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    Royal Enfield Meteor 350X Launch Planned – New Sporty Variant

    The upcoming Royal Enfield motorcycle will be launched by the end of this month or by early JulyModified Meteor by Ironwood CustomDo you remember Royal Enfield Thunderbird? Of course, you do. It was one of the most popular cruiser motorcycles in India. Thunderbird was replaced by Meteor 350 which is currently on sale in India. Thunderbird was available in a more sporty looking variant called X. These motorcycles were named Thunderbird 350X and 500X.Even though X variants had the same overall design, they came with a completely different appeal. Both versions of Thunderbird X were more street-oriented. They came with alloy wheels, 19 inch in the front and 18 inch at the rear, wrapped with tubeless tyres; which was a first from Royal Enfield.X variants had a sporty appeal and eye-candy colours. They got short handlebars unlike the tourer-friendly chopper-style handlebars on the standard Thunderbird. They also got a single-piece street-style seat. Even the pillion backrest found on tourer-friendly standard Thunderbird 350 and 500 was removed in 350X and 500X.Royal Enfield Meteor 350XRoyal Enfield is likely to implement a similar strategy with their Meteor 350. If that is the case, Meteor’s cruiser form factor will be transformed into a street-styled motorcycle. With this move, Royal Enfield will offer a youthful variant of Meteor 350.Existing Royal Enfield MeteorNew report claims that 2022 Meteor 350X will have many updates. One of the biggest change is that it will get a smaller 18” alloy wheel in the front, as against 19″ seen in current Meteor. At the rear, it will continue to have the same 17” wheel like regular Meteor.It might get a flatter handlebar which would make the rider lean a little towards the front. These handlebars will make it easier to turn the motorcycle in urban areas. Changes to seat design will also be made, to accommodate the new handlebar / riding style. Also expected on Meteor 350X are youthful colour options appealing to a younger audience.Specs and LaunchRoyal Enfield will launch Meteor 350X with the same engine as seen on current Meteor. This is a 349 cc unit making 20.2 bhp @6100 RPM and 27 Nm @4000 RPM. It is mated to the same 5-speed transmission unit. Meteor 350X will deliver similar fuel efficiency of around 30-40 kmpl. It will get same 300mm rotor at front with a twin-pot caliper and 270mm rotor with a single-piston caliper at rear. Dual-channel ABS may be offered as standard.Weight of Meteor 350X might be slightly lowered due to changes mentioned. But what won’t be lowered is its price. Meteor 350X could cost around Rs. 8,000 to 10,000 more than the base Fireball variant of current Meteor. We expect it to be launched by the end of this month or in early July. This means it will launch before the upcoming Hunter 350, yet another street-friendly motorcycle from RE.Source More

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    Production Polestar 5 Appears to Be Revealed in Patent Images

    The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has published patent images of what appears to show the production Polestar 5.The electric sedan was previewed by the Polestar Precept concept.Look for the Polestar 5 to debut before year’s end.It’s no secret that the upcoming Polestar 5 electric sedan will share its basic style with the brand’s Precept concept from two years ago. Now, we have our best look yet at how the Precept’s slinky lines will translate to production, courtesy of the European Union Intellectual Property Office, which published patent images of a vehicle that’s almost certainly the forthcoming Polestar 5.

    Though there’s no model name included within the design filing submitted by Polestar Performance AB to the EUIPO, it’s easy to see how the looks of this big sedan evolve the style of the Precept. Comparing it with the earlier concept, the vehicle in these images shares a fastback shape, split boomerang-shaped headlights, and a full-width taillamp. The Precept’s rear-opening back doors, however, appear to have fallen to the cutting-room floor.
    Polestar’s new flagship is due to ride on a bespoke bonded-aluminum platform. Look for the model to feature standard all-wheel drive courtesy of at least two drive motors (one at each axle) and a driving range of more than 300 miles by way of a large battery pack with an energy capacity of greater than 100 kWh.Expect more information about the Polestar 5 to come to light in the coming weeks and months, as we wager this big EV is due to debut before the end of the year.
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    2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV Will Start under $30,000

    The 2023 Chevy Bolt EV will start at $26,595, $5900 less than the 2022 model.The 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV will open at $28,195, a $6300 decline compared to 2022.The Bolt EV and EUV now cost less than the Nissan Leaf before federal tax credits, making them the cheapest EVs in the United States for 2023.The Chevrolet Bolt spawned a slightly larger variant for 2022 called the EUV, which does its best to cosplay as an SUV with more upright, boxier styling. Since going on sale for the 2017 model year, the Bolt’s base price sat around $37,000, but the 2022 facelift also brought a significant price cut to a $32,495 starting price, with the EUV arriving just above at $34,495. But now for 2023, the Bolt duo is getting an even more drastic price decrease, into the $20,000 range.

    Chevrolet

    The 2023 Bolt EV hatchback will start at $26,595 for the 1LT trim, with the 2LT trim coming in at $29,795. That represents a $5900 decline for each model versus 2022. The EUV, meanwhile, will start at $28,195 for the LT and $32,695 for the Premier—$6300 less than the previous year. There are only a few other changes for the 2023 Bolt EV and EUV: the addition of a new extra-cost paint color, Radiant Red Tintcoat, and a new Redline Edition appearance package for the EUV, seen in the top image.

    This now makes the Bolt the cheapest EV in America, undercutting the 2023 Nissan Leaf, which starts at $28,425. The Leaf does still qualify for federal tax credits, which dramatically drops the price, but Nissan is expected to hit the 200,000-vehicle cap later this year that General Motors already has. Production of the 2023 Bolt EV and Bolt EUV will start this summer, with vehicles arriving at dealerships soon after.
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    2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC Looks Similar but Is New Underneath

    Behind similar styling, the new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC is bigger than its predecessor.Mercedes says the new MBUX infotainment interface is quicker and smarter.A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with a 48-volt hybrid system will be the only U.S. powertrain option at first.Where the Mercedes C-class leads, the GLC crossover follows. Given the close relationship between the two cars, which sit on the same platform and share the same powertrain, it’s no surprise that the new GLC that you see here features most of the same technical innovations as its sedan sibling.Not that we were expecting anything radical. The previous-generation GLC sold well for most of its life thanks to its entirely predictable combination of the typical Benz virtues of handsome design and peppy performance. The styling of the all-new version has evolved so gently that we suspect many will struggle to spot the generational shift; reshaped headlights frame a single horizontal metal strip on the radiator grille, where the outgoing version had two, while the narrower taillights are the giveaway at the back.

    Mercedes-Benz

    Dimensions have expanded slightly. The new GLC is now 185.7 inches long, making it 2.4 inches longer than its predecessor. The wheelbase has also expanded by 0.6 inch to 113.7 inches. Passenger accommodation is barely changed, with Mercedes claiming that rear legroom has increased by 0.1 inch. The most obvious result of the growth is a useful increase in luggage capacity, with the new car’s 22 cubic feet being 3 cubic feet more than the last one.

    The new GLC300 that will be offered in the U.S. initially will have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine working in conjunction with a 48-volt hybrid system through an integrated starter-generator. Similar to the C300 sedan, this engine delivers peaks of 258 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque and drives a standard nine-speed automatic gearbox. The only significant driveline choice that buyers of the new car will need to make is whether or not to go for the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system; by Mercedes’s claims, both versions are capable of identical 6.2-second sprints to 60 mph (we ran the previous-generation AWD GLC300 through the benchmark in a more impressive 5.4 seconds). Future versions will likely include both AMG 53 and 63 variants, although both of these will use hybridized four-cylinder engines. Mercedes confirms a plug-in-hybrid powertrain will also be offered in the U.S. eventually.

    Mercedes-Benz

    More substantive changes are found inside the cabin, with the new GLC moving to Mercedes’s new MBUX infotainment system. This uses twin digital displays, an 11.9-inch portrait-oriented central touchscreen (angled slightly toward the driver) and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. MBUX supports high-level voice inputs plus the option of an augmented-reality navigation system that superimposes instructions on a live video feed to show you exactly where to go. We are mildly disappointed, although not surprised, that the GLC will follow the S-class and C-class in ditching both physical HVAC controls for touch-sensitive panels and that it also lacks a physical volume knob. Other high-tech functions include a Mercedes’s Level 2 Drive Pilot driver-assistance system, standard LED headlights, and a 360-degree camera system that includes what is described as a “transparent hood,” using cameras to deliver a view under the front of the vehicle to help with maneuvering of the sort of mild off-roading a GLC300 might encounter. There is no word on pricing yet, but we anticipate the new GLC’s increase in standard equipment will be reflected by an increase over the old car. It will begin reaching the U.S. in 2023.
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    Ather Electric Scooter Records Highest Ever Sales – May 2022

    Ather Energy rides high in May 2022; reports sales at sells 3,787 units – MoM sales stable and greenAther Electric ScooterIndia already has a target for the number of electric two-wheelers it expects to see on the road by the end of the decade. That goal is slowly being realized, one electric scooter at a time. For starters, the electric two-wheeler industry is dominated by e-scooters. Unlike the predominant trend where manufacturers sell motorcycles by the dozen, e2W growth is being fuelled by scooters.And it’s no surprise, most names in the marketplace are new. Ather being one of them. With tech leading the charge, new age EV manufacturers are rapidly modernising the industry. At the same time, early adopters are able to choose from a wide range of products. This is made possible through robust R&D and the competitive nature of the growing industry. For starters, e2W manufacturers are keen on product launches to meet market demand.Ather Electric Scooter Sales May 2022Given market growth, and increased market awareness, Ather Energy has ended May 2022 on a high note. A YoY comparison isn’t possible owing to unavailability of sales figure for May 2021. And that’s not the only limitation. Even if these numbers were available, they wouldn’t make for a meaningful comparison.A year earlier, Covid-19 had a stronger grip, and heightened severity. This led to multiple lockdowns and production slowdowns to ensure personnel safety, and limited people movement. MoM sales has improved marginally. Volume gain stood at 8 units, from 3,779 units in April 2022 to 3,787 units in May 2022.Ather Electric Scooter Sales May 2022Growing electric scooter salesWhere sales are considered, the e2W industry has a new leader. Ola. While Hero Electric held the spot for the longest time, Ola Electric has made an impactful entry. It has curated its own business plans, and is hurrying towards dominance. Ather Energy has in the meantime strengthened its position in the middle order as it continues to report sales growth.In fact, last month Ather outsold TVS once again. TVS iQube sales for May 2022 are reported at 2,637 units. The latter closely competes with Bajaj Chetak EV. It’s easy to see competition is rife even though sales volumes for now are small. This competitive edge is what’s going to help the industry power on.Ather 450X and 450 Plus scootersRavneet S. Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, “Ather delivered 3787 scooters to customers in the month of May’22. We achieved the highest ever monthly sales in May, which reiterates the strong faith that consumers have in our well-engineered, reliable and safe 450X and 450 Plus scooters.With the new round of funding, we are excited to have NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund) onboard along with Hero MotoCorp, who continue to make fresh investments in our business. The fresh round of funding will focus largely on expanding manufacturing facilities, investing in R&D, charging infrastructure, strengthening the supply chain, and growing the retail network.” More

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    Toyota GR86 Stars in New Single-Make Racing Series

    The Toyota GR86 is the designated race car of the newly formed single-make racing series.The series (called the GR Cup) was formed by Toyota Gazoo Racing North America and features homologated GR86 Cup cars.The GR Cup’s first season includes 14 events, with track locations and GR86 Cup car pricing coming this summer.It’s no secret that the Toyota GR86 is one helluva sports car, and now it’s set to become the star of a newly formed single-make racing series. Known as the GR Cup, the nationwide competition was announced earlier this year by Gazoo Racing North America (Toyota’s motorsport division), with the 2023 season said to be sanctioned by SRO America.
    As with any single-make racing series, all the competing cars are from the same automaker. They’re also all homologated with the same parts so that they’re identical. To make the stock GR86 meet these requirements, Toyota transforms each model into race-ready form at its new Toyota Racing Development (TRD) facility in Mooresville, North Carolina.

    The GR86 Cup car is born from a roster of upgrades from various aftermarket suppliers. It has an engine management system from Bosch, a Borla exhaust, Alcon brakes, JRI adjustable shocks, and a six-speed sequential transmission from SADEV. The track-built GR86 has extensive safety equipment that includes a roll cage and a 22-gallon fuel cell. In addition to custom bodywork and a carbon-fiber rear wing, Gazoo Racing provides specially designed parts including MacPherson struts and a splitter.
    Toyota says the GR Cup provides “affordable competition,” and it’ll also have a total purse and prizes of $1 million. The company also says the 2023 season will consist of 14 events over seven U.S. circuits. However, it hasn’t yet announced the specific track locations. That information, as well as pricing for the GR86 Cup car, will be released this summer.
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    2023 Toyota Corolla Lineup Updated, Adds All-Wheel-Drive Hybrid

    The 2023 Toyota Corolla adds new hybrid trim levels with optional all-wheel drive. The 139-hp 1.8-liter engine is no longer offered, making the 169-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine the only choice for nonhybrid Corollas. New Corollas also receive subtle visual updates like redesigned LED headlights, slightly changed front and rear fascias, and a redesigned 8.0-inch infotainment screen. Toyota’s popular Corolla turns 54 (in the U.S.) this year, and even though the current 12th-generation car is just two years into its life cycle, for 2023 the Corolla receives significant equipment and powertrain changes.

    For 2023, Toyota puts the kibosh on the base Corolla L and ditches the 139-hp 1.8-liter engine, leaving the preferred 169-hp 2.0-liter to support its five gas-only trim levels. The Corolla hybrid’s 1.8-liter is sticking around on the fuel-burning side of the business, gaining additional SE and XLE trim levels and optional all-wheel drive for hybrid SE and LE models.
    Toyota says the additional rear-mounted motor for all-wheel-drive Corollas will increase horsepower output but hasn’t said by how much. The current front-drive Corolla produces 121 horsepower from its 1.8-liter engine and 71-hp motor, matching the total output of the e-AWD Toyota Prius. Both front- and all-wheel-drive hybrids will use a 1.8-liter engine, so it’s unlikely the improved system will match the all-wheel-drive Corolla Cross hybrid’s claimed output of 194 horsepower because the crossover will use a larger 2.0-liter engine. The Corolla Cross hybrid is expected to achieve 37 mpg combined, while the 2022 Corolla hybrid currently gets a combined EPA-estimated 52 mpg with front-wheel drive.Both the sedan and hatchback get subtle visual tweaks, including redesigned grilles and refreshed rear bumpers with new chrome accents. A new set of optional 18-inch Graphite-colored wheels have also been added, and SE and XSE trims get a rear diffuser to emphasize a sporty appearance.New paint is available for both body styles. Sedans get Underground and Midnight Black metallic, which replace 2022’s dark Black Sand Pearl. The hatchback gets a new Inferno color, and it’s also now available in the previously sedan-exclusive metallic Blue Crush.Every Corolla now comes with a redesigned 8.0-inch infotainment screen, and Toyota has updated its digital gauge cluster display with new graphics on all models. Corolla XSE and XLE’s larger 7.0-inch instrument cluster is also revised.The 2023 Corolla uses an updated version of Toyota Safety Sense, enhancing an already impressive slew of standard drivers-assist features such as forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, plus optional adaptive headlights and front and rear parking assist. More information about pricing, fuel economy, and hybrid horsepower is expected later this summer before updated Corollas go on sale.
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    2023 Toyota GR86 Special Edition Is One Smashing Pumpkin

    The Toyota GR86 adds a Special Edition model for 2023.Toyota intends to limit production of the GR86 Special Edition to 860 units.The Special Edition maintains the same 228-hp boxer-four as its lesser kin.Toyota’s bringing a GR86 fit for David S. Pumpkins to its model line for 2023. Dubbed the Special Edition, this low-volume GR86 model—just 860 are earmarked for production—wears a coat of orange paint (or Solar Shift in Toyota parlance) that’s complemented by black decor on its C-pillars, a black trunk-mounted lip spoiler, and a set of matte black 18-inch wheels.

    Toyota bases the GR86 Special Edition on the coupe’s high-end Premium trim, which includes the likes of sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber, heated front seats, and an eight-speaker audio system. This is on top of items such as a dual-zone automatic climate control system and 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment setup that come standard across the GR86 model line.
    Alas, the GR86 Special Edition brings no additional performance to the 228-hp 2.4-liter flat-four of its lesser siblings. That said, Toyota sees fit to equip this orange two-door with a cat-back exhaust system—replete with black chrome tips—that ought to improve the sound coming from this GR86’s tailpipes. Though Toyota’s yet to release pricing for the 2023 GR86 Special Edition, the automaker’s likely to charge a few thousand dollars more for this model relative to its Premium counterpart, which currently stickers for $31,325. Any questions?
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