More stories

  • in

    Ola Electric Scooter Delivery Time – Some Get It In Under 24 Hours

    Ola S1 Pro commits to guaranteed delivery in 14 Days, and in some instances does so within 24 hoursOla Electric Scooter. Image – Yogesh LabdeA few recent tweets point to customers receiving the Ola S1 Pro in under a week, while awaiting the OS update to match pace. To this end, the company has already made an announcement that a number of customers will get their MoveOS 2 Beta starting on June 1, 2022. This is as per company plans following the opening of its 3rd purchase window.Some deliveries were made as quickly as 5 days from payment. And some in under 24 hours. Since launch, Ola has streamlined bookings for S1 Pro through specified booking windows announced by the company. The most recent was announced for May 21, 2022. The company had done the same back in March 2022.Prompt booking and deliveryTo ensure a seamless process, prospective buyers first make a booking for 499 bucks. To confirm a purchase, a payment of 20k is to be made when the purchase window opens. For those who make a timely reservation, further details are elaborated in an email.The delivery process for Ola Electric is new, and could be one that works brilliantly.  Instead of waiting to set up brick and mortar stores in city after city, Ola is opting for doorstep deliveries. For those keen on a test drive, one can select a time slot at one of the test locations in a particular city. And now, with an email commitment of delivery in 14 days, that’s pretty much all it takes. As is evident, customers needn’t even wait for two weeks. Prompt booking, and optimized manufacturing to meet ongoing demand continues to help Ola tweak ops.Probably the first time in the world, that people have gotten their vehicles delivered in under 24 hours from payment, that too fully registered. We’re loving the customer reactions to #DeliveryInHyperMode ? pic.twitter.com/XM3EY1YXWQ— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) May 24, 2022Ola sales growthThis is more than necessary. The electric scooter manufacturer has set itself competitive goals. Foremost is its quest to be on top of the sales chart. Currently this doesn’t seem a difficult task. Quite simply, while the electric scooter is moving forward in leaps and bounds, total segment volumes are still low.Ola has in quick time reached atop the sales chart having done better than Hero Electric and Okinawa last month. All three companies, and a few others are currently under immense public scrutiny owing to reported fire incidents. Hero Electric announced zero dispatches for April 2022 owing to the ongoing global chips shortage.Electric scooter segment growthWith a range of concerns clawing at the industry, it’s clear that the electric scooter segment does have teething issues. Concurrently, improved sales and demand point to improved buyer interest. The number of electric two wheelers available today continues to increase. This in turn gives buyers a real choice.Confidence in the electric scooter is evident from the price points they are available at. A growing number of electric scooters are already available at a higher price point than high-selling petrol scooters. Total two-wheeler segment sales in India surpasses 10 lakhs easily, each month. And total electric scooter sales are soon expected to be a sizeable contributor.  More

  • in

    Upcoming Mahindra XUV300 Electric To Take On Tata Nexon EV Max

    Mahindra might name the upcoming electric SUV, XUV400 instead of Electric XUV300 as it will be a larger vehicleMahindra Funster Electric Concept. Image for reference.Mahindra was the first mainstream Indian manufacturer to venture into electric mobility for the masses. They acquired Reva, an electric car manufacturer, and launched the E2O, E2O Plus and E Verito in the Indian market. Mahindra was going to be a shining example with a very early start it had with electric vehicles. But the plan didn’t materialize as Mahindra expected.E2O and E2O Plus looked polarizing, had underwhelming performance and had questionable safety and integrity. E Verito on the other hand was too inferior as a product for the price it commanded. Despite the headstart, Mahindra didn’t become the mass-market EV leader that it hoped for. Instead, that title is held by Tata Motors, deservingly so. Tata Motors based their EVs on already popular and desirable cars like Tigor and Nexon unlike Mahindra with Verito and Reva cars.Mahindra XUV300 ElectricMahindra wants to get back in the EV game and XUV300 Electric will be its first product of the eight passenger EVs it plans to launch by 2027. The company is also considering a partnership with Volkswagen as the German automaker has a successful EV portfolio.Mahindra recently revealed that their first EV will be launched in the first quarter of 2023 and it will be around 4.2 metres in length. We expect the product to be unveiled by the end of 2022. Mahindra might name its first electric XUV400 instead of Electric XUV300. This shift in naming scheme might be due to the fact that the upcoming electric SUV will share its dimensions with SsangYong Tivoli instead of XUV300.2023 Mahindra XUV300 Electric aka XUV400 EV SpiedSsangYong is a South Korean automobile manufacturer that is a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra. Tivoli is a compact MPV by SsangYong that measures a little over 4.2 metres in length. XUV300 SUV in India, is a chopped-up Tivoli with more ground clearance. Mahindra intends to retain Tivoli’s dimensions on their upcoming electric SUV and as it is bigger than XUV300, XUV400 name makes sense.With larger dimensions, XUV300 Electric will have a proportionate design and a decent boot capacity, unlike XUV300. Mahindra has also stated that XUV300 Electric will source high energy-dense NMC cells from LG Chem. NMC cells are superior to the cylindrical LFP cells found on Nexon EV and EV Max. With this move, XUV300 Electric might be more powerful and have a longer range than Tata’s EVs.Launch and CompetitionMahindra has officially announced that the electric version of XUV300 will be launched around first quarter of 2023. Even though the car was showcased at 2020 Auto Expo, supply scarcity for battery cells and other EV components specifically designed for XUV300 Electric has delayed plans. The uncalled Covid crisis is another factor for the delay.As EVs in India aren’t taxed as much, Mahindra isn’t bothering to trim down the Tivoli to fit sub 4-metre constraints. With the bigger size, it will be larger than Nexon EV and Nexon EV Max. It will be more comparable to MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona which are similarly sized. We can expect the upcoming Mahindra electric SUV to be priced in similar range as Nexon EV Max. If Mahindra delivers a good product with more range than the Nexon EV Max, it will be a very compelling product for the Indian EV market. More

  • in

    2023 Lexus RX Is Redesigned, Adds 367-HP RX500h F Sport Hybrid

    The new 2023 Lexus RX is here with several new powertrains.The RX350 has a turbo-four gas engine, while the RX350h, RX450h+, and RX500h F Sport Performance models all have various hybrid setups.The new RX will go on sale in the U.S. by the end of the year.The RX has broken ground for Lexus ever since it first hit the scene, and now the new fifth-generation model is introducing a new variation on the brand’s “spindle” grille design. With a body-colored upper area, the 2023 RX’s face is an interesting evolution of the polarizing Lexus look that’s found across the lineup. No matter what you think of the new design, the new RX is poised to increase its coverage of the luxury-SUV spectrum with new powertrains including a plug-in-hybrid model and a 367-hp RX500h F Sport Performance hybrid variant that features a new all-wheel-drive setup Lexus calls Direct4. Rumors suggest that Lexus will introduce a new three-row crossover called the TX in the near future, so we don’t think that the previous RX’s “L” model will return this time around. This will allow the RX to occupy the two-row-crossover space somewhere between compact and mid-size that has proven so successful for this model over its history. With a 2.4-inch longer wheelbase, the new RX promises more rear-seat room but has the same overall length, meaning its overhangs are shorter and its proportions look a bit more athletic.
    Toyota’s GA-K architecture, shared with many models including the Highlander, RAV4 and smaller Lexus NX, is underneath the latest RX. It introduces a multilink rear suspension to replace the previous model’s unequal-length-control-arm setup. Lexus also claims that the new model is up to 198 pounds lighter than before.

    The 3.5-liter V-6 engine used in the previous RX350 and RX450h is gone and has been replaced by a variety of four-cylinder drivetrains that include a base gas engine and three separate hybrid variants. The RX350 has a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four with 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque; like in the NX350, this engine is available with an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive. The RX350h uses a familiar Toyota hybrid setup with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four and electric motors that combine to produce 246 hp; it comes standard with all-wheel drive and will achieve an estimated 33 mpg combined, 3 mpg better than the old RX450h’s V-6 hybrid setup.Things start to get interesting with the new RX500h F Sport Performance model. Meant to be considered in the same performance tier as the V-8–powered IS500, this version of the RX has a new hybrid system with a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four gasoline engine and a six-speed automatic transmission rather than the planetary gearset typical of Toyota hybrid powertrains. It makes a total of 367 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, and Lexus says that the all-wheel-drive system, which it calls Direct4, incorporates a more powerful electric motor on the rear axle that’s meant to improve handling performance.There will also be an RX450h+ model with a plug-in-hybrid powertrain. Lexus isn’t providing specifics, but we’d guess it’ll have a similar setup as the 302-hp NX450h+ and Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEVs. The plug-in NX provides an EPA-estimated electric driving range of 37 miles, so the RX PHEV should fall somewhere close to that.
    Trim levels for the lower models will include base, Premium, Premium+, Luxury, F Sport Handling, while the RX500h F Sport Performance will sit at the top of the range. 19-inch wheels are standard across the board, with 21-inch wheels optional. The redesigned interior looks similar to the NX’s and is available with an optional 14.0-inch touchscreen that runs Lexus’ latest infotainment system. Interior color options include six different hues, including red and brown, while bamboo, open-pore wood, and aluminum trims will be available.We think the 2023 RX’s base price will rise somewhat compared with the outgoing RX350’s $46,995 starting cost. The RX350h hybrid is likely to start somewhere around $50,000, while the RX450h+ is likely to approach $60,000. There’s no precedent for the RX500h F Sport Performance model, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see that model reach into the $70,000 range. Lexus says the new RX will go on sale at the end of this year.
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    2023 Jaguar F-Pace SVR Edition 1988 Is a Rare, Purple Racing Tribute

    The 2023 Jaguar F-Pace SVR Edition 1988 is a tribute to the brand’s 24 Hours of Le Mans victory in 1988.The Edition 1988 has exclusive Midnight Amethyst (purple) paint, gold rims, and other gold accents inside and out.The commemorative F-Pace SVR costs $111,150, and production is limited to 394 copies worldwide. To commemorate winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1988, Jaguar introduces a limited-edition 2023 F-Pace SVR that was specially designed by the company’s Special Vehicle Operations. Called the Edition 1988, it can be easily identified by its purple paint and gold rims. However, seeing one in person will be a rare experience, as global production is capped at 394. Why only 394? Jaguar says it’s building one for each lap completed by the winning car back in 1988.

    What starts out as an ordinary F-Pace SVR—if any compact SUV with a 550-hp supercharged V-8 can be called ordinary—is transformed into a unique racing tribute with the Edition 1988. Its exclusive paint color is called Midnight Amethyst, which recalls the purple in the livery that adorned Jaguar’s XJR-9 LM race car that won Le Mans in ’88. The Champagne Gold Satin that covers the SVR’s 22-inch wheels is also likely a nod to that first-place finish. While the color combo might not fit everyone’s taste, it will certainly attract attention.
    Along with the standard Black Pack, which includes gloss-black exterior trim on items such as the brake calipers and mirror caps, the F-Pace SVR Edition 1988 has laser-etched logos on the front fenders. The tailgate is also emblazoned with a gold Jaguar script below the brand’s leaper logo. Also making the SVR’s rear end stand out is a set of polished quad-tipped exhaust pipes.Inside, gold accents abound, from the contrast stitching on the black leather upholstery to the trim on the steering wheel, dashboard vents, and slots in the front seatbacks. The steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters that control the SVR’s eight-speed automatic transmission also get the glossy gold treatment. The other interior detail that’s specific to Edition 1988 models is a graphic that lets everyone know the car is one of 394.
    The 2023 Jaguar F-Pace SVR Edition 88 is currently available to order (while supplies last, of course) and has a sticker price of $111,150. For admirers who aren’t in the market to buy or those who just want to appreciate this powerful purple-and-gold SUV in person, the Edition 88 will be on display at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between June 8 to 12 and then again at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from June 23 to 26.
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    2023 BMW X1 Revealed with a Characterful New Design

    The new 2023 BMW X1 is here with a redesigned exterior and new features.The xDrive28i model has a 241-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four.It starts at $39,595 and will arrive in the U.S. late this year.BMW is showing off the new X1, and the small crossover’s new look is eye-catching. With its large kidney grilles, angular surfaces, and large black plastic cladding, it’s certainly more characterful than its predecessor, although we’re not sure if we’re sold on the exaggerated design. It’s longer, wider, and taller than before and has a longer wheelbase, which should result in more interior space for passengers and cargo.

    The xDrive28i model once again comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine and all-wheel drive, but there are some revisions to the powertrain. Rather than a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission, it now uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic unit. And the engine itself uses the Miller cycle and now produces 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
    Adaptive dampers are a new option, and they lower the X1’s ride height by 0.6 inch. 18-, 19-, and 20-inch wheels are available, and there’s once again an M Sport package with aggressive-looking exterior tweaks and different interior trim.Inside is a new curved display similar to what’s in the refreshed 3-series. It incorporates a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.7-inch central infotainment screen. There’s a fair amount of standard equipment, including navigation, a power tailgate, and several driver-assistance features. Options include a convenience package, an XLine design package, a premium package, and heated seats and a heated steering wheel.
    The 2023 X1 will arrive in the U.S. late this year, and a redesigned X2 with a sleeker silhouette should follow shortly after. The xDrive28i starts at $39,595.

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    1972 Ferrari 365GTC/4 Is Our Bring a Trailer Auction Pick of the Day

    Ferrari produced around 500 365GTC/4 cars between 1971 and 1972.The model lacked the spacious rear seats of Ferrari’s 2+2 models and the racing pedigree and performance of the 365GTB/4 Daytona.Bidding for this 365GTC/4 closes Tuesday, June,7. In some ways, the Ferrari 365GTC/4 served as a stopgap measure. Neither a two-seat sports car like its 365GTB/4 stablemate nor a proper 2+2 such as the 365GT 2+2 and the 365GT4 2+2 that bookended the model’s two-year production run, the 365GTC/4 incorporated a pair of vestigial rear seats under its fastback roofline. This 1972 example in excellent shape is currently offered on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of the Hearst Autos family. In March, another ’73 365GTC/4 sold on BaT for $237,000.With a week to go on the auction, bidding is currently at $160,365 and is sure to go higher.

    Though it’s easy to think of the 365GTC/4 as a restyled and more versatile variant of the aforementioned 365GTB/4, this four-seat Ferrari is a far different beast than its more widely appreciated kin. Yes, the two cars share similar proportions and front-mounted V-12 engines, but both go about achieving their respective missions in far different ways.

    Bring a Trailer

    Notably, the 365GTC/4 ditched the GTB’s transaxle and half-dozen downdraft Weber carburetors for a five-speed gearbox mounted directly to the engine and six sidedraft Webers. Choked somewhat by our market’s emissions equipment, the GTC/4’s V-12 produced 320 horsepower—20 off its European counterpart and 32 less than the two-seat GTB/4.Despite its plentiful power, our colleagues at Road & Track found the 365GTC/4’s straight-line performance somewhat wanting. Sure, its 7.3-second run to 60 mph put it 0.2 second ahead of the similarly powerful Maserati Ghibli, but this four-seat Ferrari was still outgunned by the 300-hp four-seat 330GT 2+2 that came before it, a model we clocked hitting the mile-a-minute mark in 6.3 seconds in 1965. Certainly, the near-two-ton curb weight of the 365GTC/4 Road & Track tested didn’t help matters.

    Bring a Trailer

    The 365GTC/4’s real appeal, however, is arguably its grand touring ambitions. Its proportions may look as racy as the truly track competitive 365GTB/4, but the GTC/4’s Pininfarina-penned bodywork hides a comfortable grand tourer. The wide center console that covers the front-mounted transmission may lack the charm of the GTB/4’s gated shifter or dogleg shift pattern, but it houses controls for the model’s many—for the time—amenities, including those for the defrosters, power windows, and air-conditioning, ventilation, and audio systems. While the rear seats may serve little use for carrying passengers, it makes for a fine luggage area with the seatbacks folded. The 365GTC/4 may not earn the admiration of other Ferraris due to its less than stellar (by Ferrari standards) performance and somewhat forgettable styling (again, by Ferrari standards), but it’s still a vehicle bearing the prancing-horse badge. And a relatively rare one at that, with the Italian automaker producing around 500 of these machines between 1971 and 1972.With approximately 4000 miles on its odometer, as well as plenty of documentation and pictures related to its upkeep, this 365GTC/4 seemingly needs little more than a new garage to call home.
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    2023 Toyota RAV4 Woodland Edition Adds Off-Road Cred to the Hybrid

    The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid adds a special model called the Woodland Edition.It has off-road tweaks including all-terrain tires and a modified suspension.All 2023 RAV4 models receive infotainment updates including a newly optional 10.5-inch touchscreen.Toyota already offers Adventure and TRD Off-Road versions of the RAV4 with rugged appearance tweaks and off-road-oriented upgrades, but now the hybrid model is getting in on the fun with a Woodland Edition that’s new to the lineup for 2023. The Sienna minivan first introduced the Woodland name to the lineup, and the RAV4 features similar tweaks.Like the TRD Off-Road model, the RAV4 Woodland Edition has Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires and a TRD suspension with different tuning for the springs, shocks, and bump stops. It also looks a bit more adventurous thanks to bronze wheels, and chunkier roof rack, mud flaps, and black badges and exhaust tips.
    Inside, rubber all-weather floor mats are standard and come emblazoned with Woodland Edition decals. There’s also a 120-volt outlet in the cargo area. It’s available in black, blue, and white exterior colors and comes only with the RAV4’s all-wheel-drive hybrid drivetrain, a 2.5-liter inline-four combined with two electric motors that produces a total of 219 hp. That’s more than the base four-cylinder’s 203 hp, and in our testing the hybrid was quicker, getting to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, 0.7 second quicker than the base engine.

    We’re not sure if the Woodland Edition model will receive different EPA ratings than the standard RAV4 Hybrid, which is rated at 40 mpg combined. We’d guess it might receive slightly lower ratings given that the RAV4 TRD Off-Road has slightly lower EPA estimates than other all-wheel-drive RAV4s.All 2023 Toyota RAV4 models also benefit from upgraded displays inside the cabin. An 8.0-inch touchscreen and 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster are now standard, with a larger 10.5-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster newly optional. The new touchscreens run an updated version of Toyota’s infotainment software.Toyota has yet to announce pricing for the 2023 RAV4 Woodland Edition, but we think it will be a bit more expensive than the TRD Off-Road model, which starts at $38,130.
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. 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 created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    Bajaj Sales, Exports Breakup Apr 2022 – Pulsar, Dominar, CT100, Platina

    Bajaj Auto experienced a de-growth both in terms of domestic sales and exports in April 2022Bajaj Pulsar 250Bajaj Auto Limited, a leading two and three wheeler automaker in India, has registered significantly lower sales in the past month. The company cites severe shortage in supply of semi-conductors which has taken its toll on production thereby relating to lower sales. Bajaj Auto domestic sales and exports in the past month stood at 2,68,284 units, this was a YoY de-growth from 3,27,837 units sold in April 2021.Bajaj lineup of motorcycles include Pulsar, Platina, CT, Dominar and Avenger along with the Chetak electric scooter. Domestic sales in April 2022 stood at 92,577 units, down 24.01 percent from 1,21,829 units sold in April 2021. This was a 29,253 unit volume de-growth.Bajaj Auto Domestic sales Breakup April 2022The best-selling model on the list was the Pulsar with 46,040 units sold in the past month. This was a 30.86 percent YoY de-growth over 66,586 units sold in April 2021. Pulsar commands a 49.73 percent share with its 125cc model seeing sales of 42,747 units, up 19.10 percent over 35,891 units sold in April 2021. Pulsar 150cc sales stood at 2,177 units, down 89.68 percent over 21,100 units sold in April 2021. There were also 1,024 units of the Pulsar 200cc sold last month leading to an 81.98 YoY de-growth, while there were only 92 units of Pulsar 250cc sold last month, down 97.65 percent over 3,914 units sold in April 2021.YoY sales of Bajaj Platina increased 10.85 percent to 39,316 units, up from 35,467 units sold in April 2021. This was a 3,849 unit volume growth with a 42.47 percent share. Bajaj CT sales dipped 64.80 percent YoY to 5,498 units. This was against 15,619 units sold in April 2021 leading to a 10,121 unit volume de-growth while commanding a 5.94 percent share in the company range.Bajaj Sales Breakup April 2022Avenger sales fell 93.17 percent to 176 units in April 2022, down from 2,575 units sold in April 2021. It was the Avenger 200cc that saw 174 units sold in the past month, over 1,851 units sold in April 2021 leading to a 90.96 percent YoY de-growth. The Avenger 250cc had only 2 units sold in domestic markets last month, down 99.69 percent over 650 units sold in April 2021. Dominar sales also fell YoY by 71.92 percent to 301 units last month, down from 1,072 units sold in April 2021. Dominar 250cc had 174 units sold last month while the 500cc model saw 127 units sold in April 2022.Bajaj Sales Breakup April 2022 saw Chetak electric scooter much in demand in domestic markets. Sales improved 144.31 percent to 1,246 units, up from 510 units sold in April 2021. The company, noting strong response for this model, has plans to add more models to their EV lineup over the coming years. A test mule of the Chetak based electric scooter is currently under test and has been recently spied near the company’s Chakan plant in Pune.Bajaj Auto Exports April 2022Exports dipped 14.71 percent YoY in April 2022. It was down to 1,75,707 units from 2,06,008 units shipped in April 2021. This was a 30,301 unit volume de-growth. In global markets, it was the Bajaj Boxer that garnered the most attention. Sales dipped 17.40 percent to 99,500 units from 1,20,460 units sold in April 2021 leading to a 20,960 unit volume de-growth while commanding a 56.63 percent share. The Boxer 110cc saw sales of 74,308 units, down 18.93 percent over 91,660 units sold in April 2021 while there were 18,232 units of Boxer 150cc sold along with 6,960 units of the Boxer 125cc.Bajaj Exports Breakup April 2022Of the Pulsar range, sales stood at 28,965 units, down 31.91 percent over 42,537 units sold in April 2021. Pulsar 200cc was the most in demand with 17,196 units sold, down 20.77 percent over 21,703 units sold in April 2021. There were also 7,686 units of the Pulsar 150cc sold and 3,433 units of the Pulsar 125cc sold in the past month along with 650 units of Pulsar 250cc.Bajaj CT exports increased 16.09 percent YoY to 21,156 units. Exports of the Discover dipped 9.28 percent  to 15,096 units from 16,640 units shipped in April 2021 out of which there were 10,776 units of the 125cc shipped and 4,320 units of the 110cc. Bajaj Dominar (5,785 units) and Platina (4,800 units) saw YoY sales growth of 79.60 percent and 6.95 percent respectively while Avenger exports fell 7.53 percent to 405 units. More