Ford Mondeo, Bajaj Pulsar bag ICICI Bank Overdrive Awards

Schubert Fernandes
07 February 2003

The glittering function was attended by all the leading players of the automotive sector. They included: Rahul Bajaj and Ravi Bajaj (Bajaj Auto); Brijmohan Lal Munjal (chairman, Hero Honda); Arun Firodia (chairman, Kinetic group); Rakesh Jayal (VP, LML); Allen Durand (president, Mahindra & Mahindra); Jagdish Khattar (MD, Maruti Udyog); Nick Wellman (CEO, Elf Lubricants); J I Kim (MD, Hyundai Motors); B V R Subbu (president, Hyundai Motors India); Sanjay Krishnamurthy (executive director, Elephant Design); Siddarth Lal (MD, Royal Enfield India), K V Kamath (MD, ICICI Bank); H Billimoria (MD, Tata Infomedia) among others.

Other recipients of the ICICI Bank Overdrive Awards 2003 were the Yamaha Libero (Most Exciting New Bike of the year); Tata Indigo (Most Exciting New Car of the year); Hyundai Motor India (Carmaker of the Year); Hero Honda (Two-wheeler Maker of the Year); Mercedes Benz E 240 (Autotech of the Year for sensotronic brake control); BPCL Speed (Auto Product of the Year); Yamaha Enticer (Marketing Campaign of the Year); Mahindra Scorpio (Indigenous Design of the Year); Rahul Bajaj and Royal Enfield Bullet (Hall of Fame); Naran Kumar (Motor Sportsman of the Year for MRF Race); C Vijay (Bike Racer of the Year) and MRF Racing (Motor Sports Team of the Year).

The Overdrive awards, now in their fourth year, are arguably the Indian automotive industry's most sought-after awards for reasons not difficult to fathom. The magazine's crack test team has put each and every vehicle through a rigorous road test regime to give their expert and unbiased verdict on their performance.

This coupled with the experience of some of the biggest names in the business helped determine the standout machines (both cars and bikes) of the year in review. The best performing manufacturers as also ancillary makers plus the specialist service providers were honoured as also the emerging motor sports stars and team.

One of the reasons theses awards have the backing of industry is because they appeal both within the industry and to consumers and the fact that Overdrive follows the same methodology and judging process as the renowned European Car of the Year awards for the awards here.