MAM
Ford triumphs at BBC Top Gear Magazine awards 2003
LONDON: Car enthusiasts can have their fill of vehicles that met critics approval in the April issue of BBC Top Gear Magazine which is on sale.
Mercedes-Benz has scooped three of the magazines twelve annual Top Gear Awards. Peugeot and Honda both won two but the star awards. Best Driver’s Car and overall Car of the Year 2003, have gone to the Ford Focus RS, Ford’s new ‘hot hatchback’.
Every year the Top Gear test team drives over 300 new cars hundreds of thousands of miles on roads and tracks in Britain and all over the world before coming to its conclusions on the winners. The television version of the franchise airs on BBC World.
Though the sporty Ford Focus RS has been a Top Gear favourite since it was launched last autumn it had to beat off stiff competition from cars as diverse as the Ferrari Enzo supercar to the little Honda Jazz for the overall title.
BBC Top Gear magazine editor, Kevin Blick said, “It’s a car that proves driving can still be fun and at a time when all we hear is about new restrictions on the motorist that is important to remember.”
BBC Top Gear magazine is Britain’s best-selling general motoring monthly, with a circulation of 144,104 (ABC: Jul – Dec 2002). It is published by BBC Magazines – a division of BBC Worldwide Ltd.
Brands
KKR sixes to power EV charger rollout under VIDA campaign
Cricket meets clean mobility as big hits spark India’s charging growth
NEW DELHI: VIDA, the electric mobility arm of Hero MotoCorp, has teamed up with Kolkata Knight Riders to launch a campaign that turns cricketing flair into real-world impact.
Titled ‘6 for 6’, the initiative promises to install a 6kW fast EV charger for every six hit by KKR during the ongoing Indian Premier League season. The idea is simple but powerful, as each big hit on the field contributes directly to expanding India’s fast-charging infrastructure.
The campaign builds on VIDA’s growing network, which already spans over 5,300 fast-charging points across more than 430 cities. With EV adoption gaining pace, the brand is using cricket’s mass appeal to accelerate both awareness and infrastructure growth.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, Hero MotoCorp emerging mobility business unit chief business officer Kausalya Nandakumar said, “Cricket has an incredible ability to unite and inspire millions across the country. With the ‘6 for 6’ campaign, we are turning every big hit on the field into a step towards a cleaner and a more accessible mobility future.”
She added that VIDA’s expanding fast-charging network and removable battery technology are designed to make EV ownership more convenient and practical for everyday users.
From the franchise’s side, the campaign is also about giving on-field moments a larger purpose. Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive officer Venky Mysore said, “The ‘6 for 6’ campaign exemplifies the potential of sport as a platform for meaningful, real-world impact. By linking every six to the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, this partnership transforms fan excitement into tangible progress.”
As part of the rollout, VIDA has introduced co-branded charging stations in KKR’s signature colours, with a flagship installation unveiled alongside team players. The chargers are designed for quick top-ups, powering VIDA scooters from zero to 80 percent in about an hour, while also being positioned along key highways to support longer journeys.
The initiative also taps into VIDA’s removable battery system, which allows users to charge using standard household plug points, adding flexibility to the charging ecosystem.
By blending the thrill of cricket with the urgency of clean mobility, VIDA and KKR have found a neat way to make every six count twice, once on the scoreboard and again on India’s road to an electric future.
