Car Of The Week - Toyota HiLux

Pick up trucks are some of the most versatile vehicles. Pickup trucks are proven, reliable workhorses that can transport passengers, haul cargo, tow loads. The pickup truck was originally made for use as a utility vehicle, but in recent times the role of the pickup truck has changed as more and more of them are being used to transport passengers. Some of the most popular pickup trucks are – Ford F150, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, and Toyota HiLux amongst others. We are going to tell you how the Toyota HiLux won the hearts and minds of customers the world over!

The HiLux has been a very successful series of pickup trucks sold by Japanese car giant Toyota in markets such as Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South-East Asia and South America. The Toyota HiLux is currently in its 8^th generation and has sold over 19 million units globally. The HiLux was first introduced in 1968 when Toyota entered an agreement with Hino Motors of Japan to jointly manufacture a pickup truck based on the Hino Briska light-utility vehicle. The first HiLux was powered by a 1.5 L petrol engine producing 76 bhp of max power output mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox and had a payload capacity of 1000 kg.

The third generation Toyota HiLux introduced in 1978 saw a line-up of 3 standard-length and 4 long-wheelbase models, hence giving the pickup more versatility. The HiLux now had better ride comfort and car-like specifications. 4-door variants of the HiLux were subsequently added as well. The first 4WD variant of the HiLux was introduced in 1979 and shared some common technology with the Toyota Land Cruiser. Front disc brakes were made standard on the higher-end variants. A 2.2 L diesel engine producing 67 bhp of max power output was added for both the 2-door and 4-door variants.

Australia’s love affair with the Toyota HiLux goes back a long way. The first HiLux pickups came to Australian shores in 1968 when Toyota distributor Thiess brought them to Australia for duty in the mines and various construction projects of Queensland. In Australia, the HiLux can be found everywhere! Be it mines, rural parts of the country, construction sites, cattle stations, highways, or even garages…Toyota HiLux is everywhere. One of the biggest strengths of the Toyota HiLux is the versatility it offers and it has been unrivaled in this segment both in Australia and globally. The Toyota HiLux is the go-to vehicle for anyone who needs to get a load carried to any part of Australia.

In 1983, the fourth generation HiLux came with a revised exterior and interior design and was also available in an extra-cab design (additional space in the cab/cargo section). The HiLux got a new independent front suspension, giving better ride and capability in rough terrain. The major changes were seen in the engines as the new HiLux received 3 diesel engines and a new turbo-petrol one as well. This gave the HiLux customer a wider range of options while buying their perfect car. This generation of the Toyota HiLux was the blueprint for the Toyota 4Runner. The Toyota 4Runner is a popular SUV manufactured and sold across global markets.

The HiLux is as reliable and indestructible as they come. This was proved in 2003 when British TV series Topgear tried multiple ways to ‘kill a Toyota HiLux’. On the show, a Toyota HiLux was put through a grueling series of tests to check out how indestructible the car really was. The HiLux was driven to its limits…through flood, fire, a falling caravan, and a collapsing tower block; to everyone’s surprise, the HiLux lived through it all and was still functional to drive!! Now that’s a car which is built to last. The Toyota HiLux is a high achiever and a vehicle that knows no limits. The HiLux holds the distinction of being the only vehicle driven to both the North and South Poles. The HiLux has also participated in the Dakar Rally, one of the world’s most challenging rallies and has a pretty decent track record at Dakar too. The Toyota HiLux is the only UV (Utility Vehicle) to top the car sales charts in Australia.

The HiLux is a Toyota through and through. Toyota as a brand stands for simplicity, reliability, efficiency. The HiLux is a great testament to this. These values have been carefully incorporated into all eight generations of the Toyota HiLux and the success story is evident for all to see. A key to the success of the Toyota HiLux in Australia is the fact that Toyota has understood the customers, market very well, and proactively worked upon the customer feedback received.

Over the years the Toyota HiLux has been refined and shaped well into the stalwart that it is today. The current generation Toyota HiLux was introduced in 2015 and had sold approx. 16 million units at the time of introduction. The current generation HiLux is now much stronger, reliable, and capable as ever and comes loaded with the latest technology. The HiLux is available in over 30 variants including all body types and powertrain options. There is a wide array of both petrol and diesel engines on offer. With such a wide range of variants, Toyota has ensured there is a HiLux for all types of car buyers.

Is the pickup truck on its way out? That’s a question which can be hotly debated by car critics the world over. But, one thing can be certain the Toyota HiLux is here to stay even in the future. Becoming a vehicle an entire nation (Australia) swears by is not an easy task…but the Toyota HiLux just makes it look so easy!

The Big Lap

Australia, the smallest continent has the most diverse topography and relief from the rest of the world. It is a land for the adventure paramours. It offers among other excitements, an epic road trip. This road trip circumnavigates the entire country and covers approximately 15,000 km; linking the coastal cities all around the country.

This trip isn’t for those in a hurry, it’s a journey that needs time (at least 3-6 months). This trip connects lush rainforests to sun-bleached popular beaches and thriving busy towns to sleepy and remote outback waterholes. Driving along Highway One, one can visit Perth, Esperance Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, and Port Hedland. Taking detours, the scenic beauty of Kakadu, Uluru and Alice Springs, Mount Kosciuszko (Highest mountain range in Australia) and The Great Barrier Reef should not be missed.

Driving in a 4WD is a definite plus on this tremendously demanding trip. Driving between April to September (dry season – wet season roads can be closed) between Broome and Cairns is advisable. The best way to enjoy this trip is to be in a van or camper as the road takes you from highways to fire trials. As you bump along to reach campsites or find a wayside scenery appealing, the stress is always to have a trusty set of wheels. A 4WD with low range, high clearance, a snorkel, and long-range fuel tank will let you explore any track. If you have a camper, then the chosen vehicle should be capable of towing a fully loaded R.V. (A diesel 4WD gives a greater towing torque and fuel economy). Petrol may not be available in the way-out of Aboriginal communities. Another must is to practice maneuvering the camper or caravan as the terrain can vary (sand, mud, corrugation), and controlling a skid can test the most skilled drivers too.

Whether you choose a comfortable motorhome, a minivan, or an SUV there are some essentials that are worth acquiring and installing. Water supply of at least 20 liters in a Jerry Can or as a conduit carrier mounted on the roof of the car is very important. A kitchen and a portable BBQ is luxurious, but a butane burner and a few pots and pans can also be sufficient. It is imperative to carry tools like car jacks, wrenches, hammers besides a mint condition spare tyre plus oil and coolant, etc… to make this epic road trip a smooth and enjoyable journey. 

Sleeping at the caravan parks which are plenty along the Highway One is a prudent option as they invariably have the facilities for shower, laundry, and kitchen. Even National Parks are an interesting choice plus most of them are freeee!!!

 The big lap has several must-see sights including the big cities that you drive through. Sometimes just being on the road (the famous Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Allanford in Victoria) is mesmerizing. The stunning coastline, sunburnt cliffs, shipwrecks, the famous Twelve Apostles (now only 8 remain) and the rainforest jostle to enthrall.

Another detour worth undertaking is from Cairns to the gateway to the Barrier Reef ending at Australia’s northernmost tip, Cape York. This lap is full of adventure as it involves taking the red dirt trail, crossing croc infested rivers, ancient rock art and the meeting of two World Heritage Sites (the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest)

The Coral Coast along the Western Australian coastline via Cervantes, Monkey Mia and Carnarvon gets you to the meeting point of the turquoise Indian ocean and the rugged Australian outback. The Kalbarri National Park, The Pinnacles desert, World Heritage, Shark Bay (where it’s possible to swim with dolphin’s, manta ray and the whale sharks) leaves you luxuriated in the lap of mother nature.

The legendary Pacific Coast from Sydney to Brisbane (900 km) has a host of surfing beaches, charming seaside towns, and National Parks. A slight detour leads to a complete change in the scenery with incredible restaurants, boutiques cheese and wine and chocolate producers in the Newcastle to Hunter Valley region.

Going on a journey that lets you do what you want when you want, how you want, and where you want – this is the epitome of freedom. There are no time constraints (don’t undertake if you do) you could take 6 months to a year to enjoy the wonders of this road trip covering the arid desert and lush rainforest So plan, plan, plan and budget carefully before undertaking it. 

Understanding Your Car - Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

Driving a car is part and parcel of daily life for a lot of people across the globe. Cars have 2 types of transmissions – Manual and Automatic. Sales of automatic cars have seen a very rapid and increasing rise in recent times. The increase in traffic, changes in perception of the automatic transmission, and improvement of technology are some of the key factors that have led to an increase in this demand. There are majorly 3 types of automatic gear transmissions widely used across cars – Torque Converter, CVT and Dual-Clutch. We are going to make the CVT transmission simple and make you understand it better.

The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is an automatic transmission that works on seamless shifts and unlike a conventional automatic gearbox does not use fixed gears. CVT is also known as stepless or shiftless transmission. Leonardo Da Vinci one of the greatest minds ever and a man way ahead of his time sketched the first stepless transmission way back in 1490! In 1958, Dutch manufacturer introduced the world’s first CVT transmission in a car. Since the turn of the century, the CVT transmission has been widely used across cars globally.

When fuel is combusted in an engine, power is generated. This power is then transmitted to the wheels which then begin turning and move the car ahead. The speed of the engine is different from the real driving speed (speed of the car on the road while driving). An automatic gearbox uses gear ratios to match engine speed and real driving speed. The gear ratios are fixed and range from low to high. The auto gearbox uses the appropriate gear ratio depending on the speed of the car.

A CVT gearbox does things differently. A CVT gearbox does not have fixed gear ratios and operates variably with the speed of the engine. The CVT gearbox is a very basic system that works on the principle of pulleys. The CVT transmission uses 2 pulleys that have variable diameters connected by a belt or chain. One pulley is connected to the engine while the other is connected to the wheels via the transmission. The pulleys used in a CVT transmission are always in pairs. The input pulley is connected to the engine and receives energy from it to drive the output pulley. The input pulley is also known as driving pulley as it drives the output pulley. The output pulley moves when the input pulley drives it and sends power to the wheels which makes the car move forward.

The diameters of the pulleys are variable and become smaller or larger depending on the speed of the engine. This allows the CVT gearbox to work seamlessly and efficiently without having fixed ratios and operating infinitely at any time and at any engine speed. CVTs are of 3 types – Pulley-based, Toroidal and Hydrostatic. Pulley-based CVTs are the most commonly used in cars. CVTs tend to have the infamous ‘Rubber-Band effect’ experienced while driving a CVT car. However, this is not an issue it is caused by the constant acceleration and deceleration of the car. The CVT transmission has the following advantages – 

1. Smooth Shifts.
2. Improved Fuel Efficiency. 
3.  Better Reliability. 

The disadvantages of a CVT are –

1. Expensive Maintenance.
2. Getting used to driving a CVT car may take some time.

Daniel 'Honey Badger' Ricciardo

Australia is a sport-loving nation, with a good proportion of the population actively following and supporting their loved sports. The most popular sports in Australia include – Rugby, Cricket, Australian Football, and Soccer. Motorsport has been a popular sport in Australia attracting a very big fan following and spectators. The Land Down Under has produced 17 Formula One drivers and 2 World Champions – Jack Brabham (3-time world champion) and Alan Jones. Currently, there is only one driver from Australia on the F1 circuit – Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo is arguably the best all-rounder amongst the F1 drivers, and a dark horse for whom the sky is the limit. Let’s find out what makes him so amazing!

Daniel Ricciardo is a driver for the Renault F1 team alongside Frenchman Esteban Ocon. Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest race drivers of all time was the one who inspired Ricciardo to take to car racing. Ricciardo’s first taste of Motorsport came at the age of 9 when he began karting at the Tiger Kart Club. In 2005, Daniel entered the Australian Formula Ford series and put on an impressive performance despite driving a car, not on par with the competition. Daniel’s performance was enough to get him a scholarship to the Formula BMW Asia championship the next season. He finished his Formula BMW Asia debut season strongly with an impressive 3^rd spot in the championship.

Daniel’s performances and potential saw him attract a lot of attention from Europe. He moved to Formula Renault in 2007, hence entering the world of European circuit racing. Daniel quickly moved up the ranks with a string of great performances and entered the British F3 championship. Driving for Carlin Motorsport, Ricciardo won the British F3 championship becoming the first Australian driver to win the title since David Brabham won it in 1989. 

2011 was a landmark year for Ricciardo as he earned a driver’s seat with the HRT replacing Narain Karthikeyan in their line-up. Ricciardo got picked up by Toro Rosso for the 2012 season driving with new teammate Jean Eric Vergne. In 2013, Ricciardo finished 13^th in the championship during his second season with Toro Rosso. This got him a well-earned promotion to the senior team Red Bull Racing. Ricciardo was now in the big leagues!

Ricciardo replaced Mark Webber to drive alongside 4-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. Ricciardo was on the pace in his first race for Red Bull at the Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne. To everyone’s surprise Ricciardo finished the race second, only to be stripped off that position by the stewards due to technical irregularities. Driving an F1 car is a very challenging task both mentally and physically for a driver. F1 drivers need to have laser focus, super quick reflexes, concentration, and risk-taking ability amongst other attributes. Ricciardo has all this in abundance and is probably the most complete all-round driver on the F1 circuit. Ricciardo secured his first Grand Prix victory at the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix and second win at the Hungarian Grand Prix in the same year. Ricciardo was awarded the Laurens World Sports Award for Breakthrough of The Year for his performances in 2014.

For the 2015 season, Sebastian Vettel moved to Scuderia Ferrari making Ricciardo the lead driver at Red Bull. Red Bull’s 2015 season was plagued by engine and reliability problems dampening the season for Ricciardo. Ricciardo has been nicknamed ‘Honey Badger’; an apt name for a personality like him. The Honey Badger is considered one of the most fearless animals. Ricciardo knows no fear and this shows in his driving. Ricciardo is as good as they come with regard to overtaking and late braking. Both these driving skills require a lot of skill to master and risk-taking ability to execute. Ricciardo can be credited for some of the best overtakes in F1 over the past decade. Ricciardo is not a driver you want to see behind you when driving on an F1 circuit…if you give him an inch, he will take a mile! Seeing Ricciardo overtake other cars on the circuit is like watching a masterclass, he makes it look so easy and effortless!

Braking is a very crucial skill to master when racing in any format. Timely braking at high speeds can avert fatal crashes. The art of braking late and managing to effectively overtake and control the car in a composed manner is something Ricciardo has aced! Just look at his performance during the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix, a sheer exhibition of class! Ricciardo had an interesting time at Red Bull when Dutch hotshot Max Verstappen became his teammate. The 2 drivers had a rivalry which pushed them to perform better against each other. While there was a rivalry on the track, both Daniel and Max are good friends off it. That’s just how Ricciardo is, unlike a lot of F1 drivers he is different and showcases a more human side to his personality. Fun-loving, always joking and goofing around Ricciardo is regarded by many as being the most fun guy in F1! Be it drinking champagne from his race shoe or jumping into a pool after winning a race…Ricciardo is a complete entertainer!

In 2018, it was announced that Ricciardo had signed a 2-year contract with the Renault F1 team and Pierre Gasly would take his seat at Red Bull. This came as a surprise to all but was also evident with the friction between Ricciardo and Verstappen at Red Bull in the previous season and the Red Bull team favoring Verstappen as their lead driver. The first season at Renault did not turn out as planned for Ricciardo, as the car had reliability issues and was just not capable of keeping up with the performance of the top cars in the circuit. When one looks at Ricciardo, his driving style and ability…the potential he has is evident and is a driver who deserves a worthy car to give him the means of winning the World Championship.  

Off the track, Ricciardo is a simple, fun-loving guy who leads a chilled out and leisurely life. A family man at heart, Ricciardo ensures he is always in touch while traveling the world for races or shuttling between his homes in Los Angeles, Perth, and Monaco. Ricciardo loves music and considers hip-hop, rap to be his preferred genre of choice. Ricciardo has a smile so broad that it can fill a dark room with light! Ricciardo is a world-class athlete who diligently follows his diet and fitness training regime. On the track, Ricciardo is a very aggressive yet balanced driver who understands when to switch from attack to defense and vice-versa.

Daniel Ricciardo is not only an amazing driver but is also an amazing human. He is the embodiment of a well-rounded athlete both on the track and off it as well. With uncertainty over his future at Renault, it shall be very interesting to see what’s in store for him. Is it time for Daniel ‘Honey Badger’ Ricciardo to make the switch to Ferrari? Let us know your thoughts.

Its Lights Out At Albert Park: The First Race Of The F1 Championship Season

Watching Formula One is a stimulating experience for most car and motorsport enthusiasts. If you are a fan of fast cars, power-packed races, and stunning racetracks then you have to tune in to the Australian Grand Prix. It is the most anticipated race of the season. The Australian Grand Prix is the season opener and sets the tempo for the F1 season ahead, many fans deem this as the ‘race you cannot miss’. Formula One being a very exclusive event you still have fans from all over the country and the world travel to Melbourne to visit Albert Park to witness the round 1 of the FIA Formula One World Championship.

Typical attendance over the weekend in Australia is around 300 000 spectators, with a crowd in excess of 100 000 on race day. This year marks the 25th Formula 1 race to have been held at Albert Park, since its debut in 1996, which was won by Damon Hill in a Renault. Melbourne began hosting the Australian Grand Prix at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit (Albert Park) in 1996, taking over from Adelaide, which hosted the race from 1985-1995.The Albert Park circuit in Melbourne held non-championship Grand Prix races in the fifties. A revised circuit joined the world championship calendar in 1996. At the same time, the race moved from being the last race of the season to the first and has normally held the opening race of the season since then.

Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver at Albert Park, scoring four wins (2000,2001,2002,2004). Sebastian Vettel, who won at Albert Park in 2011,2017 and 2018 could equal Schumacher’s tally at the 2020 Australian Grand Prix, however, due to the COVID-19 situation will have to wait until next time… The Albert Park circuit is semi-permanent, meaning it's not a full-time racing venue. For most of the year, the roads that make up the bulk of the race track are open to the public and anyone can drive on them.

The Albert Park circuit is one of the faster circuits on the F1 race calendar. The track is well laid out allowing for drivers to race at high speeds. Albert Park can get bumpy and has some uneven surfaces as well. The bumpy nature of the track requires drivers to have a very good front suspension set up allowing them to have maximum control while cornering and combating slippery surfaces.

‘All men are created equal, but some work harder in pre-season’. F1 drivers need to go through a rigorous 8-week program that will get them into shape for the upcoming season. This includes taking care of their physical, psychological, and most importantly their diets too. Race teams work tirelessly in pre-season too, giving the best race drivers in the world the means to go on and win the prestigious F1 World Championship. Being the first race of the year, the Australian Grand Prix is filled with excitement and anticipation and certainly, a must-watch for all car, motorsport fans across the globe! 

Team Kshatriya - One Of India's Best BAJA SAE Teams

College racing events such as Formula Student, BAJA SAE are very popular in engineering colleges, universities across the globe. These events offer engineering students a very good platform to leverage what they have learned in theory and put it into practice by building a race car. India has very good college racing teams like IIT Bombay Racing (Electric) and Pravega Racing (Combustion) who participate at the highest levels of Formula Student globally. Apart from Formula Bharat; BAJA SAE and Enduro Student India are amongst the leading college racing competitions in India. We are going to tell you more about Team Kshatriya who has been one of the oldest and highly successful BAJA SAE teams from India.

Team Kshatriya is a leading BAJA SAE team based out of VIT, Vellore in India. Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore is one of India’s top engineering colleges and is also the home of Pravega Racing – India’s best Formula Student (Combustion) team. Team Kshatriya participates in BAJA SAE India and Enduro Student India which take place at Pithampur and Pune in India respectively. BAJA SAE is an inter-college student design competition run by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The competition challenges college racing teams and aspiring engineers to design, build and race off-road vehicles that can tackle the harshest terrain. The cars designed by teams in BAJA competitions are very similar to dune buggies.

Team Kshatriya was founded in 2006 by a group of mechanical engineering students from VIT, Vellore. Team Kshatriya was one of the first all-student motorsport teams of India and also the first Indian team to participate in BAJA SAE South Africa. With the inception of BAJA SAE India in 2007, Team Kshatriya shifted focus to the new competition making it their primary competitive event annually. The events in BAJA SAE India are divided into 2 categories – Static Events and Dynamic Events. The Static Events include – Design Report Presentation, Cost Evaluation, Business Plan Presentation, CAE Evaluation (Bonus Event), Go Green Challenge (Bonus Event); whereas the Dynamic Events include – Acceleration, Rock Crawl, Suspension, and Traction, Maneuverability, Endurance Race. BAJA SAE India sees over 400+ college racing teams participate every year, hence making the competition a great proving ground for talented young engineers and a hotbed of innovation.

Team Kshatriya has a strength of 46 members who are bonafide students of VIT, Vellore; each playing a crucial role in the success of the team. The team members are divided across various departments – Vehicle Dynamics, Transmission, Brakes, Design, Electrical and Management. Team Kshatriya’s current car is Vikrant which is combustion vehicle powered by a single-cylinder 305cc 10HP air-cooled, Briggs & Stratton OHV Intake Model (engine is event specified, all teams have to use the same engine with no other modifications) mated to a customized CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) gearbox. The car can reach a top speed of above 60 km/hr and has a relatively short turning radius of 1.8 meters.

Many college racing teams are funded and managed by students themselves. Like a lot of college racing teams in India, Team Kshatriya has often found it difficult to raise funds via sponsorships and partnerships. However, this has not curbed their innovation and determination to be the best. Kshatriya was one of the first BAJA teams in India to make the switch from a manual transmission to a customized CVT. The custom CVT transmission was built by the team members of Kshatriya themselves! Kshatriya is among the handful of teams who have custom-built their braking system which includes the master cylinder, brake calipers, and brake rotors as well. A short turning radius is very handy, especially in an off-road vehicle. Team Kshatriya is one amongst the very few teams who have achieved a turning radius of 1.8 meters (under 2 meters). 

Team Kshatriya believes in constantly improving from their learnings over the past events and experiences. This is crucial to their success and being amongst the leading teams in India. Before beginning work on their next car, Kshatriya internally discusses and collectively learns from their shortcomings in the previous events and works towards strengthening themselves in all departments. The collective inputs of all team members are paramount to the success of a race team and Kshatriya follows this process very diligently. Kshatriya team members are a mix of freshers, juniors, and senior members with regard to their course completion at VIT. The freshers are inducted during their first year of college and are groomed, trained under the seniors of the team this form of mentorship helps for better managerial planning within the organization and also helps juniors be well-groomed and trained to lead the various departments of the team in the future. The development of a new car comes in 3 phases – Design, Manufacturing, Testing, and Validation. Each of these phases plays a very crucial part in the making of the final car.

While they are a race team, Kshatriya is run like an organization having its own processes and systems. This further enhances the holistic development of team members and the experience shapes them to be ready for the real corporate world. The main aim of Team Kshatriya is to become the best BAJA SAE team in India and winning the coveted BAJA SAE India championship. With a strong foundation, innovative approach, great teamwork, and above all the determination to succeed Team Kshatriya are well on their way to do the same. We at AutoGuru India are proud to have been associated with Team Kshatriya and are very happy to get their story out to the masses! Watch this space for more!

Car Of The Week - Rolls Royce Phantom

Spirits are supernatural beings, the existence of which remains debatable and is rather unknown. Well, in the car world spirits definitely exist! The spirits in the car world we are referring to are Rolls Royce cars. All Rolls Royce cars are named after a spirit or supernatural object. Rolls Royce cars are the gold standard for automotive luxury and a benchmark in themselves, in a league of their own. Rolls Royce cars are a perfect fit for the crème de la crème of the society - royalty, heads of state, VVIPs, billionaires. The Rolls Royce flagship – Phantom has for many generations been the best and most luxurious car in the world, we are going to tell you more about ‘the best car in the world’.

The Rolls Royce Phantom has been around for a long time and is currently in its eighth generation. The Rolls Royce Phantom was introduced in 1925 (popularly known as the Phantom I) as a replacement for the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. Rolls Royce, the world’s premier manufacturer of ultra-luxury cars allows for a lot of customization and personalization to their cars. Hence, giving the Rolls Royce customer the freedom to customize and personalize a majority of the car elements to their individual tastes and preferences. Ever since the early days of the brand, only the engine and chassis were manufactured by Rolls Royce while the remaining of the car body was manufactured by individual coachbuilders basis the individual tastes and preferences of customers. As time has progressed, Rolls Royce manufacturers some body components in-house yet offering a lot of personalization by the customer. The 1925 Phantom was powered by a 7.7 L six-cylinder petrol engine producing 50 bhp of max power output.

The Rolls Royce Phantom III was introduced in 1936 and was the last pre-war Rolls Royce. The Phantom III was more fluidic and aerodynamic in design than its predecessors. The car was powered by a massive V12 petrol engine made using an aluminum alloy. This was the first time Rolls Royce had used a V12 engine, the next would be in 1998. The Phantom III was the last car company founder Henry Royce had worked on. After the war Rolls Royce marked their return to production with the introduction of the Rolls Royce Phantom IV – the most exclusive Rolls Royce ever made. The Phantom IV was the first car manufactured by Rolls Royce after the war, a decade since the Phantom III. The new Phantom was a masterclass of beauty and luxury, and if you wanted to get your hands on one you would have to be part of a very elite list. Only 18 units of the Phantom IV were produced exclusively for royalty and heads of state.  The car was powered by 5.7 L and 6.5 L straight-eight engines mated to manual and automatic gearboxes.

BMW group bought BMW in 1990 and the Rolls Royce Phantom VII became the first Rolls Royce flagship to be developed under BMW. The Phantom VII was introduced in 2003 and manufactured at the Goodwood plant. The new Phantom had a modern styling and came with various body type configurations – 4-door saloon, 2-door coupe, and a drophead coupe. The Phantom VII was powered 6.75 L V12 engine producing 454 bhp and mated to a 6-speed ZF gearbox. The Rolls Royce brand is a true testament of bespoke luxury and attention to detail. A majority of the car is still made by hand by trained craftsmen ensuring the use of the highest quality of materials. Rolls Royce customers are allowed to choose from over 44,000 different color options and any specific leather. The overall list of features and customizations on offer is massive! It takes about 3-4 months on average for Rolls Royce to manufacture each Phantom.  

The current Rolls Royce Phantom is now in its eighth-generation and was introduced in 2017. The current-gen Phantom is built on an entirely new, all-aluminum platform called the ‘Architecture of Luxury’. This platform is shared with the Cullinan SUV as well. The latest-gen Phantom is a great blend of tradition and tech. The current Phantom features a transparent glass compartment within the dashboard of the car known as ‘The Gallery’. Owners can customize and display decorative artwork inside the gallery, hence making each Phantom unique. This is just one example of Rolls Royce taking luxury and engineering to another level and cementing their place at the very pinnacle of car luxury. The Phantom has exceptional noise and cabin insulation with extensive usage of padding and noise reduction materials. The car gets an electronically controlled air-suspension and comes with the biggest air springs out there. This ensures passengers get the best drive comfort money can buy. The latest Phantom is powered by a 6.75 L twin-turbocharged V12 producing 563 bhp of max power and 900 nm of max torque mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

The founders of Rolls Royce – Charles Rolls and Henry Royce started the company in 1904 with a clear intention to make the ‘best car in the world’. The Rolls Royce Phantom with 8 generations and close to a century since introduction has more than lived up to that intention. The Rolls Royce Phantom remains at the top of not only the car world but also the world of luxury.

Mira Erda - 'The Speed Queen of India'

India has produced some very good race drivers like – Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok, Gaurav Gill, Armaan Ebrahim, and Aditya Patel all of whom have gone on to represent India at the international level and perform well. Out of these drivers, only Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok have participated in F1. India’s next-gen drivers like – Mira Erda, Arjun Maini, Kush Maini, Jehan Daruvala, Akhil Rabindra, Sohil Shah have very good potential and are well on their way towards a lot of success in their careers.

Mira discovered her love for racing at the age of 9 when she first tried her hand on a go-kart at her father’s go-kart track in Baroda. Mira’s father Kirit Erda, recognized Mira’s potential and motivated her to take up competitive racing. Mira’s first tryst with competitive racing came in 2010 when she participated in the JK Tyre National Rotax Max Championship…with only 25 days of training! Later that year Mira participated in her first international race – the Plus Yamaha SL International Challenge in Malaysia.

In 2011, Mira got her first race wins and podiums. That year she won the Most Improved Driver Award, there has been no looking back ever since. Consistency is the key to success; Mira lives by this mantra and dedicates a lot of her time perfecting her craft be it on the race track or fitness while in the gym. Her consistent performances and undeniable potential paid off when she made her way into the 2014 JK Racing Championship, becoming the youngest female Formula 4 driver. There is no denying that Motorsport is male-dominated. Mira realized this very early in her career as a majority of her competitors across various races were male. She recounts a lot of her competitors wrote her off, but instead of this demoralizing her she took this up as a challenge and was determined to beat them all, thereby fuelling her desire to be the best version of herself and give it her all.

For a race driver, the transition from a go-kart to a race car is not an easy one. Race cars are bigger, heavier, and more powerful. They have different driving dynamics, body control, and braking when compared to go-karts. Mira too found it difficult initially to transition and adapt to a Formula race car. With constant practice, guidance from her mentors like Akbar Ebrahim, Mira successfully mastered the formula-style race car. When asked about her inspiration Mira replies “I want to be the best version of myself!”. Mira may only be 19 years old, but her approach and mentality speaks volumes and showcases her maturity, understanding, focus. Current F1 driver Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing is someone Mira looks up to. Mira favors Verstappen’s aggressive driving style, risk-taking ability and driving skill. She tries to incorporate the same in her driving, but being an experiential learner, she has understood the importance of maintaining a fine balance between an aggressive driving style and a composed one that is very crucial for success.

The year 2016 was a great one for Mira, she became the Formula 4 rookie champion of the year and was also honored by the FMSCI the governing body for Motorsport in India with the Outstanding Woman in Motorsport Award. In 2017, Mira took part in the Euro JK Series – one of the highest classes of Formula racing in India and became the first Indian woman to do so. An outstanding feat at such a young age! Unfortunately, Mira faced issues with her car and was not able to give her best but, the experience did not deviate from her main aim and focus – to be an F1 driver. From her experience at the Euro JK Series she realized while competing with the best Indian drivers that there was a lot more room for improvement. She set out to improve her driving, technical skills, and better understand her car. Mira believes in constant improvement and is an avid learner. Throughout her career, Akbar Ebrahim, often regarded as the ‘Father of Indian Motorsport’ along with Sanjay Sharma – Head of JK Tyres Motorsport has been mentors for Mira. Their guidance, motivation, and support has always been well received, appreciated by Mira; hence making her the driver she is today.

In 2019, Mira made it to the top 50 who qualifiers of the inaugural W Series by the FIA. The W Series is an elite all-women driver championship where 18 of the best women drivers would do battle to be the best. Mira traveled to Austria for the qualifiers and along with fellow Indian racer Sneha Sharma was the only other representative from India. The qualifiers were a real challenge for Mira as she was not used to driving in variable weather conditions like snow and ice, the car to be driven was a production left-hand drive car. Being used to driving on the right-hand side in India, this posed as a challenge to Mira. The added pressure of going up against the best women drivers goes without saying. While the experience at the W Series qualifiers wasn’t exactly what she had hoped for Mira took this in her stride and regrouped herself, committed to being the best at what she loves doing – racing.

Her amazing performances got Mira a seat on in the AD Racing team at the inaugural 2019 X1 Racing League in India. Mira grabbed the opportunity with both her hands and drove very well to help her team to podiums. Her experience at X1 Racing League helped Mira network with and compete against top drivers from all over the world (both male and female).

Mira Erda is an inspiration, not only for women but all aspirants wanting to get into racing. She has achieved so much during her relatively young career, resonates with the potential she posses and the bright career she has in front of her. With an aim of driving in Formula 3 and securing a seat at the W Series finals in the near future, Mira is poised to take the next step in her career. The future for Indian motorsport is bright and the ‘Speed Queen of India’ Mira Erda is one of the leading torchbearers.

Car Of The Week - Williams FW18

Formula One is the holy grail of car racing. In the world of Motorsport, F1 is one of the most prestigious and sought-after championships. In car racing, the skill and driving ability of the driver along with the reliability and performance of the car are essential keys to success. Motorsport has seen many successful cars over the course of its history to the present day. The 1996 F1 championship-winning Williams FW18 is a car for the history books and has etched its name well in the motorsport hall of fame. We are going to tell you more about this awesome car!

The Williams FW18 was an F1 race car used by the Williams Grand Prix Engineering team (currently known as ROKiT Williams Racing) in the 1996 season. The FW18 was driven by former F1 world champions Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve. The 1996 season turned out to be a very successful season for Williams as they won both the constructors championship and Hill, Villeneuve finishing the driver’s championship first and second respectively. The FW18 had an edge over the rest and was the fastest of the lot. Williams Racing is a British F1 racing team based out of Grove in the UK. Williams Racing was founded in 1977 by Sir Frank Williams and Sir Patrick Head. Till date, Williams has won 9 F1 titles and have had some great drivers the likes of – Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Jensen Button, Ayrton Senna, Jacques Villeneuve amongst many others who have driven for them.

Many teams in F1 have partnerships with car manufacturers for engines. Williams has enjoyed a very successful engine partnership with French car giant Renault, having won 5 of their 9 F1 titles with them. 1996 season dominating FW18 was also powered by a Renault engine. An interesting fact – The ‘FW’ in Williams Racing cars stands for Frank Williams the owner of the team and is then followed by a number; all Williams Racing cars follow this tradition. The FW18 was based on the 1995 FW17 car. The FW18 was designed by then Technical Director Sir Patrick Head and Chief Designer Adrian Newey. With changes in F1 rules and regulations requiring more driver protection and a lower seating position for the drivers, the Williams team could further enhance the design and performance of the previous FW17 along with the required rule changes. The lower seating position of the driver gave way for a lower center of gravity and aided in improving the handling of the new FW18.

Sir Patrick Head and Adrian Newey worked tirelessly on the design of the FW18 making it more aerodynamic, hence increasing the speed and performance of the car. Wind tunnels were used extensively. The FW18 was powered by a Renault sourced 3.0 L V10 engine producing 750 bhp of max power output at 14500 rpm mated to a 6-speed paddle-shift gearbox. The FW18 underwent extensive testing in pre-season with Damon Hill driving over 9000 km in the car which would go on to win 75% of all races in the 1996 season. To summarize the success of the Williams team with the FW18 – 12 poles, 11 fastest laps, 12 race victories, 21 podiums, the constructor’s championship, and a 1-2 finish for the drivers of the team. Now that’s an amazing CV for any race car!   

The Williams FW18 legacy was continued by the successful FW19, hence giving Williams Racing 2 very good seasons. Yes, technology has progressed by leaps and bounds in present-day F1 but the Williams FW18 still remains one of the best F1 cars ever. Which car do you think in present-day F1 can give the FW18 a run for its money? Let us know! 

Best Racing Circuits In The UK

Race tracks are the proving grounds for both race cars and drivers. The race circuit is much more than tarmac sections designed along a course to test the skill of drivers and push cars to their peak performance level. Race circuits have a rich history and have been playing a very important role in the development of Motorsport. The UK has been a very integral part of the Motorsport world. Brooklands, the world’s first purpose-built racing circuit was built in 1907 in Surry, England, UK. The UK has a lot of racing circuits, but Silverstone, Brands Hatch, and Donington Park are the ones that stand out from the rest. We are going to tell you more about them and what makes them so popular!

The Silverstone circuit is the UK’s most popular racing circuit and the current home of the British F1 Grand Prix. Often regarded as the ‘Home of British Motor Racing’ the Silverstone circuit was opened in 1948 and held its first race the British Grand Prix in 1950. Similar to a lot of race circuits in the UK Silverstone was an airfield used by the British armed forces during World War 2 and then converted into a race circuit. The Silverstone circuit holds the distinction of being the only British race circuit to host a member of the British Royal Family when King George VI attended the 1950 European Grand Prix. Silverstone is a very fast and technical circuit. The circuit has many straights, overtaking areas with a good mix of sudden turns which all combined make for a very thrilling experience both for the drivers as well as spectators. Silverstone is well situated at the center of a motorsport hub. ‘Motorsport Valley’ as it is more commonly known is within close proximity of the 6 F1 teams based out of the UK. Being a major race circuit Silverstone has led to the overall development of the motorsport industry in the vicinity. Major car manufacturers such as Porsche and Aston Martin have their driving experience and development centers here as well. British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton currently holds the lap record at Silverstone with a time of 1:27.369 recorded at the 2019 British F1 Grand Prix.

Brands Hatch is a race circuit that has a rich history and motorsport heritage. Brands Hatch started off as a grass track style motorcycle racing circuit in 1926. While Silverstone is currently hosting the British Grand Prix, Brands Hatch hosted the same event on 12 occasions from 1964 to 1986. Brands Hatch is a circuit which has its own unique aura. The circuit is covered with forests and greenery, this also happens to be a natural amphitheater. The Brands Hatch circuit is a spectacle to witness both for the drivers and spectators alike. The topography and natural surroundings at Brands Hatch make the circuit a very challenging one for the driver as they have to deal with a lot of dips, bends, and sudden elevation changes. The spectators get a very good overall view of the circuit, making it a very joyous occasion for them. Brands Hatch may not be as active as it used to be in the past, however, it continues to remain one of UK’s best and most loved circuits!

Donington Park is UK’s oldest race circuit still in operation. The first race at Donington Park took place in 1931. Donington Park was originally part of the Donington Hall Estate, after a lot of changes and revisions it was converted into a race circuit. Donington Park held one of the most thrilling F1 races, the 1993 European Grand Prix which was won by one of the best race drivers of all time – Ayrton Senna. The opening lap of 1993 European Grad Prix by Senna is regarded by many as one of the best laps in F1 history! Apart from F1 Donington Park also holds numerous other events such as – British Touring Championship, F3 amongst others.

The UK has been at the forefront of Motorsport from its origins. The UK is home to numerous race circuits and all of them have played a crucial part in maintaining the UK's dominance at the top of global Motorsport. 

Understanding Your Car - Drag Reduction System (DRS)

Motorsport has been at the very forefront of a lot of new technology and innovation for the entire car industry. Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and automotive performance. F1 is the biggest proving ground for performance-enhancing technology and innovation. An F1 car has a lot of tech, systems, and modifications that allow the driver to reach lightning fast speeds while pushing the cars to their limit. DRS is one such technology that aids the driver in driving faster. Let’s find out more about DRS!

The Drag Reduction System or DRS is a driver-adjustable bodywork which enables the reduction of drag on a car and allows for achieving better top speed and ease of overtaking. When a car is traveling at a very high speed it cuts through the air in front. This displaces the air causing wind resistance or drag. Drag affects the flow of air around the car, and this creates friction thereby not allowing the car to reach the maximum speed possible. Car manufacturers and race engineers design their cars in the most aerodynamic way possible to reduce the effect of drag on the car.

DRS was first introduced in F1 in 2011. DRS is an innovation that allows for better overtaking and makes the sport more exciting. The rear wing of the F1 car has an adjustable section – the flap which can be deployed by the driver under conditions where DRS is allowed. When DRS is enabled by the driver the adjustable flap of the rear wing lifts to create an opening for the flowing air to pass by easily. Hence, allowing the car to attain a higher speed and easier overtaking maneuvers. The DRS is activated by the driver by pressing a button on the steering wheel, this sends an electric command to an actuator which lifts the rear wing. Each F1 race track around the world has designated DRS zones, only when a car is in a DRS zone can the driver deploy DRS. The driver is notified when DRS can be enabled. DRS can only be used under the following conditions and rules – 

• The following car is within one second of the car to be overtaken. 
• The following car is in the overtaking zone or DRS zone as designated by the FIA before the race. 
• DRS can only be used after the first 2 laps of a race start, restart or a safety car deployment. The defending driver can only use DRS when he is one within one second of the car in front. DRS may not be deployed if the racing conditions are deemed dangerous by the race director.

The DRS system is deactivated when the driver presses the DRS button or automatically when brakes are applied. DRS is also used in the F2, F3 Championship and the GP3 Series. Technologies and innovations such as DRS are aplenty in the world of Motorsport, hence playing their part in making Motorsport one of the most exciting and fun sports to watch, follow in the world! 

Car Of The Week - Volkswagen ID R

EVs are really good at performance. Electric cars are quicker as they have much better acceleration off the line when compared to their combustion counterparts. Many car manufacturers already have electric car line ups for the masses. On the performance side of things, there are a lot of extremely capable hybrid supercars (work on a combination of combustion and electric) that are pushing the boundaries of car performance to another level. How far are we from seeing all-electric race cars? Soon! There are quite a few car manufacturers working on creating amazing all-electric race cars. The Volkswagen ID R is an all-electric race car that has been making quite a noise off late. We are going to tell you more about the first all-electric race car from German giant VW.

The Volkswagen (VW) ID R is an all-electric prototype race car that is part of the ID family of electric cars from VW. Like the other cars from the VW ID series, the VW ID R race car is also a prototype and not the fully ready production version yet. The car has been designed along with VW’s R division (R division is responsible for all VW race cars) with a clear intention of dominating and winning races globally. VW was a force to be reckoned with on the global motorsport circuit with multiple race victories to their name up until the infamous VW emission scandal. This led to VW pulling out of motorsport events like – World Rally Championship (WRC), Dakar Rally, 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The VW ID R made its global debut in March 2018, this not only announced the debut of VW’s first all-electric race car but also the company’s intention of returning to the global motorsport arena. The car made its competitive debut in June 2018 at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Colorado. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA the Pikes Peak hill climb is one of the most challenging races in the world. Also known as ‘The Race to the Clouds’ Pikes Peak is a 20 km stretch to the summit of Pikes Peak. The race is world-renowned for a series of over 156 turns, elevation changes, and very steep gradients. The Pikes Peak race is one of the most challenging around and pushes any car and driver who pursues it to their very limit. VW Motorsport roped in French racer Romain Dumas to drive the VW ID R. The car gave an excellent performance at the Pikes Peak race by clocking in a time of 7:57:148. This made the ID R the first car to complete the climb in under 8 minutes! Up next was the legendary Nürburgring in Germany. In 2019, with Romain Dumas at the driver's seat the VW ID R set a new record of 6:05:336 for electric vehicles. The was cornering at 3.49 G and hit a top speed of 273 km/hr. Later in 2019, the car also took part in the prestigious annual Goodwood Festival Of Speed Hill Climb in the UK. The VW ID R and Dumas again carried on their very successful partnership as the car set a new lap record of 39.90 seconds!

The record-setting machine is powered by 2 electric motors situated at each of the car axles (front and rear) producing 680 bhp of max power output and 649 nm of torque. The VW ID R weighs in under 1100 kg and can do a 0-100 km/hr time in 2.25 seconds…that’s quick, super quick!

The VW ID R is a first in a series of electric race cars, as confirmed by VW. If this is only the begging then bring it on! The future is electric…VW and we certainly believe so!   

UK - The World Leader In Motorsport Engineering

The United Kingdom is recognized throughout the world as being the leading country in terms of motorsport engineering, with the likes of leading German F1 Team Mercedes having two bases in the UK; F1 Team and also AMG Powertrains. Leading Italian F1 Teams Alfa Romeo and Ferrari are also based in the UK, as well as French F1 team Renault. 

Competitive racing in the UK can be traced back to the 19^th Century, with the first competitive event taking place in 1867, over an 8-mile distance, and was between two steam-powered carriages converted from steam locomotives; what is clear from this first event is that right from the early days of motorsport, engineering ingenuity played a key role.

Over the next 25 – 30 years there are various records of events run between two points by automobile owners, with the first London to Brighton run taking place in 1896; and although these early events were more reliability-based, the aim was to arrive at the destination first.

As these early events were between two points it was difficult to schedule things like Pit Stops so invariably competitors would have a ‘riding mechanic’ who was responsible for fixing the car if broke down, changing wheels, hand pumping oil and fuel – early cars did not have fuel and oil pumps.

The advent of organized circuit racing removed the need for a riding mechanic, as the mechanics could now be based in one location (in the Pits) as the cars would come to circulate the track and come past the same point time after time. In turn, this meant that the cars did not need space for a ‘Riding Mechanic’ meaning the cockpit size could be reduced and led to the advent of the ‘Single Seater’ race car.

In the early days of motor-racing, the procedures were based on horse racing traditions, partly in an attempt to attract a ready-made audience to this new and curious sport. Cars assembled in the ‘paddock’, were ‘shod’ with tyres, weighed by the ‘Clerk of the Scales’ for handicapping, and drivers were even instructed to identify themselves by wearing colored silks in the manner of jockeys.

The Brooklands Circuit was the first purpose-built race circuit in the world and claims to be the first venue to run an organized motor race in 1907. At this stage, motor racing was still a novelty and there were no established rules to follow.

In 1907 the average speed of cars was 65mph; but this was to be short-lived as engineering innovations started to push the development of technology and ultimately increase the speed of cars. By 1913 cars were lapping the circuit at over 100 mph. The advent of World War I in 1914, saw all racing stop at the circuit.

The circuit reopened in1920 and continued to organize race meetings until 1939, including the Junior Car Club’s famous 200 Miles Race, which first began in 1921. It also saw the return of pre-war driver, Malcolm Campbell, who returned to the motorsport scene from Army service as a Captain. There was also a rapid increase in speeds due to experimenting and innovation in car design, and one of these was the introduction of aero-engine cars. A great exponent of this was Count Louis Zborowski, a race driver and automotive engineer who introduced a series of monstrous cars in the early/mid-1920’S, including the legendary Chitty Bang Bangs with aero engines ranging in size from 18,000cc to 23,000cc. These cars took the average speeds above the 140mph, with John Cobb setting the all-time lap record for Brooklands recorded at 143mph.

In August 1926 the RAC organized the first-ever British Grand Prix, constructing sand chicanes along with the Finishing Straight. A second British Grand Prix was held at Brooklands in 1927.

The popularity of Brooklands grew throughout the 1930s, but the last event was held on 7th August 1939 with the outbreak of World War II, when the circuit was requisitioned by the Government and devoted to the production of aircraft. The circuit was never to reopen as there was significant damage caused by both bombing and modifications made to support aircraft production.

In 1931, another purpose-built race circuit was opened; Donington Park was opened. The first few years were mainly club level events. In 1935 the circuit hosted its first Grand Prix which attracted three continental entries; Giuseppe Farina and Gino Revere in Maserati’s and Raymond Sommer in an Alfa Romeo. Home-entered cars included the ERA of Prince 'Bira' of Siam, and the also the Alfa Romeo of the eventual winner - Richard Shuttleworth.

In 1934, the legendary Silver Arrows; Mercedes and Auto Unions from Germany were unveiled to the world, and they instantly dominated the world of motor racing. The levels of innovation, engineering innovation and attention to detail was immense, with the cars producing over 500bhp (the Auto Union has also had a mid-mounted engine). It also saw a big change in the approach to motorsport; up to this point racing had been undertaken by wealthy individuals with small teams of amateur mechanics. The Silver Arrows teams turned up with the cars being transported in official Team Transporters and they were supported by large teams of mechanics and engineers; and this was the start of changes in the sport that was going to take it away from the amateur/gentleman level into the more structured and organized teams that we see today.

The Silver Arrows dominated motor racing between 1934 – 1939 and this period saw what is arguably the most reflective, and interesting period in motor racing history, that was to lead the way for a more innovative, structured and organized approach to motorsport with a more scientific approach to building race cars. The dominance of the Silver Arrows was only broken by the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.

After World War II, Britain had many automobile manufacturers and each of these had Research and Development (R&D) departments whose engineers regularly relied on their motorsport departments to test new ideas on track at weekends before applying these developments to cars. As these many firms began to expand and merge, and the UK found it had a superb resource of R&D based engineers who loved competition and motorsport.

Also, airfields that had been developed for WWII and were no longer in use, were ideal for converting into race circuits; Silverstone, Thruxton, and Snetterton. 1950 saw the start of the F1 Drivers Championship as we know it today. And in 1958 the first award that recognizes the manufacturers is introduced – the International Cup for Constructors; and this became the Formula One Constructors Championship in 1980.

The early ’50s saw Grand Prix cars maintaining the same conventional/traditional layout front engine and rear-wheel drive; somewhat surprising considering the Auto Union had adopted a rear-engine layout back in 1934. It was not until 1957 when John Cooper launched his rear engine F1 car and it starting winning, that the benefits of rear-engine cars was fully realized. By 1960 all Grand Prix cars had rear engines, and that is the layout that they still use today.

Car Of The Week - Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes Benz is a brand that needs no introduction. Mercedes is one of the most popular and successful luxury car brands in the world. The German car giant is world-renowned for manufacturing luxury sedans, saloons, and SUVs. When you buy a luxury car you can be assured of the best luxury, reliability, engineering prowess and overall satisfaction. The Mercedes G-Class or G-Wagon SUV is one of the most iconic products to come from the house of Mercedes. We are going to tell you more about the Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV and what makes it so popular.

Before the 1970s the 4X4 off-road SUV market was dominated by 3 cars. If you were looking to buy a reliable, rugged and super capable 4X4 SUV which had could take you anywhere then your options were – Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser and the American Jeep. Early into the 1970s, Mercedes decided to change this. The Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi a significant shareholder in Mercedes at the time suggested manufacturing a 4-wheel SUV which like the American Jeep, Land Rover Defender which was capable of both civilian and military duties. In 1973, Mercedes came up with the first mock-up of the car…the mock-up was made with wood instead of clay! This was because wood was a better material better suited to the boxy design of the car. Looking at the design it was clear that the G-Class was intended to be a 4X4 SUV that was capable of both civilian and military capabilities. The Mercedes G-Class was jointly developed by Daimler-Benz in Germany and Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Austria. Production of the new car started off in February 1979 in Graz, Austria. The cars were hand-built and had 3 different body types – convertible, 2-door and 4-door. The first-generation G-Class was powered by a 2.3 L petrol 4-cylinder engine producing 90 bhp of max power and a 2.4 L diesel 4-cylinder engine producing 71 bhp of max power. Soon after its launch the Mercedes G-Class soon gained popularity and was on the path the success. During Pope John Paul II's visit to Germany in 1980, Mercedes built him the ‘Popemobile’ based on the Mercedes Benz G-Class.

Initially, Mercedes did not export the G-Class to The USA, over fears the car would not fit the perception of the Mercedes-Benz brand name with American customers. In 1981, G-Wagon saw its first facelift and the upgrades included an automatic gearbox, air conditioning, additional fuel tank, hard top for cabriolet amongst others. Like the Porsche 911, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is one of those cars that has not changed its design ever since it first entered production. Hence, making it instantly stand out. The tall, boxy and overall rugged design of the Mercedes G-Class is very well known across the world making it an iconic SUV with an evergreen design. The first G-Class SUVs began making their way to the American shores in 1993 by way of direct imports. The cars quickly began making a name for themselves and sold well. The robust box frame chassis allow for great departure and approach angles, the great ground clearance ensures the G-Class can dominate any obstacle no matter where. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is amongst the most reliable and bulletproof cars ever made with many of them functioning even after 20 years of active service. A true hallmark of Mercedes-Benz.

The 2001 Mercedes-Benz G-Class was the first of the G family to come equipped with modern systems like ESP, Brake Assist, Traction Control and was introduced in the USA as well. The car came powered with a 2.7 L turbo-diesel engine and a 3.0 L V6 diesel engine. The Mercedes G-Class celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 2004, they dropped a bombshell…the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG powered by a V8 engine producing a mighty 476 bhp of max power output. This made the already super capable off-road SUV, a mountain climbing rocket with a 0-100 km/hr time of 5.5 seconds!

The current generation G-Class after close to 40 years since its introduction remains the same and true to its DNA. Yes, it is a luxury SUV which is super capable, but the beauty of it is the fact that the intent and design of the car has still not changed one bit. The car comes powered with a choice of 2 petrol and 2 diesel engines; the petrol includes an AMG variant. The base petrol engine is powered by a V8 twin-turbo engine producing 416 bhp of max power while the AMG variant produces 577 bhp of max power. The diesel engines are V6 turbos producing 282 bhp and 376 bhp of max power output.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is one of the best SUVs in the world. The ‘Three-Pointed Star’ has firmly made its mark not only the sedans and saloons segment but with the G-Class, they have also made their mark on the SUV segment. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is perfectly suited for the car hall of fame. It is a true icon in every right.