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    Honda Electric Motorcycle Design Sketch – USD Forks, Dual Disc

    Honda has chalked out aggressive plans for EV segment, with target to launch at least 10 new electric-two-wheelers by 2025Honda Electric Bike TeasersAs part of its program to achieve carbon neutrality, Honda will be stepping-up focus on introducing multiple electric two-wheelers as well as flex-fuel vehicles. Honda’s electric portfolio will include electric bikes, mopeds, commuters and more powerful, performance-oriented electric bikes.To expedite the process, Honda has teamed up with other companies such as Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha. The collaboration will entail development of standardized swappable battery architecture. Such collaborations will help reduce development and production cost, which will benefit all stakeholders and the entire electric two-wheeler ecosystem.Honda electric bike designBased on design sketch of Honda’s upcoming electric bike, it is evident that the brand’s signature styling will continue in electric segment. This is especially true for its performance-oriented electric bikes. The image of the bike was posted by the American division of Honda. Design language of the bike looks familiar to that of recently launched CB750 Hornet and CB300F.As compared to electric scooters that offer more freedom to experiment with the design, the choices are fairly limited in case of electric bikes. A major reason is placement of battery, which has to be centrally mounted. To ensure an optimal centre of gravity, the most suitable place is lower middle section. This is where ICE-based motorcycles have their engine. Most electric bikes follow the same approach and it continues with Honda’s upcoming electric bike.Honda Electric Motorcycle Design SketchWhile only the side view is visible in the sketch, the outline of a flat-type, aggressive front fascia can be seen. Other key features include low-set handlebar, USD front forks in golden finish, sculpted fuel tank, step-up seat, short tail section, alloy wheels, disc brakes at both ends and sporty graphics.Body panelling is closely knit and tightly packed, which helps ensure a compact look and feel for the bike. Covers for the battery and electric powertrain are done in metallic finish, which introduces another layer of aesthetic dynamism. As this is a design sketch, there are likely to be several iterations before the bike reaches production stage. Newer innovations in battery technology and linked hardware could also influence the final design of the bike.Honda electric two-wheeler for IndiaHonda’s Benly e: electric scooter has been spied on road tests multiple times. Either Benly e: could be launched in India or there could be an entirely new product. With Activa the current bestseller, Honda could introduce a similar product in electric format to target the mass market. In international markets, there are multiple versions of Benly e: electric scooter. The top-spec variant has a range of 87 km.Honda Electric Two Wheeler Launch PlanHonda electric scooter for India will have multiple challengers such as Ather 450X, TVS iQube, Ola S1 Pro and Bajaj Chetak. Ola especially is quite gung-ho, having announced its intention to beat Honda Activa sales by August 2023. Whether or not it materializes remains to be seen. More

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    New Yamaha Augur 155cc Scooter Debuts – Engine From R15, Aerox

    If launched in India, Yamaha Augur Maxi Scooter will rival its sibling Aerox 155 and Aprilia SXR 1602023 Yamaha Augur 155cc Scooter DebutsIndia has a few performance-oriented scooters, apart from Yamaha Aerox 155. Some of them are TVS NTORQ and Aprilia SR 160. These were pitted as sporty scooters to appeal to younger gen who do not want commuter scooters.As sporty as they are, Yamaha Aerox 155 quickly established itself as the go-to performance scooter in India. It featured tech like VVA, liquid cooling and more which the scooter segment in India has never heard of before. Being one of the few maxi-scooters helped its cause even further.New Yamaha Augur 155cc ScooterWith demand for maxi-scooters on the rise in many parts around the world, Yamaha has unveiled yet another maxi scooter. Called Augur 155cc, it is similar to Aerox 155, but is completely different in its character and functionality. Let’s take a look.With a radical design, Yamaha Augur looks like something that came out of a Cyberpunk world. Up front, we have a new fairing that has a distinct alienist face. There are multiple body panels and all of them converge towards the centre where Augur’s LED projector headlight is housed. This is not just a regular headlight. It gets LEDs in them to illuminate the road.2023 Yamaha Augur 155cc Scooter DebutsThis headlight is very advanced, considering that it is installed in a scooter. For one, the headlight gets variable colour temperatures, yellow and white, for varied road conditions. Secondly, it gets tilt functionality which lights a secondary light towards the corner to illuminate the corner before taking a turn. This is similar to cornering headlights found in cars.2023 Yamaha Augur 155cc Scooter DebutsOther features include a 4.3” colour TFT display that gets connected functionalities like turn-by-turn navigation and check engine parameters like engine oil and battery status via phone App. Traction control, ABS, Keyless ignition, and other features complement its radical and futuristic design.Augur 155cc Scooter SpecsYamaha Augur maxi scooter features the same 155cc engine derived from R15 V4. This engine makes 14.79 bhp of power and 13.9 Nm of torque and comes equipped with a 4V head, liquid cooling and VVA tech. Aerox 155 gets a 230mm front disc and rear drum brake setup in India. Yamaha Augur maxi scooter gets a 267mm front disc with twin-pot caliper and a 230mm rear disc brake.2023 Yamaha Augur 155cc Scooter DebutsSuspension duties on Augur are handled by telescopic forks up front and twin shock absorbers at the rear. Aerox 155 gets 14” alloy wheels at both ends while Augur gets 13” alloys. Augur gets a fatter front tyre at 120 section as opposed to 110 on Aerox. Rear tyre on Augur is 130 section, while Aerox gets 140.Augur gets a larger 6.1L fuel tank as opposed to 5.5L on Aerox. Owing to all this equipment, Augur weighs 132 kg and is heavier as opposed to 126 kg of Aerox 155 sold in India. Despite being largely similar to Aerox 155, Augur gets a step-through floor board which enhances practicality ten fold. Whereas Aerox 155 gets a center tunnel.[embedded content][embedded content]Yamaha India has not revealed any plans on introducing this in India. That said, we think it would be a brilliant alternative to Aerox 155 owing to its enhanced practicality and technology. More

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    Ford F-150 Lightning Electric Truck Gets Yet Another Price Hike

    After increasing pricing for the Ford F-150 Lightning in August and again in October, Ford has raised the bar for entry yet again, this time to $58,514.The price increases struck the more budget-oriented Pro and XLT trim levels, with the more expensive Lariat and Platinum trims being spared the increase. Destination charges were raised by $100 across the board.Ford issued a statement to Car and Driver saying customers waiting for delivery on current orders are not affected by the increase. The adjusted prices began with the new retail order bank on December 15 and will go into effect for the Q2 commercial order bank when that opens.Looking back now, the original 2022 F-150 Lightning was a bargain at the starting price of $41,669. When it reopened order banks for its electrified pickup, Ford quietly increased the price of the 2023 model for the third time since August, raising the base price to $58,514. The new price reflects an inflation of nearly $5000 since only the last round of adjustments, and it pushes the needle further out of reach for customers in search of a base electric truck. Unlike the price increases from August and October, which raised the price on each trim level, this most recent hike only seriously affects the cheaper trim levels. Apart from a $100 increase in destination charges (which happened across the board), the top two trim levels are unaffected by the recent changes. Earlier Price IncreasesC/D’s preferred model, the XLT, now starts at $66,014 when equipped with the standard range battery, while the XLT Extended Range moves up to $82,869. The more expensive Lariat and Platinum trims only move up with the $100 destination charge increase, to $76,369, and $97,819 respectively. FordAccording to a statement from a Ford representative to Car and Driver, the price increase is a standard business practice due to rising material costs, market factors, and ongoing supply-chain constraints. The updated pricing went into effect December 15, when order banks reopened for retail customers. Commercial pricing will increase when the Q2 order banks next open. Customers who ordered in a previous order bank and are still awaiting delivery will be unaffected by this increase. 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.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. More

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    Two-Tone Mansory Bentley Looks Like the Official Car of the Pittsburgh Steelers

    German tuner Mansory has whipped up another bizarre automotive creation, this time modifying a Bentley Continental GTC with an outlandish two-tone paint job.The black-and-yellow paint isn’t symmetrical, with the yellow taking over more of the exterior bodywork before spreading to the quilted leather cabin.The engine has been tuned to extract 740 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque.With its daring two-tone paint job, this one-off concoction from German tuner Mansory, called the Vitesse, looks like it should be the official car of Pittsburgh’s pro sports teams. The unique style, which nearly divides the Bentley Continental GTC donor car in half but sees the yellow paint take up slightly more real estate, is a first for Mansory. The color scheme makes the one-of-a-kind Bentley look like a rolling mascot for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Pirates, or Steelers. MansoryStatement-Making Style and PowerWhile the 2010 Wiz Khalifa banger “Black and Yellow” is a certified classic, we’re not sure the color scheme works quite as well on the Vitesse, but the Continental GT convertible’s motor should still produce a sonorous noise. Mansory doesn’t specify whether it uses the twin-turbo V-8 or the twin-turbo W-12, but the hexagonal exhaust tips match the look seen by Mansory’s previous 12-cylinder Continental monstrosities. MansoryEither way, the engine has been fiddled with by Mansory, now producing a whopping 740 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque. This is a substantial increase over any factory Continental, even blowing the 650-hp Speed model out of the water. The Vitesse sprints to 62 mph in a claimed 3.3 seconds, a slight improvement over the 3.6-second 60-mph sprint that Bentley quotes for the GTC Speed. Meanwhile, Mansory’s 206-mph top-speed claim is actually 2 mph down on what Bentley estimates for the standard car.More Wild Mansory CreationsWild Outside and Wild InsideDetails are otherwise sparse, but the main draw of the Vitesse is the wild color combo. Along with the exterior bodywork, the interior has received the same polarizing asymmetric treatment, with the left-side seats upholstered in yellow leather and the right colored in black. The quilted leather extends to nearly every surface inside the car, including the dashboard, the floor mats, and the transmission tunnel. A plaque on the center console declares the Vitesse’s unique nature. There’s currently no word on how much it’ll cost, but we’re sure Mansory will be able to find a buyer who has more money than taste to add the Vitesse to their collection.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.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. More

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    Velocity Is Building the Ultimate Restomod 1970 Ford F-250

    Having made a name for itself building beautifully imagined Broncos, Florida-based Velocity Restorations is moving into the pickup truck business.Like the company’s Broncos, this 1970 F-250 is powered by a Ford Performance Coyote V-8, matched with a four-speed automatic transmission.The top-of-the-line Heritage package is no farm truck, fitted out with a full leather interior and high-end stereo.In Miami, nobody raises an eyebrow at a Lamborghini. You might as well be driving a Golf for all the attention a Huracán will get you, and unless you’re one of the lucky few to have nailed down a preorder for Lamborghini’s safari-inspired Sterrato, you’re going to spend a lot more time worrying about scraping the nose than enjoying that V-10 screaming to redline. Besides, for the same money you could have a truck.That’s a capital-T Truck, specifically a 1970 F-250 hand-built from the ground up to provide the kind of experience you don’t get from a factory. The Velocity Restorations F-250 is eye-wateringly expensive—$285,000 to start, $325,000 for this blue-and-white commission-built Heritage package—but it’s a no-detail-spared masterpiece.We drove a 1969 Ford Bronco reworked by Velocity Restorations back in 2019, and came away both bewildered and beguiled. The Bronco was the easily coolest thing on the streets of Florida, but also seemed like a “more money than brains” option. We desperately wanted one anyway.More RestomodsThe company’s take on the F-250 is possibly even cooler. Any child who ever picked up a Tonka truck can’t help but be charmed by the stance of this pickup’s chunky 33-inch Toyo off-road tires and exposed suspension and axles. Trucks were simpler in 1970, less about the ornamentation than the purpose. Velocity’s trick here is taking that early simplicity and adorning it with flawless two-tone paint and billet accessories—subtle details you don’t notice at first.The powertrain, on the other hand, is not so subtle. Building on the lessons learned in crafting its Broncos and Harvesters, Velocity here pairs a Ford Performance crate Coyote 5.0L V8 with a stout 4R70 four-speed automatic transmission. Brakes are Baer discs at all four corners, the underpinning chassis is from the well-respected Roadstershop in Illinois, and the F-250 now rides on custom-valved Fox dampers. Velocity’s in-house custom exhaust and Dana axles complete the package. This blue-and-white two-tone model is a built to order special called “High Roller.” It marks the start of a new line for Velocity, which will start taking orders in 2023. Turnaround time is estimated to be 14 weeks, but it should be noted that wait times for the company’s Broncos stretched out to over a year. The order books for this thing will likely fill up fast. There’s also a plan to release a similar build based on the classic F-100 series pickup next year, though no concrete details are yet available.Throw in a full leather interior, air conditioning (not an available luxury for a Kansas corn farmer in 1970, totally necessary for a Miami beach cruiser), and a powerful Morel sound system to belt out your latest hit, “Only my dog’s been true to me.” You can keep your high-strung Italian exotica. Everybody loves a pickup truck, and Velocity Restorations is currently taking orders for one of the best.This content is imported from OpenWeb. 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. More

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    2022 Acura ARX-05 Endurance Racer Is Our Bring a Trailer Pick of the Day

    The ARX-05 competed in the 2022 IMSA championship, powered by a 600-hp twin-turbo V-6 mounted to a carbon-fiber monocoque and sending the power exclusively to the rear wheels. Finding a recent race winner up for sale so soon after its competitive career has ended is a rare occurrence, especially since the car is offered directly by Honda Performance Development.The ARX-05 is up for sale on Bring a Trailer, with the online auction ending on December 23.The 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship will kick off an exciting new chapter in American endurance racing. A new set of rules for the top class, now called GTP, has brought increased interest from major manufacturers, with Cadillac, Porsche, Acura, and BMW all set to compete in iconic events including the 24 Hours of Daytona. Only a few dozen of the world’s top drivers will have the chance to pilot one of the new GTP race cars, but now there is the opportunity to get the next best thing: a 2022 Acura ARX-05. This prototype ran in the predecessor to the GTP class, called DPi, and is now up for auction on Bring a Trailer, which—like Car and Driver—is part of Hearst Autos.Bring a TrailerThe Acura ARX-05 DPi was introduced for the 2018 season and is based around an Oreca 07 LMP2-class carbon-fiber monocoque. Power comes courtesy of a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 that is based on the J35 production-car engine, variations of which appear in vehicles including the Acura MDX and the Honda Odyssey. Unlike those family haulers, however, the ARX-05’s V-6 churns out 600 horsepower at 6500 rpm and sends that shove to the rear wheels through an Xtrac six-speed sequential transaxle. Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerThe black 18-inch Rotiform forged aluminum wheels, shod in Michelin Pilot Sport P2L tires, are mounted onto an unequal-length control arm pushrod suspension. Brembo six-piston calipers combine with carbon brake rotors haul the ARX-05 down from a top speed of around 200 mph. The car also has a built-in air-jack system for rapid pitstops. Open the butterfly doors and you’ll find a stripped-out, focused cockpit with an abundance of buttons, a yoke-style steering wheel, a fire suppression system, and a six-point harness. Meet the 2023 GTP Race CarsThis particular ARX-05, chassis number seven, was built by Wayne Taylor Racing in December 2021 and competed in the 2022 season, securing pole positions at Daytona, Laguna Seca, and Road America and notching victories at Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen, and Road America. Filipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor, who have each won the 24 Hours of Daytona twice, were the car’s full-time drivers, while Indy 500 winner Alex Rossi, three-time Le Mans winner Brendon Hartley, and former F1 driver Will Stevens also spent time behind the wheel. The car still wears the blue, black, and silver #10 Konica Minolta livery. It’s being offered for sale by Honda Performance Development, which works closely with privateer teams such as Wayne Taylor Racing to run top-class endurance racers. While old race cars occasionally come up for auction, it’s unusual to see one available for sale so soon after its final race, and even rarer to find one that collected so many trophies. This unique piece of history would make for a head-turning track day. With a week remaining until the auction ends on December 23, bidding is currently at $320,000.This content is imported from OpenWeb. 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. More

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    Pure EV ecoDryft Electric Motorcycle Launch – 130 Km Range, 4 Colours

    Pure EV ecoDryft poses a lot of familiarities with regular commuters, except for the engine, which is replaced by a batteryPure EV ecoDryft Electric MotorcycleThe electric revolution is coming or has arrived. It depends on your perception of electric 2W segment in India where ICE 2W still dominates the market. That is changing with a slew of electric scooters from various startups and mainstream manufacturers alike. With the launch of Honda’s electric scooter in 2023, 2W EV segment is likely to get a big boost.That said, there are electric motorcycles springing up every now and then. We have Tork Kratos, Hop OXO and the upcoming Oben Rorr. But these are marketed at enthusiasts and premium end packed to the gills with gizmos. What about budget electric motorcycles? This is where Pure EV ecoDryft comes into picture.Pure EV ecoDryft ElectricThis is Pure EV’s flagship offering and is set to cater to budget and commuter motorcycle buyers. These buyers are looking to shift towards electricity for everyday commutes and an EV fits the bill perfectly. According to the company, commuter motorcycles constitute 80% of all motorcycles sold in India and more than 50% of all 2W vehicles across segments.In 2021, Pure EV launched ETryst 350 which was aimed at premium segment. With ecoDryft, Pure EV claims to be the first to offer a commuter electric motorcycle. Pricing is not yet revealed and will be announced in first week of January 2023, ahead of commencing bookings. There are 4 colours on offer – Black, Grey, Blue and Red.Pure EV ecoDryft Electric MotorcycleDr. Nishanth Dongari, Founder, PURE EV said, “The launch of this commute motorcycle is a game changer and would be a demonstration of PURE EV’s significant learnings in the powertrain design and development at our R&D centre. The core R&D activities of the company are aligned keeping in mind the expectations of the average Indian customer who generally prefers a commuting motorcycle that satisfies their daily requirements without compromising on comfort and reliability.”He added, “We have been carrying out extensive trials and testing for this product and are confident that the product will deliver highly competitive performance with respect to existing range of ICE motorcycles and will be another step in the direction of switching customers towards EVs as major ICE 2W sales are commute motorcycles. This is a game changer not only for the company but also for the country’s EV adoption vision as well.”Specs & FeaturesThe main talking point of this motorcycle is its patented battery pack. It has a capacity of holding 3.0 kWh of charge and comes with AIS 156 certification. This means, its battery should survive indirect fire for over 2 minutes. It has been designed keeping fire hazards in mind.Pure EV ecoDryft Electric MotorcyclePure EV ecoDryft claims up to 130 km of range from a single charge while top speed is capped at 75 km/h. This is inline with what budget commuters have to offer for city commutes. Looks are vastly commuter-ish and comes with a front disc brake. It gets a hub motor at the rear. Battery is mounted on to its frame where an engine would be mounted in a regular ICE commuter. More

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    Harley Davidson 350cc, 500cc First Photos Leak – Royal Enfield Rival

    With lower pricing, Harley-Davidson X350 and X500 will mainly target developing countries like India, ASEAN region and the likesNew Harley Davidson 350cc MotorcycleHarley-Davidson has been expanding its portfolio. Even though the company has been introducing new motorcycles in varied segments, there hasn’t been much success when budget and inexpensive motorcycles are concerned. Sure, we got Street 750. And later, Street Rod 750 was launched with improved quality. But their sales numbers failed to increase and Harley-Davidson’s dream of budget motorcycles still remained at large.American brand Harley-Davidson is known to offer quintessential cruiser bikes with a roaring V-twin engine. It has been one of the most popular and sought-after motorcycle brands where cruisers and choppers are considered. With prices on the higher side, its products are not often accessible to people looking for a cruiser on a budget.Harley Davidson 350cc Photos LeakThis is why Royal Enfield’s 650cc platform is currently one of the most popular choices. Not only RE 650 twins are top sellers in its category in India, but are also generating good sales outside India. Apart from offering good quality and performance, another reason for RE’s success in the 650cc segment is due to its aggressive pricing.To match in pricing, Harley-Davidson is now sourcing motorcycles from QJ Motor, parent to Keeway and Benelli brands that are currently on sale in India. Two motorcycles are in the works between both brands codenamed HD350 and HD500. First images of these motorcycles have now leaked online.New Harley Davidson 350cc MotorcycleIn reality, they are highly likely to be called X350 and X500 as seen in the leaked spy shots. The smaller X350 looks a lot like 338R concept design shown in 2019. It was supposed to be equipped with Benelli 302S’ 338cc engine. Times have changed and there is a new 353cc version of that engine in production. Hence the name X350.X350 gets a frame that is quite similar to QJ SRK350 sold overseas. Both motorcycles seem to share their USD forks at front, petal disc brakes and alloy wheel design. This 350cc engine makes around 36 bhp and doesn’t seem adequate when 195 kg weight is considered. In contrast, SRK350 weighs only 176 kg.New Harley Davidson 500cc MotorcycleThis is the one that is likely to make a lot of buzz. Harley-Davidson X500 will be vastly similar to Benelli Leoncino 500 that is sold in India. It gets a 500cc parallel-twin engine and makes 47 bhp of power. Going with its displacement, X500’s 207 kg of weight seems to be right for the segment.New Harley Davidson 500cc MotorcycleLeoncino 500 and X500 will share chassis, braking components and suspension as well. X500 dons a larger conventional dual disc setup than X350’s smaller petal discs. Stopping power comes from 4-pot calipers. With these motorcycles, Harley-Davidson is set to venture into budget cruiser motorcycles. But those who were expecting a V-Twin with belt drive, will be slightly disappointed. Both these motorcycles are expected to be launched in India next year.Source More