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      Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Sidecar Custom Debuts – Vintage Masterpiece

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      Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 SidecarWhile the cruiser spirit of Super Meteor 650 has been retained, the bike itself has been completely transformedRoyal Enfield bikes are among the favourites for customization projects. The relatively simple architecture makes it easier to perform a wide variety of tweaks and enhancements. A recent example involves a Super Meteor 650 that has been completely transformed into a vintage cruiser bike. A vintage sidecar is another key highlight of this customization project.Super Meteor 650 Sidecar Custom – The ChallengeRoyal Enfield has been working with builders around the world to showcase the immense possibilities that exist with their bikes. This approach has been quite useful, as the company is working on a proactive strategy to target international markets.Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 SidecarThis time, a request was made to Kaichiro Kurosu to build a custom bike based on the Super Meteor 650. Kaichiro Kurosu is one of the leading custom builders in the world. His creations have been featured in various TV commercials and Hollywood movies.Kurosu was given full freedom to experiment on this customization project. The only condition put forth was to retain the soul of a cruiser. Kurosu agreed, and as he always wanted to work on a sidecar, this proved to be the perfect opportunity.Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 SidecarSuper Meteor 650 Sidecar – Customization detailsKurosu has created an entirely new custom main frame for this project. Only some of the stock frame sections have been used. It is apparent that the bike had to be completely taken apart for this customization project. Most of the stock parts have been replaced with custom units. It includes the headlamp, wheels, fuel tank, side panels, exhaust and tail section. The front fender has been completely removed, whereas the rear fender has been chopped off.Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 SidecarThis customization project has functionality built in, including that of the sidecar. An enhanced vintage look and feel has been achieved with 60-spoke 21-inch and 18-inch wheels at front and rear, respectively.Full functionality for the sidecar was achieved with the addition of an eccentric adjuster on the front axle. The frame of the sidecar is fully customized, designed and created by Mr. Kurosu. Steel tubes have been used for the frame.Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 SidecarThe sidecar gets a 19-inch wheel with 60 spokes. It has a spring suspension setup, comprising leaf springs and dampers. Materials like FRP with glass fibre have been used for creating the body of the sidecar. The sidecar seat has a quilted pattern and looks quite comfy. There’s a compact windscreen mounted at the front. The tail lamp and number plate are mounted on the rear, left section of the sidecar.There aren’t any changes to the engine in this customization project. Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 gets power from a 648cc, parallel twin, air-oil cooled SOHC engine. It delivers 47 PS and 52.3 Nm and is mated to a 6-speed constant mesh gearbox. More

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      Triumph 400 Range Gets First Ever Price Hike – How Much Dearer?

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      Triumph 400 RangeEven with this price hike, Triumph 400 range is still very competitively priced against rivals from Honda, KTM, TVS, BMW and Royal EnfieldFirst launched in 2023, around nine months ago, Triumph entered the Indian mainstream motorcycle segment with a mass market offering in the form of Speed 400. The Scrambler 400X was soon launched and both motorcycles boast aggressive price points when compared to their immediate rivals. For the first time, Triumph has announced a price hike for these bikes.Triumph 400 Range Gets First Ever Price HikeWith a strategic partnership with Bajaj Auto, legacy motorcycle manufacturer, Triumph, expanded its portfolio to incorporate smaller displacement and affordable motorcycles. With this, the company will touch more lives as the most affordable Triumph is now offered at a much lower price point than before.Speed 400 was launched at Rs. 2.33 lakh (ex-sh) and 2.23 lakh (ex-sh) introductory for the first 10,000 lucky buyers. Speaking of price, Triumph and Bajaj Auto announced a Rs. 1,500 price hike and is in effect immediately. Both Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X get the same Rs. 1,500 price hike on their sole standard variants.The new pricing now starts from Rs. 2,34,497 (ex-sh) for Speed 400 and Rs. 2,64,496 (ex-sh) for Scrambler 400X. Bajaj Auto or Triumph didn’t quote a reason for the price hike yet. But is highly likely due to rising input costs and inflation could be another reason. Since the price hike isn’t very significant, Triumph 400 range still maintain status quo of being the most VFM in their respective segments.Triumph Speed 400When launched nine months ago, Bajaj and Triumph made waves and were highly regarded for striking significantly competitive pricing. Even though the prices are hiked, value proposition still holds strong and hasn’t dropped one bit. Both Triumph 400 range of motorcycles (Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X) are still most competitively priced in their respective segments.Expanding the 400 lineupOwing to the success of Triumph 400 range, the company is now expanding this potent platform to incorporate more body styles. In that regard, Triumph has commenced testing of Thruxton 400, which is a semi-faired sporty motorcycle with retro charm. It aims to bring Triumph Thruxton’s iconic design to the masses.Triumph 400 range of motorcycles get a 398cc single cylinder DOHC 4V liquid-cooled engine that is capable of generating around 40 bhp and 38 Nm. This engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. Both Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X offer the highest price to performance ratio in their respective segments.New Triumph Thruxton 400 RenderSpeed 400 primarily rivals sporty neo-retro offerings like Honda CB300R and Hero Mavrick 440. However, the performance puts it against KTM 390 Duke, TVS Apache RTR 310 and BMW G 310 R. Scrambler 400X rivals the likes of Royal Enfield New Himalayan and KTM 390 Adventure.Also read – Royal Enfield New Himalayan long-term review. More

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      Bajaj Pulsar 400 First Official Teaser Ahead Of Launch – More Sporty

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      Bajaj Pulsar 400 Teaser OutUpcoming Pulsar 400 is expected to use Pulsar NS200’s perimeter chassis, whereas the engine will come from Dominar 400Bajaj is readying the all-new biggest Pulsar ever – the Pulsar 400. Enthusiasts can expect exhilarating rides across city streets and highways. Moreover, owning the bike will not create any major financial burden. Expected to be positioned below the Dominar, Pulsar 400 is likely to be the most affordable 40 hp, 400 cc bike.Bajaj Pulsar 400 First TeaserAhead of launch on 3rd May 2024, Bajaj has released the first official teaser of the upcoming Pulsar 400. Teaser gives us a sneak peek into the new design. Compared to the NS 250, the rear tyre hugger seems to be redesigned, likely to accommodate a fatter rear tyre.Bajaj Pulsar 400 Teaser OutFor the biggest Pulsar, Bajaj will ensure that it delivers a robust performance and gets a comprehensive range of features. The engine is likely to be borrowed from Dominar 400. The 373cc single cylinder engine is also currently in use with KTM 390 Adventure and RC 390.However, power and torque output is different for Dominar in comparison to the KTM bikes. On-board Dominar, the engine churns out 40 PS and 35 Nm. The KTM bikes have the engine in a higher state of tune, delivering 43.5 PS and 37 Nm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox.Bajaj Pulsar 400 Launch Teaser Out pic.twitter.com/G4qDXFNdLZ— RushLane (@rushlane) April 23, 2024A slip and assist clutch will be offered as standard with Pulsar 400. Quickshifter could be optional or offered with a top-spec variant. Talking about other hardware specifications, the chassis could be borrowed from the Pulsar NS200. The robust perimeter frame has proven credentials and can easily support higher capacity engines. It is likely to receive some additional tweaks and reinforcements to make it suitable for the biggest Pulsar.Bajaj Pulsar 400 RenderBajaj Pulsar 400 will be getting features such as USD front forks and a monoshock rear suspension. Both ends will have disc brakes, with dual-channel ABS as standard. A fully digital instrument console with Bluetooth will allow users to stay connected on the go. Pulsar 400 could also get features such as turn-by-turn navigation. All-LED lighting and an underbelly exhaust are likely.Bajaj Pulsar 400 pricingBajaj could announce an attractive, limited period launch offer for Pulsar 400. A sub-2 lakh pricing may be challenging, but not impossible. Especially, in case an initial price offer is launched. Bajaj will be looking to provide the best possible boost to the biggest Pulsar. And competitive pricing will play a key role in achieving that goal. A more realistic price band will be around Rs 2.0 lakh to Rs 2.10 lakh. This price band seems appropriate in view of the pricing of Dominar 400 that starts at Rs 2.31 lakh.Bajaj Pulsar 400 RenderWith Pulsar 400, the Pulsar range will evolve to its full potential. An interesting fact is that when Bajaj was planning to launch its 400cc bike, it had the option to use the Pulsar brand name. However, the Pulsar brand name at that time was associated with lower capacity bikes. As a result, a decision was taken in favour of an entirely new brand – the Dominar. It was expected that Dominar 400 would be a game changer in the sub-500cc motorcycle segment. But that hasn’t been the case. It remains to be seen if the Pulsar 400 can achieve a larger share in the sub-500cc segment. More

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      Hyundai Ioniq 5 Celebrates Earth Day With Green Credentials

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      Hyundai Ioniq 5 Celebrates Earth DayOn sale in India, Hyundai Ioniq 5 rivals Kia EV6, Volvo XC40 Recharge, BMW iX1 and the recently launched BYD SealOne of the world’s leading electric car manufacturers, Hyundai Motor, is celebrating Earth Day on April 22nd, today. The company has been at the forefront of electric vehicle revolution with multiple offerings across the world. In India, Ioniq 5 is the most celebrated electric vehicle from Hyundai and on this occasion, Hyundai demonstrates its allegiance to eco-friendly practices.Hyundai Ioniq 5 Celebrates Earth DayIoniq 5 is among the most popular premium electric vehicles sold in India. Owing to its CKD route striking lower taxes, Ioniq 5 comes with a lower price tag. Something we can’t say about other EVs. Most of the media coverage for Ioniq 5 concentrates on design, retro looks, cool party tricks, range and performance.However, very few people are aware of the many eco-conscious practices that Hyundai has essayed with Ioniq 5 that went unnoticed among the long list of its brilliant attributes. On Earth Day, let’s recall the eco-friendly materials and nature-inspired colours that Hyundai is offering with Ioniq 5 EV sold in India.Hyundai Ioniq 5 – Eco Processed LeatherEco-processed LeatherLeather processing industry uses oils derived from animal products in dyeing processes.  Extensive growth in leather industry results in increased demand for animal products raising ethical questions and having deep implications for the environment too. Hence, Hyundai is using dyes plant-derived flax seed oil with Ioniq 5’s interior.Hyundai Ioniq 5 – Flowers Turned To PaintFlowers Turned To PaintInstead of using chemicals, Hyundai Ioniq 5’s crash pad and door trims are finished with eco paint. These bio paints are extracted from pigments naturally found in flowers. The process of bio paint extraction mostly uses non-hazardous procedures too. For Ioniq 5’s interior, Hyundai uses pigments from rape flowers and corn.Hyundai Ioniq 5 – PaperettePaperetteSome of the touchpoints on Ioniq 5’s doors are crafted from a unique paperette material. This material is 100% recyclable paperette, sticking to an eco-friendly theme. Made from HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene), this paperette material has almost the same texture and lightness as traditional paper.Hyundai Ioniq 5 – Recycled BottlesRecycled Bottles Turned To FabricOne of the most common types of non-recyclable pollutants that are currently plaguing the earth is one-time-use plastic bottles. Hyundai is taking some of these bottles and recycling them into fabrics that go on Ioniq 5’s seatbacks and armrests. Around 32 bottles are recycled per Ioniq 5.Hyundai Ioniq 5 – Plant-waste-derived Headliner & CarpetPlant-waste-derived Headliner & CarpetOnce a crop is harvested, agricultural biowaste is often burnt in many parts of the world, rather than recycled. Hyundai is demonstrating the possibilities of recyclable biowaste with Ioniq 5. Car’s headliner and carpet fabrics include bio components extracted from biowastes of sugarcane and corn crops.Company’s advances to RE100The company recently revealed its holistic approach towards eco-friendly practices at their manufacturing facility and affirmed its commitment to RE100 (100% Renewable Energy). This way, Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) aligned its interests with eco-friendly and sustainable practices.HMIL has pledged to go carbon neutral shortly and has been working towards it. The company is achieving it through a holistic approach including smart energy management, reducing carbon emissions, water management, harmful substance management and expanding EV lineup. More

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      Top 10 Scooters FY 2024 – Activa, Ntorq, Ola S1, iQube, Burgman, Dio, RayZR, Pleasure

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      TVS iQubeTaking into account some of the best-sellers in the scooter segment, sales grew by 14.52% in FY24 period with sales of over 52 lakh unitsFollowing our earlier report on top 10 two wheeler sales in FY24, we now assess scooter sales in the same period. Double digit growth was seen as demand improved both across urban and rural markets. While most ICE models in this list have shown a YoY growth except for Honda Dio and Hero Pleasure, more particularly, it was electric scooters that recorded higher percentage  growth as was seen with both the TVS iQube and Ola S1.Top 10 Scooter Sales FY24 – Honda Activa Undisputed Segment LeaderTop 10 scooter sales in FY24 stood at 52,24,616 units, up from 45,62,346 units sold in FY23. This was a 14.52% YoY growth with a volume growth of 6,62,270 units. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has seen the highest sales for its Activa scooter in FY24. It was not only the highest selling scooter in the past fiscal but also the second best-selling two wheeler in the country after the Hero Splendor. Sales improved by 4.88% to 22,54,527 units in the FY24 period, up from 21,49,658 units sold in FY23.Top 10 Scooters FY 2024TVS Jupiter scooter also posted significant improvement in sales in FY24 by 15.81% YoY to 8,44,863 units up from 7,29,546 units sold in FY23. The Jupiter, with its host of attractive features, superb styling and outstanding performance, commands a 16.17% share on this list. At No.3 was the Suzuki Access scooter with 6,34,563 units sold in FY24, a YoY growth of 27.21% over 4,98,844 units sold in FY23. The facelifted Suzuki Access 125 has been spied on test and set to woo buyers with its better styling and new features.TVS had the Ntorq at No. 4 on this list with a 14.22% YoY growth in sales to 3,31,865 units, up from 2,90,539 units sold in FY23. This led to a 41,326 unit volume growth to command a 6.35% share. Posting a massive 96.47% YoY growth was the TVS iQube. Sales improved dramatically to 1,89,896 units in FY24, up from 96,654 units sold in FY23. Lower down the sales list was the Suzuki Burgman with a 44.51% YoY growth to 1,80,194 units in FY24, up from 1,24,691 units sold in FY23.Top 10 Scooters FY 2024Honda Dio suffered a YoY setback with a 32.63% decline in sales to 1,70,765 units in FY24 from 2,53,467 units sold in FY23 relating to a massive 82,467 unit dip in volumes. Honda Dio 125 comes with a price tag ranging between Rs.83,400 to Rs. 92,300.Ola Electric Ends FY24 with 115% YoY GrowthWhile Yamaha RayZR has seen a 52.95% YoY growth in FY24 to 1,47,092 units, up from 96,172 units sold in FY23, the Hero Pleasure has posted a 16.70% YoY decline in sales. Pleasure sales dipped to 1,41,604 units in FY24 from 1,69,984 units sold in FY23. This was a 28,380 unit volume decline.At No. 10 on this list but with a maximum YoY growth was the Ola S1 in the electric scooter segment. Retail sales improved by 115.48% in FY24 to 3,29,237 units, up from 1,52,791 units sold in FY23 relating to a volume growth of 1,76,446 units and a share of 6.30% on this top 10 scooter sales list. More

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      BYD Seal EV First Drive Review – Seal The Deal Of The Day!

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      BYD Seal EV First Drive Review2024 BYD Seal EV rivals sedans like Audi A4, BMW 2 Series, Merc A Class Limousine, Toyota Camry, Skoda Superb and BEVs like Volvo XC40 Recharge, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6Being an automotive enthusiast, I always fancied saloon cars (sedans) owing to their iconic three-box design. There’s something special about driving a proper sedan and it always puts you in a good mood. That’s exactly what happened to us when we drove the new BYD Seal EV around Delhi NCR at the media drive event. Here’s our first impression of this vehicle and why we think it is the deal of the day.BYD Seal EV First Impressions ReviewIf there’s one electric vehicle manufacturer who probably gives Tesla nightmares, it is BYD. Despite being a global EV juggernaut, BYD is relatively a new brand in India. The company has E6 MPV and Atto 3 SUV on sale in India and the portfolio was recently expanded with the launch of Seal EV. It falls under company’s ‘Ocean’ lineup of vehicles. This electric sedan brings a luxury proposition at an affordable price despite being a fully electric vehicle. Hence packing all vital ingredients to emerge as the ‘Deal of the Day’. But is it, though? Let’s take a look.BYD Seal FasciaSeal EV is offered in a choice of 3 variants. Its mid-spec Premium variant brings amazing value proposition to the table. Since we are talking about variants, let’s get pricing and specs out of the way, shall we? BYD Seal EV price starts from Rs. 41 lakh for base Dynamic, Rs. 45.55 lakh for mid-spec Premium and Rs. 53 lakh for top-spec Performance variants (all prices ex-sh).BYD Seal EV First Drive ReviewBase Dynamic packs a 61.44 kWh battery, 202 bhp and 310 Nm RWD single motor, 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds and a NEDC range of 510 km. Premium variant offers a larger 82.56 kWh battery, 310 bhp and 360 Nm, RWD single motor, 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and a NEDC range of 650 km (highest in the lineup). Top-spec Performance variant has the same 82.56 kWh battery and 310 bhp and 360 Nm rear motor as Premium. However, Performance variant gets a 215 bhp and 310 Nm front motor taking total system output to 525 bhp and 670 Nm. Range is slightly lower at 580 km but the acceleration is insane hitting 100 km/h mark in just 3.8 seconds.BYD Seal RearIs Pricing Justified?These are very impressive numbers and lend BYD Seal EV a multitude of titles in India.1. Most affordable electric sedan in India (non hatchback-derived).2. Most affordable luxury sedan in India.3. Most affordable rear-wheel-drive sedan in India (EV & ICE).4. Most affordable all-wheel-drive sedan in India (EV & ICE)5. Most affordable high-performance vehicle in India (EV & ICE).6. Most affordable dual-motor EV in India.BYD Seal EV First Drive ReviewThese are some of the titles BYD has bagged for itself with Seal EV. BYD Seal offers tremendous value for what it costs. If we take luxury sedans like Mercedes-Benz A-Class Limousine, Audi A4, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe along with mainstream sedans like Toyota Camry and Skoda Superb, they all cost more than BYD Seal. Also, none of them are fully electric, none of them are anywhere near as performant and none of them offer at least RWD as standard. BYD Seal annihilates its competition if we bring RTO taxes and maintenance costs of the aforementioned ICE and Hybrid vehicles.BYD Seal FrunkComparing apples to apples, only real rival for BYD Seal is BMW i4 which costs significantly more and offers significantly less performance than Seal’s top-spec Performance variant. Now the question arises, why go for legacy brands? Does BYD Seal have a lot of cost-cutting measures to strike an attractive price point? Answer is, no. We’re happy to report that the best part about BYD Seal is that it works with no surprises and idiocies. There were very few “Huh” moments with BYD Seal too, which is commendable at this price point.BYD Seal EV First Drive ReviewDesign & QualityBYD Seal is a handsome-looking machine. The aerodynamic shape with 0.219 Cd might be slightly off-putting in pictures but looks much better in person. Car’s design grew on me with time, especially in the lovely Cosmos Black shade we had. Headlights are sleek and remind me of a Porsche Taycan and a Toyota Crown or a Prius. Actual ‘Double U’ lighting elements on the inside along with ‘Ripple’ LED elements in bumper stay true to its ‘Ocean’ theme. Similar Ripple design attributes are seen on front quarter panels too.BYD Seal ‘Ripple’ Aesthetics From Ocean Range19-inch aero alloy wheels look very swanky and side profile is swoopy and curvaceous. There are interesting creases on doors and bonnet lending underlying aggression and muscle. Rear gets a ‘Boundless’ LED connected tail light design. Rear bumper gets a large diffuser (real) like on a sportscar which must be contributing to the overall aero performance. BYD uses double-glazed glass with front windshield and windows for sound-proofing and they work. The silver-plated glass roof boasts 99% UV isolation and a large 1.9 m2 viewing area.BYD Seal EV First Drive ReviewStepping in, you will first be greeted by metallic scuff plates at all door sills. Aiding ingress and egress for driver is a welcome function where seat moves back making it easy to climb in and has a memory function too. Once you’re in, swooping lines across the interiors and lovely quilted leather seats captivate you. These seats are well-bolstered and thoroughly hug occupant’s body. Floating centre console has a gear selector along with start/stop, parking brake, a few telephony and climate control buttons and dials to select driving modes.BYD Seal Shoulder LineCabin lighting is LEDs and there is soothing ambient lighting on the inside as well. Lights for vanity mirrors were diffused LEDs which feel upmarket. Overall ambience from BYD Seal’s interior is top-notch for the price. BYD has used soft-touch plastics extensively and almost all touch points had them. There is suede material on the dashboard which is unique in this price bracket. BYD doesn’t call it Alcantara (maybe there was no deal with Alcantara brand). Touchpoints lower down the centre console were also soft to touch, which is just nice. Headliner is finished with premium knitted material too.BYD Seal EV First Drive ReviewSteering wheel and upholstery were clad with real leather. No “leather with an asterisk” nonsense here. All the buttons and rollers felt very premium and had a damped feeling to them, like a proper luxury car. BYD Seal EV gets felt lining inside the damped glovebox and storage bin under front centre armrest for a premium feel. Carpeting is also of premium quality and extends all the way till the car’s cargo area.BYD Seal EV Infotainment ScreenFeatures & PracticalityBYD’s rotating 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system supports wireless Android Auto and wired Apple CarPlay. Premium Dynaudio audio system gets a subwoofer at the back for a much fuller sound. Voice control yielded a fast response and ‘Hi BYD’ command triggers the system. A 10.25-inch colour TFT screen takes care of car’s instrumentation and incorporates speedo, SOC, DTE, ADAS-related info, performance metrics and more.BYD Seal EV First Drive ReviewWhere space and practicality are concerned, BYD Seal EV offers a lot of room for both front and rear occupants. I am 182 cm long individual and I didn’t face any issues with legroom, headroom and shoulder room at the back or front. Seat ergonomics is spot on too, striking the right amount of comfort and support. Practicality-wise, Seal EV gets a 400L boot with wide and large hatch-style opening tailgate. There is a 50L frunk (front trunk) which is reasonably practical. All the door packets, glovebox and storage under front armrest can house water bottles and other paraphernalia without breaking a sweat. Below floating centre console, we have additional storage space with a couple of USB sockets.BYD Seal Glass RoofFeatures-wise, BYD Seal is packed to the brim. We get LED lighting all around, 19-inch wheels, keyless entry, pop-out flush door handles, electrically adjustable front seats with 4-way lumbar support for driver’s seat, a HUD, ventilated front seats, auto-dimming IRVM, rear AC vents, front and rear armrest, dual-zone climate control, PM 2.5 air purifier, NFC on ORVMs, heated ORVMs, twin wireless mobile chargers on centre console, steering mounted controls, cruise control, electrically operated rear tailgate with soft-close feature, hydraulic bonnet struts, full-fledged puncture repair kit among others.BYD Seal EV First Drive ReviewWhere safety is concerned, BYD is offering 6 airbags, 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, TPMS, TCS, auto hold, hill hold, ABS EBD and a host of ADAS suite. Speaking of ADAS suite, BYD Seal EV gets Adaptive Cruise Control, Auto Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Emergency Lane Keeping Assist, Intelligent Cruise Control, Predictive Collision Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition, Speed Limit Control, Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Braking, Blind Spot Detection, High Beam Assist and Driver Attention Warning.BYD Seal DashboardRide, Handling & PerformanceBYD Seal EV is based on the upgraded e-Platform 3.0 architecture with Cell To Body technology. Tightly integrating battery into vehicle’s floor improves vehicle safety, stability, handling and performance. The car feels rigid and stiff and there is no point of concern with BYD’ impeccable engineering. High-strength materials used in vehicular engineering have resulted in a full-fat 5-star crash safety rating awarded by Euro NCAP.When I first saw the 45 profile tyres on Seal, I was sceptical about car’s ride quality. However, BYD Seal EV surprised me with commendable composure, offering the right balance between ride comfort and sporty handling. Front double wishbone setup and rear 5-link setup with adaptive dampers and forged aluminium swingarm on top-spec model proved to be quite impressive. There is minimal body roll on corners and nose-dive on braking. Car stays pretty composed, thanks to its impeccable 50:50 weight distribution.BYD Seal WheelsSeal EV gracefully absorbed most of the bumps and undulations our Indian roads could throw at it without any thunks. That said, I wish Seal EV packed a 55-profile tyre to prevent damage to wheels in worst-case scenarios. The 145 mm ground clearance is a point of concern, however. We didn’t scrape car’s underbelly on speed breakers. We were tacking a steeply stepped side intersection in Delhi NCR and it slightly scraped the car’s underbelly. Again, a 55-profile tyre would have made all the difference here.235/45-R19 XX tyres on BYD Seal offered great grip. Car didn’t lose traction while putting the power down from a standstill. Top-spec Performance variant gets iTAC (Intelligent Torque Adaption Control) which predicts wheel speed in advance depending on road conditions. Despite being a 4.8m long vehicle, BYD Seal EV has a pretty manageable 5.7m turning radius. Overall, BYD Seal EV feels athletic and is very confidence-inspiring and sure-footed. In and around Delhi NCR, I was searching for gaps in the traffic to launch this like a missile and it never disappointed me once.BYD SealConclusionNo car is perfect. Suppose we take BYD Seal EV for example. In that case, it lacks wireless Apple CarPlay, it doesn’t have felt lining in door pockets like VW Passat had, Android Auto doesn’t work when infotainment screen is in portrait mode and there is no sun blind for the glass roof and sun shades for rear windows, which is not a good idea for a hot and sunny market like India. Front AC vents can only be positioned from the screen or choose one of the swing modes. Driver-side air vents are smaller and didn’t move up and down, chilling my hands. Ingress and egress for tall individuals into driver seat could have been more streamlined.At this point, I’m just nit-picking because there are no deal breakers with BYD Seal EV. While there are a few minor criticisms, BYD more than makes up for it with an unbeatable price-to-performance ratio. The car poses incredible value for what it offers and is a very unique luxury proposition for the price. To answer our question, BYD Seal EV is the ‘Deal of the Day’ . If you are a prospective buyer, BYD Seal EV should be on your shortlist. More

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      Royal Enfield Sales Breakup March 2024 – Classic, Hunter, Meteor, Bullet, 650 Twins, Himalayan

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      Image – AniketRoyal Enfield has posted YoY growth in domestic markets with the Classic 350 and Hunter 350 bringing in most sales while its exports suffered serious setbackRoyal Enfield experienced a surge in demand in March 2024. The total sales, combining domestic and exports, rose to 75,551 units, marking a notable increase from 72,235 units in March 2023, showcasing a volume growth of 3,316 units. The company is poised for further expansion with plans to introduce the new Guerrilla 450, among five new models scheduled for launch in the current fiscal year.RE Domestic Sales Overview for March 2024In analyzing the company’s domestic sales for the previous month, a significant year-on-year growth of 10.29% was observed, totalling 66,044 units compared to 59,884 units sold in March 2023. However, month-on-month sales experienced a slight decline of 2.76% from February 2024.Royal Enfield Sales Breakup March 2024Royal Enfield’s 350cc range emerged as the frontrunner in the Indian market. The Classic 350 led the sales chart with 25,508 units sold last month, indicating a 4.26% year-on-year growth. Despite commanding a substantial 38.62% share, the Classic 350 experienced a 9.90% month-on-month decline in sales.The Hunter 350 witnessed exceptional demand, boasting a 45.07% year-on-year and 29.53% month-on-month growth, with 15,702 units sold in March 2024. Conversely, the Bullet 350 faced a 5.91% year-on-year and 19.23% month-on-month decline in sales, totalling 11,262 units. Notably, the introduction of new colour schemes failed to significantly boost Bullet 350 sales.Royal Enfield Sales Breakup March 2024Furthermore, the Meteor 350 showcased remarkable sales growth, rising by 44.31% year-on-year and 10.31% month-on-month to 8,963 units. In the higher displacement segment, Royal Enfield’s Himalayan (2,216 units), 650 Twins (2,175 units), and Super Meteor (218 units) were notable performers, with only the 650 Twins witnessing increased year-on-year and month-on-month sales in March 2024.Royal Enfield Exports Breakup March 2024Royal Enfield Exports in March 2024In contrast to domestic sales, Royal Enfield experienced a 35.03% year-on-year decline in exports in March 2024. The export volume decreased from 12,351 units in March 2023 to 9,507 units in the current month. However, there was an 18.64% month-on-month improvement from February 2024.Global markets displayed a preference for larger motorcycles, with the Himalayan leading exports at 2,667 units, marking a significant 340.10% year-on-year growth and a 70.96% month-on-month increase. The RE Meteor 350 also garnered attention internationally, with 1,816 units shipped, reflecting a 10.66% year-on-year improvement and a substantial 45.16% month-on-month growth.While year-on-year sales declined for models like the Classic 350, Super Meteor, Hunter 350, and 650 Twins, each saw remarkable month-on-month growth in exports, except for the Super Meteor. Additionally, Bullet 350 exports surged by 24.61% month-on-month to 400 units in March 2024. More

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      Top 10 Two Wheelers FY24 Vs FY23 – Splendor, Activa, Shine, Pulsar, Jupiter, Access

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      Hero Splendor 125cc Matte BlackTwo-wheeler sales in India increased by 11.48% Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) in FY2024 led by Hero Splendor and Honda ActivaFollowing our earlier report on two wheeler retail sales in FY2024, we now assess the top 10 models that garnered the most attention. New and updated models, improved market trends, favorable government policies and improved rural purchases pushed up sales in the past fiscal.Top 10 2 Wheeler Sales FY2024Two wheeler sales grew by 11.48% YoY in FY24 to 1,24,18,128 units, up from 1,11,38,889 units sold in FY23. This was a volume growth of 12,79,239 units. The world’s largest two wheeler maker, Hero MotoCorp had the Splendor as its best-selling model in FY24 while it was also the company’s top selling model through each of the 12 months. Splendor sales improved by 1.15% YoY to 32,93,324 units in the FY24 period, a growth of 37,580 units over 32,55,744 units sold in FY23. The Splendor currently commands a 26.51% share on this top 10 list.Top 10 Two Wheelers FY24 Vs FY23Honda Activa was the next top selling two wheeler in FY24 with 22,54,537 units sold during the 12 month period, a 4.88% growth when compared to 21,49,658 units sold in FY23. Currently holding an 18.16% share in the top 10 list, the Activa could soon receive an electric variant as most two wheeler makers in India are exploring this route to boost sales. Also from the Honda stables was the Shine. Sales of this commuter bike increased by 22.66% on a YoY basis to 14,82,957 units in FY24 from 12,09,025 units sold in FY23. This related to a YoY volume growth of 2,73,932 units.Bajaj Pulsar has seen a notable increase in sales in FY24 to 14,10,974 units, up 37.11% when compared to 10,29,057 units sold in FY23. The company is continually expanding its Pulsar range either with new models or updating existing models. Recently it was the 2024 Pulsar N250 which has been launched with several feature updates. Soon we will get Pulsar 400.Top 10 Two Wheelers FY24 Vs FY23TVS Jupiter, Suzuki Access, Bajaj PlatinaReporting marginally lower YoY sales was the Hero HF Deluxe which dipped 1.70% t0 10,34,178 units in FY24 down from 10,52,043 units sold in FY23. Lower down the sales list was the TVS Jupiter with a 15.81% hike in sales in FY24 to 8,44,863 units, up from 7,29,546 units sold in FY23. This was volume growth of 1,15,317 units with the Jupiter commanding a 6.80% share on this list.Suzuki Access scooter has posted a 27.21% YoY improvement in sales to 6,34,563 units in FY24. The new Suzuki Access 125 facelift has just been detailed with a host of improved features and updated technology that will allow it to compete even better with rivals such as the Honda Activa 125, TVS Jupiter 125 and Hero Destini 125.While Bajaj Platina sales dipped to 5,02,486 units in FY24, sales of TVS XL were up 9.11 percent to 4,81,803 units on a YoY basis. It was the TVS Raider that has noted the most YoY growth in FY24 by  as much as 99.86% to 4,78,443 units, up from 2,39,388 units sold in FY23. More