BMW M Drift Academy To Be Held In Mumbai
- By MT Bureau
- April 14, 2025
German luxury automotive brand BMW Group India has launched the BMW M Drift Academy, an exclusive performance training platform that brings the thrill of drifting to India like never before.
The two-day event will take place at Raymonds Compound in Thane West, Maharashtra on 26 April 2025.
The BMW M Drift Academy will allow enthusiasts to experience vehicle drifting in a safe environment. The event will feature the BMW M2 and BMW M4 with the course having a mix of theory and hands-on track time. Experienced BMW certified instructors will familiarise participants with the features of BMW M cars and train them on various aspects of the vehicles like controlling a drift, throttle control, maintaining a drift, exiting a drift, half circle drift, exiting a half circle drift with style, full circle drift, maintaining a full circle drift (clockwise and anticlockwise) and transition drifting on a figure 8.
Vikram Pawah, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, “The BMW M Drift Academy is first-of-its-kind experience for car enthusiasts in India. Designed to unlock pure driving exhilaration, the academy offers an unforgettable journey packed with mastering various drifting techniques with utmost safety. Conducted under the watchful eyes of BMW certified instructors, each session promises edge-of-the-seat excitement and skill enhancement behind the wheel of BMW M cars. It’s a perfect place where adrenaline meets precision, and every drift is a symphony of skill, speed and sound.”
- 110th birthday
- Ferruccio Lamborghini Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI
- Italian automobile designer
- industrialist
- Lamborghini Trattori
- Automobili Lamborghini
- Italy
- Miura
- Countach
Remembering Ferruccio Lamborghini
- By Bhushan Mhapralkar
- May 13, 2026
The 110th birthday of Ferruccio Lamborghini Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI, the famous Italian automobile designer and industrialist who created Lamborghini Trattori in 1948 and Automobili Lamborghini in 1963 was on 28 April 2026. The force behind the conceptualisation, design and development of some of the most iconic supercar models ever to come out of Italy, such as the Miura and Countach, Lamborghini was driven by an unceasing desire to improve and innovate.
Born in Renazzo, a hamlet in the municipality of Cento (province of Ferrara), on 28 April 1916, Lamborghini – the eldest son of farmers Antonio and Evelina Lamborghini – was attracted to mechanics than to the land that his father harvested. At the very young age, he spent his afternoons in the farmstead workshop.
Managing to get hired by the best mechanical workshop in Bologna, where he discovered the secrets of mechanics, Lamborghini was drafted and assigned to the 50th Mixed Maneuver Motor Fleet stationed in Rhodes at the outbreak of World War II.
He successfully repaired (and broke) vehicles belonging to the Italians, German and British. Founding his first company in Rhodes, a small mechanical repair shop, Lamborghini returned to Italy in 1946 and, taking advantage of incentives put in place to support the economic recovery, opened a machine shop in Cento to repair motor vehicles and build small utility vehicles.
Observing the crisis suffered by local agriculture, he built inexpensive agricultural tractors within reach of small landowners, using the components of old military vehicles. The first was made from a Morris truck where he applied a fuel vaporiser of his own invention. He sold some eleven such machines, establishing himself as an entrepreneur.
Counted among the most important industrialists in Italy by 1963, Lamborghini decided to build the best grand touring cars in the world. An incident often told is that he complained to Enzo Ferrari about a broken clutch in his personal Ferrari. Ferrari reportedly told him: “Stick to making tractors and leave the sports cars to me.”
Determined to build a better car than his Ferrari 250GT, Lamborghini hired top talent, including former Ferrari engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, to design a new V12 engine, and Gian Paolo Dallara as technical director. The first prototype – the 350 GTV – was built in Sant’Agata Bolognese and shown at the 1963 Turin Motor Show.
The refined production version – the 350 GT – debuted at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show. The Muira, launched in 1966, redefined the supercar segment like no other, establishing firmly Lamborghini and his car venture into the domain that Ferrari ruled.
The emblem found on the bonnet of the Muira was a result of an exercise where Lamborghini contacted a well-known local graphic designer, Paolo Rambaldi, who asked him what personal characteristics he felt he possessed. “I’m tamugno (which translated from dialect means hard, strong, stubborn) like a bull,” was the reply. An emblem was born thus with a raging bull in it, popularly referred to as the world-famous logo of Automobili Lamborghini.
Retaining his spirit after he left this world on 20 February 1993, Automobili Lamborghini continues to make among the best and most desirable supercars today. They are made with his conviction that the best can still be improved and new avenues can be explored.
Tata Motors Launches Altroz iCNG At INR 869,000, Touted India's First CNG AMT Hatchback
- By MT Bureau
- May 12, 2026
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) has announced the launch of the Altroz iCNG AMT, making it the first premium hatchback in India to pair an automated manual transmission (AMT) with a CNG powertrain at prices starting INR 869,000 (ex-showoom Delhi).
The Altroz iCNG continues to feature Tata's patented twin-cylinder technology, which places the CNG tanks under the luggage area to ensure uncompromised boot space – a traditional pain point for CNG vehicle owners.
The introduction of the AMT variant follows a significant surge in CNG adoption in India. According to Tata Motors, CNG penetration in the passenger vehicle market grew from 19 percent in FY2025 to 22 percent in FY2026.
The company is positioning the Altroz as the most versatile vehicle in its segment, offering petrol, diesel, electric (EV) and now both manual and automatic CNG options.
Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., said, “The Altroz has consistently set benchmarks in the premium hatchback segment through its strong focus on design, safety and powertrain choice. CNG is the fastest growing fuel choice in the country, with 19 percent penetration in FY2025 and 22 percent in FY2026 and this growth is no longer limited to traditional markets, with new regions contributing significantly to adoption. With the introduction of AMT in the iCNG line-up, we are addressing a clear and growing customer need for greater convenience in CNG vehicles. This addition makes Altroz the most versatile and premium offering in its segment delivering the right balance of efficiency, ease of driving and everyday practicality, without compromising on space or safety."
The Altroz iCNG with dual cylinders has a total capacity of 60 litres located below the load floor. It features a micro-switch to keep the car switched off during refuelling and advanced materials in the iCNG kit to prevent leaks. The Altroz iCNG can be started directly in CNG mode, eliminating the need to switch from petrol.
The 5-speed AMT is tuned specifically to manage the torque delivery of the CNG engine for smooth low-speed crawling in traffic.
JSW MG Motor India Partners Golchha To Strengthen Presence In Nepal
- By MT Bureau
- May 12, 2026
JSW MG Motor India, one of India’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has strengthened its presence in Nepal through a strategic distribution partnership with the Golchha Organisation.
As part of the partnership, the automaker has inaugurated a new MG dealership that will showcase its key products such as MG Hector, MG Windsor and MG Comet for the Nepal market.
With evolving customer expectations and needs, JSW MG Motor India sees Nepal as an important market.
Akash Golchha, Dealer Principal, Nepal, said, “We are delighted to partner with JSW MG Motor India and introduce MG’s globally recognised range of vehicles to customers in Nepal. This dealership is designed to offer a comprehensive and elevated customer experience, backed by modern infrastructure and a strong focus on service excellence. We believe MG’s portfolio, with its blend of technology, design, and sustainability, is well aligned with the aspirations of customers in Nepal, and we look forward to building a strong and enduring presence for the brand in the market.”
Toyota Motor Corporation To Build New Plant In Aurangabad, Production To Begin In H1 2029
- By MT Bureau
- May 11, 2026
Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announces plans to build a new Toyota Kirloskar Motor plant in the Bidkin Industrial Area, Aurangabad, in Maharashtra.
The plant will have a production capacity of 100,000 units per year and will employ approximately 2,800 people. It is set to produce Toyota Motor Corporation’s new SUV with the facility capable of stamping, welding, painting and assembly processes.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s new plant is planned to start production in the first half of 2029 and is aimed at strengthening Toyota's business foundation in the Indian market with production plans for both domestic and export markets.
At present, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has a manufacturing facility in Bidadi, Karnataka, where it has a capacity to produce around 320,000 units per annum.
Toyota Motor Corporation states it will continue strengthening its production structure to enable a flexible response to future demand growth and market changes in India and surrounding regions, and to deliver products in a timely manner that customers choose.

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