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    1999 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Is Today’s Bring a Trailer Auction Pick

    The oft-maligned 996-generation 911 ushered in a new water-cooled performance era for Porsche’s iconic rear-engine sports car. This manual 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera cabriolet could be an affordable way to experience 911 fun in the sun. The no-reserve Bring a Trailer auction ends on July 31.Car and DriverYou can’t go wrong with a Porsche 911. Whether you want high-rpm, stick-shift canyon slicing, or dignified, luxurious grand touring, there’s a 911 out there for you. And older models are arguably even purer sports cars than the latest version, though not always cheaper. But if you don’t have six figures to drop on a 911, you’re in luck. Today’s pick from Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is a manual 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera cabriolet. Before we get into the details, though, let’s pause for the inevitable fried egg and intermediate shaft (IMS) jokes. Got it out of your system? Good.From the C/D ArchiveYes, the 996-generation 911 swapped the beloved air-cooled flat-six for a water-cooled one. Yes, that M96 engine is known for its IMS-bearing problems. Yup, Porsche had to do some serious cost-cutting when it launched the 996, hence why it shares quite a few parts with the contemporary Boxster.But guess what? A 996-gen 911 like this Speed Yellow 1999 Carrera cabriolet is still a 911. That means its 3.4-liter flat-six still lives in the back, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual. With 296 horsepower and 258 pound-feet in stock form, it’s more powerful and torquier than the outgoing air-cooled Carrera, too. And there’s virtually no performance penalty with the soft top. In our period testing, a 1999 Carrera cabriolet had the same 4.9-second 0-60 and 13.5-second quarter-mile as the 1999 coupe. Both cars stopped from 70 mph in the same 170 feet, too. And they both had cross-drilled four-wheel disc brakes, like the soft-top example up for auction.Bring a TrailerAdmittedly, our tester recorded slightly lower skidpad numbers for the convertible than the coupe. But handling-wise, we said, “[its] attitude in corners is almost identical to the coupe’s.” This car’s Michelin Pilot Sport tires wrapped around 18-inch wheels will undoubtedly help demonstrate that. And dropping the top means you’ll hear the engine barking through its stainless-steel exhaust pipes more clearly. Though if you do tire of its song, you can play your own through this car’s aftermarket speakers—complete with Rockford Fosgate amplifier—and Pioneer head unit. The factory stereo is included in the sale, by the way, as is the CD changer (if you still treasure physical media).Bring a TrailerAt this point, prospective bidders undoubtedly want to know about the IMS bearing. Good news, a previous owner replaced it with an LN Engineering kit. The top’s cylinders and actuators were also replaced under previous ownership, as were several repair items. This Carrera has also had its spoiler hydraulics rebuilt, its engine cases recoated and honed to accept JE pistons, and an expansion plug crack repaired under previous ownership, too.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerAccording to the auction page, the seller has only added 100 of this 1999 911 Carrera cabriolet’s indicated 72,895 miles. If you’re the high bidder, we’d encourage you to add considerably more. The auction ends on Monday, July 31. More PorscheResearch EditorAfter discovering car magazines and Fast and Furious movies in high school, Matthew Skwarczek wanted to create cleaner fuels to keep automobiles around. But after a brief engineering career, the Chicagoland native realized he preferred researching and writing about the cars themselves. That’s how he found himself first at MotorBiscuit and then at C/D. Today, when he’s not reading, he’s daydreaming on Bring a Trailer, backpacking, or riding his motorcycle or bicycle. More

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    Harley-Davidson X440 Booking Window To Close On 3rd August

    Harley-Davidson X440 booking window closes on August 3rdHarley-Davidson X440: Booking Now Could Lock in the Price Before It Rides HigherWith Royal Enfield brand to take on, Harley-Davidson and Hero MotorCorp are strapped together with the launch of X440. With Nightster-inspired design, and Harley-Davidson brand value, there is a lot to like about X440. Triumph Speed 400 is yet another legacy brand offering from Bajaj-Triumph duo that crashed into Hero and Harley’s party by announcing deliveries.There is an overwhelming reception for Harley-Davidson X440 in India. Customer previews have begun and prospective buyers have till 3rd August 2023 to make a decision. This costs 5 grands. Let’s get down to finer details.Harley-Davidson X440: Test Rides and Production UpdatesThe company announced a starting price for base Denim model at Rs. 2.29 lakh (ex-sh). Top-spec S model is pricier at Rs. 2.69 lakh (ex-sh). Harley-Davidson India announced bookings on July 3rd, 2023, ensuring a long month of activity.Harley-Davidson India has planned a thorough event schedule to keep customers engaged until delivery of their prized possessions.Harley-Davidson X440 Vs Rivals ComparisonTest rides for will commence from September 1st, 2023 at a national scale. The company will commence production in September at company’s Garden Factory in Neemrana, Rajasthan state. Delivery for Harley-Davidson X440 customers will begin from October onwards.Hero MotoCorp and Harley-Davidson are considering ramping up production line to accommodate more capacity. Level of scalability will depend on demand and purchase trends.Beat Price Hikes in the FutureWhen Harley-Davidson India commences bookings again, there is likely to be a change in pricing depending on time and input costs. Updated pricing details will be available at a later date. So, getting on the orderbook now could prove to be beneficial.Niranjan Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Hero MotoCorp said, “It is heartening to see the increasing inflow of inquiries and bookings for Harley-Davidson X440. The volume so far has surpassed our expectations and we have reached a point where we have decided to close the online booking channel temporarily.“The response is reflective of the brand love and trust that riding enthusiasts hold for Harley-Davidson and Hero MotoCorp. As we prepare for production and deliveries of Harley-Davidson X440, we are confident of offering an exceptional riding experience to the customers with best-in-class power, performance, and value proposition.” More

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    Honda New Bike To Debut On 2nd August – Vintage Vibes, Modern Rides?

    Honda new bike teased for IndiaHonda could use an existing brand name for the new bike, something similar to the strategy used for Shine 100Every year during the festive season, most 2W OEMs introduce new or updated products. It’s when consumer sentiments are at an all-time high. There is increased willingness to spend on big-ticket items like bike and cars.In case of Honda, one of the upcoming products is a new motorcycle. Scheduled to debut on August 02, the new bike’s displacement could be in the range of 150cc to 180cc. Honda already has popular products in this space such as Unicorn 160, X-Blade and CB Hornet 2.0.Speculating Honda’s New 150cc-180cc Bike: What’s in Store for Riders?If Honda chooses to go with an existing brand name, the options include Shine, X-Blade  and SP. These are currently among the popular commuter bikes in the country. For a long time, Honda’s X-Blade has been crumbling in terms of sales. Numbers hardly cross double digits and often sees single digits and even zero.Given that sporty 160cc street bikes are seeing new entrants and updates, Honda could cash in from a new vehicle. Honda has dropped first teaser. It shows a motorcycle with with chunky proportions. It is less likely to be a scooter as it boasts a long exhaust pipe. Which is a motorcycle trait.Honda is only showing tail light signature, which could very well be an evolved X-Blade’s defining element. It even mentions “Get ready to leave behind a trail of awe”. Outgoing X-Blade already features slightly crossover-ish design attributes. It even has a fancy tail light signature resembling a Batwing.Outgoing model already carries a lot more flamboyance in comparison to other commuter bikes from Honda. LED headlamps, sporty graphics, layered fuel tank, long and wide comfortable seat, premium chrome muffler cover and sporty tail light.Balancing Style Formats: SP125 vs. 160cc/180cc Honda BikesThere is a possibility of this as well. If it is an SP125, this new bike will be sharing much of the hardware with outgoing model. It will be interesting to see how Honda achieves a balance between the distinct style formats of its 125cc and 160cc / 180cc bikes.In case Honda’s new bike is a 160cc model, it will utilize the same 162.71 cc engine as outgoing X-Blade. It generates 13.67 bhp of max power and 14.7 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Some of the key highlights of X-Blade include a maintenance-free battery, single-channel ABS, a fully digital instrument panel and more.This new bike is less likely to be a 180cc bike. But if it is, it will share Hornet’s engine developing 17.26 PS and 16.1 Nm, mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Because this new bike has halogen turn indicators, we doubt it is a 180cc grade like Hornet 2.0 is.Honda has under-delivered to massive hypes before. So, there is a possibility of this being a very minuscule update to one of its existing motorcycles as well. Launch or unveil could happen on August 2nd. More

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    Ola S1 Air Bookings cross 3k units in hours – Lightning Speed

    Ola S1 Air colour optionsOla S1 Air bookings are available for an introductory pricing of Rs. 1,09,999 (ex-sh)Indian 2W EV space has had a bit of a bumpy ride in the past couple of months. The reduction of subsidy in FAME II scheme has necessitated 2W EV manufacturers to reach out to Indian price-conscious buyers with a lower base price model. In comes vehicles like Ather 450S and Ola S1 Air.Out of the two, Ola S1 Air better leverages its large-scale manufacturing to offer a more value-for-money product than its immediate rivals. Purchase window for Ola S1 Air opened yesterday with 3,000 orders already underway. Enthusiastic CEO Bhavish Aggarwal took to social media platforms to announce this. Let’s take a look.Accelerate Change: The Race to Book an Ola S1 AirYes, you read that right. Yesterday. Ola Electric had intended to open purchase window on 28th July, 2023, today. But the company opened purchase window on 27th July, 2023, a day earlier than originally planned. Exceeding manufacturer’s expectations, Ola S1 Air has hit 3,000 orders within the first couple of hours of commencing purchase window.Bhavish Aggarwal took to Twitter (or Twitter X as the X has taken over the Blue Bird) to announce this development. The first 3,000 orders came in within a couple of hours of opening the purchase window. The social media update on the first 1,000 orders came in under an hour.3000! I’m also heading to the factory now ? https://t.co/q89piwCOfA— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) July 27, 2023S1 Air is currently Ola’s most affordable electric scooter on sale. Introductory pricing is applicable to all orders placed by 31st July 2023 at Rs. 1,09,999 (ex-sh). Once this offer expires, buyers will have to shed Rs. 10,000 more.This introductory pricing is only applicable for all potential buyers who had already reserved their S1 Air prior to 28th July 2023. If not, Ola S1 Air will cost Rs. 1,19,999 (ex-sh). This is a 3 kWh battery model with 125 km of range and 90 km/h top speed. Unlike its prime rival Ather 450S, Ola S1 Air retains its touchscreen dashboard as well.Vibrant Wheels: Colour Palette of 6There is some amount of cost-cutting in the form of conventional telescopic front forks and conventional rear dual shock absorbers, drum brakes, different battery unit as opposed to banana-shaped Ola S1 and S1 Pro batteries, and a rear hub motor with 4.5 kW (6 bhp) and lack of a few gimmicks and flagship features with its touchscreen unit.Ola S1 Air bookingsOla Electric is offering six colour choices. They are Stellar Blue, Neon, Porcelain White, Coral Glam, Liquid Silver and Midnight Blue. Even though S1 Air misses out on some of S1 Pro’s 12 colour options, but these look stunning nonetheless. More

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    150cc-200cc Motorcycle Sales June 2023 – Pulsar, Apache, Unicorn Dominate

    Image – MRD Vlogs150cc-200cc Motorcycle Sales June 2023 – Pulsar Roars Ahead: Bajaj Leads 150-200cc Motorcycle Sales in June 2023Following our earlier report on 200cc to 500cc motorcycle sales in June 2023 which revealed 44.50 percent YoY growth, we now bring you 150cc-200cc Motorcycle Sales June 2023 sales.Sales in this segment too have improved YoY by 34.34 percent YoY to 1,35,934 units in June 2023 from 1,01,186 units sold in June 2022. This related to 34,748 units volume growth. It was also a MoM growth from 1,28,197 units sold in May 2023.Unicorn’s Astonishing Comeback: 33,687% YoY Surge in June 2023″Bajaj Pulsar led the list with 32,924 units sold in the past month. Up 3.61 percent from 31,778 units sold in June 2023. At 1,146 units volume growth, Pulsar commanded 24.22 percent market share. TVS Apache was at No. 2 with 68.05 percent YoY growth in sales to 28,127 units, up from 16,737 units sold in June 2022. Volume growth stood at 11,390 units with the Apache commanding a 20.69 percent market share.150cc-200cc Motorcycle Sales June 2023Outstanding YoY growth was seen in the case of Honda Unicorn. Sales of which improved 33687.34 percent YoY to 26,692 units in June 2023 from just 79 units sold sold in June 2022. These three models in the 150-200cc segment together commanded a 65 percent market share.There were 3 bikes from Yamaha that appeared in quick succession on this list. YoY de-growth was reported for Yamaha FZ by 15.48 percent. Down at 16,316 units from 19,305 units sold in June 2022. It was followed by R15, sales of which improved by 21.38 percent YoY to 10,111 units in June 2023. Up from 8,330 units sold in June 2022.Yamaha also had the MT15 on the top 10 sales list with 17.24 percent YoY growth at 9,127 unit sold. Up from 7,785 units sold in June 2022. Hero Xpulse 200 sales dipped 22.94 percent YoY to 3,577 units in June 2023 from 4,642 units sold in June 2022. Xtreme 160R/200 saw 18.68 percent YoY de-growth to 3,095 units from 3,806 units sold in June 2022.Underdogs Unleashed: KTM 200 and Suzuki Gixxer Surpass ExpectationsLower down the list was KTM 200 series with sales of 2,723 units last month, up 255.02 percent over 767 units sold in June 2022. Suzuki Gixxer sales also improved significantly by 1098.61 percent to 1,726 units in June 2023 from 144 units sold in the same month last year.Avenger sales dipped 70.03 percent to 1,447 units with a 1.06 percent market share. This was a volume de-growth of 3,381 units when compared to 4,828 units sold in June 2022. At No. 12 was the relatively new entrant Kawasaki W175 with 69 units sold. Kawasaki launched the new W175 in October last year. It takes on Yamaha FZ-X, Royal Enfield Hunter 350, Honda CB350, Jawa and Yezdi Roadster in its segment. More

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    Tata Electric Double Decker Bus Patent – India

    Tata electric double decker busSwitch already supplies double-decker electric buses for BrihanMumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) – Now Tata Motors Joins the Electric Bus RaceDouble decker buses have proved to be one of the smartest mobility solutions as they take almost twice the passengers that their single-deck counterparts can seat. In a number of cases our single-deck buses are already hauling almost twice the passengers as compared to their official seating capacity.There is a novelty factor in a double-decker bus and will prove to be quite an attraction as well. Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer is betting on this genre too and has patented its design in India. Let’s take a look.Double Decker: The New Face of Urban MobilityWe recently saw Switch EiV22 electric double-decker bus that BrihanMumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) procured. The name is Switch EiV22 and it pays tribute to iconic red double-decker ICE buses of Mumbai. For India, Switch didn’t just import an electric double-decker bus from UK and call it a day.Instead, Switch transformed a 9m single-deck bus into a double-decker with extensive re-engineering of chassis, suspension and body. It is highly likely that Tata Motors will take a similar approach with its first double-decker electric bus.Tata electric double decker bus patent detailsTo have a baseline, Tata Motors already has multiple 9m and 12m electric buses in its Indian lineup. These buses are available within Ultra, Urban and Starbus range of Tata Buses. These lineups further have AC and non AC variants along with low floor options. Tata offers both 400mm low floor height variants and 900mm floor height variants as well.A couple of years ago, Tata made headlines suggesting development of quad axle buses for ultimate comfort. But the patent image shows only two axles. The patent image doesn’t look like a 12m bus. So, a 9m length bus with a double-decker layout is highly likely. The colour is red, which is a nice touch.What to Expect: Double the Space, Smart Design, Smarter CommuteA wheelbase of 4,920mm, a floor height of 900 mm, and overall width of 2,340mm is highly possible. Switch EiV22 is a 9m bus with 900mm floor height as well. So, this is likely to be a sweet spot for India and what Indian bus manufacturers seem to be aiming at. Powertrain options will probably be similar to Tata Ultra electric buses too.We’re talking about 245 kW peak power (329 bhp) and 145 kW (194 bhp) continuous power along with 3000 Nm peak torque and 1145 Nm continuous torque from its motor/generator. A large 124 kWh battery with 150 km of range and 75 km/h top speed like its Ultra 9m electric bus is probable.Tata’s 12m Starbus lineup offers 250 kWh battery with 200 km of range. Tata Electric double decker bus batteries will be scalable and Tata will offer bespoke solutions depending on orders. Export potential is high too. More

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    Mitsubishi Has a New Mid-Size Pickup Truck, and It Looks Legit

    Mitsubishi has launched a new generation of its Triton mid-size truck in Southeast Asia, but unfortunately the workhorse won’t be coming to the U.S.The Triton features a turbodiesel engine with between 243 and 347 pound-feet of torque and is offered with a six-speed manual transmission.The four-wheel-drive system includes a two-speed transfer case and a center limited-slip differential, as well as hill descent assist.Mitsubishi exited the truck game in the United States in 2009 with the death of the Dodge Dakota–based Raider, centering its lineup instead around the cheap Mirage and crossovers including the Outlander. But overseas, Mitsubishi remains a big player in the mid-size truck arena and has just revealed a new generation of the Triton, a staple of the Southeast Asian market. Also called the L200 in certain countries, the Triton won’t be offered stateside, and its old-school formula is a reminder of how the U.S. truck market has shifted over the past decade.MitsubishiWhile American automakers such as Ford and Chevy now exclusively sell their mid-size trucks in a crew-cab configuration, Mitsubishi still offers the Triton with single-cab and extended “Club cab” setups. The Triton’s body is mounted on a ladder-frame chassis that Mitsubishi claims is significantly more rigid than before but with a minimal weight gain over the outgoing truck. While the front end gets an unequal-length control arm suspension, the rear continues to utilize a leaf-spring setup, although Mitsubishi beefed up the shocks for the new generation.Under the hood is a new turbocharged 2.4-liter diesel four-cylinder with three output levels. The top dog produces 201 horsepower and a healthy 347 pound-feet of torque at 1500 rpm. There is also a 181-hp, 317-pound-foot version and a base engine with 148 hp and 243 pound-feet. The diesel engine is paired with a six-speed automatic, but Mitsubishi also still offers a six-speed manual transmission with a hill start assist function. MitsubishiThe Triton comes standard with rear-wheel drive but can also be equipped with Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD-II system, which includes a two-speed transfer case and a center limited-slip differential that sends 60 percent of torque to the rear and 40 percent to the front. There is a dizzying array of drive and terrain modes and differential lock settings, as well as hill descent assist. There’s also an Active Yaw Control function that employs torque vectoring by braking the inside front wheel when cornering.The Triton sports a boxy design with LED daytime running lights that Mitsubishi claims “resemble a sharp gaze of a hawk” above the main headlight units. Squared-off wheel arches and a crisp belt line give the Triton a sturdy look. Inside, the Triton sports a simplistic design and appears to borrow some parts from partial owners Nissan, such as the a touchscreen atop the dashboard. MitsubishiLuckily the truck retains plenty of real buttons, which Mitsubishi says are designed to be operated while wearing gloves. The cabin also packs USB-A and USB-C charging ports and a wireless charger, and ingress and egress are improve thanks to wider side steps and a more vertical A-pillar.The Triton gets modern goodies such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and other driver-assistance features. Mitsubishi says a wide array of accessories will be offered to help buyers personalize their Triton. Sales of the truck have already begun in Thailand, with Mitsubishi focusing on the Southeast Asian and Oceania regions.We don’t anticipate that Mitsubishi will bring the Triton to the U.S., but recent reports have suggested that the company is evaluating the American truck segment. If there’s enough interest from U.S. truck buyers, Mitsubishi could decide to bring some sort of truck model—possibly an electric pickup that it laid out in recent future product plans—to our shores.More Mid-Size TrucksThis 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 EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

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    Mercedes-Benz V-Class Vans Get Revitalized before Full EV Era

    Mercedes-Benz has revealed a new lineup of V-class cargo and passenger vans.They feature fresh interior and exterior designs, with a redesigned instrument panel and an assortment of updated tech. The new V-class likely won’t come stateside since Mercedes has made plans to pull the Metris from the U.S. market following the 2023 model year.The Mercedes-Benz Metris is dead in the United States after 2023, as is the rest of the mid-size-van segment. Since they’re still desirable in other markets, Mercedes has revealed a new series of V-class cargo and passenger vans. The diverse lineup ranges from the standard version to the electric EQV to the campsite-exploring Marco Polo van. Revitalized V-ClassesThe updated vans have redesigned instrument clusters and the latest version of Mercedes’s MBUX infotainment system. The standard V-class, Marco Polo, and EQV come equipped with a pair of 12.3-inch displays and a new center console that features an optional wireless charger. Mercedes also turned up the luxe dial on the new vans, adding a remote-start function, heated steering wheel, dimmed rear lighting for night driving, and 64-color ambient interior lighting.Mercedes BenzThe V-class’s bodywork now looks sharper too. Select trims get an LED light band surrounding the grille, which is now bigger than before. The headlights and taillights are also revised, and, depending on the trim, adaptive LED headlights are standard or optional. Along with five new paint colors, there are newly designed 17-, 18- and 19-inch wheels. Our favorite is the monoblock wheels on the luxurious V-class Exclusive, which also has a sweet thee-pointed-star hood ornament.Mercedes BenzMercedes says the updates to the V-class serve as a bridge to an all-electric future. After all, VAN.EA—a new EV-specific platform—is planned for 2026 and onwards. Mercedes also expects its electric vans to make up more than 50 percent of sales in both private and commercial figures by the end of the decade. More Van NewsThis 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