More stories

  • in

    More 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Specs Are Out, Including Big Range Estimate

    Hyundai has released more U.S. details about the 2023 Ioniq 6 electric sedan.The automaker claims a range of 340 miles for the U.S. version, although this isn’t yet an official EPA estimate.The Ioniq 6 will go on sale in America in spring 2023, and pricing is not yet announced.Hyundai showed the new 2023 Ioniq 6 at last week’s L.A. auto show and announced a few more enticing details about the U.S. version of this electric sedan. The biggest deal is the claimed 340 mile range for the single-motor version, which beats its Ioniq 5 sibling by a considerate amount; that model is rated at up to to 303 miles.A 77.4-kWh battery pack is standard on the Ioniq 6, and the version with the longest range is the 225-hp single-motor rear-wheel-drive configuration. The optional 320-hp dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup drops the estimated range to 310 miles. The Ioniq 6 rides on the same E-GMP platform as other Hyundai and Kia EV models but its low 0.22 drag coefficient helps its efficiency and thus its estimated range. Hyundai says it is still waiting for full EPA certification, but these estimates are U.S.-specific so the final numbers aren’t likely to vary much. We look forward to testing the Ioniq 6 on our 75-mph highway range test to see what it can do in the real world.More on the Ioniq 6We don’t yet know trim levels or pricing details on the Ioniq 6, as those should come closer to its U.S. on-sale date in spring 2023. But Hyundai did release the colors options that will be available: for the exterior, the choices include a matte-finish Gravity Gold, Onyx Black Pearl, Serenity White Pearl, Curated Silver metallic, Transmission Blue Pearl, Ultimate Red metallic, and Digital Green Pearl; for the interior, the three options include black, gray, and a two-tone dark green and gray combo.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

    Sony and Honda Planning a 2025 EV That Could Have Gaming Built In

    Honda and Sony, under the joint venture Sony Honda Mobility, are planning to go into the electric-vehicle business together.Sony Honda Mobility president Izumi Kawanishi made it clear in an interview with the U.K. business paper Financial Times that it is looking to use the Sony entertainment element to fight Tesla in the EV marketplace.Sony’s catalog of content, services and tech will become part of a future EV that’s planned for a 2025 launch, leaving the door open for a PS5-capable car in only a few years. It feels like just two weeks ago that Car and Driver’s Ezra Dyer was suggesting that car companies spice up their electric-car offerings and make things a bit weirder. After all, power and acceleration are easy to come by in the world of EVs, leaving key personality traits as a tempting growth area. Now, Sony Honda Mobility, the joint-venture agreement between the auto manufacturer and tech giant, is talking about opportunities to include Sony’s tech into the company’s vehicles.In an interview with the Financial Times, Sony Honda Mobility president Izumi Kawanishi said: “Sony has content, services and entertainment technologies that move people. We are adapting these assets to mobility, and this is our strength against Tesla.” He also said the company plans to adjust the way the upcoming EV is build and will “develop a car as hardware that will cater to the entertainment and network we would like to offer.” So, no PS5 console on the dashboard, but perhaps PS5 capability, which Kawanishi said is “technologically possible.”Kawanishi took a mild swipe at Tesla, telling the Financial Times that the EV maker “is not providing any content services” when it comes to entertainment.Related StoriesSony is known for producing a wide range of technology, including speakers and displays, making us hopeful for a top-notch infotainment system in future products from the new brand. At the CES technology show in January 2022, Sony showed off its Vision-S 02 concept. The Vision-S 02 is a seven-passenger crossover, sized similarly to the Tesla Model Y, and it allows rear-seat passengers to play PlayStation games through a remote connection with a console at home. If a version of that concept makes it to production as Sony Honda Mobility’s first production car, based on the CEO’s statements it’s certainly possible the company will keep the feature, giving rear passengers access to PS5 games on the road. This wouldn’t be the first time a company has made video games available in its cars. Tesla and Mercedes-Benz have already done that, with both companies eventually choosing to remove the functionality from vehicles while they’re in motion. 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

    Lyft Ride-Sharing Service Adds Roadside Assistance

    Lyft Pink is a $100-a-year service for ride-share users who might also need some assistance with their own vehicle if it is stopped along the side of the road.Similar to AAA, Lyft Pink can now offer you a tow or a little bit of gasoline or change your tire anywhere in the U.S. (well, except Nevada).If you’re in a pinch and need help now, Lyft does offer a free one-month trial, and new users are allowed to request a service call as soon as they sign up. Hailing a Lyft is about to mean something new. The ride-hailing company has announced an expansion of its extra-cost Lyft Pink service to include roadside assistance perks like getting a jump-start or some gas delivery. Users who are familiar with the way a ride-share vehicle can be seen approaching on your phone’s map will feel right at home as they watch a tow truck arrive. The new roadside assistance services are built into the standard Lyft app.Calling for HelpLyft is expanding its services in part to compete with AAA. Lyft notes that anyone signing up for Lyft Pink can take advantage of the assistance right away without the waiting period that AAA requires. Lyft Pink customers are limited to four free service “events” a year, but note that two things being taken care of on one trip—gas and a tire change—will count as two events. After the first four events, or to people who aren’t Lyft Pink members, Lyft also offers these services for $71 each. Lyft does not offer its roadside assistance services in Nevada.Both Lyft and AAA offer similar assistance services aside from those mentioned above, including changing tires, providing access to your locked car, and off-road rescue. Of course, since Lyft still operates its ride-hailing business, it can offer its Lyft Pink customers priority pickups and discounts on some rides. Lyft’s expansion into services that help people with their personal vehicles stands a bit at odds with the company’s founding message that ride-sharing would lead to reduced personal vehicle ownership. In 2017, a study conducted at the University of Michigan found that in places where on-demand ride services were available, people were more likely to buy fewer cars and take fewer trips. But that doesn’t mean we’re all just riders in someone else’s car these days, and sometimes we still get stranded. Lyft Pink costs $9.99 a month or $99 for a year. A higher-level tier, Lyft Pink All Access, costs $199 a year and adds bike and scooter offers to the plan. You can also sign up for Lyft Pink for a free one-month trial in case you’ve got any road trips coming up.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 Jeep Compass Gets a New Turbo-Four with Nearly 100 More Horsepower

    The Jeep Compass will get a new engine for 2023, a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four to replace the old 2.4-liter four-cylinder.It makes 270 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque, a big boost compared with the old engine’s 177 hp.The 2023 Compass starts at $31,590 for the Sport and ranges up to $40,340 for the High Altitude.Jeep is preparing to bump the Compass SUV’s power output with a new engine for 2023. According to a document we found on the EPA’s website, the 2023 Compass will have the same 270-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four found in the upcoming 2023 Dodge Hornet. (This engine was also slated to be in the Alfa Romeo Tonale, but now that model will reportedly be offered only with a plug-in-hybrid setup in the U.S.)The 2.0-liter’s 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque are a huge bump over the Compass’ previous engine, a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-four with 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, and the previous front-wheel-drive model has been dropped.More on the CompassPricing for the 2023 Compass starts at $31,590, which is just $1210 more than the equivalent 2022 model—not a bad deal considering the new powertrain. The off-road-oriented Trailhawk model starts at $37,340 and the loaded High Altitude is $40,340.Jeep has yet to release official details about the 2023 Compass, so we don’t know if there are any other significant changes in store. It did receive a facelift for 2022 that included refreshed styling and a new infotainment screen. We’ve reached out to Jeep for comment and will update this post as more info becomes available.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

    New Matter Electric Motorcycle Debuts – Made In Ahmedabad

    Matter electric motorcycle bookings to be opened soon; to be manufactured in AhmedabadNew Matter Electric MotorcycleAll new Matter Electric motorcycle has made its global debut today. It features a high energy density 5kWh power pack, aka, matterEnergy 1.0 is AIS 156 compliant. The integrated unit comprises the battery pack, BMS, DriveTrain Unit (DTU), power conversion modules, and other protection systems. The pack uses an Integrated Intelligent Thermal Management System (IITMS).The geared electric motorbike comes with a patented active liquid cooling system. This cools the battery pack and motor, and power electronics. A HyperShift manual Gearbox is in use with the electric motor. The 10.5kW electric motor is paired with proprietary sequential manual transmission. Bookings will soon be open. And will be manufactured in Ahmedabad.MatterCharge, standard and fast chargingMatterCharge, its onboard charger can be used with any 5 Amp plug. Apart from standard charging, one can switch to fast charging with a common connector. The on-board 1kW Intelligent Charger is offered as standard. Battery charging time is pegged at 5 hours. The charging structure features over charge protection.Design aspects comprise a bi-functional LED projector headlamp, split LED tail lamps, body-integrated front turn signals, and an exposed spinner attached to the motor.New Matter Electric MotorcycleConvenience features include storage space with built-in lights and a smartphone charging port. The touch enabled 7-inch Instrument Cluster relies on 4G connectivity and Android software. Customers can glean a plethora of info from the instrument cluster, including speed, gear position, riding mode, navigation, media, call control and other smart features.Seamless integration makes for access to controls. This includes remote lock/unlock, geofencing, live location tracking, and vehicle health monitoring. Customers can get data on ride statistics, charging status, push navigation, and more. Proximity based key fob makes for a passive keyless entry. One can lock/unlock the vehicle by approaching the vehicle.Front and rear disc brake with ABSVehicle functionality has been tested in wide-ranging climatic conditions with an operating ambient temperature of -10 degrees to 55 degrees (C). Front and rear disc brakes with ABS are coupled with large tyres. This is intended for hard and safe braking owing to improved traction and road grip. A dual cradle frame is in use, and improves vehicle stability, riding dynamics, and cornering ability.Founder and Group CEO, Mohal Lalbhai, said – “This is a huge milestone in the journey with Arun, Prasad, Saran, and the 300 innovators at Matter. With many firsts, I am proud to say that this motorbike will be leading us into the future that we all have dreamt about. Our vision has motivated us to challenge the status quo, remain persistent and resilient towards the goal, and walk a difficult path with agility. Today we accelerate India’s journey to electrification as India rides on motorbikes.” More

  • in

    Yamaha Sales Breakup Oct 2022 – FZ, R15, MT15, Fascino, RayZR

    Yamaha India reports YoY and MoM growth in domestic wholesales for October 2022; Exports fell by 9.37 percentNew Yamaha R15. Image – The Sameer vlogsYamaha Motor India reported domestic wholesales at 61,691 units in October 2022. YoY growth stood at 7.15 percent, up from 57,573 units. Volume gain stood at 4,118 units. MoM sales were up from 56,939 units. Volume gain stood at 4,752 units at 8.35 percent growth.Its highest volume model, FZ accounted for 20,440 units at a third of total domestic wholesales. Volume gain stood at 7k units, up from 13,404 units.MoM sales were fairly stable , down marginally from 20,453 units.Yamaha Sales Breakup Oct 2022RayZR sales fell by 14 percent, down to 11,683 units. Sales fell from 13,601 units at volume loss of 1.9k units. MoM sales were up from 8,143 units at 3.5k units in volume gain. Sales growth stood at 43.47 percent. R15 sales remained stable at 10,541 units, up from 10,246 units. MoM sales were up 10.38 percent, up from 9.5k units. Fascino sales fell to 10.5k units, down from 13.5k units. Volume loss was close to 3k units at 22 percent decline. MoM sales grew marginally up from 10,348 units.MT15 sales were up at 8k units from 6k units. Volume gain was reported at just over 2k units at 33 percent growth. MoM sales fell by less than a percent, down from 8.1k units. FZ25 sales fell to 489 units from 819 units. Volume loss stood at 330 units at 40.29 percent decline. MoM sales were up from 343 units.Yamaha India Sales Oct 2022 vs Oct 2021 (YoY)Exports fell by 9.37 percent, down at 21,956 units. Volume loss stood at 2,269 units, down from 24,225 units. FZ not only dominates domestic wholesales. It is the auto manufacturer’s highest export volume model too. Exports were up marginally at 1.24 percent at 10,735 percent, up from 10,603 units. MoM exports were up 7.21 percent from 10k units. Volume gain stood at 722 units.YD125 exports more than doubled, up at 3,750 units from 1.8k units. MoM YD125 exports were up from 3.3k units. Volume gain stood at 450 units at 13.64 percent growth. RayZR exports less than halved down at 1,759 units from 3,766 units. Volume loss stood at just over 2k units.MoM and YoY exports declineCrux exports fell by 30 percent, down to 1,640 units from 2,326 units. MoM Crux exports fell from 3.4k units. Volume loss stood at 1,768 units. SZ exports units were up at 1,344 units from 1,136 units. Volume gain stood at 208 units. MoM SZ exports were down from 1.9k units.Yamaha India Sales Oct 2022 vs Sep 2022 (MoM)FZ25 numbers halved, down at 1,044 units from 2,068 units. MoM exports fell from 1.3k units. R15 exports were up at 924 units from 640 units. Volume gain stood at 284 units. Saluto sales fell to 600 units from just over 1k units. MT15 numbers were stable at 160 units. MoM exports fell 12.82 percent, down from 25,185 units. Volume loss stood at 3,229 units. More

  • in

    Top 10 Motorcycles Oct 2022 – Splendor, Pulsar, Apache, Classic 350

    When compared to cumulative sales commenced in October 2021, top 10 motorcycles for October 2022 witnessed 2.27% YoY declineImage – Ryt To KnowAfter taking a look at top 10 scooter sales for the month of October 2022, which registered a YoY growth of 4.80%, it is time to take a look at how motorcycles fared. In the month of October 2022, it was Splendor that took the crown with a massive lead as well.Splendor sold 2,61,721 vehicles in its name and is the reigning champ in Indian motorcycle segment for a long time. To put it into context, the second highest-seller, CB Shine from Honda sold less than half of what Splendor did. However, with 2,67,821 vehicles sold a year ago, Splendor witnessed a 2.28% decline in sales YoY.Top 10 Motorcycles October 2022Splendor lost 6,100 units in volume YoY and accounts for 32.41% market share of top 10 motorcycles October 2022. With 1,30,916 units in its name, Honda CB Shine took 2nd spot and registered 15.29% YoY growth as compared to 1,13,554 vehicles sold a year ago. Shine gained 17,362 vehicles in volume YoY and holds a 16.21% market share.Bajaj Pulsar series of motorcycles took 3rd spot. Bajaj is set to launch a new product on November 22nd which is likely to be new Pulsar 150. Meanwhile, Pulsars managed to sell 1,13,870 units cumulatively and accounts for 14.10% market share of this list. Pulsar series saw 31.64% YoY growth and gained 27,370 units in volume YoY, highest in this list.Top 10 Motorcycles October 2022Hero’s 2nd bike to make it to top 10 motorcycles is HF Deluxe with 78,076 bikes sold in its name. With 1,64,311 bikes sold in October 2021, HF saw a 52.48% decline YoY and lost 86,235 bikes in volume. Platina managed to sell 57,842 units. When compared to 84,109 units sold a year ago, Platina lost 31.23% YoY which accounted for 26,267 units of volume loss YoY.TVS’s Apache series is its highest-selling motorcycle range and took 6th place on this list. Apache series of motorcycles sold 40,988 vehicles in October 2022. By doing so, Apache gained 2.99% YoY which accounted for 1,189 vehicles gained in volume over 39,799 vehicles sold a year ago. Making a surprise comeback, we have Honda’s Unicorn 160 which secured 7th place on this list by selling 31,986 units last month. With just 7,077 units sold a year ago, Unicorn’s sales shot up by 351.97% YoY and gained 24,909 units in volume when October 2021 is taken into account.Unicorn 160 Registered Positive GrowthHero MotoCorp has 4 motorcycles on this list. At 8th position, we have Passion which registered 80.94% YoY growth by selling 31,964 bikes last month. When compared to 17,666 bikes sold a year ago, Passion gained 14,298 bikes YoY in volume. In 9th place, we have the evergreen Classic 350 by Royal Enfield.Top 10 MotorcyclesOct-22Oct-21Growth % YoY1. Hero Splendor2,61,7212,67,821-2.282. Honda CB Shine1,30,9161,13,55415.293. Bajaj Pulsar1,13,87086,50031.644. Hero HF Deluxe78,0761,64,311-52.485. Bajaj Platina57,84284,109-31.236. TVS Apache40,98839,7992.997. Honda Unicorn 15031,9867,077351.978. Hero Passion31,96417,66680.949. Royal Enfield Classic 35031,79119,72861.1510. Hero Glamour28,33525,66310.41Total8,07,4898,26,228-2.27Classic 350 managed to find 31,791 admirers last month, up from 19,728 a year ago. It registered 61.15% YoY growth and volume growth stood at 12,063 units. Lastly, we have Hero’s 4th product on this list, Glamour. It took the 10th spot in the top 10 motorcycles list by selling 28,335 units, up from 25,663 units sold a year ago. Growth stood at 10.41%.When compared to 8,26,228 motorcycles sold in October 2021, the top 10 motorcycles for the month of October 2022 sold 8,07,489 motorcycles collectively. Sales dropped 2.27% YoY and volume loss stood at 18,739 motorcycles. More

  • in

    Winter Is Back, but Don't Idle Your Car

    There’s no national law against idling a vehicle, but even if it’s not illegal where you live, it just doesn’t make sense to leave your car running if you’re not in it.With the cold weather, it might be tempting to warm up your vehicle, but with modern cars, it’s faster and more efficient to just start moving.Local laws vary, and you’re unlikely to get a ticket for idling, but it has happened. And unless you’re still driving something with a carburetor, you’re not getting much benefit from the idle, anyway.Idling cars are an illegal plaything. At least, they are in some states. As the weather gets colder across the U.S., more people are likely letting their car “warm up” for a few minutes before they get in and drive. It doesn’t make sense from a technological standpoint, and it may be illegal where you live.The general rule—as has been true for years—is that there’s little real benefit to letting your car warm up before you start driving. We’ve been struggling to learn this lesson. In 2014, the Washington Post cited a 2009 study that found that the average American thought a car should idle for at least five minutes when it’s below freezing out. There was a time, when carburetors ruled the earth, that idling a cold car was a useful idea, but this is not true today. A modern car heats up in about 30 seconds once you start moving, making a five-minute warmup really just an exercise in wasting emissions.Check Your Local RulesMost laws about idling refer to commercial, diesel-powered vehicles, and many rules were implemented to prevent semis from running their engines while parked in busy areas. The American Transportation Research Institute provides truck drivers with an up-to-date list of local rules, which can change when crossing city or county lines, but drivers of passenger cars don’t have as easy a source of information. In general, though, the places where it’s illegal to idle a vehicle only come into effect after around five minutes. One exception is New York City, where the limit is three minutes.The EPA Weighs InSince idling rules vary so much between jurisdictions, we can’t say with certainty that you’ll get a ticket for idling your vehicle the way a Michigan man did in 2017. Michigan’s quirky idling law states that leaving the keys in with the car running is illegal because someone could steal the car, but it is okay to use a remote starter because then the key isn’t in the car. The last official and comprehensive guide we could find is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) “Compilation of State, County, and Local Anti-Idling Regulations,” but that came out in 2006. Speaking of the EPA, the Agency doesn’t say one way or the other if states should regulate vehicle idling, but it does offer a draft anti-idling law for states to use if they want to—and a “toolkit” to mount an anti-idling campaign at your kids’ school. As the joke goes, idling gets you nowhere.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