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      Tata Taureo, Epiq, Spyk Registered – New SUV, MPV, Electric Car Names?

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      Digital Render.
      Tata Motors has plans to launch multiple new cars in India by 2022 – Including new SUVs, MPV and electric car

      Aiming to provide more options to customers, Tata Motors will be launching several new products in the near future. More than a dozen new cars are expected to be launched, which will be utilizing either the OMEGA or ALFA platforms. While there isn’t much info available about these new Tata cars right now, some names have been revealed in the trademark applications filed by the company.
      Tata Motors new cars trademarked names
      A total of three names have been revealed – Taureo, Epiq and Spyk. These names are expected to be used for the company’s new sedan, an MPV and a midsize SUV (codename Blackbird) that will rival the likes of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.
      Some of these names could also be used for the upcoming range of electric cars from Tata Motors. However, we will have to wait for some more time to know the exact timeline for the launch of these new models.
      Tata’s new MPV is likely to be based on ALFA platform and it is possible that it could be launched as Tata Taureo. The new MPV is expected to be powered by a 1.5 litre diesel and petrol engine from Nexon. Its primary rival will be Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, which is currently the top selling MPV in the country.
      Future Tata Car Names – Taureo, EPIQ, SPYK
      Tata Motors new sedan and SUV
      There are talks that Tata Motors is working on a new 1.5-litre petrol motor that will be used for its upcoming sedan and midsize SUV. Both of these will be based on the ALFA platform. Tata is also working to launch the next-gen variants of its current bestsellers, Nexon, Tiago and Tigor.
      Products that have already been revealed and are expected to be launched next year include the Gravitas 7-seater SUV and HBX micro SUV. The former is expected by March next year, while HBX will be launched sometime later in 2021.
      Tata Electric Cars
      With demand for electric cars set to rise as the EV ecosystem grows in India; Tata Motors has plans to launch multiple new electric cars in different price brackets, starting from as low as Rs 8 lakhs. Even today, Nexon EV is the best selling electric car in India. And Tata would want to remain at the top of EV sales charts with regular new launches. They have plans to launch HBX EV, Altroz EV, Blackbird EV
      With growing preference for made in India products, Tata Motors has registered strong sales in recent months. Some products like Nexon and Altroz are also gaining popularity owing to their 5-star safety rating in Global NCAP crash tests. In October, Tata Motors sold a total of 23,600 units, which is a 99 month high. YoY growth is a whopping 79.20%, as compared to 13,169 units sold in October last year. More

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      More Rivian R1T and R1S details revealed, configurator goes live Nov. 16 – Roadshow

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      The R1T in the dunes of Glamis, California.
      Emme Hall/Roadshow
      Listen up, EV nerds. The Rivian configurator goes live on Nov. 16 — for those who preordered one of the R1T trucks or R1S SUVs, anyway. The rest of you will have to wait until Nov. 23. But in the meantime, Rivian announced a number of new details on Wednesday, including pricing and equipment for various trim packages.Both vehicles will be offered with Adventure or Explore packages and come with Wi-Fi, over-the-air updates, vegan seats and a snazzy panoramic glass roof. Regardless of model, the Adventure package adds an onboard air compressor and sturdier underbody protection, as well as heated and cooled seats and what the company calls a Rivian Elevation 360 stereo system with a removable Bluetooth speaker. For the R1T truck, the Adventure package also adds a remote monitoring system and a power tonneau cover so your kit won’t get nicked while you’re out on a hike. Vehicles with the Adventure Package will be available in January 2022 and will have 300 miles of range. The R1T will be priced at $75,000 while the R1S will go for $77,500.
      Here’s the Rivian R1T electric pickup truck in action off-road
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      The Explore package is cool, but it doesn’t have as many features. The vegan seats are there but the cooling technology isn’t. There’s a surround-sound audio system but there isn’t a Bluetooth speaker. And with this package, the R1T will get a manual tonneau cover instead of a power one. However, the Explore package’s price is lower to account for this lack of kit. Explore-equipped Rivians will come online in January 2022 with 300 miles of range, with the R1T costing $67,500 and the R1S coming in at $70,000.If you want a Rivian right away, you’ll have to snag one of the limited Launch Edition models. The R1T Launch Edition will be ready in June 2021 with the R1S following a few months later in August. The Launch Edition includes the Adventure package and 300 miles of range, and drivers will be able to add upgraded wheels and tires for free. It comes painted in a unique color called launch green and will of course have special badging. The Launch Edition doesn’t cost any more than the R1T or R1S with the Adventure package, but quantities are limited.And what of the 400-mile battery pack that we’ve heard so much about? On the R1T it will be available in January 2022. The R1S will be available a little later, though Rivian hasn’t said exactly when that’ll be. Lower-priced, 250-mile R1T and R1S variants should be announced at the same time. The R1S will have a boxy, utilitarian look.
      Rivian
      As for tech, Rivian says the Driver Plus hands-free assistance system will be standard on every vehicle. This geofenced system uses 12 ultrasonic sensors, 10 exterior cameras, five radars and high-precision GPS, allowing the vehicles to steer, change lanes and keep up with traffic on their own. But be aware: This is not a self-driving feature. Owners will have to pay attention at all times and there is an interior camera to monitor driver alertness.For those worried about charging their Rivian, the company says it will soon launch the Rivian Adventure Network, with fast-charging stations throughout the US that can add 140 miles of range in just 20 minutes. However, no specific timeline is available for that rollout.As the only journalist to actually drive a Rivian R1T (so far), I greet this bit of news with a smile. Even the preproduction truck I drove had plenty of range and the off-road chops to charge up sand dunes and soak up whoops. Conventional, gas-powered trucks should be nervous. I can’t wait for the Rivians to launch.

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      Tata Nexon Electric Wishes Happy Birthday To Owner Via Instrument Cluster

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      Tata Nexon Electric
      Tata Nexon EV has also been made available at subscription rates in limited places

      While the electric vehicle (EV) segment might still not be booming in India, it has definitely grown leaps and bounds, especially in the last few months. Several new products from this segment have been lined up for launch in the near future which should make things a little interesting in the automotive industry.
      Currently, among the limited options, Tata Nexon EV is by far the highest-selling electric car in India. It is much affordable than its nearest rivals MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona and, therefore, has the most value for money proposition. With Tata Motors expanding the sales network of Nexon EV soon, we could definitely see more of it on roads in future.
      Nexon EV’s Birthday Wish
      Barring the powertrain, Nexon EV gets the identical specifications and equipment list as its IC engine counterpart. We have extensively discussed its features on previous occasions, however, there is one new feature that has come up recently and is sure to take many Nexon EV owners by surprise.
      When Mr. Siva N Rai stepped onto his Nexon EV, he received a surprising and the most unusual wish on his birthday from his car. The message read “Happy Birthday” with the visuals of a cake and balloons on its instrument cluster.
      Tata Nexon EV wishes Happy Birthday to Owner
      The owner was extremely surprised and happy to receive this birthday wish from his Nexon EV in the morning. He believes that someone at Tata Motors’ dealership took the effort to integrate details of his KYC done at the time of the purchase to the telematics system. This is probably the first time something like this has been offered in an Indian made car.
      A personalised touch like this can go a long way in creating a loyal customer base and it seems Tata Motors is certainly enjoying a fruitful run in market in the last couple of years. The homegrown brand is currently the third-largest passenger vehicle manufacturer in India as far as sales volumes are concerned.
      Nexon EV Details
      Coming to Nexon EV, it was launched earlier this year in January and is offered in three variants- XM, XZ+ and XZ+ LUX. Its prices start at Rs 13.99 lakh and go upto Rs 16.25 lakh (both prices ex-showroom). Standard features across the range include projector headlamps, automatic climate control, LED DRLs, keyless entry, push-button start, electric tailgate and lots more.
      Nexon EV is based on the brand’s Ziptron powertrain technology which consists of an electric motor powered by a 30.2kWh lithium-ion battery. This setup provides a claimed range of 312 km on a single charge and an output of 129 PS and 245 Nm. More

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      2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Facelift Debuts – To Go On Sale Next Year

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      2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
      Hyundai Kona Electric carries on with the same set of powertrains offered in the pre-facelift model

      Electric cars have taken a sizeable portion of the passenger vehicle segment in global markets over recent years. With EV-related technology evolving at a rapid pace, we are seeing more and more electric cars come up in recent times. We have also witnessed demands for EVs rising due to their cheap running cost and powerful performances.
      Hyundai is one such brand that has found success globally with EV offering Kona Electric over the last couple of years. The Korean automaker has given a mid-life facelift to its most popular electric crossover for 2021 and is scheduled to go on sale in the United Kingdom early next year.

      Exterior Styling Updates
      2021 Kona Electric comes with a healthy dose of cosmetic upgrades both inside and outside its cabin and a host of technological updates as well. Its exterior witnesses the highest number of updates, the most dramatic of them being the revised front nose.
      The new grille gets a smooth nose cone which is starkly different from the radiator grille on the petrol-powered Kona thus distinguishing itself from the latter. This also lends a slight aerodynamic update over the pre-facelifted model.

      New Kona Electric also gets a redefined front bumper which receives a pair of vertical inlets that reduce the amount of turbulent air in the front wheel arches to minimise drag. This is complemented by fresh LED DRLs and a pair of redesigned LED headlights.
      The rear end is very much similar except for slightly reconfigured tail lamps. Black claddings on the old car are now colour-coded. In addition to five colours offered on the electric crossover, another five new paint schemes have been added to its palette.
      Interior & Feature Updates
      Interiors of 2021 Kona electric have seen a fair share of updates including a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system carried from the new-gen i20 and Tucson.

      The new infotainment system is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Hyundai’s connected tech BlueLink which offers features such as Voice Activated Commands, remote climate control to preheat/precool the cabin and remote charging to benefit from off-peak energy rates.
      In addition, it receives new ambient lighting which complements the two-tone interior colour. Safety equipment too receives enhancements such as rear cross-traffic assistance, safe exit warning, blindspot assistance and eCall which in the event of an accident automatically alerts emergency services.

      Powertrain
      Speaking of its powertrain, there is no change in this department. The facelifted model still receives two powertrain options- 39.2kWh battery pack paired with a 134 bhp motor and a larger 64kWh battery pack mated to a 201 bhp electric motor.
      The former claims a single-charge range of 189 miles and a top speed of 154.5 kmph while the latter claims a range of 300 miles and 167 kmph of top speed. The company will provide a 100kW fast-charger which could juice up the battery by 80 percent in just 47 minutes. More

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      Bentley going fully electric by 2030 – Roadshow

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      Bentley’s future is surprisingly green.
      Bentley
      Luxury is often antithetical to environmentalism, though British automaker Bentley is looking to prove this doesn’t have to be the case. As part of its Beyond 100 corporate strategy, the company is aiming to be end-to-end carbon neutral by the year 2030, and make its operations center in Crewe, England, climate-positive soon afterwards. But that’s not all.This blue-chip car brand, which is owned by Volkswagen Group, is pushing forward with a range of other programs designed to make it even more eco-friendly. Bentley announced Thursday that by 2026 it will move to a fully electrified product range, with all its models featuring either pure-EV or plug-in hybrid drivetrains. Just four years after that, in 2030, it’s aiming to make its whole lineup fully electric. This concerted push toward battery-powered vehicles is noteworthy because today, Bentley is the largest manufacturer of 12-cylinder, gasoline-burning power plants in the world. “[We] will not be building engines in less than a decade,” noted Adrian Hallmark, Bentley’s chairman and chief executive officer, during an online presentation. If it can manage that, it will signal a tectonic shift for the brand.

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      Kicking things off, two plug-in hybrid models are scheduled to launch next year. Beyond that, this famous brand is committed to offering every model with a hybrid powertrain by 2023. Its first pure-electric vehicle, which should also be cradle-to-grave carbon neutral, is expected to launch just two years later. Also by 2025, Bentley is gunning to reduce the environmental impact of its factories by 75% compared to 2010. The moves come as the UK government is set to ban new gasoline-powered cars by 2035 at the latest, and possibly sooner.Future Bentleys, despite being electrified, should look no less dramatic than they do today.
      Bentley
      The theme here is sustainable luxury. Going beyond powertrains, Bentley will also explore using alternative materials in its vehicles. The EXP 100 GT concept car, for instance, is trimmed with 5,000-year-old preserved wood and features woolen carpets as well as upholstery that’s made from a byproduct of wine-making. Expect the automaker’s future vehicles to offer similar materials.As Bentley pushes forward toward a greener future, some might worry that its vehicles will end up with styling like a Toyota Prius or something, but this shouldn’t be a concern. “Our cars will look as glorious and inspirational as they do today,” promised Hallmark. Good news for fans of these regal automobiles.Beyond all this, Bentley is also making some important corporate changes. The automaker wants to transform its management team to be significantly more diverse than it is today. It’s fascinating to watch such a traditional automaker reinvent itself in the 21st century. But with luck, Bentley will be able to prove that luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand.
      2021 Bentley Flying Spur V8 is less powerful but still a stunner
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      GMC Hummer EV: Will it off-road? – Roadshow

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      By now you’ve heard a lot about the new GMC Hummer EV, the $100,000-plus reboot of the uber-thirsty, macho-man monster of the late 1990s and early 2000s. There’s definitely a lot to talk about, but I’m most interested in its dirt-worthiness. Is this Hummer destined to be a mall-crawler, or does it have the goods to really get going when the going gets rough?I got to take a closer look at the Hummer EV last weekend, and so far, I like what I see. Everything from the 35-inch tires, driving modes, ride height and approach, departure and breakover angles all lead me to believe the Hummer EV being a veritable trail-warrior. I’m especially excited about the CrabWalk mode, which can move the rear wheels 10 degrees either with or opposite the front wheels. This should result in tighter turning capabilities and diagonal movement, making it much easier to navigate tight trails.Other goodies to look forward to include 13 inches of suspension travel, 1,000 horsepower and gobs of torque. GMC claims the Hummer has 11,500 pound-feet of torque, but that’s most likely measured at the wheels and is super-misleading.Reservations for the GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 are sold out, which may be just as well, since it costs $112,595 including destination. The Edition 1 should hit the road in 2021, while 2022 will bring the $99,995 3X. The $89,995 2X comes online in 2023 and the base Hummer EV will be released in 2024, costing $79,995.
      GMC Hummer EV is a 1,000-hp super truck that moves laterally like a crab
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      Audi RS E-Tron GT promises 590 horsepower, 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds – Roadshow

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      We might not know what the production model actually looks like, but we can confirm that the prototype shown here is lookin’ fresh.
      Audi
      About a month ago, Audi confirmed the existence of a performance-oriented RS E-Tron GT after months of rumors. Now, the automaker has some specs to reveal for its range-topping electric performance car.Audi on Thursday published key figures for the upcoming RS E-Tron GT. The company’s upcoming production electric performance car will have two electric motors, one at each axle, to produce a net 590 horsepower and 612 pound-feet of torque. An overboost function will provide a temporary surge to 646 hp, and its top speed is limited to 155 mph.That pair of electric motors will provide enough motive force to shoot this bad boy to 62 mph in less than 3.5 seconds, although the automaker declined to produce a specific figure. The project manager for the RS E-Tron GT project told Autocar that it should be “quite a bit quicker” than that.We can draw a bit of context from the car with which the RS E-Tron GT shares a platform: The Porsche Taycan. The Audi’s figures place it between the 429-to-482-horsepower Taycan 4S and the 616-horsepower Taycan Turbo. Considering the Taycan Turbo needs just 3 seconds to hit 60 mph, the RS E-Tron GT’s official numbers shouldn’t be too far behind that figure, but confirmation is likely a ways away still.

      Audi also shared some more information about the components that will help the RS E-Tron GT’s hustle match its looks. It’ll rock the same 93.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery as a Taycan 4S equipped with the Performance Battery Plus option. While range is still a long way from being confirmed, Autocar claims the automaker is aiming for a WLTP-cycle estimate of 249 miles. Europe’s WLTP measurement standard is more gracious than what the EPA cooks up, so Audi may be aiming closer to 200 or 225 over here. For some more context, the 2020 Taycan 4S with the Performance Battery Plus managed just 203 miles in the feds’ hands.The ride should be able to shift from soft to stiff pretty easily, thanks to a three-chamber air suspension setup. Rear-axle steering is along for the ride, too, pivoting the rear wheels up to 3 degrees in either direction to improve low-speed cornering and high-speed agility. Three types of brakes will be available, again similar to the Porsche: Iron brakes are standard, with a surface-coated option in the middle and ceramics at the top of the pile. As for when we can expect to see the real thing, it shouldn’t be long. Audi says that both the base E-Tron GT and the RS E-Tron GT will be in dealer showrooms by this coming summer.

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