Aurelia Butler

More stories

  • 150 Shares129 Views

    in Bike

    Ather Electric Scooter OATS For Champions – In Response Rajiv Bajaj’s Comment

    Ather Electric Scooter is backed by Hero MotoCorpRajiv Bajaj is known for expressing his thoughts and doesn’t seem to care if his words can lead to controversies
    On the occasion of new Pulsar 250cc launch, Rajiv Bajaj took the opportunity to target EV startups like Ola, Ather, Tork and Smart E (OATS). His primary accusation was that these startups are cash burn businesses whereas established players like Bajaj are cash flow businesses.
    He said that he would bet on BET, which stands for Bajaj, Enfield and TVS. Rajiv’s punchline was “Champions eat OATS for breakfast”. Here, OATS meant Ola Electric, Ather Energy, Tork Motors and SmartE – an obvious challenge to new EV startups.
    Rajiv Bajaj at Pulsar launch. Image – BloombergQuint
    Ather Electric Scooter OATS
    While Bajaj’s primary target was Ola Electric, it’s Ather that has responded first. In a witty comeback, Ather has posted a tweet that talks about launching a new line of products – ‘OATs for champions’.
    It comes with the promise of giving a quicker and smarter start to the day. The punchline ‘Recommended by experts’ takes a dig at Rahul Bajaj. The packet mentions – ‘for when you need that instant pick-up’, which refers to superior acceleration offered by electric two-wheelers.
    Ather’s reply to the OATS comment from Rajiv Bajaj
    Apart from his sarcastic remarks, Rajiv Bajaj targeted Ola for not delivering even a single piece till date. He said that making customers wait for deliveries is the way of the startups. In comparison, he said that established players like Bajaj thrive on a cash flow model. Talking about Bajaj strengths, Rajiv said the company is 75 years old and has overcome numerous challenges in its journey.
    He said champions like Bajaj, Enfield and TVS have always adapted to evolving market dynamics. They have successfully adapted on various fronts, be it cost, competition or new regulations. And they have capabilities to adapt again in the emerging EV ecosystem. He said that EV startups should not take established players lightly.
    EVs and ICE – the great divide
    Even though EV sales are still pretty low, EV companies are emerging as potential disruptors of the future. Rising fuel prices have worked in the favour of EV startups. Attractive subsidies offered by central and state governments have made EVs more accessible to the masses. However, there’s a lot to be done in terms of building battery charging and battery swapping infrastructure.
    Ola head joins the banter
    Rajiv Bajaj directly targeting companies like Ola may have a valid reason. It’s because EV manufacturers have accused traditional players for not doing enough to promote EV usage. Ola Electric founder Bhavish Aggarwal had said that established players continue to produce fossil fuel vehicles in great numbers. It is statements like these that may have prompted Rajiv Bajaj to push back.
    While the shift to EV ecosystem is inevitable, established players cannot do it overnight. They have millions invested in facilities that produce ICE-based two wheelers. It’s practically impossible for these companies to have the same ambitious EV goals as that of electric startups. On the other hand, companies like Ola can afford to go full steam in EV space. They don’t have to deal with the baggage of making the shift.
    Moral of the story is that friction between EV startups and established players will continue till a complete shift to electric is achieved. Hopefully, the fireworks will be limited to sarcastic remarks and not move into the realm of lawsuits and defamation cases. More

  • 138 Shares109 Views

    in Motor News

    2022 GMC Hummer EV Is a Neiman Marcus 2021 Fantasy Gift

    Neiman Marcus and Barrett-Jackson have teamed up for a special edition 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup truck for this year’s edition of the luxury retailer’s Fantasy Gifts list.Only one will be offered for sale, making it extra exclusive, and it features a custom interior designed by Barrett-Jackson CEO Craig Jackson; the price is an impressive $285,000.The lucky recipient will get free delivery of the vehicle to the location of their choice within the continental U.S., as well as several other experiences including a trip to the 2022 Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson auction event.Every year, More

  • 100 Shares99 Views

    in Motor News

    Toyota Reveals More Details on bZ4x Electric Crossover

    Toyota revealed specs for its new bZ4x electric crossover that will enter production in the middle of 2022. More U.S. details will be available next month. It uses a roughly 64.0-kWh battery pack and is available in either front- or all-wheel-drive configurations with up to 215 horsepower. We expect the bZ4X to have EPA range figures between 200 and 230 miles when it makes its way to the U.S. in 2022. Toyota’s new electric crossover, the bZ4x, will arrive in the U.S. in the middle of next year, and the Japanese automaker has released some global specs that give us an idea of what our version will offer. We expect most of these details will be similar when the U.S. version is unveiled in November. Seven more electric BZ (for Beyond Zero) models will follow by 2025, Toyota says.

    The bZ4x is similar in size to Toyota’s best-seller, the RAV4. It has a 6.3-inch longer wheelbase and is slightly longer and lower than the gas-powered crossover. It’s built on the e-TNGA electric vehicle platform that Toyota developed alongside Subaru, which will also underpin the upcoming Subaru Solterra. The photos of the bZ4x shown here are still of a prototype model, but we don’t expect the wacky styling to change much for the production model. The bZ4x uses a roughly 64.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and the single-motor version provides front-wheel drive and 201 horsepower. A dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration has 215 horsepower. Toyota claims that all-wheel-drive models will reach 62 mph in 7.7 seconds. Based on the WLTP range targets Toyota released, we expect EPA range to come in at about 230 miles for the front-drive model and 200 for the all-wheel-drive variant. That would make it fall short of the Ford Mustang Mach-E (up to 305 miles of EPA-estimated range) and the Tesla Model Y (up to 326 miles). Toyota claims that on a 150-kW fast charger, the bZ4X will replenish 80 percent of its battery in 30 minutes. Solar panels on the roof will be available that Toyota says can replenish just over 1000 miles of driving range per year.

    Toyota

    A yoke-style steering wheel (pictured) will be available, similar to the one on the new Tesla Model S and X, but there’s a key difference on Toyota’s execution that makes it more palatable. The bZ4X limits the total rotation of the steering wheel to 150 degrees, using a steer-by-wire system to turn the wheels an appropriate amount based on the driver’s input so you never have to go hand-over-hand during tight maneuvering. Toyota’s new infotainment system, which uses voice controls, displays on a large center-mounted touchscreen, and Toyota says the car will improve over time through over-the-air updates. Production of the Toyota bZ4x is scheduled to start in the middle of 2022, so expect to see the new electric crossover at dealerships toward the end of the summer.
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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.

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • 163 Shares199 Views

    in Bike

    Honda Sales, Exports Breakup Sep 2021 – Activa, Dio, CB Shine, CB200X, CB350

    Image – MS AutoVlogsHonda Unicorn 150 recorded the highest YoY growth of 1700 percent in exports – While Unicorn 160 registered highest decline in domestic sales
    Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) is the second-largest two-wheeler brand in India. However, like most other automakers in recent months, Honda has been facing a production slowdown thanks to a shortage in supply of semiconductor chips.
    The Japanese bikemaker was able to dispatch a total of 4,63,683 two-wheelers in September this year as opposed to 5,00,888 units sold during the same period last year. This led to a YoY decline of 7.43 percent. The sales chart was topped by Activa as usual with a total sales volume of 2,45,352 registered last month.
    Honda Sales Breakup Sep 2021 – Activa & Shine leading the way
    However, a YoY decline of almost 5 percent was recorded since the company sold 2,57,900 units of Activa during the same month last year. Activa was followed by CB Shine with a total registered volume of 1,42,386 units last month instead of 1,18,004 units sold in September last year. This led to a 20.66 percent YoY growth.
    Honda sold 34,557 units of Dio which recorded a YoY growth of 2.73 percent. Dream occupied the fourth spot with 15,210 units sold in September this year. During the same period last year, Honda sold 19,667 units of the 110cc motorcycle which has translated to a YoY decline of 22.66 percent.
    Honda Domestic Sales Sep 2021
    The OEM sold 11,213 units of Livo which was 5,681 units less than September 2020. This resulted in a 33.63 percent. A total of 11,213 units of Grazia were dispatched across the country which led to YoY growth of 8 percent.
    Honda launched CB350 retro motorcycle last year which has witnessed decent success. The bike recorded a sales volume of 2,995 last month. It was trailed by Unicorn 160 with 1,390 units which recorded massive YoY degrowth of 95.55 percent. Unicorn was closely followed by the brand’s latest addition CB200X with a registered volume of 1,387 units. Hornet 2.0, on which CB200X is based upon, raked in a volume of a mere 75 units.
    Honda Exports Sep 2021 – Dio, Navi, X-Blade Popular Overseas
    As far as exports are concerned, a total of 18,225 two-wheelers were shipped to overseas markets by Honda in September this year. During the same month last year, the company dispatched 25,978 units which resulted in a YoY decline of almost 30 percent. Dio was the highest dispatched two-wheeler with a total volume of 4,874 units shipped overseas.
    Honda Exports Sep 2021
    Last year, this figure stood at 3,807 units which led to YoY growth of 28 percent. Honda exported 3,450 units of the monkey bike Navi as opposed to 5,452 which resulted in a 36.72 percent YoY decline. The company exported 2,295 units of X-Blade which translated to YoY growth of 213.52 percent. Grazia recorded a volume of 1,319 units which led to YoY growth of 37.40 percent. More

  • 150 Shares139 Views

    in Motor News

    Panasonic Will Power Future Teslas with Way Larger, Higher-Capacity Cylindrical Battery Cells

    Panasonic has debuted its 4680 cylindrical battery that was previewed at Tesla’s Battery Day event last year.The battery will purportedly store five times as much energy and cost half as much to build as the 2170 lithium-ion cells Tesla currently uses in the Model 3 and Y, which are also provided by Panasonic.Panasonic has also entered into an agreement to supply batteries for the Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle, product of an American startup that expects to start building the car in late 2022.Battery technology is constantly evolving, and the latest advancement comes from Panasonic, which revealed a prototype of its new 4680 battery cell. Automotive News reports that the advanced-technology battery is due to power future Teslas, saying the 4680 batteries will have five times the storage capacity of current Tesla battery packs and will cost 50 percent less to build. This is the first time Panasonic has unveiled the 4680 battery. Tesla’s earnings report issued earlier this month said it was testing battery packs using the 4680 cells. Panasonic constructed a test line for the new format earlier this year. 4680 refers to the battery’s dimensions: 46 millimeters (1.6 inches) wide by 80 mm (3.1 in) tall. Tesla claims that there will be a 100-fold increase in battery production by 2030 thanks to the new battery type, and that the new cell design produces six times the power of current cells. Tesla is one of the only automakers using cylindrical cells, and the additional energy capacity of the new 4680 cell isn’t magic, it’s simply a lot larger than the current ones Tesla employs. On a purely volume basis, the 4680 is 5.5 times larger than the 2170 cells currently used in the Model 3 and Y battery packs and 8.0 times larger than the 18650 cells used in the Model S and X (the 18650 is slightly larger than a typical AA battery).

    The head of Panasonic’s battery operations, Kazuo Tadanobu, said at the meeting, “We have developed this because of the strong desire of the other party, and we think this can only lead to stronger ties.” Panasonic has a battery manufacturing plant in Nevada, supplying the Tesla Gigafactory. According to Electrek, Tesla claims the first vehicles with the 4680 battery cells will be delivered next year. Tadanobu also said that Panasonic does not intend to build cheaper lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for standard-range Teslas, even though Tesla’s report said the company plans to start using those in its “standard range” vehicles worldwide.

    Canoo

    Along with building the 4680 batteries for Tesla, Panasonic will also supply batteries to American electric startup Canoo, which recently announced an agreement with the Japanese electronics corporation. The batteries will power the Lifestyle Vehicle that Canoo predicts will begin production in the fourth quarter of 2022, with Dutch contractor VDL Nedcar building the vanlike vehicle for the European and American markets. Canoo said they chose the Panasonic batteries—which will not be the Tesla-specific 4680 format—for their proven reliability. Canoo is claiming a range of 250 miles from a 80.0-kWh battery, with the base panel van version starting at $34,750.

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • 125 Shares99 Views

    in Motor News

    400-Mile 2000 Chevrolet Metro for Sale on Bring a Trailer

    A 2000 Chevy Metro with only a few hundred miles has just been listed on the online auction site Bring a Trailer.With six days to go before the end of bidding on Thursday, November 4, $9000 has already been offered, and that number is sure to go up.Perhaps way up: This unspoiled hatchback is a classic in its own way.We don’t know why the original owner of this 2000 Chevrolet Metro stopped driving it after less than 400 miles, but that portentous decision has led to this fortuitous moment for Metro collectors everywhere: an as-new Metro, up for auction right now on Bring a Trailer.Truly, opportunities like this don’t come along every day.

    This Metro is a second-generation example, which arrived for 1995. The 2000 model year was the last for the iconic two-door hatchback body style, as only the four-door sedan would be offered in the final model year of 2001. This also marked the last model year for the three-cylinder engine that was so emblematic of the Metro.

    Bring a Trailer

    As a purist base model, this coupe is powered by the 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine making every bit of 55 horsepower and 58 pound-feet of torque (the Metro LSi got a 79-hp 1.3-liter four-cylinder). It’s paired with the preferred five-speed manual transmission, a combo that was lauded for its EPA fuel economy of 39 mpg city and 46 mpg highway.

    Bring a Trailer

    Bring a Trailer

    The classic lines of the Metro are set off by the white over gray Sport cloth livery, and it is believed that the paint is factory, although no paint-depth readings are provided. Keen observers will note the 13-inch steel wheels with factory three-spoke wheel covers.

    Bring A Trailer

    Bring a Trailer

    Importantly, this Metro still wears its original selling dealer license-plate frame from Martin Chevrolet Geo of Torrance, California, and it also comes with dealer-branded key fobs. Collectors will delight in the treasure trove of documentation that includes dealer brochures, service manuals, and the original sales paperwork. The factory window sticker is also included and shows an MSRP of $11,140 ($17,745 in today’s dollars). That Monroney indicates that this Metro is loaded with options including air conditioning, an AM/FM–cassette stereo, an electric rear-window defogger, and the Preferred Equipment Group 2 (easy-entry passenger seat, color-keyed carpet mats, and body-side molding). Although Chevrolet has yet to establish a factory-refurbishment program for the Metro, this car benefits from a mechanical freshening carried out at a local dealer, which included a new fuel pump and a fuel-tank cleaning, to the tune of more than $1000. With that recent service, this Metro is a modern classic that the new owner can drive every day—although doing so would run up the mileage and potentially dim this car’s value as a piece of history. That will present a difficult dilemma for the new owner, but it’s surely one to envy.

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • 163 Shares169 Views

    in Bike

    Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Cruiser In Production Guise – New Spy Shots

    New Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Cruiser. Image – Vasanth H
    Royal Enfield is expected to name its upcoming 650cc cruiser as Super Meteor – It will be positioned as the flagship product in the lineup
    Royal Enfield has a number of prospective launches up its sleeves in the coming few months. However, the next big launch is expected to be the 650cc cruiser which has been spotted on a number of occasions previously. Recently, it was reported that this upcoming cruiser will be named Super Meteor.
    One doesn’t have to guess too hard for the actual inspiration behind the name as the brand already retails a cruiser named Meteor. However, the former will be a proper cruiser rather than the 350cc machine which essentially is a retro-style roadster trying to be a cruiser.
    It has also come to light that Super Meteor 650 will make its first official appearance at the upcoming 2021 EICMA Show in Italy next month. Meanwhile, the motorcycle continues to be spotted testing on Indian roads. The undisguised prototype seen in these images is in line with the speculative digital renderings that have gone viral online. The latest spy images are credit to automotive enthusiast Vasanth H.
    Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Cruiser – Design & Features
    Like most Royal Enfield models, retro styling forms a key aspect of the upcoming 650cc cruiser. Some notable highlights spied include a circular headlamp with a chrome bezel, split-style seats, a tear-drop fuel tank, twin-sided exhaust canisters embellished in chrome, a round taillight and broad fenders. A rear-swept handlebar and forward-set footpegs suggest the bike will offer a relaxed riding ergonomics of a typical cruiser.
    New Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650
    In terms of features, Super Meteor 650 has been spied with a twin-pod instrument cluster. One of them is expected to be the Tripper Navigation which provides turn-by-turn navigation when paired with the Royal Enfield smartphone app via Bluetooth. We also expect the Chennai-based bikemaker to throw in a few electronic rider aids.
    Mechanical Specifications
    Powering Super Meteor 650 will be the same 648cc air and oil-cooled, parallel-twin engine that propels Interceptor and Continental GT. This motor churns out 47 bhp and 52 Nm of peak torque and will be coupled with a 6-speed gearbox accompanied by a slipper clutch. Hardware configurations will differ slightly from the existing RE 650 twins. Suspension setup will consist of upside-down front forks and twin-sided rear springs.
    Braking duties will be handled by disc brakes at both ends which will be aided by a dual-channel ABS as standard. Like a typical cruiser, Super Meteor will ride on a 19-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel wrapped around by thick profile tubeless tyres.
    As mentioned previously, Super Meteor 650 will be positioned as a premium cruiser above the current 650cc twins- Interceptor and Continental GT in the RE lineup. The brand Super Meteor was previously used by Royal Enfield in the United States in the 1950s. The upcoming 650cc cruiser is expected to be launched in India in the first quarter of next year. More

  • 175 Shares199 Views

    in Electric Cars

    Maruti Electric Car Launch Not Before 2025 – Focus On CNG, Flex Fuel Engines

    Maruti 800 Next Gen Render by Rajshekhar DassMaruti Suzuki will concentrate on vehicles running on alternative fuels such as CNG and ethanol rather than pure EVs
    India’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, is not ready to dive into the electric mobility space yet. This was confirmed by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL) Chairman, RC Bhargava while addressing a virtual conference on the company’s second-quarter earnings.
    Bhargava revealed that an exact timeline for launch of the carmaker’s first electric car will be decided by parent company Suzuki Motor in Japan. It was further notified that this will happen only after 2025 as demand for such vehicles is less at the moment. The company intends to sell at least 10,000 units of electric vehicles (EVs) a month whenever it enters the electric mobility space.
    It was also revealed that under the current circumstances a lot of things in the EV ecosystem such as batteries, charging infrastructure and electric supply are done by other parties and therefore the costing is not in the hands of the manufacturer. As of now, Tata Motors is the leading OEM of EVs in the passenger vehicle segment which sold over 2,000 units in the second quarter of FY2022.
    Maruti Electric Car Launch 2025
    For Maruti to venture into the EV space, it wishes to sell at least 100,000 units per year which translates to over 8,000 units per month on average. The carmaker further stated that launching an EV would depend on current market conditions which makes it difficult to predict the pricing of electric vehicles, batteries and how infrastructure is built up.
    Maruti Omni Next Gen – Render by Shashank Shekhar
    Maruti had started testing a fully electric version of WagonR in 2019 with a vision to launch it by 2020. However, things fell apart as the company decided against a commercial launch for personal usage citing a lack of infrastructure and government support. Recently, the government has introduced several production-linked incentives (PLI) for EVs which would encourage OEMs to manufacture EVs.
    This makes it clear that Maruti isn’t looking to gain the first mover’s advantage in the EV space and instead is waiting for consumer demand for EVs to rise. While EVs only make up a fraction of total automobile sales in India, the space has witnessed substantial growth in recent months, thanks to the revised FAME II policies and incentives by various state governments.
    Other Power Options
    With soaring fuel prices in recent months, automakers have shifted their focus towards alternate fuels, the most common of them all being CNG. Subsequently, demand for CNG vehicles has increased in recent times and Maruti aims to offer a CNG option for its models sold under Arena chain of dealerships. The company revealed that out of over 2 lakh current pending orders, majority are for CNG models.
    Government of India is also pushing towards flex-fuel engines which could run on multiple fuels like ethanol. The company revealed that it is working towards development of such vehicles for the future. Recently, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the government would make flex-fuel engines mandatory for all manufacturers, once it gets permission from Supreme Court. More