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      Ather Electric Scooter Records 50k Production Milestone

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      Ather Energy celebrates 50,000th electric scooter production landmark – Ather 450X Gen 3 in Mint Green50,000th Ather Electric ScooterIn recent months, EV sales in India have punched in higher numbers. And this has gotten enthusiasts, potential buyers, and the market in general to take note. With a multitude of electric two-wheeler brands reporting sales growth, the e2W industry has collectively benefitted. Momentum is expected to tide the industry in the months to come and help further strengthen this space.Ather Energy too has been reporting promising sales. In July 2022, sales were just shy of 2.5k units. Growth trends have now culminated in Ather Energy reporting its first 50,000 units production milestone. Accelerated growth over the recent 12-month period has helped reach the milestone in quick time. Given current trends, and overall growth reported by most electric two-wheelers, these numbers are further expected to grow.Ather Electric two-wheeler sales growthWhile e2W sales are still a small fraction of total 2W sales, these numbers will continue to improve as per demand estimates projected. With a renewed interest in electric two-wheelers, largely led by e-scooters, the current marketplace is proving to be a place of trust. Initial skepticism is no longer as pronounced, and more people seem keen.This even though e2Ws are not really cheap-er than traditional two-wheelers, especially high-speed variants. Market behaviour reveals an acceptance for e-scooters, irrespective of price bracket. An indication that a growing number of buyers are placing their confidence in charging on the go over filling on the go.Machines. Moments. Milestones.Celebrating our sweet 50,000th & the electrifying journey that lead up to it! ??? pic.twitter.com/7KrfK4yXZt— Ather Energy (@atherenergy) August 30, 2022e2W charging networkIn the meantime, the charging infra network across cities continues to be strengthened. Such centres are also exploring opportunities of swapping charged batteries for drained ones. This in turn would help save time and culminate into an efficient approach.As the network grows, it instills more confidence and continues to bring e2Ws into a position of favour. Given the potential of 2W sales in India, the e2W space will grow leaps and bounds as the country moves towards proposed deadlines of limiting dependency on fossil fuels.Ather 450X Gen 3 ride rangeSince its first launch in 2018, Ather Energy has come a long way. With over 4 years of sales under their belt, the company has continued to work on its scooters to ensure they meet ever growing customer demand. The newest launch from the manufacturer was scheduled last month with the Ather 450X Gen 3 e-scooter.Equipped with a 3.7 kWh lithium ion battery, the 74 Ah capacity unit enables a ride range of 146 kms. This continuity on ride range improvement is another compelling reason that has improved market sentiment. More

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      2023 Yamaha FZ15 Facelift Unveiled – Can Run On Petrol, Ethanol

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      Running motorcycles on Ethanol is a lot cleaner and also a lot more economical and also ecologically friendly2023 Yamaha FZ15 FaceliftEven though you can’t create fuel-grade pure Ethanol at your house. The idea still holds true. Rather than pumping more and more crude oil that might sway the ecological and geological system that this earth is, we can make our own fuel from agricultural crops. This sustainable fuel is also beneficial for the growth of agricultural sector.The wastes of produce are let to decompose with yeast and other microbes and due to fermentation, Ethanol is created. But you can’t just take Ethanol and put it in your vehicle that was designed to run on petroleum products like petrol and diesel. With high price tags of electric vehicles and not so many advances made in solar and hydrogen fields, Ethanol sounds feasible for developing countries like India, Brazil and the likes.2023 Yamaha FZ15 FaceliftHonda has always been hot for this flex fuel idea where an engine is designed to run on both fuels. Honda has been pioneering flex fuel tech for over a decade now. Brazil gets a Honda CG 160 Titan motorcycle in Brazil which can run on both petrol and ethanol. But emissions norms for India are in keeping with BS6 / Euro 5 levels. Whereas emission norms in Brazil are less than Euro 4 levels. This makes it easier to implement flex-fuel technology in the South American country.Now Yamaha has stepped into the arena in Brazil with 2023 Fazer FZ15 facelift. Brazil-spec FZ15 comes with a slightly updated design that is also likely to make it to India. But both displace the same 149cc. While Brazil-spec motor can run on both petrol and ethanol. This engine develops 12.2bhp with both fuels and develops 12.7Nm of torque.2023 Yamaha FZ15 FaceliftThis engine’s power and torque figures are mostly similar to India-spec FZ V3 which produces 12.4bhp and 13.3Nm. Also, cycle parts are mostly the same too. Brazil gets the same suspension, braking components, 17” alloy wheels, and probably the 5-speed gearbox too. But Brazil-spec 2023 Yamaha FZ15 Facelift gets some new things that FZ V3 in India doesn’t.Design Changes & ComponentryThe most impressive part that Brazilian FZ gets is Pirelli’s Diablo Rosso 2, which is offered as standard. Other changes include a new headlight assembly unit that seems to be inspired by the FZ25 that we have in India. FZ15 now gets a projector unit along with twin LED DRLs flanking the projector that looks very handsome.Rest of its design is kept intact, though. It still gets the same body panels, rear section, seats, fuel tank and everything. One design change that I wholeheartedly welcome is a black finish on the trim around its fake air vents situated on its muscular fuel tank shrouds. Earlier it was chrome and looked absolutely atrocious and gaudy.2023 Yamaha FZ15 FaceliftEven though Yamaha FZ15 ethanol that could run on both fuels is less likely to make it to India, the design changes are highly likely to make it to India. We can expect a refresh of FZ V3 by the end of this year and receive the same projector headlight assembly as Brazilian-spec FZ15. When launched, it will lock horns with Pulsar 150 and the likes. More

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      Keeway Benda Cruiser Launch Price Rs 3.89 L – Royal Enfield Rival

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      Hungarian brand Keeway debuted in India with 2 scooters and a cruiser couple of months agoKeeway Benda 300cc CruiserKeeway has launched Benda V302 C in India today and the main highlight of this motorcycle is its price tag which starts at Rs. 3.89 lakh for Glossy grey, Rs. 3.99 lakh for Glossy Black and 4.09 lakh for Glossy Red (all prices ex-sh). C in V302 C means cruiser and it sits above the recently launched K-Light 250V cruiser.Owing to its cruiser genre, it aims at providing a quintessential cruiser-bike feel to its customers. While doing so, it also has to look the part as well. Hungarian brand Keeway has stuck to a typical cruiser bike look and at the same time, has created enough distinctions to be easily recognisable as a V302 C.Keeway Benda V302 C – Design & FeaturesAlong with scooters like Sixties and Vieste 300, Keeway is expanding its portfolio further. V302 C seems to be the culmination of two companies, Keeway and Benda. Together, they have created a handsome machine that doesn’t get a single ounce of chrome like typical American cruisers and choppers. The mostly black machine comes off as unique and sporty. Which will appeal to a lot of young buyers.It gets LED lighting all around. All lightings including headlight, are round which gives V302 C, a modern retro-classic feel. The engine bay is blacked out and gets a large vertical radiator for its liquid cooling setup. It gets a stubby single-piece seat that looks very comfy for the rider and not so much for a pillion.Keeway Benda 300cc CruiserBoth cylinders of this V-twin engine get separate exhaust headers that merge into a single exhaust unit that is finished in black and looks extremely classy. The teardrop fuel tank that takes 15L also looks classy. Speedo console is a circular LCD unit with gear positioning indicator.Specs & CompetitionComing to the heart of the matter, Keeway Benda V302 C gets a liquid-cooled 298cc V-twin engine that has 4V per cylinder and a SOHC for both cylinders. It makes around 30 bhp at 8,500 RPM and 26.5 Nm at 6,500 RPM. This engine is coupled to a 6-speed gearbox and the wheels are driven via a belt drive.But does the name 302 ring any bell in your mind? Yeah, we’re talking about QJ’s 300cc platform that is likely to come to India as Benelli 302S. Both Benelli and Keeway are QJ’s subsidiaries. But Keeway Benda V302 C is a V-twin while Benelli 302S is a cheaper parallel twin. Also, V302 C’s engine has a longer stroke owing to its cruiser nature.Keeway Benda 300cc Cruiser SpecsV302 C is built on a cradle chassis and it gets telescopic forks at front with 120mm travel and dual shockers at the rear with 42mm travel. Disc brakes are offered at both ends with a 300mm disc at front and a 240mm disc at the rear. It gets a 16” alloy wheel at front with 120/80-16 rubber and a 15” alloy wheel wrapped with a fat 150/80-15 rubber at the rear.Owing to its cruiser nature, it has a long 1,420mm wheelbase and a low 690mm seat height. With 158mm ground clearance and 175 kg of wet weight (dry weight is 167 kg), Keeway Benda V302 C is very manageable in Indian conditions. At Rs. 3.89 lakh (ex-sh), it still can’t beat Royal Enfield Interceptor 650’s value.Keeway Benda 300cc CruiserBut V302 C offers a V-twin engine and a silky smooth belt drive that Interceptor doesn’t. It is all about the feel with cruisers like this. So, if you wanted a V-twin with a belt drive that offered a little more performance than K-Light 250V, this is it. Look no further. More

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      XPulse 200 Vs CB200X – Real ADV vs Wannabe ADV

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      Hero XPulse 200 4V has been one of the best off-roaders in the country while offering decent touring abilities tooXPulse 200 Vs CB200X ComparisonOff the road, Hero XPulse 200 performed better than Royal Enfield Himalayan with double the displacement with almost double the price. It was a shiny beacon that showed that lightness and maneuverability can trump raw performance numbers.Hero tried to better it with BS6 and also, recently got a 4V head too. This 4V head gave XPulse 200, the much-needed touring ease and ability which was its only Achilles heel. But then, Honda came along and launched CB200X, a faux ADV to take on a true-blue off-road machine. Recently, Honda hiked the price of CB200X by Rs. 17,340 hurting its cause even more.XPulse 200 Vs CB200XLet’s just get the sales figures out of the equation, okay? XPulse 200 sold 4,642 units in India and shipped 2,772 units to global markets in June 2022. Honda CB200X only sold 168 units in the same month and is not exported to global markets. There is a massive gap in sales, isn’t it?See, faux ADVs have never made it big in India. Remember the AS200 (Adventure Sports) from Bajaj? No? That’s exactly my point. If it is not a proper off-roader, products marketed as “Adventure” bikes have always seen their demise. AS200 even got a KTM-derived 200cc engine that is far more powerful than CB200X’s 184.4cc engine derived from Hornet 2.0.2022 Hero Xpulse 200 4V Rally EditionXPulse 200 is a proper off-roader designed from scratch with Hero’s extensive rally experience and pedigree. While CB200X is a glorified Hornet. XPulse 200 4V displaces 15cc more and makes 1.8 bhp more power and 1.2 Nm more torque. XPulse gets a long travel suspension with 190mm travel up front and 170 mm travel at the rear. With Rally Kit, suspension travel becomes 250mm at front and 220mm at the rear. While CB200X gets just 130mm suspension travel at the front and 115mm at the back.XPulse gets off-road worthy spoked-wheels with 21” at front and 18” at the rear. While CB200X gets 17” alloys at both ends. Xpulse also gets dual-purpose tyres while CB200X gets road-biased tyres. XPulse also gets a Rally Kit that further enhances off-roading ability. CB200X doesn’t get anything of that sort because it was not designed to be taken off-road, to begin with.Engine & PricingSo, that’s it? CB200X is trash? No. Not at all. CB200X is a good highway machine with comfortable ergonomics. It gets USD forks, a fatter 140-section rear tyre, tubeless tyres and more. But for Rs. 12,000 less, Hornet 2.0 does everything that CB200X does. Pricing is what is hurting CB200X the most.Because at Rs. 1.47 lakh (ex-sh), CB200X is ridiculously overpriced and doesn’t get a 4V head, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation, off-road worthy hardware, hardcore off-road-worthy Rally Kit, and more. These are offered on XPulse 4V which costs Rs. 11,000 less and XPulse 200 2V costs Rs. 21,000 less than CB200X.I get that a few Honda fanboys won’t care about pricing. But any logical person would. Honda is known for notoriously overpricing their products and as pricing goes on increasing, Honda fanboys will be forced to jump ships. Because for the price of CB200X, one can buy a brand new XPulse 200 2V and install fully adjustable front suspension with 30-step rebound and 30-step compression and rear suspension with rebound and preload adjustability.I’m not saying that CB200X should not exist. I’m saying that it shouldn’t exist as an ADV which it isn’t. It is like Maruti calling S-Presso an SUV. As a short-distance comfy tourer with speeds below 100 km/h, CB200X is very compelling. But not at Rs. 1.47 lakh. More

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      RE Hunter 350 Stunt Capabilities Showcased – 360 Spin, Wheelie

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      As compared to other 350cc Royal Enfield motorcycles, Hunter 350 has a compact, nimble-footed profileRoyal Enfield Hunter 350 Stunt CapabilitiesTwo-wheeler manufacturers have often used stunts to highlight superior capabilities of their bikes. Some examples include Bajaj Auto, Yamaha motorcycles and more recently Ola Electric. Also fun to watch are stunts performed by amateurs and enthusiasts, who can be as creative as they want without getting restricted by any ethical concerns.In a recent video, a Hunter 350 user can be seen performing some signature stunt moves with the bike. It includes 360 degree spin and wheelie. While these manoeuvres may be quite basic, especially for a professional, what makes it worth watching is the limited space in which the stunts have been performed.What makes Hunter 350 so agile?As compared to other 350cc Royal Enfield motorcycles, Hunter 350 has a shorter wheelbase of 1,370 mm. It is also lightweight, with an unfuelled kerb weight of around 169 kg. The twin-downtube spine frame utilizes a compact design, which makes the bike a lot more maneuverable across busy city streets. 17-inch wheels work to enhance the bike’s agile character. Seat height of 800 mm ensures a low centre of gravity, which helps ensure optimal control and handling of the bike.A comfortable riding stance and advantageous rake angle are other factors that improve the bike’s capabilities. Topping it all is the powerful 349.34 cc motor that churns out 20.2 bhp of max power at 6,100 rpm and 27 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. Being lightweight, Hunter 350 has a higher power to weight ratio in comparison to other 350cc Royal Enfield bikes with the same engine. There is ample torque, as is required for performing wheelies and donuts.[embedded content][embedded content]Hunter 350 has intuitive throttle response, which ensures quick acceleration. This is clearly evident in the video, as the bike can be seen achieving fast speeds in a limited space of just around 10 meters. The stunts are performed by Faraz Stunt Rider who is a professional stunt rider as well as a motorcycle stunt trainer.Braking setup seems to be just right, as it’s a key requirement for performing such types of stunts. Hunter 350 has 300 mm fixed disc with twin piston floating calliper at front and 270 mm disc, single piston floating calliper at rear. Dual-channel is offered as standard.Safety gear missingWhile the stunts look super smooth, the only safety gear being used is a half face helmet. Hands, elbows, torso, legs and knees are completely exposed, which increases the risk of serious injury. OEMs often have had to face criticism for their stunt advertisements, even when it was clearly stated that the stunts are performed by professionals in a controlled environment and with all safety precautions and adequate safety gear.People try to copy such stunts as it looks all too easy, not realizing the amount of practice required to perform such manoeuvres. It is strongly recommended that users don’t copy such moves, as there could be adverse consequences. More

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      French Budget Minister Announces Plan for $100-a-Month EV Leases

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      French president Emmanuel Macron has a plan to encourage electric-vehicle leases by subsidizing them so the user pays only about $100 per month. The plan, announced Sunday by French budget minister Gabriel Attal on the French news channel LCI, is based on a presidential campaign pledge made by Macron back in April.According to Bloomberg, the French government currently offers subsidies for electric vehicles with prices up to $47,000.If you are looking to lease a new electric car on the cheap, perhaps you’ll consider a move to France? Bloomberg reported on a plan from French President Emmanuel Macron to offer EV leases for as little as the equivalent of $100 a month. The plan was announced on Sunday by the Macron government’s budget minister, Gabriel Attal, on the French news channel LCI. We haven’t heard of stipulations surrounding these planned subsidies, but according to Bloomberg, current subsidies from the French government get as high as the equivalent of $6000 on vehicles priced up to $47,000. Bloomberg also reports that additional aid is available through a Cash for Clunkers–style program involving older internal-combustion-engine vehicles. More on the FrenchThe move is meant to aid low-income households for whom EVs remain largely out of reach, despite current government subsidies. Electric vehicles reportedly accounted for 12 percent of the market in France in the first seven months of the year. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the EV share of the auto market continues to grow, reaching 5.6 percent for the second quarter of 2022, Cox Automotive reported. The newly signed U.S. inflation-related legislation means that the U.S. will remove the 200,000-per-automaker-limit on subsidies and provide $7500 in tax credits. The U.S. tax credits come with stipulations based on amount of minerals used, where the minerals are sourced, and where the batteries are manufactured.A rollout date has not been set for the French plan, but Attal said the government is working to see how quickly both the vehicles and the subsidy can be 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 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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      Wild Ford Mustang Prototype Is a Test Bed For Ford's 7.3-Liter Crate Engine

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      Back in March 2022, a flurry of spy shots came out of Detroit showing a peculiar Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 prototype sporting an absolutely ridiculous hood bulge. Opinions were mixed as to what might be hiding under the hood, but now, thanks to a new video, we know.Revan Evan on YouTube got the chance to spend some up-close-and-personal time with the GT350 mule alongside a handful of Ford engineers, getting a chance to peek under that epic hood structure. Underneath? None other than Ford’s 7.3-liter naturally aspirated “Godzilla” V-8. The Godzilla motor is available in the Ford Super Duty and comes offered as a crate motor for those looking to do their own builds. Unfortunately, this mule isn’t a prototype for a new Mustang trim. Instead, it’s a test bed for Ford’s upcoming 7.3-liter V-8 and manual transmission combo package. As The Drive points out, the company already offers this package with an automatic transmission. The engineers explain that because this drivetrain runs on its own stand-alone ECU, it could be dropped into anything, from a Fifties pickup to a brand-new Mustang. The development crew picked this Shelby GT350 to use as a tester simply because they had it sitting around. The reason for that massive bulge? Well, the prototype engine has an intake that points to the sky, so engineers needed to fit a manifold that wouldn’t clear the hood shut lines. The production manifold will come with a straight-line entrance, making clearance issues a thing of the past. The more you know. More

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      Nissan Rogue Sport Leaving U.S. for Good Next Year

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      Introduced in the U.S. in 2017, the Nissan Rogue Sport will stop production in December, and sales will end here early next year.Nissan said in a memo to dealers that it can still cover the smaller end of the SUV market with the Kicks and the Rogue.The Rogue Sport is basically a renamed version of the global Nissan Qashqai, which will continue to be sold around the world. Just not in America.The Nissan Rogue Sport will soon be no more. The young-buyer-oriented subcompact SUV arrived in the U.S. in 2017 with a message from Nissan that it would add to the brand’s conquest sales. But that’s not going to last past this year. A Nissan spokesperson confirmed to Car and Driver that “As part of our Nissan NEXT plan, which is focused on prioritizing our core models and segments that bring the most benefit to customers, production of Rogue Sport for the U.S. will end after the 2022 model year.”Since the Rogue Sport is the U.S. version of the European Qashqai, we had been expecting Nissan to take the European SUV and use it as the basis for a fully redesigned Rogue Sport that would show up as a 2023 model.A memo to dealers, written by Nissan vice president Scott Shirley and published by Automotive News, said production of the Rogue Sport will end in December as Nissan focuses on higher-volume models and more electrified vehicles. “With the all-new Rogue and recently redesigned Kicks, we will continue to cover this part of [the] market effectively,” Shirley said. “We are also able to invest more resources in our current vehicle life cycles and next-generation products.”

      The pricing and feature details meant the Rogue Sport (right, below) didn’t have a lot of breathing room between the Kicks (left, below) and the better-selling Rogue. In our overview of the 2022 model year, we noted that the Rogue Sport was using outdated infotainment and driver-assistance tech, and the anemic 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine wasn’t offering any real driving excitement.

      NISSAN

      NISSAN

      Despite entering the U.S. market as a way to bring new buyers to the brand, that job ended up falling more on the shoulders of the entry-level Kicks. Today, the 2022 Rogue Sport starts at $26,255, almost $5000 more than the ’22 Kicks, which starts at $21,285. Both have Nissan’s Safety Shield 360. driver-assist tech as standard, and the Rogue Sport can also be ordered with ProPilot Assist. But ProPilot Assist and much more can be had in the Rogue, which starts at $28,445.Putting all of these factors together, it’s not surprising that the Rogue Sport is about to drive off into the sunset. Nissan said in its dealer memo that it will still sell the 2023 model year vehicle until inventory runs out in early 2023. As with most discontinued vehicles, Nissan will continue to make replacement parts and other support for the Rogue Sport. The automaker will provide these items through 2033.The Nissan Qashqai, which is sold around the world, first debuted in 2006. This model will continue to be produced and sold.
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