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      New KTM 390 Duke production starts – Gets bigger 399cc engine?

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      New KTM 390 Duke production startsThe new engine on 2023 KTM 390 Duke will probably displace 399cc as opposed to 373cc in outgoing model – 45+ bhp and 40+ Nm torque is possibleProspect of a new KTM 390 Duke is an exciting one. For there are a lot of updates coming with it. From a revised engine to new design, this 2023 update for KTM’s highest selling motorcycle is an important one. The updates on this will define other motorcycles like RC 390 and 390 Adventure as well.Launch seems to be nearing as there are more spy shots of production-spec models. The recent spy shot shows an uncamouflaged new KTM 390 Duke from the front at what appears to be Bajaj manufacturing plant in Pune. We can see a bunch of Pulsar motorcycles in the background.New KTM 390 Duke spied againThe last sighting of this motorcycle was abroad and on road and it didn’t feature camouflage too. Given the frequent sightings, we would wager that launch might be nearing. KTM is yet to disclose whether the new 390 Duke will debut in India or abroad.Regardless, we like what we see. KTM has stuck to its edgy design language but executed it differently with its latest iteration. There are multiple inspirations from the bigger 1290 Super Duke R. Even the new 390 Duke’s colour is a direct inspiration from Super Duke R. Headlights follow a similar theme as the outgoing model, but executed differently.New KTM 390 Duke production startsLED DRL signature is now not continuous as in the outgoing model and is an overall smaller unit. There is a new TFT display as well. KTM has placed it higher for easy visibility. Fuel tank is slightly different and gets pronounced tank shrouds. These lend a lot of character and aggression to the motorcycle. Frame and new 5-spoke alloys are finished in bright Orange, typical KTM.That said, both alloys and trellis frame are brand new along with rear subframe, split design seats and rear tail lights. There is a ‘T’ shape in the tail light LED signature that reminds me of TVS Ronin’s headlight LED signature. Disc rotors are now bolted directly on alloys and calipers are radially mounted too as before.Has displacement gone up to 399cc?The main change could be in its engine. A new engine architecture is evident from spy shots. Speculations suggest a larger 399cc displacement along with 45+ bhp of power and 40+ Nm of torque. For context, outgoing 390 Duke displaces 373cc and generates 42.9 bhp of power and 37 Nm of torque.Bump in features is likely too. We expect additions like traction control and cornering ABS, both of which are already present with RC 390 and 390 Adventure. Asking for wheelie control would be pushing it a little. That said, features like Quickshifter+ (bi-directional clutchless shifts), ride-by-wire, Bluetooth connectivity, will be on offer like on the outgoing model. More

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      Tata Punch Electric production spec render – Minor facelift, New colours

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      Tata Punch Electric RenderExpected to be launched soon, Tata Punch EV will take on rivals such as Citroen eC3 and MG Comet EVElectric car segment is gaining traction and it’s good to see the rise in the number of options available to consumers. In terms of volumes, Tata Motors currently leads with market share of more than 75%. Tata is among the OEMs that were able to anticipate the shift to EVs. It is something similar to how Maruti saw an opportunity in CNG and has emerged a leader in that space.With more electric cars on the road now and several new models under development, it is imperative for Tata to expand its EV portfolio. Towards that end, Tata’s next offering will be Punch EV. Considering the immense popularity of petrol-powered Punch, it will be safe to assume that its electric version is primed for success.Punch EV styling and featuresPunch EV exteriors will be largely the same as its ICE-based sibling. Based on the leaked spy shots, Pratyush Rout has created a digital render of the upcoming Tata Punch Electric. Punch EV will continue with the same front fascia as that of petrol-powered Punch. It will have a charging port at the rear. In case of both Nexon EV and Tiago EV also, the charging port is located at the rear.Punch EV is likely to get some unique badging on the front grille that will indicate towards the car’s electric heart. As compared to the ICE variant, Punch EV could get other set of changes as well. For example, a recently spotted test mule was seen with rear disc brakes. Existing petrol-powered Punch has disc brakes at front and drum brakes at rear.Tata Punch Electric RenderFeatures on the inside will be largely the same as that of ICE-based Punch. It includes a floating 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, premium upholstery, flat bottom steering wheel, automatic climate control and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.Tata Punch Electric RenderInteriors of the test mule revealed a rotary dial, which means the car could get an electronic parking brake. Nexon EV Max already has this feature. It works automatically by default and can also be controlled manually.Tata Punch EV rangeA range of around 300 km seems apt for Tata Punch EV. As Tata will be looking to achieve an affordable price point, a smaller battery pack could be used. The battery pack and electric powertrain could be borrowed from Tiago or a tweaked version could be used. For reference, Tiago EV is available in two range options, 250 km and 315 km.Tata Punch Electric RenderSome upgrades could be expected with Punch EV, as Tata has been consistently improving its Ziptron electric vehicle platform. Drive modes of Eco, City and Sport will be available. Talking about rivals, recently launched MG Comet EV can travel 230 km on a full charge. Citroen eC3 does better with a range of 320 km.Disclaimer – Design renders presented in this blog are solely for illustrative purposes and have not been commissioned, approved, or endorsed by the manufacturer. Designs presented here may not reflect the final product or the manufacturer’s intentions. The renders are provided as conceptual designs or artistic interpretations only, and their accuracy or feasibility cannot be guaranteed. More

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      New Harley Davidson X440 Debuts – Made in India by Hero MotoCorp

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      New Harley Davidson X440Looking at some of the images, it seems that Harley-Davidson X 440 has stupendous lean angles, which could translate to a sporty characterHero and Harley-Davidson partnership has unveiled their first new motorcycle – the X440. It will take on the Royal Enfield motorcycles upon launch. In typical American fashion, this affordable Harley-Davidson Roadster comes with a larger engine than Royal Enfield. Going by past Harley offerings, the 440 in X440 will be its displacement.It is a single-cylinder unit with oil-cooling setup and fins for air-cooling. Even though Hero MotoCorp manufactures it in India, Harley-Davidson likely designed the X440. Launch is still distant, but a starting price of Rs. 2.5 lakh (ex-sh) for a barebones model and Rs. 3 lakh for all the bells and whistles is possible.New Harley Davidson X440 DebutsWe see a lot of inspiration from Harley’s Nightster in its muscular fuel tank, round headlight, round speedo on top of its headlight, wide handlebars and minimal body panels. Headlight gets ring-like LED projectors with a horizontal pill-shaped element above them, reading Harley-Davidson.Circular turn indicators have a Harley-Davidson logo in them, a nice attention to detail. At the rear, there is a pill-shaped LED tail light. The circular instrument cluster seems to be a negative LCD unit. But we hope it is a TFT unit with Bluetooth connectivity enabling navigation, calls and notifications.New Harley Davidson X440From a lot of angles, this affordable Harley-Davidson looks like a smaller Iron 883. This might literally be true where the engine is concerned. Hero MotoCorp might use this new powertrain on their upcoming Xpulse as well.Powertrain & ComponentryMade by Hero MotoCorp in India, Harley Davidson X440 is powered by an air/oil-cooled single-cylinder unit with a single exhaust. We expect it to have a 4V head and make around 30 bhp and much higher torque (around 40 Nm), spread primarily in the mid-range. A 6-speed gearbox is very likely. Rear sprocket gets a chain drive, over a belt drive. Refinement could slightly take a hit.Componentry include USD front forks, single disc setup at both ends with dual-channel ABS and equipment by Bybre, twin shock absorbers at the rear, neutral footpegs, alloy wheels, 17″ rear and 18″ front alloy wheels. All this is mounted on a tubular trellis frame. A single stepped seat, blackened engine bay, blackened exhaust are notable elements.New Harley Davidson X440Foot peg positioning looks pretty neutral and slightly higher set. This should enable impressive (from Harley’s standards) lean angles. Street Rod 750 with 210 mm ground clearance is revered as the sportiest Harley. Maybe X 440 can match it.Launch & PricingGiven the larger displacement and Harley-Davidson badge, we expect it to be priced at around Rs. 50K to 80K more premium than Royal Enfield’s 350cc portfolio. That is not a bad proposition, considering Royal Enfield doesn’t pose the same novelty factor as it used to before with large volumes already on road.New Harley Davidson X440A base variant costing around Rs. 2.5 lakh and a top-spec variant costing around Rs. 3 lakh is a good proposition for Harley-Davidson X 440. Hero MotoCorp will be its official distributor in India. Harley-Davidson X440 is different than X350 and X500 motorcycles launched in China recently. Those are based on QJ motorcycles and are China-specific. More

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      2023 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Spied Testing – Gets LED Headlight

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      2023 Royal Enfield Meteor 350Meteor 350 could become the first 350cc motorcycle from Royal Enfield to feature an LED headlight setupRoyal Enfield rules the 350cc motorcycle segment. In April 2023, their sales in the 350cc segment were over 62k units. Despite having a market share of over 90% in the segment, Royal Enfield continues to be focused on updating their 350cc motorcycles.In comes MY2023 RE Meteor 350, spied testing for the first time. This particular test mule is based on top-spec Supernova trim, but features wire-spoke rims, a silver-finished engine bay and for the first time in Royal Enfield’s 350cc portfolio, an LED headlight. Let’s take a look at everything new.MY2023 RE Meteor 350 Spotted TestingWith this MY2023 update, Royal Enfield is aiming at adding a few more features to the Meteor 350. These new updates with Meteor 350 are likely to bring more retro-ness and classic-ness.We say this because Meteor 350 has always embraced a neo-retro cruiser look, instead of a classic cruiser look. Elements lending Meteor 350 a neo-retro appeal are alloy wheels and a blackened engine bay. Royal Enfield is bringing more chrome into the equation that will uplift its classic appeal considerably.2023 Royal Enfield Meteor 350More chrome is in the form of wire-spoke rims, engine bay finish (think Classic 350 Chrome Red) and headlight housing garnish. Adding more retro charm is an all-new front fender too. Rather, an all-new mud guard for the front fender brings an old-world charm of the yesteryears. Hat tip to automotive enthusiast Aditya Raja for sharing these exclusive spy shots.Mechanically similar to current modelThis new test mule is based on top-spec Supernova trim. Except for the new LED headlights, design changes and chrome additions are less likely to feature on Fireball and Stellar variants. Fuel tank is similar to the current model too. So, no 20L fuel tank like RE offered on the Thunderbird 350 and 500.Mechanically, the same 349cc J-series engine will power the MY2023 RE Meteor 350. Performance figures stand at 20.2 bhp of power at 6100 RPM and 27 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM, mated to the same 5-speed gearbox. The wire-spoke rim variant of Supernova trim along with new chrome additions will probably sell alongside existing variant with black engine bay and alloy wheel.2023 Royal Enfield Meteor 350While LED headlights will be part of the entire variant range. A small price hike could be associated with this update. Currently, Meteor 350 range costs Rs. 2.04 lakh for Fireball, Rs. 2.10 lakh for Stellar and Rs. 2.25 lakh for Supernova trims (all prices ex-sh). More

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      Simple One electric scooter launched – Price, Range, Specs, Warranty, Battery, Charging

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      2023 Simple One electric scooter launchedAfter a long wait, Simple One electric scooter is finally here – Delivery starts from 6th June 2023 in BangaloreOne of the most awaited electric scooter in 2023, Simple One electric scooter has been launched today at a starting price of Rs 1.45 lakh. While it seems like a late entrant in electric two-wheeler race, Simple One has potential to catch up with its range of segment-first features.Just like Ola, Simple One also has ambitious plans to emerge as a leader in electric two-wheeler segment. It will be a challenging task, but not completely out of reach. Electric two-wheeler segment has huge unlocked potential, which can be targeted by new brands. Simple One is aiming to scale faster to be able to become the number one electric two-wheeler manufacturer.Simple One electric scooterSimple One electric scooter styling and featuresSimple One electric scooter has a sporty, attractive design that will definitely find appreciation among younger audiences. The front fascia is especially fascinating and comes across as a compact version of a high-powered maxi scooter. The sharp cuts and grooves exude confidence and dominance, ensuring a strong street presence. The scooter is available in exciting colour options.Some of the key highlights of Simple One electric scooter include its triangular headlamp, prominent side panelling, compact visor, sleek turn signals and funky rear-view mirrors. The scooter has a flat seat design and offers a comfortable, upright riding stance. The entire seat is thick and wide, and long enough for proper pillion comfort. The scooter has chunky grab rails to provide adequate support to pillion riders during fast acceleration and deft manoeuvres across city streets.Simple One electric scooterSimple One is designed for everyday needs as well. There’s ample storage at the front for carrying a wide variety of items. The scooter also has 30 litres of under seat storage. This is big enough to accommodate a full-face helmet. Due to its unique design format exposing the rear wheels, Simple One has equipped the scooter with a saree guard.Simple One electric scooterSimple One electric scooter offers tons of tech including an intuitive smart digital dashboard, smartphone pairing, access to calls and music, screen customization options and turn-by-turn navigation. Users can access a range of connectivity features such as remote commands, remote locking, geo fencing, ride statistics, save and forward routes and OTA updates. Simple One mobile app will be available for both Android and Apple devices.Simple One electric scooter specs, rangePowering Simple One electric scooter is a 4.8 kWh battery pack. It connects to an 8.5 kW electric motor that churns out 72 Nm of peak torque. The scooter will be quite useful in city traffic, as it can accelerate from 0-40 kmph in just 2.77 seconds. Top speed is 105 kmph. Reaching home or office can also be achieved in quick time with a top speed of 105 kmph. The icing on the cake is a best-in-segment range of 212 km, which kind of eliminates the fear of getting stranded with a drained battery.Simple One electric scooterSimple One charging is via 750W charger. It takes 5 hours 54 minutes to charge the Simple One from 0-80% battery. Fast charging is possible, but will be launched in August. Speaking about warranty, Simple One vehicle / motor and battery warranty are at 3 years or 30k kms. Charger warranty is 1 year / 10k kms.Simple One electric scooter has patented CBS braking technology for handling its powerful performance. It has 12-inch wheels at both ends, shod with 90-90 tubeless tyres. The scooter complies with all the new safety standards, as mandated for electric two-wheelers. Simple One electric scooter has a challenging journey ahead, as it will take on popular brands such as Ather 450X, Ola S1 Pro, TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak and Hero Vida. More

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      New Hero Karizma ZMR Revealed Ahead Of Launch – Gets Sporty Stance

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      2023 Hero Karizma ZMRNew-gen Karizma will be one of the several new products that Hero MotoCorp will launch to establish a strong foothold in 200cc+ motorcycle segmentWith premium motorcycle segment expected to register strong growth in the coming years, Hero MotoCorp is working on a bunch of new products. Some of these will be developed entirely by Hero MotoCorp, whereas others will be part of a joint venture such as the Hero-Harley partnership.One of the new Hero bikes will be new-gen Karizma, expected to be launched soon. It will take on rivals such as Bajaj Pulsar 250, Gixxer 250 and Dominar 250. Hero will be looking at a competitive price point for new-gen Karizma to ensure its success. Ahead of launch, Hero has now showcased the new Hero Karizma ZMR to dealers.New-gen Karizma ZMR to get more powerful engineNew-gen Karizma ZMR will be utilizing an entirely new platform and a new 210cc liquid cooled motor. While specs have not been officially revealed, new-gen Karizma could deliver around 25 bhp of max power and 30 Nm of peak torque. It will be mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The original Karizma bike was equipped with a 223cc air-cooled motor that produced 20 hp. It was quite popular for its peppy performance. Enthusiasts can look forward to some more exciting rides with the new-gen version.Hero will position Karizma as a value-for-money bike. It has to achieve a balance in terms of its pricing and available features. While essentials such as disc brakes and at least single-channel ABS will be there, new-gen Hero Karizma could skip out on features such as USD forks, ride-by-wire tech, slipper clutch, etc.2023 Hero Karizma ZMRFeatures that are likely to be available with new-gen Karizma include Bluetooth-based connectivity features, LED lighting and turn-by-turn navigation. The bike could get a full-digital instrument cluster.New-gen Karizma stylingWhile new-gen Karizma will be utilizing contemporary design aesthetics, some of the styling bits are expected to be borrowed from the original Karizma. The latter had sharp panelling and sporty graphics. Another of Karizma’s USP was its comfortable riding stance. Balance and handling were among the best, allowing enthusiasts to experiment to their heart’s content. New-gen Karizma is expected to have a similar set of attributes.Resurrecting Karizma seems like a good move, as the brand has high recall among enthusiasts. Overall design of new-gen Karizma will be a key factor in determining whether it’s a hit or flop with customers. As of now, Hero’s bestselling product in performance segment is XPulse 200 4V. There’s Xtreme 200S as well, but it hasn’t received the kind of response the company was aiming for.In its lifecycle, original Karizma had eventually faded away with availability of better equipped bikes. Uninspiring design of later models such as Karizma R and ZMR was also a reason for its decline. Hopefully, new-gen Karizma will have everything sorted out and primed to provide the impetus Hero is looking to achieve in premium motorcycle segment.Source More

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      Tata Punch Electric Spied On Towing Truck – Interiors Leak

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      Tata Punch Electric Spied. Images – PhotulogyUpon launch, Punch Electric will rival the likes of Citroen eC3 and recently launched MG Comet EVWith new rivals in entry-level EV segment, Tata Motors is looking to spruce up its EV portfolio. The strategy to launch electric versions of existing popular ICE models has paid rich dividends for the company. After Nexon, Tiago and Tigor, the next to get the EV version is Tata Punch.Tata’s primary volume generators have been Nexon and Punch. While Nexon has crossed the 5-lakh production milestone, Punch recently achieved the 2-lakh production milestone. With Punch’s soaring popularity, it seems the right time to introduce its electric version. Punch will also be getting a CNG option soon.Tata Punch Electric SpiedPunch Electric spotted – Same exterior profilePunch Electric has been spotted on a tow truck. The tight-fitting camouflage reveals that Punch EV has the same exterior profile as the ICE-based Punch. Even the alloy wheels are the same as ICE Punch.Changes at the front are not needed, as Punch Electric is likely to have the charging port at the same spot where the ICE version has the fuel tank lid. This has been the case with Nexon EV and Tiago EV as well. This setup probably helps reduce the number of changes required to convert an ICE-based car into an electric car.Tata Punch Electric SpiedHowever, Punch electric could get some new features. For example, the test mule can be seen with rear disc brakes. In comparison, ICE Punch is offered with front disc and rear drum brakes. Interiors reveal the presence of a rotary dial, indicating that the EV could get an electronic parking brake. This feature is already available with Nexon EV Max. The electronic parking brake functions automatically and it can also be engaged and disengaged manually.Tata Punch Electric SpiedOther features on the inside appear to be the same as ICE Punch. The electric version can be seen with a floating 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is likely to be from Harman and come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other features similar to ICE Punch include a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, automatic climate control, flat bottom steering wheel and premium upholstery.Safety features for Punch Electric will be largely the same as its ICE sibling. Some of the key safety equipment offered with Punch includes reverse parking camera, front fog lamps with cornering function, auto headlamps, rain sensing wipers, ABS and EBD with brake sway control and rear defogger.Tata Punch Electric SpiedPunch Electric rangeWhile official details are not available, Punch Electric could have a range of around 300 km. For reference, Tiago EV is available in two variants, one with 250 km range and the other with 315 km range. Recently launched MG Comet EV has range of 230 km whereas Citroen eC3 offers 320 km. Punch Electric is likely to get drive modes of Eco, City and Sport. Battery packs could be similar to those used with Tiago EV.Image Source More

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      Hyundai Creta Electric Spied While Charging Battery Pack

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      Hyundai Creta Electric spied at a charging station in HaryanaThe same electric powertrain on Kona EV is likely to feature on the Hyundai Electric Creta – 327V architecture, 39.2 kWh battery, 134 bhp and 395 NmConverting ICE vehicles to EV has worked wonders in India. It is cost-effective and negates design, development and manufacturing of new vehicles. Tata follows the same strategy for its entire EV lineup. Mahindra employs a similar strategy with its XUV400, and soon to be launched XUV800.It seems like Hyundai is getting ready to offer us a new EV based on a similar strategy. Spy shots of a Creta EV on test have emerged on the internet. Considering that Creta is the best-selling Hyundai car on offer in India, it makes logical sense for them to launch an EV version of Creta. When launched, Hyundai is likely to price it from around Rs 20 lakh (ex-sh).Hyundai Electric Creta Test MuleLatest test mule of the Hyundai Creta EV was spotted in Karnal, Haryana. Hat tip to automotive enthusiast Manpreet for the exclusive spy shots. In these images, we can see a Hyundai Creta EV test mule hooked up to an EV charging station.For starters, there is no camouflage. Also, Hyundai is likely to offer different front and rear bumpers to establish design differences from its ICE counterpart. Creta EV test mule donned outgoing ICE-car bumpers as of now, but the production-spec version will be highly inspired by the recently spied Creta facelift test mule.Hyundai Creta Electric spied at a charging station in HaryanaAs this is a make-shift test model, there is no proper charging port. Hence, the engineers connected the charging cable by opening the bonnet. The production model will come equipped with a charging port, likely to be in the front.Powertrains shared with outgoing Kona EV?Looking at the front charging port configuration, we can’t help but wonder whether Hyundai electric Creta shares its powertrain with Kona EV on offer in India. Hyundai’s E-GMP platform underpinning the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Kia EV6 gets a charging port around the rear-right fender.If Kona EV’s powertrain is likely, we’re looking at a 327V architecture, 39.2 kWh battery coupled with a 134 bhp and 395 Nm electric motor. Hyundai claims 452 km of range on a single charge with Kona EV. Hyundai Creta Electric could have very similar power output and range specs.Hyundai Creta EV battery pack can be seen protruding in the spy shotOn the inside, it will be feature loaded with tech and safety. We’re talking about a panoramic sunroof, powered driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, a large infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital driver’s display, 6 airbags, ADAS features among others. When launched, it will rival the likes of MG ZS EV, Mahindra XUV400 and Nexon EV Max. More