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    Honda CB350 Recalled Over Defective Transmission Component

    File photo of CB350 at service. Image – Abhinav Bhatt.
    The recall campaign will kick start on March 23 and the concerned customers will be notified by the company thorough telephone, SMS or email

    The Honda CB350’s strong run has suffered a minor setback in the form of a voluntary recall. Honda Motorcycle Scooter India (HMSI) has announced a recall of CB350 units that were manufactured between 25th November and 12 December.
    Honda CB350 recall
    The company has not revealed how many units were affected by the recall but considering that the production was constrained during the early phases of the launch, we don’t expect the numbers to be very high. It has come to light that a wrong grade of material was used in on of the retro-classic roadster’s transmission components. To be precise, the 4th gear on the countershaft is the potentially problematic component.
    While HMSI maintains that no failure or incidents related to the defect has been reported till date, the material mix up could lead to a bit of issues as the vehicle ages and the component undergoes more and more work cycles.
    When does it start?
    The recall campaign is set to commence on 23rd of March through Honda’s BigWing premium motorcycle dealerships across the country. The defective component in question will be replaced free of cost.
    Honda CB350
    The dealership should be contacting the concerned customers in the coming days. If you happen to own a Honda CB350, you can visit Hondabigwing.in website and check if your motorcycle is covered by the recall campaign or not by entering your VIN number in the dedicated section.
    The recall does not affect the recently launched derivative, the Honda CB350RS. Despite retailing its 350 family of motorcycles only through limited number of outlets, Honda has managed to quickly dispatch 10,000 units in a short span of time. The company is sitting on a healthy number of orders as well.
    Specs at a glance
    The Honda CB350 is the Japanese brand’s answer to the immensely popular Royal Enfield 350 family. Designed and developed specifically for the Indian market, the retro-classic roadster is equipped with a 348 cc motor which is tuned to deliver 21 hp and 30 Nm of torque. The performance figures are in the ballpark of the touring segment. The engine is paired with a 5-speed gearbox.
    Salient features include LED headlamp, assist and slipper clutch, digi-analog instrument cluster with smartphone enabled voice control system, dual-channel ABS, alloy wheels and so on.
    While a recall this early in its market run could be seen as a chink in its armor, we don’t expect this issue to adversely affect the popularity of the motorcycle of its appeal. It will continue to rival the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and Classic 350. Royal Enfield is also preparing a sporty roadster that could go by the name Hunter 350. More

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    Fast and Reliable Used Cars for Less Than $15K: Window Shop with Car and Driver

    Previously on Window Shopping with Car and Driver we looked at the fastest cars you can buy for less than $10,000. While we found some seriously powerful and quick cars, none of them have much a reputation for reliability. So, when a viewer suggested that we combine two challenges in one and wanted us to look at reliable cars that are also quick for less than $15,000, we thought, giving people what they want isYouTube gold.
    Helping us mine the internet’s car listings this week is Window Shop rookie and C/D contributor, Ben Stewart. Stewart is a fan of muscle cars, burnouts, and horsepower, so his choice of a Dodge Charger Pursuit with the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 doesn’t surprise any of us. His selection does draw a few questions about reliability, what the former city-owned vehicle might smell like, and we dive into the other things the Charger’s seller has for sale. Unsatisfied with the quickness and horsepower of his stock Charger, Stewart leaves enough money in the budget for a Procharger supercharger.Valuing handling and driving fun, contributor Jonathon Ramsey picks a fifth-gen Volkswagen GTI. While we can’t fault the 10Best winning GTI’s dynamics, we do badger Ramsey about just how quick and reliable he expects a 13-year-old VW will be. Ramsey takes our barbs and then answers our complaints with a second, more powerful car in such a sad state that we really wish he hadn’t shown it to us.Senior editor Joey Capparella and contributor John Pearley Huffman select two very different Japanese cars. Capparella goes for the surprisingly quick and largely forgotten Infiniti FX50 S SUV that could hit 60 in 5.0-5.1 seconds. Huffman uncovers a V-6-powered Accord with a manual transmission, a 10Best winner that he hopes will resonate with the group. Finally, deputy editor and host of this fine show, Tony Quiroga puts forth a Lexus IS300 that nails the challenge so thoroughly that everyone, and possibly you, are left completely satisfied and in awe.

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    Short Seller, in Devastating Report, Accuses Lordstown Motors of Faking EV Orders

    Hindenburg Research, a short seller—an investor that profits from a stock’s drop in value—released a report today stating that Lordstown Motors has misled investors about the progress of its truck, the Endurance, and the amount of interest in it.
    Hindenburg says many orders for the Endurance are “fictitious” and that the electric startup paid outside groups to generate pre-orders.
    Hindenburg released a report in fall 2020 on electric startup Nikola, leading to the chairman resigning and the launching of federal probes into the company.
    Hindenburg Research, a short seller that previously targeted Nikola in the fall of last year, has released a report on Lordstown Motors today saying that the startup has misled investors about the capabilities of its pickup, the Endurance, and about pre-orders for the truck, which have been widely publicized. Lordstown Motors bought the Lordstown, Ohio, plant from General Motors in 2019 and unveiled the Endurance last summer.

    Nikola EV Startup Accused of Fraud, Chairman Quits

    Lordstown Endurance Electric Pickup Unveiled

    Lordstown, EV Pickup Maker, Going Public

    Featured prominently in Hindenburg’s report are the 100,000 pre-orders for the Endurance which Lordstown CEO Steve Burns has touted. Hindenburg’s report says that in addition to those pre-orders being nonbinding, many of them are simply “fictitious.” Hindenburg claims that in some cases, Lordstown paid for the orders to be placed.
    Lordstown did not respond to Car and Driver’s request for comment, but Burns gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal following the release of the report. Burns said in the interview that while the orders were nonbinding, they still accurately represent the demand for the trucks. He also said that the report contains “half-truths and lies” and looks to serve the financial interests of Hindenburg, which, as a short seller, stands to benefit from the fall of Lordstown’s stock. In fact, following the release of the Hindenburg report, Lordstown’s stock fell 16 percent.
    The claims made by Hindenburg in the report have not been verified by C/D or any other independent publications.
    Lordstown went public last year in a blank-check merger, or SPAC, a method of going public that has become increasingly popular among automotive startups. Fisker, Nikola, and Workhorse are other companies that have gone such a route.
    Hindenburg said a former employee told the research firm that while Lordstown has said it will begin production in September of this year, it is still “three or four years” from actually beginning production. Former employees also told Hindenburg that the company hasn’t completed any of the necessary testing, such as cold-weather and durability testing. The report says that Lordstown’s first test on public roads resulted in the truck combusting.
    In the fall of last year, Hindenburg released a similar report on the automotive startup Nikola, a company that had gone public a few months prior to the report. The report led to Nikola’s stock tanking, the executive chairman and founder stepping down, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Department of Justice launching inquiries into the company.
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    2022 Ford Maverick Spied in All Its Small-Pickup Glory

    This is our best look yet at the 2022 Ford Maverick small pickup truck.
    It’s a crew-cab model with a unibody construction, and it’ll likely be around the same size as the Bronco Sport but with a pickup bed.
    Expect to hear more about the Maverick later this year, as it’s expected to arrive for the 2022 model year.
    Now that we know Ford has already begun production of a new small pickup truck, we’re starting to learn a lot more about what will likely become the 2022 Ford Maverick. These spy photos show off the new model from various angles, and we can see that it will be a crew-cab pickup with a friendly-looking face.

    KGP Photography

    The photos also appear to confirm that the Maverick shares its underpinnings with the Escape and Bronco Sport crossovers. An independent rear suspension setup is clearly visible. This prototype also has the same 17-inch Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires that are available on the Bronco Sport Badlands. It is also being built in the same factory in Mexico as the Bronco Sport.

    2022 Ford Maverick Could Be a True Compact Truck

    New Ford Small Pickup Begins Production

    The Maverick’s short bed is attached to the cab, as this truck features a unibody construction like the Honda Ridgeline and upcoming Hyundai Santa Cruz. But those models are both based on mid-size SUVs, whereas the Bronco Sport is a compact SUV, so the Maverick will be smaller.

    KGP Photography

    Because of its shared platform, we expect that the Bronco Sport’s powertrains will carry over to the Maverick, too. The optional 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four is a sure bet, with the 180-hp 1.5-liter inline-three possible for a cheaper base version of the Maverick. All-wheel drive will likely be standard, with a front-wheel-drive model possible.
    The Maverick should be significantly smaller than the Ranger, and cheaper as well. Ford has previously talked about a sub-$20,000 starting price but we’re not sure if that’s still in the cards. We think a base price of around $25,000 is more likely.
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    How to Watch VW's March 15 Power Day Event about Its EV Program

    Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess tweeted that the automaker will have an event early on the morning of on Monday, March 15, which will appear on a livestream on Volkswagen’s media site and on its Twitter feed.
    Called Power Day, the event will likely deal with the automaker’s battery technology, and the CEO was quick to point out that the event is not a car presentation.
    Volkswagen might use the event to talk about its MEB platform and the technology behind the upcoming Trinity electric sedan.

    VW to Build a ‘High Range’ EV for 2026

    Volkswagen’s Electric MEB Platform

    Timeline of EV Plans Automakers Have Announced

    Turns out announcing news via Twitter is no longer exclusive to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess tweeted news that the Volkswagen Group will be holding an online event called Power Day on Monday, March 15, at 7:00 a.m. ET. The event sounds similar to Tesla’s vaunted Battery Day events. The tweet and accompanying video both note that no new vehicles will be announced during the event.
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    Based on the name and accompanying video showing a battery, it’s likely the event will focus on Volkswagen’s battery technology and its MEB electric platform. The automaker has announced a bold plan to have 50 percent of its sales in the U.S. be electric by 2030 and recently announced an upcoming sedan called Trinity that it says will set new standards for charging times and battery range. How that actually plays out technologically may be the basis for the March 15 event.
    The automaker recently launched its first electric MEB-based vehicle in the United States, the 2021 ID.4 compact SUV. The MEB platform is also the underlying technology of the 2021 ID.3 released in Europe and the upcoming 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron that will land in U.S. showrooms in early 2022.
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    Ather 450x Electric Scooter Deliveries Suspended In Bangalore – Kochi Gets New Experience Center

    Ather 450x electric scooter in Kochi
    Ather Energy opens doors to new dealership, Kochi Experience Centre inaugurated

    Ather Energy is keen on increasing its footprint in India, and the latest buzz is in Kochi, Kerala. The location for the newest dealership is Vytilla at Chakkiapadam Building, Ather Space Kochi.
    Earlier in the week, the e-scooter manufacturer scheduled test rides at Tiruchirapalli aided by a pop-up store in Annamalai Nagar. The Kochi Experience Centre opened its doors today, and the company looks forward to starting deliveries.
    FAME verification OTP
    In another announcement this week, Ather Energy has had to suspend deliveries in Bangalore. This is owing to that fact that as notified by TRAI, the OTP mechanism has been affected across the board. As a result, FAME verification is impacted as it needs an OTP to be shared.
    Keeping this in mind, deliveries in Bangalore are suspended for a few days. The Ather team will reach out to customers in regard to how to proceed if one has a delivery scheduled roundabout now.
    Ather Electric Scooter delivery suspended in Bangalore
    Ather Energy expansion
    Less than a month ago, Ather Energy began production at its Hosur facility. The move enables the manufacturer to increase manufacturing manifold. Annual capacity now stands at 1.10L scooters, and 1.20L battery packs. The company looks forward to using this capacity fully sometime in 2022. Following phase I targets, manufacturing can be expanded to 3.5L scooters annually.
    In recent months, electric two wheeler sales has improved for a number of manufacturers. This market is currently dominated e-scooters. Within the equation, Ather energy is a renowned first mover. The company currently sells Ather 450X and Ather 450 Plus in February 2021, retail sales improved by two-thirds.
    In the larger scheme of things, the Indian two wheeler market is a large one where production and sales numbers are concerned. As the electric two-wheeler market goes from strength to strength, the hope is to shift demand to EVs. The possibilities are endless considering it’s seemingly a wait and watch game now. While no Indian two-wheeler manufacturer has yet stepped forward to offer a timeline as to when they would go all electric, government guidelines for India’s EV goals are being revised on a regular basis.
    For now, in the limited scope of EV sales, Hero electric is already leading the charts. This is in line with its larger than life in the mass market two-wheeler segments we know it now. Bajaj and TVS have already introduced an e-scooter each. Most interestingly, Hero MotoCorp has a sizeable investment in Ather Energy. A recent fund infusement from Hero MotoCorp in 2020 is earmarked for market expansion and thereby improved its market presence. More

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    Hero Passion, Splendor, Xtreme 100 Million Edition And Xpulse 200T Launched

    Hero Passion Pro 100 Million Edition. Image – Rohit Rider
    The Hero Motocorp 100 Million special edition models sport dual-tone red-white livery but there are no other changes

    Hero Motorcorp has introduced a range of special edition models to commemorate the significant production milestone of surpassing 100 million units. The world’s largest two wheeler maker in terms of volume also introduced a model year update of its Xpulse 200T dual-purpose motorcycle.
    2021 Hero Xpulse 200T
    The BS6-compliant 2021 Hero Xpulse 200T is priced at INR 1.13 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). Considering that the Xpulse is still relatively new in the market, the company chose to retain the styling aspects. The BS6 version is available in three color options namely Sports Red, Matte Shield Gold and Panther Black.
    To recap, the Xpulse 200T is powered by a 199.6 cc oil-cooled single-cylinder engine which is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The power and torque figures stand at 18.1 hp and 16.15 Nm respectively. The motorcycle weighs 154 kg and has a ground clearance of 177 mm.
    Feature highlights include a fully digital instrument console with smartphone enabled turn-by-turn navigation system, LED headlamp, front and rear disc brakes with single-channel ABS, alloy wheels and so on. Take a look at the detailed walkaround video of the new Hero Xpulse 200T in the video below, credit to Iam Hyper Rider.
    [embedded content]
    100 Million special editions
    Hero Motocorp crossed the significant production milestone in January this year and the 100 millionth motorcycle was a Hero Xtreme 160R. The company has introduced three special edition variants and is set to launch more such variants in the coming days.
    Hero Xtreme 160R 100 Million Edition. Image – MotoXpert Khan
    The Hero Xtreme 160R 100 Million special edition is dearer than the regular two-disc variant by INR 1,800 at INR 1,08,750 (ex-showroom, Delhi). It gets a special white and red livery. There are no other visual enhancements. The street fighter continues to sport LED headlamps, taillight and turn indicators, digital instrument panel, side stand engine cut-off and so on. Power comes from a 163 cc air-cooled engine pushing out 15 hp and 14 Nm of torque.
    Similarly, the Hero Splendor Plus and Passon Pro 100 Million editions are also swathed in special red and white paint job. The special edition Splendor Plus is available in a single variant priced at INR 67,095 while the Passion Pro special edition is available in two variants – disc (INR 69,200) and drum (INR 71,400). All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.
    New Hero Splendor 100 Million Edition. Image – ConsumerABS
    Power the Hero Splendor Plus is a time-proven 97.2 cc air-cooled engine which develops a modest 7.9 hp and 8.05 Nm of torque. The 113 cc air-cooled unit of the Passion Pro puts out 9 hp and 9.89 Nm of torque. Both motorcycles make do with a 4-speed transmission.
    Hero Motocorp will also launch 100 Million editions of Glamour, Destini 125 and Maestro Edge. These special edition versions are expected to have a limited production run for a few months. As a part of its market consolidation strategy, the Indian two wheeler stalwart is planning to introduce 10 new products every year. We can expect a significant electrification drive in the coming years. More

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    Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Custom Bobber By Neev Motorcycles Named Queen

    Royal Enfield 500cc Custom By Neev Motorcycles
    Custom-built Royal Enfield 500cc motorcycle by Delhi-based outfit Neev Motorcycles has been named ‘Queen’

    Over the years we have witnessed some of the most insane modifications conducted on Royal Enfield motorcycles. Robust and versatile architecture complemented by simple engine construction makes it to the top of the list in the aftermarket industry in India. Every now and then we come across some piece of work that simply blows our minds.
    The latest example is a point in case. A Royal Enfield Bullet 500 model has been turned into an old-school bobber. At first glance, the motorcycle looks a little outlandish and resembles the customised choppers featured in classic Western movies.
    Royal Enfield 500cc Custom By Neev Motorcycles
    However, there is more to it than just meeting the eyes. It gives you the impression of being owned by a royal with streaks of golden colour used here and there and hence has been aptly named ‘Queen’.
    It has been designed by Navneet Suri who runs a custom bike building/modification workshop called Neev Motorcycles which is based out of New Delhi. The workshop has been known for some of the most exquisite mod jobs in recent years especially on Royal Enfield models.
    Royal Enfield 500cc Custom By Neev Motorcycles
    All-new design
    The bike with its unconventional looks is surely a head-turner. Interestingly, a concept of this design was revealed back in 2018 and this is the first working prototype of that concept. It has been built on an all-new platform which has been lowered for a ground hugging look and gets a much longer wheelbase.
    For starters, at front, the bike gets a new custom LED headlamp and a wide straight handlebar. The most prominent highlight being a sleek fabricated fuel tank that slopes down to meet the custom-made seat.
    Complex curves have been incorporated in order to add a glimpse of novelty to its design. The custom paint with a combination of red and gloss black in addition to golden stripes further lends the motorcycle some exclusivity.
    Royal Enfield 500cc Custom By Neev Motorcycles
    Other custom-made parts include body panels, fenders and an esthetically designed exhaust made from stainless steel. The single-side spoke wheels and swingarm assembly have also been built in-house. The license plate is now mounted at the left swingarm. Queen rolls on 130-60/R23 and 240-50/R18 tyres at front and rear respectively.
    Same Powertrain
    The exact cost of this entire customisation is not yet revealed. No supposed changes have been made to its mechanical configurations. It still gets a 499cc single-cylinder air-cooled, fuel-injected motor, which pushes out 27 bhp at 5250rpm and a peak torque of 41.3Nm at 4000rpm while being paired to a 5-speed gearbox. More