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      Yamaha XSR 125 Confirmed For Launch In Europe – Based On R125, MT125

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      Yamaha XSR 155 Image for reference
      Yamaha XSR 125 will initially be on offer for European markets only
      The XSR brand from Yamaha has earned quite a name in the South Asian markets in the small capacity segment of motorcycles. The smallest of them all, XSR 125 has just been conformed and will be headed for European markets later this year. A type approval document of the 125cc XSR has been leaked on the internet revealing this development and certain specifications.
      Although any patent images of the same haven’t been revealed yet, in all probability it is likely to be inspired by XSR 155 in terms of design. XSR 155 is a very popular offering in several Asian markets and is likely to be based on R125 and MT125. Utilising the 125cc motor and underpinnings would not be difficult as both the models mentioned above are already on sale in Europe.
      Familiar Retro design
      The document leaked specifies that dimensions of the neo-retro motorcycle will be similar to XSR 155 except for its height which will be 10mm taller than its larger sibling. This is probably because the suspension setup will be tuned for a firmer ride in Europe.
      All other details including the design are expected to be nearly identical to XSR 155 which sports a neo scrambler styling. Some highlights include wide handlebars, circular headlamp and taillamp, a high tail section and a ripped single-piece seat.
      Yamaha XSR 155
      Features & Mechanical Specs
      Some of the features such as a fully digital, blue-backlit, circular instrument display and an LED lighting setup from XSR 155 are likely to trickle down to its smaller sibling. Hardware configurations of the upcoming retro motorcycle are likely to mirror its more powerful counterpart. This includes a diamond frame suspended on upside-down forks at front and a mono-shock at rear.
      The upcoming motorcycle will ride on 17-inch alloy wheels while braking duties will be carried out by a 292mm disc at front and 220mm disc at rear. This will be assisted by a dual-channel ABS as standard. As far as performance goes, it will be powered by the same 125cc single-cylinder motor from R125 and MT-125 which pushes out 15bhp and 11.5Nm of peak torque.
      This unit is paired with a 5-speed constant mesh gearbox. For a small displacement motorcycle and beginner riders, these numbers are more than plenty.
      Yamaha FZ-X
      The sad part is that this motorcycle is unlikely to be launched in India anytime soon. Instead, Yamaha will launch a retro-styled motorcycle in the form of FZ-X which is based on FZ- S Fi. Images of the upcoming motorcycle clicked during on-road trials have surfaced online on multiple occasions. It will be powered by a 149cc motor which produces 12.4 bhp at 7250rpm and 13.3 Nm of peak torque at 5500rpm. Launch of the retro-style bike is expected to take place in a couple of months. More

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      Two Wheeler Retail Sales FY 2021 – Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Yamaha, Jawa

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      File photo.Every two wheeler maker in India has reported de-growth in FY21 while electric vehicles posted some growth
      Domestic retail sales of two-wheelers declined 31.51 percent year-on-year during the Coronavirus pandemic-hit FY21. This de-growth can be seen across every two wheeler maker in the country.
      Market analysts attribute this de-growth to the nationwide lockdown announced for 2 months in the past year along with a series of other regional lockdowns imposed over the following months of the year.
      According to data released by Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), total two wheeler retails stood at 1,15,31,903 units, down 31.51 percent over 1,68,36,585 units retailed in FY20. This was a massive de-growth of 53,04,683 units.
      Hero MotoCorp Splendor and HF Deluxe
      As always it was Hero MotoCorp that topped the sales charts. Retail sales stood at 41,29,740 units in the past financial year, down 34.43 percent over 62,98,508 units sold in FY20. This two wheeler maker currently commands a 35.81 percent market share with strong sellers being the Hero Splendor and HF Deluxe.
      Two Wheeler Retail Sales FY 2021
      At No.2 spot and with a market share of 25.73 percent was Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India with 29.33 percent de-growth in terms of retail sales. Total retails in FY21 stood at 29,66,821 units, down from 41,98,259 units sold in FY20.
      The company has announced a temporary halt of its production operations across all four plants in Manesar (Haryana), Tapukara (Rajasthan), Vithalapur (Gujarat) and Narsapura (Karnataka), effective from May 1-15, 2021 for annual maintenance work with only essential staff working at all plants and various offices.
      TVS and Bajaj Auto
      TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto posted de-growth in terms of retail sales, down 28.56 percent and 36.33 percent respectively. Despite the slowdown across the two wheeler segment, Bajaj Auto plans to go ahead with its new launches. The Bajaj CT110X was recently launched at Rs.55,494 sitting on top of the CT line-up while the NS125 was also launched at the end of April, priced at Rs.93,690. The NS 125 has been well received and will help the company strengthen its positioned in the entry sport bike segment.

      2W Retail Sales
      FY21
      FY20
      %

      Hero
      41,29,740
      62,98,508
      -34.43

      Honda
      29,66,821
      41,98,259
      -29.33

      TVS
      17,05,416
      23,87,266
      -28.56

      Bajaj
      12,85,670
      20,19,170
      -36.33

      Enfield
      4,82,146
      6,39,385
      -24.59

      Suzuki
      4,31,746
      5,99,389
      -27.97

      Yamaha
      4,27,314
      5,59,484
      -23.62

      Piaggio
      37,377
      63,720
      -41.34

      Jawa
      20,801
      27,318
      -23.86

      BMW
      2,080
      2,828
      -26.45

      Kawasaki
      976
      3,075
      -68.26

      Harley
      907
      2,652
      -65.80

      Triumph
      639
      939
      -31.95

      Ducati
      176
      420
      -58.10

      Others / Electric
      40,094
      34,173
      17.33

      Total
      1,15,31,903
      1,68,36,586
      -31.51

      Every other two wheeler maker also posted de-growth in retail sales in FY21. Enfield retails dipped 24.59 percent while Suzuki reported a 27.97 percent dip in retails. Yamaha and Piaggio also suffered de-growth of 23.62 percent and 41.34 percent respectively. Kawasaki, Harley and Ducati saw its retails dip the most by 68.26 percent, 65.80 percent and 58.10 percent respectively. Jawa too has registered a decline of 23%.
      The only two wheeler segment to report positive retails was the electric segment which grew 17.33 percent to 40,094 units in FY21 up from 34,173 units sold in FY20. It is also two wheeler makers who plan an onslaught into this electric two wheeler segment in the months ahead.
      Suzuki plans to bring in the Burgman Street Electric which was spied on test for the first time in Delhi NCR and which once launched will go up against the likes of Bajaj Chetak, Ather 450X as well as the TVS iQube. Ola Electric is also in the process of setting up the largest mega facility and will make 1 e-scooter every 2 seconds. Ola will take on larger players such as Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor, and Hero Electric, along with startups like Ather Energy, Okinawa Autotech and Ampere Vehicles with their new e-scooter initiative. More

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      TVS XL Moped Modified To Look Like Harley Davidson Is A Valiant Attempt

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      TVS XL modified to like a Harley. Credit – sudus custom
      While the mechanical configuration hasn’t been tinkered, it does with a custom-made engine casing which gives it the appearance of a V-twin
      Despite its small size and capacity, TVS XL 100 is considered to be a workhorse of a two-wheeler. It is extremely efficient, frugal and reliable which makes it a favourite among people on a tight budget and those who conduct business on wheels. However, it would be highly optimistic to expect a powerful performance out of its humble powertrain.
      But that’s what aftermarket designers are- Optimistic as they look to create something special out of nothing. The latest case is a prime example in his regard where an XL 100 has modified to look like a miniature Harley Davidson. While it definitely doesn’t match in its size or capacity, its design definitely looks a close replica of the classical American bobber.
      TVS XL modified to like a Harley
      Aesthetic Modifications Made
      In a video uploaded by Sudus Customs on YouTube, the vlogger explains the modifications carried out on the moped. The designer has to be lauded for his efforts as the final product shares close resemblance with Harley Davidson Forty-Eight.
      In this aftermarket modification, the designer has given attention to each and every details. Almost every part of the custom-made bike is built from hands. Take a look at the detailed video below.
      [embedded content]
      The most iconic piece of attraction is a yellow-coloured fuel tank that has carved in shape just like the classic cruiser from Harley Davidson. It also features Harley Davidson and Forty-Eight brandings on the tank. It is a bolt-on tank and can be installed or removed easily. However, since the moped has no real body panels as such, a large section of the modified work is left uncovered. For instance, the huge gap between the fuel tank and motor.
      Is that a V-Twin there?
      The custom-made bike also features side boxes that are customised. The leather saddle can accommodate only the rider which has been fitted by positioning it above the rear suspension unit and then fastening the bolts.
      The most noticeably highlight is the engine compartment that wears a custom fibreglass casing. The cover encloses the tiny 100cc motor but gives it the shape of a classical V-Twin motor just like the ones that power Harley Davidson motorcycles.
      TVS XL modified to like a Harley
      The designer has also added a twin exhaust setup with custom-made mufflers although only one is functional. This setup lends a bit of heft to the moped. Other parts such as the front mudguard and rear fender have also been hand-made. It gets the same set of features which include a round headlamp with chrome bezels, round indicators and single pod analogue instrument cluster that provide a retro theme to the modified moped.
      In terms of specifications, new TVS XL 100 is powered by a 99.7cc four-stroke engine which delivers 4.3 bhp and 6.5 Nm of peak torque. On the other hand, Harley Davidson Forty-Eight is propelled by a massive 1202cc parallel-twin motor that spits out 96 Nm of peak torque. More

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      As Rivian EVs' First Deliveries Near, Startup Seeks More Ways to Stand Out

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      Want to work for Rivian? The startup EV maker is looking to hire more than 1500 people, including Event Team workers, to promote the brand directly to potential buyers. An especially noteworthy perk for employees, the InsideEVs blog has reported, is a $1000-per-month incentive if they buy their own R1S SUV or R1T truck.Customers can have a Rivian Guide give a full tour of their new EV when they get it delivered, as well as buy insurance direct from Rivian that will give out rewards when they use the EV’s advanced safety technology.Rivian has already announced a massive 175,000-mile warranty and an “Adventure Network” of EV chargers, but clearly it’s going to do more to stand out.Startup electric-vehicle companies and ambitious plans seem to go hand in hand. Whether it’s Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s Martian dreams or Nio building battery swap stations overseas, new automakers like to do things their own way. If you take a look at what Rivian is up to, you’ll see it fits the pattern quite well.We’ll start with some of the Rivian tidbits we already knew about, like a 175,000-mile warranty for the battery pack and electric drivetrain components in the company’s upcoming R1S SUVs and R1T pickup trucks, and the Adventure Network of 3500 proprietary DC fast chargers at 600 stations to charge up its electric vehicles.

      But these are not the only way Rivian is trying to gets its electric truck and SUV to stand out in one of the busiest automotive segments: large electrified vehicles. The first customer vehicles are supposed to be delivered this summer (although placing a new order today means you have to wait until January 2022), and Rivian will not only bring your new vehicle direct to your home but will also either give you the keys as part of a “touchless experience,” or you can have a Rivian Guide give you a comprehensive tour of your new EV. And if you purchase a Rivian EV and then decide you actually don’t like it, you can return it within seven days or 1000 miles.
      Rivian will offer its own financial services, which is common for an automaker, but it also plans to sell its own comprehensive vehicle insurance, which will also cover things such as Rivian accessories and off-roading. And, if you use your EV’s standard Driver+ Active Driving Assistance safety technology—which can automatically steer and adjust your speed on the highway, for example—the company says you can reduce your insurance costs by earning rewards at renewal. The full details on Rivian Insurance are not publicly available, but we do know that Rivian works with third-party insurance carriers, including Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, for its coverage. Also, for starters, Rivian Insurance will only be available in 40 states.

      As for actually producing its EVs, Rivian recently got approval to expand its manufacturing site in Normal, Illinois, by 380 acres. It plans to build a solar-powered charging canopy to power up new vehicles right when they come off the line. Of course, Rivian will need to hire people to fulfill these many ambitious goals. The company currently lists more than 1500 job openings, including a dozen or so Event Team Manager spots across the U.S. People hired for these customer service and event jobs will be spending four months on the road across the country (and maybe Canada) promoting Rivian’s EVs at demonstration drives with a tour team made up of more than 20 people.

      Rivian employees who end up buying one of the company’s EVs could get more than a traditional automaker employee discount. InsideEVs reported on a thread on the Rivian Owners Forum where people with company connections posted about a 24-month, $1000-a-month payment discount for employees who buy a R1S or R1T. Rivian hasn’t yet replied to our request to confirm this deal. The R1S and R1T are priced starting in the $75,000 range.
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      2021 Yamaha NVX Scooter Debuts With R15 V3 155cc Engine

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      2021 Yamaha NVX ScooterYamaha NVX is powered by the same 155cc VVA motor that propels YZF R15 V3 and MT-15
      South Asian markets boast a plethora of options when it comes to lightweight commuter scooters. In this regard, Yamaha has launched an updated version of NVX power scooter in Malaysia. The 2021 NVX is available in two trims- Standard and ABS.
      While the former has been priced at RM 8,998 (equivalent to ?1.61 lakh), the latter can be availed at RM 10,998 (equivalent to ?1.97 lakh). With this launch, Yamaha has expanded its 155cc motor lineup across its global lineup which currently consists of motorcycles such as YZF R15 V3, MT-15 and scooter models such as NMax, Aerox and NVX.
      2021 Yamaha NVX Scooter
      Updated Aesthetics
      The ripped physique along with aggressive character lines of NVX gives the scooter a masculine appeal. It receives sporty and sculpted body panels, funky body graphics and two-part LED headlights on the front apron. The blacked-out theme on the foot mounts and side slung exhaust enhance the sportiness of the scooter.
      Contrast coloured rims add a neat touch to the overall design. These styling elements are further complemented by new colour options in the form of Red and Cyan colours in the standard trim and Platinum SE and GP Blue paint schemes in the ABS variant.
      2021 Yamaha NVX Scooter
      New Features On Board
      Not just looks but the latest iteration of NVX is also very functional and packs a host of nifty features such as all-LED headlights, fully digital LCD instrument cluster, integrated indicators, hazard light switch,12V charging port, keyless start and idle start-stop system. The latest version of NVX is also equipped with connectivity tech provided by Yamaha Y-Connect app.
      2021 Yamaha NVX Scooter
      Through this functionality, the rider is able to obtain real-time information such as overall vehicle health check, fuel consumption, service reminder, scooter’s last known location and much more. The instrument panel will also be able to display all new messages and calls received on phone.
      Mechanical Specs
      Coming to its mechanical specs, the new NVX is powered by a 155 cc liquid-cooled VVA engine that has been tuned to push out 15.19 bhp at 8000rpm and 13.9 Nm at 9000rpm. Suspension duties are carried out by telescopic forks at front and adjustable twin shock absorbers at rear. On the other hand, anchorage is handled by a 230mm disc brake and a drum brake at rear. The scooter rides on 14-inch front and rear wheels.
      While the standard variant tips the weighing scales at 122 kilos, the ABS variant weighs 3kg more. Saddle height is very accessible at 790mm with a ground clearance of 149mm. Fuel tank capacity has also been increased from 4.5-litre to 5.5-litre which means more miles to go in a full tank. More

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      Porsche Macan EV Will Arrive in 2023 with More Range Than Taycan

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      An electric Porsche Macan will arrive in 2023 alongside a new gasoline-powered version, which will debut later this year. It’ll be built on a new electric platform with a similar 800-volt architecture as the Taycan electric sedan, but it will have significantly more range, Porsche claims. The electric and gas-powered models will be differentiated by design, similar to the Taycan and Panamera. Porsche’s best-selling model will have an electric version arriving in 2023, and the company is currently testing prototypes. It’ll ride on a new electric platform, have significantly more range than the Taycan electric sedan, and be sold alongside the new gas-powered Macan that’ll arrive later this year. Porsche hasn’t announced what the electric model will be called or when the gas-powered model will go away. That’ll be decided based on how well it sells.
      The electric Macan will be built on VW Group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) electric architecture that will be used on a range of future Audi and Porsche products. The new gas-powered model will use the Macan’s existing platform. The EV will borrow the Taycan’s 800-volt architecture, which allows for fast charging at a maximum of 270 kilowatts, and like the Taycan, Porsche is planning that the electric Macan will have two battery sizes available. However, Porsche says that the majority of North American customers thus far have chosen the larger battery pack, so we could have only one battery size in the States. The Macan is currently available as base, S, Turbo, and GTS models powered by turbo four-cylinder or turbo V-6 engines.

      Porsche claims that the Macan EV will have “significantly” more range than the current Taycan. That means it should boast more than the 2021 Taycan 4S model’s 227 miles of EPA-estimated range, which is currently the highest in the lineup. This will be essential in order to make it competitive with other electric crossovers such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y, which both have variants with more than 300-mile EPA range ratings. Porsche is also planning to expand its partnership with the Electrify America charging network, possibly with destination chargers at hotels and dealerships. They’ll look different from the standard Macan, too. Michael Steiner, Porsche’s executive board member for development, made a reference to the Taycan and Panamera. Visual differences between the two Macans are hinted at in the photos, especially on the front end where Porsche has attempted to cover it with camouflage that blends in with the looks of the current Macan. These prototypes’ headlights are slimmer and of course don’t have a traditional grille like the gas-powered model. Other than that, they are similar in size and shape to the current crossover. And Porsche says they’ll have a similar propulsion sound to that of the Taycan. We should know more about the electric Macan once the new gas-powered model makes its debut by the end of the year.
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      SAE Updates, Refines Official Names for 'Autonomous Driving' Levels

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      The engineering group SAE International has updated its Levels of Driving Automation chart with more definitions for the Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous systems, which are in the upper end toward fully self-driving in the famous chart.The basic framework remains the same, with six distinct levels from 0 to 5 between a car that can’t handle any self-driving tasks and one that’s fully capable of autonomous movement.New rules for remote driving—because that’s a thing that’s coming—were also updated.

      SAE International

      The way the auto industry officially defines the varying levels of driver assistance technology, from absolutely nothing to full self-driving cars, is getting an update. These six levels that the organizing bodies for these terms, SAE International and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), first started defining in 2014 are being changed to include remote technologies and other clarifications.

      The six levels, which range from Level 0 to Level 5, are technically known as J3016 and can be slightly confusing because they are sometimes talked about as if they are simply different levels of actual autonomous vehicles. The extremes are easy to understand, with Level 0 meaning there is nothing in the car that will ever take control of any of the car’s movement functions and Level 5 meaning full autonomy. It’s the middle steps that are a bit more blurred. To help keep the levels defined, the SAE and ISO are making it clearer that the first three levels (L0, L1, and L2) should be referred to as “Driver Support Systems,” while L3, L4 and L5 are used for actual “Automated Driving Systems.”The new update doesn’t dramatically change the structure of the previous collection. In fact, the chart that the SAE uses as a bit of a cheat sheet for the different levels has remained exactly the same since it was last updated in 2019, but there are new clarifications for the industry to use.The biggest changes are in what defines the Level 3 and Level 4 systems. The definitions have been clarified to note that there might be some automated fallback at L3, while at L4 there is the possibility of some alerts to in-vehicle users.There are also changes when it comes to human-in-the-loop systems, with the new terminologies finding room for the remote technologies and naming the people who might be involved in controlling a vehicle from afar: remote assistant and remote driver. A remote driver, for example, could be someone who monitors the pathway of a vehicle trying to park remotely, and makes sure the car is “responsive to pedestrians and obstacles.” A remote assistant, on the other hand, could be someone who “provides remote assistance to an [automated driving system]-equipped vehicle in driverless operation.”The chairperson of the SAE J3016 Technical Standards Committee, Barbara Wendling, said this week’s updates are to be expected considering how fast autonomous vehicle technology is advancing. “As the development of automated driving technologies continues on a global scale, SAE J3016: Levels of Driving Automation has evolved to align with the developing technologies and deployment strategies,” she said in a statement. In other words, we won’t be surprised when the SAE updates these definitions once again in the future.
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      Royal Enfield Sultan 650 By Neev Motorcycles – Looks Ready To Rule The Streets

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      Royal Enfield 650 Sultan By Neev MotorcyclesInterested folks can contact the bike modifier to bring this concept to life
      Royal Enfield 650 twins are among the most preferred motorbikes for customization projects. They are relatively affordable, easier to tweak and can support a wide variety of aftermarket components.
      The latest mod job is actually a paper based concept that is yet to be built. However, considering the absolute stunner revealed in the images, it would be safe to assume that orders for this mean machine will flow in pretty fast.
      Royal Enfield Sultan 650 By Neev Motorcycles
      Interceptor 650 ‘Sultan concept’ design
      Created by customization shop Neev Motorcycles, the Sultan concept appears to have a dark, brooding character. It looks deadly, merciless and unforgiving. The concept has a sharp design and utilizes a dual tone colour theme of black and dark grey.
      Some of the key features include round headlamp with colour LED lights, clip-on handle bars, LED tail light and turn signals, bar end rear view mirrors, side mounted instrument cluster, leather seat, and upswept exhaust.
      Royal Enfield Sultan 650 By Neev Motorcycles
      Interceptor 650 Sultan specs
      As compared to stock 41 mm front fork, modified Interceptor 650 Sultan concept utilizes USD forks. However, the stock twin coil-over shocks at the rear have been retained. The concept utilizes R17 alloy wheels with wheel cover at both front and rear, shod with tubeless tyres.
      Royal Enfield Sultan 650 By Neev Motorcycles
      A number of accessories and parts have been hand built such as the fenders, side panels, fuel tank detailing, two-in-one flow exhaust with protective covers, wheel covers, frame alterations, number plate assembly and instrument cluster repositioning. Components made in machine shop include sump guard / bash plate, disc brake fittings, axles, and spacers. Aftermarket components include exhaust muffler, exhaust silencer, and grips.
      This project achieves a high level of finish, made possible with powder coating, anodizing, zinc plating, chrome plating, and polishing. The paint job is also entirely new.
      Royal Enfield Sultan 650 By Neev Motorcycles
      While the Sultan concept looks absolutely stunning, it is unlikely to come cheap. A number of customized and aftermarket components will have to be used, which is bound to increase the overall cost of this customization project. One also has to ascertain if this modification project would be approved by RTO. If not, the Sultan will only work as a collector’s item for enthusiasts.
      Practicality is another thing that needs to be considered for such extensive customization projects. How the modified motorcycle will perform in the real world would be difficult to judge just by looking at the pictures.
      However, if we were to assess this project solely for its design and styling, it easily qualifies as one of the best we have ever come across. It’s one of those amazing ideas that deserves to be born. More