About Siddharth Vinayak Patankar
Siddharth Vinayak PatankarConnect with this authorFormer senior primetime news anchor, financial correspondent, producer, and Chief Editor-Auto – Siddharth has worn many hats during his many years at NDTV. He conceived all the automobile based content for the NDTV network - including the annual carandbike Awards, and used to head the Auto Prime band of programming launched in 2014. He was a key driver behind carandbike.com – already the country's 2nd largest auto portal. Siddharth also created India’s biggest auto quiz, which ran for 7 seasons – the Mahindra AQ. Besides all this, Siddharth is the first Asian journalist to be appointed as a Director on the Steering Committee for the prestigious World Car Awards in 2016. He has served on that jury since 2011, and is now Executive Director of World Car Awards since 2020. He is also Editor-in-Chief of carandbike.
Articles of Siddharth Vinayak Patankar
Hyundai Grand i10 Facelift vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis
We pit the recently launched Grand i10 Facelift against the Maruti's newest kid on the block, the Ignis. It promises to be a mouthwatering road test.
Read More →
5th Gen Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review: The New Segment Benchmark
The absolute bestselling model for Mercedes-Benz in India, the E-Class has so far accounted for 34% of sales in the company's over 2 decade history in India.
Read More →
Toyota Etios Dual-Tone Review
Toyota had also boarded the two-tone bandwagon last year, given the success most carmakers seem to have with the option. The Etios Liva Platinum edition has this option on the V grade but it seems Toyota received much feedback to introduce the feature in the top spec too. So even though its dealers are calling it a limited edition, the dual-tone is now a bonafide variant being offered on the top two trim grades - V and VX (and in the case of the diesel, VD and VXD).
Read More →
Ducati India Wants To Accelerate Growth; Open To Developing Smaller Bikes
The company currently has 5 dealerships across India in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Ahmedabad. It sold 580 bikes in 2016 - an 18% growth year-on-year.
Read More →
Exclusive: Hyundai Grand i10 Facelift Review
The Grand i10 from Hyundai has been given its mid-cycle facelifted. If anything this makeover was long overdue! The company has launched the car in India and we've already driven it. Here's what it's all about.
Read More →
World Car Awards 2017: Finalists Announced
The most prestigious and biggest awards programme in the automobile world - the World Car Awards has announced its finalists for the 2017 awards. The awards see global manufacturers vying for top honours with products that are on sale on at least 2 continents and launched within a given year. The awards jury comprises 73 international automotive journalists - with 6 from India as well. And after the first round of voting in January here are the finalists.
Read More →
Budget 2017-18: Impact On The Indian Automotive Industry
Every year when it is time for the Union Budget, there is a tonne of speculation and expectation on what various sectors can expect. But truth be told that's usually more of a wish list rather than realistic expectations. In the case of the automobile sector it has traditionally been a demand for the reduction of indirect taxes that hurt the industry's growth prospects.
Read More →
Exclusive: New Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review
The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class is all-set to arrive in India this year. While there is still a bit of time before we can get our hands on the India-spec model, here's our review of the global-spec E-Class, and find out why we thinks its the best sedan from Daimler yet.
Read More →
New Toyota Fortuner Takes On Ford Endeavour: Bestseller vs Benchmark?
The hottest segments ruling our market are indeed SUVs and when it comes to the flagships in this space, it's the big beasts - the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour. The Fortuner has always been the King of the Hill and the new second gen car has already blazed away to 10,000 orders in less than 3 months of launch. The Ford Endeavour came to us much earlier in February last year and has steadily been making strides too with over 7000 units delivered till now.
Read More →
7th Generation BMW 5 Series Review
With the new 7th generation G30, the BMW 5 Series is ready to launch a counter-offensive and really fight back. And having driven the car - I'd say it has got the goods to do it.
Read More →
Maruti Suzuki India Net Profit Up 47.5 Per Cent In Q3'17
The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India has posted an impressive 47.5% year-on-year increase in standalone net profit for the third quarter of the current fiscal at Rs 1744.5 Cr.
Read More →
Maruti Suzuki Ignis Review: The Premium Tallboy!
Maruti Suzuki has been on a roll. It's almost like the run its Korean counterpart was having until last year - where every product launched was a blockbuster. Now it may be premature to call the Ignis one yet - and indeed it will remain a niche product when compared to the likes of the Swift or Baleno. But what the Ignis does is it gives us Maruti's best small car yet. Read on to find out why I say this.
Read More →
Tata Hexa: Why It Needs To Become A Flagship Model For Tata Motors
The Tata Hexa is the revival product for Tata Motors that can be the culmination of the turnaround that the automaker has so desperately needed. With just days left for the launch of its all-new product, we take a look at why Hexa needs to become the flagship offering from Tata Motors and what it means for the Indian manufacturer.
Read More →
All-New Hero Glamour Unveiled In Argentina
Hero MotoCorp has taken the covers off its latest indigenously designed new bike, the Glamour. The 125 cc Glamour was unveiled in Buenos Aires as Hero's first-ever new product launch outside India. It will replace the current Glamour and will be launched in India in March this year - that is also when we will get the new pricing.
Read More →
Hero Begins Argentina Operations With First Global Product Launch
Hero MotoCorp has added yet another global market on its way to achieving its target of selling in 50 markets by 2020. The launch of operations in its 35th market, Argentina began with the opening of the brand's first dealership in Buenos Aires, and also the company's first global product unveil outside India.
Read More →
Ford EcoSport Minor Update Coming; Major Model Facelift Only By Diwali
While the EcoSport has been Ford's bestselling model off late, it has consistently been feeling the pressure since the Vitara Brezza arrived last year in March.
Read More →
Top Ten Car Launches Of 2016
What a busy, engaging and even tumultuous year 2016 has been. We have already recognized the truly best with our annual awards programme. But now it is my turn to tell you my pick for the year's top ten launches in the car market.
Read More →
Bajaj V15 Wins CNB Viewers' Choice Two Wheeler of the Year 2017
With a story to inspire and ignite passion, and a bold claim of offering a more powerful engine at a lower segment price point, the Bajaj V15 was always looking like a winner. Ever since its launch the V15 has captivated the imagination of many, and has sold strongly.
Read More →
Exclusive: Return Of The Bajaj Pulsar NS 200
Bajaj is all set to relaunch and revive the Pulsar NS 200 in the Indian market. The new updated bike will make its debut in mid-January 2017 and will feature a minor makeover in styling terms. More significant will be a BSIV engine though, and Bajaj says that the bike's specs and output will remain unchanged. Expect new colour options and new style body graphics.
Read More →
Skoda Kodiaq Review
The Skoda Kodiaq is the Czech carmaker's big bet as it aims at rapidly increasing volumes in existing and new markets worldwide. And why not, after all SUVs and compact SUVs with a crossover flavour are the 'it' segment and see much higher growth (and margins) than industry averages. This is of course just as true in India too, and which is why the Kodiaq becomes very important for us - and indeed Skoda India too!
Read More →
