Editorial: A timeline of firsts for Shift

Brand new cars or zero mileage vehicles are like an unwritten chapter. No child has yet smudged the front seat with tiny, Kit-Kat speckled fingers. No rickshaw has yet left the first heart wrenching scratch on that beautiful metallic paint. No mechanic has unscrewed a door panel and lost one of sixteen bolts. The interior smells like plastic, glue and leather: a surprisingly intoxicating aroma for a car.  To own a new car: wishlist of every petrolhead.

The new-car market has changed drastically over the last ten years. The tastes have changed along with the consumer behavior pattern. People want the new stuff, they want what looks cool. Along with those demands, the rest of the sector has also changed. High tech workshops have sprung up to deal with the latest techno wizardry. The aftermarket scene evolved to cater to people looking for high BHP enhancements. And at the same time, we've also run out of roads.

These are all 'firsts' for a business sector that is not particularly small. Two years ago, Shift was the first automotive publication to come out along with a major newspaper. And now we have the first special publication focused specifically on the new car market. And like a new car, we watch the issues tick over as we cross week after week presenting unique, local automotive news. Stick with us for more.