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    Hero MotoCorp To Launch Their First Electric Scooter In Q1 2022 – Chetak Rival

    Hero Maestro Electric Scooter. Credit – 91 WheelsHero MotoCorp will rival the likes of Bajaj, TVS, Ather, Okinawa and other electric two-wheeler manufacturers in India
    While Hero MotoCorp is undoubtedly the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world, it is yet to actively venture into electric mobility like its immediate rivals Bajaj Auto and TVS MotoCorp (no Hero Electric is a separate entity altogether). Even though company chairman Pawan Munjal has invested heavily in Ather Energy, a brand like Hero with so many resources is bound to have an electric lineup of its own.
    The two-wheeler manufacturer has now announced that it will launch its first electric product by the end of the fiscal year of FY2021-22, which means between January and March next year. The development was confirmed by company CFO, Niranjan Gupta, in an interaction with a leading business news website.
    Partnership With Gogoro
    The brand is currently working on developing both fixed-battery and swappable battery EVs. The latter type is being developed in association with Hero MotoCorp’s Taiwanese partner Gogoro. The electric scooters and motorcycles will make use of Gogoro’s technology and will be sold and marketed by Hero. In fact, in addition to its own models, Hero MotoCorp could also launch rebadged Gogoro scooters although nothing is confirmed as of now.
    Due to a family pact with Hero Electric, Hero MotoCorp would have to launch its electric two-wheelers under a separate brand name so as not to create confusion. This new brand name will be announced close to the launch of its first electric two-wheeler. Maybe we could get a sneak peek into the upcoming brands at the AutoExpo scheduled for February 2022 (if it were to happen).
    Gogoro Electric Scooter
    Electric Maestro Edge
    Hero’s first electric two-wheeler is expected to be based on Maestro Edge which has also been spotted testing on a couple of occasions a few months back. The e-scooter is currently being developed at the company’s R&D centre in Jaipur (CIT). A prototype of the e-scooter made its first public appearance at the Hero World event last year.
    On first glance, the electric scooter looks very similar to its IC engine-powered counterpart. However, on a closer look, one can notice subtle cosmetic variations. For instance, the biggest difference is the absence of an exhaust setup complemented by contrasting gold-coloured alloy wheels and front forks. Other styling elements included a smoked LED headlamp and blacked-out visor and rearview mirrors.
    The bikemaker is still tight-lipped about the e-scooter’s specifications regarding its powertrain although it is expected to utilise a belt-driven motor. As far as features go, it is expected to be offered with three ride modes including drive, park and reverse which could be controlled from the left-hand side switchgear.
    The fully digital instrument cluster from the petrol-powered scooter is expected to be carried forward in this electric iteration. Other features likely to be on offer include keyless start/stop and internet connectivity.
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    Top 10 Motorcycles (150cc To 200cc) March 2021 – Pulsar, Apache, Unicorn, FZ, R15

    Image – The Bengal TigerWhile YoY numbers are positive, MoM sales growth turned negative in March
    Even with the on-going challenging times, 150-200cc motorcycle segment has registered an impressive 55.88% YoY sales growth in March 2021. A total of 1,40,418 units were sold, as compared to 90,080 units in March last year. However, these numbers may be a bit skewed, as lockdown was imposed last year on March 24.
    All motorcycles except Suzuki Gixxer have registered positive YoY growth in March 2021. In terms of MoM growth, sales are down by -1.90%. Sales were higher at 1,43,138 units in February 2021. Half of the motorcycles have negative MoM growth.
    Pulsar leads
    Bajaj Pulsar retains the top spot with sales of 38,571 units. YoY growth is 21.60%, as compared to 31,720 units sold in March last year. Pulsar share in sales is at 27.47%. MoM numbers are positive for Pulsar at 3.70%. Sales during February 2021 stood at 37,193 units.
    TVS Apache takes second spot with sales of 33,162 units. Apache has registered 52.37% YoY growth, as compared to 21,764 units sold in March last year. Its share in sales is at 23.62%. MoM growth is positive at 4.50%, as compared to 31,735 units sold in February 2021.
    Motorcycle Sales 150cc-200cc Segment March 2021 vs March 2020
    At number three is Honda Unicorn 160 with sales of 23,235 units. YoY growth is 60.62%, as compared to 14,466 units sold in March last year. Share in sales is at 16.55%. MoM growth is positive at 4.28%, as compared to 22,281 units sold in February 2021.
    Yamaha takes 4th, 5th and 6th
    The next three are Yamaha FZ, R15 and MT15. FZ sales are at 16,653 units, which is YoY growth of 66.46%. Sales in March last year stood at 10,004 units. Share in sales is at 11.86%. However, FZ MoM growth has turned negative at -6.43% in March 2021. Sales in February 2021 stood at 17,798 units.
    Yamaha R15 sales are at 6,988 units, registering YoY growth of 59.11%. Sales during March last year were at 4,392 units. R15 share in sales is at 4.98%. MoM growth is negative at -6.50%, as compared to 7,474 units sold in February 2021.
    Motorcycle Sales 150cc-200cc Segment March 2021 vs Feb 2021
    MT15 YoY sales have more than tripled, up from 2,040 units in March last year to 6,472 units in March 2021. Share in sales is at 4.61%. MoM growth is positive at 4.79%, as compared to 6,176 units sold in February 2021.
    Taken together, Yamaha motorcycles have sales of more than 30k units. Their combined share in sales is close to 22%. Yamaha will soon launch retro-styled FZ-X, which could emerge as another bestseller in this space.
    In percentage terms, max YoY growth is that of Hero Xpulse 200 (12325.00%) and Xtreme 160R (1363.92%). KTM 200 has also posted impressive YoY numbers, with sales growing more than 3x times in March 2021. However, all these three bikes have negative MoM growth. More

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    2022 Porsche 718 Boxster, Cayman Get Slightly More Expensive

    Porsche has released pricing for the 2022 718 Boxster and Cayman, and price increases range from $600 to $2500 depending on the model. The 718 has three engine options: two turbocharged flat-fours, providing 300 and 350 horsepower, or a 394- or 414-hp 4.0-liter flat-six engine.The 2022 Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman are available to order now and will arrive in the U.S. this fall. Porsche’s 718 model line, which includes the Boxster convertible and Cayman coupe, has received a slight price increase for the 2022 model year. They’re available to order now and will arrive in the U.S. this fall starting at $61,850 for the Cayman and $63,950 for the Boxster.

    2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 in Shark Blue.
    Porsche

    Those prices are for the base-model cars, which are powered by a 300-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four and come standard with a six-speed manual gearbox (Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch automatic is optional). The Cayman and Boxster S models, which start at $73,850 and $75,950, use a 350-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four. Both models are $600 more than the previous model year. The T models, which come with a sport suspension and the 2.0-liter engine, start at $70,950 for the Cayman and $73,050 for the Boxster, and they’re $700 more than before.

    Last year Porsche replaced the 718 GTS with a new GTS 4.0 model, and it gets a 394-hp 4.0-liter flat-six engine. This year, the GTS models are also $600 more expensive, starting at $88,750 for the Cayman GTS 4.0 and $90,850 for the Boxster GTS 4.0. Porsche also introduced a Boxster 25th Anniversary model last year, which uses the 394-hp 4.0-liter, and now it’s $2500 more, starting at $102,450. The top-of-the line track-focused Cayman GT4 now costs $102,550 and the 718 Spyder is $99,650. They both use a 414-hp version of the 4.0-liter flat-six and recently added the option of a dual-clutch automatic transmission.Orders for the 2022 Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman are open now, and they can be finished in two new colors: Shark Blue (introduced on the new 911 GT3) and Frozenberry Metallic. Buyers can also now get painted keys in a leather pouch, the owner’s manual in a leather pouch, and personalized floor mats.
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    Modernized Ferrari Testarossa Claims a Top Speed of 200 MPH

    A Swiss company is working on a modernized version of the Ferrari Testarossa.It has a more powerful version of the original car’s 4.9-liter flat-12.There’s no word yet on price or availability, but it won’t be cheap.In the 1980s, the Ferrari Testarossa was a spectacular supercar symbol of the era’s excess and conspicuous consumption. It also enjoyed a starring role in the later seasons of the ultimate ‘80s cop show, Miami Vice. The Testarossa quickly fell out of critical favor, but in recent years interest has started to rise again and values have enjoyed a corresponding increase. Now a Swiss tuner is set to offer a faster and modernized version of the original car.Based in Coldrerio in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, Officine Fioravanti has reportedly spent 14 months working on its retuned Testarossa. This company seems to be a continuation of a design agency that Leonardo Fioravanti started in the 1990s—Fioravanti himself led the team at Pininfarina that designed the original Testarossa.

    The new car has a more powerful version of the original car’s 4.9-liter flat-12 that produced 380 horsepower and—with a long enough straight and a brave enough pilot—could push the Testarossa to just under 180 mph, enough to make it the fastest production car in the world at the time. We don’t know exactly how much more power and torque the new version has, but according to Veloce.it its rev limiter has been raised to 9000 rpm. With revised aerodynamics, around 260 pounds of weight savings, and new Michelin Pilot Sport tires, the Testarossa is now claimed to be capable of 200 mph.

    Officine Fioravanti

    We’re not sure why Officine Fioravanti has opted to wrap its prototype in camouflage for these early images, as no obvious changes have been made to the original bodywork. Rather than try to diminish the problems of packaging its vast flat-12 engine, Fioravanti’s Testarossa design featured a dramatically squared-off rear end and also the iconic side strakes set into the doors and leading to the rear radiator inlets. Another famous feature of early Testarossas was the use of a single extra-long external mirror on the driver’s side only—one we are pleased to see Officine Fioravanti’s test car still wears.

    Other changes include the addition of traction control and ABS, as well as electronic Ohlins dampers and an adjustable suspension. There is no word on power steering, another omission from the original Testarossa, but we wouldn’t be surprised if an electric system has been added to help low-speed maneuvering. Officine Fioravanti is also promising a fully retrimmed cabin with new leather, machined aluminium components in place of plastic, and a modern audio system.

    Officine Fioravanti

    There is no word on price or availability yet. The finished car certainly won’t be cheap, but if you already possess a Testarossa you are almost certain to have a high tolerance for painful bills. For reference, Ian Callum’s reimagining of the original Aston Martin Vanquish costs around $600,000 beyond the cost of the base car itself. But regardless of money, we are very keen to see what the finished version is capable of.
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    Genesis G70 Shooting Brake Revealed in Full, and We Want One

    Genesis has revealed the Shooting Brake version of the G70.A four-door wagon with a sleek roofline, this version of Genesis’ compact sports sedan looks appealing to our eye.Unfortunately, it will only be sold in Europe.The Genesis G70’s transformation into an attractive wagon is finally complete. These latest photos of the G70 Shooting Brake confirm that the sports sedan looks better as a longroof, and we’re now even sadder that it won’t reach the U.S. market. It’s a major part of the Genesis brand’s entry into the European market, where wagons find significantly more buyers than they do in the U.S.

    With the same styling as seen on the updated 2022 G70 sedan, the wagon’s biggest changes are seen aft of the B-pillar, where the roofline tapers to a steeply sloped rear liftgate. Genesis claims that cargo space is increased by 40 percent compared with the sedan and the rear seats fold in a 40/20/40 arrangement for added cargo flexibility.

    The Shooting Brake will likely offer the same engines as the G70 sedan, which include a turbo 2.0-liter inline-four and a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6. A diesel may be offered in Europe as well.When it goes on sale across the pond this summer, the G70 wagon will compete with wagon versions of the Audi A4, BMW 3-series, and Mercedes C-class. Over here, we only get a precious few wagons this size such as the Audi A4 Allroad and Volvo V60—unless Genesis decides to change its mind and import the G70 Shooting Brake, which would make us very happy indeed.
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    Honda CB350 Sales Cross 18k Units – New May 2021 Price List

    Image – ManojHonda H’ness CB350 with revised pricing now costs more than Royal Enfield Meteor 350
    Honda H’ness CB350, launched in India in October 2020, is positioned in the mid-size motorcycle segment wherein it competes against the likes of the Royal Enfield Classic 350, Jawa and Benelli Imperiale 400. Honda H’ness CB350 boasts of a retro cruiser design, inspired by the brands CB range.
    It marked Honda’s entry in to mid-size 350-500cc segment. Offered in two variants of DLX and DLX Pro, the H’ness CB350 came in priced between Rs 1.85 lakh and Rs 1.90 lakh. These were introductory prices and was soon followed by a price hike in January 2021, by Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 2,500 respectively for the DLX and DLX Pro variants. Now, following six months launch, the Honda H’ness CB 350 prices have been hiked once again.
    Honda CB350 May 2021 Price
    Following the recent price hike, Honda H’ness CB350 is priced higher by Rs.3,405. The DLX costs Rs 1,89,905 from an earlier Rs 1,86,500, while the earlier pricing of Rs 1,92,500 for the DLX Pro has now been increased to Rs 1,95,905.
    No changes in design have been introduced and the price hike is purely to offset rising commodity costs and other taxes. The price hike also puts the H’ness CB350 in the same category as the CB350RS priced at Rs 1.96 lakh for the monotone variants and at Rs 1.98 lakh for its dual tone counterpart.
    Honda CB350 Price – May 2021
    This new pricing puts the H’ness CB350, at Rs.5,500 over that of its closest competitor, RE Meteor 350 which is priced from Rs.1.84 lakh for its Fireball variant. The Benelli Imperiale, also a strong competitor in the same segment, recently received a price reduction by Rs.10,000 and now starts at Rs 1.89 lakh. All prices are ex-sh.

    Month
    CB350 Sales
    Exports

    Oct
    1,290
    30

    Nov
    4,067
    92

    Dec
    1,564
    510

    Jan
    3,543
    270

    Feb
    3,268
    300

    Mar
    4,302
    150

    Total
    18,034
    1,352

    Avg
    3,006
    225

    CB350 Sales Till Date
    Since launch, Honda has managed to sell over 18k units of the CB350 in the domestic market. Exports in the same period have stood at a little over 1,300 units. Together, 19,386 units have been dispatched till March 2021. Sales figures above are inclusive of the RS trim, which was launched in mid Feb this year. In the same period, Meteor 350 sales have crossed 38k units.
    The H’ness CB350 DLX Pro variant receives Honda Smartphone Voice Control System. This allows the rider to use a dedicated Honda RoadSync App to manage features such as calls, music, audio instruction for navigation, etc.
    All vital information such as average fuel efficiency, gear position indicator, real-time mileage, etc. are displayed on the screen. It also receives Honda’s Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) while both variants get dual-channel ABS as standard. Other key features include USB charging port, LED head and tail lamps, turn signals and low battery indicator.
    The H’ness CB350 is powered by a 349cc, single cylinder, air cooled engine offering 20.8 hp power at 5,500 rpm and 30 Nm torque at 3,000 rpm. Transmission duties are managed by a 6-speed sequential gearbox with slip and assist clutch offered as standard. More

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    Royal Enfield FY 2021 Sales Breakup – Classic 350 Leads With 3.6 Lakh

    Image – Pokhara Sasto KarobarRoyal Enfield Classic 350 was the best-selling model in the company portfolio for FY21
    In FY21, Royal Enfield sales stood at 5,72,438 units, a de-growth of 83,213 units as compared to sales of 6,09,931 units in the same period of the previous year. A major part of these sales came from the Classic 350 which despite suffering a de-growth of 9.29 percent, noted sales of 3,61,140 as against sales of 3,98,144 units in FY20.
    Classic 350 Leads
    Royal Enfield has recently hiked prices from April 2021 and the Classic 350, another highly popular model has received a price hike of around Rs.10,000. The Meteor 350, launched late last year, now comes in priced higher by Rs.6,000.
    RE Bullet 350 also suffered de-growth of 25.04 percent in the past financial year. Total sales which had stood at 1,30,752 units in FY20 dipped to 98,008 units in FY21. Royal Enfield Bullet 350, which is the cheapest offering in the company lineup gets a price hike in the range of Rs.7,000 to Rs.13,000 depending on the variant.
    At No.3 was the RE Bullet Electra Twinspark which along with the RE Meteor 350 were the only two motorcycles to post positive growth. Bullet sales surged 11.05 percent to a total of 50,579 units in FY21, up from 45,545 units sold in FY20 while Meteor 350 sales stood at 39,893 units.
    Royal Enfield Sales FY 2021
    The company has been noting a steady rise in demand for the Meteor 350 ever since it was launched in November 2020. Sales thus far include 7,031 units of November, 8,569 units of December, 5,073 units of January, 8,624 units of February and 10,596 units of March 2021.
    RE Himalayan and 650 Twins
    Two other motorcycles from Royal Enfield that scored among the best sellers are the Himalayan and 650 Twins. However, both these models suffered de-growth. Himalayan sales dipped 11.37 percent from 15,302 units sold in FY20 to 13,562 units sold in FY21 while sales of the 650 Twins dipped 49.20 percent from 0,188 unit sold in FY20 to 10,256 units sold in FY21.
    Royal Enfield has discontinued models such as the Thunderbird 500, Bullet 500, Classic 500 and Thunderbird 350. Royal Enfield, which currently commands a 95 percent market share in the 350cc segment, is working on the new Hunter 350 and the motorcycle has been spied on test drawing attention to some features.
    The Hunter 350 will be based on the J platform of the Meteor 350 with which it will share its 349cc engine as well. It will receive sporty styling with an analogue instrument console and a circular analogue speedometer and like other updated RE models could also get Tripper Navigation. Once launched, the RE Hunter 350 will compete with the Honda CB350RS and the soon to be launched Jawa / Yezdi scrambler. More

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    TVS iQube Electric Scooter Launch Planned In 20 Cities – Take On Bajak Chetak

    TVS iQubeDemand for electric two wheelers is expected to witness an upsurge in the coming years
    A segment initially nourished largely by startups and tech firms, the electric two wheeler space has started to get attention from mainstream manufacturers. TVS, which already has iQube, has now revealed mega plans to boost its EV footprint.
    The company is planning to invest around Rs 500-600 crore in FY22, most of which will be used for EVs and emerging technologies and products. Around Rs 150 crore will be exclusively channelled for EV projects, which will include development of electric three-wheelers.
    TVS iQube in 20 new cities
    According to KN Radhakrishnan, director & CEO of TVS, there are plans to introduce its iQube electric scooter in 20 new cities. This expansion is expected to be completed by end of current fiscal. As may be recalled, iQube was originally launched in Bengaluru. Later, it was introduced in Delhi as well.
    In the next phase, iQube could be launched in other top cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. Several Tier I cities are also expected to be covered.
    TVS iQube
    TVS has not revealed the list of cities yet. The preference is likely to be for cities that have greater acceptance of electric two wheelers. Availability of battery charging infrastructure could be another factor for selection of cities that will get iQube.
    Rivals working on similar plans
    TVS plans reflect industry trends, wherein other electric two wheeler manufacturers are working on similar expansion plans. For example, Ather Energy has already expanded operations to top cities as well as several smaller cities. It has plans to cover more cities this year. Ather is also working to boost its network of charging stations.
    Bajaj Auto has similar plans for its Chetak electric scooter. Chetak was originally launched in Pune and later introduced in Bengaluru. By the end of this financial year, Bajaj has plans to launch Chetak in 30 new cities.
    Bajaj Chetak vs TVS iQube – FY 2021 Sales
    Another company with aggressive EV plans is Ola Electric, which is currently building a mega manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu. When completed, Ola will be able to produce around 10 million vehicles per year. Ola is also developing an extensive network of high-speed charging stations.
    In first year, more than 5k Ola charging stations will be set up in 100 cities. This will be ramped up to over 1 lakh charging stations spread across 400 cities. Easy availability of fast charging stations is a prerequisite for increased acceptance of EVs.
    Other companies such as Husqvarna and KTM are also working to introduce electric two wheelers in the Indian market. Mainstream manufacturers such as Hero MotoCorp, Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha are also expected to enter the EV space soon. Hero MotoCorp has already partnered with Taiwan-based Gogoro to develop electric vehicles and battery swapping infrastructure. More