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Tag: Girish Karkera

  • The new edition will offer unique segments giving in-depth insights on new developments in the automotive industry

    TopGear launches new look with its August edition

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading auto magazine BBC TopGear has refreshed its look from August 2016 onwards. The magazine will also boast of some new sections. TopGear is licensed to publish in India by The Times of India group’s Worldwide Media.

     

    Speaking on the new look of TopGear India Magazine, Editor Girish Karkera said, “TopGear has always aimed to break the traditional stereotype pertaining to automotive magazines. With a brand new look, we are trying to do something over and above providing cutting-edge content. It is imperative that we keep in sync with the likes and dislikes of our faithful fan base and give them an entertaining read that is relevant, unique and true to the times.’’

     

    The new edition will offer segments offering in-depth insights on new developments in the automotive industry.

  • The year's first car and bike awards night is here

    BBC TopGear Magazine India Awards 2012

    By A Correspondent

     

    BBC TopGear Magazine has announced its winners of its TopGear Magazine Awards 2012. Into its fifth edition, the TopGear Magazine Awards brings together a list of the most impressive cars and bikes launched in the past one year in India, which have won the most kudos from the jury comprising of automotive experts.  An award that recognises true passion in our exciting automotive world – BBC TopGear Magazine’s ‘The Stig’ trophy is fast becoming a symbol of recognition for those manufacturers who bring uncompromising and radical machines on Indian roads.

     

    To be held at the Kingdom of Dreams, Gurgaon on December 10, 2012, the ceremony will honour the most significant, game-changing and thrilling machines to set new tyre tread on Indian roads. The jury, comprising of the TopGear road test team, have chosen the best from a slew of launches that happened between November 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012. Unlike many jury awards that judges cars over a few laps over a day or two, the TopGear magazine’s editorial team of automotive experts drive, ride and practically live with these machines throughout the year; and thus, are able to come across key elements in cars and bikes that all vehicle buyers look for before a purchase – attributes that can never be gauged by a simple test drive.

     

    Tarun Rai

    Commenting on the BBC TopGear Magazine Awards, Tarun Rai, CEO Worldwide Media said, “BBC Top Gear is the biggest auto magazine brand in the world with editions in 31 countries. And in each of these 31 countries Top Gear is known for its authoritative take on cars and motorcycles. It is therefore, appropriate that the first auto awards of 2012 are also the most definitive. 26 best cars and bikes of the year, in various categories, will walk away with the Top Gear trophy – The Stig. The Stig trophy itself symbolizes Top Gear’s passion for cars and bikes. The night of Dec 10 will be a big night of celebration as we applaud the very best of the auto industry”

     

    This year’s winners include names like the Mini Cooper S, Renault Duster, Lamborghini Aventador, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Audi Q3 and KTM Duke 200 among others who have managed to impress the TopGear Magazine team with their sheer capabilities. “We do not judge a car by numbers alone. That would be too easy and strangely, inaccurate. I think for all true car and bike lovers, they are not just machines but living beings whom we talk and spend time with,” says Girish Karkera, Editor, TopGear Magazine India. “The underlying common thread between all our winners is that they are the new benchmark in their respective segments. More importantly, they are brilliant in their own right.”

     

    Taking into account the expansion and diversification of the Indian automotive market, the 2012 edition of the awards have also evolved with all-new categories over last year to reflect the evolution of the Indian automotive scene. Especially, in the SUV segment where we have seen a lot of action. “We Indians don’t seem to have enough of SUVs,” notes Girish Karkera. “Which has prompted us to create new categories to justify the surge in the different kinds of these lovable machines that we now have access to.”

     

    The uncompromising methodology of picking the winners is based on not just engine performance or boot space but also the overall driving and lounging experience, value, reliability, coolness, refinement and the ability of the vehicle to touch a chord with its owner.

     

    TopGear Awards 2012 winners (in no particular order):

    1. Most Beautiful Car of the Year – Mercedes-Benz CLS

    2. Boy’s Toy of the Year – Trikke

    3. Driver’s Car of the Year – BMW 328i

    4. Two-Wheeler Design of the Year – Vespa 125

    5. Engine of the Year – Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI

    6. Exotic Bike of the Year – Ducati Diavel

    7. Family Car of the Year – Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

    8. Automotive Game of the Year – Need For Speed: Most Wanted

    9. Hypercar of the Year- Lamborghini Aventador

    10. Most Improved Car of the Year – Audi TT

    11. Interior of the Year – Range Rover Evoque

    12. Luxury Car of the Year – Ferrari FF

    13. Luxury SUV of the Year – Mercedes-Benz M-Class

    14. Man of the Year – Sarath Kumar S (Two-wheel racer)

    15. Manufacturer of the Year – Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India

    16. Off-roader of the Year- Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

    17. Reader’s Choice Bike of the Year – Bajaj Pulsar 200NS

    18. Reader’s Choice Car of the Year – Renault Duster

    19. Saloon Car of the Year – Hyundai Elantra

    20. Scooter of the Year – Yamaha Ray

    21. Sportscar of the Year – Porsche Boxster S

    22. Compact SUV of the Year – Renault Duster

    23. Urban Car of the Year – Audi Q3

    24. Value Car of the Year – Jaguar XKR

    25. Bike of the Year – KTM Duke 200

    26. Car of the Year – Mini Cooper S

     

  • BBC TopGear celebrates its sixth year in India with a mega 214-page October issue.

    TopGear marks 6th anniversary

    By Akash Raha

    BBC TopGear celebrates its sixth year in India with a mega 214-page issue. The October anniversary issue has hit the newsstands at a price point of Rs 150. The rising price of fuel has not deterred the hottest cars of the world from descending on Indian shores. Moreover, with the Indian GP around the corner, the sentiment around is all for performance.

    Commenting on the anniversary issue, Mr Tarun Rai, CEO Worldwide Media, said,

    “The last six years have been an exciting ride for TopGear. And this year has been exceptional. We went in for a redesign, added lots of new sections in the magazine but kept the price at Rs 100, even though the others increased their cover prices. We believe with so much action in the car market, including the top end glamour segment and the F1 contributing its bit, the time is just right for TopGear. We are gunning for the number one position.”

    The anniversary issue of the magazine from the Worldwide Media group drives Koenigseggs, Aston Martins, and Jags with an India exclusive drive of one of the most exotic – The Maserati GranTurismo.

    Mr Girish Karkera, Editor, TopGear India said “In the increasingly crowded segment of auto magazines, TopGear has been growing from strength to strength with its hot cars, cool features, great photography and striking design. The magazine, thanks to its unique approach to cars and bikes, has managed to stand out from the rest of its ilk. And while conventional wisdom would suggest that the current environment is that of high fuel prices, high interest rates, and higher cost of living, TopGear, with its unique style of writing and presenting has managed to rise above the mundane and keep the readers engaged with cars… by providing dollops of entertainment, humour and information to maintain itself as an engaging and exciting read; irrespective of the world around it.”

     

    Mr Debolin Sen, Publisher, TopGear India said “2011 is the year for BBC TopGear in India. The year has seen the magazine perform exceptionally well in a crowded marketplace and we aim to build on the momentum that’s been generated. Together with the magazine redesign in April, the launch of www.topgear.com earlier this year, the magazine’s ready to host the TopGear Awards on November 25 in Mumbai.  With BBC TopGear the excitement and passion never ends. It just gets bigger and better. The sixth Anniversary Special is yet another reflection of the TopGear spirit.”

     

    Since TopGear is celebrating, the readers reap the benefits with a free DVD worth Rs 599 of XXX-2, an exclusive small car directory along with the TG Lifestyle supplement.

    Since it’s the flavour of the season, readers stand a chance to win Rs 1.5 lakh worth of Indian F1 GP tickets by participating in the TopGear Air-drive to F1 contest. More details are available in the issue and on www.topgear.com/india.