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      2024 Mahindra XUV500 Coupe SUV Spied – Or is it BE.05 Electric?

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      New Mahindra XUV500 Spied or is it BE.05 Electric Coupe SUV?It is likely that the test mule spotted is either new gen Mahindra XUV500 to rival Creta or BE.05, which is planned for launch in October 2025With the launch of XUV700, Mahindra discontinued XUV500. But they promised to bring the XUV500 back, in a new gen avatar, probably based on their futuristic BEV design language. Now, a test mule has been spied in Chennai, which could likely be the new gen XUV500 coupe SUV.It is also possible that this could be one of their new born electric SUV. Last year in August, Mahindra had unveiled its born-electric range. It includes the XUV range (XUV.e8, XUV.e9) and the BE range that has BE.05, BE.07 and BE.09. All of these are based on the born-electric INGLO platform. Apart from the new technology, the test mule also wears a unique, colourful camouflage wrapping. It is quite different from the usual black and white wrapping seen on Indian roads.2024 Mahindra XUV500 Coupe SUV or BE.05 Electric?As compared to the radical design of the concept unveiled last year, the test mule has transformed into a more practical form. While the core silhouette and design of the front fascia have been retained, the panelling is now a lot smoother. The concept version had deep grooves and sharp curves, which have been chiselled down a bit. However, BE.05 continues to have a sporty and unique styling, unlike any other Mahindra car in production right now.Some of the key highlights include C-shaped LED DRLs, sculpted tapering bonnet, squarish wheel arches and sporty alloy wheels. As compared to the concept that had camera-based rear-view assembly, the test mule can be seen with conventional ORVMs. At rear, some key features of BE.05 include a tapering roofline with sporty spoiler, prominent tail gate and full-width LED strip.New Mahindra XUV500 Spied or is it BE.05 Electric Coupe SUV?Inside, Mahindra BE.05 has two large touchscreens and sporty two-spoke steering wheel. The SUV has an aircraft-style large gear selector and a rotary control dial. The driver and front passenger area are neatly divided into two separate sections by the central console. BE.05 will have premium upholstery and soft-touch surfaces all around.New Mahindra XUV500 Spied or is it BE.05 Electric Coupe SUV?Mahindra BE.05 range, specsWhile official numbers are not available, it is expected that Mahindra BE.05 will have a range of around 400-500 km. Mahindra BEVs based on the INGLO platform will be powered by LFP battery packs. Both Blade and Prismatic cell architectures will be used. Battery packs will be in the range of  60-80 kWh. These are chargeable with high-powered 175 kW fast-chargers that can load up to 80% in less than 30 minutes.Underpinned by the INGLO platform, Mahindra BEVs including BE.05 are promising an exhilarating performance. Both rear wheel and all-wheel drive options will be available, generating 170-210 kW and 250-290 kW respectively. 0 to 100 kmph will be achievable in just 5 to 6 seconds.New Mahindra XUV500 Spied or is it BE.05 Electric Coupe SUV?BE.05 will be 4,370 mm long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,635 mm tall. It will have a wheelbase of 2,775 mm. All Mahindra BEVs will be getting a comprehensive range of advanced safety features. They will comply with leading safety benchmarks such as GNCAP. Equipped with 5 Radars-1 Vision ADAS architecture, Mahindra BEVs based on INGLO platform are future ready up to L2+ autonomy. More

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      2023 Honda CB350 Cafe Racer Showcased To Dealers – New Launch Soon

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      After CB350 and CB350 RS, Honda will add 3rd motorcycle in their 350cc range next month2023 Honda CB350 Cafe RacerHonda launched the CB350 back in Sep 2020. In the initial months, it had registered good response from bike enthusiasts. Later in Feb 2021, Honda launched a scrambler version based on the CB350, called CB350 RS. Despite two motorcycles on offer in the 350cc range, Honda has not come anywhere close to sales numbers registered by Royal Enfield.In Jan 2023, Royal Enfield registered sales of over 26k units for their Classic 350. While sales of Honda CB350 range was 1,086 units. To bring a boost to their sales in the 350cc range, Honda is getting ready to launch a new motorcycle next month.Honda CB350 Cafe RacerTo provide more options to customers in the 350cc segment, Honda will soon launch a new cafe racer motorcycle based on CB350. Honda has chosen to challenge Royal Enfield and this new motorcycle is expected to improve its prospects in this space.Likely to be called Honda CB350 Cafe Racer, the motorcycle has been showcased to dealers. Launch is expected next month. It will come with Cafe Racer style single seat, revised headlamp cowl, black alloys, black engine with chrome Honda logo, etc.2023 Honda CB350 Cafe RacerSpeaking of the new Honda CB350 Cafe Racer, the motorcycle sports a neo-retro look. Some key features include round headlamp, sculpted fuel tank, single piece seat, chrome finish exhaust, alloy wheels, an all-LED setup and semi-digital instrument cluster. It also has a smartphone charging USB port.2023 Honda CB350 Cafe RacerCB350 Cafe Racer powertrainHonda’s 350 cc Cafe Racer will use the same engine as that of CB350. It is rated to deliver 21.07 ps @ 5500 rpm and 30 Nm @ 3000 rpm. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The motorcycle will also be sharing a number of other components with CB350. This will help Honda to reduce costs and improve production efficiency.Just like CB350, its cafe racer version could be equipped with assist and slipper clutch, dual channel ABS, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), and Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (HSVCS).2023 Honda CB350 Cafe RacerThe instrument console could also be the same, which displays a range of information such as average mileage, real time mileage, gear position indicator, distance to empty, and battery voltage. Expect prices to be in the Rs 2.2 lakh to Rs 2.3 lakh range, ex-sh. More details to be revealed at the launch event next month. More

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      Hyundai Creta Electric Spied For First Time – 2025 Launch Plan

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      A 100 kW electric motor and a battery big-enough for a 400+ km range should make for an interesting proposition for our marketHyundai Creta Electric SpiedHyundai India has kick-started its electric vehicle onslaught by launching the Ioniq 5 and showcasing Ioniq 6 at the Auto Expo last month. But the Korean automaker is also working on a more mainstream EV for our market. It was recently reported that Hyundai is working on an electric Creta crossover (codenamed SU2i EV) and an early prototype based on the conventional variant has been spotted for the first time in public.Automotive enthusiast Nitin Tyagi was charging his EV while the Hyundai Creta EV prototype stopped by for a recharge, and he promptly clicked these photos. There were a total of two test mules of the Hyundai Creta Electric. As you can see, the test mules do not have any camouflage but there is an easily noticeable protrusion from the floor pan which appears to be a structural member supporting the battery pack.2025 Hyundai Creta Electric SpiedConverting an in-production IC-engined car into a fully electric prototype is not a walk-in-the-park but Hyundai engineers and technicians seem to have done a pretty neat job. Save for the visible floor pan extension and different body panel colours, there is nothing on the exterior to suggest it is not a regular Creta.The production version is also expected to be based on the modified version of the current IC-engine platform. This approach will allow Hyundai to optimize cost since its almost fully localized. Tata has applied the same formula to Nexon EV, and Mahindra to XUV400.Hyundai Creta Electric SpiedThis will also help the automaker produce the vehicle with minimal modifications and investments to its existing assembly lines. However, in the long term, Hyundai India will localize its fully electric E-GMP architecture for both domestic and export markets.Hyundai Creta EV SpecsNot much is known about the specifications of the upcoming Hyundai Creta EV but we expect critical sub-systems to be derived from the Kona EV. That would mean a 100 kW (136 hp) PMSM electric motor with a peak torque output of 395 Nm of torque.The battery pack is also likely to be derived from the international sibling. With a capacity of 39.2 kWh, the lithium-ion polymer unit should be good for an ARAI-certified range of over 400 km. The Creta EV could be used with some significant aero optimizations over its IC-engined sibling to improve energy efficiency.Hyundai Creta Electric SpiedNew Hyundai Creta EV is expected to be ready for its global debut at the 2025 Auto Expo before going on sale later that year. Interestingly, the debut timeline is similar to its primary competitor Maruti YY8 electric SUV (codename). Expect the pricing to  be somewhere between Rs 20 to 30 lakh.Tata, Maruti, Mahindra and other OEMs will be aiming to position their volume-oriented electric crossovers in the same segment. That should make for an intense competition which will ultimately benefit the customers. We think Hyundai will easily attain its volume target of around 25,000 units per annum with its mid-premium EV offering. More

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      New Honda Motorcycle To Rival Splendor – Patent Design Leaks (Flex Fuel?)

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      A space between Splendor and HF Deluxe is likely where Honda’s new budget commuter will fall in terms of pricingNew Honda Motorcycle To Rival SplendorHonda Motorcycles & Scooters India (HMSI) has utter dominance in scooter segment. Thanks to its ever-popular Activa range, Honda has kept scooter sales charts under its grasp and is likely to stay that way for a long time.With motorcycles, Honda has an entry-level offering called CB Shine. It is the second highest-seller for HMSI and highest-seller when Honda’s motorcycle range is considered. Where the Indian motorcycle market is taken into account, it is Hero MotoCorp that absolutely decimates the competition.New Honda Motorcycle To Rival SplendorSplendor is the one to beat in India with 2.25 lakh units sold last month while Honda Shine was at No 2 behind Splendor and HF Deluxe with 87k units sold. Honda has been reportedly working on a new budget commuter. Now, the Japanese brand has patented a new design in India in that regard. Let’s take a look.Looking at the design patent, one can immediately say that it has been built to be priced aggressively in the entry segment. Even with budget commuter standards. As of now, the name of this upcoming motorcycle is not known. That said, it bears semblance with CG Dream series of budget commuters that is sold in underdeveloped markets like Pakistan.New Honda Motorcycle To Rival SplendorSpeaking of Pakistan, Honda offers a CG 125 Dream with spoked wheels. In India, HMSI is likely to plonk a 110cc engine that currently does duty in CD 110 Dream. Honda’s entry-level offering CD 110 Dream is currently not doing well against Hero Splendor despite offering a larger 110cc engine as opposed to 100cc and matching the price too.There can be an attempt by Honda to offer a 125cc motorcycle with spoked wheels and barebones functionality and match Splendor Plus’ Rs. 71.5K price point. This way, Honda can expect to push more volumes and grab some of Splendor’s pie.There is a third possibility of offering a new 100cc engine and going toe-to-toe with Splendor Plus which gets a 100cc engine as well and even undercuts the latter in pricing. By going this route, HMSI can bring a contender to rival Hero HF Deluxe which is the 4th highest-selling motorcycle in India and is priced at an absolute steal at Rs. 55K.Flex Fuel?Even though it is very early in the time frame for speculating a flex-fuel offering, it is a possibility. We say this because Honda’s new budget commuter which is patented in India has an unusually large engine casing for a budget commuter motorcycle.But it looks like the engine casing is extending beyond its cradle frame. This is unusual for a budget motorcycle with just a 100-125cc engine unless it is holding additional equipment for flex-fuel tech. Notable features include a double cradle chassis, telescopic front forks and twin shock absorbers at the rear, a single-piece seat, and spoked wheels. When launched this year, Honda’s new budget commuter will take on Hero HF Deluxe and Splendor Plus. A price bracket of around Rs. 60-70k is likely to be a logical bet for this upcoming motorcycle. More

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      Magron Novus Electric Motorcycle Spied In Bengaluru – Gets Forged Carbon Fiber

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      A new EV startup based in Bengaluru is getting ready to launch World’s first fully forged carbon fiber electric motorcycleMagron Novus Electric Motorcycle SpiedEV scene in India is on the rise and there are more players now than there ever were. Bhavish Aggarwal led Ola Electric and is currently in the lead where two wheeler EV sales are concerned. Other players include Hero Electric, Ampere Electric, Okinawa, TVS, Bajaj, Hero MotoCorp, etc In November 2022, 2W EV sales stood at just over 75,000 units.With electric scooter and motorcycle sales on the rise, more and more new companies are getting ready to enter the market. One such company is Magron Novus which is eyeing premium electric motorcycle space. This is a segment where there are not many players as of now.Magron NovusIn the premium motorcycle space we have Bangalore based Ultraviolette, who recently launched F77 electric sportsbike at a starting price of Rs 3.8 lakh. Seems like soon there will be a rival in the form of Magron Novus Electric Motorcycle. It will be the world’s first fully forged carbon fiber electric motorcycle.Yes, you read that right. A fully forged carbon fiber body is set to be draped on a sporty electric motorcycle which is currently under testing. This Bengaluru-based startup is currently testing its maiden product. Thanks to automotive enthusiast Paul Thomas, we now have exclusive spy shots of this electric sports bike.Magron Novus Electric Motorcycle SpiedIt was spotted testing on the Outer Ring Road, wearing a green number plate that reads Magron Novus. Usually, test mules are seen with a red number plate, no matter what type of powertrain they are testing. This is a little unusual to see green plates on a test mule that don’t have any numbers. Front fascia is not visible from spy shots, but the company website has a teaser which shows presence of sequential LED DRLs, that might double up as turn indicators.Magron Novus Electric Motorcycle gets a full fairing which looks sleek and minimal in its appeal. Magron has stuck to minimalist design language instead of that of aggression. The overall product looks very appealing and sporty. There is a neatly integrated LED taillight and LED blinkers as well. It gets a rear mono-shock and a mid-mounted motor.Battery Specs, New FeaturesPowertrain details are not confirmed. But the company website reveals up to 7.5 kWh of battery pack. Magron Novus will come with AI, VCU, ADAS, RAS, 6-axis IMU, blind spot detection, lane-change warning, LDR, and secure access and we can expect more tech with a production-spec model.Magron Novus Electric Motorcycle SpiedBlind spot detection and ADAS on motorcycles are unique and are expected to generate a lot of buzz in the industry. There will be forced induction to actively cool batteries and an acoustic sound chamber to mimic ICE sounds. Magron Novus looked fairly production-ready and could be launched this year.Forged carbon, which is found on Magron Novus, has some advantages over regular woven carbon fiber. When new, this tech was only found on expensive supercars like the Lamborghini Huracan Performante. It is made of chopped-up carbon fiber strands instead of woven fabric and is bonded by epoxy resin and baked in an autoclave. Toyota GR Yaris and GR Corolla both have a forged carbon fiber roof. But Toyota chose to cover it with regular woven carbon fiber effect vinyl for some reason, while it is proudly embraced and displayed on a Huracan Performante. More

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      Yamaha FZ-X Dual ABS Launch Soon – New Colour, Golden Alloys Spied

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      The TVC shoot for new FZ-X is going on in Kerala and a launch is likely to happen in the coming days2023 Yamaha FZ-X Dual ABS Launch SoonYamaha has a lot planned on their table right now. Yamaha chairman Eishin Chihana has previously stated that RX brand will return in 2026 or beyond and will feature an engine larger than 100cc. The company is also set to bring some of its big bikes like R7, MT-09 and an electric scooter along with them.But Chihana has hinted before that the company is more focused on the 125cc to 150cc segment and might consider launching an ADV in this space as well. It was speculated that it would be based on an FZ-X. Before that happened, Rushlane’s sources revealed that FZ-X is on the verge of being refreshed for MY2023.2023 Yamaha FZ-X Dual ABS Launch SoonYamaha FZ-X is the company’s attempt to take on neo-retro category with its tried and tested 150cc platform. As a result, we got an FZ-X with a circular headlamp with integrated DRL and a projector unit. It has more beef than regular FZ to offer a muscular stance, while the latter is marketed as a street bike in the commuter segment.For the 2023 update, the main highlight would be dual-channel ABS which used to be just single-channel ABS along with a twin pot-caliper at front. By doing this, Yamaha New FZ-X is the first 150cc motorcycle in India to come with a dual channel ABS option. The closest motorcycle that provides dual channel ABS option is Bajaj Pulsar N160.2023 Yamaha FZ-X Dual ABS Launch Soon – Golden AlloysAlong with improved braking, Yamaha will be offering golden-coloured alloys that we saw with FZS 25 and FZ FI before. FZ-X never received this treatment for its alloy wheels. Instead, Yamaha offered black rims along with pin-striping. With the 2023 Yamaha FZ-X, we now get golden-coloured alloy wheels that might not be to everyone’s taste. Lastly, the new FZ-X will feature a new colour. Details of this colour are not yet known.Specs & FeaturesDonning a neo-retro look, FZ-X is underpinned by the same platform and engine as FZ FI. Displacing 149 cc, this engine makes 12.2 bhp of power and 13.3 Nm of torque. A 5-speed gearbox is offered which regulates power to touch a claimed 115 km/h top speed. New FZ-X for MY2023 will remain unchanged mechanically.Except for new dual-channel ABS, rest of the componentry is kept identical as well. It remains to be seen if Yamaha is offering dual-channel ABS as standard or as an option with FZ-X. Owing to new hardware, there will be a price increment.Currently, it gets three colour options, Metallic Blue, Matt Copper and Matt Black and prices start from Rs. 1.35 lakh (ex-sh) which gets Bluetooth connectivity as well. New FZ-X will be launched in a few days and might be priced from Rs. 1.4 lakh (ex-sh). More

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      MG Air Electric Car Production Target 36k, SOP March 2023 – New Spy Shots

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      With a two-door, small sized EV – MG Motor is getting ready to launch their most affordable car in IndiaMG Air Electric Car For IndiaAiming to take early lead in entry-level electric car segment, MG Motor is working on a two-door EV for Indian market. It will be based on Wuling Air EV (codenamed E230) that was recently showcased in Indonesia. At around 2,900 mm long, MG Air EV will be one of the smallest cars in India. It will be shorter than Alto by around 400 mm.New MG Air electric car for India will borrow much of its design and styling from E230. It is built on MG’s latest Global Small Electric Vehicles (GSEV) platform that can support multiple body styles. The car has a boxy, tall boy profile, which is likely to ensure adequate space on the inside.MG Air Electric Car StylingThere are some unique styling bits such as a full-width light bar that stretches to connect the rear view mirrors. The charging port is neatly hidden beneath the MG logo. Other key features include trapezoidal headlamps, rectangular fog lamps and body-coloured bumper. Latest spy shots are credited to automotive enthusiast Vishal Mevawala.To allow easy ingress and egress to the second row seat, the EV has been equipped with large doors. Rear passengers need not feel claustrophobic, as they have access to large, vertically mounted windows. While the E230 showcased in Indonesia had steel wheels with plastic cover, its India-spec version is likely to get alloy wheels. Rear styling is quite similar to front fascia, with features such as full-width light bar, curved windscreen and sleek tail lights.MG Air Electric Car For IndiaMG’s new EV will be equipped with a battery pack of around 20kWh to 25kWh. Power output will be 40 hp. Real-world range could be around 150 km. In view of the varying weather and ride environments in the country, MG will introduce a number of tweaks to make the EV suitable for Indian conditions. Enhancements will cover key systems such as battery thermal management system and air conditioning. In India, E230 will be launched under MG brand.To reduce cost, MG will be sourcing key components from local vendors. For example, the battery pack will be sourced from Tata AutoComp. The latter has an agreement with Chinese battery supplier Gotion, which covers design, production, supply and service of battery packs meant for EVs in India. E230 battery pack will have LFP cylindrical cells, which are similar to that of Tata Nexon EV. LFP cells are more reliable and have already proven their worth in Indian conditions.MG Air Electric Car ProductionSources tell Rushlane that MG Air electric car production start date is in March 2023. Annual production target is set at 36,000 units. MG is likely to price the entry-level EV at around Rs 10 lakh. Primary targets will be youngsters looking for trendier, environment-friendly mobility options. The EV can also work for affluent households that would like to have an agile, compact option in their garage. People living in smaller cities can use MG’s entry-level EV as their primary car.MG Air Electric Car For IndiaTo make it an attractive proposition, MG is likely to equip its new EV with features such as a large touchscreen and a comprehensive range of connectivity features. MG is set to unveil the new EV at 2023 Auto Expo. Market launch will take place around Q2 2023. While micro EVs have been quite successful in China, it remains to be seen how they will perform in the Indian market. There are considerable risks involved, but MG seems unfazed. Reportedly, Tata Motors is also planning to enter this segment, with new gen Nano Electric. More

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      Upcoming Royal Enfield 350cc, 450cc, 650cc Motorcycles – Launch Plans Leak

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      Royal Enfield will be introducing multiple new bikes based on its J-series, new 450cc and 650 twins’ platformsUpcoming Royal Enfield 350cc, 450cc, 650cc MotorcyclesIt was in 2020 that Royal Enfield talked about its plans to introduce an average of 4 new/next-gen products every quarter till 2027. As part of that plan, bikes like Meteor 350, new-gen Classic 350, Scram 411 and Hunter 350 have already been launched. Super Meteor 650 was recently unveiled and it is expected to be launched in early 2023.As revealed via a leaked document, there are several new bikes currently under development. Hat tip to automotive enthusiast Yuvaraj for sharing the leak document. Royal Enfield will be using its existing 350cc J-series platform, 650cc twins’ platform and its new 450cc platform to develop the new bikes. These upcoming Royal Enfield bikes will expand options available to enthusiasts and also tackle existing and emerging rivals.Royal Enfield upcoming J-series bikesNew-gen Bullet is likely to be the next launch under the J-series platform family tree. It will have the new 350cc motor that does duty on Meteor 350, Hunter 350 and new-gen Classic 350. Users can expect more refined performance and close to zero vibrations with the new-gen Bullet.An entirely new bobber motorcycle will also be launched under the 350cc J-series platform. The 350cc segment is getting a lot of traction, which has attracted new rivals such as Honda, Jawa and Yezdi. There are more to come, as the likes of Hero-Harley and Bajaj-Triumph are developing their respective challengers to Royal Enfield middleweight bikes.Upcoming Royal Enfield 350cc, 450cc, 650cc MotorcyclesRoyal Enfield upcoming 450cc bikesTo remove limitations reported with current Himalayan, Royal Enfield has developed a new 450cc platform. Himalayan 450 is expected to be the first bike based on the new 450cc platform. It will have a liquid-cooled motor. Test mules of 450cc Himalayan have already been spotted, indicating possible launch next year.A more off-road focused variant is also under development, based on the new 450cc platform. This bike will be similar to rally bikes, with features such as long suspension travel, wire-spoke wheels, higher ground clearance, rugged engine guard and single-piece seat.Other bikes based on the new 450cc platform include a cafe racer and scrambler. The former gets features such as bikini fairing, alloy wheels and clip-ons whereas the scrambler will be distinguishable with features such as wire-spoke wheels and high-mount exhaust.Upcoming Royal Enfield 350cc, 450cc, 650cc MotorcyclesRoyal Enfield upcoming 650cc bikesRoyal Enfield is betting big on 650cc segment, with at least 7 new bikes under development. It includes Himalayan 650, a single-seat bobber likely to be called Shotgun 650, Bullet 650 and a faired version of Continental GT 650. Other 650cc bikes under development include Classic 650 and 650cc scrambler.Increased focus on 650cc space seems logical, as it allows Royal Enfield to tap into both domestic and international markets. The twins are a roaring success and these new upcoming 650cc bikes will help build momentum. They will also add more firepower to take on OEMs like Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki in international markets. More