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Me and my cars: Yohan Poonawalla

We speak to Yohan Poonawalla, chairman, Poonawalla Group about his dream cars, his motorsport hero, his automotive bucket list and more.
1 min read3 Nov '24
Autocar India News Desk
Petrosexual, Yohan Poonawalla cars

What are you driving and why?

For my daily drives, I use the Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bentley Flying Spur, Bentley Bentayga, Mercedes-Maybach S 680 or the Land Rover Defender. I also love driving my Ferraris, like the 458 Speciale Aperta and 488 Pista Spider, depending on the place and occasion.

What’s next on your wish list?

A Ferrari Monza SP2.

The most fun you’ve had in a car?

Driving my 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible ‘Popemobile’ in the first ever Mille Miglia in the UAE, alongside some of the best and most iconic cars in the world. 

Favourite / Dream money no object car?

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé.

Who is your all-time greatest motorsport hero?

It would have to be both Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.

Favourite road?

Along the Cote D’Azur in France and the Jebel Jais in the UAE.

What’s on your automotive bucket list?

Well, the list is endless!

What would you do with your last litre of fuel?

Put it in my favourite super car, the Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta, with the top down and hear that multi-award winning engine scream down the Cote d’Azur.

Me and my cars: Yohan Poonawalla
Yohan also has a collection of vintage Rolls’.


Your ideal 5 car garage would be?

Rolls-Royce Phantom EWB with Privacy Suite

Bugatti Tourbillon

Ferrari Monza SP2 

Bentley Flying Spur W12 Speed 

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Honestly, a 5-car garage is way too limited and a big compromise for me.

What was your first car?

A Mercedes-Benz 220 S (W111) , when I turned 18, which I still take to the Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally.

Tatanagar armoured car: the first ever Tata vehicle driven

Tata's first car wasn’t the Estate or the Indica. It was the Tatanagar, an armoured car made to support the war effort in the forties.
5 min read2 Nov '24
Shapur Kotwal
Tatanagar - the first Tata car

Feature: Vintage car preservation masterclass

No man has amassed more custom-built vintage and classic cars than Pranlal Bhogilal. We discover how he helped preserve a uniquely Indian genre of luxury cars.
7 min read1 Nov '24
Shapur Kotwal
Feature: Vintage car preservation masterclass

Experience: Testing JK Tyre Levitas Ultra on a Mercedes E Class and BMW 6 Series GT

JK Tyre launched its new premium range of tyres meant for luxury vehicles, the Levitas Ultra. We experience them at NATRAX’s gruelling test tracks.
3 min read1 Nov '24
Rivan RS
JK Tyre Levitas Ultra tyres test at NATRAX

BYD eMax 7 vs e6: what's changed

The eMax 7 gets visual changes, a host of new features and safety tech and improved performance over the e6.
2 min read29 Oct '24
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Tata Harrier or Mahindra Thar Roxx: which is better for bad roads?

Both are capable SUVs and are available with a diesel engine.
1 min read29 Oct '24
Autocar India News Desk
Mahindra Thar Roxx, Tata Harrier
Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bentley Flying Spur, Land Rover Defender, Yohan Poonawalla cars, petrosexual - Introduction | Autocar India