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    Ford Prices 2023 F-150’s Rattler and Heritage Edition Models

    Ford has announced pricing for the 2023 F-150 pickup’s new Rattler and Heritage Edition packages. The Rattler is an off-road upgrade for the base XL trim level, and it costs $1810. The Heritage Edition has a two-tone paint scheme and costs $5645 on top of the XLT.The Ford F-150’s new electric Lightning variant may be getting all the attention, but the conventional pickup lineup is getting some additional options for 2023, too. We now know how much the Rattler off-road package and the Heritage Edition cost on top of the 2023 F-150’s bottom line.The Rattler is pitched as a budget version of the Tremor and FX4 off-road packages, and its price of $1810 fits with that mission. It’s offered only on four-wheel-drive versions of the base XL trim level, although not with the regular cab. The package itself is $1495 but it requires the addition of a $315 trailer hitch. It includes an electronic locking rear differential, hill descent control, skid plates, all-terrain tires, and different suspension tuning.

    Heritage Edition
    Ford

    The Heritage Edition is more of an appearance package, and it requires a $5645 outlay on top of the XLT trim level. A two-tone paint scheme is offered in five color combinations, and there are some commemorative graphics inside for the truck’s 75th anniversary. The package alone is $1975 but it also comes with the 302A High equipment package, which adds all manner of equipment including a larger touchscreen and power-adjustable front seats. Standalone options such as the fold-out work surface, an extra power outlet, and a trailer hitch also come onboard when you choose the Heritage Edition.Orders are open now for both versions of the F-150, and they should arrive at dealerships starting this fall.
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    Mahindra Bolero Electric Pikup Teased Ahead Of Launch?

    Mahindra Bolero Pikup is currently on sale in single-cab guise and gets a sole diesel engine optionMahindra Bolero Electric Pikup Teased?Mahindra has had a long-standing affair with electric vehicles. The Indian auto giant bought Reva electric car company and launched the first set of electric vehicles in India under Mahindra Electric Mobility LTD. But that did not work and most of it is now discontinued.Come 2022, Mahindra is re-inventing its EV portfolio. They are getting ready to launch five new electric SUV concepts on 15th Aug. Then in September, we will get to see the production spec XUV400 Electric SUV.Mahindra is doing really well in electric 3W segment. It sold 2,227 units of electric 3-wheelers in June 2022 registering a healthy 458.15% YoY sales over June 2021. Mahindra currently is the second highest-selling electric 3W company in India with an 8.28% market share. But when it comes to commercial vehicle sales, Mahindra is again in second place. It sold 15,950 units in June 2022 and has a 23.56% market share.Mahindra Bolero Pickup ElectricYou must be wondering why we are talking about Mahindra’s EVs, electric 3W and commercial vehicles in the same light. It is because Mahindra’s upcoming launch is expected to be a culmination of the three. And that is the upcoming Mahindra Bolero Electric Pikup.[embedded content][embedded content]Mahindra dropped a teaser for the upcoming Electric Bolero Pikup. It was just a short teaser with a tagline “The future of Pick-Ups” and no further info. The reason we believe this is Bolero Electric Pikup, is the blue colour which Mahindra has strategically used. This is the same blue shade that is also used by the company’s Treo electric 3-wheeler. Treo is a very popular electric 3-wheeler on sale in India. Even if we go back half a decade, even e2O and e2O Plus press material had the same blue colour.Also, logically thinking, if this isn’t an electric Pikup, it can’t be the “Future of Pick-Ups” as it is already on sale and has been for over a decade. It has to be an electric Pikup and with this Mahindra is foraying into electric Pickup segment which is currently as good as non-existent. With the launch of Bolero Electric Pikup, Mahindra is trying to stay ahead of the game with this niche product. Tata Motors has also unveiled a concept of an electric truck. We have seen Tata Ultra T.7 Electric. But this is a large truck and Mahindra is going for an electric Pickup truck which no one else has currently attempted for.What To Expect?We can expect a slight design upgrade over current Pikup and also, blue accent on the exterior. Mahindra Bolero Pikup Electric will get similar load bay options as the outgoing model and might even have the same loading capacity too. We can expect it to be based on the same chassis that ICE-powered Pikup gets.The electric powertrain can be sufficient for the rated payload and cover around 150 km of range on a single charge. We say this because electric commercial vehicles are primarily developed for goods transportation within cities. For long-distance transportation, diesel is still unmatched in terms of its versatility. More details are likely to be revealed in the coming days. More

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    Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Fully Leaks – Blue And White Dual Tone

    Critical sub-systems like engine, frame, suspension, braking system, etc., will be carried over from the well-established Meteor 350New Royal Enfield Hunter 350. Credit – BK SAHAThe eagerly awaited Royal Enfield Hunter 350, a new derivative of the two wheeler brand’s new 350 cc platform is days away from its launch. The retro classic motorcycle has just been homologated. Registration formalities at regional transport authorities have commenced earlier this month. The said document also throws light on important specifications of the motorcycle.To be underpinned by the new J-Platform which debuted with the Meteor 350, the Hunter 350 is essentially a roadster variant of the donor model. In fact, the registration approval document clearly mentions the Meteor as the base model and Hunter as its variant. This means the duo will share majority of the components.Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Fully LeaksTo be launched on 7th Aug, specs and colours of Royal Enfield Hunter 350 leaked earlier today. Now, the first units of Hunter have started to arrive at dealer yards across India. The variant seen here, is likely to be the top Metro Retro variant, which will be offered in dual tone colour. The Hunter Rebel Blue colour seen in these leaked photos, is seen in dual tone colour scheme of blue and white.In terms of dimensions, the soon-to-be-launched Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is more compact than its cruiser sibling. At 1,370 mm, the wheelbase is 30 mm shorter while the length is down a good 85 mm at 2,055 mm. The new RE is also narrower and shorter with width and height of 800 mm and 1,370 mm respectively. The gross vehicle weight is rated at 360 kg and the Hunter is homologated to transport 2 persons.New Royal Enfield Hunter 350The compact dimensions are atypical of Royal Enfield motorcycles. With a sleek yet nostalgic design, the company will be aiming to bring in new breed of younger audience to its forum.We expect the twin down-tube frame of the Meteor to be carried forward but with a different geometry. The motorcycle will be suspended by traditional telescopic front forks and twin rear shocks adjustable for pre-load. The previous spyshots confirmed that the Hunter 350 will adopt 17-inch alloy wheels.The front and rear tyre sections are 110 mm and 140 mm respectively. Just like the Meteor, the braking system will be composed of twin-piston 300 mm front and single-piston 270 mm rear disc brakes (both floating calipers), governed by Dual-channel ABS. A semi-digital instrument cluster with tripper turn-by-turn navigation system is expected to be on offer.New Royal Enfield Hunter 350Medium displacement kingLeaked document confirms that the Meteor’s 349 cc motor will be carried forward without significant changes, and it will be rated at 14.87 kW (20.24 hp) at 6,100 rpm. While nothing is mentioned about the transmission, we can be sure that the 5-speed unit will also be a carryover but there could be some slight difference in gear ratios or final drive ratio to impart a character that suits a roadster. The air/oil-cooled fuel-injected motor is a significant step-up in the refinement department compared to the old thumpers.Royal Enfield has been the undisputed leader of the mid-displacement motorcycle segment in the country. The competition couldn’t really make a dent but not for the lack of trying. With the Hunter 350, RE will be looking to consolidate its strong position. The newly launched TVS Ronin 250 will be the Hunter’s primary rival. Expect launch price to be in the Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 1.7 lakh range – ex showroom.Source More

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    Bajaj Auto Sales July 2022 – Pulsar, Avenger, Chetak, Dominar, CT100

    Bajaj Auto reported a 9 percent growth in total domestic sales while there was a de-growth of 15 percent in exports in July 2022New Bajaj Pulsar 250Bajaj Auto Limited has posted an overall de-growth in YoY sales in July 2022. Total sales (domestic + exports) which included 2 wheeler and commercial vehicles stood at 3,54,670 units in July 2022, down 4 percent from 3,69,116 units sold in July 2021. Even as overall exports dipped, the company has noted positive growth in domestic markets, both where two wheeler and commercial vehicle sales are concerned.In the two wheeler space, it was the Pulsar range of motorcycles with top sales. Others in the list include CT 100, Avenger, Dominar, Platina. Chetak electric scooter sales are also on the rise.Bajaj Auto Sales July 2022Two wheeler domestic sales grew YoY to 1,64,384 units. This was a 5 percent growth over 1,56,232 units sold in July 2021. Exports on the other hand dipped 14 percent to 1,50,670 units from 1,74,337 units exported in July 2021. This brought total 2W sales down 5 percent to 3,15,054 units in the past month, from 3,30,569 units sold in July 2021. Towards the end of last month, Bajaj Auto trademarked new names – Dynamo, Technik and Tecnica. These could be upcoming new vehicles. Bajaj also plans development of a new range of electric two wheelers in India along with KTM and Husqvarna.There was increased demand for Bajaj Auto commercial vehicles in the country. Domestic sales increased 68 percent to 18,572 units in July 2022, from 11,041 units sold in July 2021. Exports on the other hand dipped 23 percent to 21,044 units in July 2022, down from 27,506 units exported in July 2021. This brought down sales by 3 percent in the CV segment to 39,616 units from 38,547 units sold in July 2021.Bajaj Auto Sales July 2022Total 2W + CV sales in domestic markets grew by 9 percent to 1,82,956 units from 1,67,273 units sold in July 2021. Exports however, suffered a 15 percent YoY de-growth to 1,71,714 units from 2,01,843 units sold in July 2021. Bajaj Auto YTD Sales and ExportsTaking into account the April to July 2022 period and comparing it with the same period of 2021, Bajaj Auto has posted an overall decline in total sales. Sales (domestic + exports) and (2W+ CV) experienced a 6 percent de-growth to 12,88,316 units in the 4 months of 2022, down from 13,75,130 units sold in the same period of 2021.2W domestic sales dipped 4 percent to 4,78,802 units from 4,98,784 units sold in April-July 2021 while exports fell 7 percent from 7,31,090 units sold in April-July 2021 to 6,83,410 units in the same period of 2022. This took total 2W sales to 11,62,212 units, down 6 percent from 12,29,874 units sold in April-July 2021.Bajaj Auto Sales YTD July 2022Commercial vehicle YTD sales however increased 122 percent in domestic markets to 56,990 units in April-July 2022, from 25,626 units sold in the same period of 2021. Exports fell 42 percent to 69,114 units from 1,19,630 units exported during the April-July 2021 period. This brought down total CV sales (domestic + exports) by 13 percent to 1,26,104 units in April-July 2022 from 1,45,256 units sold in the same period of 2021.Total 2W and CV domestic sales grew by 2 percent to 5,35,792 units in the April-July 2022 period from 5,24,720 units sold in April-July 2021 while exports dipped 12 percent to 7,52,524 units from 8,50,720 units exported in the April-July 2021 period. More

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    Royal Enfield Hunter Variants Retro, Metro Rebel – Wt 177 Kgs, Colours Leak

    With price tag of around Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 1.7 lakh, Hunter 350 will be the most affordable Royal Enfield bike upon launchRoyal Enfield Hunter 350 – Colours, Variants DetailsAs part of its strategy to target new segments, Royal Enfield will be launching Hunter 350cc motorcycle on August 7. While the hardware is the same as that of new gen Classic and Meteor 350, Hunter has a distinct, agile design.With Hunter, Royal Enfield will be looking to attract a new segment of users. It comes across as a nimble-footed bike that can be a true asset for city streets. It will primarily compete with the likes of Honda H’ness CB350, Yezdi Roadster and Jawa Forty Two.Royal Enfield Hunter VariantsPrior to its launch, it has been leaked that Hunter will be offered in two variants – Hunter Retro and Hunter Metro. There is also an additional variant, based on Hunter Metro, and it is called Hunter Metro Rebel. This will be top of the line variant on the Hunter 350 range. Leaked details are credit to Bullet Guru and GJV Team.Among the key differences between the two variants is the hardware configuration. For example, Hunter Retro variant will have a front disc and rear drum brake setup. Single-channel ABS will be offered as standard. It will get spokes wheels, bulb tail lamp, oval shape indicators, old Classic style instrument cluster, and will not come with a main stand. Kerb wt is 177 kgs.Royal Enfield Hunter Retro and Royal Enfield Hunter MetroIn comparison, Hunter Metro variant will have 300 mm and 270 mm disc at front and rear. It will be offered with dual-channel ABS. It will get alloys, LED tail lamp, round shape indicators, new Meteor style instrument cluster, and will get a main stand. Kerb wt is 181 kgs. Both variants will have 17-inch wheels at front and rear. Seat height is at 800 mm while ground clearance is at 150mm. Fuel tank capacity is 13 liters.Royal Enfield Hunter ColoursNew Hunter 350 will be offered in a choice of 8 colour options. The base Hunter Retro will be offered in two colour options of Factory Black and Factory Silver. Hunter Metro is offered in 3 colours of Dapper White, Dapper Ash and Dapper Grey. Of the three, the Dapper Grey option is only offered when you book the Hunter via Royal Enfield MIY app.Top of the line Royal Enfield Hunter Metro Rebel variant will be offered in three colours of Rebel Black, Rebel Blue, and Rebel Red. Of the three, Rebel Red can only be booked via MIY. The Rebel colours will come with dual tone finish, as seen in leaked spy shots.Royal Enfield Hunter Retro, Hunter Metro, Hunter Metro Rebel – ColoursWhile Hunter Metro variant will have better capabilities, it’s the Retro variant that will appeal to folks with limited budget. Assuming Hunter Retro is launched at around Rs 1.5 lakh, it will be a sweet deal in this segment. It’s quite possible, as Royal Enfield has focused on reducing cost of the bike. For example, plastic and fibre parts have been used instead of metal. This has also helped reduce weight of the bike, which in turn has boosted power-to-weight ratio.Another way of reducing cost of the bike is making Tripper navigation an optional feature. This strategy has already been deployed for Meteor 350 and Himalayan. It has also been revealed that Hunter will be offered in eight colour options. Three of these will be customizable.Royal Enfield Hunter 350cc RenderHunter 350 performanceHunter 350 has been built on the new J-platform that’s currently in use with Classic and Meteor 350. The bike has a twin downtube spine frame, integrated with telescopic front forks and twin rear shock absorbers. It is powered by the 349cc motor that makes 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm. It is mated to a constant mesh 5-speed gearbox.While Hunter is not expected to get any performance tweaks, it will automatically deliver better performance owing to its lightweight body. As compared to Classic and Meteor that weigh 195 kg and 191 kg, respectively, Hunter will have kerb weight of around 177 kg. Hunter is smaller and has a shorter wheelbase than Classic and Meteor, which makes it a more capable urban machine.Source More

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    Listen to God's Own Engine, the BRM V16, Screaming up a Hill-Climb

    Since August 1905, the Midland Automobile Club has run annual hill-climb events outside the village of Shelsley Walsh in Worcestershire, England. The course has remained entirely unchanged in the more than a century since, making Shelsley Walsh the oldest surviving motorsport course still used to this day. Last weekend saw the course host the club’s annual Classic Nostalgia event, where a ton of motorsport’s finest machines took turns running up the hill. Among the stars of the show was a particularly special British racing icon: the BRM V16. For those who are unfamiliar with this bit of automotive history, the BRM V16 is a Formula 1 racer built by British Racing Motors starting in 1947. Despite some initial teething issues, the car would race until the end of the 1954–55 season, with drivers including Juan Manuel Fangio and José Froilán González taking the helm in different races.

    As the name would suggest, the car is powered by a 1.5-liter V-16 engine that is said to have produced 600 horsepower at 12,000 rpm in period. BRM was a brand-new company in 1947, and it was decided that such a technical engine would do wonders in highlighting British engineering might at the time. Part of that immense horsepower output from such a minuscule displacement came from the two-stage centrifugal supercharger riding atop the engine, which was designed and developed by the blokes over at Rolls-Royce. As you may know, the luxury automaker had some fairly recent experience with building these sorts of blowers, thanks to the Merlin V-12’s service in World War II aircraft. In fact, former BRM employee and restoration specialist Rick Hall told Top Gear that the BRM V16 engine is largely a scaled-down variant of that monstrous Spitfire powertrain.
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    The small-displacement engine combined with that supercharger makes for quite an auditory experience, which was on full display at Shelsley Walsh. Septuagenarian status aside, the BRM V16 stormed up the course in proper anger. Thanks to the number of gearheads present for the festivities, we have a few clips of the action to pore over. If there is one thing that these old race cars make certain, it’s that motorsports has lost something special in the modern era. The engineering and speeds may be more extreme than ever, but there’s nothing in motorsports today that sounds like this thing.

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    Ford, GM Make Stronger Push to Stop Flipping, Price Gouging of Popular Models

    As new-car prices rise and demand continues to outstrip supply, some dealers have been known to raise the price of their offerings, and some are doing it by tens of thousands of dollars. Some dealers are also placing orders with false names to increase their supply.Ford has been trying all year to get its dealers to stop overcharging customers by issuing stronger and stronger warnings. Last week, Ford had to update its definition of a “broker” and warned all of them that flipping a new vehicle for a large profit could result in not getting more of that model in the future.GM has had to issue similar warnings to its dealer network, and said this week that some warranties for popular models could no longer be transferred to a new buyer if the car was resold within the first year.Too many people are taking advantage of the new-car shortage by selling their own just-purchased, highly in-demand vehicles. In many cases, dealers are in on the actions, and affected automakers are not pleased.Social media has been full of people posting new-car window stickers that show dealers are adding $20,000, $30,000, or even $50,000 to the asking price of a new model, under the guise of a “market adjustment.”

    Ford’s taken the most heat for these markups, and has also tried multiple times to get its dealers to knock it off. In January, according to Carbuzz, Ford admitted that a “limited number” of dealerships were requiring customers to pay more than the agreed-upon price for the 2022 F-150 Lightning electric truck, even after the order had been placed. The price gouging was “negatively impacting customer satisfaction and damaging to the Ford Motor Company brand and Dealer Body reputation,” Ford said in a letter to dealers. That letter also warned that any dealers caught increasing prices might not get all the Lightnings they and their customers had ordered. Other popular Ford models getting marked up were the Bronco, Bronco Sport, F-150 Raptor, and the Mustang Mach-E. As far back as December 2021, Ford’s Mike Levine suggested customers look for a dealer that won’t pull any fast ones about pricing:
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    In February, Ford CEO Jim Farley said during an earnings call that around 10 percent of its dealers were responsible for these extra charges. Farley said the automaker knew which dealers were causing the problems and repeated the threat about future allocations.Ford said in May that it would implement a stronger name-match policy, requiring a higher percentage of sales to be delivered to the person for whom the dealer originally told Ford had ordered the vehicle. This change was meant to prevent dealers from using a fake name to order a vehicle, then flip it by selling it for more money to another, real customer.Despite all of these new rules, Ford had to send an even stronger letter to dealers last week. The automaker has now changed the definition of who is considered a broker, and warns that any broker (now, basically, anyone who might be involved with ordering and flipping a popular model) will be punished. A first offense could result in not getting vehicles in a future order at a 1:1 ratio. So, overcharge for a Lightning today and your next Lightning order will be one vehicle short. A second strike means a dealer might not get any more of that model to sell for the current or next model year, Ford said.GM Limiting Warranty TransfersFord isn’t the only automaker dealing with these problems. GM North America president Steve Carlisle sent a letter to dealers in January that warned the “small minority of bad actors” who were price gouging that GM might not send them the vehicles they were allocated in the future. Last week, the automaker escalated its efforts to stop dealers and individuals from reselling their sought-after models. Corvette Blogger reported on a letter to dealers that describes the new tactic is to limit the transfer of some warranties for “certain high-demand models (as identified by GM) if the vehicle is resold within the first 12 months of ownership,” making flipping far less appealing. The list of affected models includes the Corvette Z06, GMC Hummer EV, and Cadillac Escalade V.
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    Mercedes V-Class Van Is a 900-HP V-8–Powered AMG GT R Underneath

    The Mercedes V-class isn’t a very interesting car, at least from the factory. It looks like virtually every other van on the road, and the most powerful engine you can option is an uneventful diesel motor. GAD Motors, a German tuner shop that specializes in high-performance builds, decided to spice up this V-class with the drivetrain from a Mercedes-AMG GT R. It looks awesome. The CarSpyMedia YouTube channel caught GAD Motors testing its AMG-ified van on the Nürburgring, giving us our best look yet at just how capable this V-class can be. It sounds wonderful and, despite the gigantic body and presumably heavy curb weight, actually looks quick.

    In addition to the upgraded 900-hp twin-turbo V-8 engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, GAD also installed all of the associated electronics and a new exhaust system complete with catalytic converters and a gas particulate filter so the car could be driven on the road. To slow down the massive people carrier, there are carbon-ceramic brakes from the GT R as well. As with any build this complex, GAD had to fabricate a bunch of custom parts to make everything work together.

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