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PITSTOP

If you thought that there weren't any more new cars coming this year, hold on. Skoda will be launching an all-new car very soon. It's the new Octavia that debuted in Europe last year, but those of you who've just booked the current Octavia needn't worry.

Skoda will continue to sell the old car while the new one will be catering to a different segment. Oh, it will come with a different name too. Expected to be priced around Rs 16 to 18 lakh, the new car will certainly come at a premium.

But then again it is the premium version that will debut first. We expect the car to get the 1900cc PD (Pumpe-Duse) 104 bhp motor with the Volkswagen patented DSG automatic gearbox. Both these features incidentally will be a first for India.

Apart from that, it will also have a host of standard features like ESP, park assist and memory seats. A manual version is expected by February, while a petrol engine should make it by the end of next year - we expect it to be the same 2000cc FSI petrol that powers the Audi A4.

As for the name, well they had three options to choose from: Laura, Laurin and Lion. And they have gone with the first one. Say hello to the Skoda Laura.

Truth or dare

The most famous motorcycle daredevils are in town - in Bangalore, that is. Yes, the Crusty Demons have arrived in India and you can see them perform live today.

Incidentally, this is also the first time that the Demons are doing a show in Asia. What's more, there aren't just motorcycles with which these guys will be scaring bird life. There is a snowmobile and a quad bike too!

But there is more to the show than grown men getting more airtime than the Concorde. The sport (yes, it is a sport) is freestyle motocross and these are the guys who pioneered it.

What had started off for making stunt videos 12 years ago has now grown to become a full-fledged show that has already toured seven countries. The stunts themselves are absolutely heart-stopping to say the least, and it's not for nothing that these guys have six entries in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Don't miss the show.