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    Chevrolet Bolt EV Isn’t Dead: It Will Return with GM’s Ultium Batteries

    There will be a second-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV, General Motors CEO Mary Barra confirmed today during an earnings conference call.Earlier this year, General Motors had proclaimed the Bolt dead as it prepared the hatchback’s factory for a transition to assembling electric pickups. But the Bolt is not dead and is in fact getting better, with Barra revealing that the second-gen Bolt will use GM’s newer Ultium battery technology.The Chevrolet Bolt nameplate will live on, General Motors CEO Mary Barra announced today during an earnings conference call. This contradicts earlier reports that the Bolt was dead after 2023, with GM stating in April that the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan where the Bolt is built was transitioning to building electric trucks like the Silverado EV next year.Marc Urbano|Car and DriverNow we know that the Bolt will receive a second generation, and Chevrolet is promising that the electric hatchback will continue to pack modern tech and a solid electric range into an affordable package. Although the Bolt was always among the cheapest EVs, price cuts for 2023 saw the MSRP drop to $27,495. Sales rebounded from a controversial battery recall in 2021, with 38,120 units finding homes in 2022 for the Bolt’s best sales year yet. So far, 2023 is going strong, with 33,659 Bolts delivered through the first half. The current Bolt, first launched in 2017, is built on the BEV2 platform, developed with a helping hand from LG, which also manufactured the Bolt’s battery pack. Since then, GM and LG Energy Solution have collaborated on a new battery platform, Ultium, that is already found in the Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer EV and will also underpin the Silverado EV. More on Chevy EVsBarra confirmed that the next-generation Bolt will utilize the Ultium platform, which the company says should help the Bolt badge return to market “on an accelerated timeline,” although the specific timing won’t be announced until later. We expect the second-gen Bolt to arrive for the 2025 model year, and while Chevy didn’t specify whether the slightly bigger Bolt EUV will be back, it mostly likely will if crossover sales continue to dominate the market.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 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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    2025 Kia Sorento Shows Its New Face and Revised Interior

    Kia has revealed the facelifted version of the Sorento mid-size SUV.It also has a revised interior with a larger infotainment screen.We expect to see the updated Sorento arrive in the U.S. for the 2025 model year.The fourth generation of Kia’s mid-size Sorento SUV still seems pretty fresh, but it’s already time for a mid-cycle update. This refresh brings revised styling for the front and rear ends, along with an interior upgrade that brings new screens. Kia told C/D that the 2024 Sorento would be a carryover model, so we expect to see this new Sorento to arrive in the U.S. for the 2025 model year.Up front, the 2025 Sorento features a completely different grille shape and interesting new headlights. The LED accent strips are reminiscent of the new Kia EV9’s lighting signature. In the rear, the taillights are slightly revised and add a new design element that connects the two light bars on each side. We can also spot new wheel designs and what looks like a new beige color, at least for the Korea-market model that’s been shown so far. Kia Inside, the biggest change is a new set of screens for the digital gauge cluster and the central infotainment system. The center screen appears to be running Kia’s newer infotainment software, and the digital gauge cluster looks larger than the unit that’s currently available on the Sorento’s higher trim levels. There’s also a touchbar lower down on the dash that looks similar to the one in the Sportage and the EV6 that can switch between HVAC and navigation controls.KiaWe don’t expect any major changes to the Sorento’s powertrains, which include a 2.5-liter gasoline engine in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms, a 227-hp hybrid setup, and a 261-hp plug-in-hybrid option with an EPA-estimated 32 miles of electric range. The LX, EX, SX, and X Line trim levels should also stick around.We’re not sure about timing for the 2025 Sorento yet, as it will likely go on sale in Korea first and reach the U.S. market later on. Kia has yet to release 2024 model-year information yet, so it seems that the 2024 Sorento will have a short run before the updated 2025 model starts to arrive in showrooms.More on the SorentoThis 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 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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    2024 Kia Sorento Shows Its New Face and Revised Interior

    Kia has revealed the facelifted version of the Sorento mid-size SUV.It also has a revised interior with a larger infotainment screen.We expect to see the updated Sorento arrive in the U.S. for the 2024 model year.CLARIFICATION 7/27/23: We now expect the updated Sorento to arrive in the U.S. as a 2024 model, not 2025 as previously stated.The fourth generation of Kia’s mid-size Sorento SUV still seems pretty fresh, but it’s already time for a mid-cycle update. This refresh brings revised styling for the front and rear ends, along with an interior upgrade that brings new screens. We expect to see this new Sorento to arrive in the U.S. for the 2024 model year.Up front, the 2024 Sorento features a completely different grille shape and interesting new headlights. The LED accent strips are reminiscent of the new Kia EV9’s lighting signature. In the rear, the taillights are slightly revised and add a new design element that connects the two light bars on each side. We can also spot new wheel designs and what looks like a new beige color, at least for the Korea-market model that’s been shown so far. Kia Inside, the biggest change is a new set of screens for the digital gauge cluster and the central infotainment system. The center screen appears to be running Kia’s newer infotainment software, and the digital gauge cluster looks larger than the unit that’s currently available on the Sorento’s higher trim levels. There’s also a touchbar lower down on the dash that looks similar to the one in the Sportage and the EV6 that can switch between HVAC and navigation controls.KiaWe don’t expect any major changes to the Sorento’s powertrains, which include a 2.5-liter gasoline engine in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms, a 227-hp hybrid setup, and a 261-hp plug-in-hybrid option with an EPA-estimated 32 miles of electric range. The LX, EX, SX, and X Line trim levels should also stick around.We’re not sure about timing for the 2024 Sorento yet, as it will likely go on sale in Korea first and reach the U.S. market later on. Look for Kia to release U.S. details on the updated model soon before it reaches showrooms, likely before the end of the year.More on the SorentoThis 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 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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    Yamaha R3 And MT03 India Launch By 2023 End – Confirms Chairman

    Yamaha R3Both Yamaha R3 and MT03 will launch by the end of 2023 – Promises Yamaha India Chairman, Eishin ChihanaYamaha is one of the most popular in the world for sporty and characterful motorcycles. In India too, Team Blue has been popular when compared to Team Red (Honda), Team Green (Kawasaki), Team Orange (KTM) and others.As of now, Yamaha only has single-cylinder offerings in India. The company intends to change that soon with Yamaha R3 launch along with MT-03. Yamaha has showcased these to dealers and will evaluate for launch of R7, MT-07 and MT-09. Now, Yamaha India Chairman, Eishin Chihana has revealed the launch timeline for R3 and MT-03. Let’s take a look.Yamaha MT03 for IndiaYamaha R3 Launch By 2023 EndYamaha is re-introducing its multi-cylinder lineup in India. Even though we don’t expect all global multi-cylinder offerings, R3 and MT03 are of prime importance. They will launch in a popular segment where Kawasaki is currently offering Ninja 300 and Ninja 400.With its attractive pricing, Royal Enfield proves to be a juggernaut here with huge sales numbers to back it up. That said, the draw of a high-revving sporty machine is unmatched and will attract buyers. According to Eishin Chihana, we should see the Yamaha R3 and MT03 launch by the end of this year. Yamaha R7, MT-07 and MT-09 will be launched in India in 2024.What will they pack?Even though both R3 and MT-03 don’t offer cutting-edge TFT screens and other gizmos, they promise performant mechanicals. We’re talking about a parallel twin 321cc engine making 42 PS of power at 10,750 RPM and 29.6 Nm of torque at 9,000 RPM. This engine has a DOHC setup with 4 valves per cylinder. Putting this power down to the wheel is a constant mesh 6-speed gearbox.Front gets a USD telescopic fork setup with 130 mm travel, while rear is a mono-shock unit with 125 mm travel. There is a single disc setup at both ends with 298 mm disc at front and 220 mm disc at the rear. 110/70-R17 front and 140/70-R17 rear tyres could have been a little fatter considering 150cc R15 offers 140-section tyres.The design is in line with Yamaha’s flagship fully-faired motorcycles. LED headlights and LED tail lights look attractive. Fairing is sharp and appealing. Handlebars command a lean and rear set footpegs suggest committed riding posture. With 14L fuel in the tank and 2.5L oil in the sump, Yamaha R3 tips the scale at 169 kg, while MT-03 weighs 1 kg less at 168 kg. Being a Yamaha motorcycle, pricing will be on the higher side and will appeal to prospective buyers regardless.Source More

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    1992 Venturi 400 Trophy Is Our Bring a Trailer Auction Pick of the Day

    The Venturi 400 Trophy was created for an early-1990s single-marque racing series in France.It features Kevlar composite bodywork and a mid-mounted 3.0-liter V-6 engine. This example has been modified for the street and is up for auction in Florida where, with a week to go before the August 1 auction end date, bidding is at $101,000.The Ferrari F40 has never been within reach of the ordinary collector, but over the past few years values have come on boost and surged into multimillion-dollar territory. As an alternative, are you looking for a race-bred, twin-turbo, mid-engined exotic with carbon-Kevlar bodywork, but with a budget that doesn’t stretch to seven figures? Here’s an unusual but compelling blend of French racing élan and golden-age Japanese performance tuning.Car and DriverToday’s pick at Bring a Trailer (which, along with Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos) is a heavily modified example of a Venturi 400 Trophy. Much explanation about what exactly a Venturi is will be required shortly, but first, just drink in the details. Outrageous composite bodywork. Performance parts from BBS, Brembo, Ohlins, HKS, and Recaro. A rear clamshell hood that opens to reveal a twin-turbo V-6 good for 408 horsepower in factory trim and more like 500 horsepower here. Next, you may notice the sliding Lexan windows and a dashboard full of exposed fuses. This car is far more obscure than Ferrari’s 40th birthday present to itself, but it is every inch the exotic.Venturi was founded in the mid-1980s by two French engineers, former employees of the Heuliez coachworks. For road cars, Venturi’s peak was the 400 GT, an extremely limited-production sports car that might be almost unknown by the larger public had it not appeared digitally in the racing game Gran Turismo 2.Bring a TrailerThe 400 GT was a roadgoing version of a race car: the 400 Trophy. One of the earliest successes of French racing promoter Stéphane Ratel—instrumental in the creation of GT2 and GT3 racing—the 400 Trophy was a gentleman-racer series intended to be a French twist on similar one-make racing series fielded by Porsche or Ferrari. Just over 70 cars were built, but the series was a success, running over four seasons.More from (and about) BaTThis example is chassis number 50, though it has come a long way from the days of Trophy racing. It raced in the 1992 and 1993 seasons but was then shipped to Japan and converted for road use. The process did not involve toning down the performance of the racing chassis but rather extracting even more out of it.Bring a TrailerA Feast for the ImaginationThe car was sent to Tokyo to be tuned, with HKS GT-SS turbochargers and MoTec engine management. Japan’s capital is of course a supercar haven, with Yokohama’s Daikoku Parking Area becoming a church of speed on Sunday morning. This example, however, was built for early-morning weekend running of the tunnels and canyons of Hiroshima, hurtling through those relatively empty roads at speed. No radio, no distractions, just the almighty hiss of the twin turbochargers and the surprising aggression of a well-tuned 3.0L PRV V-6 snarling towards redline.The roadgoing 400 GT is as rare as you’d like, with just 15 examples made. The driving experience of those cars is not supposed to be the best, with questionable boutique supercar company build quality and snatchy carbon brakes.Bring a TrailerBy comparison, this 400 Trophy was at first shaken down and reworked by a racing team over several seasons, then built up as a street car by a Tokyo tuning specialist during the time when the elusive Mid Night Racing Team was in their heyday. It’s a blend of two seemingly disparate worlds of automotive enthusiasm, but combines the best of both of them.Catching sight of an F40 in traffic is a bucket-list spot, but Ferrari did build more than 1300 of them. There are only a handful of Venturis in the U.S. at present, and probably only one of them like this. With eight days to go, the high bid is at $101,000. Maybe don’t think of this 400 Trophy as the poor man’s F40, but as something even rarer and more special to own and drive than the ultimate Ferrari. 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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    New Enigma Electric Scooter Launch Price Rs 1.05 L – Range 200 Km

    Enigma Electric ScooterEnigma Ambier N8 integrates with ENIGMA ON Connect App, offering the benefits of both smart functionalities and connectivity featuresWith added emphasis in the electric two wheeler segment, several automakers are launching new products at affordable pricing and extended range. Though there has been a setback in electric two wheeler sales in June 2023 on account of reduced FAME-II subsidy implemented from June 1, 2023, which in turn resulted in hike in prices, the urgent need to migrate to cleaner and more environmentally friendly means of travel cannot be overlooked.Enigma Automobiles Private Limited, a Madhya Pradesh EV maker, currently offering 5 electric scooters in India, has introduced a new model called the Ambier N8 e-scooter. This new electric scooter is priced from Rs 1,05,000-Rs 1,10,000 (ex-showroom). It is a high speed, RTO approved electric scooter that is directed towards use by marketing personnel, intercity travellers, and aggregators.Enigma Electric ScooterEnigma Ambier N8 – FeaturesEnigma Ambier N8, a high-speed, RTO-approved electric scooter is being offered in five colour options of Grey, White, Blue, Matte Black and Silver. It is directed towards use by marketing personnel, intercity travelers and aggregators and commands a load capacity of 200 kgs and gets a spacious boot of 25 liter capacity.Bookings have opened online and customers will be contacted by company representatives to ensure an efficient buying experience. Features include LED lamps at the front and rear, central locking with anti-theft alarm, keyless entry, find-my-scooter, USB port, reverse mode, geo fencing and Bluetooth connectivity.Enigma Electric ScooterEnigma Ambier N8 – Power and PerformanceSetting new standards both in terms of power and performance, the Ambier N8 e-scooter integrates with the ENIGMA ON Connect App, allowing access to smart functionalities and ability to stay connected while on the go. Ambier N8 rides on a 1,290mm wheelbase and gets net weight of 220 kgs.Enigma Electric ScooterIt commands a range of 200 kms on single charge and also comes in with fast charging in 2-4 hours. It is powered by a 1500 watt BLDC motor with a 63V 60 AH Lithium Ferro Phosphate battery pack offering a top speed of 45-50 km/h. It gets telescopic shock absorbers in the front measuring 130mm and coil springs at the rear.Enigma Electric VehiclesApart from the new Ambier N8, the company also sells Enigma Ambier at Rs. 1.05 lakh, GT 450 Pro priced at Rs. 86,909, Crink Plus at Rs. 96,835, Crink Pro at Rs. 1.15 lakh and Enigma N8 Thunderstorm which carries a price tag of Rs. 1.06 lakh.Enigma Electric ScooterEnigma Automobiles was founded in 2015 and with 5 models currently in its lineup has recognized the growing demand for electric vehicles especially from the B2B sector. The company plans to capture around 25% of market share by 2025 and sell around 2.5 lakh electric bikes in the country. More

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    Top 10 200cc to 500cc Motorcycles June 2023 – Classic, Bullet, Pulsar, KTM

    Bajaj Pulsar F250There were 6 models from Royal Enfield in the top 10 list of 200-500cc motorcycles sold in June 2023Motorcycle sales in the 200-500cc segment saw a 44.50 percent YoY growth in June 2023. Sales which had stood at 59,554 units in June 2022 improved to 86,057 units in June 2023 relating to a volume growth of 26,503 units. Sales were relatively flat on a MoM basis from 86,553 units sold in May 2023.Top 10 200cc to 500cc Motorcycles June 2023Royal Enfield commanded the sales list with 6 of its models among the top 10. RE Classic 350 headed the list with 27,003 units sold in June 2023, up 6.21 percent over 25,425 units sold in June 2022. This was a 1,578 unit volume growth with the Classic commanding a 31.38 percent market share. Classic 350 was at No. 9 on the list of top 10 motorcycles sold last month.200cc to 500cc motorcycle sales in June 2023At No. 2 was the RE Hunter 350, a relatively new entrant into the segment, with 16,162 units sold last month and an 18.78 percent market share. It was followed by the Bullet 350, sales of which improved by 36.08 percent YoY to 8,019 units, up from 5,893 units sold in June 2022.Breaking the Royal Enfield stronghold was the Bajaj Pulsar 220-250cc, sales of which increased by 1728.64 percent YoY to 7,150 units. There had been just 391 units sold in June 2022. Once again there were two models from Royal Enfield, Meteor 350 (6,864 units) and Electra 350 (4,320 units) though sales of both dipped YoY by 20.60 percent and 0.99 percent respectively.Honda H’ness CB350 sales saw a 94.58 percent YoY growth to 4,125 units from 2,120 units sold in June 2022. It was followed by the Royal Enfield Himalayan with a 27.89 percent YoY degrowth to 3,255 units from 4,514 units sold in June 2022. KTM had the 390 and 250 models at Nos. 9 and 10 on this list with 1,405 units and 1,361 units sold relating to YoY growth of 275.67 percent and 524.31 percent respectively.200-500cc Motorcycle Sales in Sub-1,000 unit rangeWith sales in the Sub-1000 unit segment was the V Strom 250 with 948 units sold last month, up 149.47 percent from 380 units sold in June 2022. Avenger sales dipped 70.16 percent to 629 units in June 2023 from 2,108 units sold in the same month last year. Dominar 400 sales improved by 192.99 percent to 627 units along with Gixxer 250 of which 513 units were sold in June 2023.The sales list also included Dominar 250 (509 units), Apache (340 units), Ninja (162 units) and Husqvarna 250 (66 units). Husqvarna has posted YoY sales growth of 1550 percent from 4 units sold in June 2022. There was also the Ninja 400 with 46 units sold last month. Jawa Yezdi (retail sales) stood at 2,553 units in June 2023, down 23.26 percent over 3,327 units sold in June 2022. More

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    Honda Reveals Menacing Civic Type R-GT for GT500 Series in Japan

    Honda Racing has revealed a new racing version of the Civic Type R, fittingly referred to as the Civic Type R-GT.The car will run in Japan’s Super GT Series top GT500 class starting with the 2024 season. The race-prepped CTR will begin testing at the Okayama International Circuit in Japan from July 25-26. It’s pretty clear at this point that we’re smitten with the 11th-generation Honda Civic Type R. Like head-over-heels in love type smitten. It’s a 10Best winner, Editors Choice winner, and on top of all that, the fastest front-drive car we’ve ever lapped around Virginia International Raceway (VIR). So excuse us for a moment while we indulge in the glory of the new Civic Type R-GT. The CTR-GT will run in Japan’s top-class Super GT, the GT500 series, starting in the 2024 season. Honda hasn’t released any details regarding the car itself, but based on the one photo we’ve seen, the Type R-GT means business. Two Civic Type R’s Worth of PowerSuper GT rules limit manufacturers to a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, something Honda confirmed, but we still expect output to be somewhere in the range of 550 to 650 horsepower. Combine nearly double the horsepower along with significant weight, aero, and technical upgrades, and we’d pay to see the advantage the Type R-GT has over the standard CTR’s 2:58.8 lap at VIR. hondaThe visual differences are drastic when comparing the Type R-GT to the standard Type R, even with just one picture. Of course, that’s expected, but we’re still taken aback at how aggressive the aero looks on the Honda. The focused intent on winning is quite clear. “From the 2024 season, we will participate in the SUPER GT GT 500 class, one of the highest categories in Japan, with our constant desire for victory, we will aim to win the championship from the first year, so please keep your expectations high for the permeance the Civic Type R-GT will demonstrate in the coming years,” said Honda Racing Corporation President Yasuharu Watanabe. Testing for the car will officially take place at the Okayama International Circuit in Japan from July 25-26. More Civic Type RAssociate 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