August issue is out on stands now

It's that time of the month when our latest issue hits the stands. And this month too, we have lots of exciting tests, drives, rides, comparos and features to fuel your need for speed for all of August. This being India's Independence month, our issue is jam-packed with experiences of those from the yore but narrated in the present.

Remember Hyundai's Elantra? Well, Bert drives the new Hyundai Elantra scheduled to be launched in India by next month. His experience says that Elantra has moved several rungs up the ladder. Mercedes is eyeing a pie of the small car segment in India and Bert warms up to the new A-Class scheduled to hit the Indian roads later in 2013. Halley goes one-up and gets to drive the new B-Class which will be launched in India within a couple of months.

Two years back, Shumi drove the Renault Duster in France and boy was he impressed! Now Renault has officially launched the SUV in India at a cut-throat pricing and after driving the Duster in India, Shumi feels that SUV will be the company's serious volumes player in the market. Well, that's not the only thing that Shumi drove. He also experienced the updated Porsche Panamera Turbo. In terms of rising petrol prices, Volkswagen threw a surprise at the Indian car industry by launching the petrol-powered Jetta TSI 1.4. But will it prove to be an ideal foil to its powerful cousin, the 160PS Skoda Laura vRS? Rishaad gets behind the wheels of both the cars to find out.

Mercedes showed some bling last month by launching the C250CDI Performance Edition. Is it better than the regular C250CDI? Rishaad finds out. If its Rishaad, it wouldn't be without his usual dose of features, this time the bug taking him to the Tata Himalayan Experience. Halley in the meanwhile manages to get a dekkho into the impeccable McLaren factory and what's more, even gets to drive the exclusive MP4-12C. While Hyundai India may have no plans of bringing this to India, Ray says that the Hyundai Veloster with its quirky styling elements will definitely appeal to Indians.

The motorcycle segment in India saw the launch of Honda's new 110cc commuter, the Dream Yuga. Honda has lofty aims of making this a Hero Splendor beater. Is the Yuga that good? We find it out by pitting both against another new entrant, the Suzuki Hayate. Well, challenges in the mileage conscious Indian market boil down to KMPL and what better way to check this than to put Rs 100 worth of fuel into the Splendor and Yuga and take them out for a spin. Joe did exactly that!

Bajaj's all-new 200NS is the first of the new Pulsar line. How has India's iconic sporty motorcycle progressed? Shumi sets to find out. Ever since the Pulsar 200NS was unveiled, we have been fielding lots of questions if the Duke is worth the premium over the Pulsar or the latter still makes for a good buy? We settle that once and for all in this issue.

What was it like to be out driving before India's independence? What were the roads like? What were the cars like? We ask the true enthusiasts who've seen it all! All this and then we have all the automotive news from India and abroad. Plus we have all the happenings from the world of Indian and international motorsport. So, what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy today.