News

Subterms

    More stories

    • 150 Shares119 Views

      in Bike

      Bajaj Fighter Name Registered – For The Upcoming ADV Or CNG Bike?

      by

      Bajaj Fighter Name Registered – For upcoming ADV or CNG bike? Spy shot – TeamBHPRecent name registrations such as Bruzer and Fighter add to the suspense associated with Bajaj’s upcoming CNG bikeFirst mover advantage is a tried and tested business strategy. Bajaj is attempting something similar with its all-new range of factory-fitted CNG bikes. The first of these is scheduled for launch on June 18, 2024.Bajaj Fighter name registeredThere’s already a lot of buzz surrounding Bajaj’s upcoming CNG bikes. Adding to that is the recently trademarked name – Bajaj Fighter. Earlier, the company had registered the ‘Bruzer’ name. For an entry-level commuter bike, the name Fighter seems to be a better fit. It is easily relatable and has a better brand recall in comparison to Bruzer. Given a choice, most people will probably vote for the ‘Fighter’ name over ‘Bruzer’.Bajaj Fighter Name Registered – For upcoming ADV or CNG bike?There’s still a couple of weeks to launch. It is possible that Bajaj could choose an entirely new name for its first CNG bike. Or the CNG bikes could also be launched under a new sub brand. Something similar to the Pulsar range. Bajaj could also use the name Fighter for their upcoming ADV based motorcycle, which was spied recently.Bajaj is planning to launch around 5-6 CNG bikes, something that may necessitate a sub-brand. It is to note that Bajaj has registered various other names in the last few years. Some examples include Bomber, Zinger, Elixir and Aura. Earlier this year, Bajaj had registered Freedom, Trekker, Marathon and Glider names.Bajaj CNG Bike Launch In JuneBajaj CNG bike – Expected price, mileageA competitive pricing strategy is likely for Bajaj’s first CNG bike. Expected to be a 110cc or 125cc commuter bike, one of its key USPs will be fuel savings of up to 50%. This is relative to the running cost of a petrol-only bike. While the significant fuel savings can attract customers, there could also be some apprehensions with an entirely new product. It is possible that Bajaj could launch the CNG bike at an affordable initial offer price. A starting price of Rs 75k to Rs 80k can motivate users to choose Bajaj’s CNG bike over popular petrol options such as Hero Splendor, Hero HF Deluxe, Honda Shine 100 and TVS Radeon.Bajaj’s new CNG bike can emerge as the most fuel-efficient motorcycle in India. It could deliver a mileage of up to 100 km/kg. This could create a major disruption, provided that other variables such as reliability, performance and durability are positive.Will other OEMs launch CNG bikes?With the ongoing shift from ICE to EVs, CNG bikes can work as a bridge to help in the transition. India has plans to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2070. Greener fuels such as CNG will play a crucial role in that mission. CNG is already being used widely for four wheelers. Using CNG for two-wheelers can be even more beneficial, since total petrol consumption by two-wheelers in the country is more than that of four-wheelers.CNG two-wheelers will also help fulfil the government’s objective to increase the share of natural gas in the country’s energy basket. From the current 6.3%, CNG use is planned to increase to 15% by 2030. The government is also promoting gas explorations, something that will further reduce energy import bills. All these factors can prompt other OEMs to introduce CNG two-wheelers in the coming years. More

    • 150 Shares179 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Hyundai Creta EV Spied Next To Tata Nexon EV Ahead Of Launch

      by

      Hyundai Creta EV SpiedWhile it will have largely the same profile as the current ICE model, Creta EV will be getting an extended equipment listFor the mainstream market, Hyundai is readying the Creta EV. The ICE to EV approach is similar to that of other cars such as Nexon EV and Tiago EV. Hyundai Creta EV is expected to be launched in 2025. It will take on rivals such as Tata Curvv EV, Mahindra BE.05, Maruti eVX and Toyota’s version of eVX.2024 Hyundai Creta EV – DesignAs seen in The Fat Biker’s video, much of the skin is similar to the new ICE Creta facelift. There will be a few EV-specific changes such as a closed-off grille and revised bumper. What we can see in Creta EV’s fascia, is a front charging port. Lighting elements on Creta EV have horizontally stacked LED positioning lamps and DRLs, sequential turn indicators and a sculpted bonnet.Hyundai Creta EV SpiedTalking about the side profile, Creta EV will be getting a fresh set of aero alloy wheels. These have aerodynamic elements that also work to reduce the SUV’s air drag coefficient for maximum range. Rear profile has connected LED tail lamps, sequential turn signals and a curvy spoiler with a high-mounted LED stop lamp.Inside, most of the features will be borrowed from ICE Creta. To achieve differentiation, Creta electric model gets a slightly unique steering wheel with 4 dots like on Hyundai Ioniq 5.Hyundai Creta EV SpiedExpect features such as voice enabled smart panoramic sunroof, dual-integrated screens for the infotainment and instrument and front ventilated seats. Creta EV will get dual-zone automatic climate control and Bose premium sound system. Safety kit will include a comprehensive range of ADAS features, as confirmed by bumper-mounted radar in this spy video.[embedded content]Creta EV – Performance, specsJust like the ICE Creta which is popular for its exhilarating performance, the EV version will aim at delivering a similar experience. Creta EV is expected to get a 45-kWh battery pack. It could deliver a range of around 450 km. In real-world scenarios, the range could be around 250 to 300 km. Creta EV will have an advanced regen system, which will help increase range.Hyundai Creta EV SpiedAs seen in the video, the battery pack hangs down quite a bit as it is a derived EV and not a born EV. Hyundai and Kia have signed an MoU with leading battery manufacturer, Exide. There could be plans to locally manufacture battery packs for upcoming EVs from Hyundai and Kia. Creta EV will support fast charging and owners can benefit from shorter halts at charging stations.Hyundai Creta EV SpiedCreta EV will be offered in FWD format, equipped with a single electric motor mounted on the front axle. The electric motor could be borrowed from the new-gen Kona. This motor churns out 138 hp and 255 Nm. Several other details about Creta EV are yet to be revealed. For example, the SUV’s top speed, acceleration, charging time, etc. More secrets will be uncovered in the coming months. More

    • 200 Shares169 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Kia Carens Facelift Spied In India For The First Time – Or Is It Carens EV?

      by

      Kia Carens Facelift SpiedRecent developments at Kia’s stables suggest that the company is working on Carens facelift or it could be Carens EV tooCarens has been one of the popular premium MPVs on sale in India. Initially marketed as an RV, Kia Carens has shown great potential in people-mover segment. The company is working on a Carens refresh and test mules were spotted in South Korea some time ago. Now, Carens facelift test mules have been spotted in India for the first time.Kia Carens Facelift Spied In India For The First TimeIf we take Kia’s Indian portfolio, Seltos and Sonet were recently updated with new fascia and other design tweaks. Kia is on the verge of launching Carnival in India too, which is newer facelifted version of 4th Gen model. 2025 Kia EV6 was recently unveiled globally and is likely to make it to India.Leaving Carens the only model that has stayed the same (design-wise) since it was launched back in February 2022. With Carens facelift spotted testing in India, we can only grasp what the company is going for, in terms of design, from the rear. We can see an all-new tail light design with more aggressive appeal.These new tail lights get a more pronounced C-shaped design, reminding us of recently launched Mahindra XUV3XO. Going with Kia’s recent trends, tail lights will be connected by an LED light bar and will be advertised as ‘Star Map’ LED tail lights. There is a tiny possibility of this being a Kia Carens EV test mule too.Kia Carens Facelift Spied – RearKia is going for a subtle design revision. Unit spied in South Korea looked like it was a base or mid-spec variant as it donned a single-pod halogen headlight. Maybe like Seltos’ single halogen projector setup seen with lower variants. Revised front and rear bumpers, new alloy wheels, tweaked headlights and other changes are expected on the outside.Where features are concerned, Kia is highly likely to offer a panoramic sunroof with Carens facelift along with dual 10.25-inch horizontal screens on the dashboard. Primary highlight of Kia Carens facelift might be the inclusion of ADAS suite. Is Kia offering Level 1 or Level 2 driver assistance systems, only time will tell.When will it launch?Hat tip to automotive enthusiast Sitanshu who spotted this test mule in Delhi. Where powertrains are concerned, Kia is not likely to make any changes to Carens facelift and carry over existing setups. Kia Carens facelift could launch around the festive season or early 2025. We can expect a slight price hike when launched.Kia Carens Facelift Spied – RearThe 1.5L NA Petrol engine developing 113 bhp and 144 Nm mated to a sole 6-speed manual gearbox, 1.5L Turbo Petrol engine kicking out 158 bhp and 253 Nm mated to either a 6-speed iMT or 7-speed DCT and the 1.5L Diesel engine churning 113 bhp and 250 Nm mated to either a 6-speed manual, 6-speed iMT and a 6-speed torque converter will be carried over. More

    • 138 Shares199 Views

      in Bike

      125cc Motorcycle Sales April 2024 – Shine, Pulsar, Raider, Splendor, Glamour

      by

      New Bajaj Pulsar 125. Image – Biker MJKHonda CB Shine registered highest sales in April 2024, topping sales charts by a substantial margin over Bajaj PulsarFollowing our earlier reports on 150-200cc motorcycle sales, 350-450cc sales, and 500cc+ sales during Apr 2024, we now delve into sales in the less powerful 125cc segment. Sales of motorcycles in the 125cc segment grew by 27.57% YoY to 3,14,385 units in April 2024 from 2,46,437 units sold in the same month last year. This was a volume growth of 67,948 units.125cc Motorcycle YoY Sales April 2024Motorcycles in the 125cc segment have seen outstanding demand in India. Models that include the Honda Shine, Bajaj Pulsar, TVS Raider and Hero Splendor have long been regaled for their fuel efficiency, sporty stance and affordable pricing with lower maintenance costs as an added advantage. Suitable both for urban commute and long distance travel, bikes in this segment attract the attention of first time buyers in the country.125cc Motorcycle Sales April 2024Honda CB Shine continued to be the most popular in this segment with 1,21,338 units sold in April 2024, a 35.94% YoY growth from 89,261 units sold in April 2023. Currently commanding a 38.60% market share, this was the only bike on this list to surpass sales above the 1 lakh unit mark. It is its affordable pricing among other advantages that has held it in good stead.At No. 2 was the Bajaj Pulsar with 87,880 unit sales last month, a 11.52% YoY improvement over 78,799 units sold in the same month last year. With a price tag ranging between Rs.81,414 to Rs. 94,957, the Pulsar 125 is popular among the youth for its striking colour options and sturdy stance. Bajaj is also actively testing a new 125cc motorcycle that is slated to launch later this year.125cc Motorcycle Sales April 2024Up next in terms of sales in the 125cc segment was the TVS Raider, sales of which grew by 62.26% YoY to 51,098 units in April 2024. Hero Splendor and Glamour followed in quick succession. However, the Splendor saw its sales dip 34.85% YoY to 22,595 units in the past month from 34,681 units sold in the same month last year.Glamour sales on the other hand improved by 55.68% to 18,747 units. It was followed by the Hero Xtreme 125R at No. 6 with a total of 12,532 units sold last month. This commuter bike was launched in January 2024 and is priced at Rs 95,000 for the IBS and Rs 99,500 for ABS variant (ex-sh). KTM 125cc trailed the list with 195 unit sales, a 19.63% YoY growth over 163 units sold in April 2024.125cc Motorcycle MoM Sales up 15% in April 2024On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, motorcycles in the 125cc segment posted a 14.74% improvement from 2,74,002 units sold in March 2024. Every model on this list has seen sales improvement with the Honda CB Shine growing by 1.05% and the Bajaj Pulsar sales up 20.84%. TVS Raider also saw its MoM sales up 34.38%.Of the three Hero models, Hero Splendor had the highest MoM growth by 62.04% as against 13,944 units sold in March 2024. Hero Glamour sales improved by 10.11% while Xtreme 125R sales were up 4.35% on a MoM basis. KTM saw a marginal increase of 0.07% to 195 units last month from 191 units sold in March 2024. More

    • 175 Shares169 Views

      in Electric Cars

      3 Mahindra Electric SUVs Spied While Charging – Front And Rear LED DRLs On

      by

      3 Mahindra Electric SUVs Spied Charging. Images – Dr Khalid AgwaniWhile Mahindra XUV.e8 and BE.05 get charging ports on their sides, XUV.e9 coupe electric SUV is unique with charging port at the rearBased on the new INGLO born electric platform, Mahindra is launching a multitude of new electric vehicles. These include XUV.e8. BE.05 and XUV.e9 (Coupe version of XUV.e8). All these are under testing. Recently, a convoy containing all three of these SUVs has been spotted plugged at a mall in Udaipur, Rajasthan, showing interesting new details.Mahindra XUV.e8, XUV.e9, BE.05 SpiedFirst Indian automaker to sell electric cars in the country, Mahindra, is set out on a path to radicalising the premium electric SUV segment both here and the world. The company is launching five vehicles under XUV.e and BE sub-brands. First of these vehicles to launch are XUV.e8, XUV.e9 and BE.05.Mahindra Electric SUVs Spied Charging – Front LED DRLsA convoy of all three of these electric SUVs was recently spotted at an underground mall parking in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Thanks to automotive enthusiast Dr Khalid Agwani, we now have a new set of spy shots showing new details about three of Mahindra’s hottest upcoming electric SUVs – XUV.e8, XUV.e9 and BE.05.For starters, XUV.e9 looks like it is a much larger vehicle than XUV.e8. In the parking lot, standing side-by-side, XUV.e9 looks like it could be around 4.8m in length. Around the same length as a Toyota Fortuner. Mahindra XUV.e8 is almost the same length as its ICE counterpart, XUV700 as they share almost the same side and rear elements.Mahindra Electric SUVs Spied Charging – Rear LED DRLsFor reference, Mahindra XUV700 is 4.7m in length. Another thing to note is that the Mahindra XUV.e9 has its charging port at the rear on the left side. This is very interesting because the test mules of XUV.e8 didn’t have a rear charging port. So, the touted 80 kWh battery is likely to only be on offer with XUV.e9 and BE.09. Or probably even BE.07.Mahindra Electric SUVs Spied ChargingXUV.e8 is likely to only get around 60 kWh or 70 kWh battery and have a charging port on the side. BE.05’s charging port has been spotted before and is at the side. While plugged in, Mahindra’s EV test mules don’t seem to show a charging level indicator built into their DRLs light bar like Tata EVs do. Instead, there seems to be an LED indicator just above the port.Interesting new details!Both XUV.e8 and XUV.e9 share an identical fascia. However, XUV.e9 gets a more muscular bonnet which adds visual bulk to it, when compared to XUV.e8’s. Headlights are identical, with what seems like bi-LED projector unit and triple ice-cube LED projector fog lights with cornering function. Front parking sensors and front radar for ADAS are common between the two.Mahindra Electric SUVs Spied – HeadlightOn the inside, both XUV.e8 and XUV.e9 get a common triple-screen dashboard – one for instrumentation, one for infotainment and a third for front passenger. The third vehicle in this convoy of engineering samples was BE.05. A test mule of BE.05 was spotted in Leh Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh regions for altitude testing which we covered earlier. More

    • 150 Shares199 Views

      in Bike

      TVS iQube ST Top Variant Delivery Starts – Rs 10K Loyalty Discount

      by

      New TVS iQube. Image – JAY CHOUDHARYTVS is offering a Rs. 10,000 loyalty discount to customers who had booked their iQube ST before 15th July 2022, when it was announcedAfter a couple of years, since it was first announced, TVS has finally launched the iQube in its top-spec ST trim level. Not just that. TVS has upped the battery size on it and is now claiming more range than any iQube scooter ever did. iQube ST deliveries have commenced now in Maharashtra.Delivery Of TVS iQube ST Top Variant CommencedTVS Motor is following a phase-wise manner with the iQube ST launch. Recently, the company launched iQube ST in the state of Maharashtra and owners can avail deliveries across the state, depending on the availability of dealerships. The launch of top-spec iQube ST 5.1 marked a major milestone in the Indian electric scooter segment.New TVS iQubeThat’s because TVS iQube ST 5.1 has India’s largest battery ever graced on any mainstream electric scooter in India. As the name suggests, it has a 5.1 kWh battery, which is larger than Simple One’s 5 kWh (combined). The top-spec iQube ST also has a variant equipped with a smaller 3.4 kWh battery.Where pricing is concerned, TVS iQube ST trim starts from Rs. 1.56 lakh (Ex-sh, Effective) for the smaller 3.4 kWh battery pack variant and Rs. 1.86 lakh (Ex-sh, Effective) for the 5.1 kWh battery variant. Both prices quoted are effective Ex-sh prices and are inclusive of subsidies.2024 TVS iQube RangeTVS had announced iQube ST alongside standard iQube and iQube S trims back in 2022. Only, the top-spec ST trim took around two years to launch, owing to a combination of multiple subsidy revisions and other paraphernalia. So, for all customers who had booked their iQube ST before July 15th 2022, TVS is offering a Rs. 10,000 loyalty discount.New TVS iQubeIt has to be noted that only TVS iQube ST gets a 7-inch touchscreen instrument screen (dashboard) and 118 connected features. Standard iQube and iQube S miss out on touchscreen functionality. However, TVS has generously offered Bluetooth connectivity features including turn-by-turn navigation on both lower trims.Biggest battery in any mainstream Indian electric scooterTVS iQube is among the best and most celebrated family electric scooters in India. It has been a fantastic practical scooter with a no-nonsense approach. With the launch of top-spec ST trim, TVS has pushed the envelope of battery capacity on electric scooters.At 5.1 kWh in capacity, it boasts a lot of juice and TVS promises a real-world range of 150 km on a single charge. It is 100 km on a single charge for the 3.4 kWh variant. Top speed is capped at 82 km/h on the 5.1 kWh variant. Other notable attributes of TVS iQube ST are a 950W charger along with 32L of under-seat storage capacity. More

    • 163 Shares139 Views

      in Bike

      KTM Sales Breakup April 2024 – Duke, RC, 125, 200, 250, 390 ADV

      by

      New Ktm Duke 200. Image – Throttle 98The recent launch of 2024 KTM 200 Duke and 250 Duke could offer a significant boost to sales in the month aheadKTM India, a high-performance motorcycle manufacturer of street-fighters and adventure bikes, has revealed sales results for April 2024. The company has seen a significant decline in domestic sales both in terms of YoY and MoM while exports also fell YoY but made up on a MoM basis. It was the KTM 200 series that has found favour both in domestic and export markets, attracting the attention of entry-level riders.KTM Domestic Sales April 2024KTM domestic sales dipped 3.03% YoY and 4.50% MoM to 4,924 units in April 2024. There had been 5,078 units sold in April 2023 while in March 2024 sales had stood at 5,156 units. It was the KTM Duke 200 and RC 200 range that saw the highest sales in domestic markets at 2,983 units, an 11.60% YoY growth from 2,673 units sold in the same month last year. It was however, a 1.32% MoM decline to command a 60.58% share of total units sold.KTM Domestic Sales April 2024KTM 250 and 390 both have seen sales decline YoY and MoM while the KTM 125 has been well received showing off 195 unit sales last month with a 19.63% YoY and 2.09% MoM improvement in sales.KTM Exports April 2024Exports of KTM dipped 9.65% YoY but grew on a MoM basis by 9.53% to 6,009 units from 5,486 units shipped in March 2024. It was the Duke 390, RC 390 and ADV 390 that captured the attention of international buyers and grabbed a lion’s share with 2,468 units exported last month to command a 41.07% share in this export list even as YoY and MoM sales fell significantly.KTM Exports April 2024It was the KTM 200 series that came in next with a triple digit MoM improvement in exports by 104.78% to 1,757 units. The company’s 125cc range continues to command high volumes in global markets with a 389% YoY growth to 978 units in April 2024 from just 200 units shipped in April 2023 while MoM sales grew by 57.74% over 620 units exported in March 2024. Posting a YoY growth of 49.54% was the KTM 250 range (250 Adventure and 250 Duke) with 806 units exported in the past month while its MoM exports dipped by 20.51%.KTM Total (Domestic + Exports) April 2024KTM Total Sales April 2024Total sales (domestic + exports) of KTM suffered a setback on a YoY basis by 6.79% but improved MoM by 2.73% to 10,993 units. There had been 11,729 units and 10,642 units sold in April 2023 and March 2024 respectively.It was the KTM 200 that commanded the most attention with total sales of 4,740 units, a MoM growth of 22.13% over 3,881 units sold in March 2024. KTM 390 (3,101 units) and 250 (1,919 units) range saw total sales in the red but the KTM 125cc has seen outstanding total sales growth of 223.14% YoY to 1,173 units in April 2024 from 363 units sold in April 2023 while MoM sales improved by 44.64% over 811 units sold in March 2024.Recent UpdatesThe 2024 KTM 200 Duke and 250 Duke have just been introduced and both receive new colour schemes and KTM’s ‘Ready To Race’ decals while they continue to draw power via the same engines. Recently, the company took out the new KTM 390 Enduro and 390 Adventure on test rounds showing off their off-roading prowess and several feature updates ahead of launch in India. The KTM 390 also made it to a No. 12 position on the list of 350-450cc motorcycle sales in April 2024. More

    • 100 Shares119 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Mahindra XUV700 Electric 3 Screen Dashboard Patent Leaks

      by

      Mahindra XUV700 Electric 3 Screen Layout PatentedXUV.e8 (XUV700 Electric) three-screen layout will be a first for a Mahindra car and likely to be offered with other upcoming new-gen Mahindra SUVsMahindra is working on the electric version of XUV700, which will go on sale as the XUV.e8. Ahead of its launch later this year, design patents have revealed multiple new details. Latest confirmation is for a three-screen setup, which will be a first-in-segment feature.Mahindra XUV700 Electric – three-screen setupFrom one, to two, and now a 3-screen setup is on its way to become a mainstay in the Indian auto industry. In the mass market segment, Mahindra will be the first to introduce this feature with XUV.e8. Other upcoming Mahindra SUVs such as XUV.e9 and BE range are also expected to get a three-screen setup.Mahindra XUV700 Electric SUVOnce a positive market response is confirmed, other OEMs are also likely to transition from the current two screen layout to a three-screen setup. However, there are likely to be variations, as seen with cars like Mercedes EQS 580, Cadillac Celestiq, Lucid Air, Audi A8, Porsche Taycan, etc .An upgrade to a three-screen setup seems relevant, as it significantly enhances the cockpit experience. As seen with the patent image, the three-screen layout of XUV.e8 covers almost the entire width of the dashboard. It is flanked by AC vents on both sides.Mahindra XUV700 Electric SUV SteeringFrom the design patent image, it appears that the three-screen layout has bezels in between the screens. The bezels are pretty wide and seem to have a grey finish. They could get a darker and glossier finish with the production model. The heavy bezels could have been chosen to provide adequate protection to the large 3-screen setup.Mahindra XUV700 Electric SUV DashboardFunctional relevanceA three-screen setup helps reduce clutter in the cockpit area. It matches the current trend of achieving a minimalistic profile for EVs, across both exteriors and interiors. Much of the physical buttons can be eliminated with a three-screen layout. The third screen is exclusively for the front passenger. The sense of roominess is significantly enhanced when most of the controls can be handled via the screens. Along with touch controls, users can also use voice commands for various features and functions.Mahindra XUV700 Electric SUV DashboardXUV.e8 – New headlamp setup and new steering wheelMahindra has also patented a new headlamp design and a new two-spoke steering wheel for XUV.e8. These new features will help achieve a clear differentiation with the ICE model. These newly patented features are likely to be available with XUV.e9 as well. XUV.e9 is the coupe version of XUV.e8.Mahindra XUV700 Electric SUV HeadlightAll upcoming Mahindra electric SUVs will be based on the INGLO platform. XUV.e8 will have a battery pack of up to 80 kWh. Power output could be in the range of 230 hp to 350 hp. XUV.e8 will be available in all-wheel drive configuration. Launch is expected later this year. XUV.e8 will take on Tata Harrier EV that is expected in early 2025. More