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    Tesla Stops Putting Radar Sensors in New Model S and Model X EVs

    Tesla took the radar sensors out of its North America-bound Model 3 and Model Y vehicles last year, and has now done the same in its larger models, the S and the X.Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said he believes that making self-driving cars requires them to operate like human drivers: with eyes and a brain. In the EVs, that means only using cameras and a neural net to determine what’s in the road ahead.Earlier this month, NHTSA announced an investigation into “phantom braking” issues that could affect all Model 3 and Model Y EVs that the company made without the radar sensors.Tesla is doubling down on its camera-only approach, which it calls Tesla Vision, for the advanced driver-assistance features in the company’s electric vehicles. Tesla updated its website late last week to announce that, as of mid-February 2022, all of the Model S and Model X vehicles the company is building for the North American market will utilize exclusively Tesla Vision, the automaker’s “camera-based Autopilot system.”

    Tesla

    Until this month’s change, all Model S and Model X EVs intended for North America were equipped with radar sensors but the company has been building new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles without any front radar sensors since May 2021. That’s when Tesla announced a change for those models away from radar to Tesla Vision, just what the company is now doing with the X and S models. Tesla Vision pairs the visual data streams with neural net processing capability to offer features such as Autopilot, Full-Self Driving and some active safety features. Tesla is also changing how its radar-less vehicles will function compared to their radar-equipped brethren. The company said that there will be a “short period during this transition” when cars with Tesla Vision will have their Autosteer limited to a maximum speed of 80 mph and will require a longer minimum following distance for adaptive cruise control.

    No Tesla vehicles today—indeed, no production passenger vehicle from any automaker—is currently capable of actually driving itself. Tesla admits that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet rated two of the automaker’s active-safety features, forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, on vehicles equipped with Tesla Vision. NHTSA has rated these two technologies on Tesla models with radar sensors. “We expect those ratings will be restored through confirmatory testing in the coming weeks,” Tesla wrote on its website.Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s theory is that self-driving cars should learn to drive the same way humans learn: by seeing and thinking about what you see. Without mentioning the radar his company’s cars will no longer use, Musk posted on Twitter Friday that another advanced sensor type, lidar, might be “seductive,” but it’s not required for cars to learn how to drive themselves. “The road system was designed to work with biological neural nets & eyes, so a general solution to self-driving necessarily will require silicon neural nets & cameras,” he wrote. “Real-World AI.” It’s a song he’s been singing for a while. Last October, Musk posted, “Humans drive with eyes & biological neural nets, so makes sense that cameras & silicon neural nets are only way to achieve generalized solution to self-driving.”
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    Advanced driver-assistance features that rely on cameras and a neural net might be able to offer some benefits, but Tesla recently came under scrutiny from NHTSA about a “phantom braking” issue that could affect over 400,000 Teslas. The investigation is looking at all 2021 and 2022 model year Tesla Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles, pretty much exactly the ones that were built without radar sensors. That investigation is still in its early stages, but it is worth noting that other automakers, such as Nissan with the 2017–2018 Rogue SUV and Honda with the 2018–2019 Accord and 2017–2019 CR-V, have had problems with phantom braking incidents even though their vehicles use radar sensors alongside camera systems.
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    Honda Hawk 11 Neo Cafe Racer Teased Ahead Of Global Debut

    2023 Honda Hawk 11 Cafe Racer TeasedHonda will be introducing a new motorcycle named Hawk 11 which will sit on top of the brand’s global lineup along with Africa Twin, Rebel 1100 and NT1100Honda has confirmed the development of a new motorcycle by teasing it on the brand’s various social media handles. Called Hawk 11, this bike is a neo-retro cafe racer and is most likely to replace CB1100 which was recently discontinued from Honda’s lineup a few weeks ago.The motorcycle will be making its maiden appearance at the 2022 Osaka Motorcycle Show scheduled to be held from 19 to 21 March 2022. The brief teaser released by Honda gives glimpses of the bike’s design from its front end which gives a very distinctive first impression.Honda Hawk 11 – Styling highlightsUpfront, Hawk 11 gets a round LED headlight with a circular LED DRL encased within a fighter jet-inspired front fairing. The fairing comes integrated with a small visor and with the overall curvaceous shape of the faring, the motorcycle is set to offer excellent aerodynamics. This design harks back to the design of retro cafe racers in the 1960s and 70s.The other significant detail is a clip-on handlebar which is traditionally used in cafe racers. The round rearview mirrors further add to the bike’s retro appeal. It appears to get bulb turn indicators mounted on the side fairing. From the looks of the upcoming motorcycle is expected to offer sport riding dynamics. No other significant styling details are visible in the given teaser image.[embedded content][embedded content]Powertrain Specs & FeaturesPowering Hawk 11 is a familiar 1084cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled motor that features in flagship motorcycles from Honda including CRF1100L Africa Twin, Rebel 1100 and NT1100. However, in the upcoming cafe racer, this engine might be tuned slightly differently in order to suit its characteristics. In Africa Twin, this mill churns out 98 bhp and 103 Nm of peak torque.It could be mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed DCT automatic unit. When it comes to tech, Honda might offer some of the premium gizmos on offer in the flagship range of motorcycles including features like LED headlamps with cornering lights, a fully digital TFT instrument console, Bluetooth connectivity, traction control and more.Expected HardwareAs far as cycle parts are concerned, Hawk 11 should receive all premium hardware with adjustable front and rear suspensions. Braking is expected to be handled by dual-disc brakes on the front wheel and a single-disc brake at the rear. This will be aided by a dual-channel ABS.Upon its launch, Hawk 11 will take on the likes of flagship cafe racers like Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR, Yamaha XSR900 and Kawasaki Z900 RS. Unfortunately, this motorcycle is unlikely to head towards Indian shores anytime soon. More

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    Honda CRF190L Adventure Patented In India – Xpulse 200 Rival

    New Honda CRF190LHonda CRF190L will be more adept in handling off-road challenges than its road-biased sibling CB200XHonda Motorcycle and Scooters India (HMSI) has been on a spree to file design patents in the country in recent times. The two-wheeler division of the Japanese auto giant has registered design patents for a couple of models including NT1100 and CBR 150R in India.The company has now filed patents for a new motorcycle in the country which by the looks of it seems to be CRF190L. The baby adventure bike made its global debut in September last year and is an entry-level model in Honda’s adventure lineup which is positioned above CB150X.Honda CRF190L Design Patents LeakStarting with its design, CRF190L draws major aesthetic cues from CRF1100L Africa Twin with rugged Dakar-a-like styling. The core silhouette and riding stance of CRF1100L is uncannily familiar to that of the flagship adventure bike.It gets a similar side fairing and a flat headlamp cowl with a tall visor mounted on top of it. Other visible highlights include a rectangular double-stacked headlamp and circular rearview mirrors.Honda CRF190L patented in IndiaCRF190L comes with a large single-piece seat and a pillion grab rail integrated with a luggage rack. Highlighting its ergonomics, CRF1100L comes with mid-set footpegs, an upright handlebar, and a commanding seating position which offer comfortable riding posture for both road-biased daily urban commutes as well as for off-road adventure weekends.Expected Powertrain, Hardware SpecsPowering CRF190L is a familiar 184cc single-cylinder, air-cooled motor that also propels Hornet 2.0 and CB200X in the Indian market. This motor is good enough to dish out 17 bhp at 8,500 rpm and a peak torque of 16.1 Nm at 6,000rp and comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox.Unlike CB200X, which is essentially a road-biased tourer with some additional clothing wrapped around it, the CRF190L is more adept at handling rough terrains. The bike is underpinned by a tubular steel cradle frame which is suspended on upright telescopic forks at front and a mono-shock at rear. While it does miss out on adjustable and upside-down forks as CB200X, the ones in CRF190L are expected to offer a higher travel of around 180mm.New Honda CRF190LFurther, it gets a ground clearance of a whopping 241mm which makes it pretty easy to overcome any obstacle. Weighing at just 145 kilos, it is lighter than all its nearest adversaries. The bike rides on 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wire-spoke wheels that are shod with knobby dual-purpose tyres.Chances of India launch?There are very high chances of CRF190L actually making it to the Indian market since the entry-level adventure touring segment has been gaining popularity over the past few years. Honda’s experiment by launching a road-biased tourer CB200X might not have worked in the company’s favour as the sales charts indicate very humble numbers. Therefore, CRF190L could become a worthy rival to Hero Xpulse 200. More

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    Royal Enfield SG650 Shotgun 650cc Bobber – New Spy Shots

    Royal Enfield SG650 Shotgun 650cc BobberAt the time of its unveil at 2021 EICMA, Royal Enfield had described SG650 concept as the link between its past and futureThe SG650 concept was truly stunning in its design and form and had attracted significant footfall at last year’s EICMA. Production version of SG650 has been spied on test in India once again. It indicates that the bike could be launched soon.The latest spy shots give an up-close look at the upcoming Royal Enfield 650cc bobber, which is expected to be called as Shotgun 650 upon launch. Spy shots reveal that the production-spec SG650 doesn’t deviate too much from the concept. Royal Enfield SG650 Shotgun 650cc BobberA single-seat bobber, Royal Enfield SG650 leans on neo-retro styling. It looks different and yet carries the signature design aesthetics associated with Royal Enfield bikes. While the concept had full freedom to experiment, the production variant looks more relevant in practical terms.For example, funky bar-end mirrors seen with SG650 concept have been replaced with standard-looking units on production variant. SG650 concept had various other unique aspects such as CNC billet machined fuel tank and wheels, bespoke designed brake callipers, glossy aluminium switch cubes, hand stitched black leather seat and futuristic graphics. The production version of SG650 will have a relatively toned-down profile.Royal Enfield SG650 Shotgun 650cc BobberAs revealed in spy shots, SG650 has round headlamp and rear-view mirrors, wide low-set handlebar, centrally placed foot pegs, single floating-type seat, large front radiator and dual exhaust. At the rear, the bike is expected to get broad fender and round tail lamp. Riding stance is similar to that of Classic 350, which is quite comfortable.Royal Enfield SG650 engine and specsTo reduce development and production cost, SG650 will share much of its hardware with 650 twins (Interceptor and Continental GT). Engine will be the same, a 648cc, parallel twin, air/oil-cooled unit that generates 47 hp of max power at 7,150 rpm and 52 Nm of peak torque at 5,250 rpm. It is mated to a constant mesh 6-speed transmission.Suspension system on-board SG650 will have USD forks at front and twin coil-over shocks at rear. It will have 320mm and 240mm disc brakes at front and rear, respectively, integrated with dual-channel ABS as standard.Royal Enfield SG650 Shotgun 650cc BobberSG650 is expected to get a semi-digital instrument console with Tripper navigation display on the right. Bluetooth-based connectivity features are also likely to be offered as standard with the bike.In the company’s line-up, SG650 will be positioned above 650 twins. It could also be the new flagship motorcycle from Royal Enfield. It is to note that the company is working on around three more 650cc motorcycles. It includes Super Meteor 650 and a true-blue cruiser bike.Just like 350cc segment, Royal Enfield has plans to saturate the 650cc space as well. The strategy will ensure better engagement with target audience and help fend-off rivals. More

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    New Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 Spied – Debut Likely By 2022 End

    New Husqvarna Svartpilen 2023. Image – Cycle World.The all-new Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 could feature a wide range of updates including design, underpinnings and engineThe curious case of Husqvarna is inexplicable, to say the least. While both offerings under the Swedish brand- Svartpilen 250 and Vitpilen 250 are quite likeable with a unique design and more than decent performance. But that unfortunately hasn’t translated to a sizable sales volume.This could be mainly attributed to the timing of the company’s launch in India in early 2020 when the pandemic broke out. The company also hasn’t expanded its portfolio in these two years with still just two models under its belt. Hopefully, we see a change when the new-gen models are scheduled to come out.All-new 2023 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 SpiedSpeaking of the new-gen models, Husqvarna has already started developing the upcoming all-new models of the naked streetfighters. First spy shots of what is supposedly the new-gen Svartpilen 401 have been leaked on the internet. The test mule caught in cameras gives a clear look at a near-final version of the Svartpilen’s successor.The prototype of the all-new Svartpilen 401 shown in the images appears quite distinct from that of KTM 390 Duke. Until now, both bikes, as well as Vitpilen 401, have shared the exact same underpinnings. Some key styling elements of the current Svartpilen 401 have been retained in the upcoming model. These include an oversized round LED headlight with an integrated circular LED DRL and chamfered flat edges on the fuel tank.New Husqvarna Svartpilen 2023While in the current model, the tank flows straight into the seat, in the all-new model it gets a clear break ahead of the subframe. At rear, a conventional licence plate holder replaces the older swingarm-mounted unit.The most striking change, however, is a new underbelly exhaust replacing the side-on upswept canister in the current Svartpilen. By the looks of it, design and padding of the split-style seats have also been updated.Changes in UnderpinningsThe all-new Svartpilen 401 is also geared up to undergo several changes underneath its skin as well. Husqvarna has employed a trellis frame with the new model but the design of the frame shown in the prototype is different from the current unit. It also gets a new braced swingarm that looks uncannily similar to the one seen in the E-Pilen concept prototype.New Husqvarna Svartpilen 2023It also sports a new rear split subframe but its design is not as aggressive as that of its KTM counterpart. Front forks remain identical with upside-down forks sourced from WP Apex.However, the rear features an off-set mono-shock mounted on a newly designed swing arm. Front brake assembly has been switched to the right side which suggests a change in braking hardware although it gets the same ByBre calliper.New Husqvarna Svartpilen 2023Powertrain UpdateFinally, coming to the engine department, the motor is visibly a single-cylinder unit but gets a new cover which creates a lot of mystery. Despite structural similarity, it appears to share no visible components with the current 373cc design. Exact capacity of this engine is still unknown but a similar prototype engine was previously spotted in the new-gen KTM Duke test mule.Source More

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    A Ford Bronco Driver Got Arrested for Doing Donuts in an MLB Ballpark

    Major League Baseball is in the middle of a lockout that is threatening to cancel the 2022 season. While that may be terrible news for baseball fans, it presents a huge opportunity if you are a Ford Bronco owner living near a ballpark with nowhere else to go off-road. One San Diego driver was in that situation, and, for some reason, decided that their best option was to take the SUV out onto the field at downtown Petco Park.According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, that dream was short-lived. While the Bronco driver got onto the outfield and ripped enough donuts to leave a significant mark in the dirt behind him, park grounds crew quickly caught on to them. Crews walking around nearby mobilized quickly and blocked the Bronco’s exit using a forklift before the driver could realize they had been caught. An eyewitness account from someone in a nearby office building with a view of the stadium claims that the grounds crew then surrounded the truck, leading the driver to come out calmly and surrender his position in deep left field. When police arrived later, they reportedly arrested the driver on felony vandalism. Even if this lockout ends and the baseball season starts on time, park grounds crews still have a few weeks to repair the dirt outfield before baseball would be played in Spring.The Padres roster could use a power-hitting left fielder, but baseball rules most likely consider a new Bronco to be illegal equipment.

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    2022 Suzuki Swish, Saluto 125cc Scooters Debut With New Features

    2022 Suzuki Saluto 125cc ScooterIn India, Suzuki retails three scooters in the 125cc category including Access, Burgman Street and AvenisSuzuki has launched two updated scooters in Taiwan- Swish 125 and Saluto 125. Both 125cc scooters have undergone some significant changes in this yearly makeover. The scooters now receive some new features onboard apart from a brand new powertrain.While Swish has been priced at NT$82,800 (approx. INR 2.21 lakh), Saluto is offered at a price of NT$83,800 (approx. INR 2.24 lakh). Both scooters feature the same internals yet are very different in terms of their appearance. While Swish adopts a modern futuristic design language, Saluto sticks to its old-school retro charm.2022 Suzuki Swish 125cc – Design & FeaturesStarting with Swish, the scooter flaunts a sharp design with several cuts and creases which gives it a very sporty appeal. Some part of its styling is reminiscent of the Suzuki’s flagship motorcycle Hayabusa. It gets a single-pod LED headlamp cluster mounted on the front apron that comes with integrated LED DRLs and bulb turn indicators. The sportier appeal is accentuated thanks to faux air intakes.Swish gets three dual-tone colour schemes that are inspired by Hayabusa including Black/Gold, Silver/Red, and Blue/Silver. Coming to features, Swish 125 is loaded with features like a USB charging port, and a fully digital instrument cluster that displays speed, mileage, fuel level, time, and oil change alert. It also features an anti-skid footboard and a front glove box to store one’s knick-knacks.2022 Suzuki Swish 125cc Scooter2022 Suzuki Saluto 125cc – Design & FeaturesOn the other hand, the retro-style design of Saluto reminds us of Vespa. It features sleek body panels which give a very neat look to the scooter. Upfront, Saluto gets a rounded LED headlamp cluster with chrome or blacked-out bezel depending on the colour option. Speaking of which, Saluto is offered in two paint schemes namely Luca Green and Genoa Red.The apron of Saluto features turn indicators with integrated LED DRLs. Other visual highlights include circular rearview mirrors, a flat seat, air scoops on side panels, a chunky single-piece grab rail for the pillion and anti-skid strips on the footboard. In contrast to its retro styling, Saluto is offered a fairly modern list of features.The scooter is loaded with gizmos like full LED lighting, a hazard lamp, a semi-digital instrument cluster, a keyless ignition system, a keyless locking/unlocking mechanism and a USB charging port. For added convenience, Saluto also receives a multi-function switch for the seat and fuel lid. Like Swish, Saluto also misses out on any form of connectivity tech.2022 Suzuki Saluto 125cc ScooterEngine & Hardware SpecsComing to specifications, both Swish and Saluto are powered by a new 124cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine with Suzuki Eco Performance (SEP) technology. This motor makes 8.67 bhp and 9.6 Nm of peak torque. Suspension duties on both scooters are handled by conventional telescopic forks at front and a mono-shock at rear. Stopping duties are taken care of by a disc brake at front and a drum brake at rear. More

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    Top 10 Motorcycles 200cc To 500cc Jan 2022 – Classic, Meteor, CB350, Dominar

    Royal Enfield 350cc Custom By EimorThe 200cc-500cc segment of motorcycles saw a YoY 18.78 percent decline in sales volume in January 2022Motorcycles in the 200-500 cc segments have not been receiving their fair share of attention in the country. Sales have been on the decline over the past month, down to 63,384 units. This was an 18.78 percent de-growth over 78,036 units sold in January 2021. MoM sales also slipped 11.88 percent over 71,927 units sold in December 2021.Top 10 Motorcycles 200cc To 500cc Jan 2022 – Royal Enfield DominatesLeading the sales charts was Royal Enfield with 5 of its models among the top 10. The RE Classic 350 commanded this list with 26,775 units sold last month, down 34.49 percent over 40,872 units sold in January 2021. The Classic 350 holds a 42.44 percent share in this segment. MoM sales also saw a decline of 22.89 percent over 34,723 units sold in December 2021 when market share was at 48.28 percent.Classic 350 New gen has now been launched in the United Kingdom where it is priced from GBP 4439 (approximately INR 4.47 lakh). Next up was RE Meteor 350 which saw its sales increase 66.77 percent on a YoY basis to 8,460 units from 5,073 units sold in January 2021 while MoM sales dipped 22.93 percent from 10,977 units sold in December 2021.Sales de-growth was seen in the case of Bullet 350 both in terms of YoY (-36.44 percent) and MoM (-8.77 percent) to 7,354 units sold in January 2022 over 11,570 units sold in January 2021 and 8,061 units sold in December 2021. RE Himalayan sales escalated by 9452.94 percent YoY to 3,248 units, up from just 34 units sold in January 2021. MoM sales however dipped 29.56 percent over 4,611 units sold in December 2021.200cc to 500cc Motorcycle Sales Jan 2022 vs Jan 2021 (YoY). RE holds 76.5% market share.Bajaj Pulsar and Honda CB350Bajaj Pulsar 220/350 broke the Royal Enfield reign with 6,012 units sold in the past month. This was a 4.72 percent de-growth over 6,310 units sold in January 2021. It was a 229.38 percent MoM growth from 2,621 units sold in December 2021. Bajaj Auto has recently updated the Pulsar 250 with a new blue colour option.Honda H’ness CB350 sales also fell 9.34 percent to 3,212 units, down from 3,543 units sold in January 2021 while MoM sales increased 135.48 percent from 1,364 units sold in December 2021. Honda CB350 is priced between Rs. 1.96 to Rs. 2.03 lakh and is available in 3 variants and 8 colours.Royal Enfield once again entered the fray with Electra 350. Sales dipped 51.19 percent YoY to 2,651 units from 5,431 units sold in January 2021. MoM sales dipped 41.36 percent from 4,521 units sold in December 2021. YoY and MoM growth was seen in the case of KTM 250. Sales stood at 1,223 units in January 2022 up from 560 units sold in January 2021. December sales were at 909 units relating to a 34.54 percent growth.200cc to 500cc Motorcycle Sales Jan 2022 vs Dec 2021 (MoM)FZ25, Dominar, ApacheYamaha had its FZ25 on this list with 998 units sold last month, up 527.67 percent over 159 units sold in January 2021. December 2021 sales had stood at just 2 units. Bajaj Auto had its Dominar 400 (717 units), Dominar 250 (662 units) and Avenger (525 units) in the next 3 spots out of which only the Dominar 400 showed a YoY growth of 7.01 percent and MoM growth of 21.94 percent. Avenger 220 saw its sales down 55.66 percent on a YoY basis while MoM sales increased 26.81 percent.Other bikes on this list included the TVS Apache 310 (426 units), Honda CB300R (252 units) and Husqvarna 250 (243 units). There was also KTM 390 (241 units), Ninja 300 (195 units) and Gixxer 250 (172 units) while the list ended with the CB 500 of which 18 units were sold last month. More