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    2023 Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato Puts the Supercar in Rally Mode

    The off-road version of the Lamborghini Huracán delivers on the promise of its 2019 concept.It’s got less power than the regular car and a lower top speed, but it adds a raised ride height and a Rally mode. Customer deliveries start next year for the Sterrato, which will be the last Huracán variant.We first told you about Lamborghini’s plans to create a rally-raid-inspired version of the Huracán supercar back in 2019. Four years later, you’re looking at the production version. A limited run of 900 of the Huracán Sterrato will be produced for all markets, with deliveries starting next year. It will also be the last variant of the Huracán model line, and the last Lamborghini to be powered by the Italian company’s hugely charismatic naturally aspirated V-10 engine.While the finished version looks very close to the original concept, much has been tweaked and tucked in the move to production. The biggest change is the arrival of a high-level central air intake for the engine at the back of the roof, coming as a result of feedback from the engineering team while the prototype was being tested in desert conditions. “It was eating too much dust,” Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini’s design director, admitted when C/D spoke to him about the car, “or rather the filters were getting blocked much too quickly.” The raised periscope will be able to sit in cleaner air and deliver it to the engine; both of the regular Huracán’s side intakes are now blanked out. All-wheel drive will be standard, and the Sterrato does without the active rear-steering system of faster road-biased Huracáns.More Details and ActionThe new intake system means a slight reduction in power output for the Sterrato’s V-10. It now makes 601 horsepower, a 30-hp loss over the regular Huracán, although peak torque of 413 pound-feet is unchanged. It is hard to imagine the lesser figure will be a dealbreaker. Lamborghini claims a 3.4-second time to 62 mph, which sounds unexceptional for a Huracán—we blasted the rear-driven STO to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds last year. But bear in mind that the Sterrato must dispatch the benchmark while wearing Bridgestone Dueler All Terrain tires as standard. The off-road rubber is also why it has a 160-mph speed limiter, which will make it the slowest production Lamborghini since the monstrous LM002 SUV went off-sale.Suspension changes include a 1.7-inch increase in ride height and consequent improvement in ground clearance. Beneath the carbon-fiber arch extensions, the track has also increased by 1.2 inches at the front and 1.4 inches at the back. Lamborghini CTO Rouven Mohr says that suspension settings are significantly softer than in any other Huracán, although with switchable electromagnetic shock absorbers still allowing variable damping forces. “It was very challenging from a tire point of view to have a setup that was also stable at high speed,” he says, “but although the limits are obviously lower the car is also fun to drive on road, it is very progressive.”Although it carries underbody protection and has reinforced sill covers, the Sterrato is designed for dusty and sandy conditions rather than rock scrambling. Like the Urus Performante it features a new dynamic setting called Rally, with Mohr saying that this will slacken stability control intervention to allow big drift angles on loose surfaces, while still stepping in if the car threatens to spin. Lamborghini hasn’t released any images of the Sterrato’s interior yet, but we’re told that it will feature the new option of Sterrato Green microfiber trim as well as new infotainment functions including an inclinometer, a pitch and roll indicator, a compass, and a steering angle repeater. It will also come with a data recording system which, in its next iteration, will allow Apple Watch users to synchronize their heart rate with the telemetry.Two of the Sterrato’s most distinctive features posed significant challenges for the engineering team, but were judged critical to delivering on the promise of the concept. The front auxiliary lights needed to be capable of passing tough pedestrian impact standards, and the roof rails required the car to carry loads where it was never designed to. Although loads will be limited to a modest 66 pounds—meaning no roof tents—Lamborghini predicts that buyers will opt to carry skis or lightweight bicycles. The original idea for the Sterrato came when Mohr and Borkert, both then new arrivals at Lamborghini, were discussing their key automotive influences and agreed on the Lancia Stratos. That led to Mohr,who was then head of vehicle engineering, turning a durability-test Huracán into the original concept. As built, it was finished something very similar to the white, green, and red Alitalia livery the Stratos wore in competition, with the colors (but not the pattern) changed for the public images.Both Borkert and Mohr agree that Lamborghini boss Stefan Winkelmann was critical to the creation of the production version, greenlighting the project almost as soon as he returned to the CEO role in 2020. The Sterrato will be sold alongside the existing Huracán range until the car goes off sale. We don’t have U.S. pricing yet, but in Europe the Sterrato will cost the equivalent of $270,000 at current exchange rates. We can expect to pay a supplement on that.Will any Sterrato buyers actually use them in their intended environment? Mitja Borkert hopes so. “It is going to look better when it is dirty, or when it has some wear on it,” he says. Here’s hoping that happens. 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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    Toyota Innova Electric Spied On Public Road For First Time

    Innova Crysta electric concept prototype resembles its ICE-powered sibling with a closed-off grille at the front and blue accentsToyota Innova Crysta Electric Concept PrototypeWe have seen Toyota going full regalia with hybrid tech. Innova Hycross was recently launched in Indonesia as Innova Kejing Zenix. In India, it might bear the name Innova Crysta Hycross. That said, Toyota is also investing sizeable chunks of its R&D budget in pure EVs and PHEVs as well.Earlier this year, Toyota showcased an all-electric Innova concept prototype at Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) in Jakarta. It managed to grab a lot of eyeballs across the world, especially in South Asian markets and India where Innova is popular.Innova Crysta Electric SpiedInnova Crysta Electric concept prototype is a good example of Toyota electrifying its existing ICE vehicles along the way. Recently, this prototype is spotted undergoing testing on roads. Is Toyota considering utilising the older platform to make pure EVs? It is a stretch. But there is a good possibility of that happening. Let’s take a look.This is an interesting development because Anton Jimmi Suwandy, marketing director, Toyota Astra Motor, Indonesia, revealed that “Kijang Innova Electric will not go on sale and has been built as a concept for the purpose of engineering development only. Suwandy further added that the Innova EV concept is being used for research and development of future EVs that are being readied for the region”.Innova Crysta ElectricHenry Tanoto, Vice President Director at Toyota Astra Motor Indonesia, also confirmed that the Innova EV concept is ‘merely a study’. The concept is said to have raised the popularity of EVs in the community. Outgoing Innova Crysta is underpinned by IMV2 ladder-on-frame architecture which is designed to accommodate petrol and diesel powertrains.Incorporating battery packs and motors in this platform is a major packaging challenge. Thanks to old-school construction that restricts space for batteries. Toyota might be investing in electrification of its current ladder-frame old-school vehicles like MPVs, SUVs and pickup trucks and more. There are segments like pickup trucks where robustness of ladder-frame chassis and electrification are equally important.What To Expect?If everything that Toyota is testing with the Innova Crysta electric concept prototype checks out, we can witness electrification or even hybridisation of workhorses like SUVs and pickup trucks from the Japanese giant in the future. In North American markets, GM, Ford and even Rivian are offering electric vehicles that are based on ladder-frame chassis.Innova Crysta ElectricEven though Innova Crysta electric concept prototype is spotted testing on road, Toyota is not likely to launch an electric version of its MPV. Innova Hycross is already out of the bag and features a modern monocoque chassis with an FWD layout and a hybrid powertrain as an option.Source More

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    Upcoming Electric Scooters, Motorcycles – Honda, Yamaha, Ola, KTM

    Upcoming electric two wheelers that are likely to launch in 2023 are both from mainstream manufacturers and startups alikeUpcoming Yamaha Electric scooters India 2023. Image – Nikam Yamaha.Even though we have a fair share of electric 2 wheelers, there’s always room for more. Right now, Ola Electric, Hero Electric, Okinawa, Ampere and Ather Energy are top brands when it comes to electric two wheelers. Hero MotoCorp, TVS, Bajaj, and others are pushing the sales envelope too. Here are some of the most anticipated upcoming electric two wheelers that might be worth waiting for. Launch timelines for most of these two wheelers are not yet known, though.Ultraviolette F77 – Nov 24thRecently, we witnessed the launch of Ultraviolette F77. This is a modern fusion of a faired and a street motorcycle. In that sense, it gets a fairing that covers its frame, battery and motor. However, the front is designed to mimic a street fighter with beefy USD fork covers. It will get a motor with 35 bhp of peak power capable of 147 km/h top speed and will sip juice from a 4.2 kWh battery. Price starts from Rs 3.8 lakh and goes all the way to Rs 5.5 lakh.Oben Rorr – Launched, Delivery Date UnknownThis electric motorcycle has been launched in India for Rs. 1 lakh and claims a range of 200 km (IDC). It was spotted testing even after its launch and delivery date is not yet known. This Bengaluru-based company is targeting the likes of Tork Kratos. When compared to its immediate rivals like Kratos, HOP OXO and RV400, it leads the spec-sheet too.Simple One – 1st Quarter of 2023Simple One is the one that is not seeing the light of day for a long time. Originally, Simple One delivery timeline was promised for July 2022. Which was postponed to September 2022. And later to October 2022 and then to the 1st quarter of 2023. With its extended battery option, Simple One boasts up to 300 km of range, which is pretty much unheard of in the segment.Simple One Electric ScooterRaptee Electric MotorcycleJust like F77 electric motorcycle by Ultraviolette, Raptee electric motorcycle is a hybrid between a naked and a faired motorcycle. Headline figures include a top speed of 135 km/h, 150 km real-world range, 0 to 60 km/h in 3.5 seconds and 0 to 85% charge time in 45 minutesOla Electric MotorcycleRecently, Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal posted on Twitter to vote for a type of electric motorcycle they would like, Highest votes were garnered by sports bikes, followed by Cruiser, Adventure and Cafe racers. After the launch of Ola S1 Air, the company is likely to venture into electric motorcycles before heading towards electric cars.Husqvarna Electric Scooter / KTM Duke ElectricBajaj has got its foot inside the electric two wheeler room with the launch of Chetak. That said, the company is leveraging its partnership with KTM / Husqvarna and has confirmed launch of new products in the EV space. Rumour mill points towards an electric Husqvarna E-Pilen and KTM E-Duke. Both of them are likely to pack 5.5 kWh of battery. Husqvarna electric scooter based on Chetak is spotted testing multiple times.KTM Duke Electric Motorcycle Launch PlansSuzuki Burgman Street ElectricIt has already been established that Suzuki is working on an electric scooter specifically for the Indian market. Based on Burgman Street 125, this upcoming e-scooter has been spotted testing on Indian roads on multiple occasions too. Patent images are leaked and reveal that it gets a fixed battery and a chain drive.Hero Electric AE-472020 Auto Expo showcased a lot of upcoming electric wheelers from Hero Electric’s stables. The star of that show was AE-47 electric motorcycle which looked very promising. Launch is not yet confirmed and the product is not spotted testing either. That said, it would be a fitting rival to Revolt RV400 and the likes.Honda Benly e Electric scooter spied in BangaloreHonda Electric ScooterHonda has revealed plans to launch electric 2W in India in 2023. We have seen Benly e electric scooter under testing in India multiple times donning a green number plate. This is likely because Honda is testing electrical components and not the entire vehicle. Honda is said to offer swappable battery tech which Benly e supports. Launch is likely to be in 2023.Yamaha Electric ScooterYamaha was the last one among Japanese scooter makers to be left out of electric space. That said, Yamaha is prepping its prototype for India and its production is likely to happen in Chennai. A few electric scooters have been showcased to dealers. Not much is known about India-spec versions of these upcoming electric two wheelers, though. More

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    The Rental Company That Owns the Nissan GT-R R34 Lewis Hamilton Drove Is Not Happy

    Lewis Hamilton shared a clip last week of himself driving an R34 Nissan GT-R hard around a city. It is an instant classic video, a rare example of F1’s most successful driver ever just having fun in a cool car, but not everyone is happy about it. Chief among the unhappy parties is, apparently, the company that actually owns the car.CarBuzz reports the car is owned by the Japanese company Omoshiro Rent-a-Car, which rented the Nissan out to either Hamilton or an associate during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. The video was filmed shortly afterward, but Hamilton’s outright hooning was in apparent violation of the company’s policies. In a tweet attributed to the company, the brand simply says that “such driving is prohibited.” While the brand confirmed the rental to Hamilton to CarBuzz, an Omoshiro Rent-a-Car representative added that “Under the guidance of our attorneys, [Omoshiro is] unable to disclose any further information.” It is unclear if this is an active legal matter. This content is imported from twitter. 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.こちらはおもしろレンタカーの車ですが、これは弊社が許可をして撮影されたものではありません。このような走行は一切禁止しております。 https://t.co/5Ud0stH44t— おもしろレンタカー 中のひと (@info82262789) November 24, 2022No matter what happens next, though, the conclusion is the same. If you are going to take a rental car out to do things the agreement expressly forbids, do not post a video online unless you are prepared for the rental company to find it. Even seven-time world champions and 103-time Grand Prix winners are not immune to the rules of rental agreements.This content is imported from twitter. 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 twitter. 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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    Corvette to Launch as a Brand in 2025 with a Four-Door and an SUV

    The next move for GM with its valued Corvette nameplate will be to launch a Corvette subbrand.It will include a four-door “coupe” and a sporty high-performance crossover to partner the upcoming two-seater Corvette EV.The new Corvette lineup will be positioned well above its rivals, such as a future trio of electric Mustangs. What’s in a name? When you are a carmaker, the answer is: everything. Arguably, people buy a BMW or a Benz at least as much for the name as for the car itself, and the same goes for Corvette. In terms of brand value, Corvette is among the auto industry’s most heralded and valued nameplates, and yet it currently only pulls a small percentage of the potentially huge profit. But according to those in the know, this is going to change. We have already seen the new Z06, and there are several more versions of the C8 still to come, including a possible E-Ray hybrid, the revived ZR1 and the even more extreme Zora hybrid named after Zora Arkus-Duntov, father of the original C1. There’s also a Corvette EV on the horizon slated to use GM’s Ultium architecture.Step two of GM’s Corvette brand strategy is even more ambitious and far-reaching. Starting in 2025, GM plans to launch a Corvette brand that will also include a sleek four-door coupe and a brawny crossover. Both of these future new Vettes will be EVs.Sports cars are useful image builders, but their contribution to the bottom line is—at least in the case of GM—negligible. Played intelligently and with authenticity, however, the name Corvette should be a license to print money. At a point in time when Ferrari and Maserati and Porsche are all offering one or more SUVs—the antithesis to the hard-core sports cars that put them on the map in the first place—why shouldn’t Corvette also consider building sedans, crossovers or, heaven forbid, even pickups? More on the CorvetteOf course, these new age products can’t be a half-hearted attempt like the Cadillac Cimarron or the Ford Contour-derived Jaguar X-Type. Instead, the pivotal starting point is a redefined unique DNA that shouts “Corvette” in terms of design and driving dynamics. The switch to the Ultium battery platform allows the keepers of the brand to reimagine the proportions, stance, and engineering—or to adhere to the trademark elements which shaped the American sports car icon from the ’50s to the present day. A source who has seen the first proposals describes them as “copies of nothing” and as “encapsulated emotional purity.” Waxing lyrical may do justice to the styling themes, but what about the bespoke content? The mechanical package apparently includes battery packs with high energy density, superfast software, a patented cooling concept, staggered Lego-like topographic packaging, miniaturized componentry, ultra-efficient inverters, high-revving electric motors, an 800-volt electrical system that provides up to 350 kW of charging power, a two-speed transmission, brake-by-wire, multi-mode four-wheel steering, and torque vectoring.Corvette EV prototypeGMAccording to our friend from within the GM Tech Center: “Corvette is not just a brand. It’s a constantly evolving system paired with a dramatically different user experience.” The four-door coupe (think of it as more of a liftback) and the crossover add two new values to the marque: mainstream exclusivity and overt luxury. Thanks to a delicate balance of functionality and fashion, stats and style, and limited availability fueling high desirability, all three pillars are prepared for pragmatic evolution and subsequent proliferation.”The aim is not to beat Taycan and Cayenne at their own game but to create three American legends capable of breaking new ground by making the essence of Corvette scalable. To do so, that essence must at all times be in a state of progressive flux,” our source comments. Hear, hear.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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    Watch a Ferrari SF90 Destroy a Superbike in a Drag Race

    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.On the cheap end, production bikes are faster than production cars. With a $10,000 budget you’d have no problem getting a bike that could run away from any internal-combustion car that costs five times as much. But when you get to the ridiculous, over-the-top end of the performance spectrum and add in electric motors, cars are hard to beat.Proof comes in the form of this new video from CarWow, which pits the Ferrari SF90 up against the BMW M1000 RR. The bike is BMW’s fastest, a special edition with M branding and 212 horsepower on tap from a 999-cubic-centimeter inline-four engine. That’s quite a bit for a package that weighs just over 400 pounds unloaded. Ferrari vs. the World, Then and NowBut it doesn’t matter. The Ferrari, with its half-million-dollar price tag and sophisticated hybrid system, is too quick. The gas-sucking V-8 makes 769 hp all on its own, but with the three onboard electric motors, total system output is 986 hp. That powertrain drives all four wheels, giving the 3500-pound Ferrari a lot of traction with which to unleash its 590 pound-feet of torque. The result is a browbeating for the bike. An all-wheel-drive, 986-hp hypercar is just too much to handle. But we’d bet the BMW rider had more fun. From 2020: First DriveThis 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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    2023 KTM 390 Adventure, 390 Enduro Spied – Himalayan 450 Rival

    2023 KTM 390 Adventure takes the shape of a Dakar rally motorcycle and 390 Enduro comes close to a motocross motorcycle390 AdventureKTM is widely popular in India for offering explosive performance. The Austrian firm’s Duke, RC and Adventure series of motorcycles have been very well received. Currently, It is 390 Adventure which is the company’s flagship. It offers decent trail ability and excellent high-speed touring ability.A new generation of 390 Adventure is long overdue. There were multiple speculations of an R version of 390 Adventure in India and we also saw a few aftermarket rally kits from Turtletechx which boosted its off-road ability. For MY2022, KTM gave riding modes and then offered these same modes for older vehicles for free as well.New-gen 390 Adventure has been spotted before. What if we told you that there are two variations of 2023 KTM 390 Adventure? You heard it right. KTM seems to be prepping two versions of its upcoming 390 Adventure platform. Let’s take a look.2023 KTM 390 AdventureOne is designed more like a rally motorcycle that is ready to hit the desert and the other is styled like an enduro motorcycle with minimal body panels. These are likely to be called 390 Adventure and 390 Enduro.Image – Motorrad MagazinRight off the bat, both motorcycles are pretty much identical when it comes to their frame, engine, fuel tank, subframe and everything. Even the minimal fairing, knuckle guards, mirrors, rear subframe, taillights, boomerang-shaped aluminium swingarm and front beak are shared between the two.Differences lie in seating position as 390 Adventure gets high-set handlebars and on top of it, gets a tall front windshield that makes it visually larger than 390 Enduro. 390 Enduro looks petite, composed and a lot more sporty and comes close to a motocross motorcycle. While 390 Adventure is designed with touring and rallying in mind.Aiding rally excursions on 390 Adventure, we have a tall windscreen, a high-set TFT screen that aids visibility when standing and riding, vertically stacked projector headlights, and a beefy engine bash plate. 390 Enduro misses out on this bash plate. Both of them get the same underbelly exhaust though.390 EnduroSpecs & FeaturesBoth 2023 KTM 390 Adventure and 390 Enduro offer slightly rear-set footpegs and an upright posture. 390 Adventure has a taller-set handlebar that should help while standing and cruising. KTM has switched to spoked wheels with 2023 KTM 390 Adventure as opposed to alloy wheels on outgoing model.Wheel size seems to be 21” at front and 17” or 18” at the rear on both motorcycles. USD forks by WP seems to offer decent travel. Features like ride-by-wire, slipper clutch, liquid cooling are already on offer. Cruise control would make a world of difference on 390 Adventure owing to its cruising credentials.Currently, the 373 cc mill makes 42.3 bhp at 9000 RPM and 37 Nm of torque at 7000 RPM. A slight bump in power figures is likely to be a possibility. A launch timeline is not yet revealed. That said, one can expect these machines to hit the road by the end of 2023. When launched, 2023 KTM 390 Adventure will rival BMW G310 GS, upcoming Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and 390 Enduro will rival upcoming Royal Enfield Scram 450.Source More

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    TVS Apache 160 4V Gets New Exhaust – Wt Reduced By 1 Kg

    TVS Motor has launched 2023 Apache 160 4V Special Edition with a lighter bullpup exhaust reducing weight by 1 kgNew TVS Apache 160 Special EditionIf there is one motorcycle series that can take on the Pulsar series by Bajaj, it is Apache from TVS. With a huge fan following, TVS has banked quite a lot on its racing pedigree to offer sharp and well-judged motorcycles for general consensus. Apache 160 4V is one of the most popular motorcycles from TVS and the company has now launched a special edition of it.TVS Motor has launched Apache 160 4V Special Edition in India. Priced at Rs. 1.30 lakh (ex-sh), it brings a lot to the table than just a new colour scheme. Speaking of colour scheme, there is a new one as well. Let’s take a look.Apache 160 4V Special EditionFor MY2022, this naked streetfighter got a new headlamp assembly along with new LED DRLs. The earlier version of its headlamp cluster had split opinions which MY2022 fixed. Apart from that, Apache 160 4V got Ride Modes – namely Urban, Sport, and Rain along with a gear shift indicator and radial rear tyre.For MY2023, TVS has added a new Special Edition which is offered in a brand new Pearl White colour option. Previously, only Racing Red and Matte Black were on offer. MY2023 Special Edition gets a host of new features that were unheard of in this segment. Features like adjustable clutch and brake levers and a dual-tone seat.New TVS Apache 160 Special EditionSpeaking on this occasion, Mr Vimal Sumbly, Head Business – Premium, TVS Motor Company said, “TVS Apache RTR series of motorcycles have always been at the forefront of cutting-edge technology & customer centricity and have lived up to the expectations of the aspirational customer over the years.New TVS Apache 160 Special EditionWith four decades of racing pedigree, we are delighted to introduce the new 2023 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V Special Edition, offering a new refreshed colour option with uniquely colour coordinated black and red alloys, a lightweight bullpup exhaust, and an array of exciting features in its class. The new Special Edition is a testament to our commitment towards providing world-class products and redefining the definition of performance motorcycling.”Specs & FeaturesBlack and Red colour splashes used on wheels look unique and add a dash of flair to the motorcycle. Strengths from MY2022 like Bluetooth connectivity, SmartXonnect system, full LED headlights remain a strong points on Apache 160 4V Special Edition as well.TVS Apache Prices, Ex-sh Nov 20222023 Apache 160 4V Special Edition continues to be powered by the same 159.7 cc, oil-cooled, SOHC, fuel-injected engine that produces a power output of 17.55 PS @ 9250 RPM and a peak torque of 14.73 Nm @ 7250 RPM, mated to a five-speed gearbox. Even though power figures have remained the same, power to weight ratio has gone up.This is due to a new Bullpup exhaust that has reduced the overall weight by 1 kg. TVS Motor claims that it adds a bassy exhaust note and adds refinement along the way. At Rs. 1.30 lakh (ex-sh), it is a fitting rival to Hero Xtreme 160R, Bajaj Pulsar N160, and the likes. Even though it is marketed as 2023 Apache 160 4V Special Edition, the company says that it is available at authorised dealerships pan India. More