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    Ram Confirms Electric ProMaster Van Is Coming to the U.S. in 2023

    An electric version of Ram’s full-size commercial van is coming Stateside later this year. Stellantis confirmed the EV version of the ProMaster will be unveiled in the first half of 2023, and deliveries will begin in the latter half of the year. We expect the EV version to be competitive with the Ford E-Transit in terms of payload capacity. Ram is joining Ford in the world of electric #Vanlife and making good on its promise to introduce an electric ProMaster van by the end of 2023. We know that the commercial van will be unveiled in the first half of 2023, and deliveries will begin in the latter half of the year. A Stellantis spokesperson confirmed to C/D that the ProMaster EV is coming to the North American market. StellantisRelated StoriesOther than the rough timeline, and a single teaser image, we don’t have any specifics about the ProMaster EV yet. What we do have are images and specs for Fiat’s E-Ducato (pictured at top), which is essentially a rebadged ProMaster. So it’s reasonable to glean some information from the E-Ducato, which is already offered in Europe, to inform our speculation on the upcoming ProMaster EV. The E-Ducato is offered with two battery options, a 47.0-kWh standard pack and a larger 79.0-kWh optional pack. On the less stringent WLTP cycle, Fiat claims 146 miles of range for the standard battery and 229 miles of range for the larger pack. Accounting for the differences of the U.S. EPA range cycle, that could put the standard battery right in contention with the 126 miles offered by Ford’s E-Transit van, while the larger pack could beat the Ford by a significant margin. Fiat’s claimed payload capacity of up to 4189 pounds is down from the 4680 pound maximum payload offered by the current gasoline-powered ProMaster, but beats the E-Transit’s 3880 pound maximum. 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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    Lordstown EV Startup Has Halted Production and Is Fixing Problems

    Lordstown Motors has halted production of the Endurance electric pickup truck, citing issues with supplier components.The truck has been in production since last fall, with Lordstown planning to assemble about 500 units with current funding.The Lordstown factory was purchased by Taiwan’s Foxconn in the spring of 2022, with the tech giant planning to produce a number of EVs stateside, although few have been built to date.The Lordstown Endurance, has only been in production for a few months, but the truck is now facing a production halt. The EV maker said it “has experienced performance and quality issues with certain Endurance components,” leading it to make the decision to stop production temporarily. The company’s response to the performance and quality issues, which it did not specify in detail, also affects completed trucks that are awaiting delivery to customers. But the entire pool of affected trucks only amounts to 19 vehicles that have either been delivered, or are currently being used internally by the company.Enduring Challenges with the StartupThe EV maker said it is working with suppliers on the causes of these issues and that potential solutions could include retrofits and design modifications, as well as software updates. The formal decision to issue a recall, however, was made in light of “a specific electrical connection issue” that could produce a loss of power while driving.The Lordstown Endurance is unique among electric pickups—and EVs as a whole—in that it features in-wheel hub motors. The truck produces a combined 440 horsepower, thanks to its four motors, and is powered by a 109.0-kWh battery. However, this setup gives the truck an EPA-estimated range of 193 miles, which places it near the bottom end of the spectrum for electric pickups currently on the market. The truck’s overall positioning and $65,060 starting price perhaps make it a curious choice in a segment finally seeing some compelling choices—and some serious competition from longtime automakers.2023 Lordstown Endurance.”While our experienced team has made significant progress in addressing the underlying component and vehicle sub-system issues affecting the Endurance build schedule, we remain committed to doing the right thing by our customers and to resolve potential issues before resuming production and customer shipments,” said Edward Hightower, Lordstown Motors CEO & president. Production of the Endurance began in early October 2022, just a few months after the plant was sold to Taiwan’s Hon Hai Technology Group, better known as Foxconn. At that time the company said it planned to assemble only up to 500 trucks, with 50 having been scheduled for delivery in 2022. The rest were slated to be delivered in 2023, “subject to raising sufficient capital.” Therefore, there are still a few asterisks to the entire venture. Jay Ramey grew up around very strange European cars, and instead of seeking out something reliable and comfortable for his own personal use he has been drawn to the more adventurous side of the dependability spectrum. Despite being followed around by French cars for the past decade, he has somehow been able to avoid Citroën ownership, judging them too commonplace, and is currently looking at cars from the former Czechoslovakia. Jay has been with Autoweek since 2013.  More

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    Honda Reintroduces LX Trim, Slashing Civic and CR-V's Base Prices

    Honda is adding a cheaper LX base trim to the 2023 CR-V, as first reported by Capital One.The 2023 Civic is adding back the LX, too, and it now starts under $25,000.Honda says these LX models should help the company ramp up production.Honda is lowering the base price of two of its most popular models, the Civic and CR-V, thanks to the reintroduction of the base LX trim level. Both had previously dropped this price-leader model for 2023 but a Honda spokesperson told C/D that Honda decided to add back the LX due to “unprecedented demand.”That’s good news for shoppers on the price front, as it causes the 2023 Civic’s base price to drop by $1400 and the 2023 CR-V’s to drop by $3200. Honda also says that it should help on the availability front, as these less well-equipped vehicles won’t be as production-limited by the microchip shortage.More on Civic and CR-VThe 2023 CR-V LX starts at $29,705 and does without much of the equipment offered on the EX. It has 17-inch steel wheels with hubcaps instead of the EX’s 18-inch wheels and a manual driver’s seat instead of the EX’s power-adjustable seat. And it doesn’t have a sunroof, heated front seats, or a blind-spot monitoring system. But it does have the same 190-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four engine and it offers all-wheel drive as a $1500 option like other CR-V trim levels.Civic LXHondaThe Civic LX, which starts at $24,545 for the sedan and $25,545 for the hatchback, is similarly decontented compared with the Civic Sport that sits a level higher in the lineup. It has a 158-hp 2.0-liter inline-four and comes only with a CVT automatic; the hatchback’s Sport and Sport Touring trims still offer a manual, but you’ll pay more for those.Neither LX version is listed yet on Honda’s consumer site yet but we found CR-V LXs listed in dealer inventory. Honda says the LXs will be added to the website within the coming weeks.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorDespite 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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    The Ford Edge Lives On in China as a Hybrid with a Handsome New Design

    Ford has revealed a new Edge L for the China market, but the new crossover is not expected to replace the aging Edge in America.The Edge L is powered by either a 248-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four or a hybrid setup pumping out a combined 271 horsepower.The interior features screens galore, with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster sitting aside a 27.0-inch central display.Reports have suggested that the Ford Edge will be discontinued in the United States after the 2023 model year, ending a 15-year run for the nameplate. But over in China, the mid-size crossover is still going strong and a new Edge L was revealed yesterday, bringing sharp styling, three rows of seating, and an available hybrid powertrain. FordThe new Edge L doesn’t look anything like the Edge sold stateside, which has been languishing since 2015 with only a light facelift in 2019. The Edge L features a fresh look dominated by horizontal lines, with a wide grille bookended by L-shaped LED headlights. The blacked-out roof is a trendy look, as is the fin in the bodywork that rises at the C-pillar to give the bulky crossover a little pizzazz. The Edge L stretches 196.9 inches from nose to tail, about 8.0 inches longer than the U.S.-market Edge and only a couple of inches shy of an Explorer. The all-wheel-drive, seven-seat Edge L has two powertrain options, starting with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 248-hp and 279 pound-feet of torque. Ford is also offering hybrid setup good for a combined 271 horsepower and 299 pound-feet of torque, and Ford claims this powertrain will be good for around 37 mpg.More New FordsThe cabin is decked out with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a gigantic 27.0-inch touchscreen that spans most of the dashboard, a feature we expect will migrate into U.S.-market Fords in the near future. The interior design is clean and modern, and lots of amenities are on offer, including a head-up display and ambient lighting. The China-built Edge L will go on sale in that market this spring, and we hope that Ford decides to offer it in the U.S. to bridge the gap between the Escape and Explorer and continue the Edge’s lineage.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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    Bajaj Sales Breakup Jan 2023 – Pulsar, Platina, CT, Chetak, Avenger

    Bajaj two wheeler total sales (domestic + exports) dipped to 2,31,031 units in Jan 2023 from 3,13,369 units sold in Jan 2022Image – Bike DirectorBajaj two wheeler domestic sales grew by 5.76 percent YoY in Jan 2023 while exports dipped 49.17 percent. Sales in the past month stood at 1,38,142 units in domestic markets. This was a YoY growth of 5.76 percent from 1,30,613 units sold in Jan 2022.Exports on the other hand fell by 49.17 percent to 92,889 units in Jan 2023 from 1,82,756 units shipped in Jan 2022. With a total (domestic + exports) of 2,31,031 units sold in the past month, this was also a MoM de-growth from 2,35,784 units sold in Dec 2022Bajaj Sales Breakup Jan 2023Models such as the Pulsar and Chetak saw positive sales growth in India. However Platina, Dominar, CT and Avenger saw sales dip significantly on a YoY basis. Bajaj Pulsar series topped sales charts with 84,279 units sold in the past month. This was a 26.09 percent YoY growth from 66,839 units sold in Jan 2022. It related to a 17,440 unit volume growth with a 61.01 percent share.In the Pulsar series, it was the 125cc model that garnered the most attention with 49,527 unit sales last month, up 12.10 percent from 44,181 units sold in Jan 2022. Pulsar 150cc also did well with 16,970 units sold in Jan 2023 up 50.99 percent over 11,239 units sold in Jan 2022 while Pulsar 200cc sales were at 17,337 units, up 220.64 percent YoY from 5,407 units sold in Jan 2022. The list also included 445 units of Pulsar 250cc, a 92.60 percent YoY de-growth from 6,012 units sold in Jan 2022.Bajaj Sales Jan 2023Bajaj Platina sales dipped 9.94 percent YoY to 41,873 units in Jan 2023 down from 46,492 units sold in Jan 2022. It was followed by the Bajaj CT also with a YoY de-growth of 58.13 percent to 5,201 units in the past month, from 12,422 units sold in Jan 2022. CT 110cc model had 2,929 units sold last month, a 76.42 percent YoY de-growth while there had also been 2,272 units of the CT125cc sold in Jan 2023.Sales of the Chetak electric scooter surged 176.89 percent YoY to 3,511 units in Jan 2023 from 1,268 units sold in Jan 2022. Avenger (2,076 units) and Dominar (1,202 units) saw a YoY de-growth of 6.19 percent and 12.84 percent respectively. In the Avenger series, it was the Avenger 200cc that received more attention with 1,701 units sold in the past month where there were 375 units of the Avenger 250cc sold. Dominar 250cc sales stood at 616 units while 500cc sales were at 586 units last month.Bajaj Auto Exports Jan 2023Bajaj Auto exports in Jan 2023 had the Boxer at the top of the list with 56,824 units shipped in the past month. This was a 52.38 percent YoY de-growth over 1,19,336 units sold in Jan 2022. In the Boxer series, the 110 cc model added 48,076 units to total exports along with 1,056 units of Boxer 125cc and 7,692 units of Boxer 150cc.Bajaj Exports Jan 2023CT exports grew by 16.57 percent YoY to 17,280 units, up from 14,824 units shipped in Jan 2022. In the CT range it was the 125cc model that saw 10,680 units shipped last month, up 8.80 percent from 9,816 units shipped in Jan 2022. 110cc model exports also improved by 26.17 percent to 5,592 units from 4,432 units YoY. CT150cc exports increased by 75 percent to 1008 units in Jan 2023 from 576 units shipped in Jan 2022.Thereafter, Bajaj Auto reported significant YoY de-growth for the Pulsar (15,240 units), Dominar 1,392 units), Discover (1,352 units) as well as for the Platina (513 units) and Avenger (288 units). In the Pulsar series, it was the 200cc model that commanded most exports at 8,160 units while there were 3,114 units of Pulsar 250cc, 2,035 units of Pulsar 125cc and 1,931 units of Pulsar 150cc shipped in Jan 2023. More

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    Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Records 1 L Sales Milestone In 6 Months

    Hunter 350 was launched in Aug 2022 – It has become the 2nd best-selling Royal Enfield motorcycleRoyal Enfield Hunter 350 Sales MilestoneLaunched at a starting price of 1.5 lakh, Hunter 350 is the most affordable Royal Enfield motorcycle on offer today. Attractive pricing has played a major role in the Hunter becoming one of the best-selling motorcycles in the segment.Hunter 350 is offered in two variants – Hunter Retro and Hunter Metro. The former will be set apart from the latter in terms of colour choices and equipment. Hunter Retro targets buyers with limited budget while Metro gets more advanced features and hence is priced higher.Hunter 350 Sales MilestoneToday, Royal Enfield has announced that Hunter 350 sales have crossed the 1 lakh milestone. This record was achieved in just 6 months. Since launch in Aug 2022 to Jan 2023, RE has sold 1,00,183 units of Hunter 350. Hunter is now the 2nd best selling RE, after Classic 350.Aug 2022 was the best month for Hunter 350, as far as sales are concerned. In that month, Hunter sales had crossed 18k. Oct and Nov months saw Hunter sales around 15.5k. On average, RE has managed to sell about 16.7k units of Hunter every month.Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Sales MilestoneHunter 350 is offered in colour options of Rebel Blue, Rebel Red, Rebel Black, Dapper Ash, Dapper White and Dapper Grey. On board features include a circular instrument cluster with a small tripper navigation pod positioned to the right. Speaking about design, it gets a round headlamp, split grab rails, round halogen tail lamp with oval shaped turn indicators and black alloy wheelsRE Hunter 350 SpecsIt sports a tear drop shaped fuel tank of 13 liter capacity with centrally positioned fuel filler lid. Branding with the words ‘Royal’ and ‘Enfield’ will be seen on either side of the fuel tank. RE Hunter 350 is built on a twin downtube frame, and has a kerb weight of 177 kgs.Ground clearance is at 150mm and seat height is at 800mm while it rides on a wheelbase of 1,370mm. Has a top speed of 114 km/h. In the front is a 41mm telescopic suspension offering 130mm of travel. At the rear are adjustable shocks that offer 102mm of travel. Braking is via disc brakes.RE Hunter 350 is powered by the same 350cc engine that also powers Classic 350 and Meteor. This single cylinder, 4 stroke, SOHC engine makes 20.2 hp power at 6,100 rpm and 27 Nm torque at 4,000 rpm. It is mated to a 5 speed gearbox. Same engine will also power the soon to be launched new gen Bullet 350. More

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    2023 Honda CB350 Cafe Racer Showcased To Dealers – New Launch Soon

    After CB350 and CB350 RS, Honda will add 3rd motorcycle in their 350cc range next month2023 Honda CB350 Cafe RacerHonda launched the CB350 back in Sep 2020. In the initial months, it had registered good response from bike enthusiasts. Later in Feb 2021, Honda launched a scrambler version based on the CB350, called CB350 RS. Despite two motorcycles on offer in the 350cc range, Honda has not come anywhere close to sales numbers registered by Royal Enfield.In Jan 2023, Royal Enfield registered sales of over 26k units for their Classic 350. While sales of Honda CB350 range was 1,086 units. To bring a boost to their sales in the 350cc range, Honda is getting ready to launch a new motorcycle next month.Honda CB350 Cafe RacerTo provide more options to customers in the 350cc segment, Honda will soon launch a new cafe racer motorcycle based on CB350. Honda has chosen to challenge Royal Enfield and this new motorcycle is expected to improve its prospects in this space.Likely to be called Honda CB350 Cafe Racer, the motorcycle has been showcased to dealers. Launch is expected next month. It will come with Cafe Racer style single seat, revised headlamp cowl, black alloys, black engine with chrome Honda logo, etc.2023 Honda CB350 Cafe RacerSpeaking of the new Honda CB350 Cafe Racer, the motorcycle sports a neo-retro look. Some key features include round headlamp, sculpted fuel tank, single piece seat, chrome finish exhaust, alloy wheels, an all-LED setup and semi-digital instrument cluster. It also has a smartphone charging USB port.2023 Honda CB350 Cafe RacerCB350 Cafe Racer powertrainHonda’s 350 cc Cafe Racer will use the same engine as that of CB350. It is rated to deliver 21.07 ps @ 5500 rpm and 30 Nm @ 3000 rpm. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The motorcycle will also be sharing a number of other components with CB350. This will help Honda to reduce costs and improve production efficiency.Just like CB350, its cafe racer version could be equipped with assist and slipper clutch, dual channel ABS, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), and Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (HSVCS).2023 Honda CB350 Cafe RacerThe instrument console could also be the same, which displays a range of information such as average mileage, real time mileage, gear position indicator, distance to empty, and battery voltage. Expect prices to be in the Rs 2.2 lakh to Rs 2.3 lakh range, ex-sh. More details to be revealed at the launch event next month. More

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    Top 10 200cc To 500cc Motorcycles Jan 2023 – Classic, Bullet, KTM, CB350

    Jan 2023 saw 200cc to 500cc motorcycles register is very healthy YoY and MoM growthImage – Yo RiderFirst six places are occupied by Royal Enfield’s total lineup under 500cc. Topping the 200-500cc motorcycles sales list is Classic 350 with 26,134 units. As opposed to 26,775 units sold in Jan 2022 and 20,682 sold in Dec 2022, Classic 350 registered 2.39% You decline and 26.36% MoM growth.Volume gain was 5,452 units MoM and market share was 33.84%, up from 31.50% in December 2022. Upon launch, Hunter 350 was neck-n-neck with Classic 350. But now, there is a significant difference between the two. Hunter 350 sold 16,574 units and saw a decline of 3.98% MoM and a drop in market share from 26.29% to 21.46%.200cc to 500cc Motorcycles Sales Jan 2023There is a reason why Bullet 350 is evergreen because it registers positive growth almost every-time. Jan 2023 was no different, as 31.70% YoY and 9.86% MoM growth was observed with 9,865 units sold. Meteor 350 saw 7,622 units rolling down the assembly line with 9.91% YoY decline and 21.02% MoM growth.Electra 350 sold 4,208 units last month. Sales soared with 58.73% YoY growth and 24.46% MoM growth. Volume gain stood at 1,557 units YoY and 827 units MoM. Himalayan registered a 23.06% YoY decline and 10.72% MoM growth with 2,499 units sold. Taking 7th, 8th and 9th place, we have KTM 250 with 1170, Honda CB350 with 1085 and Yamaha FZ25 with 1020 units respectively.200cc to 500cc Motorcycles Sales Jan 2023 vs Jan 2022 – YoYKTM 250 series and Honda CB350 registered YoY decline of 4.33% and 66.22% respectively. FZ25 saw 2.20% YoY growth. Where MoM analysis is concerned, all of them saw positive growth. Especially Yamaha FZ25 with 102900% MoM growth, who had sold 1 unit a month before. At 10th place, we have KTM 390 series with 787 units, registering 226.56% You and 172.32% MoM growth.Bajaj’s Dominar 250 and 400 took 11th and 12th place with 616 and 586 units respectively. Both of them registered YoY decline of 6.95% and 18.27% and MoM growth of 51.72% and 73.89%. Apache RR 310 and Pulsar 250’s figures fell close to each other at 450 and 445 units respectively. Apache’s numbers grew by 5.63% YoY and more than doubled MoM at 110.28%.Pulsar 250 Sales Almost Halved YoYWith a 92.60% YoY decline, Pulsar 250 sales almost halved. This is the reason why Pulsar 220F is being revived by Bajaj, priced at Rs. 1.39 lakh (ex-sh, WB). Avenger 220 clocked 375 units with a 28.57% YoY decline and 38.89% MoM growth. Suzuki’s V-Strom SX 250 only managed to clock 167 units without positive growth, while Gixxer 250 series sold zilch.200cc to 500cc Motorcycles Sales Jan 2023 vs Dec 2022 – MoMDespite 92 Ninja 300 sold, there was no positive growth. Honda CB300 clocked 85 units and saw 77.08% MoM growth as opposed to 48 units sold a month before. Husqvarna 250 managed to sell 32 units while falling into the red. Despite having a reputation for being overpriced, Ninja 400 clocked 19 units and registered 850% MoM growth.Suzuki Gixxer 250 and Honda CB500 series zero in January 2023. Jawa/Yezdi sold 3,572 units in retail and saw a healthy 50.62% YoY growth and 33.23% MoM growth. In total, top 200cc to 500cc motorcycles sales stood at 77,223 units. As opposed to 66,755 units sold in January 2022 and 65,652 units sold in December 2022, there was 15.68% YoY and 17.62% MoM growth. Volume gain was 10,468 units YoY and 11,571 units MoM. More