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    Ola Electric Scooter To Beat Honda Activa In Sales By Aug 2023 – CEO

    Right now, Honda Activa is the highest-selling scooter in India with sales easily crossing 2 lakh units per monthOla Electric ScooterOla Electric scooter range consists of recently launched S1 Air which forms base spec model, standard S1 which is mid-spec and S1 Pro at the top end with all bells and whistles. Ola Electric is expanding aggressively and is set to be the No. 1 player in electric vehicles in India.Ola Electric has revealed its plan to launch electric cars as well. Development time for which is just a couple of years. If Ola pulls it off, it is a great feat. We have seen teasers for the electric car which claims to be the fastest car made in India. Now the company claims to surpass the highest-selling ICE scooter sales collectively with its S1 lineup.Ola Electric Scooter To Beat Honda ActivaCEO Bhavish Aggarwal took to social media and announced that the Ola S1 lineup will become the best-selling scooter in India by August 2023. He further states that Ola S1 lineup sales will even surpass best-selling ICE scooters. This is a very tall claim by Ola Electric. That said, Ola has a track record of making very tall claims. Also, they have a track record of fulfilling most of their claims. Can Ola pull it off and beat the highest-selling ICE scooter? We can’t say that as of now.Ola has ramped up its production capacity significantly and is in a position to maybe pull it off. Looking at the target, Honda Activa is currently the highest-selling ICE scooter in India and is likely to stay that way till August 2023. Ola seems to be directly targeting Activa as its goal.Bhavish Aggarwal Recent AnnouncementHonda Activa sold 2.45 lakh units in September 2022. In the same month, Ola sold just 9,649 units collectively. Looking at the gap, Ola has to climb beyond the tip of Everest to achieve something like this. Now that base S1 Air is revealed at around Rs. 85K, Ola is optimistic about its growth in India.Is It Achievable?There is a possibility of this happening. By August 2023, Honda will have forayed into EVs with swappable battery tech. This is likely to shift a lot of ICE Activa buyers towards the new electric Honda Scooter. Hence ICE Activa sales could take a hit and even halve when compared to 2.1 lakh units sold in October 2022.With the push for EVs getting more mainstream, Ola is at the forefront right now. If the same winning streak is maintained by Ola and Honda’s upcoming electric scooter gobbles ICE Activa’s sales, Ola has a chance of beating the highest selling ICE scooter sales in August 2023.As of now, Activa sales are unrivalled and have a lead over other highest-selling scooters by a gargantuan margin. In Sep 2022, Activa sales alone were almost as much as 2nd highest selling scooter to 9th highest selling scooter sales combined. Currently, Ola has 3 electric scooters in its arsenal. The base S1 Air starts from Rs. 85,000, S1 starts from Rs. 1 lakh and S1 Pro starts from Rs. 1.4 lakh. S1 Air can be reserved for Rs. 999 and deliveries will commence in 2023. More

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    Jeep Cherokee's Future Hangs in the Balance after Reports of Plant Closure

    Stellantis will indefinitely idle its plant in Belvidere, Illinois, where the Jeep Cherokee is built, as first reported by Automotive News.The company cites several reasons for the plant closure, including the COVID-19 pandemic and related supply-chain shortages.There will be a short run of 2023 Cherokees, but the move suggests the SUV’s place in the Jeep lineup could be vacant for 2024.A longtime Chrysler-FCA-Stellantis assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, will be indefinitely shut down as the company pursues options to “optimize operations,” according to a report today by Automotive News. The Belvidere plant is currently the only manufacturing facility responsible for the production of the Jeep Cherokee SUV, which calls into question the crossover’s future. A representative from Jeep told Car and Driver when the plant is closed, the Cherokee will remain in production through the end of February 2023, and the models being produced now are 2023 models. “The segment is very important to us and we plan to stay committed to it long-term,” a Jeep spokesperson said when pressed on future plans for the Cherokee nameplate. Demand for the Cherokee has fallen sharply over the past few years. In 2019, 191,397 copies found homes, while in 2020, only 135,855 were sold; in 2021, sales dwindled to 89,126. Meanwhile, Jeep dealers moved just 30,852 Cherokees in the first nine months of 2022, a fraction of the 189,727 Grand Cherokees—a more expensive and likely more profitable model—sold in the same time period. Jeep’s Electric FutureThe next compact Jeep SUV may be an EV. Jeep has detailed plans to shift to electric vehicles in recent months, including an Avenger EV for European and other global markets and a Wrangler-inspired Recon EV for North America. Time will tell, but the iconic, albeit problematic, nameplate could find itself emblazoned on the liftgate of an electric off-roader.The plant closure will impact the nearly 1300 employees, many of which are UAW union members, when the facility is idled on February 28, 2023. According to the AN report, layoffs are likely, although reassignment to other manufacturing facilities may be a possibility for some of the plant’s workforce. 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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    2024 Corvette E-Ray Configurator Leaks, Revealing the Hybrid C8 Early

    The Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray configurator was leaked online Thursday night, before being quickly taken down. The sleuths over at Mid-Engine Corvette Forum and Corvette Blogger spotted the configurator before it got taken down, and were able to grab an assortment of screenshots. The leaked images give us an early glimpse at what we can expect the E-Ray hybrid to look like when it comes to market next summer. Those eagerly anticipating the hybridized version of the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray are in luck. Images from the Corvette hybrid configurator website leaked Thursday evening, confirming the E-Ray’s existence and giving us our first look at the design of the next iteration of the C8 Corvette. The internet sleuths at Mid-Engine Corvette Forum and Corvette Blogger were quick enough to grab a handful of screenshots before the configurator was taken down. Chevy neglected to give outright confirmation to the legitimacy of the configurator, but in a statement to Corvette Blogger said, “Looks like the holidays came early for a few astute Corvette fans. Stay tuned for more.” More on CorvetteBased on the renderings in the leak, the E-Ray looks to use the same widened body and front end as the Corvette Z06, though with body-color trim in lieu of some black pieces found on the Z06. The rear-quarter panel badge houses a new “ERAY” badge, which can be spotted directly behind the car’s side blades. There still aren’t any details on specifications for the E-Ray, but there are a few other juicy clues that hint at the hybrid’s mechanicals. A new “Regen on Demand” button can be seen in the cabin, suggesting that the E-Ray will have adjustable levels of regenerative braking.We still don’t know what configuration to expect for the electric motors or the number of electric motors for that matter. Previous rumors suggested that the E-Ray would be all-wheel drive, with the LT2 V-8 powering the rear wheels and an electric motor powering the fronts. This would likely mean a significant boost in horsepower compared with the Stingray model’s 490–495 hp.According to the configurator, we only have to wait until summer 2023 for the answers to these unknowns. 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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    Finding Santa's New Sleigh: Window Shop with Car and Driver

    This content is imported from youTube. 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.We don’t measure reliability for sleighs yet. However, the odds suggest that one of these years, Santa’s going to walk out one Christmas Eve to a sleigh and reindeer team that won’t start. A clairvoyant Window Shop viewer asked the crew to come up with replacement rides for Santa’s 23-hour trip around the world. Kris Kringle’s on a budget this year (who isn’t?), so he has just $30,000 to spend. Road & Track senior editor John Pearley Huffman’s Toyota Tundra fixation finally found its outlet. The shiny burgundy pickup’s cloth interior turned into a brief discussion about whether Santa prefers textiles to leather, but there were no questions about toy-carrying capability. Best of all, if Santa delivered to Pearley’s house last, he could leave the Tundra under Pearley’s tree.Video mastermind Carlos Lago began his presentation with Santa’s favorite Christmas treat: an Excel spreadsheet. After doing the math to figure out how efficient Saint Nicholas needs to be to complete his appointed rounds—something something speed of light magic!—he chose a convertible Mustang SVT Cobra with a manual transmission. Because trunk space. And magic.Senior editor Joey Capparella stuck with muscle and the manual but flipped to the Mopar side. Inspired by one of Dodge’s responses to the same quandary, Capparella chose a red Dodge Challenger, a car nearly as old as Santa’s sleigh and just as cool.We’d describe senior editor Elana Scherr’s car advice this week as, “What would I like?” She chose a red vintage Dodge W150 pickup, perhaps pulled from her own Mopar collection. Santa’s budget was too low for a suitable Lil Red Express, but the marvelous red interior in the W150 might make up for that.Speaking of fixations, contributor Jonathon Ramsey’s ardor for Class 8 trucks finally found its outlet, too. He crossed the border to Canada to find a 1995 Peterbilt. Problem is, he also unwittingly and egregiously crossed the budget border as well. And that’s all there is to say about that.Executive editor K.C. Colwell joined Pearley and Scherr kicking tires in the pickup lot. His Rudolph-nose-red Ford F-450 dually with tan leather could have been nicknamed the Big Red Express. The only thing it was missing was a bumper sticker telling everyone at the North Pole, “We don’t need no stinkin’ reindeer.”Editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga grew up with the slickest, snazziest Santa on the planet. Only a Cadillac Eldorado would do for a superstar probably called Kris “Primetime” Kringle, the ginormous coupe done up in red with a white roof, a herringbone interior, and some suss door pulls for the rear occupants. Let’s hope the sleigh and reindeer team work as intended this year. Or else Santa’s got a hard choice to make, one of which could be going on strike.More Window ShoppingThis content is imported from youTube. 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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    Apple Self-Driving EV Delayed to 2026, Likely to Start under $100,000

    The rumored Apple car has been delayed yet again, with Bloomberg reporting that the electric vehicle will go on sale in 2026.Apple has also scaled back its self-driving plans, with the car including traditional driving controls and only planned to be capable of autonomous driving on highways.The target is to sell the Apple car for less than $100,000, and Apple is still searching for a partner to provide an electric skateboard platform to build the vehicle on. Apple has been rumored to be developing an electric car, code-named Titan, since 2014, and the tech giant has faced numerous setbacks in its quest to expand into the automotive realm. Massive layoffs in 2019 sparked talk that the project had been canceled, while a deal to partner with Hyundai fell through in 2021. Now a report from Bloomberg says that the Apple car has been delayed by a year, with the launch now scheduled for 2026, and that Apple has abandoned plans to make the vehicle capable of full self-driving. Bloomberg cites unnamed sources close to the project claiming Apple has come to the realization that its initial goals of a Level 5 fully autonomous vehicle are impossible with current technology. Apple had envisioned a lounge-like vehicle without a specific driver’s seat, steering wheel, or pedals, but the company is now backtracking on that fantasy. When the Apple car arrives in 2026, it will include driver’s controls and will only be capable of full autonomous driving on the highway. Still Looking to Free Drivers from DrivingStill, Apple’s plans for highway autonomy seem ambitious. Unlike systems like General Motors’ Super Cruise that require the driver to keep their eyes on the road, Apple’s goal is to allow drivers the freedom to take their attention away from the road to do things like watch a movie or play a game. The driver will be warned “with ample time” if they need to take over when exiting the highway or approaching stormy weather.The Apple car will be centered around a powerful onboard computer, internally referred to as Denali, which has processing power equivalent to around four top-end Mac chips. The vehicle’s chip, which is paired with lidar and radar sensors along with cameras, is reportedly almost production ready. Tesla’s Autopilot system, meanwhile, relies solely on cameras. Apple had originally anticipated the car starting at over $120,000 but is now hoping to get the price under $100,000, according to the Bloomberg story. The design has yet to be finalized but Apple seems to have ditched its original plans for a pod-like vehicle—similar to the Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle—in favor of a more traditional car shape. It appears Apple intends to finalize the design next year and lock in the features by the end of 2024 before embarking on a testing program in 2025. Apple is also still said to be looking for a partner that will supply an electric skateboard platform. Around 1000 employees are focused on the Apple car, with Apple investing around $1 billion into the project each year. Still, Apple has encountered myriad challenges in the eight years that it has been working on Titan, and it still has a long way to go before the Apple car becomes a reality. 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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    Toyota C-HR Will Be Dead in North America after 2022

    The Toyota C-HR will be discontinued in the U.S. and Canada after 2022, the automaker confirmed to Car and Driver.Toyota also confirmed that the next-gen C-HR will not make it to North America and instead will be sold in Europe only. Previewing the next generation is the C-HR Prologue concept, which shares design cues with the extroverted Toyota bZ concept. It was fun, it was real, but it wasn’t real fun. The Toyota C-HR, which stimulated our eyes but never our hearts, will be pushing daises after the 2022 model year—at least in the U.S. and Canada. Toyota has confirmed to Car and Driver that its funky subcompact SUV will not return to either market for 2023, effectively ending the model’s North American run after just one abbreviated generation that began back in 2018.Remembering the C-HRC-HR Exit Stage LeftThe death of the C-HR means Americans who want a subcompact Toyota SUV will now be limited to the Corolla Cross, which looks comparatively bland but offers all-wheel drive and improved practicality versus the front-drive-only C-HR. Of course, there’s also the hugely popular RAV4, but its larger dimensions coincide with a higher price tag.2018 model shown.During its brief five-year life cycle, the first-generation C-HR captured our attention with its interesting bodywork featuring a determined-looking face, prominent character lines, and an available two-tone roof that ended with an integrated spoiler. Despite its undeniable curbside appeal, the C-HR always stymied our excitement with its snooze-worthy driving demeanor. We won’t bore you with the details, we’ll just point out that the trip to 60 mph took 11 seconds thanks to its indifferent 144-hp four-pot.Next C-HR Looks Even CoolerAlthough the C-HR nameplate will soon cease to exist on our shores, the people across the pond will be getting a second generation. Toyota confirmed that it’ll only be sold in Europe. Based on images that Toyota released of the C-HR Prologue concept (as seen below), the next-gen version looks legitimately rad. With the company’s proclamation that the successor to the original C-HR will be even bolder, we feel confident the production model will look similar to the concept. ToyotaMaybe if shoppers in North America had shown the first generation of the quirky subcompact SUV more love, Toyota wouldn’t have axed it. Either way, those who love the look of the next C-HR will likely be satisfied with the company’s upcoming bZ electric SUVs, which share design cues with the Prologue concept.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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    Bajaj Pulsar 150 Discontinued – Replaced By New P150

    Pulsar 150’s successor P150 has already been launched, which will continue to rival the likes of Honda Unicorn, Yamaha FZ 15, TVS Apache 160 and Gixxer 155Old Gen Bajaj Pulsar 150 DiscontinuedPulsar 150 and Pulsar 180 have played a key role in establishing Bajaj Auto as a leading player in motorcycle segment. The bikes are preferred for their sporty profile and powerful performance. Pulsar range has been expanded over the years and it continues to be the primary contributor to overall sales.After an exciting journey of more than two decades, Bajaj has taken the decision to discontinue Pulsar 150. It was inevitable, as Bajaj had launched the successor Pulsar P150 in November 2022. Pulsar 150 discontinuation is part of Bajaj’s ongoing initiative to revamp its Pulsar range. As part of that plan, Pulsar 180 was discontinued in August 2022, whereas Pulsar 220 production was stopped in 2021.Pulsar 150 evolutionWhile Bajaj had once dominated the scooter segment in 1980s and 90s, the market transformed rapidly with availability of affordable 100cc commuter bikes. These were faster, more agile and offered higher fuel efficiency. Such developments prompted Bajaj to step-up focus on motorcycles, which eventually resulted in launch of Pulsar 150 and Pulsar 180. The Pulsar twins got the attention of enthusiasts with their superior look and feel and peppy performance.Over the years, a number of changes and generational updates have been introduced for Pulsar 150. The first-gen Pulsar 150 used to generate 12 bhp of max power and was mated to a 5-speed gearbox. A big update for the bike was DTS-i Digital Twin Spark Ignition technology in 2003. It boosted overall performance and also improved fuel efficiency.New Pulsar P150Another feature that made Pulsar 150 popular was Nitrox rear suspension, which was probably a best-in-segment feature at that time. It ensured smoother rides and was especially useful in tackling rough patches on the streets.In its current form, Pulsar 150 churns out 14 PS of max power and 13.25 Nm of peak torque. The bike has a dominating street presence, with features such as wolf-eyed headlamp, carbon fibre accents and dagger-edged graphics. Pulsar 150 runs on 17-inch wheels at both ends and comes with 260mm ventilated front disc, integrated with ABS.Pulsar P150 featuresWhile legends are difficult to replace, the successor Pulsar P150 has a lot more to offer. Design has been completely overhauled to achieve a sharper, sportier profile. Some of the key highlights include sleek headlamp, sculpted fuel tank, slim waistline, underbelly exhaust and crystalline LED tail lamp. The bike is available in a range of exciting single-tone and dual-tone colour options.Power-to-weight ratio is higher now, as the bike weighs 10 kg less than the outgoing model. The all-new refined engine onboard Pulsar P150 generates 14.5 PS and 13.5 Nm. Improvements have also been made across torque availability, gear shift smoothness and reduction in noise and vibrations. Users can expect better ride quality, as Pulsar P150 has advanced monoshock rear suspension. All these updates have prepared P150 to take on the baton from Pulsar 150. More

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    Royal Enfield Scram 650 Rear Subframe Spied – Single Exhaust

    When compared to Interceptor 650, RE Scram 650 will be considerably lighter owing to its single exhaustRoyal Enfield Scram 650Royal Enfield is currently expanding its 650cc portfolio apart from expanding its 350cc and 450cc portfolio. There was an internal document used in one of the meetings of Royal Enfield. That document got leaked online. It revealed that there are multiple new motorcycles planned for launch.One of these new motorcycles is a cruiser and a tourer which seem to be the recently revealed Super Meteor 650 and Super Meteor 650 Tourer. There was also a bobber, an ADV and a scrambler. There have been multiple sightings of a Royal Enfield Scrambler based on a 650cc platform. Test mules are spotted both overseas and also here in India. Recent test mules divulge further info on this upcoming RE Scram 650.RE Scram 650 Rear SubframeMechanically, upcoming scrambler by Royal Enfield is likely to be kept as is. A slight retune to suit a scrambler character is likely. This is a potent 648 cc parallel-twin engine that generates around 46 bhp and 52 Nm of torque. This is mated to a 6-speed gearbox and gets a slipper clutch and oil cooling.The chassis on which Royal Enfield’s 650cc platform is based will undergo slight modification to suit different characters of intended variations. On Scram 650, Royal Enfield has modified its rear subframe which gives it that much-needed scrambler aesthetic. There is a single-seat setup, which gets a ribbed pattern cover.Royal Enfield Scram 650Seating posture is fairly upright with a neutral riding posture. Footpeg placement for rider seems to be slightly rear set which should add that sense of sportiness. Handlebars and instrumentation seem to be lifted off the recently launched Hunter 350. A tripper screen was not found on this test mule and might be made standard with production-spec model.Hardware ComponentsOne of the main highlights of this upcoming RE Scram 650 is its single exhaust. It gets a different exhaust header rerouting exhaust gases into one channel. This will reduce weight considerably and make the motorcycle peppier, which is a win-win situation. According to the report, this new exhaust packed a lot of bass and was slightly louder as well.In terms of componentry, Royal Enfield is offering front USD forks and LED headlights like the ones found on Super Meteor 650. There is exposed wiring that seems to be testing new LED turn indicators.Royal Enfield Scram 650RE Scram 650 still rides on spoked wheels which seem to be 17” in size. Wrapped to these wheels are block pattern tyres that should ensure slight trailing capability. Given Royal Enfield’s extensive testing, Scram 650 seems to be far from launch. When launched, pricing might be around Rs. 3.5 lakh.Source More