More stories

  • in

    New Vespa 300cc Scooter Spied Testing In India – Launch In 2023

    This 300cc engine is said to be similar to 300cc scooters offered by Keeway – It makes 18.4 bhp of power and 22 Nm of torqueImage for illustration. Credit – ScooteriaThe Indian scooter market was not mature enough to embrace unconventional products like Kinetic Blaze back in the day. Fast forward to 2023, we have sporty scooters in the form of Yamaha Aerox 155. 300cc scooters have sprung up too and if you want a grotesque, BMW even has C 400 GT that costs an absolute bomb.Vespa being a stalwart in the scooter field can’t shy away from offering a 300cc scooter in an important market like India. New Vespa GTS 300cc scooter has been spied testing in India and is likely to go on sale soon. Let’s take a look.New Vespa 300cc Scooter SpiedThere used to be multiple speculations in place since 2020 that Vespa is working on a larger 300cc engine. Followed by the economic crisis post Covid-19, this development was somewhat muted. In 2023, it seems to be undergoing testing for an imminent launch in near future.Vespa GTS line stands for Granturismo Sport and has a larger body than other Vespa scooters owing to its touring credentials. As the name suggests, Vespa GTS 300cc scooter is touring-oriented and hence offers a lot of space for both rider and pillion. The engine seems to be a much larger unit than Vespa’s current flagship Racing Sixties 150’s engine.New Vespa 300cc Scooter SpiedUpon closer inspection, this doesn’t look like the 2023 model that was showcased at 2022 EICMA. It is not yet sure if this test mule will get the same TFT colour screen as found on the GTS 300 SuperTech variant sold globally. The test mule spotted in India had a phone holder or testing equipment mounted on top of its instrument cluster.Another point to be noted is that global models get disc brakes at both front and back. The test mule that was spotted in India featured rear drum brakes. This might be a cost-cutting measure to offer 2023 Vespa GTS 300 at an attractive price point.Specs & FeaturesOther notable cost cutting is evident in the engine cooling system. While the Indian test mule is an air-cooled unit, globally, Vespa offers a liquid-cooled engine. The 300cc engine in question also does duties on recently launched Keeway Vieste 300 and Sixties 300i. On Keeway products, this engine is said to be on a different tune, while Vespa will offer its scooter with a different tune.Specifications and features including engine displacement might vary compared to international spec model. When launched, it will rival both Keeway scooters with 300cc engines and prices can fall between Rs. 3 – 3.5 lakh (ex-sh).Source More

  • in

    Porsche 911 Dakar Gets Wraps That Celebrate 1970s Rallying Icons

    Porsche unveiled the off-road-focused 911 Dakar last fall; now the company is showing off three wraps that owners can have added to the special 911.Each focuses on emulating a different rally car that raced in the East African Safari Rally in the 1970s, with the red and blue wavy look of the Rallye 1978 package catching our eye the most.All three wraps can be ordered from the factory through the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur program. The Porsche 911 model range is already incredibly complex, with more than two dozen variants ranging from comfy grand tourers to hard-core track tools. But late last year the German automaker added yet another version to the 911 lineup, the limited-production Dakar. Now Porsche is showing off three exclusive wraps that lucky owners can spec their 911 Dakar in to emulate the race cars that competed in the 1971, 1974, and 1978 editions of the East African Safari Rally.Porsche1971: Zasada/Bień The first package, which bears the number 19, recalls the 911 piloted by Polish drivers Sobiesław Zasada and Marian Bień to fifth place over 3100 miles of Kenyan wilderness in the 1971 rally. Mimicking the original race car, the Rallye 1971 wrap adds a black hood, black fender flares, and a few other period-accurate graphics for $5260.Porsche1974: Waldegård/Thorszelius The Rallye 1974 decal set also goes for $5260. It is a tribute to the 911 Carrera 2.7 RS that Swedish rally champion Björn Waldegård and co-driver Hans Thorszelius brought home in second place, after leading most of the 1255-mile 1974 trek that saw only 16 of the 99 starters finish. This package brings a pair of blue stripes along the beltline of the car, along with other motorsports-inspired decals.PorscheMore on Off-Road 911s1978: Waldegård Is BackThe last decal set honors the 1978 running, which saw Waldegård return to Kenya in a 911 SC Group 4 car, although the driver had to settle for fourth place while two South Africans, Vic Preston, Jr., and John Lyall, took another 911 to second place. The Rallye 1978 wrap features the iconic look seen on the original race cars, with red and blue waves cascading over the bodywork and the number 14 emblazoned on the doors. This package will cost 911 Dakar owners $7510, and all of the decal sets will be available from the factory via the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur program. 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

  • in

    2023 Ather 450x Electric Scooter Deliveries Start – First Batch

    New Ather Battery Protect warranty scheme is applicable to all new 450X purchases and existing Ather owners can avail it at an additional costAther Electric Scooter New 2023 ModelAther Energy was among the first to launch a premium electric scooter in India. It even took performance electric scooter crown for a long time as well. The company even claims that 450X is the first ever scooter of any kind to come with a built-in touchscreen and first-ever scooter of any kind to get on board Google Maps.At Ather’s Community Day held on January 7th, there was a lot of information divulged from Ather. There was a new OTA update, a new warranty scheme, a new seat, and colours as well. There was a lot of attention given to update software, user interface and Google Maps integration as well. Now that TVC is out, let’s take a closer look.2023 Ather 450x Electric Scooter DeliveriesElectric powertrains need a lot of fine-tuning with their software so as to extract most out of its potential. These softwares are updated periodically to ensure the user gets the most optimum experience. Ola calls it Move OS and Ather calls it AtherStack. Latter is now updated and is called AtherStack 5.0.Tarun Mehta – Co-Founder & CEO, Ather Energy, said “Ather 450, was the first-ever software engine (AtherStack) on any two-wheeler in India, probably even globally. It enabled first-in-market features like a touchscreen dashboard, onboard navigation, and remote diagnostics. Some of which barely even existed in luxury cars at that time. With a fluid new UI and Google Vector Maps, AtherStack 5.0 takes our touchscreen and maps experience to a whole new level.[embedded content][embedded content]AtherStacks 5.0 also enabled Ather to leverage its hardware to unlock new experiences such as AutoHold. Importantly, it allowed the company to roll out these new experiences to most of our existing customers as well, based on their scooter generation. AtherStack will continue to form a core of the company’s product strategy, allowing Ather to constantly keep enhancing its product experience on existing hardware platform.”2023 Ather Electric Scooter SpecsAs seen in AtherStack 5.0 TVC, Ather has revamped its user interface for touchscreen dash to incorporate gestures instead of taps. Logical refinement is found throughout. Google Maps now gets Vector maps with perspective change and even live traffic updates. After working on it for 2 years, Ather finally launched AutoHold, which helps in inclined terrains.2023 Ather Electric Scooter SpecsNew Warranty, Colours, SeatOne of the most important announcements Ather did on Community day is Ather Battery Protect. This is an extended warranty program that covers Ather EVs for up to 5 years or 60,000 km. There is a guarantee of 70% performance at the end of 5 years too. Ather Battery Protect is standard on every new 450X, while Gen 2 and Gen 3 owners can opt for it at an additional cost.2023 Ather Electric Scooter SpecsAlong with Neighbourhood charging and new colours for 450X, Ather also showed a plusher seat. This seat is free for everyone that attended Ather Community Day and others can avail it at an additional cost. Ather operates in the premium electric scooter space and rivals Ola, TVS, Bajaj and upcoming Simple One. Deliveries have started. More

  • in

    Mazda Rotary Engine Is Coming Back on an MX-30 Plug-In-Hybrid

    Mazda’s European branch announced this morning that the rotary engine will return on the 2023 MX-30 R-EV, set to be revealed on Friday, January 13.The company also unveiled a new logo featuring a lowercase “e” inside a triangle that mimics the shape of a rotary engine.The new powertrain should bring added utility to the MX-30, previously sold as an EV in the U.S. with a disappointing 100 miles of EPA-estimated range.Despite a stylish exterior and Mazda’s typical athletic handling, the company’s first electric vehicle, the 2022 MX-30, fell short on the key attributes of a successful EV. The $34,000 crossover returned a mere 100 miles of EPA range and an even more paltry 70 miles on our highway range test, and trudged to 60 mph in a 8.7 seconds. But the MX-30 will soon be rejuvenated, becoming a plug-in hybrid as the rotary engine returns to Mazda’s lineup for the first time since 2012. MazdaDetails are still scarce, but Mazda in Europe announced this morning that the updated crossover, set to be called the MX-30 R-EV, will be revealed in full on January 13. The automaker also showed off a new logo that will presumably adorn the plug-in hybrid, featuring a lowercase “e” inside a triangle that represents the shape of a rotary engine.More Mazda NewsComing to U.S.?While the MX-30 had been sold in the United States purely as an EV, a mild hybrid version with Mazda’s Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter inline-four was offered in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Mazda’s U.S. division has yet to mention the MX-30 R-EV, but we expect the plug-in hybrid version to arrive in the United States for the 2023 model year and sales will likely expand beyond California, where the all-electric MX-30 had been limited to. More details on U.S. availability should arrive after the rotary-engined crossover is revealed this Friday. 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

  • in

    Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Model Is Even More Hard-Core (and More Expensive)

    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.Hennessey is releasing a lighter, track-focused version of its hypercar that is still road legal. Power is unchanged at 1817 horsepower from the twin-turbo 6.6-liter V-8.The Revolution will be priced from $2.7 million, and just 24 will be built.While the Hennessey Venom F5 has yet to deliver on John Hennessey’s promise it will prove itself the fastest production car in the world, that hasn’t stopped the Texas company from creating an even harder-core version. According to Hennessey, the F5 Venom is more track focused than the regular version, but it will still be street legal. Texas-Size AmbitionsAlthough Hennessey hasn’t made any top-speed claims for the Revolution, it will almost certainly be slower than the existing F5, which John Hennessey previously told C/D is targeting a top speed of over 311 mph (that’s 500 km/h in metric). That’s because the Revolution is carrying substantial aerodynamic modifications, with these claimed to substantially increase its peak downforce abilities. The new adjustable rear wing, with patriotic stars-and-stripes endplates, is claimed to be capable of making more than 800 pounds of positive aero assistance at 186 mph, and over 1400 pounds at 249 mph. When Hennessey first showed the F5 in 2020, it promised a track pack with a raised rear wing would follow, and the Revolution seems to be that. Although the company hasn’t released any claims for total downforce, the fact that the Revolution has substantially large diffusers front and rear suggests the combined figure will be even more impressive. There are also dive-plane elements on the front bumper to help move the aerodynamic balance forward, which sounds exciting.Power hasn’t increased over the regular F5 Venom coupe or the Roadster version that was announced last year. But it probably doesn’t need to; a peak 1817 hp sounds like plenty, even in these inflated times. The Revolution will use the same mid-mounted 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged pushrod V-8 as other F5s, with the engine making its power peak at 8200 rpm and accompanying it with a maximum 1193 pound-feet of torque at 5500 rpm. Power will reach the rear wheels through an automated single-clutch transmission and a limited-slip differential.Mass has been trimmed from the other side of the scale, with the F5 Revolution’s carbon structure claimed to be lighter than the already svelte F5. Hennessey promises that it will weigh less than 3000 pounds, 50 pounds less than it claims for the existing car. That’s despite the arrival of a new high-level engine air intake that sits above the roof. Suspension settings are also promised to be more aggressive and designed for hard track use.Just 24 of the F5 Revolution will be produced, with prices running from $2.7 million. That’s a figure that will likely make anybody who paid the $2.1 million that was asked for the regular F5 Venom feel like they nabbed a bargain. Or possibly that they should have waited a little longer for one of these. 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. More

  • in

    Tata Ace Electric Launch Price Rs 9.99 L – First Deliveries Start

    At Rs. 9.99 lakh (ex-sh), Tata Ace Electric deliveries have begun to partners in B2B, last mile and logistics fieldsNew Tata Ace ElectricTata Ace has been one of those vehicles that defined the segment it is offered in. Even after a decade after its launch, Ace is still synonymous with LCVs under 1 tonne. So much so that most people still call LCVs under 1-tonne capacity as Ace. Such is its popularity. A couple of months ago, we saw the launch of Yodha 2.0 along with new Intra 50 as well.With changing times, adaptability is on Tata Motors’ key agenda. With Ace, Tata is going electric for 2023. First unveiled in May 2022, Ace EV has now launched at Rs. 9.99 lakh (ex-sh) and deliveries have begun for B2B business orders and last-mile delivery companies. Tata Motors promises 154 km of range from a single charge and offers 5 years complementary AMC pack as well.Tata Ace Electric Deliveries BeginMainly targeted at intra-city cargo and delivery businesses, Tata Motors has also stressed 100% uptime as well which is a boon for these companies. Along with Ace EV, Tata Motors has introduced Tata Fleet Edge, which is a next-gen fleet management solution, and Tata universe, which is an eco-system that binds relevant Tata Group Companies with India’s leading financers for funding.Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, said, “Introduction of Ace EV on Indian roads marks a major step forward for Tata Motors towards zero-emission cargo mobility goal. Tata Ace EV is one of holistic solutions co-created with our partners effectively catering to a host of intra-city distribution needs.New Tata Ace Electric – First deliveries startThis platform delivers superior value propositions to all stakeholders as well. The company is grateful for the trust and support of our customers (various B2B companies and cargo delivery companies). Encouraging response from partners toward Ace EV inspires the company to accelerate our endeavours in sustainable mobility and support India’s net-zero aspirations.”Tata Ace EV deliveries have commenced to leading e-commerce, FMGC and their courier partners and logistic service providers like FedEx, Flipkart, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, Amazon, Delhivery, DHL (Express & Supply Chain), MoEVing, Safexpress and Trent Limited and more.Specs & PricingWith Ace Electric, Tata Motors is debuting their EVOGEN powertrain with a certified range of 154 km from a single charge. Being an EV, Tata Motors has offered regenerative braking as well. Tata Ace EV is said to be safe from all weather conditions as it features an advanced battery cooling system. Uptime is paramount for logistics and B2B companies.To increase uptime, Tata Ace Electric is equipped with fast charging capabilities as well. Ace EV is powered by a 27 kW (36 bhp) motor with 130 Nm of torque at 0 RPM. Cargo space is rated as 208 cubic feet and it comes with 22% grade ability at fully loaded conditions. Prices start from Rs. 9.99 lakh (ex-sh) and have no immediate rivals in 4W LCV segment with 1-tonne capacity. More

  • in

    New TVS Metro Plus 110cc Launch Price BDT 1.25 L – 86 Kmpl Mileage

    TVS Metro Plus 110cc is sold in India as Star City Plus – with identical looks and even graphicsTVS Metro Plus 110India’s TVS Motor, is one of the most prominent 2W and 3W manufacturers in the world. With an extensive product portfolio, TVS operates in many countries worldwide. One of those countries is Bangladesh.In Bangladesh, TVS has launched a new motorcycle today, called Metro Plus 110 with upgraded features and new additions. This is not an entirely new motorcycle and is also sold in India as well. If you scoured TVS’ entire lineup and didn’t find a Metro Plus, you will find it under the Star City Plus name. Yes, both motorcycles are almost similar. Let’s take a look.2023 TVS Metro Plus 110 LaunchedThe upgrades that Metro Plus 110 brings to the table are termed customer needs within this segment. Renewed styling and safety aspects of Metro Plus are expected to cater to a new generation of riders and satisfy growing customer demand in Bangladesh.This is said to be just a refresh of what used to already be on offer. Main highlights are LED Headlamps, USB charging port, New Dual-Tone colours, and Synchronized Braking Technology.TVS Metro Plus 110 SpecsApart from LED Headlamps, USB charging port, New Dual-Tone colours, and Synchronized Braking, there are not a lot of additions. Aluminium grab rail, chrome muffler guard and a sporty instrument cluster are some of the additions.New TVS Metro Plus 110 Specs, PricesMetro Plus 110 comes with a 110 cc single-cylinder mill that is coupled to a 4-speed gearbox. The company has sold 1.2 lakhs units of TVS Metro Plus 110 in Bangladesh since its first launch. Along with all these, an electric start feature that works in all gears and two new dual-tone colour schemes. The Blue Silver dual-tone shade with front disc brake is offered in India as well.TVS promises a best-in-class mileage of 86 kmpl. A standard two-year warranty and six free services are offered with TVS Metro Plus 110 like every other product from the company in Bangladesh. In India, Star City Plus prices start from Rs. 73,500 (ex-sh). 2023 TVS Metro Plus 110cc prices in Bangladesh start from BDT 1.25 lakh (INR 1 lakh) for the drum brake variant and BDT 1.3 lakh (INR 1.05 lakh) for the disc brake variant.TVS Motor Bangladesh said, “We are excited to launch the New TVS Metro Plus in Bangladesh which is one of our key international markets. The motorcycle will be sold across our 335 sales outlets and will be serviced at 328 service touchpoints making it the widest service network across Bangladesh.” More

  • in

    Two Wheeler Retail Sales Dec 2022 – TVS, Bajaj, RE, Yamaha, Hero Electric

    Two wheeler retail sales were at their lowest ever in December 2022 suffering a de-growth over sales in 2021, 2020 and 2019Yamaha R15Year 2022 was not so great for the two wheeler segment. In the earlier post, we took a look at the two wheeler wholesales (sales from company to dealers) for Dec 2022. In this post, we will take a look at the retail sales (sales from dealers to customers) in Dec 2022.Retail sales were down to 11,33,138 units in Dec 2022. This was the lowest Dec 2022 2W retail sales since 2019. Sales in Dec 2021 had stood at 12,75,894 units relating to a 11.19 percent YoY decline while sales were also lower by 29.07 percent and 20.54 percent when compared to sales of 15,97,554 units and 14,25,994 units sold in December of 2020 and 2019. What brought about this de-growth? Could it be a rise in inflation, rising cost of ownership or a clear migration to electric vehicles?However, taking sales during the calendar year of 2022 into account, sales increased to 1,53,88,062 units during the period Jan-Dec 2022 which was a 13.37 percent growth over 1,35,73,682 units sold in the same period of 2021. There was also a 10.50 percent improvement over 1,39,26,085 units sold in Dec 2020 but a decline of 15.47 percent from 1,82,04,593 units sold in Dec 2019, a pre-covid period.Two Wheeler Retail Sales Dec 2022Hero MotoCorp, the No. 1 two wheeler OEM has seen sales volumes dip by 1,13,634 units to 3,30,175 units in Dec 2022, down from 4,43,809 units sold in Dec 2021. Market share fell to 29.14 percent from 34.78 percent YoY. Honda two wheeler sales increased to 2,94,011 units from 2,84,998 units sold in Dec 2021 taking market share up to 25.95 percent from 22.34 percent YoY. Honda is set to enter the electric two wheeler segment with at least 10 electric bikes planned for launch by 2025.Two wheeler retail sales Dec 2022 – FADATVS Motor was at No. 3 with retail sales of 1,76,072 units, down from 1,90,457 units sold in Dec 2021 while Bajaj Auto also suffered a YoY de-growth to 1,25,854 units in Dec 2022 from 1,64,133 unit retail sales in Dec 2021.RE sales improved to 56,028 units in the past month from 41,675 units sold in Dec 2021 while sales of Suzuki also increased to 53,043 units in Dec 2022 from 42,643 units sold in Dec 2021. India Yamaha Motors ended the past month with 39,860 unit sales, a marginal growth of 39,357 units sold in Dec 2021.Electric 2W Retail Sales Dec 2022Outstanding sales were reported for those two wheeler OEMs with an electric lineup. Ola saw its sales zoom to 17,280 units from just 240 units sold in Dec 2021 taking up market share to 1.52 percent from 0.02 percent YoY. CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has stated on social media that he expects the Ola S1 lineup to become the best-selling scooter in India by August 2023 overtaking the Honda Activa.Hero Electric also saw its sales increase to 8,091 units from 6,061 units on a YoY basis while Ather Energy sales increased to 7,646 units in Dec 2022 from 1,813 units sold in Dec 2021. The list also included Okinawa (5,279 units), Ampere (4,408 units), Piaggio (2,711 units), Classic Legends (2,681 units) and Okaya (1,449 units). Benling India sales dipped to 966 units last month from 1,094 units sold in Dec 2021 and PurEV sales fell to 780 units from 1685 units sold in Dec 2021. Kinetic Green (749 units), Jitendra (669 units) and Bgauss Auto (592 units) concluded this list while there were others in this segment that added 4,794 units to total retail sales. More