More stories

  • in

    TVS Jupiter 125cc Scooter LED DRLs Teaser – Activa Rival Launch Soon

    New TVS Jupiter 125cc Launch SoonAll-new Jupiter 125 will take on rivals such as Honda Activa 125, Suzuki Access, Hero Destini 125 and Yamaha Fascino 125
    After Raider 125cc motorcycle, TVS is gearing up to launch its next product. It is likely to be all-new Jupiter 125, a more powerful and better equipped version of existing Jupiter 110cc scooter. Launch date is set for 7th Oct 2021.
    With new Jupiter, TVS will have two products in 125cc scooter segment. While Ntorq is preferred for its superior styling and sporty performance, Jupiter 125 will be more suited for practical, everyday needs.
    TVS Jupiter 125 styling and features
    To ensure a distinct identity, Jupiter 125 will utilize a new set of styling bits. Components like headlamp, LED DRLs, rear view mirrors, side panels, grab rails, and tail light are expected to be entirely new. Only a limited set of design elements are expected to be borrowed from Jupiter 110.
    New colour options are expected to be made available for all-new Jupiter 125. The existing 110cc Jupiter is available in more than a dozen colour options. Ones that really stand out include Titanium Grey, Matte Blue, Volcano Red, Midnight Black, Pristine White, Royal Wine and Indi Blue. Available colour options are based on the chosen variant. Take a look at the new teaser video of the 2021 TVS Jupiter 125cc scooter.
    [embedded content]
    To match features available with rival scooters in this segment, TVS could introduce things like digital instrument console, USB charger and Bluetooth connectivity for new Jupiter 125. Existing Jupiter 110 is equipped with an analogue instrument console. As it will primarily be positioned as a utilitarian scooter, Jupiter 125 will have ample under seat storage. For reference, Jupiter 110 offers 21-litres of under seat storage. This is good enough for a full-sized helmet.
    It is possible that TVS Smart Xonnect connectivity platform could be introduced with Jupiter 125. This feature is already offered with Ntorq. A number of advanced features can be accessed via Smart Xonnect such as navigation assist, caller ID, last parked location assist, ride stats, and remote backlit illumination control. Overall, around 60 connectivity features are available through this platform. Smart Xonnect could be introduced with top-spec variants of all-new Jupiter 125.
    TVS Jupiter 125 engine and specs
    It is likely that Jupiter 125 will borrow its engine from Ntorq. For Ntorq, the engine is tuned differently based on the variant. For standard variants, the engine is tuned to deliver 9.38 ps of max power and 10.5 Nm of peak torque. For Race XP variant, the numbers increase to 10.2 ps / 10.8 Nm. Race XP variant is the first 125cc scooter in the country to deliver more than 10 hp power.
    TVS Jupiter 125cc LED DRLs
    As Jupiter 125 will likely target improved fuel economy, its power and torque output could be less than Ntorq. For this, Jupiter 125 will use an ET fuel injector and not the Race Tuned Fuel injector (RT FI). Suspension system will comprise telescopic fork at front and monoshock unit at rear. The scooter can get the option of front disc brakes. Jupiter 125 pricing is expected to be close to that of Ntorq. The latter is offered in the price band of Rs 72k to Rs 84k (ex-showroom, Delhi). More

  • in

    Rivian's Forever Fund Will Turn Nature into an EV Shareholder

    Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe announced a new fund called Forever that will put money from the young electric-vehicle company into “high-impact climate initiatives” to protect wilderness.Scaringe said Rivian will invest 1 percent of its equity (not profits) in this fund to move away from the “massive industrial complex” that our current lifestyles rely on.Rivian could end up being valued at $50 billion or even $80 billion in its upcoming IPO, according to various analysts. That would mean a lot of money being spent on Forever.Rivian has been embracing a curious word in its marketing for the past year or two: forever. What started as the “Adventurous Forever” tagline in a series of videos in 2020 about the all-electric R1T pickup and R1S SUV became a new philanthropic mission this week with the announcement of, well, “Forever.”Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe published a note on the Rivian website yesterday about his company’s new Forever mission. The headline detail is that Scaringe promised that he will put 1 percent of Rivian’s equity into Forever, a philanthropic-focused fund that he said would address “our planet’s climate crisis and preserving the critical biodiversity needed for our planet’s long-term survival.”
    This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Scaringe correctly notes that automakers (and the rest of us) cannot continue to build and consume products as we have been for the past century. The “massive industrial complex” that humans have created, he writes, is “rapidly changing the composition of our atmosphere while simultaneously destroying the interlinked natural ecosystems critical for life on the planet. Our current way of life has been enabled by hundreds of millions of years of accumulated plant- and animal-based carbon in the form of fossil fuels. On our current path, we will fully exhaust this stored energy in only a few more generations and, in the process, carbonize our atmosphere, and damage natural ecosystems to such a degree that life as we know it will not be possible.”

    One important detail in Scaringe’s announcement is that Rivian isn’t going to invest some portion of its profits into environmental causes. That would be the very definition of greenwashing, since Rivian is gearing up for an IPO and in some of the paperwork it filed to go public said that it lost $2 billion since the beginning of 2021 and over a billion in 2020. In fact, Rivian will spend around $8 billion building up its facilities and other manufacturing infrastructure through the end of 2023, the New York Times reported. In the Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Rivian specifically said possible investors should not be looking for profits anytime soon: “We do not expect to be profitable for the foreseeable future as we invest in our business, build capacity, and ramp up operations, and we cannot assure you that we will ever achieve or be able to maintain profitability in the future.”

    But equity? Equity is another story. It’s difficult to know exactly what Rivian’s valuation or equity will be, but over the summer sources told Reuters that Rivian could be looking for a valuation somewhere in the $50-to-$80-billion range in its IPO. Institutional investors including Amazon and Ford have already plowed billions into Rivian, but the stock market has not yet had its say. To cite one obvious comparison, Tesla took years to make a profit, but the company was valued at around $700 billion earlier this year, way more than other automakers. Shareholder equity, which can be calculated by figuring out a company’s total assets and then subtracting its total liabilities, isn’t the same as valuation, but the two are connected. However much money Rivian ends up putting into Forever, the fund’s focus will be on what Scaringe called “high-impact climate initiatives” that emphasize “preserving and restoring wildlands, waterways and oceans.” These areas shouldn’t just be protected so they can offer exciting backdrops for drone shots of an R1T off-roading, but because these are exactly the parts of our planet that act as “powerful carbon sinks that pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing carbon in soil, grasses, trees, shrubs, coral reefs and ocean floor sediments,” Scaringe wrote, and the more valuable Rivian becomes, the more money will be spent on protecting these area. “By putting 1% of Rivian’s equity into Forever, the natural world will become a shareholder in our success,” he wrote. “As our company’s value grows by transitioning our customers to sustainable transportation solutions, so will the value of our impact and philanthropic giving, creating a virtuous cycle of impact.”
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    Hop Electric Motorcycle Testing Starts – Revolt RV400 Rival

    HOP Electric Motorcycle SpiedEarlier this year, Hop Electric had launched Lyf and Leo electric scooters starting at Rs 65,500
    Jaipur-based EV manufacturer Hop Electric will soon be expanding its portfolio to include its first electric motorcycle named Hop OXO. The first of test mules are currently being evaluated in real-world conditions. Hop OXO promises to offer an optimal mix of style, comfort, performance and range. Just like the electric scooters, Hop e-bike is expected to be launched at a competitive price point.
    Hop OXO design and styling
    Hop Electric Motorcycle OXO has a sporty design with an aggressive front fascia and sleek body panels. It is likely to have an all-LED setup. Some key features include trendy visor, spear-shaped turn indicators, sleek LED DRLs, single seat design, and short tail section. The bike appears to have an aerodynamic profile, which will ensure streamlined airflow and help extract more miles from the battery.
    It is expected that Hop OXO will be offered in a range of sprightly colour options. Sporty graphics will be part of the package. It will likely have a naked profile with exposed frame sections in contrasting shade. Users can expect comfortable rides, as Hop OXO has an upright riding stance. The e-bike has ergonomically placed wide handlebars and centrally positioned foot pegs.
    Usually, e-bikes come across as bulkier, as they have to carry large battery packs in their belly. Hop OXO does not have this limitation, as its batteries are neatly packed under the fuel tank. Its size and proportions are not very different from standard 125-150cc ICE powered motorcycles.
    [embedded content]
    Hop OXO top speed, range and specs
    Top speed of Hop OXO is expected to be around 80-90 kmph. The e-bike reaches its top speed in less than 30 seconds. Range is expected to be around 100 km on a full charge. Just like Hop electric scooters, OXO e-bike could be offered with the option of a single or dual battery pack.
    In case of scooters, their range is 125 km with a dual battery pack. Top speed of Hop electric scooters is 50 kmph for Lyf and 60 kmph for Leo. Power output is 2000w for Lyf and 2500w for Leo. Details about power output of OXO electric bike will be revealed soon. Suspension system on OXO comprises standard telescopic forks at front and dual rear shock absorbers. The bike has disc brakes at both ends.
    To eliminate range anxiety, Hop Electric is currently building a wide network of refuelling stations. These will function as recharging as well as battery swapping stations for a seamless user experience. Users who choose the swapping service can get a fully charged battery in just around 20 seconds. From the user’s perspective, battery swapping is more convenient than recharging.
    When launched, Hop OXO electric motorcycle will take on rivals such as Revolt RV400 and Joy e-Monster. It is likely to be priced under Rs 1 lakh. More

  • in

    Suzuki Sales Sep 2021 Decline – Gixxer, Intruder, Burgman, Access, Hayabusa

    Image – Boyet SalavariaSuzuki Motorcycle India reports decline in domestic wholesales in September 2021, exports grow
    In September 2021, Suzuki did see domestic wholesales decline while exports registered growth. Suzuki two wheeler wholesales fell to 55,608 units in September 2021. Down 14.71 percent from 65,195 units at 9,587 units volume loss. Exports grew to 12,404 units, up 92 percent. Exports grew from about 6.5k units at volume gain of just under 6k units.
    Suzuki Sales Sep 2021
    Total sales fell to about 68k units, down from 71,661 units. Volume loss stood at 3,649 units at about 5 percent sales decline. MoM sales decline is reported at 10 percent, down from 61,809 units. Volume loss stood at 6,201 units. Best selling Suzuki two wheelers in India includes Access, Burgman, Gixxer, Intruder. Their newly launched Hayabusa is also the best-selling motorcycle in its segment.
    In the meantime, Suzuki Motorcycle India continues to offer the company’s growing range of products. In an effort to meet with the growing demand, the company have been undertaking steps, as advised by market trends to augment product range. Production capacities today are being far better utilised than earlier months when sales was just about nearing the 50k units mark on a monthly basis.
    Satoshi Uchida, Managing Director, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd. said, “We continue to experience a very strong demand both from the Domestic and Overseas Markets. However, Supply Chain constraints being experienced in the Country and across the Globe have impacted our efforts to cater to the heightened demand. We are hopeful that the situation will improve and we shall be able to fully cater to the demand.”
    Suzuki Two Wheeler Sales Sep 2021
    Indian auto industry recovery
    Demand from the domestic market is being supported by a strong growth in retail sales which have shown some movement in recent months. As the Indian auto space continues to show signs of recovery, overall sales is expected to be impacted positively. Decrease last year was primarily due to the increasing spread of Covid-19 pandemic. The total standstill that befell the industry resulted in weakening demand for vehicles.
    Suzuki can draw much from its growing base of valued clients for their continued confidence. With industry wide recovery being a slow process, the coming months will be under close scrutiny. While there’s no new product launch around the corner, this isn’t necessarily a niggle. A fair amount of new sales is generated through the distribution of new products and packages of existing products. And with festivities being the flavour of the season, one can expect a bouquet of festive packages.
    Strong demand in market
    Following slow recovery from Covid-19, the auto industry finds itself gripped with another formidable wall that it can’t power through. Supply chain disruptions when it comes to acquiring critical parts/chips. And there’s rather little anyone can do about this other than continue to improve procurement channels as production starts to bridge the supply gap. But this will take a while longer.
    This, in turn, has adversely affected the overall performance of our products.Auto manufacturers continue to participate in the new products development activities but being able to supply new vehicles in timely manner is an altogether diff matter. Auto manufacturers continue to take every opportunity to look for alternatives for the current supply chain crisis. More

  • in

    See All the Bond Movie Cars at the Petersen Museum in LA

    A new Bond-movie car exhibit, Bond in Motion, has opened at the Petersen Automotive Museum and will run until October 2022.There are 30 cars from 60 years of Bond films.The exhibit features submarines, motorcycles, a Tuk Tuk taxi, and something called a Wet Bike, too.When the very first Bond movie was filmed in 1962, the whole production had a budget of just one million English pounds, or about what the catering budget would be for a modern Bond film. And since Dr. No was shot on the island of Jamaica in the days before carmakers fought—and often paid—to have their cars featured in movies, the Dr. No crew had to rely on the largesse of the local Jamaicans for cars. Thus, Bond’s first-ever chase scene shows Sean Connery piloting an 80-hp Sunbeam Alpine borrowed from a local resident, who happened to own one of the few sports cars on the island.As you’ll no doubt recall from that movie, Bond had to outrun a hearseful of Dr. No’s murderous henchmen, who were driving a LaSalle hearse from the 1930s. Remarkably, the hearse was able to keep up with the Sunbeam Alpine, maybe because the Sunbeam only had a 1.6-liter engine, but only until Bond snuck under the boom of a parked crane, sending the hearse off a cliff to a flaming fireball of death.”Where were they going?” the crane operator asked.”I think they were on their way to a funeral,” said Bond, in the first of what would be hundreds of clever quips delivered over vanquished foes.

    The chase scene that started them all: Dr. No.
    MGM

    Since that first chase scene, the cars of the Bond franchise have advanced to the point where they are almost as famous as the stars. Since the Sunbeam, 007 has now driven everything from Lotuses, Jaguars, and BMWs, to the coming crop of Aston Martins that will be seen in the 3oth installment, No Time To Die, opening October 8 in the U.S. To celebrate all these wheeled wonders, the Petersen Automotive Museum in the heart of Hollywood has opened an exhibit called Bond In Motion that will run until October 30, 2022. So while there’s no immediate rush, you may want to see it before the latest movie premieres.

    “The Petersen Automotive Museum will present a new exhibit celebrating the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise through a highly diverse selection of iconic screen-used vehicles,” the museum stated. “Bond in Motion will be the largest official Bond vehicle display to date in the US, and will feature more than 30 cars, motorcycles, boats, submarines, helicopters and even scale filming models of aircraft from an array of both classic and contemporary Bond films.”
    This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Among the cars, boats and subs will be some of your favorites: the 1977 Lotus Esprit S1 Submarine from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), 1985 Aston Martin V8 from The Living Daylights (1987), 1999 BMW Z8 from The World Is Not Enough (1999), and the 2019 Aston Martin DB10 from Spectre (2015).The iconic 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from several different Bond films will be there, along with the DBS from 2008’s Quantum of Solace and the Deux Chevaux camera car that was hooked up to a trailer hitch to shoot For Your Eyes Only in 1981. And, of course, the Lotus Esprit submarine from The Spy Who Loved Me will share floorspace with the Bath-O-Sub Escape Pod from the same movie.”James Bond is an international pop culture icon and the vehicles he drives are an integral part of his character,” said Petersen Automotive Museum executive director Terry L. Karges. “The Petersen is excited to showcase so many of the series’ most well-known vehicles. We are sure that there will be something to satisfy every generation of Bond fan.”If you’re a Bond fan, or even if you’re not, you should check it out. Wonder when they’ll do a Cars of the Fast and Furious Franchise?

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

  • in

    Honda Scooter, Motorcycle Sales Sep 2021 – Activa, CB Shine, Dio, Grazia

    Honda ActivaHonda 2Wheelers India reports decline in domestic wholesales and exports in September 2021
    With Hero MotoCorp and Honda 2Wheelers competing at the top league in the domestic two wheeler market, September 2021 would have brought cheer to the latter. Sales look up. In a MoM comparison, Honda has bettered sales from the previous month. This has helped the manufacturer have its sight set on the omnipresent gap between both manufacturers’ monthly sales.
    Honda Sales Sep 2021
    Honda 2W reports domestic sales of 4,63,679 units, down 7.43 percent. Volume loss stands at around 37k units, down from just over 5L units YoY. Exports for the month are below 20k units. Volumes are down by about a quarter.
    Down from about 26k units at volume loss of 6.9k units. Total sales fell to 4,82,756 units, down from 5,26,865 units. Sales decline is reported at 8.37 units at volume loss of about 44k units. Best sellers from Honda include Activa, CB Shine, Dio, Grazia, Unicorn, Dream, CB350, etc.
    MoM domestic sales grew by over 15 percent to end the quarter on some positivity. Sales grew from just over 4L units at volume gain of just over 2k units. Exports were down by over third at volume decline of over 10k units. Total MoM growth is reported at 12 percent, up from 4,30,683 units at volume gain of about 52k units.
    Honda Two Wheeler Sales Sep 2021
    Honda two wheelers big bikes
    As part of Honda’s commitment to empower India’s youth with their most iconic 2Wheeler, its product range capacity is being increased to cater to the growing demand of 2Wheelers. While India thrives on mass market small cc motorcycles and Honda’s ubiquitous Activa, the auto manufacturer has many an ace up its sleeve. Globally, the company offers a range of big cc motorcycles, and the company has only just begun exploring this avenue in a big way here recently.
    Honda has successfully launched its highly acclaimed 350cc series here. The packaging brings together aerodynamic body design, performance-enhancing suspension, and great hope. Being among the best in its class, it’s now garnering rave reviews for its exceptional performance. It almost beggars belief that Honda waited for so long to determine that the market was ready for such a product range.
    Gaining momentum
    The effort has always been to offer complete value for money proposition to customers. With festive season fervour overhead, Honda 2Wheeler is geared up to monetise on big demand, typical of this period.
    Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “We are gaining back the momentum with each passing month witnessing a rise in customer enquiries. The coming few months will be decisive in determining the growth forecast with the year’s most awaited time of festivals just around the corner. Our network across India is all geared up and ready to delight customers with their favourite Honda 2Wheeler.” More

  • in

    Hero MotoCorp Sales Sep 2021 – Splendor, Passion, HF Deluxe, Destini, Pleasure

    Image – Patna BikesHero MotoCorp has registered a sales decline in Sep 2021 when compared YoY – But MoM, the company has posted an increase in sales
    World’s largest two wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp Sep 2021 sales report has been revealed. A total of 5.3 lakh two wheelers have been sold in Sep 2021. Of these, 5.05 lakh were sold in domestic market, while 25k were exported. Total motorcycle sales stood at 4.9 lakh while scooter sales were at 41k units in Sep 2021.
    Hero MotoCorp Sep 2021 Sales – YoY vs MoM
    In terms of YoY basis, Hero MotoCorp total sales have declined by almost 26%. Domestic sales are down by 28%, Motorcycle sales are down 26% and scooter sales are down 25%. What is in the green, are Hero MotoCorp exports – growing by a staggering 35% YoY.
    In terms of MoM basis, Hero MotoCorp sales have increased by an impressive 16%. Domestic numbers are up 17%, Motorcycle sales are up 16%, Scooter sales increased by 23% while exports too have increased, by 9%.
    Year to date sales are also in the green for Hero MotoCorp. From April 2021 to Sep 2021, total sales have crossed 24 lakh units. In the same period last year, sales were at 23.77 lakh units. Below is a detailed sales report of Hero MotoCorp for Sep 2021.
    Hero MotoCorp Sales Sep 2021
    Demand To Increase
    With the peak festive season upon us, Hero MotoCorp is optimistic regarding demand in the months to come. There are many reasons for this optimism. One of the most significant drivers is the company’s solid performance over the first few months of 2021. Another important factor in our outlook is that consumers are showing a real appetite for technological innovation.
    The company has taken advantage of this trend by updating tech and convenience features, which have already proven popular with consumers. We also expect demand to be boosted by consumer caution given recent global economic volatility and uncertainty following Covid-19 pandemic.
    New launches are planned next week. This includes updated Xpulse 200 4V, Xtreme Stealth Edition, Pleasure Plus X-Tec, etc. Hero MotoCorp functions optimally owing to its continually revamped range of products. All the while, efforts are made to improve market outreach. These factors combined with a more positive outlook from the public about the state of the economy means that there is more reason to be hopeful about how this year will go for them.
    The company is also continuing to see growth in different markets while staying committed to their core values and beliefs about hard work and reliability. Hero MotoCorp have been working closely with suppliers and they have been encouraged by a positive sales outlook. More

  • in

    Cool Versions of Boring Cars: Window Shop with Car and Driver

    This week’s viewer-submitted challenge was to find an interesting or cool version of an otherwise boring car. The budget was $50,000, and almost all the contestants played exceedingly to type. The only exception was contributor Jonathon Ramsey, who decided to use his European sabbatical as chance to buy a brand-new GR Yaris off a Spanish dealer lot. Would bearing the hot hatch crown in Europe and zero miles on the odo would be enough to sway the jury? Maybe in a just world.Senior editor Joey Capparella started with a second-gen Subaru Forester XT, then spent 50% of the purchase price on modifications to make it cool. His stiffest competition didn’t come from colleagues but the fact that Subaru made the even more interesting and cool Forester STI.Deputy testing director K.C. Colwell sourced a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII. Perhaps better than the WRX STI of the time but just as harsh, we revisited Car and Driver’s long-term test of the car back in the day. Apparently drivers over 40 tended to avoid it. With four of our five presenters over 40, there was a good chance voters would avoid it, too. Road & Track senior editor John Pearley Huffman outdid himself with a 1981 Ford Thunderbird Silver Heritage Edition. We’re still speechless, so it’s best you just watch him make the most questionable arguments since The Chewbacca Defense.Lastly, cars director Tony Quiroga went back to the past and to Germany via Italy with an all-wheel-drive Golf Rallye. The most expensive car in the episode was basically VW’s version of a Lancia Delta Integrale without any of the Integrale’s success, begging the question: is that actually cool?

    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More