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      in Electric Cars

      Tata Nexon Electric Wishes Happy Birthday To Owner Via Instrument Cluster

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      Tata Nexon Electric
      Tata Nexon EV has also been made available at subscription rates in limited places

      While the electric vehicle (EV) segment might still not be booming in India, it has definitely grown leaps and bounds, especially in the last few months. Several new products from this segment have been lined up for launch in the near future which should make things a little interesting in the automotive industry.
      Currently, among the limited options, Tata Nexon EV is by far the highest-selling electric car in India. It is much affordable than its nearest rivals MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona and, therefore, has the most value for money proposition. With Tata Motors expanding the sales network of Nexon EV soon, we could definitely see more of it on roads in future.
      Nexon EV’s Birthday Wish
      Barring the powertrain, Nexon EV gets the identical specifications and equipment list as its IC engine counterpart. We have extensively discussed its features on previous occasions, however, there is one new feature that has come up recently and is sure to take many Nexon EV owners by surprise.
      When Mr. Siva N Rai stepped onto his Nexon EV, he received a surprising and the most unusual wish on his birthday from his car. The message read “Happy Birthday” with the visuals of a cake and balloons on its instrument cluster.
      Tata Nexon EV wishes Happy Birthday to Owner
      The owner was extremely surprised and happy to receive this birthday wish from his Nexon EV in the morning. He believes that someone at Tata Motors’ dealership took the effort to integrate details of his KYC done at the time of the purchase to the telematics system. This is probably the first time something like this has been offered in an Indian made car.
      A personalised touch like this can go a long way in creating a loyal customer base and it seems Tata Motors is certainly enjoying a fruitful run in market in the last couple of years. The homegrown brand is currently the third-largest passenger vehicle manufacturer in India as far as sales volumes are concerned.
      Nexon EV Details
      Coming to Nexon EV, it was launched earlier this year in January and is offered in three variants- XM, XZ+ and XZ+ LUX. Its prices start at Rs 13.99 lakh and go upto Rs 16.25 lakh (both prices ex-showroom). Standard features across the range include projector headlamps, automatic climate control, LED DRLs, keyless entry, push-button start, electric tailgate and lots more.
      Nexon EV is based on the brand’s Ziptron powertrain technology which consists of an electric motor powered by a 30.2kWh lithium-ion battery. This setup provides a claimed range of 312 km on a single charge and an output of 129 PS and 245 Nm. More

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      in Motor News

      2021 Lexus LS500 Starts at $77,025

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      The 2021 Lexus LS500 starts at $77,025 and touts a smoother ride and quieter engine.
      The interior updates include a 12.3-inch touchscreen that supplements the touchpad in the center console.
      The 2021 Lexus LS500 will be in showrooms in late November, with the LS500h hybrid arriving in early 2021.
      If the terms “quiet” and “smooth” come to mind when you think luxury, then Lexus has some good news for you. The automaker says the 2021 Lexus LS500 improves on the current-gen model in both respects, and it comes with a starting price of $77,025 for the base rear-wheel-drive trim level, a $550 increase over the 2020 model’s $76,475 base price.

      2021 Lexus LS Sedan Will Receive Updates

      Lexus LS500h Struggles to Make Its Case

      In addition to a new headlight and taillight design, the next-gen LS500 is also getting a technology bump with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display that’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. The Remote Touch Interface (RTI) touchpad is still there, but the larger screen, which is located closer to the driver, should alleviate some of the ergonomic issues we faced in the 2018 LS500.

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      Lexus

      Lexus says it has tuned the suspension and chassis, including revised spring and damper rates, for that improvement in ride quality. The 2021 LS500 also gets larger-diameter front and rear anti-roll bars and larger front and rear liquid-filled bushings.
      While the powerplant has remained the same as far as power is concerned, with a 416-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 in the LS500 and a 354-hp 3.5-liter V-6 gasoline engine with two electric motors in the LS500h hybrid, the automaker says the latest vehicles will have engine tweaks for better efficiency and quieter operation. Lexus says that the 10-speed transmission has gotten some love; its shift logic has been updated to keep the engine in a more responsive section of the powerband.
      Rounding out the pricing, while the rear-wheel-drive LS500 starts at $77,025, the AWD LS500 will have a starting price of $80,275. Meanwhile, for the sportier trim levels, the LS500 F Sport will start at $80,625 while the AWD LS500 will set you back $83,875. All will land in dealerships in late November. Pricing for the LS500h will be announced closer to that vehicle’s delivery, which should be in early 2021.

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    • 125 Shares119 Views

      in Bike

      Honda CB350 Cafe Racer Might Launch Next Year – Render

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      Honda CB350 Cafe Racer – Render
      Japanese two-wheeler brand Honda is planning to explore other segments based on H’Nness CB350’s newly developed platform

      Honda made inroads into the premium cruiser segment of motorcycles with the launch of H’Ness CB350 last month. Priced at Rs 1.85 lakh (ex-showroom), this retro motorcycle has mostly received positive reviews from all quarters and is being pitched as a worthy rival to Royal Enfield and Jawa prodigies.
      While we can agree in unison that a retro classic body suits H’Ness CB350 in the best manner. However, Honda has spent hundreds of crores in development of this platform from scratch and would be looking to utilize it in other designs as well. Reports suggest, the Japanese automaker is planning to develop a cafe-racer based on this same architecture.
      Alteration in design – CB350 Cafe Racer
      A design render of CB350 turned into a modern cafe-racer has been doing rounds on the internet. Rendered by SRK Designs, the design artist only had to make slight alterations to make this look like a proper cafe racer.
      The overall stance of the bike in the rendering has become much sportier thanks to the clip-on handlebars which provides a more aggressive forward-biased riding position typical of a cafe-racer. However, it is doesn’t seem to be overly demanding since footpegs remain in their original position.
      The handlebar gets classic silver bar-end mirrors on either side and blacked-out shock absorbers. The fuel tank has been redesigned which can incorporate the rider’s legs in a forward set riding position. New body graphics on the fuel tank also enhance the cafe-racer looks and go well with the motorcycle’s character. The major update can be noticed in the seat where the designer has replaced the stock seat with a cafe racer-style single-piece one which features a seat cowl.
      At rear, the grab handles have been removed, although that might not be the case in the production-spec model where it is mandatory to install grab handles for the pillion. Side panels sport ‘Cafe-Racer’ decals which enhances the sportiness of the retro motorcycle.
      It continues to receive classic designing elements such as round headlamps, round taillamps, round LED turn indicators, chrome-finished front and rear fender and engine with chrome garnish and exhaust. Other notable finish visual highlights include semi-digital instrument cluster and alloy wheels with tubeless tyres.
      Specs
      H’Ness CB350 is based on a new half-duplex architecture which has been specifically developed for the Indian market. This frame also provides versatility to incorporate it in many other forms and a cafe-racer seems to be the appropriate match. CB350 is powered by a new single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected motor which generates 20.8 bhp and 30 Nm of peak torque. This unit is paired with a 5-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch and assist.
      Expected Launch
      If this proposed render does go into production it will be positioned as an entry-level cafe-racer and an affordable alternative to Royal Enfield Continental GT 650. It is expected to be pegged at a competitive price of Rs 2.2 lakh (ex-showroom). This bike is expected to come out at the end of next year or 2022.
      Render Source More

    • 113 Shares99 Views

      in Bike

      Exchange Old Activa, Splendor For New Hero Electric Scooter

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      Hero Electric Scooter
      Covid-19 pandemic has forced consumers to consider affordable e-scooters as a mobility option

      With electric vehicles (EV) movement slowly gathering pace and advent of new technologies in this field, people have started showing faith in this segment. It is clear that in the future automotive world, EVs will play a big impact on the growth and sufficing needs of consumers.
      India’s leading electric mobility solutions provider, Hero Electric, has formed an alliance with CredR, an omni-channel brand that deals in used two-wheelers, to come up with an exchange program. Under this program, a prospective buyer from a Hero Electric showroom can exchange his/her old petrol-powered scooter for a new electric scooter.
      Process of exchange
      Consumers will be provided a convenient and hassle-free exchange of their old scooter or motorcycle (any old two wheeler is valid – Hero Splendor, Honda Activa, TVS Jupiter, etc), for a brand new e-scooter. The new e-scooter will be delivered to them within a few days.
      For this, consumer needs to bring his old two wheeler to a Hero Electric showroom for a physical inspection and evaluation. At this point, CredR will quote an estimated price of the old scooter which will be generated through its proprietary pricing application.

      For completion of transaction, CredR will verify the documents and health of the petrol-powered two wheeler. The exchange price will then be adjusted against the final cost of the new e-scooter from Hero Electric. As of now, this program is available in Delhi NCR, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Pune and will be expanded to other centers across India soon.
      Demand for electric scooters has been on the rise, however, with the outbreak of Covid-19, there has been a surge in this demand in recent months. People have realised the need for personal mobility solutions and at the same time have become environmentally conscious hence many are opting for affordable electric vehicles and e-scooters fit the bill.
      In words of Sasidhar Nandigam, chief strategic officer, “CredR, India’s electric mobility landscape is going to change dramatically post Covid-19 pandemic and the sales are expected to rise.” CredR believes that not only two-wheeler and e-scooters but market will also see a rise in pre-owned mobility solutions as well. Currently, electric mobility contributes to less than 1 percent of the two-wheelers market that will only increase henceforth.
      Hero Electric Recent Launches
      Recently, Hero Electric launched an all-new ‘City Speed’ segment which caters exclusively to city commuters. This new range of e-scooters consists of models such as Photon-Nh, Optima-hx and Nyx-hx and is available at a starting price of Rs 57,660 (ex-showroom). This makes it the most affordable e-scooter in the country as of now. These new scooters offer a range up to 80 km on a single-charge and come with 3 yrs warranty. More

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      in Bike

      Jawa Motorcycle Sales Record 50k Milestone – 2 Years Since Launch

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      Image – Jawa
      Rival Royal Enfield sold almost 67k motorcycles in single month of Oct 2020

      Classic Legends has announced 50k unit sales of Jawa Motorcycles since launch in 2018. Though it is almost 2 years after launch that this feat has been achieved, Jawa claims the sales feat was achieved in an effective 12 months of full operations. At the time of launch in 2018, Jawa had aimed to sell about 90k motorcycles annually or about 7,500 units monthly.
      Even though Jawa launched motorcycles in Nov 2018, it was only in April 2019 that the deliveries started. Then of course one had to deal with zero activity during specified periods of nationwide lockdown period (since March 2020), with near zero inventories owing to waiting period.
      As the company embarks on its journey for the next 50k milestone, Jawa motorcycles continues to expand production capacity and dealership count. Ashish Singh Joshi, CEO – Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd. said, “As the newest entrant in the Indian motorcycle market, we are proud of what we have achieved in such a short duration.” Jawa aims to register the next 50k unit sales in less than 1 year.
      Best Selling Jawa
      Jawa’s return to full fledged business was as recent as 2018. To get going, the company readied a production facility and sells 3 models -Jawa, Jawa forty two and Perak that not only make up the product lineup but also were tasked with the responsibility of brand resurrection. To support this, a sales network is under ongoing development, and ops have been ramped to meet customer demands.
      Perak has been best-selling Jawa motorcycle in recent months. Image – Ravinder
      The 50,000 motorcycles milestone is of significance to the brand as it portends a future roadmap that the company is geared up to achieve. Jawa Motorcycles views this as ‘healthy demand’ having had to contend with the 50k taking a longer time to reach owing to Covid-19 related production challenges.
      The company is upbeat the next 50k units milestone will be attained in lesser time. In the meantime, Classic Legends has started exports with a batch of Jawa motorcycles being shipped to Europe, and Nepal. Only last month, the company celebrated delivery of 2000 Perak units, making it the best-selling Jawa.
      Perak
      Perak roots goes back to the 1940s, during the time of the Nazi German’s rule in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. In those difficult times, there was a man dressed in black who moved in the shadows. It was rumoured that this strange figure was portrayed as a Czech hero.
      He gave the people a sense of comfort, leapt out of the darkness and was indestructible, not afraid of the German troupes or the ‘Bullet’. Though the Germans tried to capture this figure, which came to be called ‘Perak’, their efforts proved unsuccessful.
      Jawa Perak BS6, priced at Rs.1.94 lakhs, is presented in a single colour option. Buyers can avail the Perak with a zero down payment scheme or an EMI of Rs.6,666 along with an exchange program of upto Rs.5,000. More

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      in Electric Cars

      2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Facelift Debuts – To Go On Sale Next Year

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      2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
      Hyundai Kona Electric carries on with the same set of powertrains offered in the pre-facelift model

      Electric cars have taken a sizeable portion of the passenger vehicle segment in global markets over recent years. With EV-related technology evolving at a rapid pace, we are seeing more and more electric cars come up in recent times. We have also witnessed demands for EVs rising due to their cheap running cost and powerful performances.
      Hyundai is one such brand that has found success globally with EV offering Kona Electric over the last couple of years. The Korean automaker has given a mid-life facelift to its most popular electric crossover for 2021 and is scheduled to go on sale in the United Kingdom early next year.

      Exterior Styling Updates
      2021 Kona Electric comes with a healthy dose of cosmetic upgrades both inside and outside its cabin and a host of technological updates as well. Its exterior witnesses the highest number of updates, the most dramatic of them being the revised front nose.
      The new grille gets a smooth nose cone which is starkly different from the radiator grille on the petrol-powered Kona thus distinguishing itself from the latter. This also lends a slight aerodynamic update over the pre-facelifted model.

      New Kona Electric also gets a redefined front bumper which receives a pair of vertical inlets that reduce the amount of turbulent air in the front wheel arches to minimise drag. This is complemented by fresh LED DRLs and a pair of redesigned LED headlights.
      The rear end is very much similar except for slightly reconfigured tail lamps. Black claddings on the old car are now colour-coded. In addition to five colours offered on the electric crossover, another five new paint schemes have been added to its palette.
      Interior & Feature Updates
      Interiors of 2021 Kona electric have seen a fair share of updates including a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system carried from the new-gen i20 and Tucson.

      The new infotainment system is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Hyundai’s connected tech BlueLink which offers features such as Voice Activated Commands, remote climate control to preheat/precool the cabin and remote charging to benefit from off-peak energy rates.
      In addition, it receives new ambient lighting which complements the two-tone interior colour. Safety equipment too receives enhancements such as rear cross-traffic assistance, safe exit warning, blindspot assistance and eCall which in the event of an accident automatically alerts emergency services.

      Powertrain
      Speaking of its powertrain, there is no change in this department. The facelifted model still receives two powertrain options- 39.2kWh battery pack paired with a 134 bhp motor and a larger 64kWh battery pack mated to a 201 bhp electric motor.
      The former claims a single-charge range of 189 miles and a top speed of 154.5 kmph while the latter claims a range of 300 miles and 167 kmph of top speed. The company will provide a 100kW fast-charger which could juice up the battery by 80 percent in just 47 minutes. More

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      in Bike

      Harley Davidson Dealers Unhappy Post Hero Alliance – Might File Legal Case

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      File Photo.
      Harley Davidson dealers in India have hired a law firm and are looking at legal options

      While the Harley Davidson & Hero MotoCorp deal is a positive development for customers and motorcycle enthusiasts, many Harley dealerships are facing an uncertain future.
      Harley dealers are even more worried now because there’s a growing possibility that the total number of dealerships may be reduced to just 13-15 dealerships. This will be a major setback to Harley dealers who may be asked to shut shop.
      Demand for higher compensation
      One of the primary complaints of Harley dealers is that the compensation package is not enough to cover their losses. The compensation offered by Harley-Davidson management includes two components, one of which is Rs 1,500 per sq. ft., after adjusting for 10% annual value depreciation. The second component is reimbursement of sales margins for a period of 6 months.
      Harley dealers claim that this compensation is significantly lower than their collective investments over the last decade, which amounts to around Rs 300 crore. Moreover, since the lockdown was lifted in August, the dealers have been incurring huge losses of around Rs 30-40 lakh every month.
      Harley Davidson India Dealer
      In the domestic market, Harley’s bestselling product was Street 750 mid-sized motorcycle. It contributed around 70-80% of the company’s sales in the country.
      Earlier, dealers used to sell around 20-25 Harleys every month, but the numbers are down to single digits. As new Harley products may take some time to be launched via Hero MotoCorp partnership, dealers are demanding higher compensation for their investment and losses.
      Law firm appointed
      With the possibility that on-going talks may not lead to favourable developments, the Harley-Davidson Dealers Association has appointed a law firm AZB & Partners. The plan is to explore legal options to safeguard their investment and probably get higher compensation to recover their losses. However, this is a preliminary move to assess potential options. The dealers have not filed any case against either Harley or Hero MotoCorp.
      Harley Davidson dealers are hopeful that things will be resolved in a favourable manner for all stakeholders. They are currently waiting for a formal announcement to be made by either Harley or Hero MotoCorp. The dealers say that they need to be clearly told about the next steps, so that they can make adjustments accordingly.
      As per the deal between the two companies, Hero MotoCorp will be taking over the sales and service operations of Harley. This will be done via the existing Harley outlets.
      Hero will also be retailing original parts, accessories, riding gear, apparel and general merchandise. Hero also gets the license to develop and sell premium motorcycles with Harley Davidson brand name. The first of these products could be a 350cc – 500cc motorcycle that will challenge the supremacy of Royal Enfield. More

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      in Motor News

      Watch the Hot Mercedes-AMG GT63 S Set a Nürburgring Record

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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.

      A 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT63 S laid down a 7:27.80 lap on the Nürburgring’s 12.9-mile Nordschleife circuit, a new official record for oberklasse (executive-class luxury) cars.
      The Nordschleife is where the world’s carmakers go to compete for outright production-vehicle lap records. The previous oberklasse record holder was a Porsche Panamera Turbo S, which cranked off a 7:29.81 official time on September 24, 2020.
      AMG Development engineer and former racer Demian Schaffert recaptured the record he had set in 2018 in another GT63 S, which is the one the Panamera eclipsed.
      Mercedes-AMG’s mighty GT63 S has just reclaimed fastest-luxury-car honors from the Porsche Panamera Turbo S at the fabled Nürburgring with a 7:27.80 lap on the 12.9-mile Nordschleife circuit. A factory-backed Porsche Panamera Turbo S had only recently bested the 2018 record set by another GT63 S.

      630-HP Mercedes-AMG GT63S Tested: Fierce and Fine

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      AMG GT Black Series Targets a Higher Realm

      The Turbo S ran a 7:29.81 lap on September 24, which beat the GT63 S’s previous time by just 0.3 second; the 2021 GT 63 S topped the Panamera by 2.01 seconds. For now, at least, the car we dubbed “the great white shark of luxury cars” is the big fish on a track nicknamed “the Green Hell.”

      Mercedes-Benz

      The GT63 S was totally stock, says AMG, and was equipped much like our most recent test car: with the optional AMG Aerodynamics package and track-focused Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The driver was AMG development engineer Demian Schaffert. The company put the 2.3-second lap-time improvement down to subtle revisions of the 2021 model’s suspension.

      New Porsche Panamera Sets Record at Nürburgring

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      Has Tesla Smashed Porsche’s Nürburgring Record?

      Manufacturers have long competed for production-car, lap-time glory on the Nürburgring’s 12.9-mile Nordschleife circuit. Recognized as the world’s most challenging racetrack, it snakes through the forest near the town of Nürburg in the heart of the Eifel mountains. Officially, the track has 73 corners, but some say adding the lesser twists and kinks that a driver must navigate brings the total to 100 or more. A typical road-racing circuit has 10 to 15 turns.
      The track’s hilly topography—there’s 1000 feet of elevation change across its distance—and humpy surface throw every type of corner at the cars and their drivers. Speeds for powerful passenger cars like the GT63 S range from about 40 mph in the slowest turns to 180 mph or more on the long back straight. The high speeds, hard braking, and sine-wave pavement challenge suspensions, brakes, powertrains, and tires. Weather can be a problem as well: the track is so large that it can be sunny at one end but rainy at the other. Even on a cloudless day, parts of the track might be damp from morning dew, making record runs difficult.

      Mercedes-Benz

      The official track website recognizes records in 12 categories. Seven are for production vehicles: mini/sub-compact cars; compact cars; mid-size cars; luxury (executive-class) cars; sports cars; super sports cars; and SUVs/vans/trucks/off-road vehicles. There are also categories for race cars, prototypes/concept cars, and two categories for EVs. The site has records listed for most of those classes. While the GT563 S is an undeniable rocket ride, consider that the production-car record holder, a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, lapped the circuit at 6:44.97, an amazing 42.83 seconds quicker than the AMG sedan.
      The timing process has changed slightly in the past several years. About two years ago, track management revised how flying laps are timed in a way that has added roughly 761 feet and several seconds to a lap. That means earlier record lap times are not strictly comparable to more recent ones. But the times set by the Panamera and GT63 S are. Which means for now, the great white shark rules the ‘Ring.

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