More stories

  • in

    Now's Your Last Chance to Order a Luxurious Polestar 1

    Polestar’s three-year production run of its flagship, the $150,000-plus Polestar 1, will be over with by late 2021.
    The automaker announced that the final build slots for the vehicle are available now for those interested in purchasing the vehicle.
    U.S. buyers are allotted 125 vehicles of the final 500-car run.
    The Polestar 1 was meant to be a halo vehicle to garner attention for a newly established automaker. The powerful hybrid GT did just that, turning heads at auto shows and helping the Volvo stand-alone brand justify jumping deeper into the EV world with the Polestar 2. But now that the vehicle has done its job, it’s entering its final production run.

    Revealed: Polestar’s First Car, the Polestar 1

    Polestar 1 Is a Concept Car Brought to Life

    2020 Polestar 1

    Polestar announced today that the remaining build slots for the final production run of the vehicle are now available. If you have the desire and means to buy the Polestar 1, now’s your last chance to get your hands on the carbon-fiber-bodied hybrid GT with 619 horsepower.

    View Photos

    Polestar

    The Polestar 1’s design is based on a Volvo concept coupe that was on display at the 2013 Frankfurt auto show. The Polestar performance division of Volvo was spun off into its own EV automaker, bringing that concept to life as a performance hybrid.
    Priced starting at $156,500, the Polestar 1 was never going to be a mass-market vehicle. Its limited run of 1500 vehicles built over its three-year production life, of which and the automaker is allotting 375 for U.S. customers, makes it one of the more exclusive hybrids out there. It also helps that it looks magnificent.

    This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    2022 Infiniti QX60 Will Drop the CVT, Keep the Same V-6

    Infiniti has released a few details about the 2022 QX60 three-row SUV.
    It will have a new design and feature a nine-speed automatic transmission rather than the current model’s CVT.
    We’ll see the new QX60 in full soon and it should go on sale later this year.
    Now that its downmarket Nissan Pathfinder sibling has debuted, Infiniti is ready to talk about the new 2022 QX60 luxury three-row SUV. This new model will feature the same powertrain changes as the Pathfinder, swapping the current continuously variable transmission (CVT) for a new nine-speed automatic from supplier ZF. The QX60’s version of the 3.5-liter V-6 will continue to make a bit more power than what’s in the Nissan, at 295 horsepower.

    Infiniti Reveals QX60 Monograph Concept

    View Photos of the Infiniti QX60 Monograph

    These new photos of a QX60 prototype don’t show off much about the new model’s styling, but we did get a preview last year thanks to the QX60 Monograph concept (pictured below). This gave away much of the new QX60’s exterior design, which looks far more modern and upscale than the current model that has been around since 2013, when it first arrived as the JX35.
    The concept car didn’t have an interior, but we expect the cabin to make a significant step ahead, too. It will likely have nicer materials, more available features, and a more up-to-date tech interface. Three rows of seats will come standard, like before, and we expect the available seating arrangements to mirror the Pathfinder’s. The Nissan now offers either an eight-passenger setup with a three-place bench in the second and third rows, or a seven-passenger setup with newly available second-row captain’s chairs.

    2022 Nissan Pathfinder Adds Features, Ditches CVT

    Infiniti says it will release more information soon about the 2022 QX60, so look for official photos and more details to come within the next few months. It will go on sale in the U.S. later this year.
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    Airstream Buying 120,000 Trees to Neutralize Its RVs' Emissions

    Airstream will donate enough money to the National Forest Foundation (NFF) to plant 118,405 trees which will neutralize all emissions for all trailers and motorhomes sold in 2021.
    The new Caravan to Carbon Neutral program also allows owners to contribute additional funds to plant even more trees.
    Carbon Reduction Kits start at just $50 and include a decal to tout your camper’s carbon neutrality.
    Citing a growing commitment to sustainability and environmental protection, luxury RV manufacturer Airstream announced today that it will work to offset enough carbon emissions to cover all emissions resulting from the use of every trailer and motorhome it sells in 2021. That means buyers of 2021 Airstream models can travel this year knowing the emissions from their vehicles aren’t contributing to climate change.

    Carbon Reduction Kit: Silver
    airstreamsupplycompany.com
    $50.00

    Carbon Reduction Kit: Gold
    airstreamsupplycompany.com
    $100.00

    Carbon Reduction Kit: Platinum
    airstreamsupplycompany.com
    $250.00

    Airstream is calling this plan the Caravan to Carbon Neutral and says that in order to neutralize its fleet’s emissions this year it will donate enough money to the National Forest Foundation (NFF) to cover the planting of 118,405 new trees. Current and prospective Airstream owners are also being encouraged to chip in to offset additional emissions by purchasing a Carbon Reduction Kit for their campers by donating money to the NFF.
    The kits come in three levels, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, which start at $50 and top out at $250; all of which include a 5-inch by 4-inch decal that can be displayed on the buyer’s Airstream. The most expensive of the three kits also includes a Caravan to Carbon Neutral flag and provides enough funding to the NFF to plant 250 trees.
    The RV-maker, which is based in Ohio, is no stranger to green initiatives. It uses renewable energy credits at its production facility to offset electricity usage there and all of its current products are Certified Green by TRA Certification, a third-party RV-industry watchdog group.
    As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across North America in 2021, limiting leisure air travel and vacation opportunities, the RV industry is expected to see additional year-over-year increases in new-model sales, according to a report by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). Last year, despite the numerous pandemic lockdowns, RV sales rose by 6% to 430,412 units; the RVIA estimates that as many as 502,000 American consumers will purchase a new RV in 2021.

    Airstream Courts Remote Workers with Mobile Office

    Airstream Caravel Is a Rolling Hotel Room

    Airstream Lineup Grows with New Basecamp Trailers

    With more Americans turning to RVs for family vacations and a growing number of workers taking advantage of their new work-from-anywhere lifestyle, a growing concern of vehicle emissions due to towing heavy trailers or driving large motorhomes is understandable. At the moment, few electric vehicles are set up for regular towing duty and those that are, including the Audi e-tron and Tesla Model X SUVs, will see their estimated driving ranges significantly sapped in the process.
    Heavier duty electric pickup trucks, such as the GMC Hummer EV, the Rivian R1T, and the Tesla Cybertruck, are on the horizon but in the meantime, purchasing carbon offsets for gasoline- or diesel-powered tow vehicles is a good alternative to emissions-free towing.
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Going to All-Four-Cylinder Lineup

    The next Mercedes-Benz C-class, shown here in prototype form, will be four-cylinder only and come with Mercedes’s nine-speed automatic transmission.
    That includes AMG versions, which will get hybridized four-cylinder powertrains—even the AMG C63.
    U.S. buyers are expected to get a C300 sedan, followed by AMG versions and possibly a plug-in hybrid, with an on-sale date probably in late 2021.
    There it is, the new C-class: Still partially covered, but impressive, with a wide stance and a fair amount of what designers call the prestigemass, the measure of prestige: the length of the body between the front axle and the root of the A-pillar. It is even longer than before, a clear indication that the C-class has kept its rear-wheel-drive layout.

    View Photos

    Mercedes-Benz

    “It is impossible to achieve this kind of handling and balance with a front-wheel-drive platform,” says Christian Früh, head engineer for the new C-class whose responsibilities have also included the E-class coupe and cabriolet. The C-class has been an incredible success story for Mercedes-Benz, with a history that stretches back to the W201 Baby Benz, launched in 1982. The new model marks the sixth generation if you include the 190, which did not yet bear the C-class moniker.

    2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Shows Off Its New Look

    2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

    Why the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Endures and Shines

    In a way, the C-class returns to its roots. It will come with four cylinders only, just like the W201; it took three years before the company that was then called Daimler-Benz added a six-cylinder derivative. We doubt the new model, internally called W206, will ever get a six-cylinder version. There will be nothing but four-bangers, from the Europe-only C180 and the C200 up to the C300, rated at around 250 horsepower and available with rear- or all-wheel drive. Europe will get some extremely efficient diesel engines, and Daimler is planning to add plug-in hybrids based both on the diesel and gasoline versions. The other versions will have a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, without exception.
    The plug-in hybrids will be the most powerful C-class models, with the exception of the AMG derivatives. But alas, those will lose their V-6 and brutal V-8 engines as well. The next generation of AMG C-class models will be fitted with hybridized four-cylinder powertrains—even the AMG C63. It will be rated at over 500 horsepower. Some customers will be saddened by the loss of the manual transmission, which was still offered in Europe on some versions of the current-gen C-class, but every new C-class will be fitted with the company’s homemade (and excellent) nine-speed automatic.
    But there is plenty of good news about the new C-class. It is not just more efficient than the predecessor, it also comes with strong improvements. The center console is a huge touchpad, and the digital instrumentation and the infotainment system work with extreme precision and quickness. The Burmester audio system turns the car into a veritable concert hall. The engineers at Daimler realize that a lot of customers spend more money on their car hi-fi system than on the one at home. They also use it more frequently.

    View Photos

    Mercedes-Benz

    There’s more innovation: The head-up system now projects information almost 15 feet ahead of the car, making it far more legible. And over-the-air updates will be possible. While the optional air suspension is gone, there will be different chassis setups, with electronically adjustable dampers on the top-end version. And for the first time, Mercedes-Benz is offering rear-axle steering, which adds high-speed stability and makes the car supremely maneuverable in the city.
    Two more things have changed. First, there is no more overlap with Renault. While the previous generation was temporarily available with co-developed powertrains, no such collaboration happened with the new model. And second, Daimler will no longer offer a classic grille with a hood-mounted star—unless you live in China, where the not-for-export long-wheelbase version still comes with the heritage look.
    Europe will get a station wagon version of the new model, while the current C-class coupe and convertible continue on the existing platform, alongside their slightly bigger E-class siblings. Engineer Früh, we suspect, is already busy working on the appropriate replacements.
    For the U.S. market, we expect to see the C300 sedan, followed by AMG versions and possibly the plug-in hybrid. Sales could begin late in 2021.
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    Yamaha R15 Engine Powered Aerox 155 Scooter Updated For 2021

    2021 Yamaha Aerox 155
    Yamaha has launched the cosmetically and mechanically overhauled 2021 Aerox 155 in Thailand

    With popularity of maxi-scooters heading northwards, more manufacturers are bringing in new products to cash in this opportunity. While the Indian market is yet to open its arms fully for these power scooters, auto brands have found reasonable success in this space overseas.
    Yamaha is the latest manufacturer to expand its range of maxi-scooters by launching the new Aerox 155 in Thailand. Following the footsteps of its Japanese counterpart Honda, which revealed its updated Forza range of scooters a few months ago, the latest iteration of Aerox 155 comes with a fair share of upgrades both mechanical and cosmetic.
    Updated Design & Features
    The 2021 Aerox 155 comes with significant updates in terms of styling which includes a twin LED headlight setup consisting of LED DRLs and an updated LED tail lamp. Not only in design but the power scooter also gets an updated equipment list comprising a fully digital instrument console which is equipped with Yamaha’s Y-Connect app as a standard fitment.
    This feature allows riders to pair their smartphones with the scooter in order to receive a host of information including error codes, service schedules and last parking location.
    2021 Yamaha Aerox 155
    It also allows riders to manage calls and messages on their console and share details of their rides via the app with other Y-Connect riders. Other feature highlights include engine start-stop, hazard lights, keyless start and a 25-litre storage capacity under the seat which can be accessed by a remote locking button.
    Hardware
    Coming to its dynamics, it is heavier at 125 kg dry weight in comparison to 118 kg of its predecessor and a comfortable saddle height of 790mm. Suspension duties are carried out by conventional telescopic forks in front and twin remote reservoir shock absorbers at rear.
    Anchoring duties are taken care of by a disc brake on the front wheel and drum brake on the rear wheel aided by a single-channel ABS. It rolls on 14-inch wheels wrapped by 110/80-14 and 140/70-14 profile tyres on front and rear respectively. Fuel tank capacity has also increased from 4.6 litres to 5.5 litres.
    2021 Yamaha Aerox 155
    Powertrain & Transmission
    Speaking of its powertrain, it gets an updated 155cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, single-cylinder engine with variable valve actuation (VVA). This is the same engine which powers the R15 V3 in India. On board the scooter, this unit now cranks up 15.4 bhp at 8,000 rpm and 13.9 Nm at 6,500 rpm against its predecessor which produced 14.8 bhp and 14.4 Nm of peak torque. Equipped with electronic fuel injection (EFI), it uses a traditional V-belt CVT to carry out transmission duties.
    Price
    The new Yamaha Aerox 155 is offered in two variants- standard and ABS at a starting price of THB 67,500 (equivalent to INR 1.64 lakh). In all likelihood, this power scooter will not reach our shores unless the Japanese brand decides to take on its rivals from Honda and Aprilia. More

  • in

    2021 Ford Mustang, Shelby GT500, Mach 1 Configurator Goes Live

    The 2021 Ford Mustang configurator is now live, so you can build out your own car, including a GT500 or a Mach 1, the new variant in the Mustang lineup this year.
    The GT500 can now be had with a new carbon-fiber handling package as well as several new colors.
    The Mach 1, which comes standard with a manual transmission, offers a $3500 handling package.
    Ford’s updated 2021 Mustang, including the Shelby GT500 and the new Mach 1, will soon be reaching dealers. While you wait, you can decide what your perfect spec would be on the live online configurator. You can now build out the GT500 with the new carbon-fiber handling package or spec the new Mach 1, which comes standard with a manual transmission and a 480-hp 5.0-liter V-8.

    2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Adds Flashy Colors

    480-HP Mustang Mach 1 Handling Pack Costs $3500

    2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 at Lightning Lap 20

    That carbon-fiber handling package on the GT500 includes 20-inch painted carbon-fiber wheels along with adjustable strut top mounts, an oil catch can, a Gurney flap, and splitter wickers. The 2021 GT500 and other Mustangs come in three new colors: Grabber Yellow, Antimatter Blue, and Carbonized Gray Metallic. The Mach 1 will also be offered in an exclusive Fighter Jet Gray, shown in the photo above.
    The Mach 1 comes with a manual transmission as standard but can also be had with a 10-speed automatic transmission as well as a $3500 handling package. The Mach 1 starts at $52,915, while the high-performance GT500, which maintains its 760-hp supercharged 5.2-liter V-8, starts at $74,095.
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    2021 Triumph Bonneville Range Teased Ahead Of Global Debut

    2021 Triumph Bonneville Teaser
    Bonneville range of motorcycles for 2021 is expected to feature updates in its styling and equipment

    Triumph Motorcycles is on a spree to update its product lineup for 2021. In a matter of a few days, it has introduced two important bikes- Speed Triple 1200 RS and Tiger 850 Sport in India and globally. This is going to be followed by the brand’s new entry-level naked motorcycle Trident 660.
    Amidst all this, Triumph hasn’t forgotten its classic range of roadsters which has helped it earn a household name in retro motorcycles across the globe. The British bikemaker has teased the upcoming Bonneville brand of motorcycles for the year 2021. The company has shared a teaser on YouTube announcing its global launch on February 23, 2021.
    Expected Updates
    From the teaser video, one could gather that the updated Bonneville lineup is slated to feature six different models. These bikes are likely to include Street Twin, Bonneville T100, Bonneville T120, Speed Twin, Bonneville Speedmaster and Bonneville Bobber.
    Seeing past updates from Triumph, we expect Triumph to make updates to Bonnie’s cosmetics and feature list along with the mandatory emission update to make engines breathe cleaner. Although these updates are not likely to be something major. Take a look at the teaser video below.
    [embedded content]
    As part of the update, we expect the updated Bonnie lineup to receive new colour schemes, updated styling and a few additional features. These could include an updated instrument console, a host of electronic aids and slightly different body graphics. Apart from cleaner Euro-5/BS6 emission, there is less likelihood of any mechanical changes. Clearly, this updated Bonneville series is expected to be more of an evolution than a revolution.
    Bonneville India Lineup
    In India though, the British brand is likely to trim down the Bonneville range and offer only a select few models. The India lineup is likely to miss out on Speedmaster and Bobber along with Thruxton R cafe racer.
    Launch of the updated Bonnies are expected to take place soon after the global unveil as the brand would like to increase its sales on an urgent basis. All updates are likely to come at a price and therefore the 2021 Bonnies are expected to be offered at a premium over their predecessors.
    Tiger 850 Sport
    The company recently launched an affordable variant of its Tiger 900 adventure bike- Tiger 850 Sport at a price of Rs 11.95 lakh (ex-showroom). It is powered by the same 888cc, liquid-cooled, in-line triple petrol engine which performs duties in the former, however, it is slightly detuned to return an output of 84 bhp and 82 Nm of peak torque. This unit is mated to a 6-speed gearbox with a slipper and assist clutch for smoother and quicker gear shifts. More

  • in

    Bajaj Pulsar 180 To Be Relaunched At Rs 1.05 L – Rs 9k Cheaper Than 180F

    Image of Pulsar 150. Credit – The Sameer Vlogs
    With launch details still under wraps, we expect the new naked Pulsar 180 to be similar to its discontinued predecessor

    Bajaj Auto is planning to reintroduce Pulsar 180 in its naked iteration. The naked sporty commuter was discontinued and was replaced by the semi-faired version of Pulsar 180F. Pulsar 180, along with Pulsar 150, was the first derivative of Bajaj’s Pulsar range of sport commuter motorcycles when launched in the early years of this century.
    The naked version of Pulsar 180, in its last form, was very similar to its 150cc sibling in its looks. The only notable difference being a more upright tail section and two separate grab rails for the pillion in the former. The new Pulsar 180 is expected to carry forward the same design with minute changes.
    Design & Features
    This means the new Pulsar will likely receive a front end which boasts of a halogen headlight with twin DRLs, a tinted front visor, a bikini fairing, a muscular fuel tank, split-style seats, an engine cowl and a sporty pillion grab rail.
    In its new avatar, Pulsar 180 might be available with new colour schemes and subtle cosmetic updates. In terms of features, it will be equipped with a semi-digital instrument cluster with an analogue tachometer and digital readouts for speedometer, odometer, etc.
    Bajaj Pulsar 180F
    Mechanical Specs
    Mechanically, it will be the same bike as Pulsar 180F. It will be powered by the same BS6 compliant 178.6cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine which produces 16.6 bhp and 14.52 Nm of peak torque. This unit is paired with a 5-speed sequential gearbox. It will share the same underpinnings as its semi-faired sibling which will be suspended on telescopic forks at front and gas-charged shock absorber springs at rear.
    Braking duties will be handled by single disc brake in the front, assisted by a single-channel ABS. Top variant will get disc brake at rear as well. It rides on 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped around by tubeless tyres of 90/90 and 120/80 profiles at front and rear respectively.
    Upon its launch, Pulsar 180 naked will rival the likes of Honda Hornet 2.0 and TVS Apache RTR 160. Reports suggest that it will be pegged at a price tag of Rs 1,05,216 (ex-showroom) for the base variant. This will make it sit just above the top of the line Pulsar 150, and below the Pulsar 160NS. Below is the detailed price list of Pulsar motorcycles.
    Bajaj Pulsar Price List
    Currently, Bajaj retails seven iterations of Pulsar depending on its engine configurations- Pulsar 125, Pulsar 150, Pulsar NS160, Pulsar 180F, Pulsar NS200, Pulsar RS200 and Pulsar 220F. While the company is yet to make an official announcement regarding this development, we expect to hear about the upcoming roadster sooner rather than later.
    Pulsar NS250
    It was previously reported that Bajaj is looking to expand its Pulsar range of bikes by introducing a Pulsar NS250 based on the urban tourer Dominar 250. It will be powered by the same 248.8cc, fuel-injected, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine which also performs its duty on KTM 250 Duke, 250 Adventure along with Dominar 250.
    Source More