Kimi Antonelli made history by securing pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday, becoming the youngest driver to achieve this feat in Formula One. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver delivered a stunning lap during qualifying in Shanghai, setting a time of 1 minute 32.064 seconds. With this result, Antonelli broke the long-standing record of Sebastian Vettel, who was 21 when he took pole position for the 2008 Italian Grand Prix. Antonelli’s performance also helped the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team secure a front-row lockout, as championship leader George Russell finished second, just 0.222 seconds behind his teammate. Russell’s result…
Author: manojkumar@frontplayers.com
This article is written by S Sunil Kumar, Country President, Henkel Adhesives Technologies India.India’s industrial acceleration has gone beyond the logic of scale. Capital, policy and manufacturing ambitions are now aligning with purpose. As the next phase takes shape, the country’s industrial future will be defined not just by incentives or capacity expansion, but by the performance of a quiet, decisive force: materials.As Indian manufacturers are globalizing, competition rules are becoming stricter. Export risks are increasing, margins are shrinking, and regulatory limits on safety, sustainability and compliance are rapidly moving upward. Traditional levers such as labor leverage, capacity expansion and…
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has ordered the liquidation of Hero Electric Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. Ltd. after efforts to revive the company through the insolvency resolution process failed to produce an approved plan. This order was passed by the New Delhi Bench of NCLT on March 3, 2026.The tribunal said none of the resolution proposals received the necessary support from creditors within the timelines prescribed under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). As a result, the provisions relating to liquidation under the Code were invoked.Insolvency proceedings against Hero Electric were initiated after Metro Tires Ltd filed a petition under…
Kia India has expanded the automatic gearbox options on the Kia Sonet by introducing more affordable variants in its lineup. With the update, buyers can now opt for an automatic transmission from the lower trims, making the Sonet one of the most accessible automatic SUVs in its segment.On the diesel front, the Sonet now gets a new HTE(O) variant with a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, priced at Rs 9.77 lakh, ex-showroom. The diesel engine is the familiar 1.5-litre unit that produces 116 hp of power and 250 Nm of torque. The diesel automatic version offers ARAI-rated fuel efficiency of…
Summer in India can be brutal. Not just for people, but also for cars. In many parts of the country, day temperatures easily cross 40°C. Now imagine a car parked in direct sunlight for hours. The cabin becomes an oven, and mechanical parts are also exposed to intense heat.Such conditions place additional stress on many components of the vehicle. The engine runs hotter, the tires expand more than usual, and the battery works harder too. If basic maintenance is ignored, the possibility of overheating or sudden malfunction increases. Here, let’s take a look at a handy maintenance checklist to ensure…
TVS Motor Company has expanded its electric scooter lineup with the launch of the new TVS Orbiter V1. Along with this, the company has also introduced Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) ownership model. As part of this, EVs can be purchased at significantly lower upfront costs. With this new scheme, the Orbiter V1 can now be purchased for Rs 49,999, ex-showroom. Customers who prefer to buy a scooter with a battery can buy the Orbiter V1 for Rs 84,500, ex-showroom.TVS Orbiter V1 e-scooter: BaaS pricing explainedThe BaaS model separates the cost of the battery from the price of the scooter. Instead of paying…
Over the past few years, car buyers in India have started hearing a new term when checking out higher variants: ADAS. What was once limited to luxury cars is now appearing in more mainstream models. Vehicles like Mahindra XUV700, Hyundai Creta, Kia Ciros and Maruti Suzuki Victoris now offer these technologies in some variants. Naturally, manufacturers highlight ADAS as a big safety upgrade. But if you talk to many buyers, a common question still comes up: what does it actually do, and will it really help on Indian roads? In simple words, ADAS stands for Advanced Driver Assistance System. These…
There is continued interest in the mid-size cruiser motorcycle segment in India. One of the most popular motorcycles in the segment is the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, which recently crossed a major global sales milestone by selling six lakh units in five years. However, the segment has become more competitive in recent years with models such as the Jawa 42 FJ. Among several rivals, the Jawa 42 FJ also competes in the same space and here’s how these two models compare on paper in terms of specifications, pricing and features.Royal Enfield Meteor 350 vs Jawa 42 FJ: EngineThe Meteor 350…
Renault has unveiled the Bridger Concept. The model has a very unique design, something that is not seen in this segment. It will compete with Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon and Kia Sonet. Here’s a quick look at what to expect.renault bridger Concept: key detailsThe Bridger Concept was showcased during Renault’s recent Strategy Day presentation. Although the company has not yet revealed full specifications, the concept gives a clear idea of what the production model could look like and where it would sit in Renault’s future product strategy. The production version is expected to be introduced around 2027,…
In many parts of India, temperatures regularly exceed 40°C in summer. In such situations, a car air conditioner is not just a convenience feature but almost a necessity. Yet many times we see that the car AC does not cool effectively after a few years of use. The air from the vents may seem weak, the cabin may take too long to cool, or in some cases the system may blow hot air.There could be many reasons behind this and many of them are quite common in Indian driving conditions. Dusty roads, extreme heat and irregular servicing can all affect…