Get Blown Away The Hottest Car, Bike and Gadget Show is back!

Mumbai, October 29^th, 2015:- The Autocar Performance Show is a mecca for every car and bike enthusiast looking for the best in high-performance cars and bikes, accessories and the latest in car entertainment technology, all under one unique platform. The Stuff Gadget Show is a hi-end gadget show showcasing premium brands and the latest tech products.

The Autocar Performance Show 2015 celebrates its 10^th anniversary this edition with a stunning line-up of exciting models from leading brands, new launches, lots more entertainment for car and bike lovers.

The Autocar Performance Show since its inception in 2005, has grown bigger and better with more and more brands participating and the crowd figures increasing exponentially. In fact, manufacturers have begun taking this show seriously by showing their best products and the quality of the stands are built to global standards. The number of visitors has been steadily increasing every year too, at a healthy average.

The significance of this year's show is that some manufacturers are using it as a platform to launch new products whilst others are using it to showcase an all-new model to gauge customer reaction. On one hand brands like Audi, DC, Chevrolet and Bajaj will be displaying a few “first timers”, whilst the live action arena like the Toyota Fortuner 4x4 Performance Drive and the Maruti Autocross have been designed to generate a lot of participation. And on the other Mercedes-Benz will aim to spread road safety awareness with their Safe Roads initiative.

The first show in 2005 was held at the Nehru Centre, Worli but due to the overwhelming response to the event the venue was changed to the MMRDA Grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex to accommodate the ever increasing crowd.

Hormazd Sorabjee, Editor of Autocar India said "We’re very excited about the 10^thAnniversary of the show this year and look forward to executing even bigger editions in the years to come. The Autocar Performance Show will always be a platform which brings the entire auto industry under one roof and gives auto enthusiasts of Mumbai a chance to see the hottest cars and bikes in the market". 

The Autocar Performance Show 2015 is presented by Kotak in association with Toyota (4x4 Experience Partner), Tag Heuer – (Official Time Keeper), Map My India (Tracking Partner), Maruti Suzuki Autocross (Motorsport Partner) and Servo (Lubricant Partner).

The Stuff Gadget Show 2015 is in association with Kingston.

Autocar India: Autocar India is the leading auto magazine in the country providing cutting edge news in the Indian automobile market and the latest car and bike reviews. Ever since it was launched in 1999, Autocar India has earned a reputation for its scoops, exclusive stories and exhaustive road tests and has become a 'must-read' for auto enthusiasts. 

Participating Manufacturers in Autocar Performance Show 2015:

Cars: Audi India, Bentley, Big Boy Toys, BMW, Chevrolet, Fiat India, Ford Motors, Honda Cars, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maruti Suzuki, Mercedes Benz, Mini, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Rolls Royce, Skoda, Tata Motors, Toyota, Volvo, Volkswagen.

Bikes: Bajaj, BMW, Motorrad, DSK Bonelli, Indian Chief, Harley Davidson, Triumph Motorcycles, Yamaha.

Participating Accessory Companies in APS 2014 Lighthouse Carbin, Executive Modcar Trendz , Involve Perfumes, Siddhi Enterprises, Belkin Accessories, Sahaz Enterprises, Nikita Distributors, Navnit Marine, Hover, JK Elelments, Eureka Forbes, Silicon Udyog, Kelvin Clothing, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, BMC Air Filters, Glass Polish, Moto GP, Bright Outdoor

Participating Companies in Stuff Gadget Show 2015:

Amkette, Apple, Benq, Betta Electronics, Cezar, Cooler Master, Ethopia, eZone, Garmin, GoPro,
J Group Robotics, Kingston, Maple, mBot, Miracle Digital, Philips, Sandisk, Scott, TP Link, Videocon, Wacom.

Top 5 Movies with Dolls as Antagonist

                                                          

Dolls have always been every lil girl’s best friend, confidant and their favourite toy. Seen as the most innocent and adorable thing a child could own until some filmmakers decided to start making horror movies with dolls in pivotal roles as anti-heroes. Almost all of us can talk about how we were traumatized by Chucky or the new age Annabelle. Let’s be honest, even now as adults, we’ve caught ourselves staring at our nephew or niece’s doll, waiting for it to blink, come to life and start killing people.

This Halloween, watch these 5 movies with Dolls/puppets as the antagonist:

1.      1. Goosebumps – Get ready to watch Jack Black play author R. L. Stine in the action – adventure film Goosebumps that releases on October 30. Based on Stine’s famous book series Goosebumps ,Actor Jack Black will take viewers on an unforgettable journey filled with action, special effects and adventure as the creatures he created are accidentally let loose from their Goosebumps manuscripts. The movie also stars Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Amy Ryan, Jillian Bell, Ryan Lee and Ken Marino. The cast also includes many of Stine’s famous creations from the book series. Leading the way as the chief villain in the movie is Stine’s most lasting creation, Slappy the Dummy.  Slappy, a ventriloquist’s dummy is Stine’s alter ego in the film that comes to life. Slappy is the mastermind behind the evil plot and mayhem. 

2.      2. Child’s Play - This film is extremely popular thanks to the scary red-haired doll that is possessed by the spirit of a deceased serial killer. This doll is also fondly known as Chucky, who likes to spend his time attempting to transfer his soul from the doll body into a living person. Creepy enough for you?

3. Annabelle - This psychotic doll started her journey in The Conjuring, which is another film you can certainly watch this Halloween. She caused so much damage and mental torture in the film that she was signed for another one that was all hers.

4. Magic- Don’t be fooled by the name because this isn’t Harry Potter kind of magic. Directed by Richard Attenborough and starring a young Anthony Hopkins, this film is about a psychologically unstable ventriloquist who acts out his darkest impulses through a creepy dummy he calls Fats.

5.  Puppet Master- This might be the ultimate horror movie for those who love it when dolls go crazy, and there’s not just one film, there’s a series of them between 1989 and 2012. The original film, probably the best of the lot, is about a puppeteer who makes the bad decision to bring several puppets to life using Egyptian magic. Just to give you an idea of the havoc that descends, the names of some of the dolls are Blade, Pinhead, and Shredder Khan.

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel Revealed

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016 is the highly anticipated collection of the world’s hottest trends, destinations and experiences for the year ahead. The bestselling, inspirational travel yearbook from the world’s leading travel authority highlights the top ten countries, cities and regions that Lonely Planet’s experts recommend travellers experience in 2016.

Botswana receives the accolade of number one country in the world to visit next year, followed by Japan and the USA, whilst Kotor in Montenegro tops the cities list, beating Quito in Ecuador and Dublin in Ireland. The region which Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016 declares a must-see in the coming year is Transylvania in Romania with West Iceland and Valle de Viñales in Cuba also making the top three.

The destinations featured in the book are selected because they meet certain criteria; it could be that something special is going on in the year ahead or there's been recent development and a lot of buzz about the place, that it offers travellers new things to see or do, or that the Lonely Planet team of experts thinks it’s been overlooked and underrated and suggests travellers visit before the crowds do.

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016 also contains 17 inspirational travel-themed lists, from the best value destinations for 2016, to the best animal adventures for families, the best places to seek silence and the best places to elope.

Selecting what to include in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel annual publication is a considered process involving the whole of Lonely Planet’s community: from its authors and editors all the way to its online family of bloggers and tweeters. Each year, they come up with hundreds of places that are not-to-be-missed. These are then whittled down by a panel of in-house travel experts who give each destination in the shortlist a score in line with criteria such as topicality, excitement and wow-factor.

www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel features all of the Best in Travel 2016 destinations and additional advice on visiting them. Readers looking for a tailor-made travel adventure can take the Lonely Planet Best in Travel quiz, also on the website, to see which Lonely Planet must-see destination for 2016 is right for them; whether they’ll be roaming through the wilderness under epic skies, hiking through enchanted woods to fairytale castles, or quaffing fine wines on a paradise isle.

Top 10 Countries in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016

1. Botswana
2. Japan
3. USA
4. Palau
5. Latvia
6. Australia
7. Poland
8. Uruguay
9. Greenland
10. Fiji

   Top 10 Regions in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016

1. Transylvania, Romania
2. West Iceland
3. Valle de Viñales, Cuba
4. Friuli’s wine regions, Italy
5. Waiheke Island, New Zealand
6. The Auvergne, France
7. Hawaii, USA
8. Bavaria, Germany
9. Costa Verde, Brazil
10. St Helena, British Territories

   Top 10 Cities in Lonely     Planet’s Best in Travel 2016

1. Kotor, Montenegro
2. Quito, Ecuador
3. Dublin, Ireland
4. George Town, Malaysia
5. Rotterdam, the Netherlands
6. Mumbai, India
7. Fremantle, Australia
8. Manchester, UK
9. Nashville, USA
10. Rome, Italy

• 
  

About Lonely Planet:

Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel media company, supplying inspiring and trustworthy information for those planning a trip, on the road or browsing as an armchair traveller. 2013 marked the company’s 40th anniversary and to-date, Lonely Planet has printed over 130 million books in 13 languages to almost every destination on the planet. It also boasts mobile apps, a complete ebook portfolio, an award-winning website, and a dedicated traveller community. Visit us at lonelyplanet.com, join us on Facebook (facebook.com/lonelyplanet) and Twitter (@lonelyplanet and #lp).

Trailer 2 for Charlie Kay Chakkar Mein

'Charlie Kay Chakkar Mein', an investigative thriller starring Naseeruddin Shah, Amit Sial, Anand Tiwari, Subrat Dutta, Auroshikha Dey and Manasi Rachh and Produced by Karan Arora under banner 'Picture Thoughts Production' is Directed by Manish Srivastav. 

‘X’ Poster has the X Factor!

The poster of ‘X: Past is Present’ seems to be like a page straight out of any man’s fantasy! The film that traces one man’s amorous journey has translated the ultimate fantasy on the poster. One guy sharing space with 12 beautiful women including Huma Qureshi, Radhika Apte and Swara Bhaskara and that’s what has gotten trade and industry circles abuzz. Besides the international feel, what hasn’t gone unnoticed by movie-goers is the eclectic mix of faces on it. For so many actresses to be on the same page is certainly a first especially for an Indie film, point out trade wallahs. Moreso, since the actresses all come from a different space of films, it’s creating an excitement among movie goers to see them all come together. 

No wonder, the poster is being much-talked about in the film circles with movie-goers taking to several social networking sites praising the poster’s look. An insider reveals, “The poster of ‘X’ has had one of the best tractions so far. More so, since it’s an Indie film, for a poster to get this kind of a response is really phenomenal. It’s a good start for the film.”

Produced by Manish Mundra, ‘X: Past is Present’ by Drishyam Films is set to release on 20th November.

Sajid Nadiadwala and Vishal Bharadwaj, joining creative forces.

Both th ace film makers have collaborated their creative forces for Rangoon which is a Saif-Shahid-Kangana musical film, set against the backdrop of World War II 

Vishal Bhardwaj is a master storyteller. A major point to note with his epic Rangoon, though, is the scale on which it is mounted. Calling the Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut starrer, which goes on floors on November 15, his most ambitious venture, the National Award-winning filmmaker says, “Rangoon is a classic tale that will have the musical charm of Moulin Rouge, the romance of Casablanca and the intensity and drama of Saving Private Ryan. Like Saving Private Ryan, Rangoon too is set against the backdrop of World War II.“

Talking of his decision to join hands with Sajid Nadiadwala's banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment Pvt. Ltd (NG) for this magnum opus, Vishal says, “I wanted to make this subject for eight years now. However, I knew from the start that this is a film that would take the vision of a producer like Sajid. It needs to be mounted on a lavish scale and after meeting Sajid, I felt he was the right man to take this project forward. The film not only needs a huge budget,but also requires someone who believes in it and allows me to make it the way I have envisioned it. I have made eight movies until now. However, I must add here that the scale of all those films put together is on one aside and that of Rangoon, alone, is on the other. That's how ambitious Rangoon is.“
Commenting on the collaboration, Sajid says, “The NG team and I are very excited to work with Vishal Bhardwaj.“

Sajid and Vishal are sure to leave no stone unturned to ensure that this is one of the most ambitious Indian movies that the world has ever seen.

Rangoon is written by world-renowned writers Matthew Robbins, who collaborated with Steven Spielberg on The Sugarland Express (1974) and more recently with Guillermo del Toro for Crimson Peak (2015) and Sabrina Dhawan, who worked with Mira Nair on Monsoon Wedding (2001). It will be shot in Mumbai, Arunachal Pradesh and in the US.

Bhumi feels her second film is like a relaunch

Bhumi Pednekar floored the audience with her debut as Sandhya in Dum Laga Ke Haisha (DLKH) and is all set to recreate the magic in her next film with Ayushmann Khurrana. Bhumi recently signed her second film where interestingly, she has been paired with her former co-star once again.

Post Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Bhumi’s weight loss has been creating a lot of buzz and the actress seems to have achieved the feat successfully. Bhumi’s weight loss mission originated from her quest to play diverse roles rather than be stereotyped as a particular kind of character. Adding to this she said, “I’m trying to recreate Bhumi all over again.  There’s such a drastic visual difference between how I was then and now. I feel like this will be a relaunch for me. Before DLKH, I was a regular, medium-sized girl. For a few months, I was overweight, and for the other months, I wasn’t. For Sandhya, I did gain a good amount of weight, but now, I am probably the thinnest I’ve ever been. It’s still a work in progress.”

After attaining the perfect shape and a healthy body the talented actress is now focusing on her upcoming project. She says, “I read the script a few weeks ago, and I was completely blown away by it. I’m really happy to work with Ayushmann again. He was my first hero. He’s a great friend, a brilliant actor, and we already share a comfort level with each other. But we will have to outdo what we did in DLKH. So, that’s a bigger challenge for us.”

THE FIRST INDIAN TO BE CROWNED MRS EARTH INTERNATIONAL, MAADHURI R SHARMA!

The Mrs Earth International Pageant has been created to celebrate the outstanding success a woman has achieved as a wife, mother, daughter, friend and community leader. The candidates chosen need to offer a complete package: she needs to be beautiful, successful, confident and driven.

Maadhuri R Sharma, India's first and only contender was crowned Mrs India Earth. She also won the Interview round and the title of Ms Congeniality. She is a certified nutritionist and counsellor. She also works with underprivileged children from rural Maharashtra and supports an NGO called the Light of Life trust.

Set amidst the pristine beauty of Montego Bay, Jamaica, women from 20 countries sashayed down the ramp at Grand Palladium Hotel and Spa for 4 days between October 14 and 18, showcasing their talent and personality in the hope of taking home the prestigious title of Mrs Earth International.This was the first time an Indian participated in the event, and brought home the crown.

Emerging as the winner, Maadhuri will now be the face and voice of the organisation, spreading the message of tourism, friendship, peace & harmony, awareness to special causes and preservation of our Mother Earth.

About the competition

The women were judged on 4 different categories:  Fitness, Personal Interview, Evening gown and Fashion. Each of these rounds had equal weightage. Maadhuri won the best Interview round and Ms. Congeniality. The interview was taken by a panel of 3 judges including a hispanic reality TV star from Game of Crowns show . Ms. Congeniality was voted by the contestants themselves. A national costume round was also held which wasn't marked, but was awarded a prize. Maadhuri 

Bajaj Auto unveils the new range of Avengers

• Unveils 3 new models – Avenger Cruise 220, Street 220 & Street 150
• The new Avenger range is set to re-define and expand the cruiser segment

Mumbai, 27th October 2015: Bajaj Auto today launched the new Avenger range - The Avenger 220 Cruise, 220 Street & 150 Street. The new Avenger series redefines the cruiser bike segment to offer unmatched international styling and cruising comfort. The new Avenger 220 Cruise retains the classic cruiser comfort and looks. The all new Avenger Street range is designed for  easy city riding. The Avenger Street 150 has been introduced to bring the genuine cruiser experience to the large set of emerging 150cc users.

More about Avengers

The Avenger 220 Cruise comes with a liberal dose of chrome highlights thanks to a new radiator, redesigned side grabs, stylized silencer and an all new handlebar. It carries multiple style enhancements and cues which add to its stunning international classic cruiser look. The Avenger 220 Cruise comes with comfortable padded backrest and an optional windshield for easy cruising on highways.

While the Cruise is chrome, the Avenger 220 Street is more stealthy with a matte black and brushed silver finish. The 150 Street comes in midnight blue. Combined with the muscular alloy wheels, the Avenger Street looks sporty and  youthful. The Avenger Street  has a new, lower and flatter handlebar for better maneuverability in city riding. The Street series is all set to take on the city challenges on weekdays and go on long easy rides on weekends.

The new Avengers come with a brand new insignia, new graphics and styling cues, improved rear suspension, bright white light headlamps, clear lens indicators and low slung seats with thicker dual density foam for superior riding comfort.

The Avenger 220’s come with Bajaj’s trusted 220 cc DTSi engine to deliver great performance statistics - 19 PS power and excellent low to mid-range grunt with torque of 17.5 Nm.  The bikes come with an oil cooler to help this hi-performance engine maintain engine oil temperature & viscosity irrespective of external riding conditions. The Avenger 150 Street’s engine is a 150 cc DTSi, which has been completely revised for this bike: it delivers 14.5 PS of power and a torque of 12.5 Nm which is enhanced at low rpms, making it an excellent match for the Avenger riding style.

Commenting on the launch Mr. Eric Vas, President – Motorcycles Business, Bajaj Auto Ltd, said “The genuine cruiser segment has steadily grown over the years with  the Avenger as the torch bearer. We expect that by bringing in an additional style  variant such as the Street, and by offering the popular 150 cc capacity, we will significantly  expand the cruiser segment. With the new Avenger models joining the immensely successful Pulsar range, Bajaj Auto shall strengthen our offerings to discerning customers in the Indian market, and reinforce Bajaj Auto’s leadership in the premium motorcycle segment.”

The Avenger range will be manufactured at the motorcycle plant at Chakan near Pune. The Adventure Cruise 220, Street 220 both will be priced at Rs 84,000/- and Street 150 at Rs. 75,000/- (all Ex-Showroom Delhi).

Specifications

Parameter	Avenger 220 Cruise / Street	Avenger 150
Engine (cc)	219.9	149.0
Power (PS) @ rpm	19@8400	14.5@9000
Torque (Nm) @ rpm	17.5@7000	12.5@6500
Transmission	5-speed	5-speed
Wheelbase (mm)	1490	1480
Overall length (mm)	2177	2177
Overall width (mm)	806 / 801	801
Height (mm)	1142 / 1070	1070
Ground Clearance (mm)	169	169
Kerb weight (kg)	155 / 150	148
Tyre size - Front]	90/90x17	90/90x17
Tyre size - Rear]	130/90x15	130/90x15
Fuel tank (lts)	14	14
Brakes: Front (mm)	260 Disc	240 Disc
Brakes: Rear (mm)	130 Drum	130 Drum