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1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopio Is Today's BaT Auction Pick

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• This 1975 Lamborghini Countach is an early LP400 “Periscopio” model.• Although thoroughly outrageous, the LP400 has a clean design compared to the later bewinged models.• This one is up for sale on Bring a Trailer, with the auction ending on Friday, June 3.Lamborghini effectively created the supercar genre with the stunning Miura of the late 1960s. Following up such a landmark design is a prospect that might have paralyzed most designers, but Bertone’s Marcello Gandini was up to the task. His Countach was absolutely nothing like the Miura and yet equally monumental.

Bring a Trailer

Bring a Trailer

The Countach made its debut at the 1971 Geneva auto show, but Lamborghini’s financial situation being what it was (a hot mess), production didn’t start until 1974. The early cars are the purest expression of Gandini’s vision with their incredible proportion, outlandish scissor doors, and wild surface treatment. One key element that gives them their “Periscopio” designation: a groove cut into the roof that allows for a (limited) rear view over the mid-mounted V-12.

Bring a Trailer

Bring a Trailer

This 1975 example on Bring a Trailer, which like Car and Driver is part of Hearst Autos, has that feature, but it didn’t always. Although the car is today in its as-built configuration and color (Tahiti Blue), at some point in its past, a previous owner performed a tragically ill-advised update, adding fender flares and a rear wing, converting to a flat roof, and repainting it red. An exhaustive restoration in 2017—which is cataloged in the listing in great detail—put the car back to its original spec. This Lambo’s class win at the 2019 Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance attests to the quality of the work.

Bring a Trailer

Bring a Trailer

Move beyond the outlandish exterior, and there’s more to love. The interior of this early car has some fun details such as the lounge-like seats, the gated shifter, the crank windows, and a vertical odometer. The odo shows 14,000 miles. Not everyone will appreciate this Countach’s denuded form. Those of a maximalist bent might prefer this 1989 25th Anniversary Edition, also up for auction. At this writing, bidding on the “Periscopio” stands at $750,000. This is the earliest Countach ever to be auctioned on BaT, and it will be interesting to see whether it surpasses the previous top sale, a 1987 Countach 5000 QV with fender flares and a rear wing, in red. That one went for $860,000. The current auction ends on Friday, June 3.

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  • 125 Shares16 Views

    in Motor News

    1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopio Is Today's BaT Auction Pick

    • This 1975 Lamborghini Countach is an early LP400 “Periscopio” model.• Although thoroughly outrageous, the LP400 has a clean design compared to the later bewinged models.• This one is up for sale on Bring a Trailer, with the auction ending on Friday, June 3.Lamborghini effectively created the supercar genre with the stunning Miura of the late 1960s. Following up such a landmark design is a prospect that might have paralyzed most designers, but Bertone’s Marcello Gandini was up to the task. His Countach was absolutely nothing like the Miura and yet equally monumental.

    Bring a Trailer

    Bring a Trailer

    The Countach made its debut at the 1971 Geneva auto show, but Lamborghini’s financial situation being what it was (a hot mess), production didn’t start until 1974. The early cars are the purest expression of Gandini’s vision with their incredible proportion, outlandish scissor doors, and wild surface treatment. One key element that gives them their “Periscopio” designation: a groove cut into the roof that allows for a (limited) rear view over the mid-mounted V-12.

    Bring a Trailer

    Bring a Trailer

    This 1975 example on Bring a Trailer, which like Car and Driver is part of Hearst Autos, has that feature, but it didn’t always. Although the car is today in its as-built configuration and color (Tahiti Blue), at some point in its past, a previous owner performed a tragically ill-advised update, adding fender flares and a rear wing, converting to a flat roof, and repainting it red. An exhaustive restoration in 2017—which is cataloged in the listing in great detail—put the car back to its original spec. This Lambo’s class win at the 2019 Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance attests to the quality of the work.

    Bring a Trailer

    Bring a Trailer

    Move beyond the outlandish exterior, and there’s more to love. The interior of this early car has some fun details such as the lounge-like seats, the gated shifter, the crank windows, and a vertical odometer. The odo shows 14,000 miles. Not everyone will appreciate this Countach’s denuded form. Those of a maximalist bent might prefer this 1989 25th Anniversary Edition, also up for auction. At this writing, bidding on the “Periscopio” stands at $750,000. This is the earliest Countach ever to be auctioned on BaT, and it will be interesting to see whether it surpasses the previous top sale, a 1987 Countach 5000 QV with fender flares and a rear wing, in red. That one went for $860,000. The current auction ends on Friday, June 3.

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    Prodrive's P25 Will Be a Subaru Impreza 22B Revival with 400 HP

    U.K. motorsport firm Prodrive is responsible for some of the coolest Subaru rally cars on the planet. It plans to pay tribute to those cars by releasing a limited run of what it calls the P25, a lightweight, modernized, high-horsepower GC8-generation Impreza coupe. Like the legendary 22B on which it’s inspired, the P25 will use a 2.5-liter boxer-four engine that sends power to all four wheels. Thanks to modern tech and tuning ability, Prodrive claims the engine will make “in excess of 400 hp,” a big step up from the 22B’s 300-hp rating. Instead of a traditional manual gearbox, the P25 will use a sequential transmission with paddle shifters. It’ll also be incredibly lightweight thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber.

    Prodrive has yet to release any photos of the P25, but did show off a single sketch of the car. It shares much of its design with the 22B, but sports a lower stance, bigger wheels, larger brakes, and rally-inspired side mirrors. “The original 22B Impreza is considered the most iconic of Subarus and highly sought after,” Prodrive chairman David Richards said in a statement. “We wanted to enhance everything that made that car so special by applying the very latest technology to create our own modern interpretation of a car that’s established a place in motoring history.”Prodrive will reveal the P25 in June at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The rally shop plans to build just 25 examples and is now taking “expressions of interest” for those who want to get in line. Pricing has not yet been revealed, though considering all of the high-end custom work done, don’t expect it to be cheap.

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    Hero Electric Aims To Beat Ola And Become No 1 In E-Scooter Sales

    Hero Electric has one of the widest portfolios of electric two-wheelers in India with as many as 14 models in its lineupOla became No 1 in April 2022, beating Hero ElectricHero Electric was among the first major brands to set foot in the electric vehicle space in India by launching its electric two-wheeler back in 2007. Today, there are multiple players in the industry, especially in the battery-powered two-wheeler space, including established auto brands as well as newly founded EV startups.Despite multiple new entrants in the battery-powered two-wheeler segment, Hero had held its top spot; until last month when Ola Electric took the numero uno position. In April 2022, Hero Electric was unable to dispatch a single unit to any of its dealerships across the country.Hero Electric Confident Regaining Top SpotHowever, the Delhi-based EV manufacturer is confident of regaining its position as a market leader in the near future. Managing Director of Hero Electric, Naveen Munjal assured that the company will make a turnaround very soon. Thanks to an acute shortage of semiconductor chips, Ola Electric was able to dethrone Hero from the top position last month.Munjal revealed that Hero remains committed to triple sales and regaining its leadership position even though chip shortage is likely to impact its operations for a few more months. He further added that shortages that Hero Electric currently faces are planned shortages which are temporary and not a long-term challenge.Hero Electric Scooter Optima HXExpansions of Sales & ProductionHe expects production to stabilize in the next few months although he admitted that demand is so huge that the company will not be able to fulfill it entirely. Hero Electric managed to sell around 100,000 units of its electric scooters in fiscal 2022. It has set a target of retailing around 250,000-300,000 units in the current financial year.In order to achieve an annual capacity of 500,000 units by the end of this calendar year, Hero is expanding its existing production facility in Ludhiana, Punjab. The EV brand also has additional capacity available at partner Mahindra’s factory in Madhya Pradesh. Over the course of the next five years, Hero plans to set up multiple manufacturing facilities to achieve a cumulative capacity of 5 million units per annum.Future Plans for Hero ElectricHero Electric has one of the widest portfolios as far as electric two-wheelers are concerned. The brand currently retails as many as 14 models that are based on five platforms and intends to launch multiple new scooters this year. The new launches will cater to both categories- city speed and high speed. However, Hero is focussing on the former at present since the city speed segment will bring in mass volumes.Models in the higher end will come once as drivetrains and batteries improve. Since there was no sale in April this year, Hero Electric conducted a safety month where it educated its consumers about battery functioning and how it needs to be maintained and to tell tale signs of a problem. This was in the backdrop of numerous fire incidents on electric scooters occurring across the country in recent times.Source More

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    Benelli Keeway Scooters Sixties, Vieste 300 – Launch Price Rs 3 Lakh

    Keeway has priced both the scooters starting at Rs. 2.99 lakh (ex-sh) offering the same platform with two different body stylesBenelli Keeway Vieste 300 Scooter Launch Price Rs 3 LakhKeeway is a Hungarian motorcycle manufacturer that is currently owned by the Chinese motorcycle manufacturer QJ Motors along with Benelli. Keeway brand has a global presence and is very popular in Europe for its commuters and scooters. The brand is also known for its Harley-Davidson-inspired cruiser motorcycles in Europe.Keeway recently debuted in India with 3 products, Sixties 300i retro-styled scooter, Vieste 300 maxi scooter and the K-Light 250V cruiser motorcycle. Off the three, company has launched the Sixties 300i and Vieste 300 scooters in India for a price of Rs. 2.99 lakh (ex-sh). QJ Motors is expected to sell the Keeway products through its already established Benelli dealerships.Benelli Keeway Scooter – Sixties 300iThe Sixties 300i, as the name suggests, is inspired by the flamboyant European scooters from the 1960s. It gets classic design language with its round headlamps, round mirrors, classic looking badging, retro grab handles and large split seats with the 1960s flair.Along with the classic design, it gets three new classic colour themes, Matte Light Blue, Matte Grey and Matte White. All three colours get contrasting plastic trims and seat covers. Matte Light Blue is the most retro-looking and gets cream-coloured plastic trims, white-walled tyres and tan-coloured seat covers.Benelli Keeway Sixties 300i Scooter Launch Price Rs 3 LakhThe Matte Grey gets tan-coloured plastic trims, black chrome, red lettering and black seat covers. Matte White gets white plastic trims, black chrome, red lettering and red-coloured seat covers.It gets an analog speedo with a small LCD panel for various readouts. Sixties 300i also get a fuel tank mounted on the floorboard with 10L capacity. It measures 1985 mm in length, 720 mm in width, 1170 mm in height and has a 1390 mm wheelbase with 790 mm seat height and 140 mm of ground clearance. Sixties 300i gets LED headlights and vertically laid-out tail lights. It weighs 146 kg and comes with 120/70 tubeless rubber wrapped on 12” wheels on both sides.Benelli Keeway Scooter – Vieste 300Vieste 300 is a maxi-scooter that promises a lot of comfort for the rider. Unlike its sibling Sixties 300i, Vieste 300 looks modern and futuristic with body panels that are chiseled and sharp. The body provides ample wind protection to the rider at high speeds. Keeway is offering 3 colours with the Vieste 300, Matte Blue, Matte Black and Matte White. It gets LED headlights with 4 projectors for ample illumination and light throw along with LED DRLs. At the rear, LED tail-lights and turn indicators sit flush with the maxi-scooter’s aerodynamic body.Benelli Keeway Vieste 300 Scooter Launch Price Rs 3 LakhWhen compared to Sixties 300i, Vieste 300 feels futuristic in terms of instrumentation. It gets a large LCD screen for various readouts and round analog speedo and tacho on either side of the screen. Vieste 300 measures 1920 mm in length, 800 mm in width, 1130 mm in height and has a 1390 mm wheelbase with 770 mm seat height and 135 mm ground clearance. The maxi-scooter weighs 147 kg and comes with 110/70 rubber at the front and 130/70 rubber at the rear. These tyres are wrapped on 13” wheels on both sides. It gets a larger 12L fuel tank owing to its touring credentials.Pricing & LaunchQJ Motors has priced both the scooters starting at Rs. 2.99 lakh (ex-sh). For the money, both the scooters get a single-cylinder 4-stroke, 4-valve 278.2cc engine churning out 18.7 bhp @ 6500 RPM and 22 Nm @ 6000 RPM. Both scooters also get disc brakes with dual-channel ABS. Both these scooters have created a niche for themselves as they don’t have any competition at the price point, engine capacity and the form factor.The Sixties 300i will be the most expensive retro-themed scooter after the 150cc scooters from Vespa. Vieste 300, however, will be slotted between the Yamaha Aerox 155 and the BMW C 400 GT which costs over three times as much. At Rs. 2.99 lakh (ex-sh), Keeway is offering a capable platform with two entirely different flavours. More

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    Simple One Electric Scooter Delayed Again – Angry Customers Cancel Booking

    Deliveries of Simple One electric scooter have been delayed yet again – The reason company gave is due to recent fire-related incidents across the countryImage for reference.Simple Energy announced entry into the electric mobility space by unveiling its electric scooter One on August 15 last year. Since then, more than nine months have passed and the Bengaluru-based EV startup is yet to deliver a single unit to its customer and it seems the wait is going to stretch even longer.The company through its official Twitter handle has posted an update about its latest status of deliveries of e-scooters. Through this statement, Simple Energy has notified that deliveries have been deferred as updated guidelines for EVs are expected to be issued by the government shortly.Simple One Electric Scooter – Deliveries DelayedThe tweet also notifies that test rides of the premium electric scooter will begin in July this year and exact dates for the same will be officially announced on May 30. Further, Simple Energy founder-CEO, Suhas Rajkumar has revealed that scheduled deliveries of One have been postponed from June to the first week of September.This development comes in the backdrop of several unfortunate incidents regarding electric two-wheelers. In recent months, there has been a spree of fire-related accidents witnessed across the country which has drawn attention of not just the general public but the government as well. An unprecedented number of such incidents has forced the government to look into safety in electric two-wheelers with all seriousness and set up a probe.Simple One Electric Scooter Delayed – Update from CEOEarlier in April, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said appropriate action will be taken against EV manufacturers who are found to be negligent. The Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) has been asked to probe such incidents and also suggest remedial measures. If any manufacturer is found guilty a hefty fine will be imposed and a recall of all defective vehicles will also be ordered.Taking cognizance of recent reports, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which comes under the supervision of Union Consumer Affairs Ministry, has sent notices to Pure EV and Boom Motors in relation to loss of life and severe injury to customers due to their products catching fire. Both brands have been in the news for all wrong reasons.Change in policies expectedRecent chain of events might bring some policy changes from the government which is why Simple Energy has delayed production as well as deliveries of its e-scooters. As per the CEO, the company has received huge bookings and is looking to start deliveries pan-India rather than going city-wise as per previous plans. Therefore, it needs to ensure that the supply chain is strong and stable before deliveries commence.Angry customers cancel booking of Simple One Electric ScooterThe latest delay has not gone down well with some of their customers. Tired of waiting, some have even cancelled their booking and are now awaiting the full refund of Rs 1,947. Coming to Simple One, the electric scooter has been priced at Rs 1.10 lakh (ex-showroom Bengaluru, including latest FAME-II subsidies) and is available in a single variant. It will take on other premium electric scooters like Ola S1, S1 Pro, Ather 450X and TVS iQube. More

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    Yamaha MT15 V2 Records Near 10k Sales In 1st Month Of Launch

    Yamaha MT15 sales touched the 9,228 unit mark in April 2022, the highest ever monthly sales recorded to-dateImage – Anubhav ChauhanYamaha MT15, a popular model in the company lineup was discontinued a few months ago. In its place, the new MT15 was launched last month. This new gen Yamaha MT15 is priced at Rs 1.6 lakh (ex-showroom) and is now called the MT15 V2.0. This naked street-fighter is based on the R15 V4.Sales in the first month of launch were at 9,228 units, making this the highest monthly sales recorded for an MT15 to date. In April 2021, sales of the Yamaha MT15 had stood at 5,692 units relating to a YoY growth of 62 percent. Its bookings opened in March 2022.2022 Yamaha MT15 V2.02022 Yamaha MT-15 V2.0 gets more aggressive, as compared to its earlier counterpart. Presented in two new colour options of Cyan Storm and Racing Blue, it also continues to be offered in two older colour schemes of Ice Fluo-Vermillion and Metallic Black. Feature updates include a single pod LED headlamp, LED DRLs and a raised tail segment along with a side slung exhaust muffler.Design updates are also seen on the new front forks that have been anodized in golden colour. It also receives a new digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity along with Yamaha’s Y-Connect App offering a range of connectivity features and remote access via the smartphone.New MT15 V2 has become the 2nd best selling vehicle from Yamaha India.It also displays information on calls and notifications, phone battery level, gear position and ride modes along with average speed and fuel efficiency. Features also include traction control, quick shifter and side stand engine inhibitor.2022 Yamaha MT15 V2.0 – Engine SpecsYamaha MT15 V2.0 continues to draw power via a 155cc, single cylinder, liquid cooled engine with VVA – Variable Valve Actuation technology that offers 18.4 hp power at 10,000 rpm and 14.1 Nm torque at 7,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6 speed gearbox with slipper clutch. Braking duties are handled by a 282mm disc brake in the front and 220mm disc at the rear. Suspension is via inverted front forks in the front and mono shock at the rear, with preload adjustable. It now gets a MotoGP-inspired Aluminium swingarm, replacing the box-section swingarm of the older version.Single channel ABS is offered as standard while the MT15 rides on 17 inch wheels at the front and rear, fitted with 100/80 front and 140/70 rear tubeless tyres. Kerb weight is 139 kgs. Yamaha MT15 V2.0 competes directly with the KTM 125 Duke while it will also offer some serious competition to the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, Bajaj Pulsar N250, Suzuki Gixxer 250, Honda Hornet 2.0, etc in its price range.The Yamaha MT15 V2.0 is also being offered with a range of accessories among which are an MT15 logo sticker priced at Rs 80, fuel tank pads and seat covers at Rs 350 and Rs 400 respectively, mobile charger and mobile holder for Rs 750 and Rs 350 respectively and tee shirts and riding jackets priced from Rs 300 to Rs 6,990. More

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    Bajaj CT100 Motorcycle Discontinued – Production Stopped

    The CT100 was Bajaj Auto’s most affordable product at a priced of around INR 54k (ex-showroom, Delhi)Ryt 2 KnowAfter soldiering on for several years without any major changes, Bajaj’s most affordable commuter workhorse CT100 has finally been put to rest. The Pune-based firm has reportedly stopped the 100 cc low-cost motorcycle’s production earlier this month and the dealers have stopped receiving fresh stocks.The move to discontinue the CT100 is likely due to gradual shift in the customer preference towards its slightly upmarket and retro-styled CT110X sibling. Prices of the CT110X range starts from about Rs 65k, ex-sh Delhi.Bajaj CT100 at a glanceWhile the CT100 did have a long life, registering decent sales for Bajaj Auto in the process, it never came close to dethroning the venerable Hero Splendor Plus which continues to be the best selling motorcycle in the country for decades.To recap, the Bajaj CT100 was a textbook Indian budget commuter motorcycle which employed a simple tubular frame. Suspension setup was composed of conventional telescopic front forks and SNS (Spring-in-Spring) twin rear shock absorbers. Being a no-frills mobility solution, the CT100 made do with front and rear drum brakes but it did come with black alloy wheels. The 102 cc air-cooled engine was paired with a 4-speed gearbox to put out a modest 7.8 hp and 8.3 Nm of torque.Bajaj CT 110 XThe Indian 100 cc commuter segment is all about cut-throat competition and the fact that the Bajaj CT100 managed to stay afloat is a testament to its value-for-money quotient, longevity and excellent fuel efficiency. Along with its sister model Platina, the CT100 is known to deliver a mileage of over 70 kmpl. The price point of INR 53,696 ex-showroom, Delhi, is indeed attractive for the customer but with the rising input costs, Bajaj probably found it difficult to keep things reasonably profitable.As of now, there is no news of the Bajaj CT100 being replaced as a new 100 cc cost effective commuter. So the company’s range now starts from the Platina 100 but, we won’t be surprised if Bajaj pulls the plug on it as well. At the time of writing this article, the official website of Platina 100 had prices starting from Rs 61,152, ex-sh.Nothing Stops Hero SplendorWhile the Indian commuter motorcycle segment accounts for a significantly large volume of the overall market, Hero MotoCorp has been enjoying an unassailable lead over the competitors, leaving very little for the rest of them to scoop up. This scenario makes it less lucrative for a two wheeler OEM to go after this segment.Save for Bajaj and TVS, pretty much every other player gave up and moved on to other attractive sub-segments. The discontinuation of CT100 only improves things for the segment king Splendor Plus. It is remarkable how the iconic nameplate continues to be a cash cow with hardly any design changes since the beginning. Honda is working on a new motorcycle to take on the Splendor, maybe Bajaj too is thinking on similar lines to take on the No 1 motorcycle of the world. More

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    Video: We Doubt Anyone Asked for a V-6 Hybrid Ferrari, But the 296GTB is Everything It Should Be

    It might sound shocking that the newest mid-engine Ferrari is a V-6 hybrid, but one long press on the accelerator will make anyone a believer. We had another opportunity to visit Italy and drive the Ferrari 296GTB on the automaker’s test circuit and the nearby ultratight and bumpy roads. As shown in the video, the GTB is everything a Ferrari should be.After immediately getting stuck behind traffic, C/D testing director Dave VanderWerp uses that time to explain the technical details of the new engine. Ferrari says the GTB is its first roadgoing vehicle with a V-6, as the brand still doesn’t consider the 246GT Dino a real Ferrari.

    The hybrid consists of a 164-hp electric motor that sits between the V-6 and the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 makes 654 horsepower, and Ferrari says the powertrain produces 819 horsepower combined. If you’re wondering why there’s one additional horsepower in the combined figure, remember the concept of rounding. The 6.0-kWh battery provides an estimated 10 miles of all electric driving range. To Ferrari’s credit, the EV driving mode keeps the engine off even when you stomp on the accelerator pedal. On the other hand, you’d have to go far back in history to find a slower Ferrari than the GTB in its EV mode. Once traffic clears, Dave explores the upper ranges of the powerband and experiences launch control. We also touch briefly on the track-oriented Assetto Fiorano package and its grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires.

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