Max Verstappen to Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton welcomes Red Bull star's rumoured move
advertisement
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Wimbledon, On This Day: Federer and Nadal meet for the final time
There's something poignant about not knowing you're watching something for the last time. When fans sat down to witness Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal face off in the 2019 Wimbledon men's singles semifinals, few would have guessed it was their final duel on the grass of SW19. But what they delivered was a match worthy of the moment — brimming with drama, skill, and the signature quality that defined their rivalry. Both had reached the semifinals in typically commanding fashion. Second-seeded Federer dropped just two sets en route, brushing past Matteo Berrettini in the fourth round and then ousting Kei Nishikori. Nadal, seeded third, tackled a trickier draw, overcoming Nick Kyrgios and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and dropping only a single set — to Kyrgios. And so, all eyes turned to the semifinal: the 40th meeting between Federer and Nadal. Remarkably, 2019 marked their only Wimbledon clash outside of a final. Nadal had the better record in Grand Slam semifinals, having won all four of their previous encounters at that stage. Federer, however, held the edge at Wimbledon, with two wins to Nadal's one — the lone loss being the unforgettable 2008 final. As ever, there was little to separate them. The opening set, defined by assured serving, headed to a tiebreak. Down 2–3, Federer rattled off five straight points to clinch the set. Nadal, unfazed, stormed back to take the second 6–1, leveling the match. Federer, who struggled with his serve in that set, regrouped quickly. A decisive early break in the third allowed him to take it 6–3. The fourth set saw Nadal save four match points, but Federer eventually closed it out 6–4 — securing a place in the final and, unknowingly, victory in their last ever Wimbledon encounter. What followed was a final for the ages. As England triumphed in the ICC Cricket World Cup and Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix, Federer and Novak Djokovic contested the longest singles final in Wimbledon history — a near five-hour epic that Djokovic won 7–6(5), 1–6, 7–6(4), 4–6, 13–12(3). Neither Federer nor Nadal would return to the Wimbledon semifinals. Federer's final appearance came in 2021, ending with a quarterfinal loss. Nadal reached the semis in 2022 but withdrew injured before taking the court. Their 2019 semifinal, though, remains a fitting coda — a final flourish of brilliance from two men who helped define an era on the sport's most storied stage.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Mercedes-Benz GLS AMG Line Launched In India, Price Starts At 1.40 crore
GLS AMG uses a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 376 BHP and 500 Nm. It is also available in a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder diesel. The German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has expanded its lineup in India and has launched the GLS AMG. The model has been released at the starting price of Rs 1.40 crore (ex-showroom) in petrol version, while the diesel avatar goes up to Rs 1.43 crore To attract more target audience, the company is offering the vehicle with the optional 'Night Package'. It comes with black ORVMs, roof rails, window line trim, dark chrome grille slats, and 21-inch alloy wheels. Interested customers can now visit the authorised dealership and pre-book the vehicle. The same can be done online, using the company's official website. The latest offering comes with a long list of AMG-specific cosmetic changes, which make it bolder and aggressive at the same time. The changes include updated front bumpers, bigger air vents, AMG's signature style front grill, body coloured wheel arch cladding, and an impressive rear bumper with 5-spoke alloy wheels. Engine and Power Under the hood, GLS AMG uses a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 376 BHP and 500 Nm. It is also available in a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder diesel that churns out 362 BHP and 750 Nm. Both units are paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system. view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 12:25 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Top-end EVs power Mercedes-Benz India's Q1 FY2025-26 growth; entry-level segment sees sharp decline
New Delhi: Mercedes-Benz India has posted a strong performance in the first quarter of FY2025-26, fueled by a 157 per cent growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales—entirely driven by top-end models priced above ₹65 lakh. As the company ups its ante on 'premiumisation', its high-end EVs and premium internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are driving the volume while there is a significant degrowth in the entry-level segment. 'We don't have an entry-level EV in our portfolio, and we're not looking to de-content cars like the GLA just to push price points,' said Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. 'The growth is purely top-end—both EV and combustion.' During the April-June period, the company retailed 4,238 vehicles, registering a growth of 10 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. EV growth and product strategy In Q1, the luxury carmaker's EV portfolio, including the EQS sedan, EQS SUV, and the G580 electric, led the charge. All of these sit in the top-end bracket, with prices starting at ₹65 lakh. 'We've seen a 157 per cent growth in EVs, and that's primarily because our entire EV portfolio is top-end. There's no entry-level electric vehicle in our lineup,' Iyer noted. The company continues to follow a 'customer-led' strategy for EV adoption. While EV penetration in the brand's sales was around 3–4 per cent last year, it now stands at 8 per cent. As a strategy, the company is not chasing numerical targets but is instead focused on offering EV options across the premium spectrum. 'It's about giving the customer a choice and letting them decide the pace of transformation,' Iyer said. Luxury market flat, German trio stable According to Iyer, the overall luxury car market in India grew by only 1–2 per cent in H1 of the calendar year, with the German trio (Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi) posting largely flat results. He attributes this to a strong base effect from last year's H2, which accounted for over 50 per cent of total annual volumes. 'If you look at the first half of the year, the luxury market is flat. The full-year outlook is still cautiously optimistic, with flat to low single-digit growth,' Iyer said. Tier-2, Tier-3 markets in focus The carmaker is also focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities—not necessarily to drive volumes, but to improve service accessibility. It plans to open 19 new outlets this year, with recent launches in Agra and Jammu and upcoming ones in Patna, Kanpur, and Varanasi. 'In most cities, we're starting with service centres because customers hate traveling to Tier-1 cities just to get their vehicles serviced. It's a customer-centric move, not just a retail expansion,' Iyer emphasised. Premium products and price hikes Mercedes-Benz India has already implemented two price hikes this year—in January and July—with a third possible in September. Despite this, thanks to a timely RBI interest rate cut, the impact on customer EMIs has been mitigated. 'Even though prices went up, our captive financial services arm—which finances over 50 per cent of our cars—was able to pass on the benefit of the rate cut. So EMIs for customers remained unchanged,' Iyer said, adding that price hikes haven't dampened demand in the premium segments. In fact, most new launches have been at the top-end. The GLS, Maybach variants, AMG models, and the E-Class continue to be strong drivers in the core and top segments. 'There are no new launches planned in the entry or core segments. Most of our launches this year—around eight—are in the top-end segment,' Iyer said. Supply chain stable, no rare-earth disruption Speaking on the rare earth magnet crunch that the auto industry is currently grappling with due to the export restrictions imposed by China--which produces 90 per cent of the world's rare earth magnets-- Iyer said the company's supply chain is fairly insulated from the disruption as procurement operations are Germany-based. 'Our supply chain is managed out of Stuttgart and has been robust. We have no issues with sourcing or production. Waiting periods exist for some models like the EQS SUV or Maybach G580, but that's due to demand—not supply constraints,' Iyer clarified. The company also has no plans to localise or develop entry-level EVs for the Indian market. 'All localisation efforts will remain in the top-end segment. Entry-level localisation is not in the pipeline,' Iyer confirmed. Currently, Mercedes-Benz India localises several models in the top-end EV range. Clearly, Mercedes-Benz India is steering its India strategy towards sustainable profitability over sheer volume, banking on top-end electrification, customer experience in emerging cities, and premium-only positioning. As it puts the entry-level models on the backburner, and with EV penetration slowly climbing, the brand appears focused on quality over quantity in a market where luxury still accounts for just 1.1 per cent of total car sales.
