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    Mini Reveals Fashionable 2023 Special-Edition Lineup

    Mini is launching three special edition models for 2023 with bold graphics and shiny metallic trims.The Resolute, Untamed, and Untold editions are available for the Cooper, Countryman, and Clubman models, respectively.The cheeky small-car brand is celebrating its 20th anniversary of U.S. sales this March.To celebrate its 20th anniversary of selling small cars in North America, Mini is readying three special-edition models that will be available for nearly its entire lineup. While 20th anniversary gifts are traditionally made of china, Mini has taken a new route and applied brass and frosted bronze accents to differentiate these special models.
    The Cooper Hardtop and its convertible variant can be ordered as the Resolute Edition, which comes painted in Rebel Green with Pepper White paint for the mirror caps and roof; the convertible comes with a black cloth top. The package is also available on the electric Cooper S E hatchback, but that car eschews the gasoline-powered model’s 18-inch black wheels for a set of aerodynamic-focused 17-inchers. Hood stripes, pin-striped door-sill protectors, and yellow-and-cream tweed upholstery complete the package.
    Countryman models can be had with the new Untamed Edition package, which applies a Momentum Grey exterior color that serves to highlight a bodyside graphic. Inside, a backlit panel displaying a mountain scene stretches across the dashboard and Highland Green leather upholstery graces the seats.

    Perhaps the most attractive of the bunch is the Untold Edition Cooper Clubman, which wears Sage Green paint with color-matched plastic body cladding, brass-accented 18-inch wheels, and a striped hood graphic. The Clubman’s interior is decorated with Sage Green leather upholstery as well as brass-accented door sill protectors and dashboard vents.
    Mini says that 60 percent of its sales are custom-built cars and hopes that these three special-edition packages will give customers even more choices. Production of these updated Minis starts in March and the company says inventory should be available at dealers in April 2022. Pricing for the Resolute Edition Mini Cooper start at $36,750 for the Hardtop and $41,250 for the convertible. The Untold Edition Clubman starts at $42,500 and the Untamed Edition Clubman starts at $42,750.
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    2006 Subaru Baja 5-Speed Is Our Bring a Trailer Auction Pick of the Day

    Other Subaru Bajas have come across the pages of the Bring a Trailer auction site in the last year, but none of them as low-mileage as this one. With less than 8000 miles on the odometer, this particular Baja is basically brand-new.Except it’s not new, and that’s what’s getting people excited, a nostalgia for a time when Subaru’s part-truck, part-sedan hit the scene.The auction is currently at $17,250, well under the car’s original selling price of $23,120. The big question is where things end up over the next five days until the auction ends on Sunday, February 13.Sometimes, you can just feel automotive enthusiasts gushing over a particular vehicle that’s listed on the auction site Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—and this 2006 Subaru Baja Sport checks a lot of boxes. Quirky model from 15-plus years ago? Yep. Low mileage but in excellent condition? Check. Original documentation and CD stereo? Sign us up.

    Bring a Trailer

    In our review of the 2002 Baja when it was new, we noted that there are certainly some compromises with a bed this short in a sedan, but the decades have made us look at these cars with nostalgia and then some. Smaller pick-ups like the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick have recently entered the market to kind of fit in the same space as the Baja, but there’s really nothing quite like these Subarus. With a raised suspension, fog lights, and sunroof, this is a Baja that might be the closest thing that can take you back to 2006 in an instant. Just take a look at those tinted rear windows. The example for sale is painted in Atlantic Blue Pearl exterior color with lower-body cladding and a black and gray upholstered interior with front bucket seats. Five-spoke, 16-inch alloy wheels wear 225/60 Bridgestone Potenza tires.

    Bring a Trailer

    The 2.5-liter SOHC engine offered 165 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque when it was new, and with only 8000 miles on the odometer, there shouldn’t be too much to worry about as long as you know a mechanic who’s familiar with head gaskets. The five-speed manual transmission and all-wheel-drive capability should still offer some of the fun to whoever gets to sit behind the wheel when all is said and done.

    Bring a Trailer

    Bring a Trailer

    Which brings us to the point that the two previous owners of this vehicle seemed not to have been very interested in sitting behind the wheel. BaT’s documents say that this Baja was originally delivered to Anchor Subaru of North Smithfield, Rhode Island, and has mostly remained in Connecticut. It was bought by a dealer in 2021 that prepped it for online auction.

    BaT sold four Bajas last year, with the final prices ranging from $14,250 to $25,550. All of them had either around 50,000 or more than 100,000 miles on their odometers. This low-mileage 2006 Baja that’s currently for sale is sitting at just over $17,000 right now, but the expectation is that this vehicle’s price will climb to at least $20,000 by the time the auction ends on Sunday, February 13. The car’s original selling price was $23,120, and we feel obliged to acknowledge that there’s a reasonable chance the auction price will climb up another 10 grand or so on top of that. It’s so difficult to judge used-car prices these days, which is what makes auctions like this so fun to watch.
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    2023 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid Claims 32 Miles of Electric Range

    Kia has shared details about the new plug-in-hybrid version of the 2023 Sportage.It comes with a larger battery and more powerful electric motor compared with the standard hybrid and promises an electric range of 32 miles.The 2023 Sportage plug-in hybrid will go on sale in the third quarter of this year.The Kia Sportage received a redesign for 2023 and is sprouting all sorts of new variants. A hybrid model was revealed a few months ago and now we have the details on the plug-in-hybrid model, which will go on sale in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2022. It will join the Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota RAV4, and the closely related Hyundai Tucson in offering a plug-in option to compact-SUV shoppers.

    Like the hybrid, the Sportage PHEV is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four and an electric motor. But the plug-in version gets a more powerful electric motor and a bigger battery pack that’s said to provide 32 miles of electric range on a full charge. Kia won’t say what the hybrid powertrain’s total output is, but we reckon it’s about the same as the Tucson PHEV and the larger Kia Sorento PHEV, both of which make 261 hp. A six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive put the Sportage plug-in’s power to the ground.
    The Sportage plug-in looks pretty much the same as other Sportage models but does come standard with the X-Line appearance package that adds a few rugged-looking visual elements. It will be available in two trim levels, with the more expensive X-Line Prestige adding equipment such as a premium audio system and additional driver-assistance features.
    Kia hasn’t revealed pricing for the 2023 Sportage yet, but we can assume that the plug-in hybrid will be the most expensive model in the lineup. It’ll likely start in the mid-$30,000 range when it goes on sale in the U.S. later this year.
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    2023 Chevy Blazer Gains Sharper Styling, Bigger Touchscreen

    Chevy has given the Blazer a facelift for the 2023 model year, with a new grille and LED headlights and taillights.The Blazer also gets a slew of new paint colors and a 10.0-inch touchscreen, up from 8.0 inches.The 2023 Chevy Blazer goes on sale this summer.Earlier this year, Chevrolet announced that it will release an electric version of the Blazer in 2023. But before the crossover ditches the pump for the plug, Chevy is giving the existing Blazer a facelift for the 2023 model year, sharpening the exterior styling and modernizing the cabin with a larger touchscreen.
    The visual updates for the 2023 Blazer are minor. The high-mounted LED running lights are sleeker and flow into a new grille design that is now linked to the main headlight unit via a C-shaped trim piece. Around back, the taillights gain new LED light signatures. New 18-, 20-, and 21-inch wheel designs are available and a series of new paint colors are on offer: Fountain Blue, Sterling Gray Metallic, Copper Bronze Metallic and Radiant Red Tintcoat.

    Inside, all 2023 Blazers gain a 10.0-inch center screen—up 2.0 inches from the pre-facelift model—and wireless charging capability. The RS trim can also now be had with a Nightshift Blue interior. The Blazer continues to be offered with the choice of a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, producing 228 horsepower, or a 3.6-liter V-6 making 308 hp. Both engines are still paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive will be offered.The 2023 Blazer will be available this summer. Pricing will be revealed closer to the on-sale date, but we don’t expect it to change much from the current Blazer’s price that ranges from $34,595 to $45,195.
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    2022 Royal Enfield Hunter 350cc Spied Up Close – New Details

    2022 Royal Enfield Hunter 350ccRoyal Enfield Hunter 350cc is expected to hit showrooms later this year – It will rival Honda CB 350 RSThe 200-700cc motorcycle segment is going to see interesting new launches in the coming years. As of now, it is Royal Enfield which dominates this segment. But new rivals have arrived in the form of Jawa, Yezdi, BSA and soon to be launched Bajaj-Triumph motorcycle.To maintain its dominance in the segment, Royal Enfield plans to launch multiple new motorcycles in this segment. This includes the new Himalayan Scram 411, a 650cc cruiser, a 650cc bobber, Super Meteor 650. They are also testing a new scrambler, which is likely to be called Hunter 350.New Royal Enfield Hunter 350ccTest mules of this motorcycle have been spied on several occasions previously. In the latest spy shots, new RE Hunter 350 has been spied up close, revealing new details. Royal Enfield Hunter 350 gets a classic retro design with signature styling highlights such as a round headlamp, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a single-piece seat and a short rear section.Tail section gets split grab rails and a short circular fender along with a round turn taillight with turn indicators. The motorcycle rolls on 17-inch black alloy wheels which nicely complement the bike’s sporty stance.2022 Royal Enfield Hunter 350ccThe sporty appeal of Hunter is further accentuated by a dark theme adopted for its internals and running gear with components like engine casing, handlebar, and suspension setup painted in black colour with a matte finish. Other notable highlights include an upswept muffler with a short exhaust tailpipe, circular rearview mirrors, redesigned side panels and fork gaiters.Features on offerIn terms of features, it should offer the same equipment as its other siblings like Meteor and new-gen Classic. The most prominent of those will be a Tripper Navigation pod in the instrument console which displays turn-by-turn navigation when paired to one’s smartphone via Bluetooth. It should also receive USB charging as a standard fitment.Hunter will be based on the new J1D platform which currently underpins Meteor 350 and new-gen Classic 350. The architecture will be suspended on 35 mm telescopic forks at front and twin gas-charged shocks at rear. Braking duties will be handled by single disc brakes on both wheels assisted by a dual-channel ABS.2022 Royal Enfield Hunter 350ccPowertrain SpecsPowering Hunter will be a 349cc single-cylinder air-cooled OHC engine that kicks out 20.2 hp and 27 Nm of peak torque. This motor is paired with a 5-speed gearbox via a slipper and assist clutch. The Chennai-based bike manufacturer hasn’t revealed a specific launch time for Hunter yet. However, Royal Enfield could launch this roadster in the first half of 2022.Upon launch, Royal Enfiled Hunter 350 will rival Honda CB350 RS and the recently launched Yezdi scrambler. It is expected to be priced slightly above the new-gen Classic 350 and Meteor 350.Source More

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    2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale Arrives with PHEV, 2.0T Powertrains

    More than two years after showing the concept, Alfa Romeo has finally unveiled the 2023 Tonale SUV.The Tonale is the first Alfa Romeo that will be offered with a plug-in-hybrid powertrain. It will also come with a nonhybrid 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four.The Tonale goes on sale in the first quarter of 2023, with order books opening late this year and pricing information still to come.The 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale is finally here. We first saw the Tonale as a concept back in 2019, but extra development for its gas-electric drivetrain and the chip shortage in 2021 delayed its debut. Now Alfa Romeo has finally presented the production version of its second SUV, which slots in below the Stelvio and becomes the first Alfa Romeo to feature a plug-in-hybrid powertrain.

    Alfa Romeo

    The 2023 Tonale will be offered with two powertrains. The headlining act is the new plug-in-hybrid setup, which pairs a 180-horsepower turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four powering the front wheels with a 121-hp electric motor mounted on the rear axle. The system sends a combined output of 272 horsepower to all four wheels, and the electric motor draws its juice from a 15.5-kWh lithium-ion battery. The Tonale PHEV uses a six-speed automatic transmission and Alfa Romeo promises over 30 miles of electric driving range. The Tonale PHEV will feature three driving modes: Natural, which blends the engine and electric motor for everyday driving; Advanced Efficiency, meant for pure electric travel; and Dynamic, for maximum performance from both the engine and e-motor. Along with the plug-in model, Tonale buyers will be able to choose a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine produces a healthy 256 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The nonhybrid Tonale will also come standard with all-wheel drive. Alfa Romeo promises that the Tonale will have the athletic driving dynamics that we’ve come to expect from the brand. Along with a quick 13.6:1 steering ratio, the Tonale features an independent suspension front and rear with optional adaptive dampers that can be set to Comfort or Sport. Stylistically, the Tonale stays true to the concept, with thin headlights featuring three U-shaped LED elements framing the traditional Alfa Romeo grille. The rear features a trendy full-width taillight that echoes the three-piece lightning motif from the front. The Tonale measures 178.3 inches long, making it a few inches longer than a BMW X1 but still over six inches shorter than an X3.

    Alfa Romeo

    Inside, the Tonale features a 10.3-inch center touchscreen running Stellantis’ Uconnect 5 infotainment system and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless phone charging will be standard, and Uconnect 5 includes Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant. The Alfa Connect app will allow owners to start and stop the engine and lock and unlock the doors remotely, among other functions, and the Tonale will also be able to receive over-the-air updates.Alfa Romeo says the Tonale will be the first vehicle to come with a NFT digital certificate, which will record vehicle data throughout the car’s life cycle and act as a certificate that the Tonale has been correctly maintained and serviced. Alfa Romeo claims it will benefit the car’s residual value and help future owners buying on the used market know what they’re getting into. Alfa Romeo did acknowledge that that NFT will not keep a record if you decide to do maintenance yourself.

    The Tonale is also equipped with standard safety tech including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. A Traffic Jam Assist feature will be able to steer and adjust the speed of the vehicle on the highway.The Tonale will come in three trim levels—Sprint, Ti, and Veloce—and will go on sale in the first quarter of 2023. Order books open in the fourth quarter of this year, and we expect it to start around $38,000. The Tonale is the first of many electrified Alfa Romeos, with the Italian automaker announcing a car with hybrid and full-electric powertrains coming in 2024 before a dedicated EV arrives in 2025.
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    2022 TVS Fiero 125 Trademark Accepted – Based On Raider 125cc?

    New TVS motorcycle spied testing – It it Fiero 125TVS Motor hasn’t yet confirmed the launch or specifications of Fiero but it is expected to be based on Raider 125The 125cc motorcycle segment has growing demand. This segment has the likes of Honda CB Shine, Hero Splendor, Glamour, Bajaj Pulsar and KTM. TVS entered the 125cc motorcycle segment when they launched Raider 125 a few months ago.With the Raider, TVS has managed to make a good impact with average monthly sales of about 10k units. Total sales in this segment are at about 1.6 lakh units in Dec 2021. Of this, it is the Honda CB Shine which has over 42% share, Hero Glamour has about 20%, Bajaj Pulsar at about 17%, Splendor at 13%, Raider at 7% and KTM under 1%.2022 TVS Fiero 125ccTVS would surely like to increase market share in this segment. They already have a solid engine delivering good performance and fuel efficiency. One way to increase market share, is to launch a new 125cc motorcycle. TVS has registered multiple trademarks for their upcoming motorcycles – ‘Fiero’ being one of them.In fact, it is the name Fiero 125 that has been trademarked by TVS Motor. The company had applied for a trademark and in Nov 2020 it cleared the formalities. Now as per latest update, the Fiero 125 trademark has been officially accepted and advertised from 17th Jan 2022.TVS Fiero 125 trademark accepted on 17th Jan 2022It is likely that the ‘Fiero’ name could be used for the company’s upcoming 125cc motorcycle based on Raider 125 but with a completely different top hat. However, nothing has been confirmed by the manufacturer as of yet.TVS Fiero DesignBased on the spy shot of a test mule, the upcoming 2022 TVS Fiero is expected to get a retro design. Some prominent highlights include a round headlamp, a single-piece seat with a ribbed pattern and circular rearview mirrors.The short rear fender appears to be a single unit gently sloping upwards which also gets a chunky single-piece grab rail. The side-on exhaust features a long aluminium-coated canister. There is a muscular fuel tank design with air scoops which seem only an aesthetic addition.New TVS Fiero 125 based on Raider?A tall handlebar and centre-set footpegs with a fairly accessible saddle should offer comfortable riding ergonomics. Side panels and internals such as engine-gearbox assembly, leg guard and main frame have been blacked out which would provide a nice and sporty dual-tone theme to the motorcycle.2022 TVS Fiero 125 SpecsComing to hardware, the bike could receive the same underpinnings as Raider 125 which includes conventional telescopic forks at front and mono-shock linked to the swingarm at rear. The golden-coloured front forks also add to the bike’s aesthetic appeal. Braking will be carried out by single disc brakes at both ends which should be aided by a combined braking system (CBS).Powering Fiero will be the same 124.8cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, three-valve engine which propels Raider 125. This motor kicks out 11.2 bhp at 7,500rpm and 11.2 Nm of peak torque at 6,000rpm and is paired with a 5-speed gearbox. In its 2-valve head form, this motor churns out 15.31 bhp and a peak torque of 13.9 Nm. TVS Fiero 125 prices could be in a similar range as that of Raider and other 125cc rivals. More

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    Naon Zero One Electric Scooter Debuts – Up To 140 Kms Range

    Naon Zero One Electric ScooterNaon Zero One electric scooter isn’t expected to arrive on Indian shores anytime soonIn the past few months, we have been witnessing a surge in electric two-wheelers, both in overseas and Indian markets. The electric mobility revolution has seen the advent of many new brands venture into the auto industry with battery-powered vehicles. The latest in this list is Naon which has officially revealed its first electric scooter prototype.An electric vehicle (EV) startup based out of Germany, Naon has introduced the first battery-powered two-wheeler in the form of Zero One. Since this is just a pre-production prototype, the electric scooter isn’t available for pre-bookings as of yet. Naon will be offering Zero One in two variants- L1e and L3e.The former has been priced at Euros 4,920 (approx. INR 4.20 lakh) while the latter will be made available at Euros 6,420 (approx. INR 5.48 lakh) (both prices inclusive of taxes). However, judging by its unique design and pricing, Zero One is expected to be positioned as a premium electric scooter.Naon Zero One Electric Scooter – DesignSpeaking of design, the styling of Zero One is the biggest differentiator between itself and the rest of the contemporary e-scooters. Naon has adopted an unconventional yet minimalist approach for Zero One which features very few body panels. The overall design is clean and understated while its geometric proportions make the scooter look sharper.Naon Zero One Electric ScooterSome of its styling highlights include a flat single-piece seat, a long and flat footboard, naked handlebars, an exposed rear swingarm and a windshield upfront. Another unique piece of styling is a rectangular single bar LED headlight mounted on the windshield to go along with a sleek tail light setup under the seat.Powertrain SpecsThe thick floorboard also houses the battery pack underneath which gives the scooter a very low centre of gravity which translates into good ride stability. Speaking of the battery pack, Zero One is powered by a removable 2.4 kWh Lithium-ion battery which offers a range of 70 km on a single charge. By installing an additional battery pack, this range could be extended to 140 km on a single charge.However, both variants of the electric scooter offer different levels of performance. The base L1e variant gets a 3 kW peak output which translates to a top speed of 45 kmph. On the other hand, L3e features a larger 7 kW rear hub motor with a peak output of 10 kW (13.4 bhp) and 200 Nm of torque. As a result, this variant has a higher top speed of 100 kmph.Naon Zero One Electric ScooterHardware & FeaturesZero One is underpinned by an aluminium frame which is a USD fork upfront and a mono-shock at rear. The frame and body panels have been made of sustainable materials that can be recycled. Braking duties are handled by disc brakes at front and rear which are aided by ABS.As far as features go, Zero One doesn’t offer a dedicated instrument console but instead uses the rider’s smartphone, mounted onto the handlebar, for ride information. Since the batteries are mounted under the floorboard, the scooter should offer decent under-seat storage space. More