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      in Electric Cars

      Hyundai Kona Electric Owners Affected By Recall – Get Their Car Back After 2 Month Wait

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      Image – Akhil Krishnan
      The shift to electric is inevitable, but new challenges are emerging for EV makers

      A recent example is that of Hyundai Kona, which had to undergo a large-scale recall across the globe. The recall was extended to India last year, applicable for Kona units manufactured between the period April 2019 to October 2020. Hyundai had sold a total of 456 units during this period, all of which were covered under the voluntary recall notice.
      Kona battery issue
      Kona recall was carried out to check potential issues with the car’s high-voltage battery management system (BMS). Some users had reported that their Kona would stall after a warning on the MID that asks them to check electric vehicle system. In such cases, most owners had to get their Kona towed to the service centre.
      There were conflicting reports as well, wherein a user had said that the problem could be fixed by restarting the engine. However, even if true, such temporary solutions cannot be expected to be the norm for a premium EV like Kona.
      An expensive recall
      Customers in India have started getting back their Kona after spending several weeks at the workshop. It’s taking longer to patch up the EV, as the entire battery unit is being replaced by Hyundai. It’s not certain if all Kona units will have to undergo the same process, but a significant percentage will have to be updated in this manner.
      Hyundai Kona Electric delivered to owner after getting fixed
      Akhil Krishnan is one such owner, who recently got his Kona back after the fix said that Hyundai has replaced the entire battery unit. His Kona had to spend two and a half months at the service centre while it was being fixed.
      Globally, around 76,000 Kona units are covered under the recall. This will make this recall an expensive exercise for Hyundai. The company has said that it will carry out all the needed updates completely free of cost.
      Recalls are not only expensive, but they also impact customer trust and confidence in an adverse manner. EVs are supposed to make things easier for users, but if there are persistent issues, it may prevent people from switching to electric.
      Hyundai Kona Electric battery replacement
      Kona specs
      Hyundai Kona electric gets its power from a 39.2 kWh Lithium-ion Polymer battery pack. Power is send to a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) that generates 136 ps and 395 Nm of torque. Kona has ARAI certified range of 452 km, which is the highest in its class. The range varies based on the drive mode selected – Eco, Comfort and Sport. Kona can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in 9.7 seconds.
      In terms of safety, Hyundai Kona offers six airbags, vehicle stability management, hill start assist control, electronic stability control, virtual engine sound system for pedestrian safety and ISOFIX child seat mounts. More

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      in Bike

      TVS Apache 200 Single ABS Variant Gets Ride Modes – Priced Rs 1k Higher

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      Image – The Bengal Rider
      Apache RTR range is among the bestselling performance oriented motorcycles in the country

      Aiming to provide more options to customers, TVS has introduced ride modes for Apache RTR200 4V single-channel ABS variant. Earlier, the ride modes were offered only with dual-channel ABS variant. The 2021 variant is available at a starting price of Rs 1.28 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). That’s Rs 1k more than the outgoing model.
      Ride modes
      New Apache RTR200 4V single-channel ABS gets ride modes of Urban, Rain and Sport. In all these modes, the motorcycle’s top speed and ABS are adjusted to ensure optimal performance in the specific environment.
      In Rain mode, ABS response is maximum whereas top speed is curtailed. Sport mode is the other extreme where top speed is maximum while ABS response is reduced. Urban mode is somewhere in the middle, in which both top speed and ABS response is limited. Apache RTR200 4V is powered by a 197.75 cc, oil cooled, Fi engine. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox with integrated multi-plate slipper clutch. Power and torque output vary based on the ride mode selected.
      In Sport mode, the motorcycle’s max power and torque output of 20.82 PS and 17.25 Nm is available for use. In Urban and Rain mode, power and torque is reduced to 17.32 PS / 16.51 Nm. Talking about top speed, users get 127 kmph in Sport and 105 kmph in Urban and Rain mode.
      TVS Apache 200
      Other updates
      In addition to the ride modes, Apache RTR 200 4V single-channel ABS variant gets adjustable levers and pre-load adjustable front suspension. For customers in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Goa & Puducherry, TVS is offering complimentary TVS XPOD Helmet for its entire RTR range.
      Features that will be the same as earlier include the aggressive LED headlamp with long range and enhanced visibility, race-inspired graphics with decals, aerodynamic claw mirrors, sculpted fuel tank and race-inspired seating profile.
      RTR 2004V is equipped with Bluetooth enabled SmartXConnect technology that allows users to access a range of features. When used with the SmartXConnect app, the system displays all the details of the ride such as total time, top speed, average speed, lean angle, etc. Users can access turn-by-turn navigation as well. SmartXConnect also has a crash alert system that automatically notifies the rider’s location to their emergency contacts in case of a crash.
      In terms of performance, RTR 2004V is equipped with first-in-segment Glide Through Technology. This comes handy when negotiating heavy traffic in an urban environment. Other equipment that are designed to boost performance include race-tuned slipper clutch, racing-spec radial tyre, split cradle chassis for optimal riding dynamics, and race-tuned double barrel exhaust. More

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      in Bike

      Bajaj Chetak Based Husqvarna Electric Scooter Debut Postponed To 2022

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      Husqvarna electric scooter render
      Besides an electric scooter, Husqvarna is also developing an electric motorcycle tentatively named E-Pilen

      Husqvarna’s parent company, Pierer Mobility has announced that it has deferred the launch of its first electric scooter offering to 2022. Internally codenamed E-01, the e-scooter was earlier expected to make its debut this year itself. Furthermore, the company shared that it would first be launched in a European market.
      While the company hasn’t revealed the exact reason for this delay, we suspect the Covid-19 pandemic and global shortage of semiconductor chips to have played a major role in affecting its launch timeline. Earlier it was revealed that this upcoming e-scooter would likely be based on Bajaj Chetak electric scooter’s platform.
      Development of E-01
      Although its underpinnings will be borrowed from the Indian manufacturer, it will wear a completely different top hat. It will be designed and configured in line with the needs of and preferences of European consumers. It will be categorised as an L3e-A1 EV as per EU regulations and hence its power output will not be more than 11 kW and its power to weight ratio won’t exceed 0.1 kW/kg.
      Pierer Mobility aims to tap into the electric two-wheeler segment in Europe which is expected to be a $10 billion market by 2025. The company claims that existing European motorcycle and scooter segments between 50cc and 125cc will turn 50 percent electric in the low voltage range on short distance by 2030.
      Bajaj Chetak
      At the conclusion of Chetak electric Yatra in Pune, Bajaj had confirmed that the Chetak Electric platform will also be extended to a performance model which could be branded as a KTM or Husqvarna. Within a few weeks of this announcement, Pierer Mobility confirmed that it was developing a common 48V electric two-wheeler platform planned for mass consumers in India.
      Developed under the ‘Urban E-Mobility’ strategy, the Swedish brand is working towards introducing an electric two-wheeler which would be the stepping stone n the PTW segment (Powered Two Wheeler segment). Bajaj recently announced the setup of their new plant in Pune, which will be exclusively used to manufacture new KTM, Husqvarna two wheelers as well as Chetak electric scooter.
      Expected Specs, Design & Features
      In terms of specifications, Chetak e-scooter features an electric motor that generates 4 kW and 16 Nm of peak torque. This motor is paired to an IP67-rated 3 kWh air-cooled battery pack. Initially, the new Husky e-scooter was intended to be powered by a 10 kW motor, however, it seems that it will be offered with the same 4 kW unit itself in order to be more competitively priced.
      As mentioned earlier, E-01 will sport a very different design as compared to its distant Indian cousin. It will feature sleek body panels and will be offered with creature comforts such as an all-digital console, smartphone connectivity, LED DRLs, etc. Husqvarna has not mentioned any modular battery system on E-01, therefore, it is safe to assume that buyers would have to charge their e-scooter through wall-mounted chargers just like Chetak. More

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      in Motor News

      Finding the Cars of Our Childhood: Window Shop with Car and Driver

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      Long before we were recording Window Shop videos and working at C/D, before we even had driver’s licenses, we spent hours and hours in the family car. Presuming those vehicles played some role in our future love of cars and the people we became, we thought we’d tap into our childhood memories and find nice examples of the vehicles we grew up in.
      You might suspect that our editors were exposed to fun and interesting autos at a young age, but the reality is closer to the 1984 Toyota Tercel that senior editor Joey Capparella’s father owned for more than 10 years. Actually, this explains a lot about Capparella’s love of normcore cars.
      Like many children of the 1960s, contributor John Pearley Huffman grew up with a station wagon in the garage. Although the Huffman family’s ’65 Ford Country Squire looks incredibly cool today, it was decidedly uncool by the time Pearley got his license.Deputy testing director K.C Colwell’s parents had a long string of terrible vehicles that somehow didn’t taint young Colwell’s view of cars. When he was old enough to influence their choices, he suggested they buy a 1991 Ford Explorer. Clean, rust-free examples of early Explorers are hard to find, but Colwell locates a decent one for sale in Colorado, and it even has a manual transmission like the one his folks bought back in 1990.Having only glossed the challenge, contributor Jonathon Ramsey goes on and on about his first car, a Ford Festiva. After we discuss the tire sizes of the diminutive Mazda-based car, Ramsey eventually gets around to telling us about his mother’s second-gen Volkswagen Jetta, which he occasionally borrowed to avoid the embarrassment of driving around in the little Ford.
      Finally, deputy editor Tony Quiroga shows us the 18.5-foot-long front-drive convertible behemoth that made a mere 215 horsepower from 500 cubic feet of displacement. We’d say it’s safe to assume that the cars your parents owned have little effect on car enthusiasm, and we’re thankful for that.
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      in Motor News

      This Week in Cars: the Volvo C40, the Taycan Cross Turismo, and a Semi-Autonomous Honda

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      Utah could soon become the seventh state where it is illegal for dogs to ride in the beds of pickup trucks. A viral video of a four-legged Utahn riding unrestrained on an open-sided truck bed inspired the bill, which is supported by the Utah Humane Society. No word if the bill was also inspired by the long-ago antics of Utah Sen. Mitt Romney.
      This Week in Sheetmetal

      Volvo

      Volvo unveiled the electric C40 Recharge fastback crossover, which it estimates will have 210 miles of range. The C40’s electric powertrain will make 402 horsepower and should manage a 4.7-second zero-to-60-mph time. Also this week, Volvo announced its plan to stop selling cars with internal-combustion engines by 2030.
      Porsche showed the electric Taycan’s wagon variant, the Taycan Cross Turismo. Intended to compete with Mercedes-Benz’s E-class wagon and Audi’s A6 wagon, the Taycan wagon will come in four strengths. The top-dog Turbo S will give you 750 horsepower and an estimated 2.7-second sprint to 60 mph, if you can afford it. Here’s how we’d spec it.
      Not to be outdone, Mercedes-AMG confirmed this week that it will build an ultra-high-performance version of the four-door GT. The GT 73 will be a hybrid and could make more than 800 horsepower, but the powertrain will still be based on a twin-turbo V-8, so don’t expect to save money on gas.

      Mercedes-AMG

      Butterfly Effect
      You’ve heard about the semiconductor shortage, but what about the foam padding shortage? The winter storms that hit Texas late last month shut down oil refineries, which make the chemicals necessary for the production of the polyurethane foam that’s used in automotive seat cushions. One anonymous auto executive told Automotive News that the problem is “bigger and closer” than the aforementioned chip shortage, while another called foam-related production shutdowns “a threat, not a given.” We’ll find out who was right in a few weeks, and in the meantime let this serve as a reminder of how far away we really are from a zero-emissions auto industry.

      Biden Launches Plan to Review Semiconductor Supply

      Semiconductor Shortage Is Halting Car Production

      A Microchip Shortage Is Disrupting Production

      Infrastructure Week
      The American Society of Civil Engineers gave U.S. infrastructure a C- in a report published this week and said the government will need to spend $2.6 trillion on infrastructure repairs in the next decade. That’s actually the best grade the group has given our infrastructure in 20 years; the last report in 2017 rated the country’s infrastructure at a D+. The report may have served as fodder at an Oval Office meeting led by President Biden and attended by a bipartisan group of lawmakers. On the campaign trail, Biden promised to spend $2 trillion on infrastructure projects, including high-speed rail and electric-vehicle infrastructure, but Republican congressman Sam Graves said after the meeting that members of his party would reject a “multi-trillion-dollar catchall bill.”

      Honda

      I, Honda
      Honda leapfrogged Tesla to become the first automaker to sell (well, lease) a production car with Level 3 autonomous capability when it made 100 copies of its Legend sedan equipped with a Honda Sensing Elite package available to customers in Japan. The package allows the cars to accelerate, steer, and stop without input or constant monitoring from the driver. Honda even goes so far as to suggest that drivers could watch TV on the car’s infotainment screen when the system is engaged. So far, the system’s use is limited to traffic jams or similar low-speed, high congestion scenarios, and there are no plans to bring the Legend or its self-driving capabilities to the United States. But progress is progress, right?
      Further Reading
      Read in the New York Times about a German town that is pursuing zero emissions in part by encouraging its residents to give up their cars, particularly the ones that run on gas or diesel.
      Also in the Times, a suggestion that the United States use currency manipulation to hold on to manufacturing jobs.
      If you’re looking for a dose of schadenfreude, take in the extradition to Japan of two men who helped former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn flee justice after being charged with various financial crimes.
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      in Motor News

      2022 Genesis G70 Shows Off Launch Edition Model for U.S.

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      The refreshed 2022 Genesis G70 will have a Launch Edition model in the U.S.
      Limited to 500 units, it has white or grey matte exterior paint and a red interior.
      The updated G70 will go on sale in the spring with carryover 2.0T and 3.3T engines.
      Genesis is trying to up the 2022 G70’s exclusivity factor with a Launch Edition model that features special color combinations. It will be limited to 500 units and comes only with the G70’s upgrade engine, a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 with 365 horsepower that’s available either with rear- or all-wheel drive.

      2022 Genesis G70 Will Have Carryover Engines

      2022 Genesis G70 Gets Same New Look as G80

      Our 2019 Genesis G70 Needed More Power

      The Launch Edition is available in either Verbier White or Melbourne Grey matte exterior paint. It comes with 19-inch black wheels and a red leather interior. All 2022 Genesis G70 models feature updated styling that introduces the newer design language first shown on the GV80 SUV and G80 sedan. Inside, there’s a larger touchscreen infotainment system and a few new features.

      View Photos

      Genesis

      Pricing isn’t yet available but we would expect a small uptick from the current model, which starts at $37,025 and ranges up to $49,225 for a 3.3T AWD model. Genesis is now accepting reservations for the 2022 G70 on its website, including the Launch Edition, and says that the cars will arrive in the U.S. this spring.
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      in Motor News

      VW to Build a ‘High Range’ and ‘Short Charging Time’ EV for 2026

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      At an event detailing goals for electrification and future technologies, VW revealed that it has a new electric sedan in the works that it plans to launch for 2026.
      The sedan, known as Trinity, will set “set new standards” for charging times, battery range, and other technology, VW said.
      At the event, the automaker also unveiled its Accelerate plan, whereby it plans to have 50 percent of its sales in the U.S. be electric by 2030.
      Volkswagen is going all in on electric vehicles, and at an event detailing its even more aggressive future plans, the German automaker said that it has an electric sedan planned with a 2026 launch, dubbed Project Trinity. VW says that the Trinity sedan will set “new standards” with its charging speed, battery range, and in other technology.

      Volkswagen Wants to Sell Three Million EVs a Year

      VW ID.Buzz Microbus U.S. Launch Delayed to 2023

      Tested: 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Normalizes the EV

      VW released a sketch of the Trinity, showing a sweeping roofline that resembles that of the Audi A7. Nonetheless, VW didn’t go so far as to release any specifics on the forthcoming sedan beyond that it will have a “Level 2+” autonomous system and “be technically ready for Level 4.” There is no formal definition of Level 2+, but if the sedan is equipped with the right hardware, upgrading it to a Level 4 system could be done with over-the-air updates.
      The production process for the Trinity will also be different from the practice for current vehicles. Among the differences are that it will have fewer variants and the hardware will be standardized, the automaker said. In January, German newspaper Welt reported that the new sedan will have a starting price of around $42,000, which would make it slightly more expensive than the Tesla Model 3.
      At the event, VW also outlined its Accelerate plan, a strategy whereby the automaker will streamline its electric business model to make it more profitable and efficient. Part of the plan is the goal of having 70 percent of sales in Europe, and 50 percent of sales in the U.S. and China, be of fully electric vehicles by 2030. VW said that to reach this goal, it will release at least one new electric vehicle each year.

      Timeline of EV Plans Automakers Have Announced

      VW said that it plans to reduce the number of variations in each of its vehicles, and in turn, personalization of a vehicle won’t happen through changes in the hardware, but rather through the software on every vehicle. Customers will be able to add functions to their vehicles at any point during ownership. VW also said it plans to make “autonomous driving widely available” by the end of the decade.

      Sign up for our new weekly EV newsletter, State of Charge. SIGN UP

      In total, Volkswagen is investing $19 billion into electrification and other advanced technologies through 2025. That investment isn’t quite what other automakers such as GM ($27 billion) and Ford ($29 billion) have earmarked toward those technologies.
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      in Bike

      CFMoto 300SR India Launch Planned – Rival To KTM RC 390, Ninja 300

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      CFMOTO 300SR
      Mechanically, the faired 300SR is identical to the naked 300NK with the same powertrain and hardware setup

      After being absent for the better part of 2020, CFMoto announced its re-entry to the Indian market by launching the BS6 iteration of its naked streetfighter 300NK. Now, the Chinese bikemaker wants its presence to be felt across the country on a larger scale. Hence it is contemplating on launching the faired sibling of 300NK.
      As per a report, CFMoto is likely to launch 300SR in India towards the end of this year; between October and December. The faired sports bike is expected to be made available in India as a CKD product which means it could be priced very competitively. It is expected to be priced at Rs 2.49 lakh (ex-showroom) which would make Rs 20,000 dearer than its naked sibling.
      Design & Features
      A few weeks ago, the motorcycle made its debut in Philippines. As its naked version, the 300SR has been designed by KISKA which has also contributed to the Duke range of motorcycles for KTM. It features a sporty, aggressive and proper aerodynamically designed fairing that is able to catch one’s attention at once.
      It gets a pair of slit LED headlights flanked by LED DRLs which give the bike an angry look. Other notable design highlights include stepped-up split seats, a raised windscreen, a muscular tank, lower-set clip-on handlebars and a dual-tone colour scheme.
      CFMOTO 300SR
      In terms of features, 300SR comes equipped with a TFT colour screen with two different modes and an all-LED setup for lighting. It has a kerb weight of 165 kg and can hold up to 12-litres of fuel in its tank. The Philippines-spec model is available with a new Nebula White color scheme which is a combination of white and teal.
      Mechanical Specs
      Mechanically, 300SR is identical to its naked streetfighter sibling. It is powered by a 292.4cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that puts out 34 bhp at 8750rpm and 20.5 Nm of peak torque at 7250rpm. This unit is mated to a six-speed gearbox. As far as its dynamics are concerned, its suspension setup consists of a 37mm upside-down USD fork at front and a preload-adjustable mono-shock at rear.
      Anchorage is taken care of by a single 292mm disc at front and a 220mm disc at rear while a safety net is provided by a dual-channel ABS. It rides on 17-inch designed wheels shod by 110/70-section tyre at front and a 140/60-section tyre at rear.
      Upon its arrival in India, it will lock its horns against the likes of Kawasaki Ninja 300, TVS Apache RR 310 and the upcoming new-gen KTM RC 390. More details will be revealed closer to launch.

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