Auto enthusiasts and buyers are in for a treat as Mumbai’s biggest auto extravaganza, the Autocar Performance Show, returns with an enthralling display of cars and bikes. Held at the MMRDA grounds in Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai, the show was inaugurated by Narain Karthikeyan, the first Indian to race in Formula 1, and will go on until December 16, 2018. So catch it soon, if you still haven't!
A few enviable showstoppers that were seen grabbing the maximum eyeballs on the first day were the Lamborghini duo of the Huracán and the Urus, with the latter adorned in a bright shade of yellow or 'Giallo Auge' in Lambo speak. The newly launched 410hp BMW M2 Competition cut a sharp figure as the highlight of BMW's stand. Next were the Mercedes-AMG E63 and the mighty, all-new G63, which still retains its retro charm while being equipped with a lot more tech.
Mahindra Racing showcased the pinnacle of electric car racing with its Formula E challenger for the current season – the stunning M5 Electro, which was a big hit among the crowds. The car sports a new design and is claimed to be able to blitz to 100kph in 2.8sec and have a top speed of 280kph.
Mumbai’s largest supercar group, Throttle97, made its presence felt as it showcased some fine metal. They packed in a powerhouse of sportscars such the Aston Martin DB11, the Audi R8 V10 and even a Plymouth Barracuda, among others.
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But it wasn't just the performance cars that wowed the audience. The Autocar Performance Show witnessed the Mumbai debut of two brands – Kia Motors and MG Motor. Kia has brought in the hot Stinger four-door sports sedan and the Sportage SUV, while MG chose to familiarise the Indian audience with its brand by displaying the eMG 6 sedan and the iconic 1965 MGB.
Japanese carmaker Nissan showcased the yet-to-be-launched Kicks SUV, which is expected to take on the popular Hyundai Creta. The new more premium variant of the new Tiago, the XZ+ made its debut at the show just a day after its official launch. The model offers the option of a dual-tone exterior and also comes with a new 7.0-inch touchscreen system by Harman.
Other car brands participating in the show include Maserati, Porsche, Audi, Lexus, Volvo, Jeep, Skoda, Hyundai, Mini, Renault, Honda, Maruti Suzuki, Ford, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Toyota.
There was plenty in store for two-wheeler enthusiasts as well. At Ducati’s stand was one of the world’s most powerful motorcycles – the 214hp, Panigale V4 – and accompanying it was the Monster 797 and the Multistrada 950; all three in Ducati’s iconic red colour. BMW Motorrad was also present at the event with offerings ranging from the G 310 R to the litre-class S 1000 RR. Similarly, Suzuki had a wide variety of bikes on display, from the 125cc Burgman Street scooter to the iconic Hayabusa motorbike. The bike maker's recently launched, sport-naked GSX-S750 was also on display.
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Meanwhile, Kawasaki had one of the largest line-ups at the event with the entire Ninja range on show – the Ninja 300, Ninja 400, Ninja 650, and the Ninja 1000 – in addition to other bikes like the Versys 650, Vulcan S, Z 650 and Z 1000. Another stand with a variety of motorcycles was that of Motoroyale. They had a number of offerings from their multi-brand range – the SWM Superdual T, MV Agusta F3 800, FB Mondial HPS 300, the limited-edition Norton Dominator, Commando and more.
Harley-Davidson lovers were treated to many bikes from the company’s range. The bike maker had the Street 750, Street Rod, Forty-Eight, Roadster and Fat Boy on display. Triumph also drew in quite a crowd with the sporty Street Triple RS, low-slung cruisers like the Bobber and Speedmaster, and more.
TVS was present at the event and its flagship Apache RR 310 took centre stage at its stand. Popular models such as the Apache RTR 160 4V and Apache RTR 200 4V were showcased as well.
There was also a Superbike Gallery, with bikes such as the Kawasaki Ninja H2, Honda CBR1000RR, Honda Gold Wing, the three-wheeler Can-Am Spyder and more sharing the limelight.
Multiple displays aside, the 2018 Autocar Performance Show has live performance zones, too. Red Bull’s simulator lets enthusiasts enjoy the thrills of driving in the virtual world, and off-road junkies will love the Mahindra 4x4 Zone, which gives them a chance to experience what the Thar is truly capable of on a specially designed off-road obstacle course. Additionally, this year's Autocar Performance Show also brings in another first – a two-wheeler dynamometer. RaceDynamics’ dyno lets two-wheeler owners bring in their machines and have them tested to see how much power and torque they really make.
If you haven't been there already, give the show a visit this weekend and do let us know what you think of it in the comments below.