Team MRF Tyres has won the final round of European Rally Championship 2024 at the Rally of Silesia, Poland. Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi (ITA) steered the team to victory, participating in Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, and became the eighth different winner of the eight round 2024 FIA European Rally Championship.

Mabellini's maiden European career triumph was made possible by the exceptional performance of the Italian crew, who was placed second in the last championship round at the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion. As the first Italian to win a European rally outside of Italy in 13 years, this is a noteworthy outcome. With this outcome, Mabellini concluded the season in fourth position, just a few points below third place, and made a substantial contribution to Team MRF Tyres' second-place finish in the rankings.

As the only driver to fight two-time European champion and former WRC driver Hayden Paddon, Mabellini was in the running from the beginning, finishing second in the opening show stage. After a fierce duel that lasted down to the tenths of a second, Mabellini's triumph on SS11 on Day 2 marked a turning point and put him in the lead. The pivotal moment came three stages from the finish: following a largely dry rally, the rain and shifting weather conditions made tyre selection extremely important. Mabellini showed maturity by driving with both speed and precision while Team MRF Tyres made no mistakes. By the finish, he had increased his advantage from a slim 1.9-second cushion to 18.3 seconds.

Amaury Molle (B) and Alex Dubois (FRA) of Team MRF Tyres also finished in Katowice with their Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. After an accident at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín two months ago, the Belgian driver returned and showed steady performance. Molle fought hard to restore confidence and consistency, achieving outstanding times, including sixth on SS11, despite the extremely unpredictable circumstances.

Mabellini said, “I’m extremely happy. I want to thank Team MRF Tyres for believing in me from the start. We’ve worked hard together, and achieving this result is a huge satisfaction for all of us. A big thanks also to Virginia, who understands me perfectly, guides me, and without whom I wouldn’t be able to give my best, and to everyone who supported us from Italy. It’s been an incredible weekend, a season finale to remember. We’re enjoying this moment.”

Molle said, “It’s been a weekend full of positives. I know it will take time to fully regain my rhythm and the confidence to push at 100 percent, but I felt a great connection with the car, and Alex and I did a good job, improving stage by stage. We made a small mistake on the final stage but that doesn’t change our outlook on the weekend’s result. Thanks to Team MRF Tyres for this opportunity; now we have the winter to prepare and focus on our 2025 season.”

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Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has introduced a campaign for its Destini scooter, titled ‘Hero Ka Scooter, Scooter Ka Hero.’ Conceptualised by McCann India, the campaign focuses on the relationship between a father and child, portraying the scooter as a companion for family journeys.

The campaign film features a girl who imagines an evening ride with her father as an adventure involving a dragon. The narrative integrates product features into the story: the metal body provides protection, the mileage exhausts the creature in a race, the legroom stores food and the under-seat storage is used to toast corn.

Aashish Midha, Head of Marketing, Hero MotoCorp, said, “At Hero MotoCorp, we believe the most meaningful stories are those rooted in everyday life. ‘Hero Ka Scooter, Scooter Ka Hero’ celebrates parents – the everyday heroes of every Indian family –through the boundless imagination of a child. The Hero Destini has always stood for trust, comfort and practicality, and this campaign brings those values to life in a way that is both emotionally engaging and deeply relatable. It reinforces our commitment to building products that become an integral part of our customers’ lives and cherished family moments.”

Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, Omnicom Advertising India, said, “The more memorable ideas rarely begin with what a brand wants to say. They begin with something people already feel, but may not have found the words for. When a brand captures that truth, it stops feeling like advertising and starts feeling deeply familiar. Hero Destini expresses this in a simple but evocative manner. Every child sees their father as their first superhero, not because he has superpowers, but because he quietly shows up, overcomes obstacles and finds a way to keep the family moving. In the film, the scooter becomes part of that quiet magic. It isn’t just a ride. It helps turn an ordinary journey into an adventure, complete with a dragon, seen through a child’s eyes. That’s what makes the film linger. It reminds us that true creativity doesn’t need to exaggerate reality; it elevates the genuine emotions already present. And this is where the brands then find a place in people’s hearts.”

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India Yamaha Motor has launched the FZ-Blue Flex, a motorcycle capable of running on ethanol-blended fuels ranging from E20 to E85 at INR 1,24,240 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The motorcycle, powered by a 149cc fuel-injected engine, delivers 8.6 kW of power and 12.8 Nm of torque via a 5-speed gearbox. It uses a front telescopic suspension, a rear swingarm and an anti-lock braking system.

Hajime Aota, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India Group, said, “Achieving a carbon-neutral future requires a dynamic, multi-pathway strategy rather than a single solution. Having already commenced our electric vehicle journey in India, the introduction of our innovative Blue Flex technology marks another strategic milestone. This move is a deliberate alignment of Yamaha’s global sustainability vision with the Indian government’s progressive biofuel policies. By embracing multiple technological avenues, we reinforce our commitment to global carbon neutrality goals while providing versatile, high-quality products tailored to the evolving needs of Indian consumers.”

The motorcycle will be available in Metallic Black and sold through selected Blue Square dealerships across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.

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India Yamaha Motor, one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers in the country, has finally revealed the pricing for its first electric offering in the country – Aerox E.

The e-scooter based on the River Indie’s EC06 is priced at INR 281,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), which makes it the most expensive scooter in Yamaha India’s portfolio. The e-scooter is available at Yamaha Blue Square showrooms in select cities.

The Aerox E is powered by a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) that delivers 9.4 kW of peak power and 48 Nm of torque. It offers a top speed of 95.5 kmph and a certified range of 117 km. The scooter features three ride modes – Eco, Standard and Power – as well as a boost function and a reverse mode.

The e-scooter is equipped with dual removable batteries, each with a 1.5 kWh capacity, which take approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes to charge. The battery system comes with a warranty of 3 years or 30,000 km.

The scooter includes a traction control system, disc brakes with single-channel ABS, and a 5-inch colour TFT display with turn-by-turn navigation. Owners can access data such as maintenance reminders and parking location through the Y-Connect mobile app. The vehicle also features a smart key system and an external charging port.

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has announced that its popular Apache motorcycle brand has surpassed 7 million customers worldwide.

To mark the milestone, the company has released a brand new campaign film titled ‘Tu Race Laga’, directed by acclaimed Bollywood director Ram Madhvani.

Established in 2005, the Apache motorcycle lineup is based on key learnings from the company’s racing division. The brand has introduced features including fuel injection, ride modes and traction control systems. The motorcycles are currently available in 90 countries.

Gaurav Gupta, President, India 2W Business, TVS Motor Company, said, “We thank the 7 million TVS Apache riders for their trust and passion over the past two decades. From racing roots to a global performance brand, this milestone reflects the dedication of the entire TVS Motor ecosystem. We will continue to push the boundaries of performance motorcycling through purposeful innovation, global expansion and strong riders communities.”

Vimal Sumbly, Head Business - Premium, TVS Motor Company, said, “Twenty years ago, TVS Apache was born with a singular vision - to bring the excitement, control, and race-bred capability of the racetrack to everyday riders through our ‘Track to Road’ philosophy. Today, as we celebrate the milestone of 7 million customers globally, we are proud to see TVS Apache evolve into one of the world’s fastest-growing premium motorcycle brands and a thriving community united by a shared passion for riding. The launch of ‘Tu Race Laga’ is a tribute to this journey and to every rider who chooses to push boundaries, embrace progress, and carry the racing spirit into everyday life. As we look ahead, we remain committed to redefining motorcycling through relentless innovation, race-bred technology, and experiences that inspire riders across the world.”

The Apache range includes the RTR 160, RTR 160 4V, RTR 180, RTR 200 4V, RTR 310, RR 310 and the RTX.

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