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    2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Starts Production in the U.S.

    Volkswagen started production of the ID.4 at its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.The 2023 ID.4 models built in the U.S. will be slightly different from the existing Europe-built models.A cheaper version of the ID.4 with a smaller battery pack is coming later this year.Volkswagen ID.4 models have begun rolling off the assembly line in Chattanooga, Tennessee and will reach dealerships starting in October. The electric SUV first went on sale here for the 2021 model year, but has been imported from VW’s plant in Germany since its launch.VW says it intends to ramp up production in the U.S. to 7000 cars per month by the end of the year; for reference, it has sold just 4415 ID.4s on our shores through the first half of this year and moved 16,742 units in 2021.

    The U.S.-built 2023 ID.4 will also feature a few changes compared with the Europe-built car. VW says that the center console is revised, and that the 77.0-kWh battery will come from a different, U.S.-based supplier, SK Innovation in Georgia. Some interior materials will also be sourced from suppliers in the U.S. There will also be a new entry-level model added by the end of the year that will come with a smaller battery pack, rear-wheel drive, and a lower base price that VW previously estimated at around $35,000. Pricing for the 2023 ID.4 models will be released next week.

    Volkswagen

    Even still, these differences will be subtle, and Tennessee-built ID.4s will likely be found alongside Germany-built models at dealerships as production ramps up. So if you’re shopping for an ID.4 starting in October, when the first U.S.-built cars are estimated to arrive, you’ll have to check the VIN to see where any given car was made.
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    Upcoming Royal Enfield 650cc Shotgun Stuck In Traffic – Spied

    Royal Enfield Shogun 650 is expected to hit the Indian markets early next year and could be priced around Rs 3.5 lakhUpcoming Royal Enfield 650cc Shotgun Stuck In TrafficRoyal Enfield’s lineup will look very different in the next few years as the bikemaker is planning to launch multiple new models over the course of next five years. The company will be expanding its flagship 650 range by introducing various new models.Numerous spy shots of the upcoming 650cc motorcycles have been spied on roads since last year. Another test mule of the supposed Shotgun 650 has been spotted testing recently and spy shots of the same have been circulating on the internet. The latest spy shots show two production-ready prototypes of the twin-cylinder motorcycle.Royal Enfield 650cc Shotgun Stuck In TrafficTwo test mules of the upcoming Royal Enfield 650cc Shotgun have been spied together, credit to Motor Vaahan. They are stuck in traffic, giving us a closer look at the motorcycles. They are wearing hardly any camouflage, revealing finished body panels and fuel tank. This indicates that Royal Enfield is done with a major part of the developmental process for the bike.However, the recently spied test mules have a few subtle yet noticeable variations in comparison to the pre-production concept showcased earlier. The biggest difference is the split-style seats seen in the test units as opposed to a single rider’s seat shown in the concept model. The SG650 concept flaunted the looks of a single-seater bobber. It is likely that Royal Enfield will introduce multiple variants of Shotgun with multiple seating layouts.[embedded content][embedded content]From the looks of it, Shotgun 650 is more likely to be a 650cc equivalent of Classic 350 which is also available both in single- and dual-seat variants. The round headlight, side panels and fenders, all bear a striking resemblance to the concept. Unlike Cruiser 650, which is speculated to be named Super Meteor 650, this model gets centre-set footpegs and a straight handlebar.Expected Features & SpecsIn terms of features, it gets a twin-pod instrument cluster that will be a semi-digital unit instead of a fully digital unit seen in the SG650 concept. The smaller pod could be for Tripper Navigation which displays turn-by-turn navigation, although this feature is expected to be available as an optional accessory.Hardware configurations of Shotgun 650 will consist of a dual-cradle frame suspended on USD forks up front and twin shock absorbers at rear. Braking duties will be handled by single disc brakes at both ends and chewed down by ByBre callipers. These will be aided by a dual-channel ABS.Powering Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 will be the same 648cc oil-cooled, parallel-twin motor that performs duties on the current 650 Twins- Interceptor and Continental GT. This unit pushes out 47 bhp and 52 Nm of peak torque and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox via a slip and assist clutch. Apart from Shotgun 650, Royal Enfield also has plans to launch Classic 650, Meteor 650, Hunter 350. More

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    KTM, Husqvarna Price Hike July 2022 – Duke, RC 125, 200, 250, 390 ADV

    KTM has increased prices for all its bikes in the range of Rs 1,427 to Rs 2,148; no updatesImage – MotobikeAs has been the case in most other previous price hikes, July price hike announced by KTM and Husqvarna is likely due to rising input costs. Inflation is now a global phenomenon, which has led to increase in prices of auto parts, components and raw materials. KTM and Husqvarna had increased prices earlier this year in May also.Apart from KTM and Husqvarna, most other OEMs have also announced price hikes multiple times in CY22. Upward revision of two-wheeler prices has been happening with greater frequency since 2020-21. This trend is likely to continue throughout 2022-23 and may be even longer depending on the emerging global geo-political and economic situation.KTM new prices July 2022KTM Duke range prices have been increased by up to Rs 2,148. Lowest price hike is Rs 1,427 for KTM 200 Duke. The bike is now available at a starting price of Rs 1,91,693. KTM 125 Duke and 250 Duke have received price hikes of Rs 2,099 each. New prices are Rs  1,78,041 and Rs  2,37,222, respectively. KTM 390 Duke has the highest price hike in the group at Rs 2,148. New price of 390 Duke is Rs 2,96,230.A similar price structure can be seen for the KTM RC range, where RC 200 has received the lowest price hike of Rs 1,427. New price of RC 200 is Rs 2,14,688. Entry-level RC 125 is being offered at Rs 1,88,640, an increase of Rs 1,779 in comparison to old price. RC 390 gets a price hike of Rs 2,148. New price of KTM RC 390 is Rs 3,16,070.KTM and Husqvarna prices July 2022KTM ADV range starts with 250 Adventure, which is now available at Rs 2,44,205. That’s an increase of Rs 2,099. KTM 390 Adventure price has been increased by Rs 2,148. It is now available at a starting price of Rs 3,37,043. While prices have been hiked, there are no updates for any of the bikes.Overall price hike for KTM bikes seems manageable from the users’ perspective. It is unlikely to have any major impact on sales. Husqvarna Svartpilen and Vitpilen prices have also increased for July 2022. The 250cc motorcycles are now priced at Rs 2,19,878 and Rs 2,19,251 which is an increase of Rs 2,099.KTM upcoming bikesEarlier this year in May, KTM had launched updated versions of RC 390 and 390 Adventure. These were launched at a starting price of Rs 3.14 lakh and Rs 3.35 lakh, respectively. Future plans include next-gen 390 Duke, which is expected to make its global debut later this year. It is expected to be launched in India in the first half of 2023.Another possibility is the 390 Adventure R variant that has been spotted on road tests. R variant is already available for higher capacity KTM bikes like 890 Adventure and 1290 Super Adventure. Primary differentiation for R variants comes in the form of additional equipment and features that make these bikes a superior off-roader. As 390 Adventure is popular here, it is possible that KTM may consider the bike’s R variant for India. More

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    2022 Volvo XC40 Electric SUV India Launch Price Rs 55.9 L – 418 Kms Range

    Volvo India announced the launch of their much awaited XC40 electric SUV – It is priced from Rs 55.90 lakh, ex-shVolvo XC40 Electric SUV India Launch PriceMost premium OEMs have revealed their plans to go all-electric around the end of this decade. Swedish luxury car maker, Volvo too has aggressive plans to incorporate electric powertrains in its portfolio. For International markets, it had revealed the XC40 Recharge, which was its first pure electric SUV.Priced from Rs 55.90 lakh ex-sh, the new Volvo XC40 Electric was launched on metaverse which the company named as ‘VolvoVerse’. Mr. Jyoti Malhotra, Managing Director, Volvo Car India said, “The launch of the XC40 Recharge and its assembly at our Bangalore plant further reinforces Volvo Car’s long term vision and commitment to India and the Indian consumer. We are happy that the wait is over for our loyal consumers who have long wanted an EV with the hallmark quality and safety that Volvo is globally known for.”2022 Volvo XC40 Electric SUV – Key HighlightsNow, moving on to details of the product, visually, XC40 Recharge clearly looks like a cousin of the standard XC40. Like most electric cars, it gets a closed-off grille at front, which differentiates it from its IC powered version. Overall profile and silhouette of the XC40 Recharge is similar to that of the standard IC car.Some of its prominent visual highlights include vertical LED tail-lamps, LED front-headlamps, T-shaped LED DRLs (Daytime Running Lamps) and 19-inch 5-spoke Black Diamond cut alloys, all of which make it look sharp. Volvo is also offering dual tone colour options, which further make the SUV look sporty and dynamic.Volvo XC40 electricTalking about exterior colour options, there are 5 offerings from Volvo, which include Glacier Silver, Crystal White, Fusion Red, Denim Blue and Black Stone. Except the Black colour option, all other colour choices are offered with a dual tone exterior theme, with black highlights on the roof and body cladding. On the inside, Volvo will be offering multiple upholstery options, including standard Leather, Nubuck textile and Nappa leather.What You Get With The 2022 XC40 Electric– 3 years comprehensive car warranty– 3 years Volvo Service Package– 3 years Roadside Assistance– 8 years battery warranty– 4 years subscription to digital services– 1 wall box charger (11 kW) through third partyInterior colour theme will however remain dark, primarily with shades of charcoal and black, across the upholstery options. Creature comfort features will include features like Built-in Google Assist, parking assistance, 360-degree camera, keyless entry, powered tail-gate and much more! Additional Accessory packages include options like Car Protection and Exterior Styling. The Exterior Styling pack will pack some sporty elements, like a roof spoiler.Volvo XC40 Electric – Interior OptionsPowertrainUnder the hood, the 2022 XC40 Recharge packs a twin electric motor set-up, which helps it to do a 0-100 kmph run in just 4.9 seconds. It draws power from a 78 kWh battery unit, which powers its dual-motor setup. The system has the capacity to dish out 408 hp and 660 Nm of peak torque. For safety related purposes, Volvo has electronically limited its top-speed to 180 km/h.Confirmed WLTP range of the model happens to be 418 km on a single charge. A standard 11 kW AC fast charger takes around 8-10 hours for a full recharge of its battery, whereas a 150 kW DC fast charger has the capacity to do a 0-80% charge in just around 40 minutes. Bookings open from tomorrow, 27th July 2022 via Volvo India website. Delivery starts in October 2022. More

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    Yamaha RD350 LC Modified For MS Dhoni – Exhaust Note, Yellow Colour

    Yamaha RD350 LC was never launched in India, but quite a few enthusiasts did get it imported here privatelyYamaha RD350 LC modified for MS DhoniIn the news frequently for his automotive collection, former captain of Indian cricket team Mahendra Singh Dhoni is here again with a new trophy in the form of a customized Yamaha RD350 LC. This modification project has been carried out by Blue Smoke Customs, a leading vehicle restoration services provider in Chandigarh.Talking a bit about Yamaha RD350 LC, the bike was in production from 1980 to 1983. It was a successor to the larger RD400. Due to stricter emission norms and introduction of new technologies and features, Yamaha RD350 LC was replaced with other models such as RZ350, RD350LC II and RD350 YPVS.Yamaha RD350 LC modified for MS DhoniIn this customization project, focus is on preserving the soul of the bike, all while giving it a major performance boost. Much of the styling has been retained in its original format, as evident in features like round headlamp, turn indicators and rear view mirrors, twin-pod analogue instrument console, sculpted fuel tank design and rectangular tail lamp.Seat section has been modified and the saddle used is a customized unit. It is elevated towards the rear, something that compliments the bike’s sporty profile. Take a look at the detailed walkaround as well as listen to the exhaust note of Dhoni’s new Yamaha RD350 LC in the video below.[embedded content][embedded content]The bike gets a dual-tone colour theme of yellow and black, which was one of the original colour options offered with the bike. Yellow bits can be seen on the front mudguard, fuel tank, side panels and tail section. Riding ergonomics is fairly comfortable and there’s scope for a slightly committed stance too.To give it a Dhoni-specific personalization, the bike gets number ‘7’ on top of the fuel tank. This represents Dhoni’s jersey number that was used in both standard as well as club cricket tournaments. While 7 is apparently a lucky number, Dhoni had said that it actually represents his date of birth 7-7 (July 7). The last two digits of his birth year 81 (8-1) is also 7, according to Dhoni.Yamaha RD350 LC performance boostYamaha RD350 LC is powered by a 347cc parallel twin, two-stroke motor that generates 49 bhp of max power. While the engine is the same, performance and handling have been boosted with a range of aftermarket parts and components. The kit includes Uni air filter, JL twin exhausts, NGK spark plug, Zeeltronic Programmable CDI, VForce4 reed valve system by Moto Tassinari, Lectron carburettor, LMC silicone radiator coolant hose and Metmachex aluminium swingarm.Yamaha RD350 LC modified for MS DhoniAnother key highlight of the modified Yamaha RD350 LC is its throaty exhaust note. It gets even more exciting while accelerating. As seen in the video, the bike has superb acceleration and there’s hardly any match for it on the streets. Exhaust note feels similar to that of legendary RX100, but it’s a lot hardier and louder. The aural experience perfectly complements the bike’s robust profile and powerful performance.Source More

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    2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Track Editions Honor U.S. Racetracks

    Cadillac has revealed three Track Editions for the CT4-V Blackwing to celebrate the brand’s success in the IMSA SportsCar championship.The Track Editions each come with special colors meant to evoke the racing circuits they are named after: Sebring, Watkins Glen, and Road Atlanta.There are also special interior trim pieces, IMSA logos, and decals, and only 99 units of each will be built.Cadillac recently revealed the Project GTP Hypercar, which will do battle in the IMSA Sportscar Championship starting at next year’s 24 Hours of Daytona, scrapping with a host of new endurance racers from a large field of factory-backed teams. But Cadillac has already been competing and succeeding in IMSA with the Cadillac DPi-V.R since 2017, racking up 28 wins and 84 podiums across multiple entries in 59 races. To celebrate its IMSA achievements, Cadillac is launching the 2023 CT4-V Blackwing Track Edition, with three different versions that each honor a different American road course that is part of the IMSA schedule.
    The Sebring IMSA Edition celebrates the Twelve Hours of Sebring in Florida—which Cadillac won in 2021 and 2022—with a dark Maverick Noir Frost paint job, chosen because the race ends in the dead of night. This moody color is paired with Tech Bronze brake calipers and interior accents in either Signet or Sky Cool Gray.
    The Watkins Glen IMSA Edition has the same interior trim but is decked out in Electric Blue paint with Royal Blue brakes, calling to mind the light blue guardrails that mark the boundaries of the iconic track. The Road Atlanta IMSA Edition meanwhile features a Rift metallic paint job, said to emulate the “overall elevated environment of Road Atlanta” and “the sophistication of the city.” The interior comes with either Adrenaline Red or Sky Cool Gray accents, and the exterior adds Edge Red brakes, Radiant Red side mirrors, and a red pinstripe along the carbon fiber side skirt.

    Along with special colors, the Track Editions add the CT4’s two optional carbon fiber packages as standard, as well as the carbon-fiber front seatbacks. Either the standard six-speed manual transmission or the optional 10-speed automatic gearbox will be available, with manual cars receiving a 3D-printed medallion on the shift knob. Plaques on the B-pillar and the bottom of the steering wheel feature the serial number and verify the authenticity of the Track Edition, and a sill plate recounts Cadillac’s racing triumphs at each circuit. The vehicles also come with an IMSA logo on the front splitter and rear spoiler, a checkered graphic pattern on the hood and doors, and a track outline decal for each track on the rear quarter glass.Only 99 examples of each Track Edition will be built. Production of the Watkins Glen version will run from October to December, with production of the Sebring edition starting in January of 2023 and the Road Atlanta variant being built from February to March of next year. There’s no word yet on price, but we expect a sizable bump over the standard CT4-V Blackwing, which starts at $60,390.
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    Audi Q6 SUV for China Looks Like a Luxurious VW Atlas

    Audi has revealed a new SUV for the China market called the Q6.It’s a three-row model based on the same MQB platform as the VW Atlas.We don’t expect to see this come to the U.S. anytime soon.Audi is expanding its SUV lineup in China with a new model called the Q6. Though its name places it below the Q7 and Q8 models, it is larger than those and is based on the same MQB platform as the VW Atlas three-row SUV that’s sold in the U.S. It’s part of Audi’s joint venture with Chinese automaker SAIC and will be built locally in China.

    We don’t have much in terms of specifications, but we know that the Q6 will be offered in three configurations, all with Quattro all-wheel drive. The base 40 has a 2.0-liter engine, likely a turbo-four, with 228 horsepower, while the 45 has a slightly more powerful version of that engine with 262 hp. The top model is the Q6 50, which has a 2.5-liter engine (possibly the same VR6 that’s in the Chinese version of the Atlas, called Teramont) with 295 horsepower.

    Audi

    The key differences between the Q6 and its downmarket VW sibling are in its design. The front end incorporates Audi’s singleframe grille and similar headlights as other Audi models, while the rear has taillights that stretch across the width of the vehicle. Inside, we can see nicer materials than what you get in the VW, plus touchscreens running Audi’s MMI infotainment system.

    Audi

    Audi

    The Q6 starts at the equivalent of around $74,000 in China at current exchange rates, with the top model commanding $88,000. We doubt we’ll see anything like this vehicle in the U.S., as the Q7 already has the mid-size luxury SUV market covered for the four-ring brand.
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    Hybrid Setup Boosts 2023 Toyota Sequoia Fuel Economy Ratings

    Toyota has released EPA fuel economy numbers for the 2023 Sequoia, and the new 3.4-liter V-6 hybrid powertrain brings a noticeable benefit.The Sequoia returns 22 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive, while choosing four-wheel drive lowers that figure to 20 mpg. This is a marked improvement over the previous model, which was powered by a 5.7-liter V-8 and maxed out at 15 mpg.The new 2023 Toyota Sequoia brings a much needed update to the full-size SUV based on the Tundra pickup. Replacing the second generation model that had languished on the market for 15 years, the revised Sequoia arrives with sharper styling, a more modern interior, and a standard hybrid powertrain. While looks are subjective and the giant touchscreen may turn some shoppers off, the Sequoia’s new V-6 hybrid setup provides an undeniable advantage over the previous generation, with Toyota recently releasing much improved EPA fuel economy ratings for the 2023 Sequoia.

    Toyota

    All Sequoias are powered by the same twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 engine paired with an electric motor, with the only choice being rear- or four-wheel drive. The two-wheel drive 2023 Sequoia is rated by the EPA at 21 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway for a 22 mpg combined rating. The four-wheel-drive system—optional on all trims except the TRD Pro, where it comes standard—drops the ratings to 19 mpg city and 22 mpg highway for a 20 mpg combined figure.

    This represents a sizable improvement over the 2022 Sequoia with its 5.7-liter V-8 engine, which returned 15 mpg combined for the two-wheel-drive model and 14 mpg for four-wheel drive. The 2023 Sequoia hybrid is also substantially more fuel efficient than the 2023 Chevy Tahoe fitted with the 5.3-liter V-8, which returns 17 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive. It also beats out the most efficient 2022 Ford Expedition (19 mpg combined from a two-wheel-drive twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6) and 2022 Nissan Armada (16 mpg combined from a two-wheel-drive 5.6-liter V-8). The only full-size SUV more that can travel more miles on a gallon of fuel than the Sequoia is the Tahoe equipped with its 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-six, which gets 24 mpg in two-wheel drive configuration or 22 mpg as a four-wheel drive model.
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