evo India Podcast

Talking about the new normal in the luxury segment of the Indian automotive industry, with the president of the Lexus India. We talk about hybrid powertrains, how Lexus has only petrol engines in its range, expansion of the dealer network from 7 to 11 this year, local production of the ES and NX and the response to it and the synergies of Lexus India with Toyota.

Talking about the state of the Indian automotive industry, re-opening of dealerships, demand pickup, transfer of demand & more with the sales & marketing boss of Maruti Suzuki on the #evoConversations

Talking sport exhaust systems with the most iconic brand in this space, Akrapovič. We’re talking about how a performance exhaust system is developed, crafting exhaust systems out of titanium and now ceramic composites, the race activities, road car exhaust systems, distribution in India, how do you make a great sounding exhaust system and much more!

A 7-seater SUV, facelifted Compass, new sub 4-meter SUV and "two iconic new products" – that's what is in store for Jeep India over the next years. Partha Datta drops hints on the upcoming models and also insists that the Fiat brand is not exiting India (which could hint at the new Fiat 500 electric) coming to India. All this and more in the latest episode of evo Conversations with editor Sirish C...

In the latest episode of #evoConversations Parveen Agarwal shows us around (and fires up!) his collection of sportscars and luxury cars including the only McLaren 570S Coupe in India (that he bought from Bangkok), Lamborghini Aventador S, the Bentley Continental GT, Rolls-Royce Ghost and many more!

How is Tata Motors dealing with the lockdown, the new Click to Drive online buying initiative, santising dealerships post lockdown and new social distancing norms and more in this episode of evo Conversations. We of course speak about the Auto Expo show stoppers, the Sierra concept as well as the HBX concept, the latter which is set to hit Indian roads very soon (though now delayed due to Covid19)...

The state of the Indian automotive industry and the efforts taken to deal with both the lockdown and the new normal post the lockdown is what Tarun Garg, VP, sales, marketing & after sales at Hyundai India talks about in conversation with editor Sirish Chandran. We also talk about the turbo-petrol engines spreading across the Hyundai India lineup from the Venue to the Creta and now Grand i10 Nios,...

Talking to the founder and chief designer at Motormind on how to setup your own car design studio and the various car styling kits they have developed. Shahid Haq talks about the Hyperion 1 concept that was showcased 4 years ago at the AutoExpo. He tells Ed Sirish Chandran about how the sports car was designed and developed and the ongoing work to get it into production, including sharing - exclus...

Dilip Chhabria, the man who put Indian car design on the map, talks about his journey. Starting with the 1994 Karma based on the Tata Sierra, DC talks about his massive body of work, his design philosophy, the work he has done for global OEMs like the Aston Martin concept, the Renault Twizzy concept, the Mini Clubman concept and much more. He also talks through the customised interiors for the Inn...

What's it like to grow up in a storied motorsport family and not go racing? We talk to TV presenter and former cricketer Suhail Chandhok on growing up around cars, ratting out older brother Karun Chandhok when handbrake turns went belly up, the struggles of a family trying to raise sponsorship, forging his own part and much more. A fun conversation on the other side of racing, with his dad Vicky C...

How quickly will the Indian auto industry bounce back after the lockdown? What will Mercedes-Benz India's launch schedule look like? Re-jigging of the model launches including GLS, A Class Limousine, GLA et all. Efforts being implemented at the dealerships. All this and more in our conversation with one of the top executives of the Indian automotiove industry, Santosh Iyer In this episode of evoin...

India's first F1 racer and the World's Fastest Indian talk about his journey, from the MMRT in Chennai way back in 1992, to being the first Indian to go and race (and win!) in Europe, the struggles, the highs, the regret at not winning Macau F3, making it to Formula 1 with Jordan, testing with Williams F1 (and going faster than Nico Rosberg!), the difficut years with HRT F1, racing the Indian Gran...

Shana Parmeshwar takes us through her automotive journey starting with a hot Rover in the UK, a Tata Safari in India and then dives into her passion for Porsche, the GT4 that she then upgraded to the GT3 RS, the Unity Car project, taking part in the Cannonball rally in Europe, trackdays in India, the 4x4s in her garage including an old Discovery, Land Cruiser, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Pajero, et al...

The Bren Garage is the most exotic, desirable and drool-worthy collection of supercars and sportscars in India and we get an exclusive walk around the ten collectors' specials that make up the Bren10 👉 Ferrari 458 Speciale 👉 Porsche Cayman GT4 👉 Porsche 911R The above three are the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Official evo magazine Car of the year ecoty all in one garage and right here in India 😲 👉 As...

Pratap Bose, VP design at Tata Motors talks about the career options in an automotive design studio even if you aren't a car designer. In this episode of #evoConversations with Pratap Bose talks to Ed Sirish Chandran about: 1. Studio Engineering 2. Design Project Management 3. Clay Modelling 4. CAS Modelling 5. Design Visualisation 6. Colour & Material Design 7. Design Perceived Quality 8. Colour...

Joel Joseph is the man behind the fastest drag car, fastest ITC race car and some of the fastest tuned street cars in the country. Ed Sirish Chandran caught up with the founder of Race Concepts to talk: 👉 How he built the all-conquering turbo-charged Honda City VTEC for the ITC races 👉 Building the 400bhp (at the wheel!) turbo-City for the street 👉 The 180bhp Zen modification, and what all can...

"Watch this space" says Toyota India's senior VP for sales and aftersales when Ed Sirish Chandran asks him about the possibility of the Supra launching in India. Naveen also highlights why India should focus on hybrid power trains and revert to the pre-GST tax structure, talks about the demise of the Etios, Liva and Corolla Altis, hints at a new variant of the Yaris to give Etios customers an upgr...

The man in the driver's seat at MG Motor India talks to us about product plans including: 👉 Gloster that is coming to India around Diwali and hinting at pricing anwhere between Rs 40 to 80 lakh 👉 G10 MPV that is plannned for next year 👉 Hector Plus which is coming soon 👉 Delays due to Covid19 that will delay launches by 4-6 weeks 👉 Compact sub-4 meter cars planned for next 2-3 years 👉 Enormo...

One of the prime movers and shakers of Indian motorsport, Sanjay Sharma talks to Ed Sirish Chandran on 👉 Who he considers to be India's greatest racing driver (Narain Karthikeyan) & why 👉 His greatest rally driver (Hari Singh) 👉 The genius talent that is Gaurav Gill 👉 The MRF vs JK rivalry ("Yellow lightning strikes red thunder", a tag line he's most proud of) 👉 Why the FMSCI does not have an...

Did you know that one Urus is delivered every week in India? That 5 Aventdaor SVJ have been delivered in India, including an SVJ 63 and more are on the way? That the Urus, rather than eating into sportscars has actually grown sales of the Huracan & Aventador? That India is a strategic market for Lamborghini and that's why the Urus, Huracan Evo and Huracan Evo RWD were launched in India immediately...

When will the GLS come to India? Launch plans for A-Class Limousine & GLA showcased at Auto Expo 2020? Response to the just-launched GLE, growth of the AMG business in India (50% growth despite the slowdown last year), A35 AMG, and much more in this chat with Mercedes-Benz India boss Martin Schwenk. Speaking to Sirish Chandran, Martin Schwenk also talks about how they're dealing with the new chall...

Skoda India's director for sales, marketing and after sales, Zac Hollis, talks to editor Sirish Chandran about the ed's favourite car 👉 the OctyRS. Zac confirms that only 3 cars of the RS 245 are available, all in blue, so hurry if you're keen on owning one of the nicest FWD enthusiast cars out there 👉 Zac also answers viewers questions about upcoming cars: the Karoq, the Kamiq, the VisionIN SUV...

Will Volkswagen India bring an electric SUV to India? What are the plans for the Taigun mid-size SUV? What are the confidence levels for the India 2.0 project? The motorsport plans for India? How is the brand re-shaping itself for 🇮🇳 and much more! Ed Sirish Chandran caught up with Steffen Knapp, director of VW passenger cars India to talk upcoming cars, SUVs, even the Golf and importantly what VW...

Tata Motors VP of design, Pratap Bose talks to ed Sirish Chandran on the life of an automotive designer in these days of the lockdown and how he is managing the Tata Motors design team of 180 people spread across the UK, Italy and India. In the latest #evoConversations he talks 👉 Tata Motors' Auto Expo stars including the Sierra EV concept, HBX concept, Winger, Prima and more 👉 WFH and managing...

Jatin Ahuja set up Big Boy Toyz from scratch and today they are India's largest seller of pre-owned luxury, sports and exotic cars. He talks to Ed, Sirish Chandran on the (used) exotic market, the prices for used Bentleys vs Rolls-Royce, how much he sold a Ferrari F12 for, the most affordable 911, and even bikes! Listen to him talk about: 👉 His entrepreneurial journey 👉 Business goals 👉 Big Boy...