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    Mercedes-Benz Working on EV with More Than 620 Miles of Range

    A new Mercedes-Benz EV prototype called the EQXX is coming soon and promises a driving range of over 620 miles per charge.It will use an energy-dense battery and should be highly aerodynamic to maximize efficiency.Mercedes says this technology will be used in a future production compact EV model.Mercedes-Benz is preparing to launch a new EV prototype called the EQXX to push the boundaries of EV driving range. The company claims that the EQXX will be able to go more than 620 miles on a single charge using new, more energy-dense battery technology and an aerodynamic shape to maximize efficiency. The company also stresses that it hasn’t simply increased the size of the battery pack in order to increase range, promising that the pack will be offered in a compact production model in the future.Efficiency is the ultimate goal of the EQXX, as Mercedes is aiming for it to achieve 6 miles per kWh at highway speeds, or somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 MPGe. At that rate of efficiency, the battery would still need to be larger than 100.0-kWh in order to achieve those big range numbers Benz is claiming. Preview images don’t show much, but we expect the EQXX to have a highly aerodynamic shape and be low to the ground.

    Currently, Mercedes-Benz’s longest-range model is the EQS sedan, which claims a range of 435 miles on the European testing cycle from its 107.8-kWh battery. We don’t yet have a U.S.-specific EPA range rating for the EQS, but this model is scheduled to come to our shores soon. The Tesla Model S Long Range is rated at 405 miles by the EPA, and we achieved 320 miles in our 75-mph real-world highway test.Look for more information to come on the EQXX within the next few months as Mercedes reveals more about this experimental model.
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    SSC Finally Admits 1750-HP Tuatara Did Not Break 300 MPH

    SSC has finally admitted that its Tuatara supercar did not reach the originally claimed speeds of 331 or 301 mph during its top-speed run in Nevada last year. In a post on Instagram, the company said that it will keep striving to officially break the 300-mph barrier. The Tuatara is powered by a 1750-hp twin-turbocharged 5.9-liter V-8 engine, and it averaged 282.9 mph in a subsequent run last year in Florida. Last year, Shelby Supercar’s (SSC) Tuatara, a 1750-hp twin-turbo V-8–powered supercar, claimed a world production-car speed record with an average speed of 316.11 mph. After controversy that the video of the record was false, and another failed attempt to reach those speeds, SSC is finally officially admitting that it did not hit those speeds in its initial run.
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    “We would like to acknowledge officially that we did not reach the originally claimed speeds of 331 mph or even 301 mph in October of 2020,” the company said in a post to Instagram. “We were truly heartbroken as a company to learn that we did not reach this feat, and we are in an ongoing effort to break the 300 mph barrier transparently, officially, and undoubtedly.”

    Shortly after the internet frenzy saying the video was false, SSC took another run at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. There, the Tuatara averaged 282.9 mph on two runs, but it still didn’t approach 300 mph. The company wanted to take another attempt at the record in April, but the car was damaged after its carrier flipped. The Tuatara is powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.9-liter flat-plane-crank V-8 engine that produces 1750 horsepower and 1341 pound-feet of torque with E85 and revs to 8800 rpm. It uses a seven-speed robotic-controlled hydraulic, paddle-shifted manual transmission. SSC says that it isn’t done chasing the speed record, yet, and it wants to do it officially this time. We should be hearing about its next attempt at the title soon.
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    Benelli’s Parent Company Unveils New 350cc Fully Faired Motorcycle

    QJ Motor’s SAI 350QJ Motor Sai 350 gets a fairly simple yet aggressive design which broke covers at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year for the first time
    Benelli’s parent company, QJ Motor has started dispatching its upcoming faired motorcycle Sai 350 to dealerships across China. A pre-production Concept of the same was first revealed at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year. Additionally, a couple of months earlier, a leaked patent image of the upcoming superbike was floating around the internet.
    The design leaked in the patent image and showcased at the Beijing Motor Show is in line with the final production-spec model which has arrived at dealerships. From the looks of it, the styling of Sai 350 is reminiscent of its Japanese supersport counterparts.
    Sporty Design
    Upfront the bike gets a sharp fascia complemented by a short visor and vertical LED strip in between. The twin-beam LED headlamp gives the bike an aggressive appeal commonly seen in contemporary sports bikes. It further gets accentuated with a muscular fuel tank and extended shrouds. The front end is reminiscent of BMW S 1000 RR whereas its point tail section with high-set scooped panels resembles Yamaha R15 V3.0.
    Air scoops at both front and rear ends of the motorcycle make it aerodynamically enhanced. The bike sports contrasting body panels that extend from the rear edges of the headlights to divide the fairing into distinct upper and lower sections. The aggressive styling of the bike is complemented by a committed riding posture with a clip-on handlebar and rear-set footpegs. Overall, the motorcycle looks like a proper sports bike.
    QJ Motor’s SAI 350
    Well Equipped
    Like most other sports bikes in this space, Sai 350 is fairly well-kitted. It features an all-LED lighting setup, backlit switchgear, a USB charging port and a hazard light switch. The bike also flaunts a fully coloured digital instrument console which comes with two light-sensing display modes, a tyre pressure display function and Bluetooth connectivity with smartphone screen projection function.
    Engine & Hardware Specifcations
    Coming to its specifications, Sai 350 is powered by a 353cc twin-cylinder which kicks out 36.7 bhp at 9000rpm and 31 Nm at 7000rpm. In comparison, TVS Apache RR 310 is just 3 horses and 4 Nm shorter than the Chinese counterpart despite being less in displacement and a single-cylinder motor. However, Sai 350 misses out on multiple riding models unlike RR 310.
    Hardware configurations of Sai 350 feature a suspension setup comprising a chunky USD fork at front and a mono-shock at rear attached to an aluminium swingarm. Braking duties are handled by twin 250mm discs up front with axial calipers, and a single 240mm disc at rear. These are assisted by a dual-channel ABS as standard.
    It is well known that premium motorcycles from QJ Motor are rebranded as Benelli for international markets. The same might not be the case with new Sai 350. In India, Benelli has plans to launch the new 302R instead.

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    2022 Yamaha R15 V4 Spied Testing In India – Gets New Front Styling

    Image for reference
    Currently, Yamaha YZF R15 V3.0 is priced starting at Rs 1.54 lakh (ex-showroom)
    Yamaha R15 is a go-to machine for everyone seeking an entry-level sports bike. The motorcycle is currently in its third generation now and still remains an instant crowd puller. Hence, every time it is on the news, it creates a buzz in the market. In this instance, the news is as big as it can get for R15 fans.
    It appears that Yamaha has finally started testing the upcoming fourth generation R15 in India. A video uploaded on YouTube by Abhinav Bhatt indicates the same. The recent spy video was reportedly shot near New Delhi in which a couple of test mules can be seen wrapped under full camouflage.
    New R15 V4 Spy Video
    Since both prototypes are in the move, it is difficult to get a hold of a clear image of its design. The faired superbike retains its upright tail section as well as the vertically oriented LED headlights with split pillion grab rails acting as winglets flanked on both sides from the current-gen R15 V3.0.
    The most drastic update in the new generation model is expected to be the redesigned front fairing which could provide the new R15 a fresh appeal from its front and side angle. Below is the latest spy video, showing the new Yamaha R15 V4 on test in India for the first time.
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    The front face seems heavily revised and seems to draw inspiration from its elder sibling R7 which also received a major upgrade earlier this year. Unlike the dual-LED headlamp setup of the current R15, the upcoming new-gen R15 will feature a single-pod LED headlamp with integrated LED DRLs.
    We get to spot a riding posture that looks just as committed as the current R15 thanks to small clip-on handlebars and a higher seat with footpegs positioned slightly towards the rear. The bike will continue to offer a split seat setup while the pillion sits quite high due to a raised tail section. Most of the other features are expected to remain similar to the current model as well.
    Expected Specs & Features
    The new-gen R15 will continue to be powered by the same 155cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine which is paired with a six-speed gearbox with a slipper and assist clutch as standard. This powertrain in its present state returns an output of 18.5bhp and 14.1 Nm of peak torque. Output figures are unlikely to change in the upcoming model. This engine gets Variable Valve Actuation (VVA), which optimises power delivery throughout the rev-range.
    As for cycle parts, we do hope Yamaha provides the new-gen R15 with USD forks at front just like the current international-spec model. However, the test models did not show signs of USD front forks which could be a huge bummer. More details are expected to come our way in the near future. More

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    New Hero Maestro Edge 125 Launched – LED Headlamp, Bluetooth, Digital Speedo

    2021 Hero Maestro EdgeHero MotoCorp offers updated Maestro Edge 125 at a starting price of Rs 72,250 and goes up against TVS Ntorq 125
    Hero MotoCorp first launched its premier scooter brand Maestro in India back in 2015 along with the Duet. While the latter has been discontinued since April last year, the Maestro Edge brand continues to be a strong seller for the two-wheeler company. The scooter is sold in two engine configurations- 110cc and 125cc.
    The latter made its debut in February 2020. The largest two-wheeler manufacturer has now updated the 125cc iteration of Maestro Edge. It comes with mild cosmetic updates which includes new body graphics and colour options. It also gets new features.
    Updated Styling
    Overall design is retained as it gets the same design from the current model. There are subtle feature upgrades such LED headlight, a sportier front apron and sporty colour combo which make the scooter look more attractive.
    It will continue to feature 12-inch black alloy wheels and a textured single-piece seat. In terms of features it gets first-in-segment projector LED Headlamp, fully digital speedometer, Bluetooth connectivity with call alerts and turn-by-turn navigation, Hero Connect and new sharper design features.
    2021 Hero Maestro Edge
    Available in exciting new colors at Hero MotoCorp customer touch-points across the country, the Maestro Edge 125 is attractively priced at Rs. 72,250/- (Drum variant), Rs. 76,500/- (Disc variant) and Rs. 79,750 (Connected variant). All prices are Ex-Showroom, Delhi.
    Specifications & Features
    There would be no changes in terms of its specifications. It will be powered by a 124cc single-cylinder air-cooled motor that is capable of producing 9 bhp at 7,000rpm and peak torque of 10.4 Nm at 5,500rpm.
    This unit is paired with a V-Matic CVT gearbox. In terms of hardware, suspension duties are handled by telescopic forks upfront and a mono-shock at rear. Braking is carried out by drum brakes at both ends as standard with an option for a disc brake at front.
    2021 Hero Maestro Edge
    Other features on offer include an external fuel filler cap, under-seat USB charging, Hero’s Integrated Braking System and i3s engine start/stop system. Maestro Edge 125 is offered in three trims- standard, front disc and Stealth Black, the last one being an additional colour variant with a front disc. The scooter is offered in six standard colour options including Pearl Fadeless White, Matte Red, Matte Vernier Grey, Matte Techno Blue, Matte Brown, and Prismatic Purple.
    Malo Le Masson, Head of Strategy and Global Product Planning, Hero MotoCorp, said, “The Maestro Edge 125 has been a key player in the 125cc scooter segment. In this latest avatar, we have sharpened its ‘Edge’ further with LED Projector headlamp, Digital Speedometer, Turn-by-Turn Navigation and Bluetooth connectivity. This scooter has it all. These upgrades are part of our overall portfolio push to provide more technology and features to our customers.” More

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    Ola Electric Scooter 10 Colour Options Officially Revealed

    Ola Electric Scooter ColoursThere could be significant demand for Ola electric scooter, as petrol prices touch new highs
    With multiple best-in-class and segment-first features, Ola electric scooter could provide a major boost to electric two-wheeler segment. Ola Electric has been executing its plans at a fast pace. Phase I of its plant in Tamil Nadu is expected to be completed soon.
    When all phases are complete, the manufacturing facility will be capable of producing 10 million units per year. In view of the huge capacity, it is apparent that Ola has plans to take its electric scooter to global markets as well.
    Bookings are now open for the scooter for Rs 499. Interested folks can visit Ola Electric website to place their booking. With its massive production capacity, it is hoped that customers won’t have to wait long to get delivery. Ola will not have a dealer network, and will be delivering their scooters direct to the home of the buyer.
    Ola electric scooter colours
    Ola electric scooter is based on Etergo Appscooter, which is manufactured by Netherlands-based Etergo BV. The company was acquired by Ola Electric last year in May. By using an existing product, Ola Electric has been able to significantly reduce its time to market. Required changes have been introduced for the scooter to make it suitable for Indian ride conditions and match user preferences.
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    It will be offered in a choice of 10 colour options, which have now been officially revealed. Focused on utility, Ola electric scooter has a sober design. Body panels are largely plain and don’t have any fancy graphics or other styling bits.
    The scooter can be best described as compact and cute. The latter comes largely from the droid-inspired front apron that has dual-LED headlamp setup. Integrated U-shaped tail lamp and turn indicators at the rear is another differentiating factor.
    Ola electric scooter specs and features
    Although details about battery pack and electric motor have not been revealed, Ola has said that its scooter will have segment-leading range. If we talk about rivals like Ather 450X, TVS iQube and Bajaj Chetak, all of these have claimed range of less than 100 km.
    We can also get an idea based on available information that Ola electric scooter can be charged to 50% in around 18 minutes. This adds 75km to the range. So, the full range at 100% charge could be around 150 km.
    Talking about features, Ola electric scooter is equipped with app-based keyless entry, full-LED lighting, disc brakes at the front, fast charging capability and biggest-in-class boot space. The scooter will also get a range of internet connected smart features.
    Ola is expected to be competitively priced, which will motivate more customers to switch to electric. With its advanced manufacturing facility, Ola should be able to reduce production costs and pass on the benefits to its customers. Price will be revealed at the time of launch. More

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    2021 Yamaha Fascino 125cc Launch Price Rs 70k – Gets Bluetooth Features

    2021 Yamaha Fascino HybridYamaha Fascino 125 competes against the likes of Honda Activa 125, Hero Destini 125, Maestro Edge 125 and TVS NTorq 125
    Yamaha may not have an extensive range of scooters nor are they instant crowd pullers but like all machines from the Japanese bikemaker, they are reliable and easy to drive. The company recently updated Fascino 125 FI with some new features on board and now revealed the updated prices.
    The 125cc scooter is now offered at a starting price of Rs. 70,000 and goes up to Rs. Rs 76,530 (both prices ex-showroom) for the top-spec disc brake variant. Yamaha retails four variants of Fascino 125 namely Standard Drum brake, Dlx – Drum Brake, Standard – Disc Brake and Dlx – Disc Brake.
    It is offered in nine colour options in total including Vivid Red, Vivid Red Special, Matte Black Special, Suave Copper, Metallic Black, Cyan Blue, Cool Blue Metallic, Yellow Cocktail and Dark Matte Blue.
    Fascino Specs
    The scooter derives its power from a 125cc single-cylinder air-cooled fuel-injected motor that returns an output of 8 bhp at 6500rpm and a peak torque of 9.7 Nm at 5000rpm. While output figures might be very modest, at a nimble 99 kilos, the motor certainly does not feel any strain.
    2021 Yamaha Fascino Hybrid
    Suspension duties are handled by telescopic forks at front and a mono-shock at rear while anchorage is handled by a 190mm disc or a drum unit upfront, along with a drum at rear supported by CBS as standard. It rides on 12-inch front and 10-inch rear alloy wheels shod by 90-section front and 110-section rear tubeless tyres respectively.
    Features on offer
    As far as features go, the 125cc motor is equipped with Yamaha’s Blue Core technology which features a silent starter. Additionally, the scooter has recently been equipped with a hybrid technology featuring a Smart Motor Generator (SMG) System. The SMG acts as an electric motor to give a power assist when accelerating from a stop, thus, reducing insecurity caused by the wobble during start-outs during stop-and-go traffic or uphill climbs.
    The power assist system is cancelled three seconds after starting or when the throttle is cut back or when the engine rpm exceeds the prescribed level. This technology helps in conserving 16 percent more fuel. In addition, Yamaha is now offering a new digital instrument cluster that is compatible with Bluetooth enabled Yamaha Motorcycle Connect X app. This feature allows the rider to access a host of information such as Riding History, Locate My Vehicle, call and text alerts, etc.
    Other features include a multi-function key with seat opener function, a side-stand engine cut off, a foldable convenience hook, an optional under-seat USB charger, an LED headlamp (for top-spec variant only) and an idle start-stop system. However, it misses out on under-seat storage lighting. More

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    Audi e-tron Electric SUV Launch Price From Rs 1 Cr – Range 264 To 484 Kms

    Audi e-tron electric SUV India launchAudi E-Tron will lock its horns with Mercedes Benz EQC and the upcoming Jaguar I-Pace
    Audi has launched the company’s first ever fully electric vehicle- E-Tron SUV in India. A total of 3 electric SUVs are on offer under the e-tron range. These are e-tron 50, e-tron 55 and e-tron Sportback 55. Price starts from Rs 1 crore and goes all the way to Rs 1.17 crore. All prices are ex-sh.
    These SUVs are currently being manufactured at the company’s facility in Brussels, Belgium and will be made available in India as a CBU product. Below are the detailed prices of the new Audi electric SUVs for India.

    Audi e-tron Electric
    Price (ex-sh)

    e-tron 50
    Rs 99.99 Lakh

    e-tron 55
    Rs 1.16 Cr

    e-tron Sportback 55
    Rs 1.17 Cr

    Exterior Styling
    In the front is a blanked out single-frame octagonal-shaped front grille in gray colour with vertical slats. It receives a pair of LED headlamps with Audi’s Matrix LED technology which are flanked by integrated DRLs on both ends. The SUV rolls on 20-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels and gets a sloping roofline.
    The exterior wing mirrors are probably the highlight of the car’s exterior which displays the rear image on an OLED screen placed between the dashboard and door panel using a small camera. Its rear end flaunts a pair of LED taillights connected by an illuminated stripe across the boot lid. Other notable highlights include a roof-mounted spoiler, a chrome-embellished diffuser plate and a shark-fin antenna.
    Audi e-tron Specs
    Interior & Features On Offer
    Interiors of the cabin are offered in multiple shades such as black, grey, beige and brown and expected to boast a plethora of technologies. The central console will feature two big digital display screens which house an infotainment system as well as wireless connectivity and a voice control system.
    Audi e-tron Specs
    Other notable features on offer include a 4-spoke steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, ambient lighting, a 360-degree surround-view camera, four-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof to mention a few.
    Performance & Specifications
    Being a fully electric powertrain, there is no shortage of performance in E-Tron. The base variant power output is 313 hp and 540 Nm. Mid and top variant delivers 408 hp and 664 Nm. Driving range is from 264 kms to 484 kms, depending on the variant.
    Audi e-tron Features
    Using a 15 kW DC fast charger, the battery could be replenished up to 80 percent in just 30 minutes. While regular home chargers of could take 8.5 hours and 4.5 hours respectively.
    Audi e-tron Features
    Mr. Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head of Audi India, said, “To ease the transition to electric mobility – we are offering several benefits and packages including after-sales, charging and ownership. To take it a step forward, we are also offering a best-in-class 3 year buyback. This is just the start of Audi India’s electric journey and you will hear from us very, very shortly on our next EV offering.” More