When Tata Motors launched its Ace four-wheeler in 2005, there weren’t many small commercial vehicles available. It was an opportunity that Tata spotted and decided to launch, a vehicle which that would later go by the sobriquet, “Chotta Hathi”, equipped with a 700cc engine capable of producing 16hp of power and a peak torque of… Continue reading Tata’s Ace in the pack
Category: US Motoring Press
‘I think India has lost a lot of time’
It is an overcast Thursday afternoon in Gurugram but the mood livens up when DK Jain enters the Lumax corporate office. The Chairman Emeritus who has been part of this auto component maker’s growth story for over six decades now is in a mood to go down memory lane and recall his early days as… Continue reading ‘I think India has lost a lot of time’
M&M’s Born Electric ignites Scorpio memories
As Mahindra & Mahindra gears up to showcase its electric lineup in the UK on Monday, industry sources say it will be “a never seen before, high decibel media campaign”. The new product line is expected to include a coupe SUV, compact SUVs, and a midsize SUV. Auto experts say the coupe version will preview the… Continue reading M&M’s Born Electric ignites Scorpio memories
Ola to showcase electric car online today
Ola Electric will unveil its luxury sports electric sedan online on Monday to coincide with India’s 75th Independence Day anniversary. According to top sources, the company will “not display the actual prototype, but only details of its features, range and other performance aspects”. The production-ready vehicle could be showcased by the first half of 2023. … Continue reading Ola to showcase electric car online today
India at 75: When the Japanese came calling in the 1980s
The Eighties were an action packed decade for the Indian automotive industry and in a sense heralded the first wave of reforms. This was the time the Japanese entered the market with the focus being on two-wheelers and light commercial vehicles (LCVs). Suddenly, a host of new brands littered the landscape ranging from Honda, Suzuki,… Continue reading India at 75: When the Japanese came calling in the 1980s
In-car payments: consumer benefits are clear but obstacles remain
Mercedes’ Fuel and Pay service works at approximately 900 of Germany’s near-14,500 fuel stations Technology companies are battling car makers for control of in-car payment systems as the market develops Where smartphones lead, cars follow, and that’s the case for in-car payments too. The currently limited ability to pay for stuff like parking, charging or drive-through… Continue reading In-car payments: consumer benefits are clear but obstacles remain
Lignin: the paper byproduct that could change the game
Lignin is a sustainable material that exists between the cell walls of woody plants, and it’s a by-product of the paper industry. This little-known material has been the subject of research for some time as a potential substitute for carbon-based products, including carbonfibre and battery anodes. On the sustainability front, it could turn out to be… Continue reading Lignin: the paper byproduct that could change the game
Greatest road tests ever: Naylor TF 1700
Styled after the 1953 MG TF Midget, the TF 1700 was the product of Bradford-based Naylor Cars and cleverly blurred the line between original and replica. The Naylor was largely underpinned by Austin Rover engineering, including the chassis, longitudinally mounted 1700cc engine and four-speed manual gearbox that sent drive to the rear wheels. Suspension was… Continue reading Greatest road tests ever: Naylor TF 1700
Opinion: BMW M on ‘saying goodbye’ to combustion engine
Every mainstream sporting brand is electrifying, but BMW M’s transition seems especially poignant given the hallowed status of not just its historic and current cars but also the specific engines that power them. Whichever way you cut it, the future of the pure-combustion straight six is a short one. Emissions regulations and EV mandates will… Continue reading Opinion: BMW M on ‘saying goodbye’ to combustion engine
Future BMW M3 to be ‘groundbreaking’ EV with traditional feel
‘Crazy’ M3 on the cards “The story of the M3 is everlasting,” said van Meel. “Every time we change the story of the engine, from four-cylinder to six-cylinder to eight-cylinder to six-cylinder and a turbocharger, the story continues. “Maybe it will go electric – but if it does, it will always be an M3. Whatever… Continue reading Future BMW M3 to be ‘groundbreaking’ EV with traditional feel