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    The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Has Easter Eggs: Here Are a Few We Found

    We covered the reveal of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma extensively. And yet, we still managed to miss a few little details about the Japanese automaker’s redesigned mid-size pickup. Specifically, we ignored the truck’s handful of Easter eggs. With the help of a Toyota representative and a pre-production Tacoma TRD PreRunner, we stumbled upon three such treats the brand fits on the truck as a means of pleasing keen-eyed observers. We know there are more, though, so 2024 Tacoma owners ought to keep a vigilant eye out for additional hidden messages that Toyota’s placed about the truck. These three Easter eggs, however, should help you get started on your search.Taco MountainsGreg S. Fink|Car and DriverYou’ll have to squint to see it, but what you’re looking at is a mountain range that Toyota’s pinned to the 2024 Tacoma’s front windshield. It’s a fitting design element for a truck that shares its name with Tacoma, Washington—a city with a mountainous skyline.A Rainier TacomaGreg S. Fink|Car and DriverStamped onto the 2024 Tacoma’s left headlight’s mounting point to the truck’s body are the numbers 46.853 and -121.76. These aren’t just any numbers, though; they’re coordinates to a location positioned just a little northwest of Mt. Rainier. What exactly you’ll find at these coordinates is anyone’s guess, but we hope those who venture there on a Tuesday are at least met with some Tacos.QR You?Greg S. Fink|Car and DriverSee those dots on that plastic piece on the side of the dashboard? Those aren’t just random pinholes, but Morse code. And according to Toyota’s PR team, it reads “Accessory Ready.” Production Tacomas will also include a QR code on this panel. Scan it, and you’ll be taken to a website with dimensions to 3D print accessories, including a lantern and toolkit.More on the New TacomaSenior 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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    Report: Kia Confirms Pickup Truck Heading to Australia in 2025

    Reports suggest that Kia is planning to sell a new pickup truck in Australia starting in 2025.According to Drive, the manufacturer confirmed the news in a confidential meeting with dealers.We’re not sure if it will come to the U.S., but it could rival the Ford Ranger in global markets.Kia is preparing to launch a new pickup truck—at least in Australia. According to a report by Australian publication Drive, Kia told dealers to expect a “genuine and serious rival” to the mid-size Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger trucks, both of which are popular down under. While we’re not sure about the truck’s U.S. prospects, we’re curious to hear more about this new crew-cab model that’s slated for a sales launch in 2025.Dealers were informed the internal model code for the new truck is “TK”, but the official name hasn’t been announced yet. They were also reportedly told that the truck will have a new ladder-frame chassis and that it will utilize a diesel engine. This significantly narrows down the list of potential engines, as Kia and Hyundai only offer a few diesels in global markets. The four-cylinder diesel from the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe could be an option, along with the 3.0-liter inline-six diesel in foreign versions of the Genesis GV80.More Truck StuffUnlike the 2004 KCV4 Mojave concept pictured at top, the new truck will likely look much more like the other mid-sized trucks on the road now. Spy photos on Drive show a tall and flat front end, with a crew-cab configuration. Despite offering more information to its Australian dealers, the manufacturer is staying tight-lipped beyond simple confirmation that the truck exists when talking to media. “Kia is currently developing a future pickup truck model that will be highly capable and fit for purpose. Additional details will be confirmed in due course,” Kia told Drive. As things stand now, we’re not sure if Hyundai would consider building its own version of this new truck. It currently offers the Santa Cruz pickup in the U.S., but that’s a smaller unibody truck that shares its platform with other Hyundai crossovers.We’ll have to wait a bit longer to see what’s in store for Kia’s forthcoming Australia-market truck, as it likely won’t debut until more than a year from now at the earliest. As for the possibility of it coming to the U.S., we wouldn’t hold our breath, but a Kia entry into the hot mid-size truck segment here—which includes the recently redesigned Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Chevy Colorado—could shake things up in an interesting way.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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    2024 Audi A6 and A7 Will Feature Revised Styling and New Colors

    Audi is introducing a few minor updates to the Audi A6, S6, A7, and S7 for the 2024 model year.The new models have a revised front end, plus new wheel designs and colors.We don’t yet know U.S. details, but we expect these to arrive on our shores later this year.Audi is preparing to rework its lineup soon with new names for many of the models, but the mid-size A6 and A7 are sticking around for now and receive a few updates for the 2024 model year. You’ll be hard-pressed to spot the changes, which include subtly revised styling, new wheel designs, and a few new standard features. These also apply to the S6 and S7 and the A6 Allroad, and we’ve already covered the 2024 updates to the highest-performance RS6 Avant and RS7.More Audi NewsThe A6 and A7’s front grille and bumpers are revised, and there’s greater variation between the standard treatments and the S Line package. New wheel designs for the European models include sizes ranging from 17 to 21 inches, but the current U.S. models come standard with 19-inch wheels so we might see slightly different offerings for our versions. The expanded color palette may also change when Audi releases U.S. specs for the 2024 models, which may not be until later this year.Park assist is now standard, and there are different appearance packages including basic, advanced, and S Line. New interior trim options include additional wood trims and microfiber trim, but Audi hasn’t yet shared any photos of the updated cabin.We don’t anticipate any changes to the A6 and A7’s powertrain lineups. The A6 comes standard with a 261-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and a 335-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 is optional. The A7 comes standard with the V-6, and the S6 and S7 have a more powerful 444-hp turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6.Look out for more details on these 2024 Audi models as we learn more including U.S. pricing, equipment packages, and EPA ratings.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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    Cadillac Launches New CT6 Sedan, GT4 Crossover for China

    Cadillac has revealed a second-generation CT6 sedan, but unfortunately the rear-wheel-drive cruiser will be exclusive to China.A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four resides under the hood, while a 33-inch screen spans the leather-trimmed dashboard.Cadillac also unveiled the new GT4 crossover, which slots into the small end of the brand’s Chinese lineup but still includes that massive curved screen.Cadillac sales in the United States have suffered over the past few decades, but the situation in China is much rosier, where the brand posted nearly 60,000 more sales than in its home country last year. The large CT6 sedan—killed off in the U.S. after 2020—lives on overseas, and now Cadillac has revealed a new generation for China, debuting alongside a new SUV model called the GT4.CadillacThe CT6 doesn’t look wildly different from the outgoing car, with sleek, clean bodywork and vertical taillights. Thin LED running lights sit above the main headlight units and flow into the wide grille that echoes the shape of the Cadillac crest. Inside, the dashboard is dominated by a curved 33.0-inch screen, while the rest of the cabin is trimmed in lush Nappa leather and open pore ash with metal accents. The ambient lighting can be set to 26 different colors. The CT6 remains rear-wheel drive, but instead of the V-6 and V-8 engines that powered the CT6 we got in America, the Chinese car is motivated by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The CT6 will also come with Super Cruise, General Motors’ hands-free highway driving tech that will automatically initiate lane changes in the right circumstances. Prices will open at the equivalent to around $50,000. CadillacCadillac also showed off the new GT4, referring to it as a “coupe-style SUV.” While the crossover sports a low-slung look compared to the more upright XT4 that also competes in the compact SUV segment, it’s not quite as coupe-like as vehicles like the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe. The GT4 follows the same design language as the CT6, and a Sports package adds 19-inch black aluminum wheels, a black roof, and other darkened accents.CadillacThe 33.0-inch screen makes another appearance in the GT4, which offers a 15-speaker sound system, a color head-up display, heated and cooled front seats, and a 360-degree surround view camera setup. Under the hood is one of two four-cylinder engines, either a turbocharged 1.5-liter motor or a turbo 2.0-liter unit. The inline-fours are mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and include 48-volt hybrid systems. Front-wheel drive is standard, but the GT4 can be specced with all-wheel drive. The GT4 will start at the equivalent around $31,000. While the CT6 will likely stay a China-exclusive model as American tastes shift away from sedans, the GT4 could potentially reach our shores. More Cadillac 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 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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    Ola CEO announces Meme contest – Winner gets free S1 Pro

    Meme fest on Ola CEO’s Tweet replyWhoever posts the best petrol vehicle or ICE meme, Ola CEO will gift him an Ola S1 Pro Special EditionBhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola Electric, recently announced a free Ola S1 Pro Special Edition scooter for anyone sharing the best meme on ICE vehicles or petrol vehicles in general. Memes flooded in from multiple participants. Some of them are crackling, for sure. Let’s take a look.10. Feel like the kingLook at the smugness on their faces. Yes, petroleum prices are rising due to oil surplus capped from markets that are sanctioned against. EV owners should be feeling smug right now to see that they don’t have to be a part of this price hike.Twilight characters used as meme9. If you know, you knowThere are times when fuel prices jumped suddenly by a big margin. These are announced prior to effect and this meme seems to be signifying one of those days. People rush to fuel stations to get as much fuel as possible and fuel station guys always limit fuel per customer. If you know, you know. But, EV owners are impervious to it.Fuel station rush8. Petrol and Diesel users are “bonked”The classic Shiba Inu bonked doge meme. Petrol prices and diesel prices don’t fight between each other. Amount of petrol and diesel extracted from crude oil is mostly consistent most of the times. But it doesn’t affect EV users at all.Bonked!7. Thala Ajith Kumar agrees with EVsI’m from Karnataka and I have watched Vedalam. This scene is one of the smoothest transitions from docility to dominance. Ajith Kumar’s performance is second to none. It soon became a meme template. I don’t understand how diesel car owners are sadder than petrol car owners. But, kudos to creativity, eh?Ajith Kumar meme6. The aashiqs take over everything“If you love someone, let them go”. So beautiful, isn’t it? “With petrol at Rs. 91.07 per liter, how far will they go”? In Karnataka, it is Rs. 103. So, trust me. They’re not going anywhere.Fuel price meme5. Scaredy-cat? No, scaredy-carThis image would generally be used to signify women’s driving scenario (no offense). But here, the car has jump scared and probably had a heart attack looking at fuel prices.Car accident at fuel station meme4. Job chod du?Abhishek Upamanyu is a popular stand-up comedian. Some of his creative dialog deliveries are now meme templates for being so good. One of them is “Me kya karu fir? Job chod du”? Also, I don’t understand why no one used “Aa gaya swaad” template from the same comedian. Mr. Aggarwal, if you finalised “Aa gaya Swaad” meme for the win, I gave away that idea. Now, give me my S1 Pro.Job chod du meme3. Scooter buyers are getting distracted by EVsThe classic distracted boyfriend meme has spawned an EV joke. Now, I have seen everything. This meme has got a point though. Potential scooter buyers are considering EVs. Now more than ever. I know what the guy in the meme is tempted at. But what are scooter buyers tempted by in an EV? Economy? Gimmicks? Features? Convenience? Or Gadgetry?Distracted boyfriend meme2. Now Batman seems to be approving tooThis meme deserves to be in the second place. It captivates the essence of increasing fuel prices perfectly by depicting Batman taking Superman’s help to commute as it is green and also free. Considering Bruce Wayne is a fricking billionaire, it amplifies the hilarity exponentially.Batman meme1. I know the price, but what’s the cost?iPhones cost a kidney. But petrol costs an owner’s entire clothing nowadays. This meme is so good, it climbed up the ranks and is the funniest meme that was posted on Mr. Aggarwal’s post. We all know the price, but we often ignore the cost associated.Guy on boxers riding motorcycle memeIt wasn’t all sunshine though. There were significantly more complaints, grievances, glitch reports, malfunction reports, fork replacement requests and refund requests on Bhavish Aggarwal’s post than there were memes. Also, there were quite a few people who trolled EVs rather than trolling ICE vehicles as Ola CEO had suggested. Here are some of the best.4. Electrifying performance leads to less electricity in BatteryEVs are known for their zippy performance as motors can harness all their torque from 0 RPM. But wringing the throttle all the time will eat into the batteries considerably. In the movie Interstellar, Cooper’s maneuver around Gargantua black hole costs him 51 years. This meme signifies how important every bit of the juice in the battery is.Interstellar meme3. Lemme hear that turbo spoolEVs pose more goodness than ICE vehicles in terms of technological advancements. But they are eerily quiet. For purists, this might not enthrall their sensory experience. Jezza (Jeremy Clarkson) would make more sense in this meme than James May, considering his opinions about EVs.James May smoking pipe meme2. Let people do their jobs, Greta!Greta Thunberg rose to fame after posing “How dare you?” speech against world leaders. Hailed as a climate activist, Greta Thunberg urges stopping usage of fossil fuel, and afforestation all leading to climate change. But EV transition can’t happen in a day, can it? Also, creating awareness is not equal to finding solutions to mitigate the cause (last time I checked).Greta Thunberg meme1. Elon Bhaiyya is not impressedThis is by far the most logical fight against EVs. Green vehicles are only green if the energy source is green. For example, most of the electricity I consume comes from KPCL’s thermal power plants in Shaktinagar. Wouldn’t help the green cause any further, would it? In the meme, a diesel generator is charging a BMW i3 which negates the whole cause. Elon Bhaiyya is not impressed at all.Kaleen bhaiyya Elon Musk meme More

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    Kinetic Luna Electric to be called ‘e Luna’ – Confirms CEO

    Kinetic LunaKinetic e Luna might feature a battery enough for 50 to 100 km range – Could be priced in the Rs 50k rangeWe are well acquainted with the iconic Kinetic Luna moped. It was so popular that people often call a moped as Luna, even today. This name is now making a comeback. Not with its 50cc engine of the past, though. Instead, upcoming Luna from Kinetic will be an electric scooter.Kinetic Green, Founder and CEO, Sulajja Firodia Motwani took to social media to reveal the name of their electric venture. They’ve named it ‘e Luna’, paying tribute to an iconic name in the 2W industry. First debuted half a century, Luna name is making a comeback and hopes for a good reception among Indian EV buyers.Kinetic Green CEO Confirms NameSulajja Firodia Motwani tweeted “A blast from the past!! “ Chal Meri Luna” and it’s creator.. My father, Padmashree Mr. Arun Firodia!” Furthermore, she asked Twitter users to “Watch this space for something revolutionary & exciting from Kinetic Gree….. U r right … it’s e Luna!!!”Along with this Tweet, she even posted a picture of her father Mr. Arun Firodia, Chairman of Kinetic Group riding a Kinetic Luna and along with that, the iconic “Chal Meri Luna” advert from the yesteryears.Kinetic Luna Electric to be called ‘e Luna’Electric Luna or e Luna will be the product of Kinetic Green Energy & Power Solutions, a sister brand of Kinetic Group. The company commenced production of chassis and other sub assemblies as well. Earlier production numbers are likely to be in the 5,000 unit per month ballpark. With scope for increased production with time.Kinetic is setting up a separate assembly line for its iconic e Luna. The company installed up to 30 new welding machines in the assembly line that are exclusive for e Luna. Along with that, special paint booths and fabrication shops get set up for e Luna too. Kinetic Green Energy & Power Solutions will manufacture e Luna in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.What to expect?Considering that affordability was Luna’s primary strengths, we would wager e Luna will follow a similar path too. Speculations mention Kinetic will target the last mile delivery sector operating in both B2B and B2C models. This is where Honda Benly e is also likely to make an entrance.Speaking of Benly e, it features a swappable battery from Honda Power Pack Energy India. We’re not sure whether Kinetic will follow a similar path. That said, swappable battery make a lot of difference in the delivery sector as their asset can go from 0% to 100% battery capacity in just a minute. This is a night and day difference when compared to fixed rechargeable battery equipped EVs. Kinetic may launch Luna in 2024. Price could be around Rs. 50,000 mark with around 50 to 100 km range. Electric scooters for PV space might follow later. More

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    Budget Rs 1.2 Lakh – Should I Buy An Activa Or Electric Scooter

    Honda Activa or electric scooter – What to buy?While buying Activa will work out cheaper, operating cost will be on the higher side in comparison to an electric scooterA few years back, most people looking for a scooter would have chosen Honda Activa. However, the decision making is not so easy now with a multitude of electric scooters on sale. The decision to buy an Activa or electric scooter will have its own distinctive advantages and disadvantages.To simplify the decision making, one can focus on the cost component. It will primarily include acquisition cost, fuel cost and maintenance cost. Not getting into resale value, as there are way too many variables to consider. But in a  general comparison between a plasticky EV vs a metal-bodied Activa, it is easy to see which one will last longer. Of course, exceptions are there such as all-steel Bajaj Chetak.Activa vs electric scooter – acquisition cost (Delhi)With a budget of Rs 1.20 lakh, choosing Activa will allow you to make significant savings. Activa 110 is available in Standard, DLX and H-Smart variants. Prices are in the range of Rs 75,347 to 81,348. Considering on-road price of approximately Rs 90k, savings worth Rs 30k can be made. This can be used to buy accessories for the scooter. Or just splurge on electronics, clothing, travel, etc. One can also opt to invest the savings in equity, FD, etc.Popular electric scooter options available in the budget of Rs 1.20 lakh include Ola S1 Air, Ola S1, Ather 450X, TVS iQube & iQube S, Bajaj Chetak and Hero Vida V1 Plus & V1 Pro. Buying low-spec variants of these electric scooters can probably save you some money from your Rs 1.20 lakh budget.For example, the cheapest option available is Ola S1 Air, priced at Rs 84,999. Ather 450X is also a good deal at Rs 98,079. Vida V1 Plus effective price is Rs 1.03 lakh. TVS iQube starts at Rs 1.06 lakh. Bajaj Chetak is available at a starting price of Rs 1.11 lakh.Activa vs electric scooter – Fuel costPetrol and electricity cost varies from state to state. In general, cost of fuel is significantly less in case of EVs. In Delhi, petrol price is approximately Rs 97 per litre. Assuming average fuel efficiency of Activa at around 50 km per litre, running cost is roughly Rs 1.9 per km. In comparison, running cost of an electric scooter is much lower. For example, Ola S1 Pro claims just 17 paisa per kilometre. Clearly, huge savings can be made with an electric scooter.Activa vs electric scooter – Maintenance costWith fewer moving parts, electric scooters generally require less maintenance in comparison to a petrol-powered scooter like Activa. However, metal-bodied scooters like Honda Activa can last more than a decade. They can fetch decent resale value as well. Electric scooters are yet to complete their lifespan test. By 2030, a clearer picture will emerge about the durability of electric scooters.Other factors such as cost of battery replacement also need to be considered. Battery packs are the most expensive component of an electric scooter. Most OEMs offer a warranty of 3 years. Of course, the battery will continue to work after 3 years. But it may witness a drop in its range. If the battery pack is replaced after 4-5 years, it will cancel out much of the savings made via lower fuel cost.As better technologies are expected in the future, it will be better to wait for a few years before experimenting with an electric vehicle. For example, upcoming Gogoro electric scooters with battery swapping tech can be a game changer. For those who don’t have the financial capability to take risks, it would be better to go with Activa. If funds are not an issue, a whole set of new experiences with an electric scooter seems desirable. More

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    Royal Enfield 450cc Bike Spotted With Accessories – Scram 450?

    Royal Enfield 450cc bike is likely to be Scram 450Royal Enfield 450cc bike is likely to be a variation of RE’s 390 Duke rival, with Scrambler-y design bitsExpanding product portfolio to include new and exciting body styles is Royal Enfield’s newest agenda. The Chennai-based motorcycle manufacturer has found unprecedented response in the past couple of years. Resulting in utter dominance in neo-retro and classic motorcycles in India and global markets.Extending this popularity to multiple new segments is key to broadening Royal Enfield’s current horizon. Ride with Kali channel recently uploaded a video about RE’s new 450cc motorcycle which could either be Scram 450 or Roadster 450 (390 Duke rival). This test mule even features a set of accessories as well.Royal Enfield KTM 390 rival – Is it a Scram 450 with slicker tyres?Speculations suggest Royal Enfield is foraying into street-naked motorcycles to rival the likes of KTM 390 Duke as well. If we look at Royal Enfield’s arsenal of test mules, there is a motorcycle that fits the bill perfectly. There is a sportier (by Royal Enfield standards) test mule spotted testing alongside Himalayan 450.If this is Royal Enfield’s sportiest motorcycle, the recent test mule is a slightly ruggedised version of that which is likely to take the Scram 450 name. On closer inspection, it has very minimal body panels, a smaller subframe and a single-piece seat. All these are similar to its Roadster counterpart.[embedded content]What Scram gets additionally is saddle stay along with jerry can mounts. This version is likely to sport block-pattern tyres and not a lot more. Round headlights lend it a neo-retro look. It will share the same 450cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with similar power and torque figures.Remember Bullet Trials? A similar strategy, where Royal Enfield can carve Scram 450 and Street 450 from a similar product. This particular test mule had accessories too. A rear top box, a small windscreen and bar-end mirrors. Unlike a Himalayan 450, Scram 450 skimps on USD telescopic forks too. Alloy wheels seem to be 17 inches at both ends.Royal Enfield is planning three different motorcycles on its 450cc platform. First of the lot will be Himalayan 450. Scram 450 and KTM 390 rival street bikes will follow later. Himalayan 450 will be the heaviest of this lot. Only Himalayan 450 is getting USD telescopic front forks. Both Scram 450 and Street 450 will get conventional telescopic front forks.RE Scram 450 stubby exhaustWhat to expect from the upcoming Street 450?LED headlights, sleek horizontal seat-integrated LED tail lights, LED turn indicators, rear mono-shock, round ORVMs, single-piece seat, 35 bhp of power and 40 Nm of torque, a 6-speed gearbox are some of the likely elements with Scram 450 and Street 450. Rivals include BMW G 310 R, KTM 390 Duke, Yezdi Roadster and more.Given the sheer number of motorcycles that Royal Enfield currently is testing, we would wager that Royal Enfield Street 450 is likely to launch by the end of 2024. We expect Himalayan 450, Bullet 350 and Classic 350 Bobber to hit the road first. Royal Enfield has a four motorcycles per-year strategy and it would be interesting to see which of these many motorcycles will see the light of day first.Scram 450 test mules with accessories More