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    Westfalia Camper Vans Are Returning to North America

    Westfalia has been absent from North American market for 20 years, and now it’s coming backOriginally a VW-based brand, this new effort will be centered around Ram ProMaster vans.This new company will be based out of Ontario and is looking to establish a dealer network in 2024 and beyond.For decades, the sight of a Volkswagen camper van meant two things: free-wheeling adventure for its owner and prayers for a passing lane from anyone stuck behind it. Westfalia camper conversions, or “Westys,” spawned a whole subculture of the van life movement, rolling slow and setting up home whenever the sun began settling low on the horizon. But then Daimler bought out the Westfalia-Werke camper conversion company and put an end to pop-top VWs. It’s been 20 years since Westfalia camper vans were sold in America—but now, they’re coming back.Clearly, Westfalia’s current owner, the French Groupe Rapido, has been paying attention. North American brand recognition of the Westfalia name is too valuable a prospect to simply ignore, and the new Westfalia-Americas company is planning a return for 2024.More on Camper VansDo not, however, expect any sloth-like Volkswagen campers. Westfalia does still offer camper versions of VW vans across the pond, but as those vans are not sold here, certifying them for U.S. regulations would likely be cost prohibitive. And although Westfalia also makes campers out of the Mercedes Metris van, the Metris is dead in North America for 2024. Instead, the sole candidate for a reborn Westfalia is the Ram ProMaster.In Europe, there are are four versions of what Westfalia calls its Columbus model (pictured at top), all built on a Fiat platform similar to that of the Ram ProMaster sold here. Westfalia’s pre-production display model is a class B van built from the ProMaster, and can sleep up to six in three fold-away berths—yes, including up top in a pop-up roof section. It’s not as big as other RVs, but offers flexibility and plenty of cargo storage.According to trade journal RV Business, the conversions will be done by Roadtrek in Ontario, Canada, which already does camper conversions on the ProMaster 3500 chassis. As yet, a dealer network is still in the early planning stages. However, Westfalia is back with its pop-top roof, just like its fondly-remembered peripatetic ancestors. And, just like those slow and steady VW-based machines promised, the return of Westfalia to North America comes with tremendous appeal. When wherever you are happens to be home, why not keep roaming?Contributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

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    Tata Punch.ev Interiors Spied – Reveals Key Features

    Tata Punch.ev interiors spiedMain rivals for Tata Punch.ev are upcoming Exter EV, along with models like Citroen eC3 and Renault Kiger EVWith ICE and CNG segments already covered, the next battle between Punch and Exter will be fought in the electric realm. Both carmakers are busy testing their respective electric versions. Punch.ev has made multiple appearances before and the recent spy shots show new details about interiors.Tata Punch.ev – what to expect?Punch.ev will be launched before Exter EV, owing to the sheer number of former’s test mules spotted. While Tata Punch has been hugely successful, it has now got a potent rival in the form of Hyundai Exter. In July, Exter was the 3rd bestselling Hyundai car. It has registered sales of 7,000 units. Punch sales in July were at 12,019 units.Owing to previous electrification strategies with Nexon, Tiago and Tigor, there won’t be any major changes to exteriors of Punch.ev. Only minor elements like a full-width LED DRL along with EV-specific badging, are expected with Punch.ev. The recent spy shots show glimpses of the inside, which were camouflaged on previous test mules.For the first time, we can spot a large infotainment screen and an auto-dimming IRVM. Both of these are not on offer with ICE Punch. This screen could be 10.2-inch in size, similar to ICE Nexon and not the 12.3-inch unit on Nexon.ev. Instrument cluster may be shared with new Nexon facelift too, with fully configurable digital display.Tata Punch.ev exteriors spiedNotable attributes with Punch.ev are projector headlamps, top-mounted LED DRLs, squarish wheel arches, 90° opening doors, thick body cladding, roof rails, rear disc brakes and sporty tail lamps. Punch EV is expected to get a new set of wheels that will be designed for improved aerodynamics.Different interiors with different trim levels?Features on the inside will vary based on the trim. This has been evidenced by test mules that have been spotted with varying equipment on the inside. Top-spec variants of Punch EV are expected to get premium elements such as a new two-spoke steering wheel from Nexon facelift with a backlit Tata logo, along with touch and toggle steering controls.Lower trims of Punch EV could continue with the steering wheel in use with ICE Punch. Lower trims of Punch EV could borrow a lot of equipment from Tiago EV. On the other hand, higher trims could get features from Nexon.ev variants like 360-degree cameras, and electronic parking brakes among others.Lower trim Tata Punch Electric interiorsAutomatic climate control, push-button start/stop, auto fold ORVMs, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob and cooled glove box are among the notable attributes.Punch EV performance, rangeJust like the ICE version, Tata Punch.ev will be primed to deliver an exhilarating drive experience. With the electric setup, a tangible difference is expected in areas such as acceleration, noise and vibrations. While specs have not been revealed, the powertrain could be a tweaked version of the one in use with Tiago EV.Range is expected to be around 300 to 350 km. For reference, Tiago EV has variants with range of 250 km and 315 km from a 19.2 kWh and 24 kWh battery respectively. Range of around 350 km seems sufficient for everyday commutes and short inter-city or weekend excursions.Source More

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    Royal Enfield Scram 650 Spied With Himalayan 450 Instrument Cluster?

    Royal Enfield Scram 650 profileWith a single-sided exhaust, upcoming Scram 650 from Royal Enfield could potentially be the lightest 650cc RE everScram 650 test mule from Royal Enfield stables has appeared again. It dons RE’s creamy smooth 650cc parallel-twin engine that debuted with Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650. It has scrambler DNA and features multiple changes as opposed to Interceptor, on which it is based. Upcoming Scram 650 features a similar circular instrument screen as Himalayan 450.Royal Enfield Scram 650 SpiedAmong upcoming Royal Enfield motorcycles, 6 of them are based on 650cc engine. Of these 6, Scram 650 motorcycle is likely to launch first, followed by Shotgun 650 and the others. There have been multiple instances of test mule appearances of Scram 650 (or Interceptor Bear 650) before.However, these recent spy shots feature no camouflage and are some of the most detailed, yet. This motorcycle is still in testing phase, evident with a data logger box placed on a custom rack at the back. Except for a few wires and testing equipment, motorcycle looks near production-ready.The main frame of this motorcycle looks identical to that of Interceptor 650. There is a slightly different rear subframe, as it has quite an angle towards the end. Fuel tank still features a classic teardrop shape, but it is slightly lifted towards the front, as opposed to Interceptor 650. Side body panels feature a round element that strikes visual distinction.Royal Enfield Scram 650 instrument cluster spiedDifferences are in the form of componentry. Upcoming scrambler-style 650cc Royal Enfield will feature USD telescopic front forks and rear twin shock absorbers with a slightly different spec than Interceptor. LED headlights, LED turn indicators, single-sided exhaust, block pattern dual-sport tyres are notable changes too.Himalayan 450 circular instrument screenThese tyres seem to be Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR and single-sided exhaust should ensure reduced kerb weight. Most unusual element of this test mule is that it features a circular fully digital instrument cluster that looks similar to the one spied with Himalayan 450. Also, it looks like there are two instrument screens – one squarish and one circular.However, this squarish instrument cluster looks like it has pogo pins on top that seem to be part of testing equipment for engineers to monitor testing parameters in real-time. This display was not present in previous test mules. New circular screen is highly likely to be part of the motorcycle and is fully digital and similar to Himalayan 450’s instrument screen.Scram 650 knobby tyresRoyal Enfield has placed this screen slightly offset (to the right) which is a common practice in scrambler-style motorcycles. TVS Ronin features a similar attribute with instrument screen offset to the left. Gear position indicator, multiple trips, speedo, tacho, time, tell-tale lights and other functions will be integrated into this screen.As seen with Himalayan 450 test mules, this is a large canvas and seems adequate to integrate shrunken-down Google Maps. But turn-by-turn navigation will be on offer. Engine is the same oil-cooled 648 cc parallel-twin engine that generates 47 bhp and 52 Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. Launch is likely next year with Interceptor Bear 650 name.Scram 650 with single-sided exhaustImage source – Autostreetdotin More

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    500cc+ Motorcycles Sales August 2023 – Big Bikes Show 16% Growth

    Royal Enfield Continental GT CustomThe highest contributor to 500cc+ motorcycles sales for the month of August 2023, was Royal Enfield with 85% market shareBig bike sales are one of the lowest in India. This segment includes 500cc+ motorcycles that usually cost a lot. However, Royal Enfield’s 650cc platform plays the affordability card very well and absolutely dominates this segment. Royal Enfield enjoyed an impressive 85% market share in this segment in August 2023.500cc+ Motorcycles Sales – Super Meteor 650 tops the charts!Royal Enfield’s newest Super Meteor 650 has topped last month’s charts with 1,104 units sold. It commands a 56.59% market share. Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 used to dominate this space. With the launch of Super Meteor 650 with slightly premium componentry, 650 Twins saw just 550 takers.Compared to 1,388 units sold in August 2022, 650 Twins registered a 60.37% YoY decline, losing 828 units in volume. 650 Twins now hold just 28.19% market share. After the affordable big bikes, Triumph Street Triple has seen the highest sales with 166 units sold last month.As opposed to just 17 units sold last year, Speed Triple saw 876.47% YoY growth, the highest in this list. Speed Triple gained 149 units in volume YoY. Kawasaki sold 30 units of Ninja 650 and Z900 last month. Where Ninja 650 doubled its numbers YoY with 100% growth, Z900’s numbers went down by 26.83% YoY.500cc+ motorcycle sales August 2023Kawasaki Versys 650 is the last motorcycle in this list to have double digit sales. With 19 units sold, Kawasaki Versys becomes the highest-selling ADV in this list. As opposed to 23 units sold a year ago, Versys 650 saw a 17.39% YoY decline. Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 is the best-seller for the iconic American brand in India.Motorcycles with single digit salesFat Boy 114 sold 7 units and saw 40% YoY growth as it gained 2 units in volume YoY. Triumph Speed Twin 900 and Kawasaki Versys 1000 sold 5 units each. Where Versys 1000 maintained its numbers YoY, Speed Twin saw a 16.67% YoY decline. Kawasaki Vulcan S, Z H2 and Triumph Rocket III all sold 4 units each last month.There was no positive growth to report with all three motorcycles. Triumph Speed Twin 1200 is the only motorcycle on this list to sell 3 units. It registered a 66.67% YoY decline. Triumph Trident 660, Kawasaki Z900 RS, Harley-Davidson Sportster S, Fat Bob and Heritage Classic sold 2 units each. Only Heritage Classic showed positive growth of 100% YoY, with 1 unit gained in volume.Kawasaki Z650 RS, Triumph Street Scrambler, Bonneville Bobber, Bonneville T120, Bonneville Speedmaster, Harley-Davidson Pan America, Nightster, Road Glide, Road King, Street Glide all sold 1 unit each.Suzuki Hayabusa, V-Strom 650, Katana, Honda CBR 650R, Goldwing, Triumph Tiger 660, Tiger 900, Tiger 1200, Bonneville T100, Speed Triple, Harley-Davidson 883 Iron, Street Bob, Standard and Kawasaki Z650 didn’t manage to sell last month.In total, 500cc+ motorcycle sales accounted for 1,951 units. As opposed to 1,680 units sodl in August 2022, this segment registered 16.13% YoY growth and saw 271 units gained in volume YoY. Royal Enfield was the highest contributor to this space and bike bike juggernauts like Honda and Suzuki didn’t see any sales at all. More

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    Hero Testing Xpulse 210 And Xtreme 210 Bikes? – Karizma Engine?

    Hero Xpulse 210 spotted testingAfter launching Karizma XMR in India, Hero is experimenting with the same powertrain with Xpulse and Xtreme rangeIndia’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp aspires to add more depth to its premium portfolio. Jointly developed products like Harley-Davidson X440 have received favourable market response. Hero is yet to launch more premium bikes under its own brand. The new test mules spotted in the mountains are an embodiment of that strategy.Batter Xpulse – What to expect?Xpulse has emerged as a popular choice. The bike enjoys sort of a monopoly, being a proper off-roader at Rs 1.45 lakh (ex-sh). The Xpulse 200 4V Pro brings even more off-road-worthy kit at Rs 1.52 lakh (ex-sh). Xpulse 200 is currently the most successful bike in the company’s premium range. Recently launched Karizma XMR has also been receiving positive feedback from enthusiasts. Combining the two would make a tonne of sense.That is exactly what Hero seems to be doing. In the spy video, we can see a new ADV motorcycle with an identical body and componentry as Xpulse 200 4V on sale, but with a brand new engine. We can see a liquid-cooled setup with two channels leading to its two overhead camshafts. Hero only has one liquid-cooled DOHC engine, which is on Karizma XMR.As Xpulse is already popular, Hero could be looking to introduce a better version of the bike. It has similar features and components as Xpulse 200 4V such as a raised front beak, round LED headlamp with ‘H’ insignia, a long-travel suspension setup and knobby dual-purpose tyres. Spy video is credited to man.vs.tarmac Instagram channel. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sumit Gaikwad (@man.vs.tarmac) This 210cc engine makes 25.5 bhp and 20.4 Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. Slip and assist clutch may be on offer too. Dual Channel ABS, not so sure. Xpulse owners had always craved more performance and a 6th gear for long-leggedness. Hero seems to have heard their feedback. Because this new Xpulse 210 is just that!Hero Xtreme 210 is in the works!Along with the ADV test mule, a street bike in full camouflage has been spotted. Hero is taking on rivals like Bajaj Pulsar and TVS Apache RTR range, with a naked street bike. Both the Xpulse 210 and naked bike use Karizma’s engine. The name Xtreme 210 is highly likely. It sports a similar stubby exhaust as Karizma XMR as well.Some of the key highlights of this upcoming Hero Xtreme 210 include fat road-biased tyres, alloy wheels, USD telescopic front forks, a wide handlebar, a sculpted fuel tank with muscular tank shrouds and a split seat design. The headlamp assembly is completely camouflaged. Maybe this new LED headlight setup is still in the works. LED turn indicators are present too.Same engine as Karizma XMR 210What about the third test mule?There’s a third test mule with camouflage present too. Also, a standard Xpulse 200 4V without any camouflage, can be a support vehicle in this convoy. This third test mule is hidden behind Xtreme 210 and begs the question of what it could be. As of now, it remains a mystery.A fully digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth-based connectivity features will be part of both test mules. Hero will spawn bigger Xpulse motorcycles too, with bigger body and bigger oil-cooled engines shared with Harley-Davidson X440. Those test mules were spied last year.Xtreme 210 test mule More

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    2024 Bentley Bentayga Gets a New Grille, Adds Rear-Wheel Steering

    Four years after its last facelift, Bentley decided it was time to refresh the Bentayga for 2024.The updates are feature-heavy, highlighted by rear-wheel steering being added as standard for the S and Azure trims and as an option for lower trims.Sticking to Bentley’s highly customizable reputation, there are new 21-inch wheels with three available finishes, as well as eight new paint options, bringing the total number of paint choices to 112.The Bentayga SUV is Bentley’s most popular vehicle—no surprise considering the seemingly endless demand for ultra-luxury SUVs. It’s been four years since Bentley last freshened up the Bentayga, and as it enters the 2024 model year the high-end SUV is getting revamped once again.Most of the changes center around newly standard and optional features, though the front grille ditches its vertical slats in favor of a new mesh grille that matches the front end on the recently updated Flying Spur. The rear-wheel-steering system from the extended-wheelbase model is ported over for the standard-length Bentayga. It will come standard on the Azure and S trim levels, and will be optional for the rest of the lineup.BentleyBentley has something of a reputation for customization, and to be fair, the company puts its money where its mouth is. The 2024 Bentayga adds new 21-inch wheels that are available in three finishes. There are also eight new paint colors, seven of which are satin paints. Those new paint options bring the total number of exterior paint choices up to 112. The cushy Airline Seats from the extended-wheelbase model also makes their way over to the rest of the lineup as an option. Those are the rear seats that offer 22 different planes of adjustment and a Relax mode that reclines at 40 degrees while shoving the front passenger seat out of the way and deploying a footrest. More Bentayga NewsThere are even more rear-seat focused comforts for the updated Bentayga. According to Bentley, after a rear-seat passenger chooses a temperature with the auto climate controls, the system measures the passenger’s temperature and surface humidity every 25 milliseconds and adjusts accordingly. The new posture adjustment system conforms to a passenger’s seating position and pressure points and can apply 177 individual pressure changes across six independent zones to keep the passenger’s body from fatiguing. 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.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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    Porsche Revives the Cayenne S E-Hybrid for 2024

    With peak output of 512 horsepower, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid betters the lesser Cayenne E-Hybrid by 49 horses.The Cayenne S E-Hybrid comes in both SUV and coupe body styles.Look for deliveries to start in early 2024 and pricing starts at $100,750. Porsche is dusting off the S E-Hybrid moniker for the 2024 Porsche Cayenne after temporarily retiring it following the 2018 model year. The 512-hp Cayenne S E-Hybrid slots between the 463-hp Cayenne E-Hybrid and 729-hp Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid in the SUV’s lineup of gasoline-electric variants. Related StoriesAvailable in both wagon and fastback body styles (or SUV and coupe in Porsche parlance), the S E-Hybrid shares its 348-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine with the base Cayenne, which it pairs with a 174-hp electric motor. The combination provides enough grunt to push the SUV to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, per Porsche. Like the rest of the Cayenne E-Hybrid line, the S E-Hybrid includes a 25.9-kWh (gross capacity) battery pack. An 11.0-kW charger allows the SUV to fully charge that pack in two and a half hours when plugged into a 240-volt outlet. We wager that battery-only driving range ought to top 20 miles in the EPA’s hands. Porsche, however, is mum on range estimates at this point.PorschePorscheWith a starting sum of $100,750, the S E-Hybrid wagon stickers for $7400 more than the E-Hybrid. That sum includes niceties such as 20-inch wheels and tires, quad tailpipes, LED headlights with automatic high beams, the Sport Chrono package and its steering-wheel-mounted drive mode switch, and a proximity key with pushbutton start. Opting for the Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupe, meanwhile, adds $4900 to the starting sum. Along with its swoopy shape, the fastback S E-Hybrid trades the wagon’s silver exterior decor for black trim pieces.Both 2024 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid body styles are due to start deliveries in early 2024.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 EditorDespite their shared last name, Greg Fink is not related to Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s infamous Rat Fink. Both Finks, however, are known for their love of cars, car culture, and—strangely—monogrammed one-piece bathing suits. Greg’s career in the media industry goes back more than a decade. His previous experience includes stints as an editor at publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend. More

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    2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43, GLC63 S Coupes Revamped with Turbo Fours

    The AMG GLC Coupe siblings enter a new generation, with the GLC43 Coupe arriving for 2024 and the more powerful GLC63 S E Performance Coupe joining the party a year later for the 2025 model year.Both the eight- and six-cylinder engine options are gone, with a set of turbocharged four-cylinders taking their places.The GLC43 produces 416 horsepower, and the plug-in-hybrid GLC63 cranks that figure to 671 hp. Mercedes-AMG is here to answer the call for those who require a little less utility and a lot more sport from their sport-utility vehicles. The AMG GLC Coupe enters a new generation, with the GLC43 arriving for 2024, and the more powerful GLC63 S E Performance entering the market for the 2025 model year. Last year’s AMG GLC43 Coupe was powered by a raucous turbocharged V-6, while the AMG GLC63 that departed after 2021 was powered by a wild twin-turbocharged V-8. The beating heart of the new generation drops a few cylinders in favor of the same four-cylinder powertrains found in the latest AMG C-class sedans, as well as the new generation of AMG GLC-class SUVs. 2.0-Liter Turbo Four PowerThe turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder referenced internally as the M139 produces 416 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque in the GLC43, and pairs with the same 48-volt hybrid system found in the more mainstream Mercedes models. The turbocharger features an electric motor on the shaft that links the compressor and turbine wheels, and can spool up the turbo before the exhaust gases arrive, essentially eliminating turbo lag. The higher-octane GLC63 S is powered by the same engine, though the engineers over in Affalterbach fit a larger turbocharger to the 63, meaning the engine is good for an additional 53 ponies. It also pairs with a rear-mounted 201-hp electric motor operating through a two-speed transmission and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. Combined, the system makes 671 horsepower, more than making up for the lost cylinders—at least on a spec sheet. Both the GLC43 and GLC63 S pair their powertrains with AMG’s 9-speed automatic with a clutch pack in place of the torque converter. According to Mercedes, the lesser GLC43 is capable of a sprint to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the mighty GLC63 S manages to complete the run in just 3.4 seconds. Like the square-backed GLC63 S, the coupe version features unequal-length control arms at each corner, and steel springs that are paired with adaptive dampers. It also features active roll stabilization help reduce body roll. Plus, the brakes have been upgraded, with 14.7-inch discs up front and 14.2-inch rotors in the rear.Like the other AMG-ified cars, the new AMG GLC Coupe differentiates itself from the standard Mercedes examples through an AMG-specific grille and special bumper. A roof-mounted spoiler, aggressive exhaust tips, and diffuser mark changes to the rear. More on the AMG GLC ClassThe inside of the AMG cars features an AMG steering wheel finished in Nappa leather and seats wrapped in Mercedes’ MB-Tex faux leather. Sport seats and Nappa leather front seats with an embossed AMG logo in the headrests are both optional. And floor mats, door sills, and display numerous AMG logos, lest you forget what you’re in. 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