Bridging luxury automotive and architectural worlds, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has joined hands with Kengo Kuma to create first-of-its-kind Rolls Royce Dawn.

Commissioned by global luxury property developer Westbank for the unique Japanese residence, The Kita Tea House, the Rolls-Royce Dawn will serve as a moving representation of the residence.

The Kita challenges the relationship between the exterior and the interior, a characteristic of Kuma’s architecture. The open-top Dawn was selected to reflect the same on the car, showcasing a peaceful and cocooning private space where you are conversely never disconnected from the outside world.

Rolls-Royce Bespoke worked in consultation with Kuma and Westbank to ensure the use of materials, colour palette, texture and ambience reflect the design of ‘The Kita’ and offers resident a seamless aesthetic and atmospheric transition from property to conveyance. The Dawn’s styling features a sense of precision in the clean lines, creating clarity of structure with a prevailing sense of calm, revealing the design depth softly and subtly.

The exterior of the Dawn is finished in Silver Haze, which reveals a bronze sheen when illuminated by the sun mimicking the bronze Koshi screen louvres on the surface of the building and the bronze detailing of the interior. The exterior also features a black coach line and a silver hood.

On the inside, the natural open-pore Royal Walnut panelling on the rear deck brings an intimate feeling of warmth, a nod to the rich Walnut panelling of the towering penthouse entrance lobby. The interiors feature the Selby Grey leather interior highlighted by Arctic White and Black accents, with Slate Grey seatbelts. First of its kind gradated front fascia runs the entire width of the interior, transitioning from Piano Selby Grey to Piano Black, a representation of the blended and fluid nature of the building’s luscious and innovative materials.

Other bespoke touches include a stainless steel inlay of ‘The Kita’s’ logo into the front facia,  embroidery to the front headrests and the waterfall between the rear seats and a specially designed Bespoke clock and Bespoke umbrellas colour matched to the interior.

Gavin Hartley, Head of Bespoke Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “It was an honour to collaborate with Kengo Kuma to create a serene and timeless motor car for a serene and timeless building. From the inception of the marque over 100 years ago, Rolls-Royce has transcended the automotive field, taking the tangible entity of a car and delivering its patrons the intangible: a truly unique experience. As this project demonstrates, through the authentic application of unique designs and materials, we can provide rare sensory experiences that reflect and enhance our owners’ multi-faceted lifestyles.”

Kengo Kuma shared, “This is the first time I have consulted on a project of this kind, and I am proud that I was able to do so for Rolls-Royce, a company with which I share a respect for traditional craftsmanship and a desire to bring out the best in natural materials. Rolls-Royce has brought the essence of ‘The Kita’ into the car’s aesthetic, allowing the owner of ‘The Kita Tea House’ to take in their surrounding city environment. It is a great honour to see the car finally here at home in Tokyo.” (MT)

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AU Small Finance Bank has partnered with Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, to introduce 'Suhana Safar', a scheme that links Recurring Deposits (RD) to auto loans. The initiative is aimed at first-time car buyers and applies to the Alto K10, S-Presso, Celerio and WagonR models.

Under the programme, customers open an RD account with AU Small Finance Bank and deposit a monthly amount equivalent to the future car EMI for 3 to 6 months. Upon maturity, the accumulated funds, which have earned interest, are used as the down payment for the vehicle, after which the bank provides the auto loan.

The scheme allows customers to save and earn interest while demonstrating repayment capacity before committing to a loan. The bank also uses this process to evaluate creditworthiness.

AU Small Finance Bank offers RD interest rates of 4.75 percent to 7.40 percent per annum for the general public, and 5.25 percent to 7.90 percent per annum for senior citizens.

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Czech automaker Skoda Auto India has introduced the new Kodiaq RS, the first SUV to carry the performance-focused RS badge in the Indian market at INR 6.69 million (ex-showroom).

The company limited the initial release to 50 units, which were sold out within six minutes of launch. This release aligns with the 50th anniversary of the RS badge and the 125th year of the brand’s motorsport history.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “The RS badge represents an iconic performance legacy. Bringing it to our flagship 4x4, all-terrain, 7-seater SUV combines luxury, capability and motorsport DNA in one offering. The overwhelming response, with all units sold out in minutes, reflects the strong enthusiasm among customers.”

The Kodiaq RS features a 2.0-litre TSI engine producing 195 kW (265 PS) and 400 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed DSG transmission and all-wheel drive. The vehicle accelerates from zero to 100 kmph in 6.3 seconds, with a top speed of 231 kmph.

The vehicle is equipped with progressive steering and the latest-generation Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) Plus, which allows drivers to adjust damping characteristics. The Driving Mode Select offers multiple settings, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, Individual, Snow and a dedicated Off-Road mode.

The exterior includes black accents on the grille frame, mirrors, window frames, roof rails, and the D-pillar. The front features a bumper with black elements and a horizontal light strip in the grille. The rear includes a full-width reflector, blacked-out lettering, and stainless-steel exhaust tips. The SUV is fitted with 20-inch Elias alloy wheels and is available in Moon White, Magic Black, Velvet Red and Steel Grey.

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Honda Cars India (HCIL), a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced wholesales of 8,788 units in June 2026.

In the domestic market, the company sold 5,243 units and 3,545 units for export, which marks 71.5 percent YoY, when the company sold 4,618 units domestically and exported 506 units.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, "The launch of new City and India Premiere of global SUV Honda ZR-V has generated strong momentum for our overall sales including Amaze and Elevate during June, driven by healthy customer demand and a positive market response. With Monsoon conditions expected to improve during July, we hope to sustain this positive momentum in the months ahead.

“The deliveries of ZR-V are also scheduled to begin from July. It will draw discerning new customers and prospects into Honda showrooms, enhancing our premium brand appeal and unlocking new growth opportunities,” he added.

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French automotive company Renault India has recorded 4,063 domestic wholesale units in June 2026, a 55 percent YoY increase compared to the previous year. This also marks the 10^th consecutive month of double-digit growth for the company.

Interestingly, for H1 CY2026, the company reported sales of 25,844 units, representing 61 percent YoY growth.

During June, Renault India began exports of the Duster, dispatching 750 units to South Africa. The company stated that this performance reflects customer response to its product strategy and demand across its portfolio.

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