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

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      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

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      New Tata Electric SUVs, Cars In the Making – Rs 15,000 Cr Investment

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      New Tata Sedan Render For ReferenceUnder the new EV subsidiary, Tata Motors will launch new electric cars with larger batteries which will be rolled out from the company’s existing facilities
      Tata Motors recently made a big move towards cleaner mobility solutions as it announced the creation of a new EV subsidiary. The carmaker has entered into a partnership with investment firm TPG Rise Climate which will invest around Rs 7,500 crore for about 11 percent to 15 percent stake in the new company.
      This translates to an equity valuation of USD 9.1 billion. The new EV vertical from Tata will create future intellectual property rights for zero-emission vehicles. This means the company will design and own future electric vehicle IPs while manufacturing operations will be taken care of by Tata Motors.
      In addition to the above, Tata Motors will be investing another Rs 15,000 crores to launch new electric vehicles. Tata Motors is expecting green vehicles to generate 20% of their total sales in the next 4-5 years.
      Tata Motors currently has only two electric cars on offer, Nexon EV and Tigor EV. These have monthly demand of about 3,000 units per month. But Tata is only able to manufacture 1,000 units per month. The new investments will not only help to boost production of existing EVs, but will also help launch new EVs.
      Tata Nexon EV Dark Edition. Image – Car Duniya
      New EV Subsidiary
      Temporarily titled EVCo, the new firm won’t have any manufacturing facilities of its own and instead will depend on its parent company to roll out new electric vehicles. Manufacturing capacities of Tata Motors will be available “on a “tolling basis” to the EV firm. Further, it has been revealed that the new EV brand will have access to the passenger vehicle capacities of Tata Motors which already exists.
      For utilising the PV facility of Tata, the new EV company will pay a fee to its parent company’s PV division. Tata Motors is currently the highest-selling EV manufacturer in the passenger vehicle segment in the country. It currently offers two electric cars- Nexon EV and Tigor EV. Both models will continue to be produced from their existing locations. The final brand name for EVCo will be finalised in the coming months.
      New Tata Electric SUVs to be based on existing platforms
      The homegrown manufacturer is not looking to develop EVs based on new born-electric platforms and instead is focusing on developing new EVs on existing platforms like ALFA (Altroz, Punch) and OMEGA (Harrier, Safari). The current EV lineup of Tata- Nexon EV and Tigor EV is underpinned by the Ziptron powertrain technology which is likely to feature in the upcoming EVs as well.
      No Hybrids, Only Pure EVs
      Tata Motors has also revealed that it plans to have ten electric vehicles in the next five years and all of them will be pure electric. The company has also ruled out hybrids as they do not help manufacturers meet CAFE norms. Moreover, the Government of India doesn’t consider hybrids as EVs and hence they are not liable to any tax benefits introduced as per FAME II regulations.
      Therefore, it is clear that future PV lineup for Tata Motors will comprise petrol, diesel, electric and CNG models. The upcoming range of EVs is expected to offer multiple body styles, motor specifications and range capacities catering to different segments. The carmaker will also be developing a widespread charging network across the country in partnership with sister company Tata Power.
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      Mini Cooper Electric India Launch Soon – Officially Teased

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      New Mini Cooper ElectricMINI Cooper electric will go up against other luxury EVs such as the upcoming Volvo XC40 Recharge
      MINI has teased MINI Electric on its social media handles indicating its launch in India soon. The fully electrified derivative of the hot hatch made its global debut last year and is based on MINI Cooper. Hence, it is often referred to as Cooper Electric. MINI Electric was first unveiled in India in February 2021 and was expected to go on sale by March.
      However, with the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic kicking in, its launch had to be put on hold. The BMW-backed performance car brand will finally be bringing this emission-free version of the hot hatch to India. That said, the company hasn’t revealed an exact launch timeline yet.
      Mini Cooper Electric – Exterior Design
      Starting with its design, MINI Electric appears to be an exact replica of MINI Cooper although there are some small noticeable variations. The most prominent of those is a faux front grille which instead of letting in fresh air for the radiator, enhances the car’s aerodynamic qualities. It also comes with many new paint schemes such as Rooftop Grey, Island Blue which lend the battery-powered car a distinct identity.
      Some of these paint schemes are furnished with a striking yellow accent bar and MINI Electric badge to give the hatch a fresh character. MINI, however, has retained the iconic round headlights with integrated circular LED DRLs.
      New Mini Cooper Electric – Teased
      The electric hot hatch also receives a new 17-inch corona spoke dual-tone alloy wheel design with yellow-coloured rims which look funky. The pillars have been blackened on all colour trims which gives the car a nice contrast.
      Mini Cooper Electric Specs
      Powering MINI Electric is an electric motor that draws energy from a 32.6 kWh battery pack mounted under the floor, between the front seats and under the back seats. Positioning of the battery pack provides the all-electric MINI an extra-low center of gravity which allows better handling and more fun around corners. The battery returns a claimed range of 203 to 234 kilometers on a single charge as per the WLTP cycle.
      As for performance, the fully electric powertrain pumps out 184 bhp and 270 Nm of peak torque. It can attain a top speed of almost 150 kmph while 0-100 kmph acceleration is claimed at 7.3 seconds. Like its IC engine counterpart, this one comes as an FWD with a single motor mounted on the front axle.
      Features on offer
      Like most MINIs, the all-electric Cooper gets tons of gizmos to lighten up one’s in-car experience. These include adaptive LED headlights with a matrix function for high beam, heated steering wheel, a Harman Kardon music system, Head-Up Display, wireless phone charging and more. The dashboard also flaunts a touchscreen display at the centre along with a 5.5-inch oval-shaped digital instrument console.
      The display offer a wide range of Connected car features and Concierge Services. These include remote car locking/unlocking and pre-conditioning of interior from one’s smartphone and more. In India, it is most likely to be offered as a Completely Built Unit (CBU). More

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      2022 MG ZS EV (Astor Electric) Debuts With Drive Range Of 439 Kms

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      2022 MG ZS Electric FaceliftMG updated the battery pack of the India-spec ZS EV a few months back which offers a claimed ARAI range of 419 kms on a single charge
      MG is looking to expand its presence across European markets as it has unveiled the new ZS EV facelift. For 2022, the electric crossover has received a mild makeover that involves subtle cosmetic updates but more importantly gets an upgraded battery pack. It is expected to hit showrooms in the UK by November this year. ZS is an all electric version of the soon to be launched Astor in India.
      Other than the styling tweaks and electrical upgrades, the updated ZS EV gets a new range-topping variant called Long Range. To start with its design, the electric SUV gets subtle variations in design although the overall silhouette has been retained from the current model.
      2022 MG ZS EV (Astor Electric) – Styling And Features
      Upfront, the facelifted ZS EV ditches a chrome-surround grille in favour of a faux sealed-off grille which marks a clear distinction between itself and its IC engine-powered sibling. It is flanked by sleeker LED headlamp units on each side which resemble the ones in its petrol-powered counterpart Astor recently unveiled in India. It also sports reprofiled front and rear bumpers, a new alloy wheel design and slightly redesigned LED internals for taillights.
      Just like its exterior, the interior of the cabin of the 2022 MG ZS Electric Facelift also doesn’t boast any radical changes. The dashboard layout remains identical to the outgoing model. However, it gets a new 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display along with an updated fully digital instrument console.
      2022 MG ZS Electric Facelift
      The infotainment system is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It is also equipped with MG’s iSmart platform which offers a wide range of connected car features.
      New Battery Options
      More significant updates have been made to its battery options. The updated ZS EV will be available in two derivatives- base and long-range. The base variant of the electric crossover now gets a larger 51 kWh battery pack instead of a 44.5 kWh unit. The new battery pack offers a range of 320 kms on a single charge as opposed to 263 kms in the older base model.
      The long-range variant features an even larger 72 kWh battery which offers a range of 439 kms on a single charge as per the WLTP cycle. Both variants are offered with an 11 kW AC charger as standard. Further, MG has integrated a four-stage LED indicator into the charging port offset to the right of the brand logo at the nose to reflect charging status.
      2022 MG ZS Electric Facelift
      The company claims that the long-range variant could be fully charged in ten and a half hours using the standard AC charger. On using a 100 kW DC fast charger, the battery could be rejuvenated 0-80 percent in just 42 minutes. Motor specifications of the car have remained unchanged.
      The long-range variant has been priced at €34,990 (INR 30.34 lakh) whereas the base variant is expected to go on sale sometime next year at a price of €30,990 (INR 26.87 lakh). The facelifted ZS EV is unlikely to reach Indian shores anytime soon. Expect it to arrive in India later next year. It could get renamed to MG Astor Electric or MG Astor EV. More

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      MG Maze Electric Car Concept – No Steering Wheel, Only Touchscreen

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      MG Maze Electric Car Concept
      The MG Maze Concept is an electric two-seater car, aimed at next generation of users – Could be controlled via a smartphone over internet
      MG Motor has showcased the Maze Concept for 2021 which supposedly has been inspired by video games. It is a fully electric car concept that has been designed and conceptualised by London-based SAIC Design, a European design studio owned by MG parent company SAIC.
      Same folks also designed the MG Cyberster which was revealed earlier this year at the Shanghai Motor Show. The concept is a mere design illustration as of now which has been envisioned keeping future electric vehicles in mind. This would appeal to the next generation of car buyers.
      The company says it has been designed in recognition of three key principles: “Play is important. Discovery is important. Adventure is important.” The Maze concept is a result of blending the worlds of motoring and gaming.
      SAIC Design has revealed that it wanted to capture the “at-home gaming scenario” and bring it to life inside a car. As mentioned earlier, it remains a digital rendering and has no plans of becoming real for now.
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      Video Game-Inspired Cockpit
      Maze has been designed to take part in a ‘real-world treasure hunt’ of digital art installations in cities. It takes the form of a points-based rewards system for drivers which operates in a similar fashion as any computer or console-based video game.
      Entry to the cockpit can be accessed through a vertically opening glass canopy. The vertical glass canopy takes less space as compared to a normal side-opening door when open.
      On entering the small cabin, one is welcomed by a pair of zero-gravity seats, a video game controller and a screen, which are more reminiscent of a personalised gaming room than a car. Instead of a steering wheel, the car is controlled by the user’s phone. Even the exterior of Maze takes inspiration from gaming with its transparent shell, exposed componentry and LED backlighting emulating the look of a high-end gaming PC.
      MG Maze Electric Car Concept
      Exterior Design
      The short overhangs and extremely compact dimensions ensure great maneuverability in a congested environment. The view outside the cabin from the cockpit is clear and unobstructed thanks to the canopy glass opening. Since it is just a digital illustration, details of its hypothetical underpinnings stay under wraps.
      SAIC has revealed that this concept would feature multiple electric motors coupled with a swappable battery pack. However, the carmaker did not divulge any performance figures yet. While the Maze Concept may not be seen on roads in the coming future, it does reveal what future mobility could look like. Even though the design sounds and appears whimsical, it will gather some traction on the internet. More

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      Tata Motors EV Sales Crosses 10k Milestone – Nexon Electric, Tigor EV

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      Image – Car DuniyaTata Motors currently retails two electric cars under its roof- Nexon EV and Tigor EV, the latter being the most affordable electric car in the country
      Tata Motors is celebrating the success of its battery-powered vehicles in the country by notching a sales volume of 10,000 units. In the process, the homegrown automaker became the first company to retail 10K EVs in the Indian passenger vehicle market. This has been attributed to the success of Nexon EV in the market.
      The company also retails Tigor EV in its PV portfolio that was recently updated with revised styling and a much powerful powertrain. Tata Motors has admitted that the first 10,000 EVs have mostly been bought by early adopters while also underpinning that the carmaker remains committed to the vision of making EVs for the mass market.
      On achieving the 10k sales volume, Shailesh Chandra, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors said that the numbers are a strong testament to the company’s innovative electric vehicles which are resonating well with customers. He further added that these customers have laid a strong foundation for EV ownership to further expand and have created a path for other prospective buyers to follow.
      EV Market Share of 70%
      Through a press release, Tata Motors has revealed that it commands over 70 percent market share in the ongoing financial year in the EV passenger car space. The brand registered a volume of over 1,000 electric cars in the month of August this year and reported a strong order book. The carmaker has also teamed up with its sister company Tata Power in order to set up a wide charging infrastructure with 700 plus installations in 120 cities across India.
      Tata Electric Cars
      Nexon EV Specs
      Powered by the brand’s Ziptron technology, Nexon EV features a three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor which derives its energy from a 30.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This powertrain returns an output of 127 bhp and 245 Nm of peak torque. The battery pack offers a claimed range of 312km on a single charge.
      Using a fast charge, the battery could be charged from Nexon EV in just 60 minutes. It is offered in three trims namely XM, XZ+, and XZ+ Lux with prices starting from Rs 13.99 lakh and going up to Rs 16.85 lakh (both prices ex-showroom).
      Tigor EV Specs
      On the other hand, the updated Tigor EV which was launched recently is also powered by Ziptron technology but features a slightly smaller battery pack with a capacity of 26kWh. This returns an output of 74 bhp and 170 Nm of peak torque and a range of 306km on a single charge. The EV can be charged from 0-80 percent in 8.5 hours using a standard wall charger and in 60 minutes using a fast charger.
      Tigor EV is available in three trims namely XE, XM, and XZ+ which are priced between Rs 11.99 lakh to Rs 13.14 lakh (ex-showroom). The manufacturer also launched an updated Tigor EV for the fleet market with a new name X-Pres T-EV. Without many rivals in the entry-level electric PV segment, Tata enjoys a significant advantage which is likely to grow stronger with the addition of new models. More

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      Audi e-tron GT Electric Launch Price Rs 1.8 Cr – Up To 500 Kms Range

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      Audi e-tron GT India Launche-tron GT adds to the growing line-up of electric cars from Audi India – Its RS variant has also been launched
      After launching the e-tron SUV earlier this year in India, Audi has today announced the launch of e-tron GT and e-tron GT RS. It is priced at Rs 1.8 crore and Rs 2.05 crore respectively. It sits above the e-tron SUV range, which is available from Rs 1 cr to Rs 1.17 cr. All prices are ex-sh.
      Design
      e-Tron GT is a Coupe-style electric four-door saloon that is meant for grand touring in comfort. Although it is not as sporty, quick or luxurious as its cousin from Porsche it is certainly distinctive and equally impressive in its design. Following a Coupe style, e-Tron GT gets a heavily sloping roofline with a broad shoulder line and low bonnet.
      Upfront, the sedan features a signature Audi hexagonal-shaped grille which is flanked by familiar matrix LED headlights in combination with Audi laser light. The front bumper features air curtains which improve aerodynamic efficiency.
      LED taillights at rear get an animated function which is one of the distinct highlights of the car. Along the side profile, it gets aggressive creases, a chrome finish on door sills and diamond-cut dual-tone alloy wheels which aptly makes it look luxurious.
      [embedded content]
      On the inside, you get Air Quality package, Nappa leather upholstery, 18 Way adjustable Sports seats Pro with Massager and Seat Ventilation in the front, ambient Lighting package, 3-zone air-conditioning and Comfort key. Also on offer is Audi Virtual Cockpit, MMI Navigation Plus with touch, B&O Premium Sound System with 3D sound, Audi Smartphone Interface and Audi Phone Box with wireless Charging.
      Power on tap
      The main highlight of e-Tron GT is what propels the sedan forward. e-Tron GT is powered by a dual-motor setup, which derives energy from an 83.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. In the standard variant, the powertrain churns out a cumulative output of 530 hp and 630 Nm of peak torque. In the top-spec RS trim, it puts out a massive 646 bhp and 830 Nm of torque.
      While the standard trim offers a maximum range of 500 kms on a single charge, the more powerful RS variant peaks out at 481 kms – as per the WLTP cycle. Respective top speeds of e-Tron GT and e-Tron GT RS are pegged at 245 kmph and 250 kmph while claimed 0-100kmph acceleration times for both variants are reported to be 4.1 seconds and 3.3 seconds respectively.
      Audi e-tron GT and RS Specs for India
      Both derivatives feature Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system since each axle is powered by a dedicated electric motor. However, since there is no mechanical link between the axles, the sedans are also equipped with an electronic control system to coordinate the drive between the axles and wheels. Bookings are already open online at the company website or at their authorized showroom. More

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      Tata XPRES T EV Launch Price With Subsidy – Tigor Electric For Fleet Customers

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      Tata XPRES T EVTata XPres T is basically the facelifted Tigor electric sedan for commercial market – It will receive two battery pack options of 16.5kWh and 21.5kWh
      Tata Motors has launched a new sub-brand called ‘Xpres’ in India which will cater exclusively to fleet customers – Government, Corporates and Mobility Services. With this new brand, the company now has two ranges of passenger vehicles Xpress and New Forever lineup and the first vehicle under this will be the Xpres-T EV which is essentially a facelift Tigor EV.
      Tata Tigor EV called Xpres T, is a part of the automaker’s Xpres brand which is exclusive for fleet customers. It is offered in a choice of four variants, two each for its two battery options. XpresT 165 XM variant is priced at Rs 9.54 lakh, while the XZ variant costs Rs 10.04 lakh. XpresT 213 XM+ is priced at Rs 10.14 lakh while XZ+ trim costs Rs 10.64 lakh. These are Net Prices with Fame Subsidy.
      Tata XPRES T EV Prices
      Design Elements
      Where its design is concerned, the XPres-T borrows much from the facelifted Tigor. It however gets blue accents on its now closed off front grille and dashboard to signal its electric power. Other than this differentiating factor, the rest of the exterior features are identical with EV badging on its front, sides and rear.
      It gets an all-black interior colour scheme, a Harman sourced infotainment system, USB, Bluetooth connectivity and automatic climate control. Safety is via dual air bags, rear parking sensors, power windows and two modes of Eco and Sport. ABS and EBD are offered as standard. The interiors also remain unchanged with a 2 DIN infotainment system, electrically adjustable ORVMs and remote locking system.
      2021 Tata Tigor Electric Facelift Xpres-T EV delivery starts
      Battery Options
      Tata XPres-T electric sedan will be offered with two battery options that include 16.5 kWh and 21.5 kWh. Power will be via a 72V, 3 phase induction motor offering 40 hp power and 105 Nm torque. ARAI has certified range at 165 km and 213 km respectively with single speed automatic transmission. The battery can be charged from 0 to 100% via a 15A domestic plug in just under 12 hours. Fast charging from 0 to 80% with 15 kW charger can be done in 110 minutes.
      True to the Government of India’s Green initiative, Tata Motors has over 1,700 electric sedans operating in the fleet segment. This new Xpres-T EV sedan, will further create a new benchmark for urban shared mobility with comprehensive captive charging solution provided by Tata Power. Tata Motors plans to further its electric vehicle portfolio with 10 new EVs by 2025.
      Increase In EV Demand
      The Maharashtra EV Policy 2021 has been announced. It offers many incentives for adoption of electric vehicles in the state which includes 2, 3 and 4 wheelers along with buses and transport vehicles. Each of these will get incentives at a rate set at Rs 5,000 /kWh battery capacity. These incentive plans would also help to accelerate development of charging infrastructure in the state.
      Electric vehicles come in with lower cost of ownership as compared to their IC engine powered counterparts. They also entail minimum maintenance and are especially in demand now with the rising fuel prices. These EVs are ideally suited for intra-city mobility services. More