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      in Electric Cars

      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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      2023 Hero Hunk Spied Testing – Pulsar P150, Unicorn Rival?

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      The test mules of 2023 Hero Hunk 160 seem to be close to production and were completely undisguised2023 Hero Hunk SpiedHero Hunk is a muscular 150cc motorcycle that came with the same engine as CBZ Extreme. It was not very popular in India. Hero MotoCorp had to discontinue the motorcycle from the domestic market. However, it is still manufactured here and is being shipped overseas.At 2,749 units shipped in August 2022, Hero Hunk is the highest-exported 2-wheeler from India’s largest 2W manufacturer in that month. Hunk is currently sold in Bangladesh, Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guyana, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nepal, Panama, Peru, Sri Lanka and a few more countries.That being said, Hero markets Xtreme 160R as Hunk 160R in a few markets, Hunk 190R gets the same engine as Xpulse 200 and in a few other markets, Hunk 150 is still on sale that gets the same features and body that we used to get years ago in India. But there is a new Hunk that is spotted testing in India. Let’s take a look.2023 Hero Hunk Spied2023 Hunk test mules in question were spotted in Jaipur, near Hero MotoCorp Tech Center. Both of them donned red number plates indicating that they are test mules. Looking at these motorcycles, I couldn’t help but think about the Hero Xtreme 200R that was launched besides Xtreme 200S and Xpulse 200. 2023 Hero Hunk SpiedCloser inspection revealed that it has similar body panels, tank design, tank shrouds design, headlight design, alloy wheels, exhaust canister, taillights and pretty much everything else. There is one major change and that is the engine. 2023 Hero Hunk which was spotted testing, was equipped with a 160cc engine that we also saw on Xtreme 160R.2023 Hero Hunk SpiedEngine casing is similar to 160’s rather than 200’s. On deduction, it looks like Hero MotoCorp is targeting the lower end of 150cc and 160cc segments. This is where Honda Unicorn is currently partying. Looking at the fairly minimal bells and whistles that Hunk 160R is donning, it is obvious where Hero has its eyes on.Specs & FeaturesSpeaking of bells and whistles, there are not a lot on Hunk 160R. This can be a boon allowing Hero to price it competitively. Single-channel ABS is present along with alloy wheels, dual disc brakes, LED taillights, halogen headlights, mono-shock rear and telescopic front suspension are some of notable features. Hero might throw in XTEC connected features as well.2023 Hero Hunk SpiedThe engine on Xtreme 160R makes 15 bhp and 14 Nm of torque. On 2023 Hero Hunk, this engine might be detuned to fit the segment. Honda Unicorn is gaining a lot of traction in recent months and is regaining lost market at a significant rate. Recently launched Bajaj Pulsar P150 has a single-disc variant that is another likely rival for Hunk 160.If planned for India, new Hunk could launch sometime next year, as the test mules looked fairly production-ready. We would wager a price of around Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 1.05 lakh (ex-sh) for the top-spec trim with Bluetooth connectivity and a sub Rs. 1 lakh price for base trim without connected features. More

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      New KTM RC 990 Spied – Successor To RC 8C Sports Bike?

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      Outgoing RC 8C makes 135 bhp of power and 98 Nm of torque, while KTM RC 990 spied testing recently is likely to offer more oomphImage – MotorradKTM big bikes are quite popular in global market. Unfortunately, most of them are not on sale here. In India, 390 Adventure is the flagship, which is set to receive a major update in the coming years. It will also get a new 390 Enduro version, as seen with recent spy shots.Sticking with big bikes, KTM currently has 890 platform and used to have 1190 platform. In early 2022, new Duke was spotted donning what could be a 990 platform from the Austrian brand. Now, we get to see spy shots of a new faired sports bike prototype.KTM RC 990 Spied TestingIt looks fairly pre-production and sports a matte black fairing with rough edges. It gets a new design language which is radical over 8C faired motorcycle. Even with a fairing, the chassis on this RC 990 is slightly different than what was spotted on Duke 990 papped earlier. Let’s take a look.KTM traditionally uses chrome molybdenum steel tubes for its trellis frame. Rear subframe is slightly different than found on Duke 990 test mules. On the Duke 990, KTM used a die-cast aluminium rear subframe and on KTM RC 990 spotted testing, the company has used a bolt-on type aluminium frame.KTM RC 990Even swingarm is kept different for upcoming 990 platform. KTM is using a banana-shaped swingarm on RC 990, while Duke 990 makes do with a regular profile aluminium swingarm. Both of these swingarm designs are different from KTM’s current RC 8C. KTM RC 990 sports a different TFT display as well which is different from the one found on 890 Duke.Hardware-wise, KTM RC 990 is equipped with a WP monoshock at the rear and WP Apex USD forks at front. These are fully adjustable types that get rebound and compression adjustments. Similar components are found on 890 Duke as well. Braking duties are taken care of by Brembo Stylema calipers.Specs & LaunchCloser inspection reveals that both rider and pillion footrest placement is not yet finalised. This is because of the testing rig incorporated with the test mule. KTM seems to be offering a decent balance between committed seating position and comfort. This is still a pre-production test mule and hence production-spec model can get a revised seating posture.KTM RC 990We can spot a single projector integrated into the front fairing. Also present are bar-end mirrors. There is a new engine behind the fairing which is said to be close to 990cc in cubic displacement. Outgoing 890 Duke and RC 8C is powered by an 889cc twin-cylinder engine.On 890 Duke, this engine is tuned to make 120 bhp and 99 Nm, while on RC 8C, it makes 135 bhp and 98 Nm. KTM RC 990 spotted testing is likely to offer more performance than RC 8C. Launch timeline is not known. Looking at the test mule, it is likely to break the covers at EICMA 2023. India launch could be a possibility.Source More

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      2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Scram Spied – New Details

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      Royal Enfield Scram 450 will get the same engine, chassis and most other hardware as Himalayan 4502023 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 ScramRoyal Enfield is taking its ‘four motorcycles a year’ strategy seriously. This year, we got the new Classic 350, Scram 411 and Hunter 350. They also unveiled Super Meteor 650, which will launch in Jan 2023. But what after that?Well, there are many new motorcycles planned for launch by RE. One of them is an all new Himalayan 450 and Scram 450. Of the two, it is the Scram 450 that has now been spied somewhere in Europe.2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Scram SpiedFor starters, Scram 450 will get a different design than Scram 411 which is currently on sale in India. It will also get a new 450cc engine mated to a new 6-speed gearbox. Even though Himalayan 450 is spotted with USD forks at front, Scram 450 still seems to get telescopic units.Himalayan 450 seems to be a more premium in comparison, and with recently spied Hero XPulse 400 on the horizon, things are only getting more interesting in the mid-size ADV segment.2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 ScramAlso, Himalayan 450 gets split seats and a different riding triangle than a single-piece seat on Scram 450. The frame will be sturdier than on Scram 411 and performance will be enhanced too. This new 450cc engine is likely to make around 30 bhp and 40 Nm of torque whereas the old 411cc engine used to make 24 bhp and 32 Nm.New RE Himalayan Scram 450 will get a host of electronic goodies like ride-by-wire, riding modes, and a tripper display for Bluetooth connectivity and navigation. It also gets alloy wheels with block-pattern tyres typically found on scrambler-style bikes. Whereas Himalayan 450 will get spoked wheels with AT tyres.Launch & CompetitionRoyal Enfield has not yet revealed any official info regarding the launch timeline. But looking at the recent test mule, it does look in a near-production-ready state. Plus it had minimal camouflage and most of the bodywork can be seen. We expect Scram 450 sometime next year. Maybe EICMA 2023?When launched, Scram 450 will be a much superior product to Scram 411. And it will be a more worthy opponent to Yezdi Scrambler, KTM 390 and Hero might also launch a scrambler-style XPulse 300T in the future.Source More

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      Toyota Innova Electric Spied On Public Road For First Time

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      Innova Crysta electric concept prototype resembles its ICE-powered sibling with a closed-off grille at the front and blue accentsToyota Innova Crysta Electric Concept PrototypeWe have seen Toyota going full regalia with hybrid tech. Innova Hycross was recently launched in Indonesia as Innova Kejing Zenix. In India, it might bear the name Innova Crysta Hycross. That said, Toyota is also investing sizeable chunks of its R&D budget in pure EVs and PHEVs as well.Earlier this year, Toyota showcased an all-electric Innova concept prototype at Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) in Jakarta. It managed to grab a lot of eyeballs across the world, especially in South Asian markets and India where Innova is popular.Innova Crysta Electric SpiedInnova Crysta Electric concept prototype is a good example of Toyota electrifying its existing ICE vehicles along the way. Recently, this prototype is spotted undergoing testing on roads. Is Toyota considering utilising the older platform to make pure EVs? It is a stretch. But there is a good possibility of that happening. Let’s take a look.This is an interesting development because Anton Jimmi Suwandy, marketing director, Toyota Astra Motor, Indonesia, revealed that “Kijang Innova Electric will not go on sale and has been built as a concept for the purpose of engineering development only. Suwandy further added that the Innova EV concept is being used for research and development of future EVs that are being readied for the region”.Innova Crysta ElectricHenry Tanoto, Vice President Director at Toyota Astra Motor Indonesia, also confirmed that the Innova EV concept is ‘merely a study’. The concept is said to have raised the popularity of EVs in the community. Outgoing Innova Crysta is underpinned by IMV2 ladder-on-frame architecture which is designed to accommodate petrol and diesel powertrains.Incorporating battery packs and motors in this platform is a major packaging challenge. Thanks to old-school construction that restricts space for batteries. Toyota might be investing in electrification of its current ladder-frame old-school vehicles like MPVs, SUVs and pickup trucks and more. There are segments like pickup trucks where robustness of ladder-frame chassis and electrification are equally important.What To Expect?If everything that Toyota is testing with the Innova Crysta electric concept prototype checks out, we can witness electrification or even hybridisation of workhorses like SUVs and pickup trucks from the Japanese giant in the future. In North American markets, GM, Ford and even Rivian are offering electric vehicles that are based on ladder-frame chassis.Innova Crysta ElectricEven though Innova Crysta electric concept prototype is spotted testing on road, Toyota is not likely to launch an electric version of its MPV. Innova Hycross is already out of the bag and features a modern monocoque chassis with an FWD layout and a hybrid powertrain as an option.Source More

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      2023 KTM 390 Adventure, 390 Enduro Spied – Himalayan 450 Rival

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      2023 KTM 390 Adventure takes the shape of a Dakar rally motorcycle and 390 Enduro comes close to a motocross motorcycle390 AdventureKTM is widely popular in India for offering explosive performance. The Austrian firm’s Duke, RC and Adventure series of motorcycles have been very well received. Currently, It is 390 Adventure which is the company’s flagship. It offers decent trail ability and excellent high-speed touring ability.A new generation of 390 Adventure is long overdue. There were multiple speculations of an R version of 390 Adventure in India and we also saw a few aftermarket rally kits from Turtletechx which boosted its off-road ability. For MY2022, KTM gave riding modes and then offered these same modes for older vehicles for free as well.New-gen 390 Adventure has been spotted before. What if we told you that there are two variations of 2023 KTM 390 Adventure? You heard it right. KTM seems to be prepping two versions of its upcoming 390 Adventure platform. Let’s take a look.2023 KTM 390 AdventureOne is designed more like a rally motorcycle that is ready to hit the desert and the other is styled like an enduro motorcycle with minimal body panels. These are likely to be called 390 Adventure and 390 Enduro.Image – Motorrad MagazinRight off the bat, both motorcycles are pretty much identical when it comes to their frame, engine, fuel tank, subframe and everything. Even the minimal fairing, knuckle guards, mirrors, rear subframe, taillights, boomerang-shaped aluminium swingarm and front beak are shared between the two.Differences lie in seating position as 390 Adventure gets high-set handlebars and on top of it, gets a tall front windshield that makes it visually larger than 390 Enduro. 390 Enduro looks petite, composed and a lot more sporty and comes close to a motocross motorcycle. While 390 Adventure is designed with touring and rallying in mind.Aiding rally excursions on 390 Adventure, we have a tall windscreen, a high-set TFT screen that aids visibility when standing and riding, vertically stacked projector headlights, and a beefy engine bash plate. 390 Enduro misses out on this bash plate. Both of them get the same underbelly exhaust though.390 EnduroSpecs & FeaturesBoth 2023 KTM 390 Adventure and 390 Enduro offer slightly rear-set footpegs and an upright posture. 390 Adventure has a taller-set handlebar that should help while standing and cruising. KTM has switched to spoked wheels with 2023 KTM 390 Adventure as opposed to alloy wheels on outgoing model.Wheel size seems to be 21” at front and 17” or 18” at the rear on both motorcycles. USD forks by WP seems to offer decent travel. Features like ride-by-wire, slipper clutch, liquid cooling are already on offer. Cruise control would make a world of difference on 390 Adventure owing to its cruising credentials.Currently, the 373 cc mill makes 42.3 bhp at 9000 RPM and 37 Nm of torque at 7000 RPM. A slight bump in power figures is likely to be a possibility. A launch timeline is not yet revealed. That said, one can expect these machines to hit the road by the end of 2023. When launched, 2023 KTM 390 Adventure will rival BMW G310 GS, upcoming Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and 390 Enduro will rival upcoming Royal Enfield Scram 450.Source More

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      New Bajaj Triumph Motorcycle Spied – Riding Posture Revealed

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      Triumph has been eyeing the entry-level segment for a long time and with Bajaj, a new product is expected soonNew Bajaj Triumph Motorcycle SpiedBajaj has always wanted to increase their share in 200 cc to 500 cc segment. Under Bajaj, we only get the Dominar 400. They do have offerings via KTM in this segment. But despite that, this segment is still dominated by Royal Enfield with its slew of 350 cc bikes like Bullet, Classic and Meteor and also, Himalayan and Scram 411.When Dominar was launched, Bajaj took a dig at Royal Enfield saying not to buy “Haathis” (elephants) as most Enfields wouldn’t properly go and if they did, wouldn’t properly stop and also weighed a lot with no gizmos. But in reality, Indians still bought Haathis. I don’t blame them. If the Haathi looked as elegant and charming as Royal Enfield bikes, why not?Bajaj Triumph Motorcycle SpiedTo add salt to the wound, Hunter 350 is launched at a lower price point too. At the same time, Triumph seems to be following the same route BMW Motorrad took to foray into entry-level bikes along with TVS. So, British brand Triumph has partnered up with Bajaj to co-develop a platform that would benefit both companies. A match made in Heaven? Maybe.Last time we covered the Bajaj Triumph bike, it was papped fully undisguised. The new spy shots reveal mostly the same, but give more details too. For starters, this upcoming motorcycle will be offered in two versions, a street and a scrambler. Both get separate design elements to suit the genre. The video below shows riding posture on the upcoming Bajaj Triumph motorcycle, while it was spied near Pune.Upcoming Bajaj Triumph Scrambler Motorcycle – RenderBoth test mules look production ready and we can expect a launch very soon. They shoot for the timeless retro classic look and we should say, looks quite handsome. Their design is reminiscent of Triumph’s Bonneville lineup. They get a single-piece seat, neat grab rail at the rear, round headlights and indicators, bar-end mirrors and a lot more.In terms of cycle parts, they get USD front forks and mono-shock at back, 19” and 17” alloy wheels at the front and back, single discs at both ends with dual-channel ABS, slightly rear-set footpegs and more. They both get LED lighting all-around, a circular speedo and a squarish digital display beside it housed in the same console.What To Expect?We don’t know the exact engine specs at the moment. But looking at the engine on test mules, looks like a single-cylinder unit with liquid cooling and a single exhaust setup. Looking at the size of it, it is likely to be a 300 to 400cc unit. And might make around 35 bhp and 30 Nm of torque. It may get a 6-speed gearbox too.New Bajaj Triumph Motorcycle SpiedLooking at their lean and athletic frame, they are likely to weigh around 170 to 180 kg. Both bikes will be manufactured here in India to get the production costs down. These motorcycles will be sold under Triumph branding. Bajaj might launch a different version of their own branding in the future. This probably will be a similar story, what we have seen with Bajaj-KTM. First KTM branded motorcycles were launched, and based on them, Bajaj launched their own Pulsar motorcycles.When launched, Bajaj Triumph motorcycle will compete against Royal Enfield, Honda, Yezdi, Jawa, TVS, BMW offerings falling into the same ring. Launch will take place in 2023.Source More

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      Honda Benly e Electric Scooter Testing Continues – Launch Soon?

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      In the past couple of years, many new EV startups have registered their upcoming models in India which is set to boost electric mobilityHonda Benly e Electric scooter spied in BangaloreBack in 2019, Honda showcased the Benly e electric scooter at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show. This e-scoter has been solely developed for last-mile services. The electric scooter has now been spotted in India which might trigger speculations about its apparent launch. Hat tip to automotive enthusiast Lal Krishna for sharing these spy shots.Developed specifically for everyday pick-up/delivery services, Benly e adopts a utilitarian design language with a flat rear deck. Dimensions of the e-scooter stand at 1,840mm, 780mm and 1,050mm in length, width and height.Honda Benly e Electric Scooter SpiedThe e-scooter has been made available in four trims – Benly e I, Benly e I Pro, Benly e II and Benly e II Pro. Benly e I and I Pro are offered with a 2.8 kW (3.8 bhp) electric motor which returns a torque output of 13 Nm. Both electric scooters that have been spied, are wearingOn the other hand, Benly e II and II Pro are propelled by a 4.2 kW (5.7 bhp) electric motor that makes 15 Nm of peak torque. However, both motor configurations are fed energy by two 48V, 20.8 Ah lithium-ion batteries which Honda calls ‘Mobile Power Pack’ (MPP). Both of these battery units are detachable and swappable.Honda Benly e Electric scooter – Registered in the name of Honda Two Wheeler IndiaHonda claims a range of 87km on a single charge at 30kmph on a flat road for Benly e I and I Pro. Whereas for Benly e II and II Pro, the range drops to 43km at 60kmph on a flat road on a single charge. The e-scooter can climb an incline of 12 degrees with 30kg cargo for Benly e I and I Pro and 60kg for Benly e II and II Pro. It also benefits from a reverse assist feature as well.The scooter rides on 12-inch front and 10-inch rear alloy wheels that are shod by 90/90-section and 110/90-section rubber respectively. It tips the weighing scales at 125kg and 130kg for Benly e I and Benly e II respectively. In terms of features, it gets an LED headlight, a digital instrument cluster and an accessory power socket. Braking is taken care of by a combined braking system (CBS).Honda Swappable BatteryIn Dec 2021, Honda setup Honda Power Pack Energy India Private Limited in Bangalore. This is a 100% subsidiary of Honda Motor Japan. The aim of setting up this unit in India was to solve issues like limited range, reduce battery cost and reduce charging / wait time. Apart from two wheelers, they will also provide solutions to other EVs, like electric rickshaws, etc.Honda electric scooter with battery swap tech – Benly eThey will also be making batteries in India, called – Honda Mobile Power Pack (MPP) e:. These batteries will be available at various locations across the country in phase-wise manner. Owners of compatible EVs will be able to swap drained out batteries with fully charged batteries in no time. Interestingly, the Benly e electric scooter also uses the same battery pack MPP.Given the expansion of e-retail businesses in India over the last few years and the bright prospect of electric mobility, Honda might actually benefit if it seriously considers bringing the Benly e electric scooter here. It will only be used for commercial purposes while the Japanese company has some other plans for its regular consumers when it comes to electric mobility. More