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    • 175 Shares129 Views

      in Bike

      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Cat Con Removed – Illegal Mod Gets Original Thump Back

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      Meteor 350 With Almost Original Thump Gives Old Gen Royal Enfield Vibes
      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is offered in three trims- Fireball, Stellar and Supernova

      Meteor 350 was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated launches in the Indian market in 2020. The new cruiser from Royal Enfield is the stepping stone to the brand’s new generation motorcycles as it is based on a new platform and is powered by a brand new 350cc engine.
      While it carries many traditional Royal Enfield elements from previous generation models, especially Thunderbird 350, Meteor 350 in many ways is not a traditional Royal Enfield motorcycle. The main point of focus here is the classical Royal Enfield thump which could be heard in older generation motorcycles.
      Reason for dilution in classical Royal Enfield Thump
      Ever since BS6 norms kicked in April 2020, Royal Enfield fans have complained that its traditional throaty noise from its exhaust note has been diluted to a certain extent. The conventional ‘dug dug’ sound usually associated with Royal Enfield motorcycles were suddenly seen missing. This was mainly attributed to the inclusion of a large catalytic converter which filtered most of its thump.
      With the new 350cc single-cylinder motor the traditional thump completely gives way to a nice melodious exhaust note which is pleasing to one’s ears. While it may sound pleasing to an environmentalist, a classical Royal Enfield lover might not approve of this sound. Well, here is a solution that can be into if one seriously wants his Meteor 350 to sound like an Enfield from older generation – even if it is not advisable.
      [embedded content]
      In a video uploaded by Abhinav Bhatt, the vlogger shows that by removing the collector box of a catalytic converter from the exhaust setup one can achieve an exhaust note which is somewhat reminiscent of the old Royal Enfield motorcycles. The catalytic converter is positioned at an intermediate stage where particulates of exhaust gas from the combustion chamber are filtered before passing through the muffler into the air.
      Getting the Thump back
      By replacing the stock exhaust with a straight line stainless steel pipe that connects the header to the bike’s exhaust can a throaty exhaust note is given out which though not loud will certainly be pleasing to the ears of a true Royal Enfield aficionado. Abhinav also takes a spin on this modified Meteor 350 after getting rid of the catalytic converter. Interestingly, it not only improves the exhaust note but also frees up 3.4 kg of the bike which might translate to slightly better fuel economy as well as performance.
      However, this modification is not road legal as it clearly violates the current BS6 emission norms which mandate every vehicle to be equipped with a catalytic converter. The vlogger here does not endorse the idea of removing it from the bike and is just showing the reason behind the muffled exhaust note of Meteor 350.
      Meteor 350 is powered by a 349cc single-cylinder engine which pushes out 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm of peak torque. This motor gets an overhead camshaft setup instead of a conventional push-rod setup and is paired with a five-speed gearbox. More

    • 175 Shares189 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Tata Nexon Electric Owner Shares Range, Battery Details – After 220 kms Road Trip

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      Tata Nexon Electric
      One major concern for electric car owners is its single-charge range especially in India where charging stations are limited

      Tata Nexon Electric is the most popular electric car in the Indian market currently. The prime reason being its popularity is its affordability. Offered at a starting price of Rs 13.99 lakh and going up to Rs 16.25 lakh (both prices ex-showroom), it is the most affordable electric car out of the limited options currently.
      In a country, where EVs are still at a nascent stage with limited charging infrastructure, its single-charge range becomes extremely crucial especially for consumers who love to go on long trips out of the city. On previous occasions, Nexon EV has returned an average single-charge range in a region between 170-180 km.
      Details of Journey & Power Cosnumed
      However, in the latest case, a Nexon EV owner, Manu M has managed to obtain a range beyond 220 kms. In a post on Facebook, Manu M shares details of his journey with his family from his home in Thevalakkara, Kollam to Aazhimala temple, Trivandrum in Kerala and the return journey on the electric UV.
      On 27th December 2020, Manu went on a road trip with his parents with the total journey covering a distance of 220.6 km. Starting with a fully charged battery, the onwards journey marked the owner covering 109.7 km.
      Tata Nexon Electric Road Trip Details
      During this, battery level dropped from 100 percent to 52 percent at the end of the first half of the journey. This meant that the car consumed an average of 114 Wh/km during the first half while the owner stated that the last 5-10 km consisted of steep climbs which could have consumed more energy.
      Recharging the battery
      On his return journey, the owner covered 90.7 km before stopping to recharge Nexon’s battery which had fallen from 52 percent to 17 percent. In this part of the journey, the electric crossover consumed an average of 128 Wh/km. Using a DC fast charger, the owner juiced up the battery pack from 17 percent to 95 percent in 1 hour and 21 minutes and consuming 25.5 kWh of power. The fast charging he used, is free till 9th Feb 2021.
      Tata Nexon Electric Fast Charging
      In the final leg of the journey, the owner covered a distance of 20.1 km consuming 123 Wh/km while the battery level dropped from 95 percent to 86 percent. The owner adds that during the entire journey, the air conditioner was on and the family took 3-4 stoppages in between. These values can vary depending on driving nature, traffic and terrain.
      Available in three trims- XM, XZ+ and XZ+ Lux, Nixon EV is offered with Tata’s Ziptron EV powertrain technology which consists of an electric motor paired to a 30.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack providing a claimed range of 312 km and an output of 127 bhp and 245 Nm of peak torque. The battery pack gets an IP67 waterproof and an eight year standard warranty. More

    • 138 Shares179 Views

      in Motor News

      2010 Ford Focus SE Stars In Inspired DIY Used Car Commercial

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      This content is imported from YouTube. 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.

      With The Weeknd’s “Bright Lights”—okay, a cover version—blaring, a guy selling his used 2010 Ford Focus puts the emphasis on how cool you are, not the car, in a clever homemade commercial.
      The seller told Car and Driver that despite over 30,000 YouTube views and counting, the car’s still for sale. Well, the buyer pool in his town of Grand Forks, North Dakota, isn’t exactly deep.
      Still, an obvious upside is that the seller has gotten offers to make more videos for other people’s used cars.
      We’re come a long way from the days when a simple classified ad would sell your car. These days, people often share a full slate of glamour shots of the car they’re trying to offload, and clever descriptions and stories aren’t uncommon, either. But if you’ve got the time and a few friends, you can take things to the next level with a cinematic YouTube entry.
      That’s the route taken by John Thomas Goerke, who lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and describes himself as an old-school Dodge Viper fan. Goerke is selling his 2010 Ford Focus SE with 120,000 miles on it for $5999. That’s roughly in line with the higher end of the Kelley Blue Book prices for other used Focus SE models of that era available online, but those old Focus models don’t come with this cool two-minute video that was first spotted by our friends at Motor1.

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      With more than 30,000 views so far, Goerke’s video has unquestionably managed to attract outsize attention for an old Ford. According to the YouTube comments, people around the world, including Russia and Australia, have been pointed toward the video by their local news outlets, but all of this attention hasn’t helped actually make the sale. Goerke told Car and Driver he still has the car, but that doesn’t mean the time spent creating the commercial was wasted.
      “More people have been interested in hiring me to make videos for them than in paying almost $6000 for a 10-year-old car,” he said. “I’m not too surprised. The car is listed on the upward edge of the Kelly Blue Book. And the actual number of people who could plausibly purchase it is pretty small, since I live in North Dakota.”

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      The plot of the ad is a bit confusing, with the main character driving riskily thanks to (simulated) drug and alcohol intoxication before stumbling out on a dirt road, but everything looks cool and the choice of song is fitting. It’s a cover of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” and the video for the original song, which inspired Goerke’s ad, also featured a car driving around at night since it was basically an advertising extravaganza promoting the Mercedes-AMG GT roadster.
      For Goerke’s purposes, his ad’s honest message is revealed in the one line of narration: “No matter what you think when you see it, remember that cool comes from what’s inside the car.” That, when you think about it, could really be the tagline for 90 percent of the used cars sold each 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

    • 125 Shares189 Views

      in Bike

      Suzuki 2W Sales Dec 2020 – Gixxer, Access, Burgman, Intruder

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      Suzuki Burgman
      Suzuki Motorcycle India reports marginal growth for total sales and domestic wholesales in December 2020

      Suzuki Motorcycle India sold 51,719 units in December 2020. Of this domestic wholesale dispatches account for 44,773 units and exports for 6,946 units. Sales decline is reported at 1.20 percent.
      In December 2019, SMIPL reported total monthly sales of 52,351 units (Domestic + Exports). Domestic sales is December 2019 was reported at 44,368 units.
      In December 2018, total sales was reported at 52,362 units. As is evident, December sales for Suzuki has been more or less stable at just over 50k units over a 3-year period.
      SMIPL a major force for SMC
      The yardstick that is Maruti Suzuki is already a major force for Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC). India accounts for more than half of SMCs global car sales. It’s already an established fact that the Indian two-wheeler market keeps getting bigger and better. SMC’s global two-wheeler business is much smaller than the car business. And India already plays a key role. Despite volumes being seemingly small, India does account for about 40 percent of the giant’s global two-wheeler business volume.
      Suzuki Sales Dec 2020 – YoY vs MoM
      Suzuki Access scooter generously contributes to total domestic sales. Of the 5 products it sells here, Access and Burgman account for 90 percent of sales. In November 2020, that number was over 95 percent. Suzuki is keen on expanding its motorcycle business here.
      At the very least, SMIPL looks to improve that number to over 10 percent consistently. A few months prior, Suzuki upgraded its Gixxer 150, and introduced the all new Gixxer 250. While SMIPL will launch new motorcycles, now is not the time. Focus is on improving sales of current motorcycles being sold.
      Suzuki Motorcycle India outlook for 2021
      This also mean the company will increase the number of Suzuki dealerships in India. On the product front, Suzuki has stayed away from mass market commuter bikes to offer value in the performance aspect. SMIPL is optimistic about 2021 being a successful year.
      Koichiro Hirao, Managing Director, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd. said, “Although year 2020 was challenging and uncertain for all, we have seen an approximately 1% growth in the domestic sales during December 2020 as compared to the same month in 2019. Our domestic sales number shows that the demand is steadily improving and has even surpassed pre-covid-19 times.
      We introduced the Gixxer series with new liveries followed by the launch of Bluetooth enabled Access 125 and Bluetooth enabled Burgman Street. Recently, the BS6 version of V-Strom 650 XT was added to our current product portfolio. With these new launches and registering record sale during festive season, we have successfully maneuvered through this tough year.” More

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      in Bike

      TVS Motor Sales Dec 2020 – Apache, Jupiter, XL Super, NTorq

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      Image – The Biker’s Diary
      TVS Motor sales reports growth both in terms of domestic sales and exports for December 2020

      TVS Motor Company a leading two and three wheeler maker in the country has reported strong growth in December 2020. Overall sales grew by 19 percent to 2,58,239 units, up from 2,15,619 units sold in the same month of the previous year. The company has noted increased sales in terms of motorcycle and scooter sales as well as in exports. Three wheeler sales continue to decline.
      TVS Two Wheeler Domestic Sales
      Taking motorcycle and scooter sales into account, the company has models such as the XL Super, Jupiter, Apache and Ntorq among the more popular models in its lineup. TVS reported motorcycle sales at 1,19,051 units, up 27.06 percent as compared to 93,697 units sold in Dec 19.
      TVS Scooter sales also increased, albeit marginally by 4 percent to 77,705 units in the past month, up from 74,716 units sold in Dec 19. The company noted strong demand for its mopeds with a 30.24 percent sales increase to 61,483 units, thus taking total sales in this two wheeler segment up 12.51 percent to 1,76,912 units, up from 1,57,244 units sold in Dec 19.
      In terms of three wheeler sales, the company registered sales of 13,845 units in December 2020 down from 15,952 units sold in Dec 19.
      TVS Motor Sales Dec 2020 – YoY vs MoM
      TVS Motor Exports
      Two wheeler Exports also noted a significant increase by 39.32 percent to 81,327 units. Dec 19 exports had stood at 58,375 units. Total exports grew by 28 percent to 94,269 units in Dec 20 as against 73,512 units exported in Dec 19.
      MoM Sales however dipped 17.10 percent. November 2020 sales both domestic and exports had stood at 3,11,519 units, which fell by 53,280 units to 2,58,239 units in December 2020. Sales de-growth was noted across all segments of motorcycle, scooter and moped.
      Domestic sales of 2 wheelers dipped 28.60 percent to 1,76,912 units, down from 2,47,789 units sold in Nov 20. Exports on the other hand increased 27.61 percent to 81,327 units in Dec 20, up from 63,730 units shipped to global markets in Nov 20.
      TVS-BMW
      TVS Motor Company is in a partnership with BMW Motorrad and produces around 17 percent of BMW motorcycles worldwide. TVS produces G310R and G310GS for BMW. These bikes are produced at the company’s Hosur facility and are sold in India as well as exported.
      TVS also recently launched the new TVS Apache RTR160 4V in Bangladesh to strengthen its portfolio in the country. This bike, presented in two variants of single disc and rear disc, gets Bluetooth enabled TVS SmartXonnect technology and is powered by a 159.7cc 4 stroke engine that delivers 16.05 hp power and 14.8 Nm torque. More

    • 113 Shares159 Views

      in Motor News

      Best Movie Cars: Window Shop with Car and Driver

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      If you’re as car obsessed as we are and also like to watch stuff, you understand that the automobiles in movies are often as memorable as the actors. Casting the right vehicle can be as important as landing Meryl Streep or Tom Hanks. So for this episode of Window Shop, we challenged the crew to find Oscar-worthy film cars. Oh, and we set the budget at $20,000 because this show used to be about shopping for used cars on a budget.Contributor John Pearley Huffman raids the Disney vault for an obvious but admittedly iconic choice. Although his find isn’t an exact clone of the car in the movie, it does have a sunroof, which is critical to the plot, and it could easily be modified to match the screen star. Deputy testing director K.C. Colwell is inspired by an ’80s film that gives the original Ford Taurus a starring role. But instead of trying to find a replica of the movie car, Colwell wisely presents the best version of the Taurus, the excellent SHO. Senior editor Joey Capparella picks a first-gen Audi A4 that makes a cameo appearance in a relatively obscure animated Japanese film that most of us haven’t seen. He gives the movie two thumbs up and tells us that although the A4 isn’t central to the plot, the animators went through considerable effort to properly depict it.Contributor Jonathon Ramsey and yours truly find cars that are perfectly cast and deliver award-winning performances in great films—okay, maybe Ramsey’s film isn’t great, but we do discover that one of the shoppers saw it at the impressionable age of six. My pick is identical to the Cadillac driven by Henry Hill in Goodfellas, and Ramsey finds a front-drive RV dressed in military garb. As is our way, we bicker and list faults with one another’s choices. And in the end, like the academy, we crown a winner.
      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

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      in Bike

      Hero MotoCorp Sales Dec 2020 – Splendor, Deluxe, Passion, Pleasure, Maestro

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      New Hero Splendor
      December 2020 domestic sales and exports in the green for Hero Motocorp

      No doubt, 2020 has presented challenges that the world hadn’t expected. In the face of such adverse conditions, two wheeler sales in recent weeks and months have stepped on a growth pedestal.
      Hero MotoCorp sold 4,47,335 units in December 2020 at 5.29 percent growth from 4,24,845 units in Dec 19. Total YTD FY21 sales was reported at 42,23,225 units, down 16.79 percent from 50,75,208 units sold in the same 9 months in 2019 at percent decline.
      December sales volumes indicate improved consumer sentiment. The company is upbeat about the positive trend, and expects it to continue in 2021 in the face of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The manufacturer relies on its wide range of tech savvy products to support strong growth impetus in 2021.
      Hero MotoCorp YTD FY21 domestic sales and exports
      Of December sales, motorcycles accounted for 4,15,099, up 2.84 percent from 4,03,625 units. YTD FY21 motorcycle numbers are reported at 38,96,089 units, down 17.29 percent from 47,10,766 units. Unchallenged and all-encompassing demand for the Splendor commuter variants makes Hero MotoCorp untouchable. The lead gained makes it difficult for any other manufacturer to catch-up.
      Hero MotoCorp Sales Dec 2020 – YoY vs MoM
      Though demand for Hero Motorcycles is unprecedented, its scooters don’t enjoy the same fandom. Scooter sales did grow to 32,236 units from 21,220 units at 51.91 percent growth. YTD FY21 scooter sales is at a decent 3,27,136 units, at 10.24 percent decline from 3,64,442 units in YTD FY20. The deficit is one Hero Motocorp should be able to overcome by the end of the ongoing fiscal. However, deficit in motorcycle sales is another story.
      The majority of vehicles sold by Hero MotoCorp is in the domestic market. Domestic sales in December 2020 was reported at 4,25,033 units, up 3.16 percent from 4,12,009 units sold a year earlier. YTD FY21 domestic sales was reported at 41,03,381 units, down 17.04 percent from 49,46,508 units. Last month, exports accounted for 22,302 units, up 71.64 percent from 12,836 units dispatched overseas a year earlier. YTD FY21 exports stands at 1,19,844, down 6.88 percent from 1,28,700 units exported in the same 9 months in 2019.
      Build of to Q3 FY21
      Demand for two-wheelers hasn’t just been backed by deferred demand being met. It gets a further boost because more people have felt the need to consider a two wheeler purchase as a safe commuter option that enables them to maintain physical distancing. As FY21 commenced, the stakes were high. A period of inactivity stretched on for weeks before sales and manufacturing resumed.
      Albeit in a phased manner, starting up allowed folks to sort supply chains and logistics, and prep for the next big challenge. Timely dispatches of pent-up demand. By the time to festive season was upon us, Hero MotoCorps order books were bursting at the seams. Resultantly, the manufacturer has been able to post its best ever third quarter. A feat that gains even more prominence considering its 2020, and anything could have happened.
      Q3 FY21 (October-December period) wholesale dispatches was reported at 18.45 lakh units. That’s an impressive growth of 19.7 percent over the corresponding quarter in the previous fiscal (FY ’20). At the time, Hero has reported sales at 15.41 lakh units. More