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    Honda 2W October 2023 Sales – Breaking Down the Numbers

    New Honda ActivaHonda 2W October 2023 Sales Report – Diving into the NumbersIn October 2023, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) displayed robust performance in the two-wheeler market. And as expected, reported steady sales for their 2W range.In terms of domestic sales, Honda 2W reported 4,62,747 units sold in October 2023. Comparing this to the previous year, there was a notable increase of 36,778 units. Representing an impressive 8.63 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth. This surge further solidified domestic dominance, which captured a substantial 93.89. percent share of total sales.Honda 2W sales Oct 2023Honda 2W’s Global Reach in October 2023On the international front, Honda 2W’s export numbers improved. They exported 30,137 units in October 2023, marking a substantial increase of 6,715 units compared to October 2022, reflecting 28.67 percent YoY growth. An expanding global reach, which contributed to 6.11 percent share of total HMSI sales.Summing up the domestic and international figures, total sales for Honda 2W in October 2023 stood at 4,92,884 units, a significant year-on-year growth of 9.68 percent. These larger than life numbers underscore their position as an industry leader in scooter sales.Honda 2W vs. September 2023: Sales ShowdownWhen it comes to month-on-month performance, it’s essential to note that Honda 2W reported a slight dip in domestic sales from September 2023. This stood at a difference of -29,055 units, equivalent to a -5.91 percent month-on-month (MoM) decline. Sales fell from 4,91,802 units. On the export front, they encountered a -14.37% MoM decrease, exporting 5,059 units fewer than the previous month, totalling 30,137 units.Honda 2W reported a total sales figure of 4,92,884 units in October 2023, with a -6.47 percent MoM decline. Mainly due to the domestic market’s performance. Total MoM sales fell from 5,26,998 units. Nonetheless, they continue to exhibit a strong market share, maintaining their position as a robust and reliable player in the two-wheeler industry. More

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    Ducati Bengaluru Ex-Employee Arrested For Cheating Customers – Rs 5 Crore Scam

    Ducati BengaluruThe theft came to light following several complaints from customers stating their inability to register their bikes with the RTORakesh, a 38 year old ex-employee of the Ducati Bengaluru Showroom has been arrested on charges of having cheated the company to the tune of Rs 5 crores. Rakesh, a resident of Kukatpally at Ranga Reddy district in Andhra Pradesh, worked at the VST Ducati bike showroom for 5 years holding a post of Head of Operations. He had resigned on October 20th, just 3 weeks prior to his arrest.Fraud Comes to Light during Customer Complaints and AuditAs per the complaint registered, Rakesh has embezzled the company of Rs 5 crores. He sold a total of 21 bikes during the period July 2019 and September 2022. However, none of the sales were recorded in the company record books and nor was the amount collected from the sale of these bikes, collectively priced at around Rs 5.2 crores, deposited in company bank accounts.In his complaint, CN Mahesh, General Manager of the company stated that Rakesh had collected the amount from 21 customers and deposited the same in various bank accounts which also included one in the name of ‘Office Facility Suppliers’.The fraud was discovered following complaints from several buyers who brought their bikes back to the showroom on complaints that they could not get them registered with the RTO. An audit also brought to light the fact that there were a total of 21 such Ducati bikes sold by Rakesh, collected money from the buyers but deposited only a part of it in the company’s account while diverting the rest.The audit conducted by the company found that these included 9 Ducati Panigale, 3 Multistrada, 4 Diavel, 2 Monster, a Desert X, a Scrambler and a Streetfighter. Each of these bikes carry a price tag between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 40 lakh.Suspect Arrested but Insiders could also be involvedThough a complaint was registered and the suspect has been arrested, the police are also looking at another angle wherein some other insiders could be involved in the scam. The company should have followed certain procedures of sale such as inventory of bikes received, sales and delivery notes along with invoice details which should have been sent to the RTO. An inquiry is also being conducted into verifying authenticity of invoices while Mukesh the General Manager of VST Ducati bike showroom was not available for comment.Ducati offers 22 bikes in India which are categories into sports, cruiser, sport-naked, café racers and adventure tourers. The company is also planning launch of new models Scrambler 1100 Tribute Pro, Scrambler 800 Urban Motard and V21 L. More recently, Ducati introduced the world’s most powerful and highest revving single-cylinder engine. This 659cc, single-cylinder engine has been named the Superquadro which means the super square. More

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    Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono Unveiled – 659cc, 84.5hp, 162Kg!

    Ducati Hypermotard 698 MonoThe 659cc single-cylinder engine on Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono generates up to 84.5 bhp pf peak power with a race-only Termignoni exhaustUsually not the name that springs while conversing single-cylinder motorcycles, Ducati has stepped into this arena after more than half a century. The motorcycle Ducati’s new 659cc single-cylinder unit will debut is the Hypermotard 698 Mono. Ahead of launch, specs and details of this highly-anticipated launch have surfaced on the internet.Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono unveiledCurrently known for its slew of V2s and V4s, the Italian marque is stepping into single-cylinder production motorcycle realm with Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono. The last single-cylinder motorcycle that Ducati ever made was Supermano in 1993, which was a race-only machine.With Hypermotard 698 Mono, Ducati’s portfolio turns much more profound and diverse, including both single and multi-cylinder machines. On the surface, Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono will primarily rival KTM 690 SMCR and its Swedish counterpart Husqvarna 701 Supermoto along with GasGas SM700.Ducati’s new 659cc single-cylinder engine features squarish proportions. Hence the name Superquadro Mono. Lightness and compactness were among Ducati’s primary objectives. It features tech like horizontal cylinders and Desmodromic valve operation, 116mm piston from 1299 Panigale’s V-twin motor.Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono wheelieAll of these have allowed Ducati’s new 659cc single-cylinder engine to eke out a peak power output of 77.5 bhp at 9,750 RPM. The engine redlines all the way to 10,250 RPM. With a track-only Termignoni exhaust, peak power can go till 84.5 bhp as well. These power figures can easily dwarf rival single-cylinder machines.Hardware and componentryA lighter engine is mated to a lighter frame to keep the overall weight low. Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono comes equipped with a steel trellis frame that only weighs 7.2 kg. With rest of the componentry on board, Hypermotard 698 Mono weighs 151 kg dry and 162 kg with a full tank. Low weight ensures a high power-to-weight ratio too.Overall appeal and stance of the motorcycle are quintessentially Hypermotard but shrunk to slightly smaller proportions. Up front, we can see a handsome headlight unit with fang-like LED DRLs along with a functional beak, LED turn indicators and knuckle guards. Suspension duties are handled by Marzocchi 45mm fully adjustable USD telescopic forks with 215 mm travel and a Sachs rear mono-shock unit with 240 mm travel.Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono drifting17-inch cast alloy wheels get 120/70 front and 160/60 rear tyres from Pirelli. These are Diablo Rosso IV, known for their grip, traction and track performance. Dropping anchor on Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono is Brembo’s hardware with M4.32 calipers at the front biting into a single 330 mm disc and at the rear, there is a single 240 mm disc.The bike even gets Ducati’s extensive rider aids with an advanced IMU. These include launch control, engine brake control, adjustable wheelie control, traction control, 4-level ABS, cornering ABS along with wheelie assist function on optional Ducati Performance software patch. There is a bi-directional quick-shifter and a 3.8-inch TFT dashboard as well.There will be another version of Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono for riders with a restricted license in select markets. This version will pack a friendlier 43.5 bhp and 49 Nm. More

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    Tata Avinya To Get JLR EMA Platform – Major Gains In Range, Safety, Performance

    Tata Avinya production spec RenderAided by JLR’s EMA platform, Tata Avinya will spawn a new range of truly world-class EVsTo improve competencies, Tata Motors has been focusing on increasing synergies between its subsidiaries. A relevant example is Harrier and Safari, which have benefited immensely from JLR’s D8 platform. And now, something similar is being targeted for upcoming Avinya electric SUV.Avinya to get JLR’s EMA platformAs may be recalled, Tata has created an entirely new business subsidiary named Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd (TPEM) to focus exclusively on EVs. This will allow the company to handle the tough competition that is expected in EV space in the coming years. To give it more strength, a collaboration has been formed between Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd (TPEM) and Jaguar Land Rover Plc (JLR). The latter is also a fully-owned subsidiary of Tata Motors. The collaboration will ensure that upcoming Avinya and other EVs based on that platform can be launched within the targeted time frame.Tata AVINYA Electric ConceptAs part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two firms, JLR will be licensing its Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) platform to TPEM. For the services and technology sharing, TPEM will be paying a royalty fee to JLR. It will cover sharing of manufacturing know-hows, electrical architecture, battery pack and electric drive unit.JLR’s EMA platform will play a key role in expediting the development of TPEM’s ‘premium pure electric’ vehicles series ‘Avinya’. In addition to the MoU, the two firms will also sign an Engineering Services Agreement (ESA). This will take care of any change content requirements that TPEM may have for the first vehicle development.New Tata AvinyaJLR’s EMA platform – key benefitsTPEM’s collaboration with JLR is a step in the right direction. It will allow significant reduction in the development cost of Avinya range of EVs. JLR is ahead in the game and transferring the know-how and technology to another Tata subsidiary makes sense. It will enable Avinya series EVs to be globally competitive and future proof.Talking about JLR’s EMA platform, it will be used for JLR’s next generation of ‘pure electric’ mid-sized SUVs for international markets. These are scheduled to be launched from 2025 onwards. The EMA platform has been developed to offer a range of benefits. It includes significant gains across interior space, connectivity, comfort, software, over the air capabilities and advanced electrical and electronic (E&E) architecture. EMA platform will utilize a highly integrated propulsion system, comprising cell to pack battery technology, battery management and charging system. It will be able to deliver world class range and vehicle efficiency.With JLR’s assistance, TPEM will be able expedite its entry into the high-end EV segment. The advanced E&E architecture developed by JLR supports upgrades to L2+ autonomy, carrying all advanced connectivity, comfort and convenience features. TPEM will also gain in terms of faster adoption of safety (5-star EuroNCAP), Features Over the Air (FOTA), Software Over the Air (SOTA) and ultrafast charging systems for high performance vehicles. More

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    2023 Audi TT Says Bye-Bye with Beautiful Final Edition Roadster

    The 2023 Audi TT will cruise into the sunset after this model year, but the brand says goodbye with a Final Edition roadster.The Audi TT Final Edition features Goodwood Green pearl paint, a Palomino Brown interior, and a gray cloth convertible top.The Final Edition is currently on sale, but only 50 copies will come to the U.S. priced at $68,895 apiece.It’s always sad to see sports cars get sent to the retirement home, which is where the Audi TT is heading after the 2023 model year. While the final inventory currently sits on dealer lots, waiting to find new homes, Audi has introduced a special edition that says bye-bye following the TT’s three-generation run that began back in 1999.The Audi TT Final EditionThe limited-production Audi TT Final Edition roadster is coated in gorgeous Goodwood Green pearl paint, which was previously offered on the first generation. It pairs with Palomino Brown upholstery that’s highlighted by baseball stitching on myriad surfaces like the original had. Not only does every Final Edition roadster feature that beautiful color combination, but each has exclusively curated content not offered on other models.AudiAlong with a leather package that covers part of the door panels and the center console in Palomino Brown, passengers plant their feet on one-of-a-kind floor mats. The cabin is further decorated with carbon-fiber trim, and the steering wheel cover and gauge-cluster hood are wrapped in black leather.Complementing the TT’s pearl green paint are silver multispoke 20-inch forged wheels that are buoyed by adaptive dampers. The front bumper is dressed up with matte gray accents that are mirrored on the side skirts and rear bumper. Raising the roadster’s roof reveals a gray cloth top that really pops.AudiThe 2023 Audi TT Final Edition roadster is currently on sale. However, only 50 copies are allocated for the U.S. market, and each of them is priced at $68,895.This content is imported from poll. 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.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

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    Chevy K5 Blazer Conversion Is a Badass SEMA Build but Costs $202K

    Check out this modern take on the Chevy K5 Blazer from Flat Out Autos. Under the skin is a 2023 Chevy Silverado regular cab with a 22-inch shorter chassis, a long-travel suspension, and 37-inch tires. Featuring a supercharged Chevy small-block, the KR2 conversion costs a $202,000.Off-roaders and 4x4s are all the rage these days, with pretty much every automaker producing at least one dirt-bound SUV. Last year, Flat Out Autos, an Arkansas-based restomod company, converted a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 into a Jimmy SUV for the 21st century. For this year’s SEMA show, the same company tried its hand at a modern-day Chevy K5 Blazer. K5 Blazer RebornFlat Out Autos named the new version the KR2—a clever mashup between the iconic K5 name and Chevy’s newer off-road-focused ZR2 moniker. On the surface, the KR2 looks like a shortened and widened version of a 2023 Silverado because it is. Under the skin, the KR2 is a 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 WT regular cab.Flat Out AutosFor its custom build, Flat Out Autos shortened the chassis by 22 inches and cut the back of the cab open to produce an open-aired back seat. Custom rear quarter-panels were fitted to the bedsides and a carbon-fiber cover was added to complete the K5 transformation. The inside of the truck is completely overhauled from the bare-bones nature of the donor truck. Instead of the standard cloth coverings, the front and rear seats are now wrapped in red Katzkin leather. The KR2’s Hardcore HardwareThe KR2’s track width is also widened by seven inches, putting it on par with the factory ZR2 Silverado. Along with a long-travel suspension kit by Dirt King, there’s are coil-overs with remote reservoirs from Fox Racing. The custom 4×4 also rides on a chunky set of 37-inch Nitto Trail Grappler mud-terrain tires.Flat Out AutosA 5.3-liter V-8 from the stock Silverado sits under the hood, and that Chevy small-block is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. For $14,950, Flat Out Autos will also bolt on a Whipple supercharger and dial up the tune. The supercharged version is claimed to produces 467 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque at the rear wheels. The dream of owning a modern K5 is not a cheap one. With no options, the converted KR2 comes in at $178,000. Specced out with the supercharger, spare tire, and bed cover like you see here brings the total price to $202,000 out the door. We love the stubby SUV look, but for $202,000? Yikes. SEMA Trucks 2023This content is imported from poll. 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.Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

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    2025 Subaru Forester Will Be Redesigned, and Here’s a First Look

    A new Subaru model is coming to the 2023 L.A. auto show, and we think it’s the new 2025 Forester.The compact SUV was last redesigned for 2019, meaning it’s due for a new generation.We expect it to feature new styling and an upgraded interior.Subaru is teasing a new model that’s slated to debut at the 2023 Los Angeles auto show in a few weeks. Based on the fact that it’s one of the oldest models in the automaker’s lineup and hasn’t been redesigned for several years, we think it’s the 2025 Subaru Forester compact SUV.From what we can see from the teaser image, it looks like the new Forester will have a new wheel design and different body panels—of course with the requisite black plastic cladding that makes a Subaru a Subaru. As for what’s underneath, we don’t anticipate it will move to a new platform, meaning the basic dimensions and mechanical components aren’t likely to change much.Look for Subaru’s venerable 2.5-liter flat-four engine to carry over, with standard all-wheel drive, natch. We’d love for Subaru to bring back the turbocharged Forester XT model, but we haven’t heard any rumors suggesting it will return. The off-road-oriented Forester Wilderness model is a sure bet to continue, though, with its extra ground clearance and more rugged look. Interior upgrades will likely include a larger infotainment screen, additional driver-assistance features as part of Subaru’s EyeSight system, and new upholstery and trim options.More information on the new Forester will come soon, as the L.A. auto show press day will take place November 16.More on SubaruSenior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

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    2013–2018 Toyota RAV4s Recalled Due to a Potential Fire Risk

    Toyota is recalling nearly 1.9 million RAV4 models over an increased fire risk. The affected RAV4s span from the 2013 through the 2018 model years. The increased fire risk stems from replacement 12-volt batteries, and the company is currently preparing a solution. Toyota will recall 1,854,000 RAV4 models from the 2013–2018 model years due to a potential fire risk. Owners of affected models should visit the NHTSA recall website and enter their VIN or license plate information to see if their vehicle is involved in the voluntary recall, which Toyota announced yesterday, November 1. The recall stems from an increased fire risk from the 12-volt battery. According to the automaker, the dimensions of the top of some replacement 12-volt batteries are too small. If a replacement battery is too small and the hold-down clamp is not tightened correctly, the driver is at increased risk of the battery moving during aggressive cornering. The movement can then cause the positive battery terminal to contact the hold-down clamp and short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.Michael Simari|Car and DriverAs things stand now, Toyota is not issuing a stop-drive warning, nor is it asking owners to park their vehicles away from structures and other vehicles. The company is currently working on a solution. Once the fix is available, Toyota dealers will replace the battery hold-down clamp, battery tray, and positive terminal cover with improved versions for free. Toyota will notify customers with affected vehicles by late December 2023.Recent RecallsAssociate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More