sight. Harman Kardon Surround Sound System is an aural treat. Other features include Remote Services, Remote Software Upgrades, Apple CarPlay / Android Auto, Teleservices, In-Car Weather and Intelligent Emergency Call.

With the MINI Experience Modes, one can choose from several immersive driving experiences, from the race-inspired ‘Go-Kart Mode’ to the energy-saving ‘Green Mode’ or the lively ‘Vivid Mode’ and more. MINI Experience Modes extend the indoor experience by tuning the light, sound and graphics settings.

A distinctive Toggle Bar Island gives access to the important driving functions including start/stop, gear selector, parking brake, experience modes and volume control. General storage area below the toggle bar provides space for a smartphone to be wirelessly charged.

Sports Seats in Black with electric adjustment are covered in Vescin – a high-quality, perforated, artificial leather-free upholstery made from recycled materials. The driver also enjoys the Active Seat for added comfort.

The new MINI Convertible Stardust Edition features the innovative and efficient petrol engine powered by the latest MINI TwinPower Turbo technology. It mobilises a peak output of 150 kW/204 hp at 5,000 – 6,500 rpm and produces a maximum torque of 300 Nm at 1450-4500 rpm. The car sprints from 0 – 100 km/hr in just 6.9 seconds and the top speed is 240 km/h. The 7-Speed Double Clutch Steptronic Sport Transmission offers efficient, comfortable and sporty driving due to a broader gear spread and smaller engine speed steps.

Advanced assistance systems such as Cruise Control and Parking Assistant increase comfort, control and safety and relieve the driver from monotonous and less demanding aspects of driving. With new addition of Comfort Access, the car is locked / unlocked automatically as it recognises the key is at a distance of less than 1.5 meters.

The standard MINIMALISM technology includes auto start/stop function, brake energy recuperation, active cooling air ducts and electromechanical power steering. The wide range of alloy wheels depending on the variant, radiate confidence while reducing carbon footprint thanks to their lightweight design and use of recycled aluminium.

The standard safety equipment comprises of front passenger airbags and side curtain airbags, Brake Assist, 3-Point Seat Belts, Dynamic Stability Control, Crash Sensor, Anti-lock Braking System, Cornering Brake Control, Rear View Camera, and Tubeless Tyres with Tyre Pressure Indicator.

Škoda Auto Builds Its One-Millionth Karoq

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Škoda Auto has built its millionth Karoq at the Kvasiny plant. The milestone vehicle is a Karoq 1.5 TSI 110 kW in Graphite Grey. Since its debut in 2017, the Karoq has proved popular with customers and earned recognition from industry experts, including a Red Dot Award in the Product Design category. With its spacious interior, extensive standard equipment and choice of front- or all-wheel drive, the Karoq offers a high degree of versatility and everyday practicality. It is built at the Kvasiny plant, which also produces the Octavia and Kodiaq and has an annual production capacity of more than 300,000 vehicles. The model’s successor is set to be unveiled at the turn of 2027 and 2028.

Andreas Dick, responsible for Production and Logistics at Škoda Auto, says: “Since production began in 2017, the Škoda Karoq has become an established part of our portfolio and an especially important model for the Kvasiny plant. Reaching the one-million mark reflects the commitment and teamwork of many people over the years. I would like to thank all colleagues in Kvasiny for their dedication, as well as our social partner KOVO for our long-standing, constructive and trusted cooperation.”

Škoda Karoq: an important pillar of the brand’s SUV line-up
Launched in 2017 as Škoda’s third SUV model at the time, the Karoq quickly proved popular with customers around the world. Škoda now offers 14 model series, nine of them SUVs, and the Karoq is the third most popular model in the brand’s SUV line-up.

Following its update four years after launch, the Karoq continues to appeal with its spacious, versatile interior, extensive standard equipment and efficient powertrains.

Practical SUV wins over customers and experts alike
The Škoda Karoq is currently available in around 60 markets worldwide. Customers can choose from 1.0 TSI, 1.4 TSI, 1.5 TSI and 2.0 TSI petrol engines, as well as a 2.0 TDI diesel, with power outputs ranging from 85 to 140 kW and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive.

Some 73% of customers choose an automatic transmission, while 27% opt for a manual. The model’s largest markets are Germany, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom.

The Karoq has also received a number of international awards and accolades, including the Red Dot Award for Product Design, the 2018 Car of the Year title in the Czech Republic and the Best Value Family SUV award at the 2023 What Car? Awards.

Work on the next generation of the Karoq is progressing, with its unveiling planned for the turn of 2027 and 2028.

Karoq remains an important part of Kvasiny production
The Karoq has been built at Škoda Auto’s Kvasiny plant since its launch and accounts for a significant share of the site’s production output. In 2025, following the expansion of Kodiaq production and the addition of the Octavia to the production programme, the plant set a new record by building 301,500 Škoda vehicles. The Octavia Combi has also been produced there since May 2026.

The Kvasiny plant is one of the region’s largest employers and is being continually modernised to improve flexibility and efficiency. This year, its paint shop will be upgraded to further raise quality standards and allow the use of more advanced paint materials.

Audi A2 e-tron Clocks Up Test Miles

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Audi will unveil the new A2 e-tron in autumn 2026, complementing its portfolio with an all-electric entry-level model family in the compact class. The A2 e-tron, manufactured in Ingolstadt, will rejuvenate the Audi model range and broaden access to premium electric mobility.

At the Audi Annual Media Conference, CEO Gernot Döllner announced the A2 e-tron – the brand’s next big step on the road to a consistently electric future. The prototype is undergoing various tests before it premieres in autumn: the camouflaged A2 e-tron is clocking up vital test miles on snow and ice, in the wind tunnel at Audi Technical Development in Ingolstadt, and on public roads.

Cold weather trial in Scandinavia
Icy temperatures, snow-covered roads, and slippery test tracks on a frozen lake: during winter testing in Lapland, the A2 e-tron is showing what it is made of under extreme conditions. The validation process at a secret test site in northern Sweden focuses not only on driving dynamics but also on thermal management and battery performance. The interplay of the electric drive, brake control system, and suspension is adjusted by the minute – for the unmistakable experience of driving an Audi.

Aerodynamic optimisation in the wind tunnel in Ingolstadt
The distinctive roofline lends the A2 e-tron a strong character and is also the reason for its outstanding aerodynamics, which are constantly being tested and optimised in the wind tunnel at Audi Technical Development. With wind speeds of up to 300 kmph, ultra-precise aeroacoustic measurement, and a 235 kmph rolling road, the wind tunnel provides ideal conditions for optimising the airflow characteristics, noise development, and thermal stability of the A2 e-tron.

Road testing in Bavaria’s winding valleys
Inclines, variable road surfaces, and tight bends: the development team is using the diverse conditions of the Altmühl Valley region in Bavaria to test the finely balanced suspension and assistance systems in real road traffic. Here, the A2 e-tron demonstrates its everyday usability.

Production in Ingolstadt
The fully electric A2 e-tron is built at the Audi headquarters in Ingolstadt, underlining the company’s commitment to transforming its plants in Germany and Europe. After more than 20 new models in 2024 and 2025, Audi now has the youngest portfolio among the competition – from the fully electric compact segment to the premium full-size segment. The company will stay on this path in 2026.

Rolls-Royce Celebrates 100 Years of Phantom at Goodwood Revival 2025

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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars continues its year-long programme marking the centenary of its pinnacle product, Phantom, at this weekend’s Goodwood Revival.

The centrepiece of the marque’s annual presence at the event will be a display on the Aerodrome Lawn, consisting of five magnificent Phantoms representing key moments and developments in the model’s 100-year history.

PHANTOM I BROUGHAM DE VILLE – ‘THE PHANTOM OF LOVE’
Dating from 1926 – the year after the original New Phantom was launched – this celebrated motor car is one of the finest examples of automotive art and craftsmanship ever created. It was commissioned by Clarence Warren Gasque as a gift for his wife, Maude, an heiress to the Woolworth family fortune, and was both a magnificent monument to his devotion, and an immoderate homage to her passion for 18th Century French history and design. Interior details include bespoke Aubusson tapestries, a hand-painted ceiling with gilded cornices, and a drinks cabinet topped with a French Ormolu clock and a pair of French porcelain vases filled with gilded metal and enamel flowers.

PHANTOM II CONTINENTAL TOURING PARK WARD
The now rare and highly prized Phantom II Continental was the production version of an experimental compact, sporting Phantom II variant produced for Henry Royce’s personal use. It was designed for high-speed touring over long distances on the smooth, straight roads of Europe and one of the few Phantoms of its era in which weight, wind resistance and other performance-related factors were as important as passenger comfort. This example, chassis 92PY, was commissioned by Mr A Y Gowen, an American industrialist who owned 16 Rolls-Royce motor cars during his lifetime. Intended for his travels around Europe, it’s fitted with a sunroof as well as the unique yellow tinted sun visor.

PHANTOM III
This beautiful motor car was originally ordered and delivered to Major Frederick Warren Pearl of Eaton Square, London SW1, in 1937. It passed through a number of hands before being exported to the United States. In 1989 it was repatriated to the UK and acquired by its current owner in 1995, following a comprehensive restoration.

PHANTOM IV LANDAULETTE
Phantom IV is the most exclusive model to bear the Phantom name: just 18 examples were produced between 1950 and 1956 and were offered only to royal families and heads of state. The chassis was 23.5 inches longer than that of the similar Silver Wraith; it was also the only Rolls-Royce to be fitted with a straight 8-cylinder engine. Phantom IV is still used by the British royal family for state occasions.

PHANTOM V
A magnificent and rare Rolls-Royce Phantom V with coachwork by James Young, this elegant PV22 model is finished in its original Midnight Blue. It was ordered by Marks & Spencer in January 1963 for the use of its chairman, Lord Marks, and delivered to him in March 1964. In perfect mechanical order, it has covered just 92,000 documented miles from new.

During the Revival, Phantom will also make regular appearances on the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit. Four Phantom course cars will run from the assembly area between each race, demonstrating the power, precision and dynamic ability that continue to define Phantom as ‘the best car in the world’ after 100 years.

Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars: “No motor car has played such a pivotal role in shaping automotive and cultural history as the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Over eight generations spanning 100 years – a remarkable anniversary we’re honouring throughout 2025 – it has represented the very best in engineering, comfort and personal expression for its owners, and won admirers around the world. Goodwood Revival – on the doorstep of the Home of Rolls-Royce – is the perfect setting in which to celebrate this extraordinary motor car and its continuing legacy, with five of the most distinctive and historically important Phantoms ever created on public display. They vividly illustrate the aesthetic, technical and emotional through-lines that connect the original ‘New Phantom’ created by Henry Royce in 1925 to the highly Bespoke Phantom commissions we bring to life for our clients a century later.”