More stories

  • in

    2008–2009 Porsche Cayennes Are Our Dakar-Inspired Bring a Trailer Picks

    Two fun-looking modified Porsche Cayennes are up for auction on Bring a Trailer this week.For racing fans, a 2009 Porsche Cayenne GTS with a Martini livery wrap looks more than ready for your social media feed.A modified 2008 Cayenne S looks more ready for your updates with a lower auction price. First-generation Porsche Cayennes around the world are enjoying an adventurous retirement from daily commuting as modified off-roaders from Dakar to your local desert-like area. If you’re looking for a way to join the movement with an already-modified 2008 or 2009 Cayenne, we found some options over on the auction site Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.From the ArchiveUp first is a 2009 Porsche Cayenne GTS that looks like it should be speeding along the dunes. It has been modified with 18-inch OZ racing-style wheels, an aftermarket air suspension, a tubular front bumper, a front skid plate, and a roof rack with recovery gear. Don’t buy this one to blend in. It’s also got a multicolor vinyl wrap of the Martini livery over Crystal Silver Metallic paint, bi-xenon headlights, and a sunroof. The black leather interior uses Alcantara upholstery for the heated front seats. It also has navigation and a Bose surround sound system.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerThe GTS Cayennes are a great place to start making modifications, but the listing doesn’t detail who made the modifications. The original 4.8-liter V-8 engine, rated at 405 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque at the factory, and a six-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission remain. The Cayenne has all-wheel drive, a dual-range transfer case, and a variable center differential. There are 121,000 miles on the odometer. The auction ends on Wednesday, May 3, and the current bid is just over $18,000.Bring a TrailerA second modified Cayenne currently up for auction is a 2008 Cayenne S, the trim level below the GTS, in Sand White paint. Three inches of lift come from a Eurowise kit with Bilstein shock absorbers, and the car sits on 32-inch Falken tires (without tire-pressure monitors) with 18-inch Sparco Terra wheels. There are also bi-xenon headlights, a roof rack, a rear wiper, and a swing-away rear tire carrier. Bring a TrailerThe 4.8-liter V-8 and six-speed transmission should sound familiar. The interior is covered in Sand Beige leather and Gloss Light wood trim accents with heated front seats, navigation, and a Bose sound system.This vehicle has a few problems, including parking sensors and a windshield washer pump that do not work. There are also some scuffs and blemishes on the exterior. The front tires can rub the fender liners thanks to substantial front-end work. The odometer says the car has 121,000 miles, but it’s unclear how reliable that is. This auction ends on Thursday, May 4, and is currently sitting at $7000.If you’re more into the DIY aspect of modifying a Cayenne for off-road use, a fair number of them are regularly available on BaT. You can see all Cayennes on the auction site here.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.Contributing EditorSebastian Blanco has been writing about electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen cars since 2006. His articles and car reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Automotive News, Reuters, SAE, Autoblog, InsideEVs, Trucks.com, Car Talk, and other outlets. His first green-car media event was the launch of the Tesla Roadster, and since then he has been tracking the shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles and discovering the new technology’s importance not just for the auto industry, but for the world as a whole. Throw in the recent shift to autonomous vehicles, and there are more interesting changes happening now than most people can wrap their heads around. You can find him on Twitter or, on good days, behind the wheel of a new EV.  More

  • in

    KTM India Sales March 2023 – Duke, RC, 125, 200, 250, 390 ADV

    KTM India Sales Mar 2023KTM sales more than doubled YoY both in domestic market and exports in March 2023 – It was MoM exports that declined
    KTM India has registered strong sales in March 2023. Total sales (domestic + exports) improved by 63.07 percent YoY to 11,952 units in March 2023 from 7,289 units sold in March 2022. It was a de-growth of 17.62 percent MoM from 14,509 units sold in Feb 2023.
    KTM sales increased 71.27 percent YoY and 7.55 percent MoM in domestic markets. Sales in March 2023 stood at 6,284 units, up from 3,669 units sold in March 2022 and from 5,843 units sold in Feb 2023. The month of March 2023 saw the company introduce a new variant of the KTM 390 Adventure called 390 Adventure X. It is below the Standard trim, missing out on several features that are available on the standard model and priced at Rs 2.8 lakh (ex-showroom).
    KTM India Domestic sales Breakup March 2023
    KTM’s 200 series (Duke + RC) saw maximum sales in domestic markets with 2,915 units sold in the past month, up 50.03 percent over 1,943 units sold in March 2022. This was a 972 unit volume growth with the KTM 200 commanding a 46.39 percent share. MoM sales however, dipped 10.42 percent from 3,254 units sold in Feb 2023.
    A 11.44 percent YoY and 3.94 percent MoM sales of KTM 250 (Duke + ADV) have been reported in March 2023. Sales in March 2023 stood at 1,715 units, up from 1,539 sold in March 2022. Feb sales had been at 1,650 units. Share percent stood at 27.29 in the past month.
    KTM Domestic Sales March 2023
    In 3rd place was the KTM 390 series (Duke + RC + ADV) which has seen the maximum YoY growth. Sales stood at 1,208 units in March 2023, up 120700 percent from just 1 unit sold in March 2022. It was also a 92.05 percent MoM growth from 629 units in Feb 2023. Sales of the KTM 125 (Duke + RC) also increased by 139.78 percent to 446 units in March 2023 from 186 units sold in March 2022 while MoM growth was at 43.87 percent over 310 units sold in Feb 2023.
    KTM India Exports Breakup March 2023
    Total exports on the other hand, saw a 56.57 percent YoY growth but fell 34.59 percent on a MoM basis. Exports which had been at 3,620 units in March 2022 improved to 5,668 units in March 2023. It had been higher at 8,666 units in Feb 2023. In export markets, it was the KTM 390 that commanded the most attention. Sales improved by 84.07 percent to 2,496 units in March 2023 from 1,356 units sold in March 2022 with a 44.04 percent share. MoM sales fell by 50.63 percent from 5,056 units sold in Feb 2023.
    KTM 200 series (Duke + RC) was next on the export list with a 104.80 percent YoY growth and 4.32 percent MoM growth to 1,450 units shipped in March 2023. This was as against 708 units and 1,390 units exported in March 2022 and Feb 2022 respectively.
    KTM Exports March 2023
    The KTM 125cc series saw YoY increase in exports by 18.28 percent to 1,294 units while MoM sales dipped 18 percent. The KTM 250 on the other hand posted a de-growth both in terms of YoY (-7.36 percent) and MoM (-33.33 percent) down to 428 units in the past month. This was against 462 units shipped in March 2022 and 642 units exported in Feb 2023.
    KTM Total Sales March 2023
    Total sales stood at 11,952 units in March 2023, a 63.97 percent YoY growth from 7,289 units sold in March 2022. MoM sales dipped 17.62 percent. Every model on the list has posted a MoM de-growth in terms of total sales brought down due to a dip in export figures. It was the KTM 200 series that topped the total sales list with 4,365 units sold in March 2023 up 64.65 percent over 2,651 units sold in March 2022. It was a 6.01 percent MoM de-growth from 4,644 units sold in Feb 2023.
    KTM Total (Sales + Exports) March 2023
    KTM 390 sales also grew by 172.96 percent YoY to 3,704 units in March 2023 but fell 34.85 percent MoM. KTM 250 series saw a 7.10 percent YoY growth to 2,143 units in the past month but fell 6.50 percent MoM from 2,292 units sold in Feb 2023. YoY growth in total sales were also seen for the 125 series up 35.94 percent YoY to 1,740 units from 1,280 units sold in March 2022 while MoM sales dipped 7.84 percent over 1,888 units sold in Feb 2023. More

  • in

    California Will Not Allow Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck Sales after 2036

    Last August, it was internal-combustion-engined passenger cars. Now it’s diesel-powered HD vehicles that won’t be allowed for sale in California after a future date. In this case, it’s 2036.Some fleets will need to start their transitions next year, but the zero-emission deadlines range from 2035 for last mile and short-haul deliveries, 2039 for things like garbage trucks, and 2042 for sleeper cabs and specialty vehicles.The California Air Resource Board (CARB)’s reasons for targeting the heavy-duty sector can be summed up in two numbers: big trucks comprise only 6 percent of California’s vehicles but emit 25 percent of all on-road greenhouse gas emissions.The Golden State continues to set the pace for clean-vehicle regulation in the U.S. This week, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) unanimously approved a new rule to phase out sales of diesel-powered medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by 2036. This is the first such combustion-truck sales ban in the world, according to the board.The rules, called Advanced Clean Fleets, will also require fleets that operate medium-duty vehicles, those with a gross vehicle weight rating between 8501 and 14,000 pounds, and heavy-duty vehicles (over 14,000 pounds) to shift to zero-emission powertrains. These MD and HD fleets have different deadlines for when their EV transition needs to be completed.California DreamingDepending on the type of HD vehicle and where it operates, the CARB rules take effect at different times. Last-mile delivery and drayage trucks—the short-haul vehicles that often operate around port locations—must be zero-emissions by 2035. Other categories have later dates: 2039 for local work vehicles like garbage trucks and day cab tractors and 2042 for sleeper cab tractors and specialty vehicles. The rules approved last week also require reduced emissions from train locomotives in California. As with CARB’s passenger-car emissions regulations, other states may adopt California’s new clean air rules. None have yet announced that they will do so.Trucks at the Port of Oakland (CA) in March 2023.Justin Sullivan|Getty ImagesLooking to Make Transition Easier for FleetsCARB has a history, over the decades, of providing financial incentives to make the clean vehicle transition easier, in this case for truck owners and buyers. Some plug-in trucks and buses are eligible for point-of-sale discounts, for example, and there are more local and municipal clean vehicle programs in California than just about anywhere else. CARB also allows for some exemptions when the best technology available for a particular vehicle type points towards upgrading that vehicle with a new, clean engine as the best choice. And the rules do allow fleets to “continue operating existing vehicles through their useful life.”No one who was paying attention to California’s recent greenhouse-gas regulation efforts should have been surprised by Friday’s diesel vote. Recent news about the big picture— how Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to turn all trucks in the state to zero-emission by 2045—and the small details should have clued people in.”Dirty Truck Detector” Days CARB adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks rule in 2020, which set the stage for requirements for manufacturers selling more zero-emission trucks. Last month, the EPA approved the state’s request for a waiver to implement to ban HD diesel vehicles, setting up last week’s vote. Last fall, CARB ran a series of “dirty truck detector” days along popular trucking routes in the state. And, while it’s not directly tied to HD vehicles, CARB voted last August to ban sales of new combustion-engine passenger vehicles in California starting in 2035.Go with the Current California has good reason to focus on dirty emissions from large vehicles. CARB said these heavy trucks are responsible for about 25 percent of on-road greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but only make up six percent of the vehicles on California’s roads. The Advanced Clean Trucks rule aims to reduce California’s GHG emissions by 40 percent and reduce petroleum use by 50 percent by 2030. While there are obvious financial challenges to switching to zero-emission HD vehicles, CARB estimates that reduced truck pollution will result in over $26 billion in health savings while also reducing operating costs for fleet managers and truck owners by $48 billion by 2050. With all of the clean air projects in the works, CARB expects there to be around 1.7 million zero-emission trucks in California by the middle of the century.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.Contributing EditorSebastian Blanco has been writing about electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen cars since 2006. His articles and car reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Automotive News, Reuters, SAE, Autoblog, InsideEVs, Trucks.com, Car Talk, and other outlets. His first green-car media event was the launch of the Tesla Roadster, and since then he has been tracking the shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles and discovering the new technology’s importance not just for the auto industry, but for the world as a whole. Throw in the recent shift to autonomous vehicles, and there are more interesting changes happening now than most people can wrap their heads around. You can find him on Twitter or, on good days, behind the wheel of a new EV.  More

  • in

    Electric 3W Sales FY 2023 Cross 4 Lakh – Mahindra, Piaggio, YC, Saera

    Image for illustration purpose only.Mahindra and YC Electric along with Saera and Dilli commanded the E3W segment in March 2023
    Electric three wheeler sales, like electric two wheelers and passenger vehicles, has seen outstanding growth over the past two years. This industry is on an up-swing with the electrification trend set to create a cleaner and greener future for the country. Apart from big players such as Mahindra and YC Electric along with Saera and Dilli, there are several new-comings jumping into the fray to gain a share in the electric three wheeler segment.
    Electric 3W sales hits 4.04 lakh units in FY 2023
    Taking into account electric three wheeler sales during the FY 2023 period, it was a 118.25 percent growth to 4,04,143 units in FY 2023 from 1,85,173 units sold in FY 2022. YC Electric was the best-selling 3 wheeler maker during the past financial year with 29,902 units sold, up 75.41 percent over 17,047 units sold in FY 2022. It was followed by Saera with 22,259 unit retail sales in FY 2023, up 151.83 percent over 8,839 units sold in FY 2022.
    Electric 3W sales FY 2023 – FADA
    Mahindra and Dilli also posted triple digit sales growth at 278.44 percent and 148.73 percent in FY 2023 to 18,608 units and 16,909 units respectively. Mahindra retail sales of electric three wheelers also surged by 107.54 percent to 16,682 units in FY 2023 from 8,038 units sold in FY 2022. There was also Champion Poly Plast with 14,012 units sold last financial year, up 86.13 percent from 7,528 units sold in FY 2022 and Mini Metro with 12,174 units sold in FY 2023, up 182.39 percent from 4,311 units sold in FY 2022.
    Retail sales list of electric three wheelers in FY 2023 also included Unique (10,761 units), Piaggio (9,664 units), Terra Motors (8,101 units), JS Auto (8,086 units) and Energy Electric (7,254 units) with each posting YoY growth. Other OEMs in the electric three wheeler segment added 2,29,731 units to total retail sales in FY 2023 up 112.77 percent when compared to 1,07,972 units sold in FY 2022.
    Electric 3W sales FY 2023 – FADA
    Electric 3W Sales in March 2023
    Sales of electric three wheelers saw an 82.21 percent YoY growth in March 2023. Sales which had stood at 24,823 units in March 2022 surged to 45,229 units in March 2023. It was also a MoM growth of 26.81 percent from 35,667 units sold in Feb 2023.
    Electric 3W sales March 2023 vs March 2022 – YoY Analysis. FADA
    Mahindra was a lead seller in this segment with 3,538 unit retail sales in the past month. This was a 312.84 percent YoY growth from 857 units sold in March 2022. MoM sales also improved by 71.83 percent from 2,059 units sold in Feb 2023. Following close behind at No. 2 was YC Electric with sales of 3,095 units in March 2023. This was a YoY growth of 27.95 percent over 2,419 units sold in March 2022 and a MoM growth of 19.82 percent from 2,583 units sold in Feb 2023.
    At No. 3 was Saera Electric with 2,244 units sold in March 2023, up 74.09 percent from 1,289 units sold in March 2022. There had also been 1,839 units sold in Feb 2023 relating to a 22.02 percent MoM growth. Retail sales of Dilli Electric also increased greatly by 115.14 percent YoY and 34.88 percent MoM to 2,061 units while sales of Piaggio also improved by 194.65 percent YoY and 35.86 percent MoM to 1,432 units in March 2023.
    Electric 3W sales March 2023 vs Feb 2023 – MoM Analysis. FADA
    Lower down the order was Champion Poly Plast (1,310 units), Mini Metro (1,265 units), and Unique International (1,149 units), each posting outstanding YoY and MoM growth in electric 3W sales. De-growth was reported by Mahindra Reva to 937 units in March 2023, down 22.50 percent when compared to 1,209 units sold in March 2022. MoM sales also dipped 41.84 percent over 1,611 units sold in Feb 2023. There was also Allfine Industries (863 units), JS Auto (829 units) and Hostage Corp (782 units) each of which have reported YoY and MoM growth in retail sales. There were others in this segment that contributed 25,724 units to total retail sales last month. This was an 80.20 percent YoY and 29.15 percent MoM growth from sales in March 2022 and Feb 2023. More

  • in

    McLaren Hybrid Flagship Coming in 2026, Four-Seater Expected in 2028

    McLaren is readying a hybrid successor to the P1 supercar for 2026, according to a report from Automotive News.The hybrid system in the next flagship McLaren is said to be 70 percent lighter than the current setup found in the recently launched Artura.The report also claims that a four-seat McLaren will arrive in 2028, with a hybrid follow-up to the just-revealed 750S also coming in 2026.McLaren is prepping a successor to the groundbreaking P1 hybrid supercar from 2013 (pictured above), and a new report from Automotive News asserts the automaker’s next flagship will retain a hybrid powertrain instead of going fully electric.Succeeding the P1The information regarding the next Ultimate Series model came from a global retailer meeting that took place earlier this week at the automaker’s headquarters in Woking, England and reaffirmed McLaren’s hesitancy to jump headlong into EVs.The new model—described as a Formula-1-inspired two-seater—will pair a McLaren-developed V-8 engine with a new hybrid system. The dealer sources cited by Automotive News claim the system will be 70 percent lighter than the current hybrid setup, presumably referring to the battery and electric motor in the 671-hp Artura. The sources also revealed the new setup “produces much more horsepower and delivers the power more directly to the transmission.” The hybrid McLaren Artura.McLarenThe P1 successor will allegedly be based around a new carbon-fiber monocoque with built-in seatbacks like a Formula 1 car and will also feature aerodynamics inspired by the world’s premier open-wheel racing series. Other details revealed at the meeting include the car will have a new dihedral-door design and 3D-printed suspension components. The top-of-the-line McLaren is expected to debut in 2026.Possible Four-Door McLarenThe report also divulged other future plans for the British performance-car brand, including a potential four-passenger vehicle. McLaren executives are said to have hinted there will be “another class of automobile in 2028,” suggesting it could feature four doors and four seats. This tidbit follows quotes from last year that McLaren is considering a higher-riding vehicle, although the company wouldn’t commit to calling it a crossover. McLaren’s CEO Michael Leiters joined the company last year after working on the development of the Ferrari Purosangue and Porsche Cayenne SUVs. McLaren plans to keep the recently introduced Artura on sale until at least 2030, according to the report, although other variants will likely be added along the way. The automaker just launched the new 750S, a refresh of the 720S, that had been on sale since 2017. McLaren allegedly announced at the meeting that the 750S will be replaced by a new hybrid model in 2026, crucial to the company’s plans to electrify their entire lineup by that year. More details on McLaren’s hybridized future should come in the next few years.More from McLarenThis 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

  • in

    Yamaha Sales, Exports March 2023 – FZ, R15, MT15, Fascino, RayZR

    Yamaha R15FZ series commanded the domestic sales list for Yamaha Motor in March 2023 with the R15 taking a second spot
    Yamaha saw its domestic sales improve YoY and MoM while its export performance ended in the negative. The company sold a total (domestic + exports) of 57,124 units in March 2023. This was against 70,420 units sold in March 2022 which was on account of lower exports. Sales in Feb 2023 (domestic + exports) stood at 55,091 units relating to a MoM de-growth as well and also due to lower exports numbers.
    Yamaha sales stood at 43,561 units in March 2023. This was a 9.73 percent YoY growth over 39,697 units sold in March 2022. MoM sales also improved by 10.57 percent from 39,397 units sold in Feb 2023. Yamaha had the FZ in top form both in domestic and global markets in March 2023.
    Yamaha Sales Breakup March 2023
    It was the Yamaha FZ that accounted for the most sales despite a YoY de-growth. There were a total of 19,092 units sold in the past month, down 17.05 percent from 23,016 units sold in March 2022. MoM sales improved by 10.60 percent over 17,262 units sold in Feb 2023. The FZ series currently commands a 43.83 percent share in the company lineup.
    At No. 2 was the Yamaha R15 with a 31.43 percent YoY growth but 1.51 percent decline in sales on a MoM basis to 7,581 units. There had been 5,768 units and 7,697 units of this model sold in March 2022 and Feb 2023 respectively. Earlier this year, the company updated the R15 with new colours and TFT display. Yamaha MT15 sales were at 6,201 units in the past month, a MoM growth of 1.13 percent from 6,132 units sold in Feb 2023. In Feb 2023, the company introduced the updated MT15 which this time round comes in with several feature updates and new colour schemes.
    Yamaha India Sales, Exports March 2023
    Fascino sales improved YoY by 39.02 percent to 5,661 units in March 2023 from 4,072 units sold in March 2022 and by 66.70 percent MoM from 3,396 units sold in the said month. Ray ZR sales dipped 2.74 percent YoY to 5,026 units from 6,341 units sold in March 2022. It was a MoM improvement by 4.93 percent from 4,790 units sold in Feb 2023. FZ25 sales were down to 0 units in the past month even as the company had seen sales of 500 units in March 2022 and 120 units in Feb 2023.
    Yamaha India Sales March 2023
    Yamaha Exports March 2023 Breakup
    Exports of Yamaha Motor India dipped 55.87 percent YoY and 13.58 percent MoM to 13,563 units in March 2023. This was against 30,731 units shipped in March 2022 relating to a 17,168 unit volume de-growth. Exports in Feb 2023 stood at 15,694 units.
    At No. 1 on the export list was the Yamaha FZ with 3,746 units shipped in the past month, down 72.60 percent over 13,670 units sold in March 2022. This was a 9,924 unit volume de-growth with the FZ series commanding a 27.62 percent on this list. MoM sales also fell by 47.31 percent over 7,110 units shipped in Feb 2023.
    Yamaha India Sales, Exports March 2023
    Sales improved YoY and MoM for the Yamaha Saluto to 3,400 units with a 25.07 percent share. However, the higher YoY growth was reported for the Saluto RX that improved 2416.67 percent to 1,812 units in March 2023 from just 72 units shipped in March 2022. MoM sales also increased by 7.47 percent over 1,686 units exported in Feb 2023.
    The export list also had the Ray ZR (1,664 units), MT15 (1,240 units), FZ25 (952 units) and SZ (512 units) out of which it was only the MT15 that posted 1450 percent YoY growth. Exports of the R15 dipped YoY and MoM by 66.95 percent and 40.45 percent to 237 units. This was against 717 units exported in March 2023 and 398 units in Feb 2022. Exports of the YD125, Crux and Alpha which had accounted for good numbers in March 2022 have since been discontinued. More

  • in

    Brock Yates’s Old Ford “Eliminator” Hot Rod Is Our Bring a Trailer Auction Pick of the Day

    Built by go-karting’s founding father, Duffy Livingstone, this pieced-together hot rod has an impressive history. Brock Yates’s book, The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a Legend, follows his purchase and subsequent Pebble Beach win with the Eliminator. It’s currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer, with bidding open through May 1, 2023.Let’s connect Formula One, land speed racing, and the Pebble Beach Concours all in one car. If you expected that car to be a cobbled-together Ford Model A frame wearing bruised Model T bodywork and housing a patched-up small-block Chevy V-8 engine, well then, you’ve already read Brock Yates’s book The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a Legend. Brand: Motorbooks The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a LegendBrand: Motorbooks The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a LegendBefore we get into the hardware of this special Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is a part of the Hearst Autos group—auction, let’s introduce the main characters. Despite being listed as the “Ex-Brock Yates Ford ‘Eliminator'”, this historic hot rod was the work of a Pasadena, California-based racer named Duffy Livingstone. Livingstone is most famous as the man who gave go-karting its name. He also launched it as a mainstream activity in the late ’50s. Livingstone didn’t invent the go-kart, that’s credited to Art Ingles at the Kurtis Kraft race shop, but Livingstone locked in its moniker when he launched Go Kart Manufacturing. Bring a TrailerBefore that, Livingstone was racing a sort of full-scale go-kart in the form of a Ford T-bucket body mounted on a Model A frame. In 1950, Livingstone purchased the pile of Ford from another racer, Jay Chamberlin. (Chamberlin would go on to leave his own mark on automotive history by importing Lotus cars into California, among other things.) If you’re getting the sense that the Eliminator has touched greatness all along its journey, you’re correct. And we’re just at the start. Chamberlin lost interest in the car after a rule change occurred in the class he was building it to race in, so he passed the old Ford over to Livingstone, who cobbled it up as a jalopy sports car, initially powered by a flathead, which was later replaced by a bored-out Chevy small-block. Bring a TrailerLivingstone wasn’t alone in road racing a hot rod. Max Balchowsky’s Buick-powered “Old Yeller” cars were formidable competitors against the snooty sports car set right around the same time Livingstone was building and campaigning the Eliminator. Livingstone raced in SCCA and USAC competitions, often pitting the Eliminator against open-wheel single-seaters or fields of exotic Ferraris and Porsches. The fans and other racers often scoffed, but ol’ Duff was in on the joke. He often entered the car as a “Tihsepa Mk II” or the “Tihsepa Eliminator.” Take a second to say that to yourself backward, and you’ll also be in on the giggle. Related StoriesTihsepa it may have been, but the hot rod held its own, sometimes surprising even Livingstone. In a much-publicized sports car race in 1959, Livingstone out-qualified Jim Hall and visiting F1 racer Wolfgang Von Tripps, nearly caught up to Dan Gurney, and ended up finishing 11th overall. As his kart business grew, and race car development advanced beyond the cast-off Ford frame of a home-built hot rod, Livingstone moved on from the Eliminator, which was passed around in the scene and eventually ended up in a garage in Southern California in a state of stalled restoration. This is where Car and Driver enters the story. Bring a TrailerBrock Yates—editor extraordinaire for C/D, and no stranger to shaking up the automotive elite—saw an ad for the Ford, remembering it from his early days at the track. He made the call, connected with hot rod historian Pat Ganahl, and took on the responsibility of making it road-worthy while protecting its unique history. We could go on to tell you how Yates worked with custom car builders Pete Eastwood and Pete Chapouris at So-Cal Speed Shop (more famous fingers on the machine) and how the Eliminator eventually ended up on the lawn at Pebble Beach, but you might as well read it from the man himself. Yates wrote several articles about the Eliminator, and eventually the aforementioned book, The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a Legend.Whoever places the winning bid on the Eliminator will get more than the triple Strombergs and Halibrand quick-change rear. They’ll be the next name in a long list of influential and radical automotive trendsetters. We hope the winning bidder doesn’t turn the Eliminator into a piece of garage art, either. Brock and Duffy would frown upon it. Senior Editor, Features
    Like a sleeper agent activated late in the game, Elana Scherr didn’t know her calling at a young age. Like many girls, she planned to be a vet-astronaut-artist, and came closest to that last one by attending UCLA art school. She painted images of cars, but did not own one. Elana reluctantly got a driver’s license at age 21 and discovered that she not only loved cars and wanted to drive them, but that other people loved cars and wanted to read about them, which meant somebody had to write about them. Since receiving activation codes, Elana has written for numerous car magazines and websites, covering classics, car culture, technology, motorsports, and new-car reviews.    More

  • in

    Yulu Wynn Electric 2W Launch Price Rs 55k – Made By Bajaj Chetak

    Yulu Wynn Electric 2WYulu Wynn is a low-speed electric scooter and comes with battery-swapping tech
    The steady growth of India’s 2W EV market has resulted in new launches very often. The latest electric two wheeler to be launched is Yulu Wynn. With this, the brand has forayed into personal EV space.
    Yulu Wynn costs Rs. 55,555 and bookings have commenced. The quoted price is introductory and is a limited-period offer only. Once the offer has expired, prices go up to Rs. 59,999. This is an increment of Rs. 4,444 after the introductory offer expires. Prospective buyers can book Yulu Wynn for a nominal price of Rs. 999 (fully refundable).
    Made by Bajaj Chetak – CTL (Chetak Technologies Ltd)
    One doesn’t require a driving license to ride Yulu Wynn. This means a top speed capped at 25 km/h. Specs, range and other details are not yet out. CTL (Chetak Technologies Ltd), a subsidiary of Bajaj Auto, which manufactures Yulu Wynn.
    Rakesh Sharma, Executive Director, Bajaj Auto Ltd., said, “Mobility is still quite underserved in our country and there is a huge scope for new mobility categories built around continuously changing user needs. We are delighted to see Yulu enter the personal mobility space with the Wynn to offer easy mobility to a wide base of users. Wynn will be built at our CTL plant and will have the same world-class quality that Bajaj vehicles are known for.”
    Yulu Wynn Electric 2W
    Yulu Wynn is a single seater personal use electric scooter
    One look at Yulu Wynn is enough to see that it is an appealing product. Especially in Ravishing Red shade. It is small, light and easy to ride and own. It is a strict single-seater. Seat squab can accommodate just one rider and there are no footpegs for a pillion anyway. Body panels are minimal and there is a vertical LED headlight setup too.
    A tubular frame underpins Yulu Wynn. There is a hub motor, propelling the rear wheel. Yulu cleverly offers battery as a service. Hence the attractive up-front cost. Lower by up to 40% as opposed to rivals. Yulu offers mobility subscription packs. Battery swapping happens at Yuma Energy swapping stations (JV between Yulu and Magna).
    If that is not your intended use, you can buy a wall charger as an accessory too. For additional cost, of course. Yulu Wynn promises a truly keyless experience. Family sharing is instant as per Yulu. At Rs. 55,555 introductory price, Yulu Wynn is a compelling city vehicle for personal use. If the 25 km/h top speed is not a concern, obviously.
    New Yulu Wynn deliveries will commence from mid-May. There are two colours to choose from, Scarlet Red and Moonlight White. The company intends to extend its battery-swapping stations for added convenience. More