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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Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers in the country, has announced pricing for the Honda QC3 electric scooter, the locally manufactured Honda CB500 roadster and the updated Honda CB350 range comprising the CB350, CB350RS and CB350C models.

The releases mark the next phase of a 10-product portfolio introduced in July 2026. Bookings for all five models have opened across India with a booking deposit of INR 5,000.

The Honda QC3 electric scooter is priced at INR 135,000 (ex-showroom New Delhi) with initial sales to cover five cities — Delhi, Agra, Cuttack, Surat and Kollam — through select Honda RedWing dealerships.

The vehicle incorporates a 3.0 kWh battery providing a certified Indian Driving Cycle (IDC) range of 145 kilometres per charge. Charging from zero to 80 percent requires two hours and 40 minutes, with a full charge taking approximately four hours. The scooter features a 5-inch TFT instrument screen with Honda RoadSync connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, a smart key and 32 litres of storage capacity. The Honda QC3 e-scooter can be had in colour options include Matt Photon Gray Metallic, Pearl Precious White, Pearl Shallow Blue and Pearl Siren Blue.

The Honda CB500 roadster is priced at INR 275,000 for the alloy wheel variant, INR 299,900 for the spoke tubeless variant and INR 301,900 for the spoke tubeless with stripe variant (ex-showroom Bengaluru).

The motorcycle is produced in India and powered by a 501cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine with an oil cooler. Equipment includes an all-LED lighting system, an analogue-digital instrument cluster, Honda Selectable Torque Control, an assist and slipper clutch, Honda RoadSync and front and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS. Deliveries will take place nationwide through Honda BigWing dealerships in Pearl Deep Ground Grey, Pearl Igneous Black, Mat Steel Silver Metallic and Rebel Red Metallic.

The refreshed Honda CB350 range starts at INR 195,200 (ex-showroom Bengaluru), for the standard CB350 model, extending up to INR 204,700 for the top-specification CB350C Special Edition.

The updates introduce new paint options across the CB350, CB350RS and CB350C models without mechanical alterations. The motorcycles retain their 348.6cc air-cooled engines, all-LED lighting, Honda RoadSync, Honda Selectable Torque Control, assist and slipper clutches and dual-channel ABS. Dispatches to Honda BigWing dealerships began on 21 September 2026.

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BikeWo Green Tech is aiming to expand its operating fleet to approximately 10,000 vehicles during FY2026-27, supported by a preferential warrant issue of more than INR 760 million.

The expansion forms part of a corporate transition from vehicle sales and distribution toward electric vehicle asset ownership, fleet operations, leasing and logistics technology, operating under the initiative name BikeWo Ascend.

As part of this strategy, BikeWo has secured agreements with Reliance Industries’ Bio Energy Division to supply and deploy electric tractors fitted with loader, catcher and grabber equipment, along with vehicle operation and driver services. The contracts hold an estimated total value of INR 66.4 million, with validity extending through July 2033 for use in biomass-handling and bio-energy operations.

Hiten Pal Saklani, CEO, BikeWo Green Tech, said, "For us, BikeWo Ascend is about building a much larger business around electric mobility. We started with vehicles, but we see a significantly bigger opportunity in the infrastructure, operations and technology that enable those vehicles to deliver value. Our engagement in the bio-energy sector is an encouraging example of how specialised electric mobility can find applications beyond conventional transportation."

The business model covers mid-mile, last-mile and long-mile commercial transport, alongside enterprise fleet management and charging infrastructure. To support the operational shift, BikeWo has named Sumanth Badiga, an executive with 30 years of experience in the automotive sector, to its Advisory Board.

"Scale for us is not simply about putting more vehicles on the road. It is about building the operating capability around those vehicles. We want to create a platform that can bring together the right assets, partners, technology and operating capabilities for different mobility requirements. As we expand across India, that is the business we are focused on building," added Saklani.

The company is listed on the National Stock Exchange under the ticker BIKEWO and plans to establish further operating partnerships across energy, logistics and technology sectors to support its fleet operations across India.

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Bajaj Auto Ltd. has unveiled a new television commercial for the all-new Pulsar 150, marking 25 years of a motorcycle and advertising legacy that helped establish India’s sports motorcycling segment. Ogilvy conceptualised the film as a sequel to Pulsar’s iconic launch campaign, considered one of the firsts in advertising history.

The narrative revisits two nurses who, a quarter-century later, encounter something familiar beneath a white sheet, sparking déjà vu that transports them to their original encounter before the new Pulsar 150 is revealed. Retaining the original’s energy and tempo, the sequel brings the story into the present.

Pulsar’s 2001 arrival reshaped perceptions of what a motorcycle could represent, injecting performance, attitude and excitement into a category dominated by everyday mobility. With over 20 million units sold globally, Pulsar has become a worldwide performance brand, driven by the ‘Definitely Daring’ ethos that has defined it from the start.

Sumeet Narang, President – Marketing, Bajaj Auto Ltd., said, “Pulsar has always stood for an attitude that goes beyond the motorcycle itself. Over the years, that attitude has evolved with the riders, the category and the brand, but its essence remains ‘Definitely Daring’. This campaign gives us an opportunity to celebrate that journey in a way that feels relevant today, with the all-new Pulsar 150 representing the next expression of that spirit.”

Sukesh Nayak, Group Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy India, said, “Creating the next chapter of a film that is so deeply remembered presents a very different creative challenge. The audience already knows the setup, so the opportunity was to use that familiarity to build anticipation and then surprise them with where the film goes. The visual cues and rhythm create that instant recognition, while the new turn in the story keeps it firmly rooted in the present.”

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Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has launched a new variant of its Glamour X 125cc motorcycle equipped with single-channel anti-lock braking paired with an integrated braking system.

The motorcycle represents the initial application of single-channel ABS alongside an integrated braking layout in the 125cc commuter segment, aiming to reduce stopping distances and maintain vehicle stability during deceleration.

The braking configuration operates in conjunction with existing safety equipment on the motorcycle, which includes panic brake alert signals that activate flashing LED indicators during sudden deceleration, as well as hazard lamps.

The Glamour X 125 is powered by a Sprint-EBT engine generating 11.4 horsepower (8.5 kW) at 8,250 rpm. It comes with three selectable riding modes – Eco, Road and Power –and features cruise control functionality.

Ashutosh Varma, CBO of the India Business Unit, Hero MotoCorp, said, "The 125cc segment is witnessing a rapid evolution, with customers increasingly demanding a blend of contemporary styling, advanced technology and uncompromised safety. The Glamour X has already disrupted this space with category-first features including Ride Modes and Cruise Control. By introducing first-in-segment integrated ABS, we are not just upgrading a motorcycle; we are reshaping the safety standards for the entire category. This launch strengthens our portfolio and offers intelligent, future-ready mobility solutions that empower the new-age Indian rider."

The motorcycle utilises a 10.7 cm multi-colour instrument console with ambient backlighting that displays gear shift guidance, distance-to-empty metrics and real-time fuel consumption data. The display system supports Bluetooth connectivity to supply turn-by-turn navigation with estimated time of arrival notifications, alongside call and message alerts. Physical features include full LED lighting, a C-type USB charging port, under-seat storage compartments and a flat seat layout.

The Glamour X with integrated ABS is available at dealerships across India priced at INR 101,000 (ex-showroom Delhi). It can be had in Gun Metal Grey, Matt Axis Grey, Black Pearl Red, and Black Teal Blue colour options.

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