News

Subterms

    More stories

    • 163 Shares139 Views

      in Bike

      KTM 650cc Duke, RC, ADV Incoming – Made In India At Bajaj Plant

      by

      While domestic demand will be limited for made-in-India twin-cylinder KTM bikes, the investment cost will be justifiable with aggressive targeting of export marketsKTM RC 650 Render for illustration purposeEarlier this year in January, Bajaj-KTM partnership achieved a key sales milestone of 1 million units. The one-millionth unit to roll out of Bajaj’s plant was a KTM 390 Adventure. Going forward, Bajaj-KTM partnership will be further strengthened, as KTM is planning to manufacture its new low-cost twin-cylinder bikes in India.While the 490cc parallel-twin project has been abandoned, KTM has shifted focus to a new 690cc platform. It was earlier reported that the 690 platform will be manufactured by CFMoto in China. However, there has been a change in plans, with possibilities being explored for manufacturing the new 690 platform in India as well.Upcoming KTM Duke 390. Image – The Fat BikerKTM new 650cc twin-cylinder platform (made-in-India)KTM will be using the existing 790 Duke platform to develop the new 690 platform. It could also be a 650cc version. While the 490 platform was cancelled, the new 690 platform has a better chance to succeed from a business perspective.That’s because there’s growing demand in this segment, especially in markets like India. As of now, Royal Enfield 650 twins dominate this space with market share of more than 75%. Super Meteor 650 is also available and RE has plans to introduce more bikes in this segment.KTM ADVKTM is currently in discussions with Bajaj to chalk out the finer details of the proposed 690 platform. KTM-Bajaj will be working to finalize plans for the supply chain that will be needed for manufacturing the 690 bikes in India. KTM CEO Stefan Pierer has assured that the 690 platform will definitely happen over the next two years. The first 690 bike is likely to be a Duke. Later, KTM could also introduce other formats such as RC and Adventure.KTM 690 export plansKTM’s new 690 made in India bikes will also be sold overseas in countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Australia. KTM-Bajaj partnership has already been successful in delivering top quality, all while minimizing production costs. The new 690 platform will enjoy the same set of benefits. With local manufacturing, enthusiasts can expect a more accessible price range. For reference, KTM 790 Duke (when available in India) was priced at Rs 8.64 lakh. Expect the 650cc KTMs to be priced in the Rs 5-6 lakh range.Affordable pricing will allow KTM to explore opportunities in price sensitive locations. Markets like Latin America can also be on the radar for made in India twin-cylinder KTM bikes. However, for European markets, KTM will continue to depend on CFMoto for production of its low-cost parallel twin models.KTM 650cc Duke, RC, ADV bikes could generate around 80-100 hp of max power. It will depend on how scaled-down the new platform is, in comparison to the current 790 Duke. The latter churns out 105 PS and 86 Nm. KTM new 690 platform will be getting all the advanced equipment such as traction control, quickshifter+, motor slip regulation, Supermoto Mode, motorcycle stability control with cornering ABS and ride modes of Sport, Street and Rain.Source More

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Bike

      Top 10 Motorcycles Feb 2023 – Splendor, Shine, Pulsar, Classic, FZ, Raider

      by

      Hero Splendor was at No.1 on the list of best-selling motorcycles in February 2023 leading over the others by a significant marginImage – Rider AKBWe have already discussed top 10 two wheelers as well as top 10 scooters for Feb 2023. Taking into account top 10 motorcycles in February 2023, sales improved by 19.08 percent YoY while scooters saw a surge of 30.09 percent when compared to sales in Feb 2022.Top 10 Motorcycle Sales Feb 2023 – Splendor No 1Taking top 10 motorcycle sales into account in Feb 2023, sales stood at 6,07,357 units. This was a 19.08 percent YoY growth over 5,10,060 units sold in Feb 2022 with a 97,297 unit volume growth. It was however, a MoM de-growth when compared to 6,56,474 units sold in Jan 2023.Top 10 Motorcycles Feb 2023Hero Splendor once again topped the list with 2,88,605 units sold in Feb 2023. This was a 48.97 percent YoY growth from 1,93,731 units sold in Feb 2022 relating to a 94,874 unit volume growth. The Splendor commands a 47.52 percent share on this list. It was also a MoM growth for the Splendor of which sales had stood at 2,61,833 units in Jan 2023 when share was at 39.88 percent.At No. 2 was the Bajaj Pulsar with 45.61 percent YoY growth. Pulsar sales stood at 80,016 units in Feb 2023, up from 54,951 units sold in Feb 2022. It had volume growth of 54,951 units with a 13.17 percent share.Top 10 Motorcycles Feb 2023 vs Feb 2022 – YoY comparisonHero HF Deluxe saw its sales dip 25.86 percent on a YoY basis to 56,290 units in Feb 2023, down from 75,927 units sold in Feb 2022. It was followed by the Honda CB Shine (which was at No. 2 in Jan 2023) with a YoY de-growth of 56.43 percent down to 35,594 units. There had been 81,700 units sold in Feb 2023 relating to a 46,106 unit volume de-growth. Honda CB Shine commands a 5.86 percent share.TVS Apache, Raider, RE Classic 350TVS found two of its models on this list. Apache and Raider stood at No. 5 and 6 respectively, both of which have seen YoY growth in sales. Apache sales improved by 112.94 percent to 34,935 units in Feb 2023 from 16,406 units sold in Feb 2022. Raider sales grew by 105.82 percent YoY to 30,346 units sold in the past month, up from 14,744 units sold in Feb 2022.At No. 7 was RE Classic 350. Sales dipped 8.71 percent YoY to 27,461 units in Feb 2023, down from 30,082 units sold in Feb 2022. Royal Enfield sales in Feb 2023 saw most numbers coming in from its sub- 350cc offerings that include the likes of Hunter, Bullet, Classic and Meteor.Top 10 Motorcycles Feb 2023 % ShareBajaj Platina sales also dipped YoY by 17.86 percent to 23,923 units in Feb 2023 from 29,124 units sold in Feb 2022. It was followed by the Yamaha FZ with a sales growth of 28.87 percent YoY to 17,262 units in Feb 2023 from 13,395 units sold in Feb 2022. RE Hunter 350 sales stood at 12,925 units in the past month. The Hunter 350 which was launched in August 2022 has now become the No 2 selling RE bike. More

    • 113 Shares149 Views

      in Motor News

      Hyundai Veloster Recalled Because Parking Sensors Can Start Fire

      by

      Hyundai is recalling more than 26,000 Velosters built between 2012 and 2013 over concerns their parking sensors could short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. A recall published on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website says a “high conductive liquid” may leak into the Veloster’s reverse parking sensor module, short circuiting the system and posing a fire risk.A total of 26,169 Velosters built between 2012 and 2013 are affected, says the recall. While there are no reports of crashes or injuries, Hyundai has received five reports of fires related to the problem, according to Consumer Reports. Thankfully, there’s already a remedy in place. Dealers will replace the reverse parking aid sensor fuse free of charge in affected vehicles. Owners are expected to be mailed notifications alerting them of the problem on April 29. If you think your car may be affected, head on over to the NHTSA’s site and punch in your VIN. Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing. More

    • 150 Shares119 Views

      in Bike

      Top 10 Scooters Feb 2023 – Ather, Ola, Access, iQube, Ntorq, Xoom

      by

      Scooter sales in India improved both on YoY and MoM basis led by the Honda Activa as the best-selling model on the listImage – Kumar SangamIn the earlier post, we discussed top 10 two wheelers. In this post, we will take a look at the top 10 scooters last month. Increased demand has been seen for scooters in the past few months. In the scooter segment, when noting sales of electric models, the percentage of growth was even higher than its petrol powered counterparts.Top 10 Scooters Feb 2023 – Activa Maintains Top Spot, Electric Scooters Post GrowthTaking into account top 10 scooter sales in Feb 2023, sales stood at 3,60,963 units which was a YoY growth of 30.09 percent from 2,77,469 units sold in Feb 2022. This was a volume growth of 83,494 units It was also a MoM growth from 3,41,791 units sold in Jan 2023.Top 10 Scooters Feb 2023Honda Activa topped sales charts with 1,74,503 units sold in Feb 2023. This was a 20.08 percent YoY growth from 1,45,317 units sold in Feb 2022. MoM sales also improved significantly from 1,30,001 units sold in Jan 2023. The Honda Activa commands a 48.34 percent share on this list. TVS Jupiter was at No. 2 with sales of 53,891 units in the past month, up 14.44 percent from 47,092 units sold in Feb 2023. This was a 6,799 unit volume growth.Suzuki Access sales grew by 7.15 percent YoY to 40,194 units in Feb 2023 from 37,512 units sold in Feb 2022. Access sales however fell MoM from 45,497 units sold in Jan 2023. It currently commands a 11.14 percent share on this list whereas it had held a 13.31 percent share in Jan 2023.Top 10 Scooters Feb 2023 vs Feb 2022 – YoYOla was once again the No 1 electric scooter of India. Retail sales of Ola stood at 17,647 units in Feb 2023, up 351.33 percent as against 3,910 units sold in Feb 2022. TVS Ntorq sales dipped by 25.74 percent YoY to 17,124 units in Feb 2023, down from 23,061 units sold in Feb 2022. This was a 5,937 unit volume de-growth.TVS iQube sales on the other hand, improved by 593.57 percent YoY to 15,522 units in the past month from 2,238 units sold in Feb 2022. It was also a MoM growth from 12,169 units sold in Jan 2023.Honda Dio, Ather 450X, Hero XOOMLower down the order was the Honda Dio at No. 7. Sales dipped 6.44 percent YoY to 14,489 units in Feb 2023 from 15,487 units sold in Feb 2022. It was followed by the Ather 450X electric scooter which has seen a 457.71 percent YoY growth to 12,147 units in Feb 2023, up from 2,178 units sold in Feb 2022. MoM sales however declined from 14,802 units sold in Jan 2023.Top 10 Scooters Market Share Feb 2023Sales growth was reported for the Destini scooter which surged 1121.36 percent YoY to 8,232 units in Feb 2023 from 674 units sold in Feb 2022. It was however, a MoM dip in sales when compared to 10,975 units sold in Jan 2023. The new Hero Xoom scooter has entered the top 10 list immediately after launch. It has reported sales of 7,214 units in Feb 2023. The Xoom 110cc scooter was launched at the end of Jan 2023 and targets a younger generation of buyers. More

    • 163 Shares199 Views

      in Bike

      Royal Enfield 650 Soul Star Custom Will Take You On a Spiritual Tour

      by

      Of all the Royal Enfield custom jobs, Royal Enfield 650 Soul Star custom motorcycle by Neev Motorcycles based on Interceptor 650, is among the bestRoyal Enfield 650 Soul Star CustomRoyal Enfield motorcycles from the factory come out as timeless pieces of retro design that should appeal to a majority of mindsets. That said, there will always be people who would find a lack of character in these motorcycles. These people pursue a customisation route and come up with masterpieces that will wow the world.One such modder is Neev Motorcycles and their latest creation is named Soul Star. The main inspiration for this build is wheels found on the iconic Sun Temple of Konark, Odisha. Almost everything on this custom motorcycle has been built by scratch to create one of the most beautiful custom jobs we have ever seen by Neev Motorcycles.Royal Enfield 650 Soul Star CustomRoyal Enfield 650 Soul Star Custom – The Best Modified RE?Before I started to put my thoughts into this article, it was very difficult to gather words to do so. Such is its captivity. Neev Motorcycles embark on the journey into all eight Chakras in one’s life. The lesser-known 8th Chakra is the gateway to the spiritual world and all eight of them are depicted on 8-spoke bespoke machined aluminium wheels.To showcase these eight Chakras on its bespoke wheels, Neev Motorcycles has cleverly moved the rear disc brake and chain drive to the same side. This will put beautiful Brass-accented custom alloy wheels to full display from the right side, along with custom rerouted exhaust so that the left channel exits on the right side. These exhausts are finished in gloss black with Brass tips.Royal Enfield 650 Soul Star CustomBrass is a theme that Neev has used. This signifies grandeur and a large Brass dagger adorns Royal Enfield 650 Soul Star, residing on its fuel tank. This dagger is flanked by two fuel filler caps on either side of a beautifully finished custom fuel tank with Soul Star badging on either side. Other custom parts include fenders, sump guard, fork covers, single-seat, handlebars, body panels, CNC triple tree including chassis and swingarm.Royal Enfield 650 Soul Star CustomBrass Fittings On Custom RE MotorcycleBrass elements are found on fuel caps, daggers, handlebar risers, wheel engravings, footpegs, gear and brake levers, fender fittings, tank badges, brass chains and more. There is an aftermarket LED headlight unit along with LED turn indicators. Tail light is LED too and is moved towards the left along with the number plate.Not just that, the stock twin-pod instrument console has been moved towards the left too, arranged vertically. It is a little inconvenient, but who cares when the overall motorcycle looks so enthralling, right? Since we are nitpicking, Neev Motorcycles could have used a classier and more elegant font for Soul Star branding. That’s about it.Royal Enfield 650 Soul Star CustomThe massive 160/60-R18 front and 240/40-R18 rear tyres come off as bullish and give Soul Star a muscular stance. To put it into perspective, India’s favourite car, Swift, gets 165-section tyres. The stock 648 cc parallel-twin engine is kept identical along with dual-channel ABS braking hardware.This Royal Enfield engine makes 47 bhp of power and 52 Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. This is by far the best custom bike we have witnessed from Neev Motorcycles and if I get a raise, I know exactly whom to approach for a custom bike. (Boss, are you reading this?) More

    • 163 Shares119 Views

      in Electric Cars

      New Gen Maruti Brezza Electric SUV (EVX Based) Render – Nexon EV Rival

      by

      With a range of around 500 km, the production version of EVX will make a compelling propositionNext Gen Maruti Brezza Electric SUV RenderWhile other homegrown OEMs have already fielded their EVs in the market hoping to take the first mover’s advantage, Maruti Suzuki, the market leader, thinks that there is still some time left before the switch to full-electric products becomes imperative. Nevertheless, the brand which has been successfully demonstrating its ability to read the Indian customers’ pulse for decades debuted its all-electric EVX concept at the Auto Expo, signalling its medium-term intentions.Harbinger to Next Gen Maruti BrezzaThe Maruti EVX previews the company’s new crossover design language which could form the basis for the Brezza’s spiritual successor. We hope, the critical 4m length limit which dictates excise duty benefits would eventually disappear in the all-electric era so the compact crossovers can be more spacious and practical than the current crop of conventional players.Maruti EVX Electric SUV Concept at 2023 Auto ExpoFor example, with a length of about 4.3m, the production version of EVX will be roughly the size of the brisk-selling Hyundai Creta. Upon launch, it will likely have to contend with the next gen Nexon EV, which will also be about 4.3 m in length. Then there is the Creta EV and Seltos EV in the making, which could also be potential rivals along with XUV400.Our rendering specialist Pratyush Rout has imagined the next generation Maruti Brezza crossover SUV based on the EVX concept. The production version, as the rendering points out, will be slightly watered down to emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency which is crucial when it comes to range. The new design language continues to retain the basic boxy character of Maruti’s current crop of compact crossovers. Salient design features on the front include sleek LED headlamps, almost non-existent front grille, boomerang-shaped foglight enclosures and an inverted trapezoidal air-intake.Next Gen Maruti Brezza Electric SUV RenderSmooth sheet metal surfaces, flush door handles, and pronounced rear haunches define the profile while we expect the concept’s continuous rear combination lamps and compact rear windshield to be carried forward more or less as they are. Maruti has not revealed the interiors of the EVX Concept but going by the global trend, one can expect the vehicle to opt for a simple dashboard dominated by several displays and state-of-the-art connectivity features.Powertrain DetailsThe production version of the Maruti EVX is expected to be the brand’s first grounds-up all-electric project. Details on the electric powertrain are scarce as of now but the crossover which is likely to be launched sometime in 2025 is like to pack a 100 to 150 kW electric motor supported by a LFP battery pack with a capacity of around 60 kWh. This should be good for a certified range in the ballpark of 500 km.The India-made Suzuki all-electric compact crossover will be a good candidate also in the overseas markets. In fact, exports are expected to account for roughly half of the EV’s production volume. Suzuki Motor Corporation will invest USD 100 million in the country to make EVs and batteries.Next Gen Maruti Brezza Electric SUV RenderMaruti is hoping that the current crop of affordable electric vehicles in India will lay the groundwork for acceptability among the customers by the time it is ready with its maiden zero emission product. The country’s charging infrastructure also should be more conducive in the next 2-3 years than it is now.Disclaimer – Design renders presented in this blog are solely for illustrative purposes and have not been commissioned, approved, or endorsed by the manufacturer. Designs presented here may not reflect the final product or the manufacturer’s intentions. The renders are provided as conceptual designs or artistic interpretations only, and their accuracy or feasibility cannot be guaranteed. More

    • 113 Shares99 Views

      in Motor News

      Car Rental Companies Expanding Again, Leading to Spring Deals

      by

      Young whippersnappers might not remember that you didn’t always have to take out a loan to rent a car for the weekend. Thankfully, after the pandemic years, prices are coming down, and there are even deals to be had.Signs that the rental-car industry is turning around can be found in recent expansion announcements, both about new cars being added to fleets and more rental counters in more locations.We found some deals from Sixt, Hertz, and Avis in case you’re looking for temporary wheels soon.The rental-car world is shifting back to normal, sort of. These past few years introduced us to a slew of pandemic-influenced strangeness and incredibly high prices. Remember when it cost $200 a day to rent a car or that unusual U-Haul life hack? But now rental-car prices are coming back down to earth, and some companies are back to offering deals for your temporary wheels. The Bad Old (Recent) DaysEVs, Luxury Cars Entering the Fleet One way to see how things are on the upswing is recent news about growing capacity. Hertz, for example, announced this week that it will add 2100 electric vehicles to its Houston fleet, nearly tripling the number of EVs available in the area. Hertz is also building a new fast-charging hub at the Houston Hobby Airport. So far this year, Sixt has announced a number of new North American locations, including Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, and Toronto, and has said it will announce further expansion plans later this year. In February, peer-to-peer car-sharing service Turo said it was adjusting its maps of where it expects to see growing demand for vacation rentals for its vehicles, with the Carolina coast predicted to be one such hotspot in 2023.The revival is happening globally, too, with Dubai’s luxury-car rentals “skyrocketing,” for example. The Vietnamese conglomerate VinGroup, which owns the new EV brand VinFast, announced earlier this month that it had established a new joint stock company called GSM (which stands for Green Smart Mobility) that would focus on renting out VinFast EVs as well as renting VinFast’s scooters and operating a taxi service. As you might be able to guess, with all of this revitalized activity, there are now deals to be had if you need to rent a car soon. Here are a few options that might fit your plans.Jeff Greenberg|Getty ImagesSome DealsSixt is offering midweek and regional deals, as well as discounts on luxury vehicles at all of its locations through the end of June. The midweek deal—up to 30 percent off—is for anyone who starts their rental on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday and ends by Thursday. Or you can choose to get up to 25 percent off the cost of a rental of a premium or luxury vehicle or one from the “extraordinary” category. Some regional Sixt offices are also offering deals up to 25 percent off. None of these Sixt deals are available between April 2 and 22, also known as the prime Spring Break travel weeks.Avis doesn’t have as many deals as Sixt right now, but if you spend $175 or more on a rental that lasts three days or more, you can get $15 off.If you need a car for a week or more, Hertz is offering a free day if you rent for five days. The company is also offering a discount of up to 30 percent on your rental if you choose to drive an EV. That’s worth plugging in for, probably. 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

    • 138 Shares169 Views

      in Bike

      Ola Electric Scooter Centre Stand, Buddy Step – Accessories Delivery Start

      by

      Ola Electric offers a range of accessories that includes scooter cover, chargers and apparelOla Electric Scooter Centre StandBased on market feedback, Ola Electric had recently introduced new accessories such as buddy step and centre stand. As Ola does not have any dealerships, users need to order these online from the company’s website. Ola has now started shipping these accessories.While the centre stand costs Rs 999, the buddy step is priced at Rs 1,999. The buddy step seems expensive, as a similar side step offered by Honda for Activa costs Rs 915. Hero MotoCorp’s side step is even cheaper at Rs 885. Ola scooter cover and t-shirts are priced at Rs 999.Ola Electric Scooter Buddy StepOla buddy step and centre stand – Official AccessoriesInstallation of buddy step and centre stand has been done in a seamless manner. The buddy step or side step is made from cast aluminium. It has high tensile strength and should be able to resist things like corrosion. Both the buddy step and centre stand are offered in black colour.The centre stand is made from tubular steel and is designed to have a long service life. A centre stand is better suited for Indian conditions, where finding parking spaces is often a challenge. A scooter parked on the centre stand takes less parking space in comparison to a side stand.Ola Electric Scooter Centre Stand and Buddy StepOla’s centre stand also takes care of issues reported with the side stand. In some cases, users had reported breakage of side stand after a few months of use. The side stand may be good enough to support the weight of the scooter. But it may not be designed to take additional weight such as someone sitting on the scooter with the side stand engaged. The centre stand is expected to fare better, as it is made from tubular steel.While the factory-fitted side stand comes with a sensor, the centre stand does not have any such feature. With the side stand engaged, users get a message on the dash that the stand is open. The scooter will not move unless the side stand is retracted. Such a feature is not required with the centre stand, as the scooter will already be in an unmovable position with the centre stand engaged.Ola beset with problemsBased on market feedback, Ola has been working to introduce the necessary updates to its scooters. A few days back, Ola had announced a voluntary recall of the front suspension system of S1 electric scooter. Multiple users had reported breakage of front suspension system. As per the voluntary recall, Ola will be fitting a new front fork on all affected scooters. This upgrade will be provided free of cost.Ola Electric Scooter Centre StandOla’s voluntary recall process for replacement of the front fork will commence from March 22. Users will be contacted individually and informed about how to proceed with the recall process. Users can also contact their nearest Ola Experience Centre or service centre for details.Source More