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      in Motor News

      Ferrari 296GTS Is an 819-HP Hybrid V-6 Droptop

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      Ferrari has converted the 296GTB into a convertible, the 296GTS, and it uses the same 819-hp hybrid V-6 setup as its coupe counterpart.The car’s retractable hard top can deploy or retract in 14 seconds at up to 28 mph.The 296GTS can also be had with the weight-saving Assetto Fiorano package and can match the GTB on acceleration and top speed. Last June, Ferrari unleashed the 819-hp 296GTB, powered by the first roadgoing Ferrari V-6 engine since the Dino of the late 1960s and early 1970s and featuring a Formula 1–inspired hybrid system. Now, with summer on the horizon, Ferrari has unveiled the 296GTS, which turns the GTB coupe into a hardtop convertible claimed to offer the same scintillating performance.
      The powertrain of the 296GTS remains unchanged from its fixed-roof brother. That means a 120-degree 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 good for 654 horsepower. This engine is coupled with an MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit, Kinetic) that draws on Ferrari’s extensive Formula 1 knowledge and adds an extra 164 hp. Although the GTS weighs 154 pounds more than the GTB in its lightest configuration, Ferrari still claims a sprint to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds and a 205-mph top speed.

      The biggest change, of course, is the roof. Now called GTS—for Gran Turismo Spider—the 296 gains a retractable hard top that can go up or down in just 14 seconds at speeds up to 28 mph. With the roof up, the GTS is virtually indistinguishable from the 296GTB. With the press of a button, the roof folds in two and nestles in above the engine bay, although a window at the rear still allows for a peek at the 120-degree V-6. Ferrari also redesigned the chassis for the GTS, working on the A-pillar, B-pillar, and side sills to maintain torsional rigidity and bending stiffness. Inside, Ferrari has reworked the seats and added aerodynamic flaps on the rear trim structure to minimize buffeting and make for a more comfortable top-down experience. Like the GTB, the GTS is available with the Assetto Fiorano package, which shaves off weight and prepares the 296 for track duty. There’s no word yet on when the 296GTS will go on sale or how much it will cost, but we would expect at least a $20,000 increase over the GTB’s $322,986 starting price based on Ferrari’s previous droptop offerings.
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      in Bike

      2023 Yamaha Crosser 150cc Adventure Motorcycle Debuts

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      Prices for the updated Yamaha Crosser 150 start at R$ 16,590 (approx. INR 2,69,477)2023 Yamaha Crosser 150cc ADVYamaha has updated Crosser 150 for the year 2023 within months of its international debut. The entry-level adventure bike made its debut in late 2021 and went on sale in Brazil soon after. The Japanese brand has introduced an updated iteration of the Crosser 150 in the Brazilian market with some new features onboard.While design of the bike remains very much unaltered, Yamaha has offered some new colour schemes with new body graphics on the 2023 Crosser 150. Internationally, Crosser 150 locks its horns with Honda CB150X in the entry-level ADV space.2023 Yamaha Crosser 150cc – StylingAs far as styling goes, Crosser 150 features signature ADV highlights such as a tall stance, a beak-like structure upfront and a rugged appearance with minimalistic body panels. It also flaunts a tiny flyscreen upfront which is a slight departure from contemporary ADVs.Other visual highlights include a side-mounted high-slung exhaust, fuel tank extensions with air scoops and arrowhead-shaped rear view mirrors. Like the previous version, the updated 2023 Crosser 150 is available in two variants- S and Z.[embedded content][embedded content]The former caters to an urban style with a low front fender, close to the tyre and the engine with a matte black finish. The Z variant is more oriented towards off-road adventures with higher fender and fork gaiters. 2023 Crosser 150 is available in four colour options including red, blue, black and cream.Updated FeaturesYamaha has added a few crucial features to Crosser in order to make it a more practical offering. It gets a new single-pod LED headlamp cluster and does away with a halogen unit offered previously. The semi-digital instrument console has been replaced by a fully digital unit with a blue background, making it easy to read both during daytime and nighttime riding.Moreover, this console is now enabled with Bluetooth connectivity. The instrument panel also comes with a new Eco function indicating the moment of riding when consumption is lower, helping to drive more economically. Another prominent addition is a 12V power socket which can be used to charge phones and other devices.2023 Yamaha Crosser 150cc ADVPowertrain, Hardware SpecsCrosser 150 is based on the same platform as FZ Fi and hence gets the same 149cc air-cooled, single-cylinder SOHC engine. This unit kicks out 12.2 bhp at 7500rpm and a peak torque of 12.74 Nm at 6000rpm while being paired with a 5-speed gearbox. The most intriguing thing to know about this engine is that it could run on petrol, ethanol or both thus, boosting fuel efficiency numbers.Coming to its hardware configurations, suspension setup in 2023 Yamaha Crosser 150cc Adventure features simple telescopic forks (180mm travel) up front and a mono-shock (160mm travel) at rear. At a kerb weight of 137 kilos, it is fairly nimble, however, its 845mm seat height could be inaccessible for many short riders. Braking is carried out by a single disc brake at each wheel aided by a single-channel ABS. More

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      in Motor News

      Audi Urbansphere Is the Luxury Minivan We Didn’t Know We Needed

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      The Audi Urbansphere is a concept car that looks a lot like a minivan to us.It has a 396-hp electric powertrain and a 120.0-kWh battery pack.A production version of this could be sold in China eventually, but we doubt it would ever reach the U.S.The third of Audi’s “Sphere” concepts, following the Skysphere convertible and Grandsphere sedan, is something completely different. Called the Urbansphere, this latest vehicle can’t be mistaken for anything other than a minivan.

      While many of the Urbansphere’s styling cues, including the headlights and the closed-off grille, appear to be cribbed from the Q4 e-tron electric crossover, the concept’s proportions scream family hauler. It has a short hood, a swept-back windshield, lots of glass, and an upright tailgate. The Urbansphere is a massive 217.0 inches long and 79.1 inches wide—significantly bigger than any other vehicle Audi has ever made—and Audi says it has a huge 70.0 inches of headroom. The fanciful concept-car-style interior only has four seats, but each is an elegant-looking lounge chair that can swivel and recline in several different ways.
      The Urbansphere is electric, naturally, and rides on the VW Group’s PPE platform that will underpin future Audi EVs including the A6 e-tron. Audi says its battery pack measures about 120.0 kWh and claims its electric motors produce 396 hp and 509 pound-feet of torque. The wheels measure a huge 24 inches, the suspension uses air springs, and there’s a rear-wheel steering system to aid maneuverability.Audi is upfront about how the Chinese market is the focal point for this concept car, as this type of vehicle is popular there as a way of chauffeuring people around. Lexus also launched a van for China, and Buick offers many luxurious versions of its GL8 minivan for Chinese customers. We wouldn’t be shocked if Audi builds a production version of the Urbansphere, but there’s no chance it would ever reach the U.S. if so. An Audi minivan may not have been on our bingo card for 2022, but the Urbansphere is nonetheless a cool concept car that takes the brand in an unexpected direction.

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      in Motor News

      2023 Mercedes EQS Is a Seven-Seat EV Flagship with up to 536 HP

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      The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is the latest model in the Mercedes EQ electric lineup.It has an optional third row that allows seating for seven and, in the dual-motor EQS580 4Matic version, has 536 horsepower.Mercedes hasn’t released an official range rating for the EQS SUV, but we expect it’ll go at least 300 miles per charge.Mercedes is finally ready for the world to meet the 2023 EQS SUV, the third model on the automaker’s dedicated battery-electric EVA2 platform after the EQS and EQE sedans. Because obedience to aerodynamics forbids anything like the grandiose form factor of the GLS-class, the EQS SUV looks more like a svelte but stout wagon. Think of this as an EQS sedan and then some.

      That starts with output. The single-motor, rear-wheel-drive EQS450+ SUV makes 355 horsepower, 26 horses more than the equivalent EQS sedan, and 419 pound-feet of torque. The dual motors in the EQS580 4Matic SUV produce 536 hp, 20 horses more than in the comparable sedan, and 633 pound-feet of torque. With an already prodigious benchmark in the EQS sedan, we suspect the SUV’s accretions will be too meager to be felt in the seat of any banker’s slacks.

      Mercedes-Benz

      What will be felt is the extra room inside, packed into a shell that’s not too far off the sedan’s, sizewise. The five-seat EQS SUV’s 126.4-inch wheelbase is the same as the sedan’s, but the SUV’s body is 3.4 inches shorter, at 202 inches. The roof stands 8.5 inches higher than the EQS sedan, at 68 inches, but front-row headroom with the panoramic sunroof (standard for the U.S. market) is 0.6 inch more. Compared to the ICE-powered GLS SUV, the EQS SUV is three inches shorter in length, its roof sitting 3.8 inches lower.Optional third-row seating makes this the second all-electric EQ sub-brand vehicle that can carry seven, joining the EQB on the water polo team shuttle run. The second row can slide five inches, and the backrest moves forward to ease ingress to the third row. Mercedes hasn’t given a legroom measurement for this ultimate pew, but the automaker does not advise the same 5’4″ maximum height recommendation here as it does with the EQB. We were able to slide our hale 5’11” frame into the third row during an EQS SUV walkaround in Germany, but we wouldn’t want to be back there long.

      Mercedes-Benz

      Load space in the five-seat version ranges from 23 to 31 cubic feet behind the second row, and the middle bench seatback can incline 14 degrees forward to make room for bulky cargo without having to be completely lowered. The seven-seater tops out at 28 cubic feet with the third row down. If you raise the last row, shopping-bag space shrinks to seven cubic feet. Battery specs for the 12-module pack in the floor hew to those of the sedan: 107.8-kWh capacity, 9.6-kW onboard charger, 200-kW maximum DC fast charging speed, 31 minutes at full juice to get from a 10 percent to an 80 percent state of charge. As Mercedes continues to fine-tune the production model, engineers are not yet ready to offer a curb weight, coefficient of drag, or range figure. The U.S. EPA rated the EQS450+ sedan at 350 miles on a charge and the EQS580 sedan at 340 miles. Figure a small drop from those numbers for the SUV because of the less slippery form factor and likely greater weight.

      Mercedes-Benz

      When we got a shotgun-seat ride in a camouflaged prototype a month ago, Mercedes showed us the Off-Road driving mode but wouldn’t tell us much about it. It will only be available on the EQS SUV, not the sedan, and is limited to trims with 4Matic all-wheel drive. Developed for the few times the EQS SUV finds itself on an unbeaten track, the Off-Road settings raise the SUV up almost an inch, a feature Mercedes believes might be useful “for steep driveways or speed bumps.” We think the variable ESP settings will do more good. In the Off-Road mode with ESP on, the EQS SUV limits wheelspin on wet ground; with ESP off, the vehicle permits the kind of copious slip necessary to trudge through sand.The 2023 EQS SUV hits the market later this year, with pricing to be announced closer to launch.
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      Electric Scooter Sales March 2022 – Ola, Ather, iQube, Chetak

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      In a relatively short period of time, Ola electric scooter has raced to second spot; next only to Hero ElectricOla Electric ScooterEven though electric two-wheeler segment is facing challenges on various fronts, an encouraging thing is that sales are on the rise. In the month of March, total sales of popular scooters like Ola, Ather, iQube and Chetak were at 14,523 units. YoY growth is a whopping 795.38%, as compared to 1,622 units sold in the corresponding period last year. Even MoM growth stays strong at 56.25%, as compared to 9,295 units sold in February 2022.Ola, Ather sales – March 2022Ever since Ola Electric commenced deliveries in December last year, it has registered consistent gains in retail sales. In March, Ola sales were at 9,127 units. Market share in the group is 62.85%. MoM growth is 133.73%, as compared to 3,905 units sold in February 2022.Based on recent statements, it appears that Ola Electric is confident of emerging as the top selling electric two-wheeler brand in the country. It has consistently reduced the sales gap with Hero Electric. In March, Ola was 3,896 units short. Ola has said that it does a lot of temp registrations, which could increase actual sales numbers in coming months when Vahan portal is updated.Ather sales in March are at 2,591 units. YoY growth is 120.14%, as compared to 1,177 units sold in March last year. Market share in the group is at 17.84%. Ather MoM growth is 26.89%, as compared to 2,042 units sold in February 2022.Ola vs Ather vs Chetak vs iQube – Electric Scooter Sales March 2022Chetak Vs. iQube sales – Last 12 MonthsAmong electric two-wheelers, Bajaj Chetak and TVS iQube have emerged as close rivals. This comes from similarities in their battery capacity, range, top speed, etc. In terms of pricing, iQube emerges as the affordable option.In the last 12 months, iQube is ahead with cumulative sales of 10,773 units. In comparison, Chetak sales are at 8,185 units. Average works out at 898 units per month for iQube and 682 units for Chetak. In the last five months, iQube has been consistently ahead of Chetak. Its highest sales this year was in February, when 2,238 units were sold. Chetak’s best was in January when 1,268 units were sold.Things were different in 2021, as Chetak was ahead sometimes whereas iQube took the lead in other months. But this year, iQube has been comfortably ahead. One of the factors that could be working against Chetak is its relatively high pricing. Global shortage of auto components such as semiconductor chips may also be impacting Chetak production.Chetak vs iQube – Bajaj vs TVS electric scooter salesIn terms of YoY growth, Chetak has made gains of 1,017.78% in March 2022. A total of 1,006 units were sold, as compared to 90 units in March last year. Market share in the group is at 6.93%. Chetak MoM growth is negative at -9.37%, as compared to 1,110 units sold in February 2022.TVS iQube YoY growth in March is at 406.76%. Sales are at 1,799 units, as compared to 355 units in March last year. Percentage share in the group is 12.39%. iQube MoM growth is negative at -19.62%, as compared to 2,238 units sold in February 2022. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Kia Plans Small Electric SUV For India – Sonet EV To Rival Nexon EV?

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      Kia is expected to launch its premium electric crossover- EV6 in India later this year, it has already been spotted testing on Indian roadsKia Sonet Modified By Bozz Concepts – Render for referenceKia has seen tremendous success within a limited span in this country. Within three years, it has broken into top five carmakers in India. While the South Korean brand has already laid out groundwork for its first pure electric offering in the country, it also wants to enter the entry-level EV space in future with a small electric SUV.As per latest reports, development work for a small electric SUV codenamed AY has been started by Kia. This SUV is likely to be built exclusively in India for the company’s international markets and could hit roads by 2025. The report further mentions that this model will not be based on a pure EV platform.Kia Entry-Level Electric SUV – Sonet EV?Instead, it will be underpinned by a flexible platform that will also offer Kia a space in the mass market entry-level petrol SUV segment. Kia already retails an entry-level SUV in the form of Sonet but the brand wants to solidify its position in this space with multiple new products.The Korean car major will enter the EV space in India with EV6 later this year. The fully electric crossover made its global debut in March last year and has already been spotted testing on Indian roads on a couple of occasions. It is based on the new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that also underpins the new Hyundai Ioniq 5. The latter is also slated for a launch in India later this year.Kia EV6 GT Electric Car in India. Image – Automobili ArdentWith two new EVs offered at both ends of the spectrum, Kia will be able to cater to a wider segment of buyers looking for a battery-powered SUV. However, there are no specific details regarding the entry-level SUV yet and it will take some time before any notable development is made in this regard.Late last year, Kia’s cousin Hyundai India had also announced to launch an entry level SUV. Just like Kia, Hyundai too had not revealed details, but they did say that it will be a small electric SUV. Considering the huge demand for Nexon EV, it is possible that Hyundai and Kia could be working on electrifying Venue and Sonet for India.Kia EV6- Powertrain SpecsComing back to EV6, internationally it is offered in two variants- GT Line and GT, available in 2WD as well as all-wheel-drive configurations. Further, Kia will be offering two battery pack options in both variants of the upcoming electric crossover– 58 kWh for standard range and 77.4 kWh for long range. The base GT Line trim with the smaller battery pack offers 170 bhp in RWD format and 235 bhp in AWD layout.When paired with the larger battery pack, GT Line trim produces 229 bhp in a single-motor (RWD) setup and 325 bhp in a dual-motor (AWD) setup. While the rear-wheel-drive variant has a 0-100kmph acceleration time of 6.2 seconds, AWD variant of EV6 GT Line can attain this in 5.2 seconds. On the other hand, the top-spec GT trim is only offered with a dual-motor setup paired exclusively with a 77.4 kWh battery.Powertrain in EV6 GT returns a peak output of 576 bhp and 740 Nm of torque. This enables a 0-100kmph sprint in just 3.5 seconds with a top speed capped at 260 kmph. Kia will be offering EV6 as a fully imported CBU model in India which is expected to be available in its fully loaded GT trim.Source More

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      in Bike

      2022 Kawasaki Ninja 300 Teased Ahead Of Launch

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      Kawasaki Ninja 300 will be receiving its annual update shortly in the next few daysExisting Ninja 300. Image – Shahrukh AkhtarKawasaki India has teased an update for Ninja 300 on its social media handles. The entry-level supersport bike is due for its yearly update soon which should be launched in the coming few days.2022 Kawasaki Ninja 300 UpdatesThe motorcycle last received an update in March last year when it got upgraded from BS4 to BS6 emission norms. Although the nature of updates isn’t confirmed yet, it is expected to feature only cosmetic changes.The Japanese superbike brand is known for continuously updating its lineup even though the order and extent of updates might be subtle and minute. In this case, too, Ninja 300 is expected to feature cosmetic updates in the form of new colour options, most probably.Kawasaki might also throw in a few additional features to its kit but no major changes are expected. It is currently priced at Rs 3.37 lakh (ex-showroom). The entry-level faired motorcycle is available in a single trim with three colour options namely Lime Green, Candy Lime Green and Ebony.2022 Kawasaki Ninja 300 Facelift TeaserNo changes to its mechanical specs or design are expected in the upcoming iteration of Ninja 300. It is powered by a 296cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that dishes out 39 PS of power at 11,000rpm and 26.1 Nm of peak torque at 10,000rpm. This motor is mated to a six-speed gearbox via a slipper and assist clutch.Features on offerNinja 300 is underpinned by a steel tube diamond frame that sits on 37 mm telescopic forks at front and a gas-charged mono-shock at rear with a 5-way adjustable preload. Braking duties are handled by single petal-shaped discs at both ends chewed down by dual-piston callipers. The motorcycle rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped around by slicks.As far as features go, the current iteration of Ninja 300 gets a basic semi-digital instrument console, LED lighting and dual-channel ABS. Ninja 300 is the entry point to Kawasaki’s lineup and is exclusively built in India. It competes against other entry-level supersport bikes like TVS Apache RR 310 and KTM RC 390. The upcoming Ninja 300 could also witness a minute bump in its prices.Earlier in January this year, Kawasaki also unveiled its new entry-level product in the form of Versys-X 250 is offered in select countries such as Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Given the demand for entry-level adventure bikes in India, Kawasaki might think of launching the quarter-litre ADV in the country. If launched, this bike will compete against KTM 250 Adventure, Benelli TRK 251 and the recently launched Suzuki V-Strom SX. More

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      350cc Motorcycle Sales Mar 2022 – Classic, Bullet, Meteor, Electra, CB350

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      All except Royal Enfield Classic 350 have negative YoY growth in March 2022; MoM numbers stay buoyantNew Royal Enfield Meteor 350 GreenIn March 2022, the 350cc motorcycle segment registered sales of 55,432 units. YoY growth is negative at -9.42%, as compared to 61,199 units sold in the corresponding period last year. MoM numbers are positive at 11.34%, as compared to 49,788 units sold in February 2022. Only Meteor 350 has negative MoM growth.350cc Motorcycle Sales Mar 2022 – Classic 350 leadsClassic 350 continues to be the bestselling 350cc motorcycle in the country. New-gen version of the bike was launched last year in September at a starting price of Rs 1.84 lakh (ex-showroom). Sales are 32,694 units in March 2022. YoY growth is 3.16%, as compared to 31,694 units sold in the corresponding period last year. Classic 350 market share is at 58.98% in March. MoM growth is positive at 8.68%, as compared to 30,082 units sold in February 2022.At number two in the list is Bullet 350 with sales of 8,283 units in March. YoY growth is negative at -14.55%, as compared to 9,693 units in March last year. Market share is at 14.94%. Bullet MoM growth is positive at 28.78%, as compared to 6,432 units sold in February 2022. Royal Enfield is currently testing next-gen Bullet that will have the new J platform and new 350cc engine. It is expected to be launched later this year or early 2023.Meteor 350 has dropped to third spot, registering the biggest percentage reduction in sales. A total of 6,589 units were sold in the month of March. YoY growth is down by -37.82%, as compared to 10,596 units sold in March last year. Market share is at 11.89%. Meteor MoM growth is also negative at -2.37%, as compared to 6,749 units sold in February.350cc Motorcycle Sales March 2022At number four is Electra 350 with sales of 4,460 units in March. YoY growth is negative at -9.24%, as compared to 4,914 units sold in March last year. Market share is at 8.05%. Electra MoM growth is 30.18%, as compared to 3,426 units sold in February. Percentage-wise, this is the highest MoM growth in the group.Honda H’ness CB350 is fifth with sales dropping by -20.83%. A total of 3,406 units were sold in March, as compared to 4,302 units in March last year. Market share is at 6.14%. CB350 MoM growth is 9.91%, as compared to 3,099 units sold in February.350cc motorcycle exports March 2022In exports, 350cc motorcycles have registered positive gains in both YoY and MoM terms. A total of 4,077 units were exported in March 2022. YoY growth is 136.76%, as compared to 1,722 units exported in March last year. MoM growth is 2.05%, as compared to 3,995 units exported in February.350cc Motorcycle Exports March 2022Here too, Classic 350 leads the pack with exports of 2,581 units in March. YoY growth is 280.12%, as compared to 679 units exported in March last year. Share in exports is at 63.31%. MoM growth is at 77.27%, as compared to 1,456 units exported in February.Next is Meteor 350 with exports of 1,046 units. YoY growth is 17.53%, as compared to 890 units exported in March last year. Share in exports is at 25.66%. MoM growth is negative at -21.88%, as compared to 1,339 units exported in February.At number three is CB350 with exports of 450 units in March. Exports have tripled as compared to 150 units exported in March last year. Contribution to exports is at 11.04%. CB350 MoM growth is negative at -62.50%, as compared to 1,200 units exported in February. Motorcycles with zero exports in March 2022 are Electra and Bullet 350. More