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    Hero Argentina Operations Get Boost – Xpulse 200, Hunk 160R Launched

    Hero Hunk 160R in Argentina. Image – Italika
    Hero MotoCorp and Gilera Motors Argentina expand operations to inaugurate dealership in Buenos Aires
    Hero MotoCorp with Gilera Motors Argentina has stepped up operations in the country. With this, a flagship dealership has been inaugurated in Buenos Aires. This is part of breathing in new tempo into boosting Hero MotoCorp‘s presence in Argentina.
    Revitalisation efforts get off to a fresh start through a partnership with Gilera Motors. The latter is a leading Argentinian name in the motor vehicle sector, and an experienced Latin American motorcycle manufacturer.
    Investments from Gilera Motors Argentina are aimed to rapidly expand all business operations. The boost is expected to generate about 500 new jobs in the region. Gilera Motors’ partnership has a multiplier effect on the local economy. This pertains to generating investment, and direct and indirect jobs. Plans include further expansion of operations in the future.
    Hero MotoCorp Argentina Operations
    In order to be fully prepped for Hero MotoCorp’s product lineup, Gilera Motors Argentina has expanded its plant in Carlos Spegazzini Province of Buenos Aires. This entails complete infra renovation, and adapting to latest automotive tech.
    Hero MotoCorp opens new flagship store in Argenina. File photo – Vasquez.
    Hero MotoCorp and Gilera Motors Argentina have aid out an expansion plan. This will strengthen and expand the sales and service network nationwide. The groundwork will pave the way for Hero to launch a wide range of two wheelers in the country.
    New Hero Motorcycle Launches In Argentina
    Hero MotoCorp undertakes design and development at its R&D centres in India and Germany. Manufacturing is distributed across plants in India, Colombia, and Bangladesh. While Indian Euro emission norms are more advanced, in Argentina, compliance is to Euro 3 and Euro 4 standards. This is a great business opportunity as most bikes that failed a cost efficiency test to be upgraded in terms of Euro compliancy have over time been dropped from the exhaustive product lineup in India.
    Sanjay Bhan, Head – Global Business, Hero MotoCorp, said, “We are happy to rapidly expand our operations in Argentina. We have already made significant progress since announcing our new association with Gilera Motors Argentina in October. We have already inaugurated a flagship store and are focussed on scaling up sales and service across the country. With our soon-to-be-launched range of globally acclaimed products, we are confident of exciting the market and appealing to the customers.”
    Omar Caruso, Vice President of Gilera Motors Argentina, said, “Customers will also benefit from the latest technologies of Hero MotoCorp products such as the Xpulse 200 and Hunk 160R.” More

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    BSA Motorcycles Unveils Their First New Motorcycle – Royal Enfield 650 Rival

    New BSA Motorcycle DebutsBSA Motorcycles has showcased their new motorcycle under the leadership of Mahindra owned Classic Legends
    A few days ago, BSA Motorcycles had officially announced their return via social media. The same was also retweeted by Anand Mahindra, helping stir up enthusiasm among BSA fans across the world. Now, their first motorcycle has been officially unveiled.
    Birmingham Small Arms or BSA has officially mark its revival, with the unveiling of their first new gen motorcycle under the ownership of Classic Legends. The new BSA motorcycle was showcased at an exclusive event in Birmingham UK. Images are credit to BSA Motorcycles Facebook page.
    BSA Goldstar 650
    This new BSA motorcycle is likely to be called as Goldstar 650. It will be on public display at the upcoming Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham, UK being held from 4th-12th December 2021. BSA Goldstar 650 is likely to be powered by a single cylinder 650cc engine and will rival the likes of Royal Enfield 650 Twins in the UK and other markets hopefully.
    It may be recalled that BSA Motorcycles became defunct in 1970s but with Classic Legends, a Mahindra subsidiary, in-charge of the BSA project since 2016, the brand gets revived with more focus on international markets. Classic Legends acquired BSA for approximately Rs. 28 crores.
    New BSA Motorcycle Debuts
    With this announcement made, Classic Legends has lost no time in readying their new motorcycle. Test bikes have been spied on test in Pune, India. These bikes could also be produced in India at the company’s plant in Pithampur with exports to commence from early next year.
    BSA Goldstar 650 – More details
    Classic Legends has set up a technical and design center in Banbury, Oxfordshire followed by assembly of new motorcycles at the BSA facility in Midlands. This new BSA motorcycle will be positioned in the premium bike segment. It will boast of a classic design with the character of old BSA bikes but with modern underpinnings. It is set to go on sale in the UK first, but could also make its way to India.
    The new 650cc will continue to exude a retro theme. It receives a rounded headlamp with integrated DRLs, LED tail lamp, tear drop shaped fuel tank and wide set handlebars. It will also get broad fenders at the front and rear. It will sport spoked wheels wrapped with Pirelli tyres. Extensive use of chrome is seen across its body, from headlamp to fuel tank extending to its exhaust pipe and engine casing. An elongated seat and an upright riding position will show off its retro theme.
    New BSA Motorcycle Debuts
    Engine specs on the new BSA Goldstar are likely to include a 650cc motor making 47 hp power and 40 Nm torque. The engine will be liquid cooled to comply with future emission standards. It will receive disc brakes at the front and rear along with dual channel ABS as standard.
    In other news, BSA Motorcycle Company has received a grant of 4.6 million GBP (Rs 45.20 crore) from the UK Government to develop zero emission motorcycles. These are being developed at the company’s R&D center in the Midlands, UK with production set to commence soon. More

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    Honda Benly e Electric Scooter Swappable Battery To Be Made In India

    Honda Benle e Electric Scooter with battery swappable techHonda Motor Japan have setup a new subsidiary in India which will manufacture battery packs for Electric scooters, EVs
    Honda has established a new subsidiary in India which will provide battery packs for small mobility in the country. Officially named Honda Power Pack Energy India Private Limited, this firm will also be responsible for battery swapping technologies in upcoming two-wheelers from the Japanese brand.
    The registered office is located in Bengaluru. MD of this new company is Kiyoshi Ito. It has been setup with a capital of Rs 135 crores. Honda Motor Japan owns 100% stake in the subsidiary. The company aims to accelerate the penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) by solving three issues of electric vehicles: limited range, long charging time and high cost of batteries. However, services of the subsidiary won’t be limited to the electric two-wheeler space only.
    Honda Battery Made In India – Mobile Power Pack e:
    The firm plans to start battery sharing service for electric auto rickshaws (E-auto) from the first half of 2022 in Bengaluru, Karnataka and expand its operations in other Indian cities in a phased manner. Subscribers can avail services from the nearest battery-swapping station located in the city to exchange used batteries with fully charged ones.
    The Japanese auto giant has branded the all-new portable and swappable batteries as ‘Honda Mobile Power Pack (MPP) e:’. By using this service, owners need not wait for charging and can get back on the road. These batteries will be made in India by Honda.
    Honda Benle e Electric Scooter with battery swappable tech
    Interestingly, this is the same battery pack which also powers the Benly e electric scooter. The same scooter that has already spied on test near Pune earlier this year in June. This electric scooter has been specifically developed to cater to everyday pickup and delivery services. It is expected to be launched in India next year.
    Benly e- Specs
    Test mules of Benly e e-scooter have already been spotted on a couple of occasions previously. It made its maiden appearance at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show back in 2019. The scooter is powered by an electric motor that derives its energy from Honda’s MPP comprising two 48V, 20.8Ah lithium-ion batteries.
    Benly e is offered in four trims namely Benly e I, Benly e I Pro, Benly e II and Benly e II Pro. These trims are offered with different motor specifications. Benly e I and I Pro feature a 2.8 kW (3.8 bhp) electric motor which returns a torque output of 13 Nm. On the other hand, Benly e II and II Pro are propelled by a 4.2 kW (5.7 bhp) electric motor that makes 15 Nm of peak torque.
    Honda Battery Pack To Be Made In India
    As for performance, Honda claims a top speed of 30kmph on a flat road for Benly e I and I Pro whereas both these trims offer a range of 87km on a single charge. The more premium Benly e II and II Pro, receive a stronger top speed of 60kmph on a flat road while range drops to 43km on a single charge.
    A hill climb of up to 12 degrees incline is possible with a maximum cargo of 30kg for Benly e I and I Pro. For Benly e II and II Pro, the same incline can be overcome with a peak cargo load of 60kg. The higher variants are even offered with a reverse assist feature. More

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    Nissan Ariya Single Seater Is a Wild EV Racing Concept

    Nissan has revealed the Ariya Single Seater concept, a vision for a future electric race car.The concept looks similar to the current Formula E race cars, including the “halo” safety device protecting the driver’s head.The Ariya Single Seater also includes Nissan’s V-Motion grille and a similar copper and black look as seen on the Ariya crossover.After releasing a slew of EV concept cars earlier this week, Nissan is back with a new vision for its electric future, the Ariya Single Seater concept. While this dramatically styled concept looks nothing like the upcoming Ariya electric crossover, Nissan says the concept uses the same powertrain as the roadgoing crossover, showing the possibilities for a sporty Nissan EV in the coming years.

    Nissan

    Considering its name, the Ariya Single Seater unsurprisingly takes the form of a one-seat race car. It bears a strong resemblance to the second-generation Formula E cars—a series in which Nissan has competed since 2018—with its covered wheels and exposed suspension elements. There is even a “halo,” a safety device introduced by the FIA in open-cockpit race cars to protect drivers’ heads, protruding from the bodywork.

    Nissan worked in design cues from the street-legal crossover, such as the copper and black color combination from the Ariya launch car. Up front, Nissan incorporated the V grille shape seen on its road cars through illuminated strips running down the nose to the front splitter. The bodywork is smooth, with few aerodynamic doodads and a low, simplistic rear wing. Nissan didn’t provide any specifications for the Single Seater concept, but we would assume it has the Ariya crossover’s dual-motor setup, good for 389 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. The Ariya Single Seater will presumably never reach production, but along with the Max-Out concept shown Monday, it suggests that Nissan is seriously contemplating how to create exciting sports cars as the automotive landscape transitions to electric power.
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    2022 Mazda 3 Adds Carbon Edition Appearance Package

    The Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback gain the same Carbon Edition trim previously offered on the CX-5 and CX-9.It features Polymetal Grey exterior paint and a red leather interior, along with a few other features.The Carbon Edition costs $27,415 for the sedan and $28,415 for the hatchback.

    Mazda is expanding the Carbon Edition appearance package to include the 2022 Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback. It was previously available on the CX-5 and CX-9, along with the Mazda 6 sedan that has since been discontinued. It features the same color combo as those other models—a Polymetal Grey exterior with a red leather interior—and is available on front-wheel-drive versions of the 3 with the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four and a six-speed automatic transmission.

    Mazda

    Mazda

    The Carbon Edition has the same equipment as the 3’s Preferred package and also adds a 12-speaker Bose audio system, black 18-inch wheels, and heated side mirrors that are painted black. You’ll pay $1650 extra for the appearance tweaks, as the Carbon Edition starts at $27,415 for the sedan and $28,415 for the hatchback.There aren’t any other changes for the 2022 Mazda 3 lineup except for the addition of a new color called Platinum Quartz Metallic. The sedan starts at $21,815 for the sedan 2.0 with its base 2.0-liter engine and ranges up to $35,415 for the loaded 3 hatchback 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus with all-wheel drive and the more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four engine. Mazda says the 2022 cars will begin arriving at dealerships this winter.
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    2022 Hyundai Elantra N Costs $32,295, Undercuts Veloster N by $600

    Hyundai’s 276-hp Elantra N wears a base price of $32,295.A six-speed manual transmission comes standard.Opting for the dual-clutch automatic transmission adds $1500 to the sticker.Move over Hyundai Veloster N, because there’s a new entry-level N-badged Hyundai in town: the 2022 Elantra N. With a starting sum of $32,295, the Elantra N undercuts the base price of its smaller stablemate by $600. Add another $1500 to the high-performance sedan’s sticker if you want to swap out the standard six-speed manual transmission for the brand’s eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

    Hyundai

    Regardless of transmission, all Elantra Ns rely on a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that produces 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. Both figures top those of the Veloster N, which makes do with 275 horses and 260 pound-feet of torque. If you opt for the Elantra N’s two-pedal gearbox, Hyundai includes its so-called N Grin Shift feature that—when activated—allows the compact sedan’s four-pot to produce 286 hp for up to 20 seconds.

    Predictably, the Elantra N’s larger shadow—at 184.1 inches long, it’s 16.2 inches bigger than the Veloster N—nets it a slightly heavier curb weight. At 3106 pounds, the stick shift Elantra N carries 80 extra pounds of mass relative to the three-pedal Veloster N (the difference is only 49 pounds with the dual-clutch transmission).Even with its slight weight penalty, we predict the Elantra N will nearly match the acceleration figures of the Veloster N. The most recent Veloster we tested was a dual-clutch model that hit 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and crossed the quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds with a trap speed of 105 mph. The Veloster, of course, will always have its fans for its lighter weight and more shapely styling.Look for the Elantra N to hit Hyundai dealers by the end of the year.
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    Polestar Shows First Look at New 3 EV Crossover

    Polestar shared the first image of the new 3 luxury electric crossover. Both single- and dual-motor configurations will be available. It will be built at Volvo’s plant in South Carolina and go on sale late next year. Polestar, Volvo’s electric-vehicle subbrand, will soon have additional EV offerings to join the 2 that’s on sale now, as it’s aiming to introduce a new model each year. The Polestar 3 will be the next to arrive, and the Swedish automaker has just shared the first photo of the new luxury electric crossover that will compete with the BMW iX and Jaguar I-Pace.

    Polestar

    Previously, all we had seen was a covered image (pictured above) of the new two-row EV crossover, which will be built in the brand’s Charleston, South Carolina plant where the Volvo S60 sedan is currently produced. The new 3 will have handsome styling typical of the other two existing Polestar models, and its chunky D pillar gives it a coupe-like appearance.

    Powertrain details are scarce, but it will ride on Volvo’s new electric vehicle platform, and Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath confirmed that it will offer single- and dual-motor configurations, like the 2. The Polestar 2 offers up to 265 miles of electric driving range in the single-motor version. Polestar also announced that the 3 will eventually offer autonomous highway driving using lidar technology. We’ll know more about the 3’s features and specs when it makes its official debut sometime next year. The Polestar 3 will go on sale toward the end of 2022, and pricing is expected to start at around $75,000. The brand’s flagship luxury sedan, the Polestar 5, will enter production in 2024, and the Polestar 4, described as an SUV coupe, is due to arrive in 2023.
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    2023 Lexus RZ, the Brand's First EV for the U.S., Starts to Take Shape

    Lexus has shared the first images of the new RZ, an electric crossover.The RZ’s body shape makes us think that it’s related to the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra.It will likely use a more powerful drivetrain than those models, which only make 215 horsepower in their dual-motor forms.Lexus is closely following Toyota into the EV fray with a new model that we now know will officially be called the RZ. Based on these teaser images, it appears to be related to the Toyota bZ4X but looks to have distinctly styled front and rear ends that fit in with the current Lexus design canon. This production model was previewed by the Lexus LF-Z Electrified concept shown earlier this year. It will be the first Lexus EV to the sold in the U.S., following the China-only UX300e.

    Lexus

    We’re expecting the RZ to wear the RZ450e designation, given that Lexus has already trademarked that moniker. The number 450 suggests more power than the 215 horsepower than the bZ4X offers in two-motor form, so we think the Lexus will use a more potent all-wheel-drive two-motor setup. The company previously shared details on a powertrain called Direct4 that used a 201-horsepower electric motor on both the front and rear axle, so the RZ450e could make around 350 or 400 horsepower in total.To go along with its luxury purview, the RZ is also likely to have a more sumptuous interior than its Toyota sibling. We don’t know if the bZ4X’s yoke-style steering wheel will make its way into the Lexus, but the materials inside the cabin should be plusher and more upscale. We’d expect the Lexus to start around $50,000, and an F Sport version will probably be part of the lineup.Look for more details to come on the Lexus RZ sometime in 2022.
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