Jenson Button has returned to F1, but as a Williams senior advisor #JensonButton

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January 24, 2021

Famed Formula One champion Jenson Button has returned to the Williams team as a senior advisor as part of a multi-year deal with the team. For some context, Button made his F1 debut with Williams in 2000 at the tender age of 20. The English driver retired in 2016 with 15 grand prix race wins.

Williams announced the appointment on Friday, stating that Button will provide guidance and advice to the team at its Grove headquarters. He will also help as well as provide aid in the development of drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi as well as those currently part of the Williams driver academy.

He will also be attending races this year, to supervise and aid the drivers. Commenting on his return, he said: “I am so delighted to once again be able to say that I’ve signed for Williams,”

“Back when I was 19 it was a moment that changed my life and, despite the fact it was over 20 years ago, I already feel like I never really left. “Sir Frank Williams showed faith in me which I will be eternally grateful for and I am incredibly excited to have the chance to come back and help the team as it strives once more for success.

“There’s a lot of hard work to be done but I have no doubt the future is incredibly bright for this fantastic team and I can’t wait to get started.”

For those unaware, the Williams family no longer owns the team, having sold it to investment firm Dorilton Capital in August last year. This marked an end of an era, where the team was led by the Williams name.

Are you excited for Button’s return? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Giovinazzi believed that Ferrari would give him the empty seat.

Giovinazzi believed that he was going to get the 2021 Ferrari seat #AntonioGiovinazzi

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News Desk

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January 24, 2021

Formula One driver Antonio Giovinazzi was in the belief that he would be getting the Ferrari seat for 2021 and admits that he didn’t take the news that well. For those unaware, when Ferrari announced prior to the start of the 2020 campaign that Sebastian Vettel would be leaving at the end of the year, various drivers were in talks to take his seat in F1.

Ultimately Ferrari chose Carlos Sainz instead of Giovinazzi, considering he was the only driver part of Ferrari’s academy.

The Italian driver admits that the decision hurt him, but still believes that he could one day drive for the team. “Of course, I did not receive Ferrari’s decision very well. That seems clear to me,” he told Autosprint.

“I am still employed by Ferrari and I thought there would be a chance for me to race for the Scuderia. Maybe it just wasn’t the right time for me. “Choosing Sainz does not mean that I will not be able to get that seat in the future. A seat at Ferrari will always be my dream.

“I have never received anything for free in my career. I have always had to work hard to earn a place.”

Talking about his 2021 season, Giovinazzi said: “Right now I am focused on Alfa Romeo,” I want to help my team move forward as much as possible and that is why I would like to secure a place on the podium.

“To do that, I have to keep improving and seize my opportunities. Let’s see if that works in 2021.” Team principal Frederic Vasseur believes that Giovinazzi will ultimately step up into the role of a leader.

“I think the next step [for Giovinazzi] is to get more consistency during the race,” Vasseur told Motorsport-Total.com. “But he has been making good progress for a while and is improving in every area.

“He probably has to take the lead of the team on his shoulders to be able to take over some decisions. But we are on the way and he is getting better from race to race. And I’m pretty confident about the next season.”

What are your thoughts regarding Antonio’s statements? Do you think he should have gotten the seat? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Mahindra to present Thars to six Indian team debutants

Mahindra to Present it’s Famous Thar to Cricketers Siraj, Gill, Thakur, Natarajan, Saini and Sundar #MahindraThar

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January 23, 2021

Mahindra and Mahindra is going to give its latest offering, the 2020 Mahindra Thar SUV to each of the youngest members of the winning Indian team in Australia after their remarkable win against Australia at Gabba.

Anand Mahindra, the Chairman of the Mahindra Group, took to social media to applaud the six cricketers who are Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, T Natarajan, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini and Washington Sundar after they helped the team win the Test series down under despite all the challenges faced by both them and the team.

Anand Mahindra wrote on Twitter, “”Theirs are true ‘Rise’ stories; overcoming daunting odds in the pursuit of excellence. They serve as an inspiration in all arenas of life. It gives me great personal pleasure to gift each of these debutants an All-New THAR SUV on my own accountat no expense to the company.”

“Six young men made their debuts in the recent historic series #INDvAUS (Shardul’s 1 earlier appearance was short-lived due to injury)They’ve made it possible for future generations of youth in India to dream & Explore the Impossible,” wrote Mahindra, in praise of the young players.

Further explaining as to why Mahindra decided to gift Thar SUV to all the players, Mahindra wrote, “The reason for this gift is to exhort young people to believe in themselves & ‘Take the road less traveled.’

Bravo Mohammed, Shardul, Shubhman,Natarajan,Navdeep & Washington! I now plead with @Mahindra_Auto to get them their THARS on priority.”

For those unaware, the new generation Mahindra Thar was launched on October 2 last year. It has been one of the most successful SUVs launched by Mahindra, achieving decent sales numbers for them.

Are you excited about this? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Tata Motors launches iTurbo Altroz

Tata Motors launches Altroz iTurbo, Priced at ₹7.73 lakh #AltroziTurbo

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News Desk

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January 23, 2021

Tata Motors India on Saturday announced the prices of the new Altroz iTurbo premium hatchback, starting from ₹7.73 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the base XT trim and extending up to ₹8.85 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the top-spec XZ+ trim. There is also a mid-placed XZ trim which costs ₹8.45 lakh (ex-showroom). Do note that the automaker has mentioned that these prices are introductory, which means that they are likely to go up in the future.

The iTurbo gets it’s name due to the updated engine, with power and torque figures have seen a boost at 110 PS and 140 Nm, respectively. There is also a new dedicated ‘Sport’ mode for a thrilling drive. In terms of exteriors, the car comes with a new ‘Harbour Blue’ paint scheme, along with an ‘iTurbo’ badging on its tailgate.

As for the features, it comes with iRA connected car technology which was previously found on the Tata Nexon SUV. According to the company, this application enables 27 connected car features on the Altroz including remote car immobilization, door lock/unlock, headlamp on/off, trip history, SOS emergency help and more. The car also comes with a new express cool feature and a new black and grey colour scheme for the interiors.

Commenting on the launch of the Altroz iTurbo, Mr Shailesh Chandra – President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors said, “We are thrilled to celebrate the 1st anniversary of our premium hatchback Altroz with a double bonanza comprising of the i-Turbo petrol and the new XZ+ variant with iRA-connected car technology in petrol and diesel option.

We are confident that the new Altroz range will cater to the evolving needs of the Indian customer, all while creating benchmarks in the segment.”

What are your thoughts regarding the pricing of the Altroz iTurbo? Are you content with the same? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Ducati launches BS 6 Scrambler Series in India

Ducati launches BS 6 Scrambler Series in India.

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January 22, 2021

Ducati India on Friday announced the new BS 6-compliant Scrambler range of bikes in the country. The new models consist of the MY21 Scrambler Icon, Scrambler Icon Dark and Scrambler 1100 Dark Pro at ₹8.49 lakh, ₹7.99 lakh, and ₹10.99 lakh, respectively ( ex-showroom)

The updated MY21 Ducati Scrambler lineup gets new paint schemes, some new features and BS 6-compliant powertrains. Ducati says that the new lineup ‘completes the Scrambler ‘Land of Joy’ in India’.

As for the changes, the Scrambler Icon gets updates like an all-new Daytime Running Light headlight, steel teardrop fuel tank with interchangeable aluminium side panels, softer-feel hydraulic clutch control etc.

It is now available in a special “Ducati Red” paint scheme alongside the classic ’62 yellow’ colour featuring black frame and black seat. As for the engine, there is an 803 cc air-cooled L-twin engine with BS 6-compatibility.

As for the Scrambler Icon Dark, it is the most affordable of the trio and has been given a specific ‘Matte Black’ paint scheme which is exclusive to the bike. It also comes with a completely black dipped frame and seat with grey rims.

Finally, the top-of-the-line Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO, in the words of the bike maker Ducati is an ‘elegant, pure and completely customizable bike’ which is now available in a ‘Dark Stealth’ livery.

While it boasts a similar design as the lower models in the range, it differs in terms of mechanicals as its has a 1,079 cc engine and offers a number of electronic features including Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Cornering ABS. There are also three standard Riding Modes (Active, Journey and City).

Mr. Bipul Chandra, Managing Director of Ducati India commenting on the announcement said, “The Scrambler Icon and Icon Dark which are now BS6 compliant also gets a retuned suspension setup which makes it ideal for daily use. I am certain that new as well as seasoned riders will appreciate these changes.

For the purists, we are also launching the Scrambler 1100 Dark Pro, which takes the elements that make the Scrambler range such a joy to ride, a notch above. The new chassis and the Dark Stealth paint job makes the 1100 Dark Pro as good to look at as it is to ride. We can’t wait for people to try our first offerings for 2021 that are meant to be ridden hard, and ridden far!”

What are your thoughts regarding the announcement? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Delhi gets India’s first Porsche Studio

Delhi gets India’s first Porsche Studio #PorscheStudio

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News Desk

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January 21, 2021

Porsche India has decided to step it up a notch and add to the customer’s experience with its first Porsche Studio in India. Interestingly, it is among only 14 such studios Porsche has opened across the world. The Porsche showroom at Connaught Place, which has stood there for some years, has now been transformed into a kind of car buying experience that few have seen.

The Studio is based on a futuristic showroom concept, it is kind of like a new brand space that goes beyond the traditional showroom, offering a bit more than just the car. In terms of interior space, the showroom has space to showcase only two cars at a time.

But if one is a Porsche fan, they can spend quality time being lost at the carmaker’s history, which is framed across the showroom. For the collectors, Porsche also offers a range of miniatures of some of its iconic models over the years, besides several memorabilia.

Commenting on the opening, the Dealer Principal of Porsche Centre Delhi-NCR Dilmohan Singh says, “Porsche Studio Delhi presents a new way for customers and fans to explore and immerse themselves in the brand through a welcoming and engaging environment right in the middle of one of the busiest neighbourhoods in Delhi. I am very proud of our new destination as the first in India.”

Adjacent to the centre stage, visitors can relax in the Driver’s Club fitted with large panorama screens to watch videos from Porsche. A private sales suite offers complete discretion for the purchase process complete with a personal consultant.

The Porsche Studio is open from today, however, due to health and safety protocols, visits, as of now, are only possible via pre-scheduled appointment.

What are your thoughts regarding this unique concept? Are you going to go there? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine launched in India

Stage set for Finale of 23rd JK Racing Tyre National Racing Championship in Coimbatore #JKRacing

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News Desk

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January 21, 2021

The Kari Motor Speedway, which is situated on the outskirts of Coimbatore amidst sylvan surrounding, will roar to life as participants gear up for the final round of country’s premium motor racing event- the 23^rd JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship. After the grand success of the first two rounds of races held in December 2020 at the same venue, this weekend, from January 21 to 24, promises rich action.

Six races in each category of Formula LGB 4 and Novice Cup will be held during the finale weekend. Chennai’s Ashwin Datta of Dark Don Racing grabbed the limelight in December in the Formula LGB4 category with his consistent racing. For those unaware, the unsung Amir Sayed from Kottayam of MSport, demonstrated his stellar form in the Novice category.

The youngster took a likening to the renovated Kari Motor Speedway in quick time and was able to handle the twists and turns to a nicety. The stakes are higher and so is the determination of the racers as they race for the coveted National Champion title.

Adding on to the on-track excitement will be the country’s finest women racers who will be in tow to give some tough competition to the men in the grid. In the last outing, Mira Erda of MSport was the best female racer. In the Novice category, Anushriya Gulati of Ahura Racing emerged as the noticeable winner.

As per the provisional standings, in the Formula LGB4 category, Ashwin Datta with 39 points goes into the final as the leader. Chennai lad Raghul Rangasamy of MSport with 32 points closely follows him with his teammate Vishnu Prasad at 30 points. In the overall team category, Dark Don Racing heads the standings with 80 points, followed by MSport at 74 & Ahura Racing at 29.

Amir, with 60 points, has a comfortable lead in the Novice Cup category. He is followed by DTS Racing’s Dhruvin Gajjar from Rajasthan with 34 points. Closing in in the third place is Kolkata boy Aman Chaudhary representing DTS Racing with 24 points. Team MSport leads the points table with 77 points with DTS Racing and Momentum Motorsport in the second and third place with 59 & 50 points respectively.

In the rookie category in Formula LGB 4, Viswas Jayaraj from Nellore representing Avalanche Racing with 44 points, is the leader. At 35 points, Anushriya Gulati from Dehradun is placed second. With just one point behind, Chirag Ghorpade of Bangalore from Team Momentum Motorsport is placed third at 34 points. The weekend will decide if Anushriya is able to maintain her lead over Chirag.

The race programme starts on Friday and will culminate with the finale on Sunday.

Speaking about the JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship, Sanjay Sharma, Head, Motorsports, JK Tyre said, “We feel proud that despite the pandemic, which put the world at a halt, we at JK Tyre were able to maintain the continuity of India’s longest-running racing championship without compromising on the safety protocols set by the Government and State authorities. And this is all with the support of our participants, patrons, officials, technicians who worked together to make this happen.”

“With some seasoned racers on the track, it would be a sight to watch the final round go down to the wire as we will get our National Champions for 2020,” he added.

Also Read: Renault Kiger teased ahead of India launch

BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine launched in India, Priced at ₹51.50 lakh #3Series

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News Desk

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January 21, 2021

BMW India on Thursday launched the 3 Series Gran Limousine at ₹51.50 lakh (ex-showroom) in India. The 3 Series Gran Limousine is the long-wheelbase version of the popular 3 Series, which is quite popular in the country. The main selling points of the car is the promise of more space and comfort.

The 3 Series Gran Limousine has a wheelbase of 2,961 mm, 110 mm longer than that of the regular 3 Series car. The sedan is also 120 mm longer overall which helps in opening up more leg space for passengers at the rear, 43 mm more, to be exact. There is also a marginal bump up in height.

BMW is putting emphasis on the added space on the inside to find favour among a special segment of luxury car buyers. “With its elongated design, enhanced space, luxurious comfort and dynamic performance, the new BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine has a unique and captivating character,” explains Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India.

“It delivers sheer driving pleasure and indulges in superlative luxury, making it a perfect choice for individuals as well as the family.”

The 3 Series Gran Limousine is available in two design schemes – Luxury Line and the exclusive M Sport ‘First Edition’ which is limited to launch phase. Here are the prices for the same.

3 Series Gran Limo Models	Price (ex-showroom)
BMW 330Li Luxury Line	₹51.50 lakh
BMW 320Ld Luxury Line	₹52.50 lakh
BMW 330Li M Sport ‘First Edition’	₹53.90 lakh

In terms of the engine, under the hood are a 2.0-litre turbo petrol and a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine options. The petrol unit offers 258 PS of max power and 400 Nm of torque while the diesel unit can put out 190 PS and 400 Nm. Because of the engine, despite the increase in weight, it manages to hit 100 kmph in 7.6 seconds. There are three drive modes to choose from Eco, City and Sport. As for the transmission, there is an 8-speed automatic.

What are your thoughts regarding the 3 Series Gran Limousine? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Mercedes Benz GLC 2021 launched in India

Mercedes-Benz India launches 2021 GLC, complete with Mercedes Me Connect #GLC2021

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News Desk

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January 20, 2021

Mercedes-Benz India on Wednesday launched the 2021 GLC SUV priced from ₹57.40 lakh up to ₹63.15 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom India). The car has been introduced with Mercedes Me Connect and some new features to boot. Brilliant Blue and High Tech Silver are two new colours that have made a debut with this launch.

The 2021 GLC is the latest car in Mercedes’ portfolio to be updated with its connected car tech The Mercedes-Benz S-Class also received the same earlier this month. Do note, this is not part of the 15 scheduled launches from Mercedes for 2021.\

There is an all-new digital instrument cluster with more details on offer. The car also gets a new remote engine start feature allowing the user to cool/heat the cabin remotely. To add to this, the new GLC’s Parking Package also includes a 360-degree camera for better visibility and safety.

A new feature, the Mercedes Me Connect (MMC) technology is an addition to the car, with voice recognition and Alexa Home, Google Home along with Parking location on the navigation system and smartphone app.

As for power, the car relies on a 2.0-litre turbo petrol that puts out 194 bhp of power and 320 Nm of peak torque. There is also a 2.0-litre diesel motor with 192 bhp and 400 Nm of peak torque. The transmission includes options of a 9G-Tronic automatic unit, with 4MATIC AWD.

For those unaware, the GLC has been a fairly popular product in the company’s Indian portfolio with over 8,400 units sold since its introduction in 2016. Except for some new features, things remain more or less the same for the SUV.

What are your thoughts regarding the GLC? Let us know in the comments below.

Honda Files Patent for 2021 Grom #Grom2021

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January 19, 2021

Honda has finally filed a design patent for the 2021 Grom in India. For those unaware, the Grom was spotted testing in India back in 2017. Initially thought to have been launched in 2017, it was never launched in India. It seems it could finally launch, but, do note, It could cost as much as some full-size motorcycles

The MSX 125 or, as it’s more popularly known as the Grom has garnered popularity globally for its small size and fun quotient. Now, the Japanese company has gone ahead and patented the design in India for its latest version of the Grom.

This does suggest that the company might finally think it’s time to bring the minibike to India, but it could also be patented for reasons unknown to the public.

If Honda does bring the Grom to India, it will be more expensive than the company’s last mini bike, dubbed the Navi. While the Navi shared its hardware with the made-in-India Activa, the Grom is a completely unique motorcycle, considering whether we get the global spec in India

The features and equipment on offer are comparable to what you’d get on regular motorcycles these days, including LED lights, a digital instrument cluster and alloys wheels.

The wheelbase is about 1,200mm while the seat height is 761mm only. The Grom also probably has one of the smallest diameter USD forks on a production motorcycle, measuring 31mm.

As for the power, the bike has a 124.9cc, single-cylinder engine that develops 9.7hp and 10.5Nm. It also comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

What are your thoughts regarding the Grom? Let us know in the comments below.