FIFTY-THREE. IT DOESN’T ROLL OFF THE tongue as easily as Sixty-Three does. But that’s irrelevant since the 53 range of AMGs isn’t trying to step on the 63’s toes. Instead, it comes in as a replacement for the 43s! “Lovely,” I hear you say, “A bigger number must mean a bigger engine.” Wrong. Trust the Germans to be so obtuse with their nomenclature — what the 53 really means is that Mercedes-Benz has switched these mid-range AMGs from 3-litre V6 engines to 3-litre inline sixes and have added a mild hybrid system for good measure. It’s more a sideways step than upwards. And the first 53 car is finally here — the GLE 53 Coupe.
FAST STEAD
This Skoda Octavia RS 230 is fast enough to blow your mind but not its engine
Ford Fusion
Practical, great engine and dynamics, but weird styling ensured buyers stayed well away
Mahindra Bolero Neo
Armed with an iconic badge, a fresh face and a mechanically locking differential, the Bolero Neo could just be the compact SUV you’ve been looking for
RISING FROM THE ASHES
The third generation Suzuki Hayabusa is one of the fastest production motorcycles in the world, and a bike that truly deserves to be ridden flat out at the High Speed Track at NATRAX
BIJOY KUMAR Y
Bijoy is quite looking forward to what the recent space launches could mean
DOA: HSV HRT 427
This racing-inspired 7-litre Holden Monaro garnered more than enough interest for its limited production run to sell out. But sadly the sums didn’t add up
Mini Cooper S Convertible
Mini gives the Convertible a more modern front end, more technology on the inside and a very bright paint scheme
VW Taigun GT
Good news! With two GT variants, Volkswagen are set to make the 1.5 TSI motor even more accessible to us enthusiasts
THE DOCTOR CHECKS OUT
As Rossi decides to hang up his boots after 26 seasons, we take a look back at his journey through MotoGP
“IF THE RATING IS DONE, NATRAX COULD BE ONE OF THE TOP THREE PROVING GROUNDS IN THE WORLD”
Speaking to Dr N Karuppaiah, additional director and centre head, NATRAX
