Further extending its helping hand during the COVID-19 crisis, MG Motor India is providing 100 MG Hectors to doctors, medical staff, police and local government officials for community service across the country, till the end of May 2020. Besides India, MG Motor UK has also committed to providing 100 MG ZS EVs to the NHS agencies throughout the UK to fight COVID-19 Pandemic.

In India, the carmaker will provide 100 Hectors free-of-cost to support the national effort to overcome COVID-19. All the cars would be provided along with fuel and drivers and will be used to ensure that the key stakeholders in this crisis, such as doctors, medical staff, police and local government authorities can travel safely as the Indian government intensifies its battle against COVID-19. The cars will be supplied via MG’s nationwide network of dealers during the lockdown as per state government rules. The carmaker will follow the recently introduced ‘MG Disinfect and Deliver’ process to deploy these 100 Hectors for the national service.

Also Read: BS6 MG Hector Diesel Introduced At A Starting Price Of INR 13.88 Lakh

MG Motor has been offering support to communities during the current pandemic situation. The carmaker has donated ventilators and distributed Health and Hygiene Kits, PPE kits, Surgical Masks, Gloves, Sanitizers, Sanitizer Sprayers, Food and Ration Kits to combat the coronavirus threat. The carmaker also started the hunt for a quick-to-produce ventilator design to serve the patients affected by COVID-19. MG Motor had called for submission of these entries under the MG Developer Program & Grant.

Until the 15th of April, applicants from all over the country were invited to submit prototypes of their ventilator and once accepted, the candidate would be awarded a grant of Rs 10 lakh to develop the proposed ventilator. MG Motor India would use the winning design to produce these ventilators at their plant and would also provide production support for the proposed ventilator prototype at its Halol manufacturing facility to ensure swifter market deployment. The manufacturer is also planning a 100-member female associate’s hostel near its manufacturing facility in Halol. Located around 5 kilometres from the carmaker’s manufacturing unit, the hostel will provide accommodations to MG’s associate-level female employees along with housekeeping, food, and transportation facilities etc. and will be operational soon.

Morris Garages India (MG Motor India) has named Udit Malhotra as head of marketing, India. For the past 10 months, Malhotra was acting head of marketing at MG before stepping into the role completely. Malhotra takes over from Pallavi Singh, who previously held this position and has now moved to BMW India. Malhotra headed the digital marketing team at MG between November 2017 and June 2019. On the work front, Malhotra has previously worked with Genesis BM (now Genesis BCW) for over five years, DELL for close to one-and-a-half years and Infotel Solutions for over three years.

On the product front, MG Motor India has introduced the Hector SUV with BS6-compliant engines. The diesel-powered Hector range starts at INR 13.88 lakh, going up to INR 17.73 lakh (All prices ex-showroom) for the range-topping trim. The update has resulted in a price increase of INR 45,000 across variants, compared to the BS4 version of the Hector.

Also Read: MG Motor India Deploys 100 Hector SUVs To Ease Travel For Frontline Personnel

Petrol-powered variants of the Hector are now BS6-compliant too and are available at a starting price of INR 12.73 lakh, going up to INR 17.43 lakh for the range-topper. In this range, except for the entry-level Style variant, all other trims are powered by a petrol hybrid drivetrain, paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is good for 143 PS and 250 Nm of torque for both hybrid and non-hybrid configurations. If you’d like an automatic, a 6-speed DCT-equipped non-hybrid petrol engine can be specced for the Smart and Sharp variants, priced at INR 15.93 lakh and 17.43 lakh respectively.

In the coming months, as the Harrier will sit alongside its elder brother, the Gravitas, the Hector family will be expanded too. The MG Hector Plus was revealed at the Auto Expo 2020 and besides being longer to accommodate the third row for seating, it also gets sharper styling elements on the outside. Inside, most bits are expected to be similar to the 5-seater Hector. We won’t be surprised if MG Motor introduces an automatic transmission for the diesel engine with the Hector Plus. The Hector Plus will be followed by the introduction of the MG Gloster full-size SUV which is expected to compete against the likes of the Endeavour and Fortuner upon launch.

We’re not going to talk about what’s happening around the World. You know that anyways and we’re tired of typing the same thing all over again. What you also know is that these unusual times have made some of us resort to unusual methods to get past every day. We came across one such video, where Taylor Robert, one of the world’s top dirt bike riders, makes his KTM motorcycle a part of his fitness regime. Do watch the video below but do not try this at home. Please don’t! Because if you do, you might have to heal on your own.

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A post shared by Taylor Robert (@taylor_robert33) on Apr 17, 2020 at 3:00pm PDT

A Red Bull athlete, Taylor Robert started racing dirt bikes at the age of four, and his youth was spent as a regular on the motocross track, taking part in many amateur nationals. He admits he was never the fastest racer on the track, but he improved throughout the years and became a consistent top-five finisher in his class. At 15, Robert suffered several broken vertebrae at an amateur national event. Little did he know that this accident would serve as a turning point in his career. During his recovery, Taylor became less interested in motocross and more interested in the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS), which his father had also participated in.

Also Read: Ten Most Radical Motorcycles of All Time

In 2006, he raced the full series and by 2008, he had secured the Pro2 class championship and earned a spot on the podium in his first pro race. Taylor entered the pro ranks full-time in 2009, where he won a race and finished fourth in points. By 2012 he had won his first WORCS pro championship and began branching out into other races around the world, including X Games, endurocross, ISDE, Baja, beach races in Argentina, and select extreme enduro events. He has collected three gold medals from ISDE and has been the top placing American for a number of years.

Czech car manufacturer Skoda has unveiled the Kodiaq RS Challenge in their home country. The Challenge is a limited-edition based on the Kodiaq RS, which again, is a go-fast version of the regular Kodiaq here. The only RS we currently get is the Skoda Octavia

Also read: Skoda Octavia RS 245 Reaches Dealerships

Unlike what the name suggests, the Challenge trim of the Kodiaq RS doesn’t sport any performance upgrades because the Kodiaq RS itself is a sportier version of the regular Kodiaq. The limited-edition Challenge is all about the additional features it packs over the Kodiaq RS. In addition to the features of the RS variant, the RS Challenge variant includes Assisted Ride 2.0 package, 9 airbags, heated steering wheel, and 9.2-inch Columbus touchscreen infotainment system. Assisted Ride 2.0 is a comprehensive electronic suite that includes lane change assistant, lane maintenance assistant, traffic sign recognition, parking assistant, traffic jam assistant, emergency assistant, and a digital instrument cluster with RS graphics. All these electronics combine together to give it an edge over the RS when it comes to safety.

On the performance front, the Kodiaq RS Challenge uses the same diesel engine which does the job in the Kodiaq RS. It’s a 2.0-liter bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel unit. The overall performance figures are quite impressive and stand at 240 hp of peak power output and a whopping 500 nm of pulling force. This go-fast SUV can go from naught to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds and boasts of a top whack of 221 km/h! In the Czech Republic, the Skoda Kodiaq RS Challenge costs CZK 13,99,900, which converts to INR 42,43,360. Only 300 units have been put on sale of this limited edition SUV.

We are not sure if we will get the limited-edition Challenge or not but we are hopeful that at least we will get the RS version of the Skoda Kodiaq in the near future.

Ever since Tesla showcased the Cybertruck at an event in November 2019, it has been the talk of the town. Mainly because of Tesla’s claims regarding this rather boxy and sturdy Electric SUV. Let us clue you in a bit, Tesla has claimed that it will have the capabilities of a pick-up mated with the performance of a sports car. Things don’t end here as it is claimed to have a rather robust outer body which will outstand hits and shocks. And now, Elon Musk, the bossman of Tesla took it to Twitter by answering a query that it might be able to float in water for a while too!

Also read: Tesla Ready To Introduce Robotaxi By The End Of This Year

Those are pretty huge claims if you ask us but when you bring in Tesla into the equation, it seems rather possible that they might be able to bring it all together. Cybertruck being a Tesla, will be powered by a battery that could give it a range of around 600 to 700 km on a single charge. Talk about a do-it-all vehicle which would be environment friendly too! The Cybertruck is still in its prototype phase and is set to go into production in late 2021. The first round of pre-orders for the vehicle was completed in with the Dubai Police placing an order too.

Musk has been pretty vocal about the developments regarding the Cybertruck and has been constantly tweeting about it. Musk revealed on Twitter that the production version of the Cybertruck will be 3% smaller than the prototype and will feature some design tweaks to the center line and window sill height. When Cybertruck was first showcased, it was widely regarded for the room it had on offer on the inside. Tesla claimed that it will be able to accommodate 6 adults in the cabin. And now that Musk has revealed that the production version will be 3% smaller, people asked him about the impact it will have on the interior space. To which, he replied “Maybe 1.5 percent change to interior dimensions. Still very roomy,”

Like we said earlier, Musk has been pretty vocal about the developments regarding the Cybertruck. It is also claimed to have superior off-road capabilities. Confirming the same, Musk tweeted “We’re working on increasing dynamic air suspension travel for better off-roading. Needs to kick butt in Baja”

Given the Tesla co-founder has previously spoken about the Cybertruck’s design being “partly influenced” by the submarine car from the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, the floating revelation has prompted some to ponder whether the Cybertruck may be able to function as a boat.

The Haryana government on Wednesday granted permission to Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) to restart its Manesar-based manufacturing facility, but the company said it will resume operations only when it can maintain continuous production and sell it, “which is not possible at this point of time”.

As per the order of the Gurugram district administration, operations can be carried out only in a single shift and with following of mandatory social distancing guidelines. The Manesar plant has a manufacturing capacity of 8,80,000 units per annum in three shifts and three assembly facilities. The Alto, Swift and Dzire are some of the models made at the Manesar plant.

According to sources, some vehicles that are built at the Manesar plant need components and parts that are manufactured at the carmaker’s other plants. For instance, Maruti’s plant in nearby Gurugram cannot be reopened as yet. Furthermore, the company was granted permission for only 600 employees instead of 4,696 that was requested, thus resulting in a big shortage in workforce for smooth running of the plant.

Permission is hereby granted to Maruti Suzuki India, Manesar to operate the establishment during the lockdown period, Gurugram Deputy Commissioner said in an order dated Tuesday. The district administration also gave permission to operate 50 vehicles.

“No other manufacturing/service activity is permitted in the unit other than those approved under the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India during the said lockdown period, else strict action will be taken and you will be responsible for the same,” the order further added.

Also READ: Skoda Unveils Limited-Edition Kodiaq RS Challenge

About the development, MSI Chairman RC Bhargava said, “We will start operations whenever we can maintain continuous production and sell it (vehicles), which is not possible at this point of time.”

MSI’s Manesar (Haryana) plant is outside the limits of Gurugram Municipal Corporation, while its Gurugram plant falls within the city limits. The two plants in Haryana have an installed capacity to roll out 15.5 lakh units per annum while the Gurugram plant has a manufacturing capacity of 7,00,000 units per annum in two shifts and in two assembly facilities. The company had stopped production at its Manesar and Gurugram plants on March 22, 2020, and also stopped operations at its Rohtak R&D centre. According to a report, the yard at the Manesar plant still has inventory that is yet to be dispatched to dealers, which will take place only once the lockdown lifts.

In a statement issued on March 22, 2020, the company had said that it “has been taking all recommended precautions in its operations against the spread of COVID-19, which includes sanitization and hygiene, temperature checks, maximizing video-conferencing and minimizing contact, closing employee travel, health and distancing advisories to employees and following all government directions on the subject.”

Hyundai’s flagship SUV for the international market, the Palisade has just received the highest possible overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). Under the federal government’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models of the all-new Hyundai Palisade earned the maximum five-star scores for safety in frontal and side crash evaluations which is the major highlight of this crash test.

The premium eight-seater SUV with the largest footprint for any Hyundai vehicle comes loaded with safety features. The list includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, Driver Attention Warning, High Beam Assist and Smart Cruise Control (with Stop and Go function). The Hyundai Palisade comes with seven airbags as standard.

In addition to these, Hyundai also provides a Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) system that detects movement in the rear seats when the car is locked and alerts the driver by sounding the horn and via the Blue Link connected-car tech. The system monitors the rear seats using an ultrasonic sensor that helps to detect the movements of children and pets. The system first reminds drivers to check the rear seats when exiting the vehicle with a message on the centre instrument cluster display. The system is designed to help prevent children and pets from being forgotten in the car, but it may also help in cases where children accidentally lock themselves in.

Also READ: Skoda Unveils Limited-Edition Kodiaq RS Challenge

The Palisade SUV also gets a safe exit feature that detects traffic when a door is about to be opened and warns occupants. Hyundai’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) enhances driver awareness to the rear of the Palisade. Using the Blind Spot Detection system’s radar sensors when backing up, the system can not only warn the driver if vehicles approach from the rear side in certain situations, it may also automatically apply the brakes. In addition, if the driver attempts to deactivate the Electronic Child Safety Lock feature, Safe Exit Assist may override the driver and ensure the rear doors remain locked until the approaching vehicle has passed. Once the road is clear, the driver can then deactivate the Electronic Child Safety Lock and successfully unlock the rear passenger doors.

Much like the smaller Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, the 2020MY Palisade shares its platform with Kia Motor’s Telluride, which recently won the prestigious World Car Of The Year (WCOTY 2020) award. Neither Hyundai nor Kia has any plans to bring the Palisade or Telluride to the Indian market anytime soon. However, Hyundai has lined up new launches including the third-generation Elite i20 and the Tucson facelift later this year.

The world leader in Sodium-ion battery technology, Faradion has announced its first order from ICM Australia for Sodium-ion batteries, owing to their exceptional superiority over lithium-ion batteries. These are likely to revolutionise the automobile/mobility, storage and mobile sectors across the world.

Faradion’s Sodium-ion technology provides similar performance to conventional chemistries while replacing expensive materials such as cobalt and lithium with the far more abundant sodium. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, Faradion’s sodium-ion batteries have exceptional thermal stability and safety. Further, they can be safely transported and maintained at zero volts. India is one of the largest markets for mobile devices across the world. Recently the country has also demonstrated significant progress in the adoption of EV (Electric Vehicle) technology, making it a priority market for Faradion. Further, as the world seeks out alternatives to China-dependent Lithium-ion batteries, Faradion’s Sodium-ion based technology offers a promising solution.

Also Read: Electric Two-Wheeler Makers in India You Should Care to Know About

Faradion’s patented zero-volt capability enables the safe transportation and maintenance of Sodium-ion batteries. The wide operating temperature range, high energy density and fast charge/discharge capability combine to offer a next-generation, drop-in solution. Its Sodium-ion batteries contain no cobalt, no lithium and no copper, resulting in a safe and sustainable, cost-effective, high-performance technology.

In line with this, Faradion is actively exploring manufacturing presence in India for its Sodium-ion batteries for diversified applications. Having seen significant interest in regions such as the US, Europe and India due to its performance, safety and price point, Mr James Quinn, CEO of Faradion says Australasia is the next logical region for Faradion given the market conditions. He says, “Faradion is accelerating large scale industrialisation of its safe, low cost, Sodium-ion energy storage technology. After Australia, we foresee India as our next priority big market, given the huge growth in mobile devices and a bigger electric mobility market waiting to grow rapidly.”

In recent years, Australia and New Zealand have demonstrated a steady uptake in battery storage in residential, commercial and grid-scale applications due to factors including significant reductions in the cost of storage and solar systems; increasing cost of electricity, concerns about blackouts and financial incentives and policies from the government. Speaking about this order from ICM Australia, Mr Thomas Gregson, ICM Australia Investment Director said, “This order represents a first step for an Australian company to commercialise world-leading sodium-ion technology, and we’re pleased to be offering a premium product that is safe and price competitive to the Australasian market. We have seen a large interest in energy storage solutions recently and believe the Faradion technology can provide, in a sustainable way, the energy security customers require at attractive ROIs.”

After launching their middleweight naked Street Triple RS in India, Triumph is buckling up to release the Tiger 900 by the end of May 2020. If things were normal and there was no global pandemic, we would have gotten the updated Tiger range this month. However, things are still slightly uncertain at the moment, and Triumph is now targeting a May launch if there are no further delays.

Also read: 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS Launched In India At INR 11.13 Lakh

They are planning to bring in the two top-spec models in both, the off-road biased Rally line and the road-focused GT line. They are not planning to introduce the base model of Tiger 900 here in India because the entry-level Tiger 800 didn’t do too well in our markets. Triumph replaced the heavily successful Tiger 800 with the 900 by giving it a thorough refresh to take on the likes of KTM Adventure 790 R, BMW F 850 GS and the Honda Africa Twin. They built the Tiger 900 from the ground up including a new design, chassis, suspension and motor.

Triumph revised the engine on the Tiger 800 and increased its displacement to 888cc while also changing the firing order to 1-3-2 which produces a distinct sound, along with a twin-cylinder-like character in the lower rev range. The inline-triple motor is good for 93.9hp at 8,750rpm and 87Nm of torque at 7,250rpm. Despite the increase in displacement, the new engine weighs 2.5 kgs lighter than the Tiger 800.

Triumph has also upgraded the cycle parts on the Tiger 900 to make it more competitive. The Rally Pro features fully-adjustable suspension (by Showa) with longer travel at both ends. It also gets tubeless wire-spoke rims that were missing on the Tiger 800 XC line. The brakes too have been upgraded to larger, 320mm discs and new Brembo Stylema calipers. The GT Pro uses adjustable Marzocchi suspension at both ends, with the rear monoshock featuring electronic damping and preload adjustment.

The Pro trims of the Tiger 900 feature a long list of IMU-assisted electronics including cornering ABS, traction control and riding modes. These include Rain, Road, Sport, Off-road and Rider (which is customizable). The Rally Pro has an additional Rally Pro mode that turns off ABS and traction control, enabling the rider to slide the bike. The Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro and Rally Pro also get a new 7.0-inch TFT instrument panel with Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. In addition, heated seats (rider + pillion) and heated grips are also available as standard. The Tiger 900 is a significant upgrade over the Tiger 800 so it is likely to bear a slightly premium price tag as compared to the model it replaces.

Last month’s cancelled Geneva Motor Show was supposed to be Toyota’s venue of choice to reveal its new compact crossover. However, after the Swiss government banned gatherings of more than 1000, thus cancelling the event, Toyota didn’t rush to announce the new model online – or anywhere. While some makers took to social media to reveal their products, others like Toyota have simply waited for the right time to come as the global economy and automotive industry have taken a deep plunge.

Toyota has now revealed its Yaris-based compact crossover which will be slotted below the C-HR, giving the Japanese automaker a model in the popular segment. It will ride on Toyota’s TNGA-B platform, which also underpins the company’s new Yaris compact hatchback. In terms of dimensions, the new Yaris Cross carries over the supermini’s wheelbase measuring 2560 millimetres (100.8 inches) while featuring longer overhangs, increasing the overall length by 240 mm (9.4 inches) to 4180 mm (164.5 inches). It’s also 20 mm (0.8 inches) wider and 90 mm (3.5 inches) taller than the Yaris while remaining significantly smaller than the aforementioned C-HR. The Yaris Crossover comes with 18-inch alloy wheels and the Brass Gold colour is indeed able to catch one’s attention.

It does share plenty in common with the latest Yaris hatchback sold internationally. As for the performance, the crossover shares the engine with the Yaris as the 1.5-litre petrol engine working in tandem with an electric motor will likely be used. Transmission duties are likely to be carried out by a six-speed manual or a CVT. The combustion engine has a thermal efficiency of up to 40 percent and can power the vehicle alone in front-wheel-drive mode. Once the sensors detect poor grip conditions, the AWD system kicks in and helps the driver tackle the rain, snow, or even sand.

The total output for the hybrid setup stands at a descent 116 horsepower. Toyota claims the front-wheel-drive models will have CO2 emissions of less than 120 g/km while the AWD model will emit below 135 g/km per the WLTP regime. It features a more conventional design in what we’d argue is a wise move that should lure more buyers into Toyota showrooms since not all people are fond of the C-HR’s quirky styling. At the same time, its larger footprint compared to the Yaris makes it more practical, further enhanced by the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats.

Also READ: 2020 Hyundai Palisade Scores 5-star Crash Test Rating From NHTSA

In India, Toyota retails the Yaris sedan at a price range of Rs 8.76 lakh and Rs  14.18 lakh (both prices ex-showroom). It is powered by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine expected in the crossover minus the electric hybrid. This engine is tuned to make a 108 Ps of power and 140 NM of torque. It rivals the likes of Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Skoda Rapid and Maruti-Suzuki Ciaz.

As far as the crossover coming to India is concerned, there are fair chances that it will find its way here as well since Toyota has discontinued the Etios range from its product line-up altogether. For that to happen, Toyota has to first localise the TNGA platform, which can only happen next year. Therefore, if the Yaris Cross does arrive in India, it will not be before late 2021 or early 2022.

Lending a helping hand in these difficult times, the TVS Motor Company handed over 3,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and 10,000 N95 masks to B.S. Yediyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka, as a part of their proactive measures undertaken to support the Government in their sustained efforts towards containment of COVID-19. The company has also on a regular basis distributed face masks, disposable hand gloves, packed meals for essential care workers including police personnel, healthcare workers and migrants in Bengaluru. TVS Motor has also deployed vehicles with disinfectants to prevent the spread of the virus in the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The manufacturer, along with die-caster Sundaram-Clayton Ltd. has announced spending of INR 30 crore to support the nationwide efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. The funding will come through Srinivasan Services Trust (SST), the social arm of TVS Motor Company and Sundaram-Clayton Ltd. and will include measures ranging from manufacturing and supplying supportive equipment such as making and supplying 1 million masks to those involved in essential services, to providing cooked meals to those in the frontline – from healthcare workers to police officers.

Also Read: TVS Apache RR 310 Imagined As A Streetfighter

On the business front, TVS has acquired British motorcycling brand, Norton, in an all-cash deal for a consideration of GBP 16 million. The acquisition was completed by acquiring certain assets of Norton Motorcycles (U.K.) Limited (in administration) through one of TVS Motor’s overseas subsidiaries. Founded by James Lansdowne Norton, in Birmingham, in 1898, Norton Motorcycles is among the most popular British motorcycle brands of all time and is one of the most emotive marques today. Since the 20th century, Norton Motorcycles is renowned for their classic models and eclectic range of luxury motorcycles ranging from authentic retro classic reboots of the famous Commando to their contemporary 200 bhp, 1200cc V4 super-bikes.

After the successful acquisition, Mr Sudarshan Venu, Joint Managing Director, TVS Motor Company had said that Norton will continue to retain its distinctive identity with dedicated and specific business plans. TVS Motor will work closely with customers and employees in building the success and pre-eminence of the Norton Motorcycles brand and look forward to growing together globally in the years to come.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left F1 fans craving for some action but in the absence of live races, they are left feeling gutted. Taking this into consideration, Star Sports Network is bringing back all the classic races to compensate for the lack of speed in the fans’ lives. Star Sports, India’s broadcast partner for Formula 1, will be broadcasting the best races of the ‘Red Baron’, Michael Schumacher.

Moreover, Star Sports also gave viewers control of what races they wish to see. The responses from fans on the Star Sports’ social media poll will allow them to choose between three iconic races that showcased Schumacher’s ‘take no prisoners’ style of driving. The poll ended on 22nd April noon. Star Sports will broadcast the memorable fans choice on Sunday at 8 pm exclusively on Star Sports Select 2 and Select 2 HD.

Below are the three races, which were part of the poll, out of which the most voted option will be re-telecasted:

• 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix: Controversy follows Michael Schumacher

XXIII Grande Prémio do Brasil, better known as the 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix was the season opener for the 1994 FIA Formula One World Championship.  The 71 laps, 307.075 km race was held at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo. It was the occasion when Team  Benetton was one of a few teams which had modified a filter within the refuelling rig, allowing the fuel to flow faster on their car when compared to the others. This afforded the team a serious advantage during the race and despite enough proof around the same, no action was taken against Team Benetton.

• 1995 Belgian Grand Prix: Schumacher plays a foul move on Damon Hill

The 1995 Belgian Grand Prix, known as the LIII Grand Prix de Belgique, was the eleventh race of the 1995 Formula One World Championship. The race took place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa. The weather took centre stage and turned the qualifying grid into a bizarre one. At this race, Schumacher blocked Damon when he was on slicks in the wet and his opponent was travelling much faster on wet. Schumacher’s blocking tactics left Damon Hill helpless and enraged.

• 1996 Spanish Grand Prix: Ferrari bounces back in the game with Michael Schumacher’s performance

On 2nd June 1996 at the XXXVIII Gran Premio Marlboro de España, AKA 1996 Spanish Grand Prix, history was created. Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona hosted the seventh race of the 1996 FIA Formula One World Championship. The Ferrari F310 was considered “a piece of junk” by its second driver Eddie Irvine. However, Schumacher, who was racing in Ferrari colours for the first time, showed the difference a great driver can make to the overall result of a race.

It will be interesting to see which one of these three races is re-telecasted on Sunday.

God bless those people who go ahead and do the stupidly curious things which run in our ever so intellectual heads. There are many YouTubers out there who are doing this for a living where they go ahead and try the things we would normally refrain from doing. One such thing which has crossed a lot of people’s minds is that, what would happen if you try to get out of your Tesla while it is still in autopilot mode? While it’s not advisable to do so, given the risks this tiny little stunt imparts, but human beings are curious animals who like their questions answered. So this Tesla driver exited the car completely while it was in autopilot mode to demonstrate what would happen if one does so.

Also read: Will Tesla’s Cybertruck Float?

One of the major talking points which surround the vehicles produced by Tesla is their Autopilot mode. The idea of just sitting in the driver’s seat while the car still drives on its own is pretty intriguing to say the least. If this gimmick isn’t enough, there will still be a curious lot of people who would like to know if Tesla Autopilot continues to operate once the driver is no longer there. So this driver tried to exit the car while it was still moving ahead. Anyway, when you try buckling out of the seat belt, the car completely freaks out and after giving a warning, comes to a halt.

We should note that in order to “trick” the system your seatbelt must be engaged (behind the driver in this case) and the door cannot be opened as it gives a loud warning again if you try to open the door. So the only way left is to get out of the window and this guy, does that too! And guess what? The Tesla keeps on driving with the driver running right beside the car, not exactly where he was supposed to be! The main takeaway from this whole scenario is, has Tesla overlooked this?

Philippines based custom motorcycle manufacturer, MC Customs Ph, has modified a Bajaj Dominar 400 (pre-facelift) and has given the motorcycle a ‘modern classic’ look, turning it into an all-black eye-catchy scrambler. However, the original motorcycle has not completely been stripped down of its original parts. Instead, MC Customs ph has added some additional components that make it resemble a scrambler while retaining some of its original naked streetfighter parts.

Modified and re-christened as ‘Lino’, the motorcycle does retain original components from Bajaj but the custom builders have also added design elements giving the motorcycle a completely different, almost neo-scrambler/ street fighter hybrid look. The changes made to the motorcycle include an aftermarket round LED headlamp, round mirrors, raised handlebar, bar-end turn signals, dual-purpose tyres, custom diamond-stitched tan seats with matching handle grips, along with an all-black gloss paint finish.

Also READ: Watch An 86-year ‘Young’ Trials Champ Ride His BSA Like He’s 18

Mr Erubz Junio, who owns the motorcycle, reached out to MC Customs Ph after acquiring a used Bajaj Dominar 400. The gentleman has owned multiple middleweight motorcycles in the past including the Kawasaki ER6N and the Ninja 650. His decision to buy a Dominar 400 was influenced by the need for a daily commuter. In addition, he wanted a modern-classic looking motorcycle as a tribute to his father, who was a motorcyclist himself.

No changes have been made to the motorcycle’s powertrain. It continues to draw power from a 373.3 cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, SOHC, single-cylinder engine which belts out 35 PS of power at 8,000 rpm, and 35 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm. The engine comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox and a slipper clutch. In comparison, the current Indian-spec Dominar 400 has a max power output of 45 PS, which is delivered at 8,650 rpm, and a similar peak torque output of 35 Nm, which is available at 7,000 rpm.

Bajaj currently retails the Dominar 400 in the country at a starting price of Rs 1.91 lakh (ex-showroom), and the bike competes against the likes of KTM 390 Duke, BMW G 310 R, as well as the TVS Apache RR 310. However, it is the most affordable in its segment among its compatriots. The company recently gave the Dominar 400 a BS6 upgrade and has also launched a Dominar 250cc model recently. Built on a versatile platform, the motorcycle features a 248cc single-cylinder engine that has been borrowed from the KTM Duke 250, albeit in a different state of tune. This engine is tuned to generate 27 PS power and 23.5 Nm torque on the Dominar 250. 

Ford Mustang fanboys might be familiar with Cobra Jet and for those people who aren’t, Cobra Jet-powered Mustangs date back to 1960s and over the years, have transformed into dedicated quarter-mile track cars that drag racers can buy straight from Ford. They pack an insane amount of straight-line performance with tuned mechanicals to decimate quarter-mile records. Apart from the above-mentioned facts, they are pretty exclusive too. So much so that only 68 current-era Cobra Jets are slated for production.

Also read: Next-Gen Ford Mustang Could Get Hybrid V8 And AWD 

Ford hasn’t been vocal about the exact specifications of the highly modified 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine in the Cobra Jet Mustangs. The only numerical figure that they have revealed is that the car will run a mid-eight-second pass at 150 mph right out of the box.

And that is the only figure that matters for the drag racing aficionados, right? But they have boasted about the specs of their new version of Cobra Jet Mustang. It isn’t powered by a Coyote V8, or a flat-plane-crank V8 but is all-electric! This is just a prototype version though but the figures are still mind-numbing. The peak power output is revealed in the moniker itself: Cobra Jet 1400 which stands for 1,400 bhp (1,044 kilowatts). Ford claims that this Cobra Jet EV is even faster than the current one which is commendable to say the least.

’’This project was a challenge for all of us at Ford Performance, but a challenge we loved jumping into,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director for Ford Performance Motorsports. “We saw the Cobra Jet 1400 project as an opportunity to start developing electric powertrains in a race car package that we already had a lot of experience with, so we had performance benchmarks we wanted to match and beat right now. This has been a fantastic project to work on, and we hope the first of many coming from our team at Ford Performance Motorsports.”

Whoever said electric vehicles are boring, just introduce them to this Cobra Jet 1400 prototype. EVs are definitely the future and if the future looks so badass and packs this level of performance, we don’t mind the transition at all.

Part of its commitment to society which evolves from the core values of “Our Way to Serve”, Bridgestone India undertook initiatives to lessen the hardships of those impacted by the coronavirus. Bridgestone India reached out to hospitals, stranded migrant labours and stranded truck drivers in the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand covering major industrial cities such as Pune, Indore, Dhar, Nanded, Aurangabad, Ranchi, Mumbai.

In this pandemic, Bridgestone India has reached out to hospitals from rural to urban areas in Pune, Indore and Dhar by supplying over 10,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including 7820 complete sets. Bridgestone India through its relief work has fed approx. 1, 65,000 meals to stranded migrant workers and provided 3,744 truckers with emergency survival kits inclusive of grocery and personal safety items and hygiene products for 15 days.

Also Read: TVS Motor Company Hands Over PPE And Masks To CM Of Karnataka

The entire relief work was planned by Bridgestone India’ s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team in collaboration with Rotary Club of Pune and Samaan Social Development Society, Indore. Additionally, volunteers from fleets and employees from Bridgestone India also extended their support. As part of ‘I-Serve’ employee volunteering initiative, Bridgestone India employees are at the forefront of the relief operations and have contributed PPEs and safety kit for frontline workers. Many have taken efforts at their personal level to support stranded people with food supplies in various parts of our country. In response to a call by Mahratta Chambers of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) to help their Pune Platform COVID19 response team, Bridgestone India has also contributed Rupees Fifty Lacs which will be used for relief operations in and around Pune.

“Bridgestone India is committed to supporting the emergency need of society. Providing Personal Protective Equipment for medical and paramedical staff is the dire need of the hour. Also, migrant workers and stranded truckers in various parts of the country are in need of urgent attention. Providing life-saving kits to these communities can ensure their safety. We are trying to reach the people through various efforts and it is our way to serve” said Parag Satpute Managing Director, Bridgestone India.

We don’t even know if we’ll ever see the bike in our country, but for being such an exciting machine, we just can’t get enough of the Kawasaki ZX-25R. After going around a racetrack and screaming out loud on the Dyno, Kawasaki Indonesia has now released a video where the bike gains some Stage 1 mods where they open a big box of Sniper components and hit record on the camera.

The first to be bolted over are custom footpegs which are followed by clip-ons and then custom levers and protectors. Not much, but it’s just Stage 1 they say and there will be two more videos which will follow with Stage 2 and 3. But if you’ve missed checking out the race-spec ZX-25R, they’ve already made one and it’s called the ‘Racer Custom’.

Also Read: Watch The Kawasaki ZX-25R Come Out And Play In The Real World

Built for a Japanese one-make series in 2021, it boasts of many comprehensive performance upgrades over the regular ZX-25R. It makes extensive use of lightweight carbon fibre components and bodywork. The frame and swingarm are carved out of carbon fibre and as expected from a track-only bike, Kawasaki has gotten rid of street components like all lights, as well as the licence plate and mirrors.

There are more custom parts fitted on this Racer, including a fuel tank, airbox, subframe, seat unit and fairings. Other performance upgrades include race-spec Dunlop Sportmax α-13SP tyres and a free flow NASSERT-R Evolution Type II exhaust. The front forks of the race-spec Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R are the same as the standard model while the rear monoshock has been borrowed from the ZX-10R. The bike gets rear-set footpegs along with adjustable clutch and brake levers.

Kawasaki has been tight-lipped about how much power that 250cc inline-4 makes but for the standard bike, guesses have been hovering around the 50 hp mark. For the racer custom though, it could be an extra 10 horses they might’ve extracted from that motor.

Maruti Suzuki has discontinued one of its most popular entry-level hatchbacks Alto K10 in India. Many popular vehicles fell prey to the transition from BS4 to more stringent BS6 emission norms. The fate of Alto K10 was already uncertain but now they have made it official by removing the K10 from their official website. It brought mass-volume sales to the brand and was amongst the most popular cars in the Indian market. It didn’t receive the BS6 upgrade and it is reported that Maruti Suzuki already cleared the BS4 stock in December.

Also read: Maruti May Not Open Manesar Facility Despite Getting The Nod 

It is a rather surprising decision because Maruti already updated the 1.0-liter petrol engine which did duty in Alto K10. Maruti deployed the same updated engine in the S-Presso, which went on sale in India in late-2019. Despite making it BS6 compliant, Maruti refrained from introducing it on the Alto hatchback. When the Alto K10 was first introduced in our markets, it was offered as a powerful version of their regular Alto hatchback. The BS4-iteration of the 1.0-liter engine powering the Maruti Alto K10 produces 67bhp and 90Nm of torque. It came mated with 5-Speed manual transmission during the early years but later, Maruti also introduced an Automatic transmission making it one of the most affordable automatic cars available in our markets at that time.

It was offered in many trims, namely LXi, VXi, VXi (O), VXi AMT and LXi CNG trims. Prices for the variants ranged between Rs 3.60 lakh for the base trim and Rs 4.39 lakh for the top-spec model (ex-showroom, Delhi). The Alto K10 might be discontinued but Maruti still sells the regular Alto which is powered by 796cc petrol engine which produces 47bhp at 6000rpm and 69Nm of torque at 3000rpm and comes mated to a five-speed manual transmission. They have already updated this tiny little engine to comply with BS6 standards. Prices of the Alto start from Rs 2.94 lakh and goes up to Rs 4.36 lakh.

There is no word from Maruti Suzuki regarding the revival of Alto K10, whether they will introduce the updated 1.0-liter petrol engine or not. It is safe to assume that the Alto K10 is now permanently discontinued.

Land Rover has revealed the details of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of its Discovery Sport mid-size and Range Rover Evoque compact SUVs. Jaguar Land Rover has been looking to bring in electrified cars into the global market and introducing the PHEV versions of these SUVs is a step in that direction. Both the SUVs come with an electric-only range of up to 66km and CO2 emissions as low as 32g/km for the Evoque and 26 g/lm for the Discovery Sport on the WLTP cycle.

Dubbed as the P300e, both are equipped with the same plug-in hybrid system as the 1.5-litre turbo Ingenium petrol engine is paired with an integrated starter generator. It works with an inverter and supplies power to the high voltage system. The new plug-in hybrid P300e models join the existing 48-volt mild-hybrid SUVs. The electric motor integrated into the rear axle and powered by a 15kWh lithium-ion battery is located below the rear seats and punches out an extra 109 PS of power.

Both the Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery Sport are available with the 1.5-litre, 3 cylinder Ingenium engine which is capable of producing a maximum power output of 200 PS and 280 Nm of peak torque and is connected to an eight-speed automatic gearbox driving the front wheels. The three-cylinder engine makes its Jaguar Land Rover range debut in the Evoque and Discovery Sport PHEVs and is 27kg lighter than the company’s existing 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder motor.

The Evoque can sprint from 0-100 kmph in just 6.4 seconds while the Discovery Sport does it in 6.6 seconds. Both can reach speeds of up to 135kmph using electric power alone. At speeds above 135km/h (84mph), the electric motor is decoupled to reduce drag and therefore optimise efficiency, and then seamlessly re-engages when the speed falls below this. The Discovery Sport P300e can travel up to 62km using all-electric power and delivers fuel economy of 1.6L/100km. There are three driving modes to choose from, Hybrid, EV and Save- to either let the full powertrain operate, run solely on electric power or use the engine as the primary power source. Other features include brake-by-wire tech, intelligent InControl Remote smartphone apps, etc.

Also READ: This Ford Mustang EV Prototype Produces 1400 HP!

The 15 kWh pack consists of 84 prismatic cells arranged in seven modules of twelve. The electric motor is referred to as the Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD), and it combines with the three-cylinder engine to form the PHEV system. The combined output stands at a highly appreciable 309 PS and 540 Nm. Both AC and DC charging are supported on the Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport PHEVs. 

The new PHEV models are available with a Mode 2 Home Charging Cable which can fully charge the vehicle from a plug socket in 6 hours 42 minutes. For faster charging, the Mode 3 Charging Cable enables customers to plug-in to a 7kW AC domestic wall box or AC public charge points: this enables charging from 0-80 percent in just 1 hour 24 minutes. Both the SUVs use a Combined Charging System (CCS) DC plug that supports up to 32 kW in which  zero to 80 percent can be reached in just half an hour.

While both the models are available in India in the petrol and diesel guise, we expect the plug-in hybrids to join the ranks soon. Considering that Jaguar’s first electric car – the IPace will soon be seen in the country, the introduction of plug-in hybrids is very much on the cards.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that Suzuki Jimny is very popular in the markets it is currently being sold in. A rather simple design accompanied by the robust build quality and amazing off-road capabilities has resulted in the tiny Suzuki becoming seriously popular in most markets. While we still wait for its arrival here, foreign markets are playing around it, customizing it in different ways. Most of the customized Jimnys that we come across receive only cosmetic upgrades but this particular Jimny has unlocked a new level of awesomeness because it is probably the fastest Jimny in the world!

Also read: Maruti Suzuki Jimny: Is It Really Coming To India? 

This modified Jimny is developed by Mr Carlos Gono of Autoplus. The folks over at Autoplus have worked over the fourth-generation of Jimny and it is the second Jimny owned by Carlos. The main talking point about this Jimny is the performance it packs under the hood. They have plonked in a turbo-kit developed by F-Performance, a UAE-based tuner and the results are pretty interesting. This customized Jimny has a massive power output of 200 horses. The turbo-kit which is deployed in it includes custom fuel injectors and a new ECU.

The mods don’t end here as they have also included a wastegate blow-off valve, Autoplus side exhaust system, RSR lowering springs, Autoplus brake rotors and pads, 18-inch Volk Racing concave alloy wheels and Recaro bucket seats. The power output has doubled up and in order to have a better heat dissipation, race-grade 300V engine oil from Motul has been filled in its belly.

The Suzuki Jimny recently completed 50 years of its existence and has remained a crowd favourite all through the while. It comes out as a proper budget-end off-roader. The one that we’re supposed to get will probably be a 5-door model powered by the 1.5-litre K-series engine which powers other things like the Ciaz. Currently, the 1.5-litre unit develops 102PS and 130Nm. Transmission options include a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic transmission.