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    Honda CB500F On Display At Bangalore Showroom – Launch Soon?

    Honda CB500F will share most of its mechanicals with 2022 CB500X which got dual disc front brake, USD fork, lighter swingarm and moreHonda CB500F at a Bigwing showroom in BangaloreA Formidable machine, is what Honda called its CB300F. It was launched in August 2022 and is kept exclusive to Honda’s BigWing dealerships. When compared to similarly priced motorcycles, it falls short on paper.Sitting above the CB300F is the CB500X, which is a 500cc ADV. Even though it is a potent machine, sales have not been great. If we take sales in 200cc to 500cc segment, Honda only sold one unit of CB500X from April 2022 to August 2022. Honda seems to be getting ready to launch another 500cc motorcycle in their arsenal soon.Honda CB500F Spotted At DealershipSpotted at a BigWing dealership in Bengaluru, Honda’s new street fighter is likely to launch soon. The showcase before launch is likely to be a measured step in the direction of gaining customer feedback. This way, Honda can analyse the amount of interest that this motorcycle garners.Honda has used this strategy before and showcased Forza 300 Maxi scooter and even a Honda CRF300L. It is yet to be seen if Honda CB500F will materialise and launch in India. What does it offer, if it does launch?New Honda CB500FHonda CB500F gets sharper styling in terms of its fuel tank, tank shrouds, slightly taller rear stepped seat, integrated rear grab rail, chunkier exhaust, dual front disc for better braking, fatter rubber, and twin exhaust headers.Specs & FeaturesSticking to its F family lineup, Honda CB500F is a lot subdued in design. Especially when compared to other 500cc parallel twin motorcycles like Leoncino, 502C and TRK from Benelli. Honda takes a safer approach to styling and offers an everyday street bike.CB500F will be powered by the same 471cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine that also does duties on CB500X. With 46 bhp of power at 8,600 RPM and 43 Nm of torque at 6,500 RPM on tap, Honda CB500F doesn’t seem to be at the edge of its performance cliff.Cycle parts include front USD forks from Showa. These are 41mm SFF-BP (Separate Function Fork Big Piston) and are finished in gold shade. Rear gets a monoshock unit. Earlier CB500F used to get a single disc at the front which is now replaced with a twin disc setup. Details about its launch and pricing are expected to be revealed soon.Image Source More

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    Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio to Get Cool New Headlights for 2024

    Alfa Romeo has shown updated versions of the Giulia and Stelvio.They feature new headlights and taillights and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster inside.We expect these changes to arrive in the U.S. for the 2024 model year.You might think that Alfa Romeo’s Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV would be due for a redesign soon, given that they’ve both been out for around for five-plus years with few changes. But it appears that the 2024 editions of these models will feature minor changes, as previewed by these Europe-market updates. An Alfa Romeo spokesperson told C/D that U.S.-specific information about the 2024 Giulia and Stelvio will be coming in the middle of next year.Alfa RomeoNew headlights and taillights highlight the exterior changes, and the headlights feature LED matrix technology. The “3+3” accent lights are meant to tie these models in with the new Tonale crossover’s lighting signature. The taillights, meanwhile, have rearranged LED elements. The interior benefits from a new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with three display modes: Evolved, Relax, and Heritage.Alfa RomeoAlfa RomeoMore on Alfa RomeoThere aren’t any changes to the cars’ base powertrain, a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with 280 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Alfa hasn’t made any announcements about changes to the Quadrifoglio performance variants, which feature a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 with 505 hp.Look for these updated Alfa Romeos to arrive in the U.S. late in 2023, with base prices slightly higher than the current versions which start at $45,875 for the 2023 Giulia and $48,170 for the 2023 Stelvio.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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    2023 Yamaha R125 Debuts With New Design, TFT Display – KTM 125 Rival

    Replacing the last gen body style, 2023 Yamaha R125 gets design inspired by R7 which is also seen on the R15 V42023 Yamaha R125With racing at its core, Yamaha has been pushing performance-oriented motorcycles ever since I can remember. Being one of the Japanese “Big Four”, Yamaha is known for its YZF-R series of sporty machines. Even though we don’t get the brilliant R6 anymore, Yamaha’s YZF-R range is still going strong with a huge cult following.In India, YZF-R15 V4 is a stellar example of a low-capacity supersport. Despite its hefty Rs. 1.8 lakh to Rs. 1.93 lakh price tag (ex-sh), R15 V4 sold just under 10,000 units in September 2022. Due to the absence of an equally specced rival from Suzuki and Honda, R15 V4 reigns its supremacy. Yamaha R125 is well-known too.From team Orange, we have RC 125 which costs Rs. 1.85 lakh in India and is also offered in Europe and other global markets. Due to its lightness, 125cc supersport machines pose as a brilliant beginner bike to step up a rider’s game in motorsport. To cater to this market, Yamaha Motor Europe has revealed 2023 YZF-R125.2023 Yamaha R125 DebutsWhen we lay down facts, we can all unanimously agree that R15 is quite a looker. It has a sharp fascia that is inspired by Yamaha’s big bikes. For a faired motorcycle, design forms a major deciding factor. It has to be right. Mistakes will lead to poor sales, something that is very evident in Suzuki Gixxer SF 150 and 250.[embedded content][embedded content]Yamaha hasn’t messed around with R15 V4’s design and has incorporated it into R125. Earlier, R125 used to get R15 V3’s body and was conveniently called R125 V3. With this update, R125 now gets stunning LED DRLs, reshaped bodywork and a bi-functional LED projector headlight that lends it a big bike appeal. Something which the target audience will not mind, one bit.Star of the show for new Yamaha R125 has to be its 5” TFT display that the company’s flagship R1 gets. This looks far more upmarket than previously offered LCD display. Based on riding situation, the rider can choose between ‘Street’ and ‘Track’ themes. This screen gets a lap timer, gear position indicator, smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth, and a lot more. Will this display make it to India-spec R15? Only time will tell.Specs & Features2023 Yamaha R125 gets traction control, slip and assist clutch, dual channel ABS and even an optional quick shifter. To offer more grip and extract the most out of this 125cc engine, Yamaha has offered Michelin Pilot Street tyres measuring 100/80-17 at front and 140/70-17 at the rear.Yamaha R125 New 5″ ScreenSpeaking of its engine, it is a 125cc EURO5-compliant engine that gets VVA (Variable Valve Actuation) as R15 V4 does. It makes 15 bhp at 9,000 RPM and 11.5 Nm at 8,000 RPM and is coupled to a 6-speed gearbox. Cycle parts include KYB 41mm USD forks at front and mono-shock at the rear.Dropping anchor on this track machine is 292 mm front disc and 220 mm rear disc. New Yamaha R125 gets radially mounted brake calipers. Pricing is likely to be revealed in 2023. It is not yet known if Yamaha intends to bring this to our shores. We wish they do. More

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    Two Wheeler Sales Oct 2022 – Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj, RE, Suzuki

    Apart from Hero MotoCorp that has negative growth, all other OEMs has posted positive YoY growth in domestic market in OctoberNew Bajaj Pulsar N 160A total of 14,97,021 two-wheelers were sold in domestic market in October, as compared to 14,77,335 units in the corresponding period last year. While YoY growth is positive, MoM growth is down by -9.22%. Sales in September 2022 were higher at 16,49,062 units.In exports, both YoY and MoM numbers are negative at -24.48% and -1.80%, respectively. Total exports in October 2022 were at 2,63,579 units, as compared to 3,48,999 units in October last year. Exports in September 2022 were at 2,68,408 units. Overall, domestic sales + exports have registered negative YoY growth of -3.60%. MoM growth is down by -8.18%.Two-wheeler domestic sales Oct 2022Hero MotoCorp leads in domestic market with sales of 4,42,825 units in October. YoY growth is down by -16.10%, as compared to 5,27,779 units sold in October last year. Market share is at 29.58%. Hero MoM growth is down by -12.78%, as compared to 5,07,690 units sold in September 2022.At number two is Honda that has consistently bridged the gap with market leader Hero. Much of Honda’s domestic sales are contributed by Activa and CB Shine. Sales in October were at 4,25,969 units. YoY growth is 7.94%, as compared to 3,94,645 units sold in October last year. Market share is 28.45%. Honda MoM growth is down by -12.88%, as compared to 4,88,924 units sold in September 2022.Two Wheeler Sales Oct 2022 – DomesticTVS is third with sales of 2,75,934 units in October. YoY growth is at 6.63%, as compared to 2,58,777 units sold in October last year. Market share is 18.43%. TVS MoM numbers are down by -2.80%, as compared to 2,83,878 units sold in September 2022.At number four is Bajaj with sales of 2,06,131 units in October. YoY growth is 3.72%, as compared to 1,98,738 units sold in October last year. Market share is at 13.77%. Bajaj MoM growth is down by -7.53%, as compared to 2,22,912 units sold in September 2022.Next is Royal Enfield that has registered a massive 88.44% jump in YoY growth. Sales have zoomed to 76,528 units, as compared to 40,611 units in October last year. Market share is at 5.11%. Royal Enfield MoM numbers are also positive at 3.91%. Sales in September 2022 were at 73,646 units.Two Wheeler Sales Oct 2022 – ExportsSuzuki is 6th with sales of 69,634 units in October. YoY growth is 22.63%, as compared to 56,785 units sold in October last year. Market share is at 4.65%. Suzuki MoM growth is down by -3.30%, as compared to 72,012 units sold in September 2022.Two-wheeler exports Oct 2022Bajaj continues to dominate exports with market share of 51.51%. In October, 1,35,772 units were exported, as compared to 1,92,565 units in October last year. YoY export growth is down by -29.49%. Bajaj MoM export growth is 8.23%, as compared to 1,25,443 units in September 2022.Two Wheeler Sales Oct 2022 – TotalTVS is second highest exporter with 68,696 units. Share in exports is at 26.06%. Both YoY and MoM export growth is negative at -16.97% and -11.76%, respectively. Third in the list is Honda, with exports of 23,422 units in October. Share in exports is at 8.89%. Both YoY and MoM numbers are down by -37.68% and -20.97%, respectively.Other OEMs in the export list are Suzuki (18,225 units), Hero (11,757) and Royal Enfield (5,707). Suzuki is the only OEM to have positive growth in both YoY and MoM terms. Hero has negative growth all across, at -41.77% YoY and -4.34% MoM. Royal Enfield has made an impressive YoY gain of 62.04%, but MoM export growth is down by -32.47%. More

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    Porsche Tests Safari-Style 911 Prototypes on the Side of a Volcano in Chile

    Porsche tested two 911 prototypes with jacked-up suspensions and off-road tires on the side of a volcano.The prototypes were heavily modified versions of the 911 Carrera 4S, which has all-wheel drive and 443 horsepower.Along with stripped-down interiors and safari-esque styling, the prototypes scaled the volcano with an enhanced drivetrain and a handy winch. The Ojo del Salado in Chile is the highest volcano in the world. With slopes made of treacherous terrain and areas where temperatures are well below freezing, it’s the last place anyone would expect to see a Porsche 911. Well, look again, because as these photos show, Porsche has literally taken its iconic sports car to new heights by testing a pair of safari-style 911 prototypes on the side of a volcano. Are they a sneak peek at the rumored Dakar version? It kinda seems that way.PorscheNot Your Lawyer’s 911Obviously, the two prototypes involved in this wild experiment aren’t ordinary 911s. While they’re both based on the 443-hp all-wheel-drive Carrera 4S, the 992-generation coupes have been heavily modified. Porsche did keep their original seven-speed manual gearboxes, though. Bravo! On the other hand, the rest of the cars are barely recognizable with their extensive exterior alterations that include flared fenders, meaty off-road tires, rooftop cargo racks, and custom liveries. One of the latter’s color schemes is the same as Porsche’s 963 LMDh race car and the other features a 911 theme created by Weissach designers. PorscheVolcano-Scaling HardwareFitted with heavy-duty portal axles, the 911 prototypes have a towering 13.7 inches of ground clearance. That’s a half-inch more than the Ford Bronco Raptor. The high-riding Porsches also feature lower gear ratios for improved crawling ability at low speeds and manual locking diffs for max traction. The 911s have underbody protection made of tough heat-resistant synthetic fibers, too. We’re not sure if it can protect against lava, but the Ojo del Salado is a dormant volcano—so we’re told.PorschePorscheIt’s not clear what type of suspension the 911 prototypes are using, other than it’s clearly not a stock setup. It buoys a quartet of 12.2-inch-wide tires, all of which are mechanically linked by a device that Porsche calls a “warp connector.” We’re told it’s designed to maintain maximum traction during extreme wheel articulation. Should either of the lifted 911s get stuck (as seen below), both have a front-mounted winch to yank ’em out. PorscheHow’s the Weather Up There? The team that tested the Dakar-esque 911 prototypes was led by adrenaline junkie, er, adventurer and endurance racer Romain Dumas. He took the jacked-up sports cars as high as 19,708 feet. Not only were temperatures said to be around -22 degrees Fahrenheit, but the air was paper thin. The journey included such obstacles as boulder-strewn slopes, ice fields, and walls of snow. You know, typical stuff that 911 drivers encounter. However, Porsche says Dumas and his team accomplished their mission. Porsche”This was a truly memorable and special moment in a place that’s both beautiful and brutal at the same time, ” said Dumas. “I guess the only machines anywhere in the world higher than us today were aircraft!”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 Is Planning Price Hikes, Still Deciding How High to Go

    Toyota is looking to increase pricing at a rate “limited by customer expectations” pertaining to individual models, Automotive News reported.The expected increases are coming after the company experienced regional operating losses in its fiscal year which ended in September.The price increases are also expected in Europe, where the company also experienced regional quarterly losses. Death, taxes, and rising car prices: three unending guarantees. Following quarterly regional losses and sharply increasing input costs, Automotive News reports, Toyota is planning to pass rising costs down to the consumer. The paper reports that Toyota executives just need to decide exactly how significant the increases will be. A Toyota spokesperson contacted by Car and Driver declined comment.”We are really racking our brains trying to come up with the appropriate pricing level,” chief communications officer Jun Nagata said at Toyota’s November 1 quarterly earnings announcement. “We have begun to reflect those higher prices into the vehicle as much as possible.”More on PricingIt’s common for new-vehicle MSRPs to increase by amounts at least by a few hundred dollars every year, and in some years, to see an increase midyear. One solution Toyota is looking into, according to the report from Automotive News, is increasing the frequency of price jumps. Another method of raising prices that a lot of automakers, including Toyota, have been using recently is to drop base models, effectively raising the price of entry. Just last month, the company dropped the base L sedan from its Corolla lineup, resulting in an $1125 higher starting price . Pricing for the hatchback Corolla jumped by $1800 on the SE, and $2315 on the XSE—although Toyota also cut the starting price of the Corolla hybrid by $1250. Dropping the base option generally means losing the car with the lowest profit margin for manufacturers. It also effectively raises the floor of ownership for buyers. According to the report, consumers’ expectations of pricing is one of the factors Toyota executives are using to gauge increases. The warning of impending price increases came during a quarterly earnings announcement on November 1. According to the report, the company needs to make adjustments to offset regional operating losses for the North American arm of the company. Automotive News Europe notes that Toyota is also considering price increases are also in Europe, and for similar reasons.The automaker has revised its annual production target downward, with purchasing chief Kazunari Kumakura partly blaming an ongoing semiconductor-chip shortage and commenting, “I don’t know when the chip shortage will be resolved.” 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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    2024 Next-Gen Subaru Impreza Teased Ahead of Los Angeles Show Reveal

    Subaru has teased the next-generation 2024 Impreza, showing off its hatchback roofline in a darkened image.Only a hatchback is shown in the image, so the sedan model may not be returning for 2024.The new Impreza will make its debut at the Los Angeles auto show, which starts November 17.Many automakers have abandoned their compact cars in favor of pint-sized SUVs. The Ford Focus has been dead since 2018, and Volkswagen now only offers the Golf in GTI and R performance trims in the United States. Subaru could easily follow a similar path, with the Crosstrek vastly outselling the Impreza hatchback upon which its based—128,979 units versus 25,490 units, respectively, through October 2022. But Subaru remains committed to its compact car, releasing a teaser for the next generation 2024 Impreza which will make its full debut at the 2022 Los Angeles auto show. The teaser doesn’t show much, with only the roofline visible in the dark expanse. The illustration shows a hatchback body style. While a sedan version of the Impreza could debut later, it’s also possible that the sedan won’t be returning for the 2024 model year and the Impreza will come exclusively with a hatch. 2024 Subaru CrosstrekSubaruMore Subaru NewsSince we have already seen the next generation Crosstrek, we have a pretty solid idea of what to expect from the 2024 Impreza. The design should mirror the new Crosstrek—squinty headlights, chunky taillights, and sharp bodywork—minus the plastic body cladding around the wheel arches and on the bumpers. We expect the 152-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder to carry over, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Crosstrek’s plug-in hybrid setup migrate to the hatchback as well. We’re also praying that the five-speed manual returns, hopefully mated to the Crosstrek’s 182-hp 2.5-liter four-pot. More details on the Impreza’s future will be unveiled when the Los Angeles auto show kicks off on November 17.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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    Feds Bust Nationwide Catalytic Converter Theft Ring

    The U.S. Justice Department yesterday said it busted a nationwide crime network responsible for stealing countless catalytic converters.The theft ring is said to have made tens of millions of dollars off of the stolen catalytic converters.The feds have arrested 21 people in five states and are seeking over $545 million in forfeitures. If you’re one of the people who recently had their catalytic converter ripped out and stolen from underneath their car, the feds might have just busted the criminals who did it. That’s because the U.S. Justice Department yesterday announced that it took down a nationwide catalytic converter theft ring.What’s a catalytic converter? It’s essentially an anti-pollution device that’s part of a vehicle’s exhaust system, and it contains precious metals that can be sold for a lot of money. If you’re wondering how much money, the FBI said the network of thieves, dealers, and processors made tens of millions of dollars off the stolen parts.Dude, Where’s My Cat?As part of the takedown that involved law enforcement officers at the local, state, and federal levels, 21 people in five states have been arrested and charged in two separate indictments. Federal grand juries in California and Oklahoma have filed separate charges for conspiracy to transport stolen catalytic converters and conspiracy to commit money laundering, among other similar chargers. In total, the U.S. government is seeking over $545 million in forfeitures.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