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Indian diamond merchant gives 600 new cars to his staff

NEW DELHI — India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped a diamond merchant present hundreds of new cars as gifts to his employees on Thursday. Six hundred employees of Hari Krishna Exporters, a diamond trading company run by Savji Dholakia, received cars made by Indian manufacturer Maruti Suzuki, while around 1,000 more staffers were offered gifts of cash deposits and apartments in a huge outdoor ceremony in Surat, Gujarat. Indians often give each other gifts in the run-up to Diwali, a major Hindu festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil that this year falls on Nov. 7. Modi addressed the prize-giving in his home state of Gujarat via video link, as well as presenting some of the employees with car keys in the capital New Delhi. Dholakia is famous across India for giving lavish gifts to his employees at Diwali, including hundreds of apartments in 2016's ceremony. The showroom value of the 600 cars would be more than $2 million. Gift-giving in the latter part of the year when several Hindu festivals are celebrated provides a major boost to India's economy. The gifts were part of a program targeting staff who have given loyal service to the diamond trader. "The aim of this program was to reward employees' loyalty and dedication towards the company," Dholakia said in a Facebook post.Reporting by Alasdair Pal Related Video: Image Credit: Reuters Auto News Weird Car News Suzuki

Trick motorcycle rider breaks world record for fastest wheelie

The world record for the fastest wheelie ever was broken last week in a British racing event by certifiably crazy man Gary Rothwell. It goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway: don't try this at home, kids. On September 20, in at an airstrip in York, England, Rothwell rode his 540-horsepower turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa 209.8 miles per hour over while balancing entirely on his rear wheel. Rothwell beat the previous world record by a whopping 10 miles an hour, according to Gizmag. Rothwell was going overboard to ensure he cinched the title. He was still miffed over his failure to break the record last month. He only reached 197.8 miles per hour in that attempt, just shy of it. Rothwell also holds world records for being the fastest man on skis, which involved him jumping off the back of his bike and being pulled along at 150 miles per hour on titanium skis. He completed the wheelie at the last Straightliners Top Speed event of the year. Straightliners is known for hosting the fastest of anything. This year featured everything from a shed that traveled over 88 miles per hour to a jet-powered shopping cart. They also welcome trick riders of all flavors to come and share their expertise. Related Video: News Source: Gizmag Motorsports Weird Car News Suzuki Driving Motorcycle Videos world record top speed fastest wheelie

Suzuki tunes up tiny concepts for Tokyo Auto Salon

When counting Japanese automakers, don't forget Suzuki, which has a trio of new show cars lined up for the Tokyo Auto Salon in a couple of weeks. First up is the Water Activity concept. It's based on the Ignis and done up in a matte-finish army green with orange accents, a canoe strapped to the roof, metallic underbody trim, and bigger wheels. It's not unlike the Ignis Trail concept that Suzuki revealed at the main Tokyo Motor Show a few months ago, but taken in more of an outdoorsy direction than a sporty one. Joining it is the Hustler Rough Road Style, based on the oddball square wagon we first saw in concept form back in 2013 but ruggedized for the rocky trail. To that end it features a jacked-up suspension, knobby little tires, caged-in headlights, and a yellow paint job that makes it look as though it wandered through a paintball arena. It even has its name spelled out on the nose like you'd expect to see on a Hummer or Land Rover, and blacked-out trim on everything from the roof to the door handles. Last but not least is the Alto Works GP, which takes the punchy little hot hatch we reported on just the other day in an even racier direction. It features a blue and acid green livery borrowed from Suzuki's MotoGP bike, complemented by a custom carbon-fiber hood. It'll be displayed at the Japanese tuner expo alongside its two-wheeled counterpart, not to mention a smattering of other vehicles from the company's lineup when the show opens on January 15. Related Video: