News

Subterms

    More stories

    • 125 Shares99 Views

      in Motor News

      2022 Mercedes-AMG SL Is More Expensive Than the AMG GT

      by

      Mercedes has announced pricing for the 2022 AMG SL-class.It starts at $138,850 for the SL55 model and $179,150 for the SL63 model.Both are powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine.Mercedes is not being shy about the latest generation of its venerable SL roadster. Not only does it sport an all-AMG lineup, its pricing is ambitiously high, starting at $138,850 for the lesser SL55 and $179,150 for the more powerful SL63. That’s a good bit more expensive than the previous Mercedes-AMG GT coupe and roadster, which were phased out after the 2021 model year and started at $119,650 for the hardtop and $131,750 for the droptop.Both versions of the SL have a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine, with the SL55’s configuration producing 469 horsepower and the SL63’s producing 577 horsepower. 4Matic all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission are standard across the board.

      Mercedes will offer the SL in two equipment levels, regardless of whether you choose the 55 or the 63. The Touring comes standard with equipment including massaging seats, a heated steering wheel, and a Burmester sound system. The Performance trim adds a front-axle lift system and, for the SL55, Mercedes’ Active Ride Control system and an AMG Dynamic Plus package with a limited-slip differential, yellow brake calipers, and different drive modes (these features are standard on the SL63).The AMG SL’s pricing puts it right in line with the Porsche 911, as the SL55 matches up with the 443-hp 911 Carrera 4S cabriolet ($138,550 base price) and the SL63 is relatively close to the 572-hp 911 Turbo cabriolet ($188,450 base price). We look forward to getting our hands on an SL to test so that we can see how it measures up to the Porsche in terms of performance.
      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

    • 163 Shares119 Views

      in Electric Cars

      2023 Kia EV9 Electric SUV Spied – Closer Look At LED Headlight, Alloys

      by

      Kia EV9 is expected to sit above the EV6 that was recently launched in India2023 Kia EV9 Electric SUV. Images – Auto Spy.Kia has massive plans when it comes to electrification. Kia has already made it official that they will go carbon neutral by 2045. That roadmap is valid across the globe and not just in a country. Kia also aims at 100% electrification of all its products in Europe by 2035 and other international markets by 2040.This is a massive ambition and Kia needs to start working yesterday to achieve it. Hyundai and Kia are expected to bring 6 EVs to India by the end of 2024. Kia has already launched its EV6 electric SUV crossover in limited numbers via CBU route. It comes in GT Line trim and gets an option of either RWD or AWD.2023 Kia EV9 Electric SUV SpiedBut Kia has another Ace up its sleeve, but this is not just an electric crossover. It is a large electric SUV. It is based on the Kia EV9 concept, that was first showcased at LA Auto Show 2021 alongside Hyundai’s concept based on same platform named SEVEN.Kia might be targeting this mainly for the US market where big cars are mostly the norm. In terms of size, we can expect it to be around the same size as Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. Both these SUVs are large and are powered by IC engines.2023 Kia EV9 Electric SUVThe South Korean brand has promised a US launch in the year 2023. As the deadline is nearing, there have been multiple test mules spotted undergoing testing in South Korea. 2023 Kia EV9 Electric SUV has been spied in a parking lot, giving us a closer look at its alloys, LED headlight and tail light. The SUV is heavily camouflaged with meshes for headlights, indicators and fog lights in the cladding.When viewed, Kia EV9 does remind us of the new-gen Lexus GX SUV in terms of presence and profile. Even though Kia EV9 was cladded, we can see the boxy silhouette that is inspired by the concept vehicle. It will radiate a rugged appeal that will appeal to pickup truck-obsessed USA.On the inside, we can expect it to have a clean and futuristic design layout and might get similar entertainment packages from newly revealed Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric sedan. In terms of seating, it will get 3-rows of seating like a Telluride and might promise a big luggage space when the third row is folded up.2023 Kia EV9 Electric SUVJust like Kia’s EV9, Hyundai will also launch an electric SUV that will be similarly sized too. Hyundai’s version will be named Ioniq 7 and will sit above Ioniq 5 which is expected to launch in India by the end of 2022. Both electric SUVs will be based on the E-GMP platform on which Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 are currently based.Price & CompetitionKia hasn’t revealed the exact launch timeline yet. As of now, we don’t know what features it will get, what powertrains it will be equipped with and at what price point it will be launched. But we can expect Kia EV9 to be priced slightly lower than Ioniq 7. In terms of competition, it will compete with its cousin Hyundai Ioniq 7, China-exclusive VW ID.6, Cadillac Lyric, Mercedes-Benz EQS and the likes. Kia India hasn’t revealed if EV9 will make it to our shores yet. More

    • 150 Shares189 Views

      in Bike

      Honda 2W Sales Breakup June 2022 – Activa, Dio, Shine, CB350, Dream

      by

      Honda Two Wheelers posted a 67.40 YoY growth in domestic sales while exports were up 41.30 percentImage for reference.Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) reported a 67.40 percent growth in domestic sales in June 2022 with 3,55,655 units sold, up from 2,12,453 units sold in June 2021. This was a 1,43,202 unit volume growth. Exports on the other hand increased 41.30 percent YoY to 28,322 units from 20,044 units sold in June 2021 relating to a volume growth of 8,278 units. Once again it was the Honda Activa scooter that led domestic sales charts, that too by a significant margin. It was the Honda Navi that found most buyers in global markets.Honda Sales Breakup June 2022Honda Activa scooter topped domestic sales lists in June 2022 with sales of 1,84,305 units. This was a YoY growth of 95.50 percent from 93,274 units sold in June 2021. The Honda Activa scooter commands a 51.82 percent share in the company lineup. Honda Activa also took a top spot on the list of best-selling scooters, followed by TVS Jupiter and Suzuki Access in 2nd and 3rd spot respectively. At no. 2 was the Honda CB Shine. Sales stood at 1,25,947 units in June 2022, up 75.25 percent over 71,869 units sold in June 2021, relating to a 54,078 unit volume growth and a 35.41 percent share.These were the only two models in the company lineup to post sales above the 1 lakh unit mark in June 2022. Honda Dio scooter was next with sales of 26,540 units in June 2022, up 39.81 percent from 18,983 units sold in June 2021. Honda Dream (11,625 units) and Hness 350 (2,120 units) also saw a YoY growth of 245.85 percent and 14.41 percent respectively.Honda Hornet 2.0 and X-Blade have posted the highest YoY sales growth. Hornet sales stood at 1,906 units, up 671.66 percent over 247 units sold in June 2021. X-Blade on the other hand has seen sales increase 901.10 percent YoY to 911 units from just 91 units sold in June 2021. Livo, which featured at No 7 in between Hornet 2.0 and X-Blade saw its YoY sales up 47.84 percent to 1,814 units.Honda Sales Breakup June 2022Honda also had the CB200X (168 units), its adventure motorcycle, launched in August 2021 on this list. Sales of the Grazia (131 units) dipped 96.07 percent YoY. It was followed by CB300R with 108 units sold in the past month. Thereafter, sales of Unicorn 160 (79 units) and Africa Twin (1 units) posted YoY de-growth while there were 0 units of CBR 650, CB500 and Gold Wing sold in June 2022.Honda Exports Breakup June 2022The company’s export list was headed by the Navi scooter. Even as sales have been discontinued in domestic markets, the Navi saw exports to the tune of 8,602 units in June 2022. This was a 699.44 percent YoY growth over 1,076 units sold in June 2021. The Navi scooter commands a 30.37 percent share. Exports of Dio scooter increased 11.72 percent YoY to 6,301 units in the past month from 5,640 units shipped in June 2021. It was followed by the X-Blade, of which 3,148 units were exported in June 2022, up 11.43 percent from 2,825 units sold in June 2021.Honda Dream also saw its exports surge by 301.75 percent from 684 units in June 2021 to 2,748 units in June 2022. Exports of the Unicorn 160 (1,880 units), Livo (1,800 units) and CB350 (1,500 units) all posted a YoY growth in exports. On the other hand, the exports of Honda CB Shine, which was at No. 2 in domestic sales, dipped in terms of exports by 74.25 percent to 1,150 units in June 2022 from 4,466 units shipped in June 2021.Honda Export Breakup June 2022Honda Hornet 160R exports increased 6.10 percent to 904 units while exports of the Aviator dipped 77.78 percent to 240 units from 1,080 units exported in June 2021. Hornet 2.0 had 48 units exported in the past month while there was only 1 unit of the Activa scooter sold in global markets in June 2022, down 97.50 percent from 40 units sold in June 2021. There were 0 units of both Honda Grazia and Unicorn sold in June 2022. More

    • 150 Shares199 Views

      in Bike

      Bajaj Triumph Motorcycle Launch In 2023 – Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Rival

      by

      Both motorcycles developed under the Bajaj-Triumph joint venture share the same underpinnings and powertrain but different clothingNew Bajaj Triumph Motorcycle Will Rival Royal Enfield. Image above is a render.The partnership between Bajaj Auto and Triumph Motorcycles is one of the most talked-about associations in the Indian auto industry in recent times. The joint venture will result in production of premium mid-displacement motorcycles which will be retailed under the iconic British brand in India as well as overseas markets.The association between the two auto giants has led to the development of at least two bikes with the same underpinnings and engine but slightly different body styles. Both these motorcycles have recently been caught on camera for the first time. One is a neo-retro roadster while the other is a scrambler. The former will take on the likes of Royal Enfield Meteor 350 while the latter will take on the likes of Yezdi Scrambler and upcoming Royal Enfield Hunter 350.Bajaj-Triumph Scrambler: EngineThe roadster has already been discussed at a length previously. The scrambler is a different take on the motorcycle with the same engine. As mentioned earlier, both bikes will be powered by the same motor. Although exact configurations aren’t known yet, we expect this mill to be a single-cylinder unit with a sub-500cc displacement. The engine has supposedly been developed by Triumph since it wears a similar look.The motor is nestled in a triangular-shaped casing which is reminiscent of the bigger Bonnevilles. The motor gets cooling fins but those are only meant for aesthetic purposes as it features a large radiator which means it will be a liquid-cooled unit. In all likelihood, the engine will use a 4-valve, DOHC layout like the KTM models developed by Bajaj.New Bajaj Triumph Motorcycle Will Rival Royal EnfieldLike its roadster sibling, the upcoming Triumph scrambler borrows visual cues from the neo-retro range of motorcycles from the British brand. The most evident styling inspiration is Triumph’s existing Street Scrambler with signature highlights such as a round headlight, an engine underbelly crash guard, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank with rubber pads on the sides and split-style seats.Both the roadster and scrambler get a single exhaust tailpipe with a dual-barrel canister although their design appears slightly different from each other. The latter’s scrambler appeal is highlighted with the presence of a tall-set beak-like front fender, knuckle guards, a short flyscreen and a luggage rack at rear, some of which will be available as accessories.Features & HardwareAs far as equipment is concerned, this test mule flaunted a rectangular digital TFT instrument console similar to the ones used in the 390 range of KTM. However, the production-spec model could use something more retro like a circular semi-digital cluster to suit the bike’s character. The bike is also expected to pack full LED illumination and multiple riding modes.Upcoming Bajaj Triumph Scrambler MotorcycleComing to its hardware, both the scrambler and its roadster singling appear to be based on a tubular chassis with bolt-on rear subframes. The chassis will be suspended on upside-down forks at front and a mono-shock at rear, although the suspension setup of the scrambler is likely to offer more travel. Braking duties will be carried out by a 4-piston radially mounted caliper with a single disc at front and rear each.Unlike the roadster with a 17-inch front wheel, the scrambler runs on a larger 19-inch front alloy wheel. The rear wheel on both bikes remain 17-inch units, however, the alloy wheels on scrambler are shod with semi-knobby road-biased tyres from Metzeler. The spy images suggest that the scrambler will also have a higher saddle. Launch of the Bajaj Triumph motorcycle is confirmed for 2023. Prices are expected to be in the Rs 2 lakh range. More

    • 163 Shares199 Views

      in Bike

      New Ather 450X Vs Chetak, iQube, S1 Pro – Electric Scooter Specs, Prices

      by

      With the Ather electric scooter now updated with new battery, here is a detailed comparison with rivals2022 TVS iQube Electric ScooterAther Energy has recently launched 450X Gen 3 with crucial updates under the skin. If we look at electric scooter sales in H1 2022, we can see that Okinawa is still at No.1 position followed by Hero Electric and Ola Electric. Ather Energy is in 5th place.The company wants to climb up the ladder and in that light, it has launched the improved 450X Gen 3. But how does it fare against current competition? Also, the upcoming Simple One electric scooter looks like an absolute winner on paper.Ather 450X Vs RivalsAther doesn’t have the highest peak power of this comparo at 5,400W. That credit still goes to Ola S1 Pro and upcoming Simple One with 8,500W. Followed by TVS iQube rated at 4,400W and Chetak at 4,080W. In terms of rated power, Ather is middle of the road at 3,300W as S1 Pro has 5,500W and Simple One has 4,500W. When it comes to peak torque, though, Simple One decimates everyone on this list with 72 Nm.450X Gen3 only offers a 146km claimed range while the S1 Pro offers 181km. But we have seen S1 Pro go over 200 km with Move OS 2 for which Ola CEO gifted free S1 Pro. Simple One is chuckling over there with its 300+ km promise with Extra Range variant and 236km with STD variant.New Ather 450X Vs Chetak, iQube, S1 ProIt is made possible because Simple One has the largest battery of the bunch too. It has a 3.3 kWh battery fixed on the floorboard and an additional removable 1.6 kWh battery for a combined 4.8 kWh. Next largest battery is offered by TVS iQube with a 4.56 kWh with a promised range of 140km and then comes S1 Pro with 3.9 kWh.S1 Pro promises the highest top speed of 115 kph and next in line is Simple One with 105 kph. S1 Pro also offers the largest 36L boot space too while Simple one is second largest at 30L. All scooters offer a disc brake at the rear except for Chetak and iQube which get drum brakes.Dimensions & PricingWhen it comes to the kerb weight, Bajaj Chetak is the chunkiest at 132 kg and iQube ST falls below it at 128 kg and then comes S1 pro at 125 kg. Simple One and Ather 450X Gen3 are neck and neck in terms of lightness at 110 kg and 111.6 kg respectively. TVS iQube is also the only one in this comparo to get a hub motor.New Ather 450X Vs Chetak, iQube, S1 ProIn terms of features, Ola S1 Pro is unrivaled as it gets a slew of features over the others. TVS also revamped its features for Gen 2 iQube and is now a lot more modern than the first one. Ather 450X also gets a lot of features and also accessories like TPMS but it still is a cut below Ola. Coming to the new kid on the block, Simple One promises a lot of features like Ola S1 Pro. But it still has to prove itself. The only scooter that feels like a decade old in this cutting-edge comparison is Bajaj Chetak. It lacks finesse, convenience and gimmicks others are offering.Pricing for EVs vary from city to city due to availability issues and whatnot. Also considering state subsidies which vary across states. So, for final pricing, head to the nearest showroom or company’s official website.  More

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Bike

      New Yamaha 125cc Scooter Debuts – Connected Tech, LED Light, Digital Speedo

      by

      Named Fazzio, Yamaha’s new 125cc cutie will primarily target the young generation; has Fascino-like vibesNew Yamaha 125cc Fazzio ScooterWith growing preference for retro-styled products among youngsters, Yamaha has launched a new 125cc scooter in Thailand. Yamaha Fazzio is available in two variants, Standard version and a Smart Key version. While the Standard model is available at 54,900 baht (Rs 1.20 Lakh), the Smart Key variant costs 56,600 baht (approx. Rs 1.23 lakh).For retro enthusiasts in India, Yamaha has the 125cc Fascino. However, it is quite different from Fazzio. Overall quantum of retro styling used for Fascino is relatively less as compared to Fazzio. The latter has the classic, old-school look whereas Fascino has a balanced retro-modern mix.Yamaha Fazzio 125 featuresApart from its attractive retro styling, another thing that seems likeable is the scooter’s compact profile. Moreover, there are some exciting colour options to choose from. Standard version of Fazzio is available in four colour options of Blue, Red, Yellow and Grey. Smart Key variant is available in dual-tone colour options of Grey-Orange and Black-Green.Talking about design highlights, Yamaha Fazzio has round headlamp, cylindrical turn indicators at front and rear, dual-tone front apron, broad front mudguard, flat-seat design, thick grab rail and stubby exhaust. Floorboard is flat and decent sized, which should suffice for everyday needs. A number of utilities are available such as mobile charging socket, two hooks for carrying stuff and large 17.8 litre underseat storage.New Yamaha 125cc Fazzio ScooterOther key features include engine stop/start system and a vertically-oriented full digital LCD instrument console. Even though compact, the screen displays a range of information. It has Bluetooth connectivity and can be paired with the user’s smartphone via Yamaha’s Y-Connect app. Users can access a range of functions such as call and SMS alerts, malfunction notification, fuel consumption data, performance stats, last parked location, driving history and maintenance reminder.Yamaha Fazzio specsYamaha Fazzio utilizes an underbone frame, suspended on telescopic front forks and swingarm rear suspension. It is offered with front disc and rear drum brakes. Safety features include a Unified Brake System that helps reduce braking distance through automatic brake force distribution. Fazzio has 12-inch wheels shod with 110/70 tyres at both ends.Fazzio’s 125cc motor generates 8.4 bhp of max power and 10.6 Nm of peak torque. It utilizes an automatic V-belt powertrain. Yamaha Fascino’s numbers are pretty close at 8.04 bhp and 10.3 Nm. Fazzio can run on gasoline as well as Gasohol. The latter is a blend of gasoline and alcohol. Fazzio’s engine supports both E10 and E20 Gasohol that have ethanol mix of 10% and 20%, respectively.New Yamaha 125cc Fazzio ScooterWhile Fazzio has a unique and attractive profile, it is unlikely to be launched in India. Yamaha’s focus here has primarily been on motorcycles that generate a greater percentage of the company’s sales. In related update, Yamaha could bring back RX100 in BS6 format. In the scooter segment, Yamaha is likely to focus on introducing premium lifestyle products. The company also has plans to launch electric scooters in India. More

    • 138 Shares99 Views

      in Motor News

      Ford Reveals F-150 Lightning Pro SSV, the EV Truck's Police Model

      by

      Ford has just revealed its first electric police truck, the F-150 Lightning Pro SSV, claiming it will help reduce costs and increase efficiency for police departments.Among the purpose-designed features, the SSV will come with police-grade heavy-duty cloth seats that feature lower bolsters to allow officers to enter and exit the vehicle more easily.Ford has not released information regarding pricing or when the SSV will start to go on sale and ship to police departments around the U.S.Sometimes cars are so good at what they do they become the first image in your head when you hear that thing. For police cars, that is easily the Crown Vic. Of course, police departments have had other choices, including police cruisers like the Dodge Charger Pursuit vehicles. Many departments are also leaning toward the do-it-all capabilities offered by trucks. They should be interested in the new police version of the F-150 Lightning, the Pro SSV (for Special Service Vehicle), and it will be interesting to see how many municipalities will become early adopters of the EV as police vehicle.
      The SSV version of the Lightning is not so different from the EV pickup it’s based on, itself very new on the market. The 12.0-inch display in the center of the dash is the same found in the normal Lightning. Performance numbers remain the same across the lineup as well, with 452 horsepower out of the standard-range battery, and 580 crime-fighting horses from extended-range models. Also shared with the normal Lightning is the claimed 4.0-second time to 60 mph, which would beat all police vehicles but the Ford Mustang Mach-E police prototype tested by the Michigan State Police, also at 40 seconds to 60 mph. Range figures are likely to be similar to the standard Lightning at 230 miles for the smaller pack, 320 for the larger, though exact numbers have not been confirmed.
      The SSV will come equipped with the same “police-grade heavy-duty” cloth seats from the F-150 Police Responder along with the expected roof-mounted LED warning beacons and steel “intrusion plates” in the front seatbacks. And it will have the Lightning’s much discussed Pro Power Onboard, which Ford notes could serve as a mobile power source at accident scenes.

      More to the point, Ford says the new electric pickups will use Ford Pro software—which it says 12,000 police departments are already using—that will integrate “seamlessly” with management of existing internal-combustion police vehicles in a department’s fleet. Ford also intends to offer municipal loan programs to help police departments get charging stations purchased, installed, and operational. Ford has yet to release details regarding pricing or delivery dates for the Lightning SSV, though more details are expected some time later this summer. Range figures should also be released at that time.
      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

    • 213 Shares149 Views

      in Motor News

      Video: The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Isn’t a Science Project, But That’s Why It’ll Be So Popular

      by

      The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning may be the brand’s most significant vehicle in recent memory. Not only is the Lightning an all-electric version of Ford’s bestselling nameplate, it’s also a pickup truck, so it must satisfy a wide range of expectations from buyers. To see how it measures up to those expectations, we evaluated an F-150 Lightning for two weeks and subjected it to every test procedure at our disposal.The video explains the results of our exhaustive testing, which includes acceleration, braking, interior noise, real-world highway range, charging speed, and storage. (We’ve already published the full test results elsewhere.)

      The fully loaded Lightning Platinum we tested posted remarkably quick acceleration results, essentially tying the Rivian R1T—the quickest pickup we’ve tested—in real-world acceleration from 30 to 50 mph and 50 to 70 mph. On the other hand, the Lightning showed more brake fade in stopping tests than the Rivian. Measuring Range, Charging, TowingIn our real-world EV range test, where we drive at constant freeway speeds, the Lightning returned 230 miles against the Platinum’s 300-mile EPA rating. That result leads us to wonder how far a Lightning equipped with the standard 98.0-kWh battery might be able to travel versus the 230-mile EPA rating. To measure charging, we hook up an EV to the fastest charger it will accept and record the rate from a 10 to 90 percent fill. The Lightning’s 106-kW average exceeded that of the first R1T we tested, at 98 kW. How about towing? We loaded the Lightning with a 5100-pound trailer and set off on the freeway. While the power and stability were excellent, the range was lacking, falling to a mere 130 miles. Given the nature of the charging infrastructure and the fact you don’t start charging at empty, you wouldn’t want to travel more than 100 miles between stops.

      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