evo India Podcast

Things are looking up says Veejay Nakra, CEO of Mahindra’s Automotive division as he talks about manufacturing re-starting, dealerships opening up and new products that are in the pipeline. We also talk about new engines, EVs, motorsport, Veejay’s 25 year career at Mahindra and much more

Talking about the new normal in the luxury segment of the Indian automotive industry, with the president of the Lexus India. We talk about hybrid powertrains, how Lexus has only petrol engines in its range, expansion of the dealer network from 7 to 11 this year, local production of the ES and NX and the response to it and the synergies of Lexus India with Toyota.

Talking about the state of the Indian automotive industry, re-opening of dealerships, demand pickup, transfer of demand & more with the sales & marketing boss of Maruti Suzuki on the #evoConversations

Talking sport exhaust systems with the most iconic brand in this space, Akrapovič. We’re talking about how a performance exhaust system is developed, crafting exhaust systems out of titanium and now ceramic composites, the race activities, road car exhaust systems, distribution in India, how do you make a great sounding exhaust system and much more!

A 7-seater SUV, facelifted Compass, new sub 4-meter SUV and "two iconic new products" – that's what is in store for Jeep India over the next years. Partha Datta drops hints on the upcoming models and also insists that the Fiat brand is not exiting India (which could hint at the new Fiat 500 electric) coming to India. All this and more in the latest episode of evo Conversations with editor Sirish Chandran. Head over to our website evoindia.com for an analysis of the new model hints Partha has dropped

In the latest episode of #evoConversations Parveen Agarwal shows us around (and fires up!) his collection of sportscars and luxury cars including the only McLaren 570S Coupe in India (that he bought from Bangkok), Lamborghini Aventador S, the Bentley Continental GT, Rolls-Royce Ghost and many more!

How is Tata Motors dealing with the lockdown, the new Click to Drive online buying initiative, santising dealerships post lockdown and new social distancing norms and more in this episode of evo Conversations. We of course speak about the Auto Expo show stoppers, the Sierra concept as well as the HBX concept, the latter which is set to hit Indian roads very soon (though now delayed due to Covid19). Vivek Srivatsa also talks to editor Sirish Chandran about the new Tata cars and SUVs, the BS6 migration, demise of some model lines and the HBX.

The state of the Indian automotive industry and the efforts taken to deal with both the lockdown and the new normal post the lockdown is what Tarun Garg, VP, sales, marketing & after sales at Hyundai India talks about in conversation with editor Sirish Chandran. We also talk about the turbo-petrol engines spreading across the Hyundai India lineup from the Venue to the Creta and now Grand i10 Nios, Aura and the recently updated Verna.

Talking to the founder and chief designer at Motormind on how to setup your own car design studio and the various car styling kits they have developed. Shahid Haq talks about the Hyperion 1 concept that was showcased 4 years ago at the AutoExpo. He tells Ed Sirish Chandran about how the sports car was designed and developed and the ongoing work to get it into production, including sharing - exclusively for the first time out here - pictures of the final production sports car in this episode of #evoconversations with Rowe Motoroil India

Dilip Chhabria, the man who put Indian car design on the map, talks about his journey. Starting with the 1994 Karma based on the Tata Sierra, DC talks about his massive body of work, his design philosophy, the work he has done for global OEMs like the Aston Martin concept, the Renault Twizzy concept, the Mini Clubman concept and much more. He also talks through the customised interiors for the Innova Crysta, Kia Carnival and other MPVs that are now in huge demand along with custom jobs on vanity vans for Bollywood. In this episode of #evoConversations with Rowe Motor Oil India, DC exclusively reveals to Ed Sirish Chandran that the Avanti will return in two years as an electric sports car. Development is currently underway in Switzerland, the price target is Rs 40 lakh and it will be based on the TCA concept.

What's it like to grow up in a storied motorsport family and not go racing? We talk to TV presenter and former cricketer Suhail Chandhok on growing up around cars, ratting out older brother Karun Chandhok when handbrake turns went belly up, the struggles of a family trying to raise sponsorship, forging his own part and much more. A fun conversation on the other side of racing, with his dad Vicky Chandhok chipping in on the eye-watering sums it costs to go racing these days!

How quickly will the Indian auto industry bounce back after the lockdown? What will Mercedes-Benz India's launch schedule look like? Re-jigging of the model launches including GLS, A Class Limousine, GLA et all. Efforts being implemented at the dealerships. All this and more in our conversation with one of the top executives of the Indian automotiove industry, Santosh Iyer In this episode of evoindia Conversations, Santosh talks to ed Sirish Chandran about how car ownership is set to increase, the fate of electric cars, efforts being undertaken at M-B India to deal with the Covid19 pandemic, the massive growth in AMG volumes in India, the best-selling AMG, and most importantly the new e-commerce platform being developed to enable you to buy a Mercedes from home MercFromHome. A veteran of the auto industry, Santosh also has tips for youngsters. "Don't start with an MNC. Try your hand at entrepreneurship and take risks early in life", he says in this episode of evo Conversations with Rowe motor Oil India

India's first F1 racer and the World's Fastest Indian talk about his journey, from the MMRT in Chennai way back in 1992, to being the first Indian to go and race (and win!) in Europe, the struggles, the highs, the regret at not winning Macau F3, making it to Formula 1 with Jordan, testing with Williams F1 (and going faster than Nico Rosberg!), the difficut years with HRT F1, racing the Indian Grand Prix, Le Mans series, wheel-to-wheel racing in American in the Indy series, and his subsequent move to Japan where he continues to win, taking victory at the last DTM x Super GT Super Race narain Karthikeyan 's story is inspirational and he laid the path that every other Indian racer has followed. And he continues to win races, continues to set lap records, continues to stay race fit and at the top of his game.

Shana Parmeshwar takes us through her automotive journey starting with a hot Rover in the UK, a Tata Safari in India and then dives into her passion for Porsche, the GT4 that she then upgraded to the GT3 RS, the Unity Car project, taking part in the Cannonball rally in Europe, trackdays in India, the 4x4s in her garage including an old Discovery, Land Cruiser, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Pajero, et all. We also talk about her dream cars, the Mitsubihi Evo 6.5, Audi RS6 Avant and more!

The Bren Garage is the most exotic, desirable and drool-worthy collection of supercars and sportscars in India and we get an exclusive walk around the ten collectors' specials that make up the Bren10 👉 Ferrari 458 Speciale 👉 Porsche Cayman GT4 👉 Porsche 911R The above three are the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Official evo magazine Car of the year ecoty all in one garage and right here in India 😲 👉 Aston Martin DBS Coupe 👉Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 👉 Porsche GT2 RS 👉 Ferrari 488 Pista 👉 TechArt GT Street R based on the 911 Turbo S 👉 Lamborghini Huracan brenacan 👉 Mercedes AMG GT R We also check out his Ducati, the Yamaha RX100 that he rode in college and he talks to ed Sirish Chandran about his epic love affair for cars.

Pratap Bose, VP design at Tata Motors talks about the career options in an automotive design studio even if you aren't a car designer. In this episode of #evoConversations with Pratap Bose talks to Ed Sirish Chandran about: 1. Studio Engineering 2. Design Project Management 3. Clay Modelling 4. CAS Modelling 5. Design Visualisation 6. Colour & Material Design 7. Design Perceived Quality 8. Colour Production Design A must watch for anybody interested in car design, even if you aren't a designer!

Joel Joseph is the man behind the fastest drag car, fastest ITC race car and some of the fastest tuned street cars in the country. Ed Sirish Chandran caught up with the founder of Race Concepts to talk: 👉 How he built the all-conquering turbo-charged Honda City VTEC for the ITC races 👉 Building the 400bhp (at the wheel!) turbo-City for the street 👉 The 180bhp Zen modification, and what all can be done to the Maruti Suzuki Zen (Esteem engine is best, he says) plus the costs 👉 Working on a turbo for the KTM390Duke 👉 Turbo-charged Accord for the drag races 👉 Souping up a Tempo Traveller! 👉 Restoring old cars like the VW Beetle and E30 3 Series 👉 Plans for the R2-spec Cedia for rally 👉 Brake, suspension and body upgrades to handle increased power 👉 And much more A must watch for car and bike enthusiasts, just to learn what all can be done to your road car to make it faster, safer and much more fun!

"Watch this space" says Toyota India's senior VP for sales and aftersales when Ed Sirish Chandran asks him about the possibility of the Supra launching in India. Naveen also highlights why India should focus on hybrid power trains and revert to the pre-GST tax structure, talks about the demise of the Etios, Liva and Corolla Altis, hints at a new variant of the Yaris to give Etios customers an upgrade, the progress of the Suzuki-Toyota partnership and much more. After the lockdown was extended by another 17 days and that can only mean more stress for car dealers but Naveen says they've made every effort to ensure that "Covid is not a bad word for our dealers". He details the efforts made by Toyota on this front.

The man in the driver's seat at MG Motor India talks to us about product plans including: 👉 Gloster that is coming to India around Diwali and hinting at pricing anwhere between Rs 40 to 80 lakh 👉 G10 MPV that is plannned for next year 👉 Hector Plus which is coming soon 👉 Delays due to Covid19 that will delay launches by 4-6 weeks 👉 Compact sub-4 meter cars planned for next 2-3 years 👉 Enormous reception to the ZS EV 👉 Plans to bring a small, compact sportscar to connect with MG's heritage 👉 Address the China issue ("leaving politics to the politicians") 👉 And much more! Products, the business, support to dealers ("we want to be their friend in tough times") and much more in this InstaLive with editor Sirish Chandran

One of the prime movers and shakers of Indian motorsport, Sanjay Sharma talks to Ed Sirish Chandran on 👉 Who he considers to be India's greatest racing driver (Narain Karthikeyan) & why 👉 His greatest rally driver (Hari Singh) 👉 The genius talent that is Gaurav Gill 👉 The MRF vs JK rivalry ("Yellow lightning strikes red thunder", a tag line he's most proud of) 👉 Why the FMSCI does not have any young blood on the council (the fault of the member clubs) 👉 What will happen to Indian motorsport after the Covid19 situation ("big names like MRF, VW, Mahindra and JK will continue, others will not") 👉 How he got his break in motorsport 👉 The origin of the mantra, Win or Loose, We Booze 👉 Bring Formula 3 F3 cars to India 👉 Continuing and expanding the Suzuki2wheeler Gixxer Cup with 250s this year 👉 Supporting the X1 racing league 👉 And much more

Did you know that one Urus is delivered every week in India? That 5 Aventdaor SVJ have been delivered in India, including an SVJ 63 and more are on the way? That the Urus, rather than eating into sportscars has actually grown sales of the Huracan & Aventador? That India is a strategic market for Lamborghini and that's why the Urus, Huracan Evo and Huracan Evo RWD were launched in India immediately after their global unveil? That the south in general and Bengaluru in particular is the largest market for Lamborghini in India? And that the average age of their customer is between 25-45? All this and more in this latest edition of #evoConversations with the head of Lamborghini in India, Sharad Agarwal, in the InstaLive with ed Sirish Chandran

When will the GLS come to India? Launch plans for A-Class Limousine & GLA showcased at Auto Expo 2020? Response to the just-launched GLE, growth of the AMG business in India (50% growth despite the slowdown last year), A35 AMG, and much more in this chat with Mercedes-Benz India boss Martin Schwenk. Speaking to Sirish Chandran, Martin Schwenk also talks about how they're dealing with the new challenges, working from home and his 3-car dream MercedesBenz garage 👉 GLS, C-Class Cabriolet & GT R.

Skoda India's director for sales, marketing and after sales, Zac Hollis, talks to editor Sirish Chandran about the ed's favourite car 👉 the OctyRS. Zac confirms that only 3 cars of the RS 245 are available, all in blue, so hurry if you're keen on owning one of the nicest FWD enthusiast cars out there 👉 Zac also answers viewers questions about upcoming cars: the Karoq, the Kamiq, the VisionIN SUV (next year), the next gen Octavia (and the iv RS), the Rapid TSI with the 1.0 turbo-petrol engine (6-speed auto to come later in the year), support extended to dealers to sustain their business during lockdown, service improvements and much more 👉 A candid and revealing interview on the Skoda India game plan

Will Volkswagen India bring an electric SUV to India? What are the plans for the Taigun mid-size SUV? What are the confidence levels for the India 2.0 project? The motorsport plans for India? How is the brand re-shaping itself for 🇮🇳 and much more! Ed Sirish Chandran caught up with Steffen Knapp, director of VW passenger cars India to talk upcoming cars, SUVs, even the Golf and importantly what VW are doing on the Covid19 situation in terms of making medial equipment, providing aid & even supporting dealers and partners. All this and more (safety, new TSI engines, design etc) in this Podcast

Tata Motors VP of design, Pratap Bose talks to ed Sirish Chandran on the life of an automotive designer in these days of the lockdown and how he is managing the Tata Motors design team of 180 people spread across the UK, Italy and India. In the latest #evoConversations he talks 👉 Tata Motors' Auto Expo stars including the Sierra EV concept, HBX concept, Winger, Prima and more 👉 WFH and managing a team spanning three locations and 180 members 👉 Careers in automotive design, design colleges, how to prepare your portfolio and more 👉 His design inspirations - people, brands and even architecture 👉 Engaging kids and young designers during the Covid-19 crisis 👉 And much more! A must watch conversation with one of India's best know and most inspiring automotive designers.

Jatin Ahuja set up Big Boy Toyz from scratch and today they are India's largest seller of pre-owned luxury, sports and exotic cars. He talks to Ed, Sirish Chandran on the (used) exotic market, the prices for used Bentleys vs Rolls-Royce, how much he sold a Ferrari F12 for, the most affordable 911, and even bikes! Listen to him talk about: 👉 His entrepreneurial journey 👉 Business goals 👉 Big Boy Toyz expansion 👉 Affordable exotics 👉 Connection with music industry 👉 Bulk car deals 👉 Big Boys Toyz bike section 👉 Service and warranty for exotics cars 👉 Customer relations . This is a must listen conversation for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit, and expecially if you dream of owning an exotic one day

Coronavirus & the auto industry + Geneva highlights | Thrill of Driving Podcast #xx | evo India In this episode of the Thrill of Driving podcast, we talk about how coronavirus or COVID-19 is disrupting the Indian automotive industry. Everything from supply chains to demand has been affected and it has hit the industry hard, especially since this comes at a time when the switch from BS4 to BS6 is taking place. Events are getting cancelled too — Formula 1 and MotoGP — are prefect examples and even the Geneva Motor show was called off. In this podcast we also take you through the cars that would have been showcased at Geneva, but weren’t.

In this episode of the Thrill of Driving podcast, we discuss the all-new Toyota Vellfire, it's rivals including the Kia Carnival and the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. We discuss the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Jehan Daruvala's recent appointment at the Redbull Junior Team and other happenings in the automotive and motorsport community.

In this special podcast, we talk to Sirish Vissa about Volkswagen Motorsport India and the journey it has had over the last 10 years. Starting out with the Polo Cup, it graduated to the Vento Cup, then the Ameo Cup with locally built cars and now this year, the Polo Cup will return. Sirish talks about the challenges his team face, as well as challenges to motorsport in India. He also talks about his journey as a race engineer and how he ended up managing the race outfit. If you're in to motorsport, you must listen to Sirish's opinions as they will entertain and educate. Enjoy the podcast!

Triumph and #Bajaj have signed off a deal that opens up a vast array of scope for both brands, given their unique and distinct identities. A range of Triumph motorcycles from 200cc to 750cc will be a result of this #alliance and in a couple of years we're going to a see a Triumph priced below Rs 2 lakh! 'Bossman' Adil Jal Darukhanawala and ed Sirish Chandran give the best perspective on this deal. What led to it? How does it affect both brands? What's the potential impact on the markets? All possible questions answered by two of the most experienced automotive journalists. Also, some of the wittiest quotes from Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto are recalled in this podcast!

It has been an action packed week with the grueling 12-day #Dakar2020 concluding with 57-year-old Carlos Sainz and Californian Ricky Brabec taking top honours. We also tell you all you need to know about upcoming bike tests and exciting new cars we drove this week. Apart from some additional tech talk, Abhishek has also spotted something funky. What could it be? . In the podcast: Abhishek Wairagade (@abhibee) Hari Kudchadkar (@the_shubs)

Not much has happened lately and the holiday season is still spilling over at #evoIndia & Fast Bikes India. But that does not mean we haven’t ridden/driven enough. In fact, Aatish and Abhishek have been spending a lot of quality time with their own motorcycles — KTM 390 Duke, Hero Xpulse 200 and Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled. The baldies talk about how it is to own a KTM or a Ducati, while the GTO Publishing team goes for a ‘team-building’ exercise in the form of #gokarting! Subscribe to #evoIndia magazine: https://gtopublishing.com/evoindia/ Want more #ThrillOfDriving videos? Subscribe to the #evoIndia channel: https://bit.ly/2VfzioP Read our stories here: https://evoindia.com/ Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evoindia/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/evoindia Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evoindia/ Official merchandise on 100kmph: http://www.100kmph.com/evoindia

Welcome to the first #ThrillofDriving podcast of 2020. We kickstart #NewYear2020 by shedding light on the 2020 #DakarRally that begins today in Saudi Arabia. Which Indian teams are participating? What are the last minute changes the teams are making? Our magazines are out too! The cover of the evo India January issue features the best lot of drivers cars tested on road and track in the #eCOTY test (evo Car of the year). Also keep your ears peeled for the upcoming first drives for the year 2020 - #TataNexonEV and #KiaCarnival Our sister magazine Fast Bikes India turns three! Abhishek talks us through the third Anniversary Special issue of the FBI supplemented by some excitement and nostalgia evoking memories. What’s inside the Motorsport India magazine this month? We've put together some of the top motorsport events in India with Formula One's most decorated British racer - Lewis Hamilton, featuring in the cover story.

It has been an eventful year for team #evoIndia and we've bundled up tonnes of memories from 2019 before we head into #NewYear2020. In the last #podcast of this year, we reignite talks on some of the best shoots we've done in 2019 and also discuss the happenings from the auto industry which is going through a major overhaul. BS6 norms kick in four months from now, and that's why carmakers are changing their portfolios by slowly phasing out BS4 vehicles. The shift to EVs too is fast approaching and we've gotten our hands on some interesting #electric #cars and #bikes this year. That's it from team evo India for 2019 and wish you all a better, safer and a more joyous driving and riding future!

In this episode of the Thrill of Driving Podcast, we breakdown everything you need to know about the Audi Q8. Audi's flagship SUV is headed to India next year and we have gotten our hands on it in Dubai. The second car we talk about in this podcast is the Hyundai Aura. A compact sedan that will be sold alongside the Xcent, the Aura bring to the table more features, flashier styling and a new turbo petrol engine that we are quite excited about. Enjoy the podcast and let us know what you want to hear in the last podcast of the year, coming up next week!

For this week's Thrill of Driving podcast, editor Sirish Chandran sits down with Harley-Davidson's senior designer Chetaan Shedjale, the man who styled the Harley-Davidson Street 750, Street Rod and most recently the Bronx. Based at H-D's headquarters in Milwaukee, Chetaan is one of the very few Indian designers working with a global manufacturer and he talks about his journey starting with a degree in architecture in India, advanced studies in Italy, being taken under Massimo Tamburini's wings at CRC design and then moving to the USA to work with Harley-Davidson. Chetaan gives his insights into the world of 2-wheeler design, talks about his icons, his inspirations and also offers tips on how to get into automobile design. A must watch for any student of design and all petrol heads

We talk to #PratapBose, the man helming Tata Motors' design teams about everything to do with car design. Right from what sort of education a budding young designer needs, to how Tata's design has evolved over the years and even the designers he finds most inspirational - this podcast has it all. We met him at the recent #TataAltroz drive and Pratap was his cheerful, candid self as usual. What do you think of the 2019 Toyota Yaris? Do let us know in the comments below! Want more #ThrillOfDriving videos? Subscribe to the #evoIndia channel: https://bit.ly/2VfzioP Read our stories here: https://evoindia.com/ Buy #EvoIndiamagazine here: https://www.gtopublishing.com/evoindia Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evoindia/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/evoindia Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evoindia/ Official merchandise on 100kmph: http://www.100kmph.com/evoindia

In this episode of the #ThrillofDrivingPodcast, we talk about the upcoming #TataAltroz and what it means for Tata Motors. The invite came in the mail that very morning! The Ed then weighs in with what he thinks of the #TeslaCybertruck, along with his views of the Aston Martin DBX and the SUVs he saw at the LA Motor Show last week as well as the new Honda City. Want more #ThrillOfDriving videos? Subscribe to the #evoIndia channel: https://bit.ly/2VfzioP

In this week's #podcast, we talk about getting astride the new #UltravioletteF77, a proper performance oriented #electricmotorcycle. We also break down the latest from the #LAMotorShow including the crazy new #TeslaCybertruck, the #AstonMartinDBX and the new #MercedesMaybachGLS600. That's not all, Triumph will be launching a new #motorcycleinIndia on the eve of #IndiaBike Week and we reveal what it is!

In this week’s Thrill of Driving podcast, we get Abhishek back in the studio thanks to popular demand. The team talks about everything they have been up to in the last week, starting with the launch of the Ultraviolette F77 electric motorcycle. Cool name, looks cool as well but how much potential does it actually have? We also get our hands on the all-new Audi A6, the first all-new product from Audi India in a while. Does it have the potential to replicate the success of the previous gen car? Jawa has launched a new motorcycle, the Perak. Styled like a Bobber, this is a radical design from Jawa, though the name is a familiar one. We also talk about CS Santosh’s latest initiative: the Ace of Dirt. Basically an enduro race the likes of which we have never seen before in India, handpicked riders were put through some gruelling trails to see who can come out on top. This is CS’s way of giving back to the community, he says, by prepping riders for the challenges they could find in international rallies.

This week's Thrill of Driving podcast is all about motorcycles with our in-house motorcycle specialist, Abhishek Wairagade joining Sirish and Aatish in the studio. From his experience riding the 790 Duke and the Street Triple RS (reviews in November 2019 issue), his take on the much-awaited 390 Adventure and 250 Adventure to the hottest motorcycles at EICMA 2019, there's a lot Abhishek has to say...literally right down to the suspension travel and bore and stroke of motorcycles. Then there's some insider news on the upcoming Tiger 800, so make sure that you don't miss it!

What an afternoon we had in company of Adil Jal Darukhanawala, a pioneer in Indian automotive journalism scene, award winning author and the Editor-in-Chief at Fast Bikes India magazine. Known fondly as 'Bossman', Adil narrates how the auto industry evolved ever since its existence in India and how automotive magazines started gaining momentum in early nineties. He has been the founding editor of a number of magazines like Car and Bike International, Overdrive, Car India and Bike India among others. He has also written a number of books including Classics and Thoroughbreds, Zigwheels Autotech, Winning, Jawa: The Forever Bike and Volkswagen at 10. He gives his insight regarding the future of mobility before ending with an important tip for budding automotive journalists! Enjoy the podcast.

We talk to Roland Bouchara about the PSA Group and Citroen’s plans in India, right from their first car, the C5 Aircross to the entirely new platform being created for India. The podcast also dives deep in to the connection with Tata Consultancy Services, and attempts to shed light on what they bring to the table. The conversation takes place in the Citroen hospitality lounge, at the Spain round of the WRC and Roland also talks about Citroen’s rally and motorsport heritage.

Over the last week, we have ridden and driven some epic machines. First up is the KTM 790 Duke, the latest and greatest motorcycle from the Austrian motorcycle maker in India. We've also driven the Porsche Cayenne Coupe in the south of France. The Turbo variant, with close to 550bhp is absolutely mental and looks great too. We also talk about what's happening in the industry: explaining the Ford and Mahindra JV as well as the fusing of Skoda and Volkswagen in to one entity.

The anniversary issue is not only about the Thrill of Driving but riding too! Featuring the exotic sports tourer from Varese, Italy and a muscle bike from the land of gas-guzzling V8s. We talk about what makes the Turismo Veloce and FTR 1200 so special.

Leading up to the sixth anniversary issue of evo India, we have gotten our hands on some very special cars. First, the Ferrari F8 Tributo, the latest and greatest mid-engined V8 Ferraris. We were flown in to Maranello and got the ultimate Ferrari experience: driving the car at Fiorano, and then the hills around the factory and even donning overalls to build the V8 that sits in it. The second car we got our hands on was the 992-generation of the Porsche 911. The 911 is the quintessential sports car, constantly pushing the boundaries of what we think is possible to keep a car dialled in. This one is no different. In this podcast, we talk about these two special stories that headline the sixth anniversary issue.

A plethora of electrified machinery was on display at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. A big piece of the cake belonged to the giants from Germany, namely the Volkswagen Group, BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Ed Sirish Chandran was at the show and he gives us a recap of what the future would look like not only in terms of electric powertrains but also the new design directions most brands are adapting to. Enjoy the podcast!

For the first time ever, the boss of Mercedes-Benz India is featured in a podcast. Ed Sirish Chandran visits the Mercedes-Benz India facility in Chakan, just outside of Pune for a podcast with Martin Schwenk. The marque sells the highest number of luxury vehicles in India and Martin gives us a detailed perspective on the German brand's focus and positioning in our country. Also, amidst the slowdown of automotive industry, the sale of Mercedes-AMG performance cars has actually grown! Moreover, a new version of a Mercedes-Benz SUV is headed to our shores. Watch the podcast to find out which one!

In the 12th episode of the #ThrillofDriving podcast, Karun Chandhok, F1 commentator and ex F1 driver takes us through his journey to the world's premier racing championship. From Madras, a city of 11 million, to Bradley in the United Kingdom, a town of just 11,000 people, Karun's journey was full of highs and lows. At an age where youngsters partied and lived the hipster life, Karun negotiated sponsorship deals worth millions, trained hard to stay fit and did everything to clock the fastest time around the track. Enjoy the podcast.

In this special edition of the #ThrillofDriving podcast we have Steffen Knapp, director of Volkswagen passenger cars in India and Adil Jal Darukhanawala, editor, Fast Bikes India magazine, along with ed Sirish Chandran. The trio head to Nashik together to celebrate 10 years of the Polo in India. Which new Volkswagen cars will come to India? How do demographics affect sales? What is the German marque's future strategy for India? Steffen gives us a detailed insight into all of this along with some fun experiences he's had in his favourite cars. Enjoy the podcast!

Rahil Ansari is the charismatic head of Audi India, one that is a breakaway from the stereotype corporate head honcho. Suave, stylish and with a hint of a German accent in his voice, he took over as head of the brand nearly three years ago and is currently on his last month in India. We caught up with him for a quick chat before he leaves the country to take on a larger global role within Audi. In this podcast, we talk about Rahil's journey so far: his roots, his love for Audi and how he ended up as head of Audi India so young. Rahil gives insight in to the industry, why it is struggling and how his time at Audi India has been tough but the the fruits of his labour should show soon. Upcoming launches? He does share a few nuggets of information. But it's not all work, Rahil tells us what he likes to do in his downtime and makes very clear his love for Bollywood music.

In this week's Thrill of Driving podcast, we talk about one of the most awaited launches of the year - Kia Seltos. The Seltos is important for Kia as it marks the brand's entry in India. Of course, we all know that it's based on the Creta but there's a lot more than meets the eye. We have answered all your questions in this week's podcast. But that's not all; Maruti Suzuki has teased the Ertiga XL6. A 6-seater variant of the popular Ertiga with captain seats for all. It seems larger than the Ertiga but not so much as the Mahindra Marazzo. Want to know more? Check out the full podcast. We hope you enjoy it!

In this week's Thrill of Driving podcast we cover two very interesting topics. The Indian automotive industry is facing its worst ever slowdown in two decades. Why is it happening? What measures should the government take to tackle this? Ed gives his opinion and we hope that the industry recovers soon. Moving on, ed drove one hell of a good looking car in Japan this week. The Lexus LC 500h is one of the most striking luxury coupes out there. How has the Japenese marque managed to create a design like this is something that needs telling. It also sports a very complicated 10-speed gearbox which uses a CVT and a torque convertor in conjunction. How does this exactly work? Is the car coming to India? We have it all answered for you in the podcast.

In this episode of The Thrill of Driving Podcast, we talk to you about the Lamborghini Huracan Evo, a car that we very recently drove at the MMRT in Chennai. Was it too fast for the track? How is it compared to the Huracan Performante? What's it like chasing an Urus around the racetrack? Sirish gives us all the insight from his drive there. We also talk about two very big launches that happened last week: the BMW X7 and the BMW 7 Series. Both cars are flagships from BMW and they significantly up the game in their respective segments. Also on this podcast is everything you can expect to see in the August issue of evo India, which will be on stands this week. We took a Ferrari 488 Pista to the Rann of Kutch, compared the MG Hector to its closes rivals and have driven a lot of electric cars. Make sure you pick your copy up soon!

Honda got their first F1 victory in over a decade as Max Verstappen won the Austrian GP last week. This makes us take a look at Honda's history in developing iconic engines that provided the maximum #thrillofdriving. The City VTEC was absolutely a hoot to drive around but nowadays the Japanese car maker's focus in India isn't really on making enthusiast friendly cars. Should this change? Find out in the latest episode of the #thrillofdriving podcast.

In this episode of the Thrill of Driving, we discuss everything from the aggressive pricing of the MG Hector to the viability of electric vehicles in India. The Hector comes in at a great price and offers for the money it is asking. However, does this mean it could get the reputation of being a cheap, Chinese product? For the cover story of the July issue of evo India, Sirish went to Kerala to drive two of the most exotic supercars in the world: the Lamborghini Huracan Performante and Porsche 911 GT3. As the Indian National Rally Championship kicks off, we look at Gaurav Gill's new rally car: the Super XUV300. And finally, we talk about EVs. The first uncompromising EVs are making their way to India later this year and we talk about how viable they are for our market.

How do you become an automotive journalist? Passion, the ability to write and a good attitude. In this special podcast, Sirish Chandran, the editor of evo India talks to us about what it takes to be an automotive journalist and how to ensure you grow in the industry.