2000s was the golden decade of motoring in India and we drive and ride iconic cars and bikes from that era for the 152nd issue of the evo India Mag-Book

Also in this issue, we drive the V8-powered Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro, put the MG Majestor through its paces on road and off-road, and compare the B58-powered BMW M440i against the all-electric MG Cyberster. To understand the all-new SQ8 at full length and where it sits in the lineup, we bring along the Q8 and RS Q8 Performance. The long overdue facelifted versions of the Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun are here, and we drive both to see what all has changed. On two wheels, we ride the much-awaited BMW F 450 GS and the Triumph Scrambler 350, and also go racing in the TVS ARE GP and KTM Cup. We at evo India have been frequenting the Buddh International Circuit and this time around we headed there with the Renault Duster to set a lap record for being the fastest Indian-production SUV.

All this and more in the 152nd issue of evo India – grab your copy here!

evo Eras: 2000-2005

The first half of the 2000s were the golden era as India opened up to the world. We bring together the most iconic cars and SUVs from that era - Mitsubishi Pajero, Ford Endeavour, Honda Accord, gen 2 Honda City, OG Mahindra Scorpio, gen 1 Suzuki Swift, Skoda Octavia, Fiat Palio and Toyota Qualis. We even have two estates – the Indigo Marina and Opel Corsa.

Mk 1 and Mk 4.5 Skoda Octavia vRS

The Octy RS introduced India to the joys of a turbo-petrol along with a whole host of go-faster mods and blooding a generation of enthu-cutlets. Does the new Octy RS carry on the legend? We bring both together to understand why people have been obsessing over the RS for over two decades.

25 years of Porsche 911 GT3

If there’s a common thread running from the very first 996-generation to current 992.1 generation GT3 it is the rev-crazy naturally-aspirated flat-six and motorsport-grade suspension for exceptional lap times. Evo eras brings together the two icons of Porsche’s GT department.

2000-2005, biking in India

Bikes like Bajaj Pulsar and Hero Honda Karizma rocked the 2000s and kickstarted the enthusiast revolution. Other icons in the 2000s special include Kawasaki-Bajaj Eliminator, Honda Activa, Dio, Unicorn and Eterno.

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro

AMG’s 63 is back to being a big, fat V8. No more plug-in hybrid business, the AMG GT 63 Pro gets the twin-turbo V8 with 604bhp and makes a lot of noise as it hurls itself from 0 to 100kmph in 3.2 seconds and continues on to 317kmph. Yours for ₹3.55 crore, without options.

BMW M440i v MG Cyberster

Convertibles cars are probably the most niche segment in India, but both the BMW M440i and MG Cyberster come with interesting propositions to attract a wider audience. The M440i gets the M340i’s famed B58 engine, while the MG Cyberster is the only performance-focussed electric convertible car on the market.

Audi SQ8 v RS Q8 Performance v Q8

The new SQ8 gets the 4-litre twin-turbo V8 from the RS Q8 Performance but with a lower state of tune and at a price that slots it in neatly between the Q8 and RS Q8. Is the SQ8 then the sweet spot of the range? We bring together all three Audis.

Harley-Davidson Breakout and Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

Freedom, excess, convenience, and bling are the four pillars of being a true-blue American, and these two are the perfect embodiments of the genre. The Breakout gets a whopping big 1923cc engine that thunders through twin shotgun-style barrels. The Rubicon gets chunky 33-inch mud-terrain tyres that let it go wherever it pleases. Where does this story take us?

MG Majestor

Should the Toyota Fortuner be worried? Especially since the Majestor has three differential locks, premium cabin and materials, and a huge feature list? We drive it on road and off road to see if it stacks up.

Production SUV lap record at BIC

Does the Duster set the benchmark for handling in the mid-SUV segment? To find out we head to the Buddh International Circuit to set the lap record for the fastest Indian-production SUV.

Anantara Concorso Roma 2026

The inaugural Anantara Concorso in Rome features 70 rare and iconic cars like the Ferrari Testarossa, Lamborghini Miura, Bugatti EB110 GT, Maserati V4 Sport Zagato, and more.

BMW F 450 GS

The new BMW perfectly sits in a gap between the single-cylinder ADVs like the Himalayan and Adventure, and premium ADVs like the F 900 GS and Triumph Tiger. But why doesn’t it hit the sweet spot?

Porsche 911 GT3 S/C

Take the best bits of the 911 GT3 and 911 S/T, and package them under an electric-folding fabric roof. Is a convertible the best way to enjoy a GT3 or should you stick to a coupe?

All this and more in the 152nd issue of the evo India mag-book. Click here to purchase!