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    Mazda CX-9 Officially Dies Off after 2023 to Make Way for CX-90

    Mazda confirmed that the CX-9 three-row SUV will be discontinued after the 2023 model year.The CX-9 is being replaced by the 2024 CX-90, which has a new platform and new powertrain options.The CX-9 first joined the lineup for 2007 and the current generation arrived for 2016.It’s out with the old, in with the new at Mazda as the company has confirmed that the CX-9 will die after the 2023 model year. The CX-9 has served as Mazda’s three-row SUV offering since it first arrived for the 2007 model year, but it’s being replaced by the new 2024 Mazda CX-90, which went on sale earlier this year.This discontinuation doesn’t exactly come as a surprise, as it represents a larger shift that’s happening within Mazda’s crossover lineup. The CX-9 is based on Mazda’s transverse-engine platform and uses a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the CX-90 rides on the company’s new longitudinal-engine platform and offers either a turbocharged inline-six engine or a plug-in-hybrid powertrain. The CX-90 is also positioned to be more of an upscale offering: although its starting price of $40,970 isn’t much higher than the outgoing CX-9, at $40,125, the CX-90’s higher trim levels reach above $60,000 while the CX-9 tops out at around $50,000.We Test the CX-90The CX-9 first arrived for the 2007 model year and the current, second-generation CX-9 arrived for 2016. We liked its combination of pleasant driving dynamics and upscale interior materials, but its third-row seat was cramped and it was starting to show its age by the time we tested a 2020 model later in its production run.More change is coming to Mazda’s SUV offerings later this year, as we’re expecting the two-row CX-70 to join the CX-90 soon. This new mid-size model will also use the new longitudinal-engine platform and inline-six engine and should look similar to the CX-60 that’s been introduced for global markets.In the meantime, CX-9 sales remain relatively strong, as so far in 2023 the model is up 7 percent compared with last year. Mazda sold 17,359 CX-9s through the first half compared with just 5704 CX-90s during the same time period. Mazda has not yet given an exact date for when CX-9 production will end, so expect some 2023 inventory to remain at U.S. dealers for the time being.More on Mazda SUVsThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

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    The Legend Evolves: Royal Enfield 750cc Engine Under Development?

    Royal Enfield 650cc engine for referenceNew Royal Enfield 750cc powertrain – Likely a derivative of the outgoing 650cc parallel-twin unitWith a slew of retro classic motorcycles ranging from 350cc to 650cc powertrains, Royal Enfield has absolute dominance in mid-size motorcycle space. So much so, that it is currently the largest mid-size 2W manufacturer by a large margin. Thanks to its 650 Twins Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650, joined by Super Meteor 650.Now, a recent report points to a larger engine is under development at Royal Enfield. This new engine will reportedly be a 750cc unit that will develop considerably more power and torque than outgoing 650cc unit. This new engine has the potential to open a new chapter in Royal Enfield’s sales. But, might get overlooked in favour of the 650cc platform too.Royal Enfield 750cc Engine – Revolution or Evolution?A variation of outgoing 650cc parallel-twin engine. In this sense, Royal Enfield is likely to carve out a bigger bore or stroke so the outgoing 650cc unit will displace around 750cc with codename ‘R’. In that case, the outgoing oil-cooling setup is highly likely to continue and only the new 450cc mill will get liquid-cooling setup.Outgoing 648cc parallel-twin motor generates 47 bhp of power at 7250 RPM and 52 Nm of torque at 5250 RPM. For a relaxed cruiser, the engine speed seems to be quite high, Royal Enfield might work on reducing engine speeds and give just marginally more performance, but at much lower engine speed.Royal Enfield 750cc engine will reportedly debut on a Bobber-style motorcycle with codename ‘R2G’. Given Royal Enfield’s product strategy, we will see multiple different body styles with this new 750cc platform. Starting with a bobber, we can have an ADV, a cruiser, a street motorcycle and even a cafe racer.The lead development is said to be happening at company’s development center in Leicester, UK. Manufacturing will happen here in India, though. This new engine will appeal to 350cc motorcycle owners looking for an upgrade. We will see this new 750cc R platform on the roads in 2025 or beyond.What to expect?So, will 750cc be the cap? More performance-oriented motorcycles than this new 750cc engine will reportedly be electric. This way, Royal Enfield can target a wide spectrum of motorcycles including 350cc, 450cc, 650cc and 750cc.Main target markets for this new engine will probably be North America, UK and Europe. But Indian market will get it too, given the popularity of the brand. We have seen multiple projects that have bored RE’s 650cc engine to displace up to 865cc. So, there is a demographic that wants more from this engine too.Source More

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    Triumph 400 Speed Launched – Price Rs 2.23 Lakh for first 10k buyers

    Triumph 400 Duo LaunchedConsidering everything that Triumph’s 400 duo is packing and the price point, they’re likely to disrupt Royal Enfield’s stronghold in 350cc spaceBajaj-Triumph’s partnership has resulted in a new range of 400cc motorcycles. The company has launched them at an attractive price of Rs 2.3 lakh for base Speed 400. The first 10,000 buyers can enjoy a price tag of Rs 2.23 lakh. Scrambler 400X though revealed will be launched later this year. These new products will attract a new range of customers at a new price point for Triumph, unlike ever before.Bajaj Auto will manufacture both Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X at their Chakan plant near Pune, Maharashtra. Speed 400 resonates with its bigger brother Speed Twin 900 (previous name Street Twin). Scrambler 400X resonates with Scrambler 900. There are 25 accessories that Triumph is selling alongside as well. India is the first country to get this duo, more markets will follow.[embedded content]Triumph Speed 400 LaunchedAt Rs 2.23 lakh starting price, Triumph Speed 400 directly competes with Harley-Davidson X440 launched recently and Royal Enfield’s 350cc range. X440 has 27 bhp of power at 6000 RPM and 38 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM, and comes close to Triumph Speed 400.Triumph 400 targets upper end of premium single-cylinder machines like KTM 390 range as well, to some extent. Both Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X offer a single-cylinder 398cc engine that generates 40 bhp of power at 8000 RPM and 37.5 Nm of torque at 6500 RPM. This engine gets a liquid cooling and a DOHC setup along with a 4V head.Retro futuristic designThere is a 6-speed gearbox with the new TR-Series platform. Surprisingly, even Triumph’s bigger twin-cylinder 900cc platform gets a 5-speed gearbox even today. Even though Bajaj will manufacture it in India, this new engine retains the iconic triangular engine casing like its bigger siblings, which is a nice touch.Triumph Speed 400 launchedThe British brand’s new TR-series engine packs ride-by-wire and a slip-and-assist clutch as well. Despite having liquid cooling, there are fins around the engine block that radiate a retro aura. Yezdi and Jawa do a similar thing too. All of the engine bay and exhaust gets a matte black finish that looks minimal and neat.Minimalist finish and popping coloursGolden USD front forks and exhaust pipe finishing breaks the black effect around the engine bay. Fuel tank is the only place where there is a paint job. Round headlights and ORVMs shout retro. But they have a modern appeal to them. Speed 400 gets round bar-end mirrors and a single-tip exhaust design. While Scrambler 400X gets knuckle guards, round conventional ORVMs along with a twin-tip exhaust design that tries to mimic Scrambler 900. Could have been positioned higher up, like Scrambler 900.Sculpted fuel tankSpeed 400 gets 17” alloy wheels at both ends. It has a suspension travel of 140mm front and 130mm rear, 300mm front disc, 790mm seat height and weighs 170 kg. Scrambler 400X boasts 19” front and 17” alloys with block pattern tyres, 150mm suspension travel at both ends, 835mm seat height, 320mm front disc and weighs 179 kg.Both Triumph 400 motorcycles get dual-channel ABS (switchable with Scrambler 400X), traction control, a semi-digital instrument cluster, all-LED lighting, heated grips (optional), USB Type-C charging port, gear position indicator, and more. At Rs 2.23 lakh base price (ex-sh), Triumph 400 has the potential to make a noticeable dent in Royal Enfield’s 350cc motorcycle sales. More

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    Harley-Davidson X440 Vs Rivals – Classic 350, Yezdi, CB350, Scram 411

    Harley-Davidson X440Despite going till Rs. 2.69 lakh (ex-sh), Harley-Davidson X440 seems to be the most appropriate bet considering brand valueHero and Harley-Davidson’s strategic partnership has yielded the first product. It is Harley-Davidson X440 and will primarily rival the likes of Royal Enfield 350cc products, Scram 411 to some extent, Yezdi Roadster and Honda CB350. In the battle of retro classics, Royal Enfield Classic 350 is by far the most popular.Royal Enfield makes around 60k units of 350cc motorcycles every month and 25,000 to 30,000 of them are Classic 350. Honda CB350 and Yezdi sell way less than that. Keeping specs under consideration, we think RE Scram 411 would be a great contender too and so we have included it in this comparison. Let’s see where the X440 stands.Harley-Davidson X440 Vs Rivals – The most expensive, the most VFM?Starting with pricing, Harley-Davidson has pulled quite a trump card with the Rs. 2.29 lakh base price. The primary target is Classic 350 and is now just Rs. 36,000 more expensive at base trims and Rs. 45,000 more expensive at top-spec trims. Considering the specs and features, Harley-Davidson seems more value for money than Classic 350.Harley-Davidson brand name will be a strong point while purchasing, ownership and selling too. In contrast, Royal Enfield has become extremely common and novelty factor is not there anymore. If we take the powertrain, Classic 350 is the weakest on paper and weighs the most as well. Even its arch-rival CB350 poses better numbers and better hardware like a slipper clutch and 4V head.Harley-Davidson X440 Vs Rivals ComparisonBringing Scram 411 into the picture, Harley-Davidson X440 Vs rivals comparison brings interesting results. Scram 411 weighs 5 kg lighter and has a bigger 15L fuel tank. 24.3 bhp and 32 Nm figures are behind 440X’s 27 bhp and 38 Nm. That said, Yezdi Roadster is the most powerful of the lot with 29.23 bhp and has a superior DOHC setup with 4 valves.Only X440 and Roadster get a 6-speed gearbox. Scram 411 has the longest wheelbase and the highest ground clearance. CB350 is the lightest of the bunch. Yezdi has the lowest seat height at 790 mm, but X440’s and Classic 350’s 805 mm highest seat height is not far off too. Harley-Davidson offers both wire-spoke and alloy wheel options. Honda and Yezdi offer only alloys and Royal Enfield offers only wire spokes.Who has the most features?All motorcycles offer 100-section front tyre. But Harley’s 140-section rear tyre is the fattest. Both X440 and Roadster get 18” front and 17” rear wheel setup. Classic 350 has 18” wheels at both ends, CB350 offers 19” front and 18” rear combo and Scram offers 19” front and 17” rear. All motorcycles offer single disc setup at both ends and dual-channel ABS.Only Harley-Davidson X440 offers USD telescopic front forks. These are fatter 43mm ones from KYB. While the rest offer RSU telescopic forks. Except for the Scram 411 with mono-shock, all motorcycles in this list offer twin-shock absorbers. Classic 350 is the only one with all-halogen lighting, while Harley-Davidson, Yezdi and Honda offer all-LED setups. Scram 411 gets LED tail lights.Both X440 and Roadster offer a fully-digital instrument console. Royal Enfields offer a Tripper screen tacked on. The Roadster should have gotten the same instrument console from Adventure that features Bluetooth connectivity and navigation. None of these motorcycles offer ride modes. Considering all the attributes, Roadster and CB350 come off as very underrated (on paper) when compared to Classic 350. But impact of Harley-Davidson’s pricing strategy is may have a noticeable effect on Royal Enfield’s 350cc bike sales. More

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    PiperMoto J Series Scooter Has KTM 690 Engine In It

    PiperMoto J Series ScooterSaid KTM 690 engine in PiperMoto J Series custom scooter develops enough power and torqueCustom motorcycles are not a new thing. But there is a market for scintillating custom scooters too. PiperMoto J Series maxi scooter is one such scooter At Bike Shed custom motorcycle show. It looks like no other scooter in the world. In a good way, though. The Blue shade looks electrifying and immediately steal glances.PiperMoto is the brainchild of John Piper. He is renowned for his work in motorsports. His works resonate in Formula-1, Le Mans, WRC, FP1 World Superbike and even land speed record vehicles. So, it is obvious that J Series would pack in a punch, given John Piper’s pedigree. It has KTM’s 690 engine under the body, capable of 67 bhp of power.PiperMoto J Series Scooter – Benignly beautifulThe body is completely custom and so is its frame. That said, J Series scooter is not a custom one-off motorcycle. PiperMoto will build this scooter to order and even offer personalization options. PiperMoto J Series has a 1500 mm wheelbase and weighs 160 kg dry. 50-50 weight distribution and 52-degree lean angles reflect John Piper’s engineering prowess.PiperMoto claims 0-96.5 km/h comes in four seconds and J Series will hit 193 km/h top speed. The space frame chassis is made of tig-welded chromoly and is a piece of art in itself. There is a custom push-rod type rear suspension and KTM’s 690 engine can be seen here. There is a custom CNC-machined aluminium swingarm too.Custom F1-style push-rod rear suspensionThe company used KTM 690 Duke’s standard USD front forks with J Series. 17” wire-spoke wheels get Bridgestone Battlax tyres. 4-piston front and single-piston rear Brembo calipers grab a 320 mm disc and 240 mm disc respectively. The engine is not stock, though. It breathes more air as there is a custom intake and exhaust. Even has a cat con too.Gearbox is from KTM too, but it gets electronic shifting with the help of paddles in switchgear. Body is an absolute sensation with PiperMoto J Series. Design grabs eyeball immediately and styling takes retro approach. The company finalised design with clay sculpting and fabricated its body from CFRP (Carbon Fiber Composite Plastics).Unique blend of retro looks and modern powertrainIt has two fixed individual seats. Entire engine cover is single-piece and lifts to reveal the engine and F1-style rear custom suspension. J Series is not a step-through scooter. There is a spine that holds 14L of fuel. Round headlights, twin instrument clusters, turn indicators, OEVMs scream retro and radiate an interesting aura.KTM 690 enginePiperMoto has equipped J Series scooter with a maintenance-free gel-type battery and military-grade wiring loom. Even though PiperMoto hasn’t quoted a price, we can imagine a lot more than standard KTM 690 Duke. More

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    Two Wheeler Sales June 2023 – Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj, Royal Enfield

    Royal Enfield Hunter 350Sales figures for 5 leading OEMs in the Indian two-wheeler segment for the month of June 2023 show de-growth in total sales both on YoY and MoM basisHigher costs of two wheelers, rising EMIs and lower rural sentiment saw weak demand in the two-wheeler motorcycle segment in June 2023. Total sales (domestic + exports) fell both on a YoY and MoM basis down to 14,36,245 units in June 2023, from 15,39,821 units sold in June 2022. This was a volume de-growth of 1,03,576 units. MoM sales fell by 7.54 percent when compared to 15,53,319 units sold in May 2023 relating to a 1,17,074 unit volume de-growth.Taking into account sales of the 5 leading OEMs in the Indian two-wheeler segment into account. Sales improved just marginally on a YoY basis by 0.67 percent. There had been 11,87,210 units sold in June 2022 which went up to 11,95,133 units in the past month. MoM sales saw a 10.66 percent decline from 13,37,749 units sold in May 2023.Two wheeler sales June 2023Two Wheeler Domestic Sales June 2023Hero two wheeler sales dipped 8.73 percent YoY and 16.83 percent MoM to 4,22,757 units in June 2023. There were 4,63,210 units and 5,08,309 units sold in June 2022 and May 2023 respectively. Hero currently commands a 35.37 percent share on this list. New products set to increase sales in the months ahead will be the Harley-Davidson X440 neo retro roadster while the company also unveiled the new Xtreme 160R 4V in June along with a new range of 100cc HF Deluxe and Passion Plus.Honda sales also dipped YoY and MoM to 3,02,833 units in June 2023. It was 22.14 percent lower when compared to 3,55,560 units sold in July 2022. MoM sales fell by 2.70 percent from 3,11,144 units sold in May 2023. While TVS posted a YoY growth of 22.14 percent to 2,35,833 unit sales in June 2023, MoM sales dipped by 6.67 percent. The same was also true in the case of Bajaj Auto (1,66,292 units) and Royal Enfield (67,495 units). Both the automakers posted YoY growth of 32.95 percent and 34.27 percent respectively but MoM sales however dipped by 14.64 percent and 4.66 percent respectively.Two wheeler sales June 2023Two Wheeler Exports June 2023Exports dipped 31.62 percent YoY to 2,41,112 units in June 2023 from 3,52,611 units sold in June 2022. Performance on a MoM basis was somewhat better with an 11.85 percent growth over 2,15,570 units shipped in May 2023. Every OEM on this list has posted YoY de-growth but an improvement on a MoM basis.It was Bajaj Auto Limited that topped the export list with a 52.82 percent share with 1,27,357 units shipped last month. This was a YoY decline of 33.27 percent from 1,90,865 units shipped in June 2022 while exports improved 12.82 percent MoM from 1,12,885 units shipped in May 2023. TVS exports stood at 68,568 units in the past month, down 31.86 percent from 1,00,625 units sold in June 2022 but improved by 2.95 percent over 66,605 units sold in May 2023. Honda (21,337 units), Hero MotoCorp (14,236 units) and Royal Enfield (9,614 units) each posted YoY de-growth but improved on a MoM basis.Two wheeler total June 2023In terms of total sales (domestic + exports), it was Hero MotorCorp that topped the list with 4,36,993 units sold last month despite a YoY and MoM decline. It was followed by Honda with 3,24,093 units sold in June 2023 which was a 15.57 percent YoY and 1.61 percent MoM decline.TVS total sales on the other hand saw a YoY growth of 3.64 percent to 3,04,401 units in June 2023 though MoM sales dipped 4.66 percent. There was a YoY and MoM decline in sales for Bajaj Auto with 2,93,649 units sold last month while Royal Enfield posted a YoY growth of 25.57 percent to 77,109 units in June 2023. More

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    Here Are All the Winners from Our Third Lightning Lap Track Day

    Just outside the humble city of Danville, Virginia, there is a road course lined with green ARMCO that offers an unbeatable mix of speed, cornering, and braking. Virginia International Raceway (VIR) is arguably America’s most challenging race circuit this side of Germany’s Nürburgring, and for 16 years we’ve put the newest high-performance cars to their limits in an annual week of track time we call Lightning Lap.In May, more than 60 of our readers joined us at VIR to conquer the exact 4.1-mile Grand Course configuration we’ve used to set benchmarks for production cars, from the Honda Fit to the McLaren Senna. Using our price-based categories, from LL1 (up to $35,000) to LL5 ($250,000 and above), readers had over two hours of track time during the day to battle for the quickest times. (We stuck with last year’s price categories, since the registration for this event started before the increases we put in place in 2023 to reflect the ever-increasing price of new vehicles.)Car and DriverWe instantly recognized the cars and faces of those who have devotedly attended our past two reader track days. The cool Virginia morning kicked off with a reminder of track etiquette. The folks at Kaizen Autosport handed out transponders and offered instruction and track car rentals, as they oversaw timing and scoring for three groups of racers. New for this year was an Enthusiast group designed to get the unaccustomed more acclimated to track driving.Three Car and Driver staffers also attended, to log some laps on a portion of our long-term fleet. Out on track with our readers ran our long-term Porsche 718 Cayman GTS and Subaru BRZ and our Honda Civic Si track rat. The competition was fast and the cars were awesome this year, but ultimately only one from each category gets to exit the paddock with a trophy. Thank you to all our loyal readers that joined us for our third Lightning Lap public track day. Here are the results.Enthusiast Car and DriverBy far the largest faction at this year’s event was the Enthusiast group of beginner track drivers, many of whom had never been on a race circuit before, let alone one as long and daunting as VIR’s Grand Course. Their experience began with lead-follow laps behind instructors, followed by solo laps as their comfort levels improved. Fun was had and teeth were cut. Vehicles ranged from Trisha Radocaj’s 2023 Toyota GR86 to Leigh Potts’s 1987 Chevy Monte Carlo SS to Rob Wald’s 2020 BMW M2 Competition. Setting a quick lap time was not the priority, but Cameron Kennedy did strap a transponder to his 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S to record a time of 3:32.7, while his wife, Kristen, was wheeling a 2019 McLaren 570S Spider. Given the smiles we saw around the paddock, we’ll be surprised if a few drivers don’t return next year for more serious runs against the clock.LL1 (under $35,000)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverDuane Black once again made the trek to VIR in his trusty V-6 automatic Mustang with the speed limiter removed, towing a set of track wheels and tires behind, to take top honors in LL1. While his time wasn’t quite as speedy this time around—previously he was flirting with a 3:00 flat—the well-used Mustang was wearing lesser tires. Still, the fact that his 3:03.8 in this humble V-6 Mustang—it bears repeating that it’s his daily driver—beat most of the LL2 entries proves that Black knows his way around the Grand Course. LL2 ($35,000 to $64,999)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverThe next-up class had a good mix of competitors: a pair of Civic Type Rs, a Tesla Model 3, and a Challenger Hellcat. The Model 3 and Hellcat were neck and neck in the 3:14s, while the better of the two Civics got down to a 3:07. But none could hang with the 2021 Toyota Supra adorned with an aggressive aero kit driven by Nathan Bunn. Now Bunn was at a distinct advantage, having formerly worked for VIR’s home driving-instruction shop and our partner in this track-day endeavor, Kaizen Autosport, and has no shortage of time at VIR. While his 2:58.3 handily beat everything else in the class, it’s a few seconds off our quickest from a Supra, a manual, last year. Bunn said his fresh set of R-compound tires didn’t arrive in time, so he was nursing a well-used set. LL3 ($65,000 to $124,999)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverThe LL3 class saw plenty of action this year, with David Hunt in a 2022 Porsche Cayman GT4 ultimately taking the win with a time of 3:02.6. Close behind was Stephen Fayette in another GT4, a 2016 model, who posted a 3:04.6 lap. A few seconds back, Gabe Rich and his 2022 Chevy Camaro SS 1LE battled it out with Jonathan Lucas in a second 2016 Porsche 718 GT4, with Rich’s 3:11.394 lap just edging out Lucas’s 3:11.502. Fred Barasoain set a 3:18.3 time in his 2019 BMW M4, while Bradley Lucas turned in a 3:27.5 in a 2021 C8 Corvette. LL4 ($125,000 to $249,999)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverIt sure was lonely in the $249,000 and under club. Its only competitor, Matthew Einstein in a 2022 Porsche 911 GT3, set a tasty lap to the tune of 2:45.7. Of course, he won. His 2023 time improved over last year by nearly a second, making Matthew the quickest dude of the day. We managed a 2:40.6 in our attempt last year, but we also had the PDK-automatic advantage over his six-speed manual. We suspect Matthew could return to slice another second or two off his time next year. Among previous reader track day competitions, Matthew is a little behind the 2:40.9 lap set by Corey Radcliff’s 2017 Dodge Viper ACR Extreme. Great work, Matthew, and major props for using that rocket as Stuttgart intended.LL5 ($250,000 and above)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverDeep Sran’s 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB set a 3:18.1 and is the first Ferrari to dive into our pool of track-going readership. Its twin-turbo V-8 packs 661 horsepower from the factory, and the paddle shifters for its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic had Deep’s fingertips dancing. When we tested the 488GTB, it hit 60 mph in 3.0 seconds flat. While Deep’s time was significantly off the pace of the 2:45.1 we set in 2016, we can’t fault the guy for making sure his car was able to drive home in one piece.LLR1 (under $65,000)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverNormally a hotbed for competition, this class saw just two drivers set times this year. John Cuellar took home the trophy in a modified 2007 Chevy Corvette Z06 with a solid time of 2:50.3, cutting eight seconds off the lap in a stock version we set when the car was new. Robert Lamere recorded a respectable 2:57.3 time in another Z06, a 2011 model with the Z07 package, to claim second place. LLR2 ($65,000 to $124,999)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverMostly populated by Ginetta G56 GTA race cars operated by Kaizen Autosport—a 2400-pound racer with a British chassis and Mustang V-6 power—a C5 Corvette that got bumped to the race class with a modified engine and a BMW M240i rounded out the class. The Ginettas were more than 10 seconds quicker than the other two and tightly clustered between 2:48.0 and 2:49.5. Kaizen boss Peter Heffring ended up in second with a 2:48.5 while Bertus van Jaarsveld brought home the win by a half-second, and we don’t think just because he’s a paying customer. LLR3 ($125,000 to $249,999)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverThis class saw another small but by no means quiet contingent of Porsches. Honors ultimately went to Jean-François Lemay, who set a 2:52.5 time in a 2017 911 GT3 Cup car. Hot on his heels was Stéphane Bouvier’s 2020 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, which logged a 2:56.8. LLRP1 (prototype)Marc Urbano|Car and DriverAfter an unfortunate wreck at our last track day, Garry Gray was back with his 2013 Radical SR8 for another go. And go he did, turning a best 2:46.1, which is quicker than the Tatuus from our last event by the very narrow margin of 0.3 second. Nice work. Open GalleryMore Lightning LapAssociate EditorYes, he’s still working on the 1986 Nissan 300ZX Turbo project car he started in high school, and no, it’s not for sale yet. Austin Irwin was born and raised in Michigan, and, despite getting shelled by hockey pucks during a not-so-successful goaltending career through high school and college, still has all of his teeth. He loves cars from the 1980s and Bleu, his Great Pyrenees, and is an active member of the Buffalo Wild Wings community. When Austin isn’t working on his own cars, he’s likely on the side of the highway helping someone else fix theirs.Technical EditorMike Sutton is an editor, writer, test driver, and general car nerd who has contributed to Car and Driver’s reverent and irreverent passion for the automobile since 2008. A native Michigander from suburban Detroit, he enjoys the outdoors and complaining about the weather, has an affection for off-road vehicles, and believes in federal protection for naturally aspirated engines.Director, Vehicle TestingDave VanderWerp has spent more than 20 years in the automotive industry, in varied roles from engineering to product consulting, and now leading Car and Driver’s vehicle-testing efforts. Dave got his very lucky start at C/D by happening to submit an unsolicited resume at just the right time to land a part-time road warrior job when he was a student at the University of Michigan, where he immediately became enthralled with the world of automotive journalism. More

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    Harley-Davidson X440 Launched – Starts From Rs. 2.29 Lakh

    Harley-Davidson X440 LaunchedFor the first time, Harley-Davidson X440 will be the company’s first single-cylinder motorcycle in India and the most affordable one at that, tooPartnership with Hero MotoCorp has yielded fruits for Harley-Davidson in the form of a new 440cc platform. This new engine will open a new portal for Harley-Davidson in its Indian lineup and will attract a much wider target demographic than it could before. The first motorcycle with this engine is Harley-Davidson X440.This motorcycle debuted recently and takes a Roadster design. Specs and numbers are out with the launch today. Bookings had commenced for Rs. 25,000. Now, the company has launched it in India. There are three trims on offer. Base trim gets wire-spoke wheels, mid-spec trim gets alloy wheels and top-spec trim gets diamond-cut alloy wheels.starting price of Rs. 2.29 lakh for base Denim trim, Rs. 2.49 lakh for mid-spec Vivid trim and prices go till Rs. 2.69 lakh for the top-spec S trim (all prices ex-sh).Harley-Davidson X440 Launched – New thumper in town?Royal Enfield’s absolute domination in retro classic motorcycle space is what Harley-Davidson is likely to primarily target. With a larger engine and more performance at a marginal price increment, Harley-Davidson is likely to make a mark. Royal Enfield’s upcoming 450cc platform will rival Harley’s new engine better along with Triumph Speed 400. Starting price announcementSpeaking of Harley’s new engine, it is a single-cylinder, 2 valve unit. Unlike RE’s new 450cc engine, Harley’s new 440cc engine gets oil-cooling. With these attributes, it generates 27 bhp of power at 6000 RPM and 38 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM. A 6-speed transmission does duties.More modern gizmos like ride-by-wire, slipper clutch and engine ride modes are welcome. Also, a belt drive would be welcome too, but Harley-Davidson X440 launched in India, features a chain drive. Harley is known for its vibe-free and maintenance-free belt drives. But, at Rs. 2.29 lakh starting price (ex-sh), we can forgive it. Suspension components include 43 mm USD telescopic front forks and dual twin shock absorbers.Harley-Davidson has offered X440 with a 320 mm disc at the front and a disc at the rear with dual-channel ABS. Brake calipers are from Bybre. Riding stance and ergonomics look very neutral, yet has a hint of sportiness. Single-piece seats should ensure comfy long trips. Seat height seems to be accessible too.Harley-Davidson X440Feature-loaded Harley?Design attributes from Harley-Davidson Nightster are immediately evident with X440. Black is a general theme that Harley is implementing. It brings out retro vibe along with a touch of modernity and stealthiness. X440 gets a double stand, which should protect the exhaust pipe which the company has routed from under its engine.It is to be noted that this motorcycle is different from China-specific Harley-Davidson X500 and X350, made in partnership with QJ. Features include LED headlights with Harley-Davidson lettering, round turn indicators with retro vibes and company’s logo. There is a circular fully-digital TFT instrument cluster that shows various vehicle parameters along with Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. More