Plenty of sideways action for this issue, starting with the Hyundai IONIQ 5
This month has seen an eclectic mix of cool rides we’ve reviewed on both two and four wheels with plenty of sideways action. Reviews aside, we’ve also gotten our first taste of Formula E in India. Here’s a rundown of all the happenings in our latest issue:
Electrifying Statement
Our cover star for this month is none other than the Hyundai IONIQ 5. It marks a serious statement in the Indian EV space and is Hyundai’s most premium product in the country. It's also the first rear wheel drive EV in the country and with 217PS and 350Nm going to its rear wheels we just couldn’t resist putting it sideways.
Speedshifting
The latest Union Budget for the 2023-24 financial year is here and we take you through its effect on the auto industry. Porsche celebrates 75 years of the 356 sportscar with a slick, yet menacing Vision 357 concept. Retro classics are making a comeback but with a twist being not having a traditional ICE setup. Elsewhere, we bid farewell to the Aston Martin DBS in style, the Skoda Enyaq RS iV has set two world records on ice, the Chevrolet Corvette gets hybrid propulsion for the first time, and the Mahindra BE 05 gets a rugged identity. We also caught up with Shashank Srivastava from Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. and talked about all things SUVs.
Features
Recently, Reise Moto introduced its range of made-in-India TrailR performance tyres and what better place to test them out than at an off-road test centre. Benjamin got to sample them onboard Royal Enfields on a test track comprising an off-road course and a jungle trail filled with gnarly descents and sharp inclines filled with loose rocks and mud.
Reviews
There’s no dearth of four-wheelers we got behind the wheel of this month with the highlight of course being the Hyundai IONIQ 5. Aside from that we had the open-top Mercedes-AMG E 53 Cabriolet, the first topless AMG in the country as well as the Audi Q3 Sportback, which is a Q3 but with a sloping roofline. We also got to experience the facelifted BMW 3 Series which is now only offered in the Gran Limousine variant that hasn’t compromised on the sideways fun we had. The all-electric Citroen Ë-C3 aims to make a mark in the mass market Indian EV space. And finally, we got to experience the upgrades on the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and MG Hector.
Take Two
In the world of two wheels, Harley-Davidson celebrates its 120th anniversary and BMW Motorrad India commences the 2023 GS Experience. The KTM-Bajaj partnership crosses the one-million production milestone while TVS makes strategic investments in ION mobility. There’s a load of bikes we’ve reviewed which includes the Ultraviolette F77 that aims to make a statement as a proper performance two-wheeled EV in the country, the Kawasaki W175 which could have the retro formula done right, the Hero Xoom that looks to spice up things in the 110cc segment as well as the updated TVS Apache RTR 160.
Motorsport
It’s been a long time since we've had a top-tier single-seater motorsport event in India and our prayers were answered with the Formula E Hyderabad E-Prix. We take you behind the scenes of the entire experience with the home heroes Mahindra Racing which was an unforgettable experience. In other news, the Volkswagen Polo Cup was back in action and it was just as competitive as ever, which felt like it never left. Formula 2 also prepares for two Indian drivers on the grid for the first time in 2023.
Tail Enders
The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 joins our long term garage, with the Ed spending quality time with it on familiar territory. There’s also a ‘guest’ long term ride in the form of Vir Nakai’s new Ducati DesertX. Ben talks about living with the Ola MoveOS 3, while Ed takes the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara on a trip. Halley gives insights into the Volkswagen Virtus' many talents.
For more dope on our February 2023 Issue, check it out on Amazon and Magzter.
