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Royal Enfield has plans to launch 4 new motorcycles ever year in India – This includes Interceptor 350 as well as Continental GT 350
The post Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Based Interceptor Styled Motorcycle Spied Testing appeared first on RushLane by Pearl Daniels. More
Old Gen Renault Zoe Electric Car spied in India. Credit – Naveed
Renault Zoe sales in Europe have scaled over 84,000 units since January 2020, double the count as seen between January to November 2019
The Renault Zoe electric car has emerged as the company’s bestselling EV model in Europe since the start of this year. Sales have doubled to over 84,000 units in the Jan-Nov 2020 period as compared to sales in the same period of the previous year.
Third gen Zoe EV
The third generation Zoe, launched in 2019, is the leading electric car sold across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal. To date around 2,68,000 units of the Zoe electric vehicle have been sold.
While the need for zero emission vehicles is on the rise, particularly so in global markets, the more urgent need for safe private vehicles in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with substantial government subsidy on EVs seems to be the cause for this outstanding sales.
The main markets for Renault Zoe are France and Germany which has seen sales of 33,000 units and 25,000 units respectively in this year. This electric car offer a range upto 390 kms on a single charge and receives two output versions of 110 hp and 135 hp. The Renault Zoe can be charged upto 80 percent via a DC fast charger in 1hour and 10 minutes and via a 7.4 kWh wall charger in 9.5 hours.
New gen Renault Zoe Electric Car
Speaking about the new Renault Zoe, its exteriors has been sighted with a curved roof line, roof mounted spoiler, LED head and tail lamps and LED DRLs along with electronically adjustable ORVMs, blacked out B Pillars and sporty alloy wheels. Distinct ZOE lettering was seen on its tailgate.
The 5 seater cabin is done up in a two tone colour scheme and will receive features such as a heated steering wheel, automatic climate control and wireless charging. It will sport a digital instrument cluster and a 9.2 inch touchscreen infotainment system with connectivity features and safety via a host of airbags, rear parking camera, blind spot sensors and ABS and EBD.
Renault Zoe EV Launch in India
Renault had showcased the battery powered Zoe hatchback at the 2020 Auto Expo earlier this year. More recently a test mule of the old gen Zoe EV has also been spotted on test with a red licence plate. Despite of the car being showcased in India, and spotted testing on Indian roads, chances of it getting launched here are very low.
Kwid Electric
Instead of the Zoe, what India will get from Renault in the form of an EV, is the Kwid electric car – which made its debut earlier this year. Compared to Zoe, it will be a lot more affordable. Once launched, Kwid EV will compete with the likes of upcoming EVs – Maruti WagonR EV, Tata HBX EV, Hyundai AX1 EV, Citroen EV, etc.
Currently the Renault lineup in India consists of the Kwid hatchback, Triber MPV and Duster SUV. The company recently discontinued the Captur and while it has electric vehicles such as the Twizy, Kangoo and Master besides the Zoe in global markets, it has no electric offering in the country as on date. More
Husqvarna 401 Spied With KTM badge
While the Svartpilen is an urban tourer, the Vitpilen is termed as a cafe racer
Swedish motorcycle brand Husqvarna set foot in India with the launch of its naked twins- Svratpilen 250 and Vitpilen 250. A couple of months earlier, we reported that Husqvarna will now launch their naked twins with upgraded engines in the form of Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401.
Recently, one of the twins was spotted testing outside Pune by automotive enthusiast Padmasinh Patil. It is to be noted that Husqvarna is a subsidiary of Austrian motorcycle brand KTM and both are manufactured at Bajaj Auto’s facility in Chakan near Pune in Maharashtra.
Powertrain & Transmission
Like their 250 siblings, the 401 Twins will also share its powertrains with its KTM Duke counterpart. Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401 will borrow the same 373.2 cc single-cylinder cooled DOHC engine from Duke 390.
This motor produces 44 PS of power and 37.5 Nm of peak torque and is paired to a six-speed gearbox. This engine is known for its high compression ratio which results in such impressive output figures. The same unit is also employed in Bajaj Dominar 400. The test mule spotted, had Husqvarna badging on its right side and KTM badging on its left side.
Coming to the test mule spied, it is difficult to predict exactly which model it is- Svartpilen or Vitpilen since it is wrapped in heavy camouflage. It is anyways difficult to differentiate between the two in terms of design. While Svartpilen is termed as an urban scrambler, the Vitpilen is looked on more as a cafe racer. The 401 twins will also share their underpinnings with 390 Duke.
Dynamics
Huskies 401 are expected to borrow major functional components from its KTM counterpart. While the Huskies serve as a more stylish option, the KTM Duke is a more racy motorcycle. Several mechanical parts like- suspension units- USD forks at front and adjustable mono-shock at rear; trellis frame structure and brakes are expected to be carried forward from Duke 390.
Design & Features
Although the Indian-spec Huskies 401 are likely to sport some additional attributes to distinguish itself from its European-spec model. For instance, the India-spec model is expected to ditch spoked wheels available in Europe for alloy rims. Additionally, pillion grab rails will be installed to comply with the safety norms set by the Indian Government.
In terms of features, standard features such as an all-LED lighting setup, ABS from Bosch and a fully digital instrument cluster is set to be carried forward from the 250 Twins. Svartpilen has been built as an urban explorer, it is set to be equipped with dual-purpose tyres. On the other hand, Vitpilen has been developed as a cafe racer with road-biased tyres.
The 401 Huskies were expected to hit showrooms towards the end of this year. However, it now seems unlikely and is expected to be launched early next year. One expects the 401 Husky Twins to be priced around Rs 20,000 lower than KTM 390 Duke which is offered at a price of Rs 2.58 lakh. Apart from their Austrian cousin, 401 Huskies will also lock horns with Bajaj Dominar 400, BMW G310R. Husqvarna sales in India are at about 700 units per month, while exports are at about 1,000 units. More
Kawasaki W175 Spied in Pune
The Kawasaki W175 is likely to adopt an electronic fuel injection system to comply with BS6 emission standards
It seems the Japanese brands are suddenly interested in the Indian retro-classic roadster segment where homegrown Royal Enfield has a near-monopoly. Honda just introduced the H’ness CB350 which was specifically developed for India. Now, Kawasaki is gearing up to introduce its W175 compact displacement roadster in the country.
Kawasaki W175
A test mule of the Kawasaki W175 has been spotted for the first time in India, bolstering the previous reports that the company is considering it for our market. When launched, the W175 will be the most affordable model in the brand’s Indian lineup.
With its utterly simply design characterized by a circular headlamp, slender fuel tank and a long saddle, the Kawasaki W175 oozes classic appeal. Interestingly, there is not a lot of chrome, and that is a good thing. A simple mud-guard mounted taillight, spoke wheels, fork gaiters and single-pod instrument cluster further add to the motorcycle’s old-school appeal.
Specifications
Just like its modest design, there is nothing particularly special about the Kawasaki W175’s technical specifications. Power comes from a single-cylinder, air-cooled 177 cc engine which breathes via a carburetor in markets like Indonesia and Philippines. However, the BS6 emission norms in India is likely force the motorcycle to adopt electronic fuel injection.
Kawasaki W175 Spied in Pune
In its carebureted avatar, the motor produces a sedate 13.05 hp and 13.2 Nm of torque. The motorcycle employs a 5-speed gearbox. With a kerb weight of 126 kg, the Kawasaki W175 is a light roadster which targets people who prefer a relaxed and unhurried riding style.
The motorcycle is equipped with telescopic front forks, twin rear shock absorbers, a single front disc and rear drum brake. The India-spec version will be equipped with a single-channel ABS.
India launch
The Kawasaki W175 is most likely to be assembled locally but we doubt if the company can match the localization levels of its intended rivals. With an estimated price tag of around INR 1.40 lakhs (ex-showroom), the classic Kawasaki will have a lot of modern, better equipped and more powerful rivals to fend off.
It will lock horns with the likes of Honda Hornet 2.0, TVS Apache RTR 200, Hero Xtreme 160R, and so on. The motorcycle would be hoping to take advantage of the residual brand recall Kawasaki has in the Indian small displacement market. It would be a positioned as a brand shaper rather than a full fledged volume generator. Kawasaki’s relatively limited dealership network would also make it challenging to realize the W175’s full potential.
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Evoke Urban Classic Electric Motorcycle
Evoke Motorcycles earlier planned to set foot in India an entry-level bike named ‘Project M1’
Electric two-wheeler manufacturer Evoke’s first electric bike has officially landed in India ahead of its launch. First unit of Urban Classic electric motorcycle has been unboxed in what could be Evoke Motorcycles first showroom in India or at a hall for private presentation.
Pictures of the same have been posted by Tesla Club India on Twitter. Evoke is a Chinese brand which claims to sell the fastest electric bikes in Asia. Apart from the Urban Classic power cruiser, Evoke currently retails Evoke Urban S, the cruiser’s naked twin in global markets.
Evoke Urban Classic Electric Motorcycle
Dimensions
There are no further details attached to the images which might give us some additional information. Speaking of Urban Classic, the electric bike is 2,030 mm long and 710 mm wide plus it has a wheelbase of 1,380mm. It has a saddle height of 760mm and a ground clearance of a meagre 130mm. The electric power cruiser has a kerb weight of 179 kg and it gets a payload capacity of 150 kg.
Hardware & Features
Coming to its dynamics, the Urban Classic rolls on a 3.00×17-inch alloy wheel at front and 6.00×17-inch wheel at rear. These are wrapped by 110/70 sections of tyres at front and 180/55 at rear. Anchoring duties are carried out dual 300×4 mm disc brakes with dual 4-piston hydraulic callipers at front and 220×4 mm disc brake with 2-piston hydraulic calliper at rear.
Specs
Evoke Urban Classic Electric Motorcycle
Max Power
19 kW (26 ps)
Max Torque
86 ft-lb (116 Nm)
Drive
Hub motor
Battery
8.4 kWh Lithium ion
Battery Life
2 Lakh kms
Charger
3.6 kW
0-80% Charging Time
90 minutes
Top Speed
130 kmph
Max Range
200 kms
0-60 kmph
3 seconds
0-100 kmph
6 seconds
Front Brake
300mm Dual Disc
Rear Brake
220mm Single Disc CBS
Front Tyre
110/70 – R17
Rear Tyre
180/55 – R17
Front Suspension
USD Forks
Rear Suspension
Monoshock
Kerb Wt
179 kgs
Carrying Capacity
150 kgs
Wheelbase
1380 mm
Length
2030mm
Width
710mm
Seat Ht
760mm
Ground Clearance
130mm
Ride Modes
Pro, City, ECO
Console
Digital
Reverse Gear
Yes
Lights
LED
Regen Braking
Yes
Price
USD 8,499 (Rs 6.32 lakhs)
Strangely there is no ABS on offer but a CBS does the job. Suspension duties at the front are carried out by a 42 mm inverted fork while at the rear it is taken care by an adjustable mono-shock unit.
Some of the notable features on board are LCD touchscreen instrument console, LED headlights, multiple riding modes namely- Pro, City and Eco; and diamond-stitched Tibetan leather seats. Evoke Urban Classic is offered in two paint schemes- Galaxy Black and Oceanic Blue.
Powertrain
In terms of its powertrains, a 19 kW hub motor mounted on the rear wheel draws power from an 8.42 kWh Lithium-ion NMC battery pack. This setup returns an output of 26 PS of maximum power and 117 Nm of peak torque. It can achieve a top speed of 130 kmph and claims a 0-60 kmph acceleration in 3 seconds flat.
The claimed range on the battery pack on single-charge is 200 km. Evoke provides its customers with a 3.6 kW charger which juices the battery from 0-80 percent in just 90 minutes.
As per earlier reports, Evoke was initially planning to introduce a new entry-level bike codenamed ‘Project M1’ in India. The planned localisation level of this electric motorcycle was kept at 70 percent to keep its cost in check. It was to compete with other 125-150cc bikes in the Indian market. On the other hand, Evoke Urban Classic is offered at a price of USD 8,499 which translates to INR 6.33 lakh.
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Hyundai Micro UV
Hyundai’s mass market electric car for India is expected to be ready by 2023
Hyundai has gone on record to state that they are studying the possibility of a mass market EV for India. With the help of its Namyang R&D HQ, Hyundai’s Indian team has already commenced a study to arrive at optimal key parameters (range, power, price, etc) for a mass market EV.
Hyundai AX1 micro UV spied in Korea
Prototypes of what could eventually emerge as a mass market electric vehicle for the Asian markets have been spotted on a truck in South Korea. The Venue-style low-mounted headlamps and a prominent grille give away Hyundai’s identity. International media reports claim that these are Hyundai AX1 (codename) micro UV prototypes.
The camouflaged test mules appear to have near-production body panels. From what we can see, the vehicle features an SUV-ish tall-boy design with a compact footprint. The angular design elements gives the car an interesting and unconventional shape. Finer elements are under wraps but it is reasonable to expect radical design conforming to the brand’s current language.
Specifications
The technical details of the new Hyundai AX1 small car are scarce for now but the tall wheels and narrow tyres are indicative of a configuration which is commonly preferred for an electric vehicle.
Hyundai Micro UV Codenamed AX1 – Rival to Maruti WagonR Electric in India?
With global automotive markets including India scrambling to adopt electric mobility at the earliest, it would be prudent for any upcoming mass market product to prioritize pure electric powertrain during the development phase even if it has to adopt conventional IC power units at the beginning of its life cycle.
If the Hyundai AX1 is to be propelled by fossil fuel, then the most likely powertrain candidate is the 1.0-liter three-cylinder unit which is available in both NA and turbocharged guises. As far as electric propulsion system goes, Hyundai is likely to have multiple motor and battery configurations to suit different markets.
Will it come to India?
It would be surprising if a car of this size and shape from Hyundai does not make it to India. We expect it to be showcased in the form of a concept at Auto Expo 2022 before its market launch sometime later that year or in 2023. Hyundai’s mass market electric vehicle will be pitted against the upcoming Maruti WagonR EV, Mahindra eKUV100, Citroen sub Rs 8 lakh EV for India, etc.
Just like Hyundai India’s current mass market products, the upcoming electric vehicle will have over 90% localization in order to achieve a competitive price point. The future is electric and Hyundai knows it very well.
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2021 Kawasaki ZX10R
The motorcycles appear to be equipped with a new TFT color instrument panel
The 2021 Kawasaki ZX10R and ZX10RR liter-class supersbikes have been leaked through vehicle certification data that was submitted by the manufacturer to the Australian government’s department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development. A set of low-resolution images give us an idea about the updates for the new model year.
2021 Kawasaki ZX-10R and ZX-10RR
Kawasaki reportedly filed the vehicle certification data with the Australian government in August 2020 with a request to keep the information under embargo till November 1. It appears that the Japanese sportsbike brand planned to unveil the facelifted twins before this date but the COVID related issues pushed the world premiere to November 23. The images which are now available in the public domain highlights the visual changes clearly.
2021 Kawasaki ZX10RR
The new ZX-10R and its sibling adopt a comprehensively redesigned fairing with H2-style front fascia. The sleeker two-part headlamp unit (likely to be LEDs) is set deep into an edgy front fascia. The side panels of the fairing have also been revised for a more streamlined look. The fuel tank and tailpiece have been carried forward without any noticeable changes but the liter-class twins appear to be adopting a new color TFT instrument console.
The front turn indicators continue to be integrated into the rear view mirror housings. For the new model year, both ZX-10R (black) and ZX-10RR (green) sport matte finish.
2021 Kawasaki ZX10R
Specifications
The duo continue to be powered by the familiar 998 cc inline four-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. The power outputs are identical to the outgoing models but they are generated at different engine speeds, suggesting that Kawasaki has introduced some tweaks. The changes are likely aimed at meeting the Euro 5 emission standards.
The 2021 Kawasaki ZX-10R produces 200 hp at 13,300 rpm (300 rpm earlier than before) while the 2021 ZX-10RR produces 201 hp at 14,000 rpm (500 rpm later than before). The US-spec models will be available in a lower-spec 186 hp version.
2021 Kawasaki ZX10RR
As far as other hardware elements are concerned, the updated motorcycles seem to have soldiered on without any significant changes but we will have to wait for the world premiere to be sure. The Showa Balance Free Front forks and Brembo twin-disc brake system are visible on the images are are retained unchanged.
Launch
The 2021 Kawasaki ZX-10R and ZX-10RR are expected to reach international markets in early next year with a marginal hike in price. We expect the superbike to make its Indian debut a few months later. It will continue to rival the likes of Yamaha YZF-R1, Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade and so on. More
The 249 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled motor has 30 hp and 25 Nm of torque on tap, and comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox
KTM 250 Adventure Colour Options
New KTM 250 Adventure was recently spied at a dealer event and it is likely to be introduced in the coming weeks. The quarter-liter version of the adventure tourer was supposed to be launched earlier this year but the pandemic has pushed timeline quite significantly.
KTM 250 Adventure colours
We can confirm that the KTM 250 Adventure will be available in two liveries. Of course one of them is a theme dominated by the brand’s quintessential orange. The second one has black as its primary colour with orange decals.
While the bodywork is identical to the 390 Adventure, the livery serves as a distinguishing factor between the two variants. Also, as expected, the 250 Adventure ditches the 390’s vertically bifurcated full-LED headlamp in favour of a halogen unit with integrated LED DRLs.
KTM Adventure to get more accessible
When the KTM 250 Adventure goes on sale later this month, it will become the Austrian brand’s most affordable adventure tourer. With an attractive pricing, the quarter liter motorcycle is expected to be an important volume generator for the company in India and select export markets.
KTM 250 Adventure Brochure Leaflet
It is expected to be priced in the Rs 2.3 lakh range, ex-sh. In the domestic market, the 250 Adventure will lock horns with the likes of Royal Enfield Himalayan and Hero X-pulse 200.
Specifications and equipment
The soon-to-be-launched KTM is powered by a familiar 249 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor which outputs an impressive 30 hp and 24 Nm of torque. The motor is paired with a 6-speed gearbox via a slipper clutch. Same motor currently serves the 250 Duke and the Husqvarna 250 twins.
The trellis frame, 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-purpose tyres, WP front and rear suspension systems are identical to the 390 Adventure’s. It will also get the premium features like Bluetooth connectivity via fully digital TFT instrument cluster. It remains to be seen if it will get features like off-road ABS, traction control, ride-by-wire, rides modes and so on, in a bid to arrive at a competitive price point.
Price
KTM is known for getting its pricing absolutely spot on. We expect the 250 Adventure to be retailed with a price tag of around INR 2.3 lakh (ex-showroom), making it significantly cheaper than the 390 Adventure which retails at INR 3.04 lakh (ex-showroom).
The Husqvarna’s 250 twins have been raking up decent volumes in India post lockdown, and we expect the 250 Adventure to improve this platform’s economies of scale quite significantly. More
