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    • 163 Shares109 Views

      in Bike

      RE Super Meteor 650 Launch Price Rs 3.49 L To Rs 3.79 L

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      With Grand Tourer accessory kit, standard RE Super Meteor 650 can be brought closer to Tourer variant at just Rs. 3.49 lakh, ex-shRoyal Enfield Super Meteor 650cc launch price Rs 3.5 lakhThe third installment of Royal Enfield’s 650cc platform debuted at 2022 EICMA Show in the form of Super Meteor 650. It is Royal Enfield’s first attempt at a low-slung cruiser and seems to be very well received by audiences worldwide.Prices for RE Super Meteor 650 have been revealed today starting from Rs. 3.49 lakh (ex-sh) for regular model while Tourer costs Rs. 3.79 lakh (ex-sh). Pricing is in line with what motorcycle enthusiasts were expecting and is far less than rivaling low-slung middle-weight cruisers like Kawasaki Vulcan S and the likes. Bookings have opened. Deliveries will start from 1st Feb 2023 in India.RE Super Meteor 650 PricesAfter years of testing, Royal Enfield finally launched the Super Meteor 650 in India. If you thought the 650cc platform broke a lot of Royal Enfield related stereotypes, Super Meteor 650 takes that notion to a new level. It is the first-ever RE to come with USD forks and LED headlights. It is the first 650cc motorcycle from RE to get modern features like a Tripper screen.Royal Enfield has stuck to its ethos and has delivered a timeless-looking motorcycle that is sure to age well. With swooping lines, round headlights, taillights, turn indicators and subtle use of chrome, it pays tribute to motorcycles of the past with modernity. Rider is greeted with a generous seat with a relaxed riding posture.Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650cc launch price Rs 3.5 lakhThe handlebar extends slightly toward the driver ensuring an upright riding posture. Front-set footpegs ease driver fatigue and are an absolute boon for long intercontinental mile munching (or Kilometer munching). Weighing 241 kg and measuring 1500 mm long wheelbase, Super Meteor is set to offer supreme straight-line stability and decent immunity to cross-winds.Just like its smaller sibling, Meteor 350, Super Meteor 650 gets alloy wheels on both standard and Tourer variants. Buyers will enjoy tubeless tyres which are more convenient than tubed tyres. Speaking of tyres, Super Meteor 650 gets 100/90-19 tyre at front wrapped on 19” alloy and 150/80-B16 tyres at the rear wrapped on 16” alloy wheel.Specs & FeaturesRoyal Enfield has offered a Tripper navigation screen with Super Meteor 650 that enables turn-by-turn navigation. Along with that, Royal Enfield is offering accessory kits named Solo Tourer and Grand Tourer. These kits add more value to the motorcycle and enhance functionalities.The 648 cc parallel-twin engine is shared with Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650. This is the main talking point of this motorcycle. It makes 47 horses and 52.3 torques and is very tractable. Power is regulated by a 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch and is sent to the rear wheels via a chain drive.Starting at Rs. 3.49 lakh (ex-sh) for standard RE Super Meteor 650, this is the least expensive low-slung cruiser with multi-cylinder engines of any kind. Yes, Keeway K-Light 250V and Benda V302C exist at Rs. 3.09 lakh and Rs. 3.89 lakh (both prices ex-sh). But they don’t fall into middle-weight category. Kawasaki Vulcan S priced at 6.4 lakh (ex-sh) is the only logical rival. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Mahindra XUV400 Electric Launch Price Rs 16 L To Rs 19 L – Nexon EV Rival

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      Much awaited Mahindra XUV400 Electric SUV has been launched in India today – Prices start from Rs 15.99 lakh, ex-shNew Mahindra XUV400 Electric LaunchedMahindra’s first ever electric SUV, called the XUV400, made its official debut in September 2022. Today, it has been officially launched, with prices announced. First batch has made its way into company dealerships. Prices start from Rs 15.99 lakh, ex-sh.Mahindra’s new XUV400 electric SUV will be offered in two variants of EC and EL. EC variant features 34.5 kWh battery pack and claims 375 km range while the EL variant gets 39.4 kWh battery pack claiming 456 km range. XU400 EV is presented in five colour options of Arctic Blue, Everest White, Infinity Blue, Napoli Black and Galaxy Grey while the top of the line EL variant will be offered in a dual-tone colour option as well.Mahindra XUV400 Electric – PricesSpeaking about prices, Mahindra XUV400 Electric EC variant with 3.3 kW charger is priced from Rs 15.99 lakh. The same variant with 7.2 kW charger costs Rs 16.49 lakh. Top of the line XUV400 EL variant costs Rs 18.99 lakh and it is offered with 7.2 kW charger as standard. These are introductory, ex-sh prices which are only valid for first 5,000 bookings.Based on the XUV300, the new XUV400 will borrow some features from the former while it gets an increase in length and wheelbase. Length is slated at 4.3 meters with a 2,600mm wheelbase while boot space is also set to be extended to a total of 368 liters.New Mahindra XUV400 Electric LaunchedIts exterior will be marked by a closed grille being an electric vehicle while it will also receive new LED inserts on its tail lamps and a newly designed front and rear bumper along with new fenders. First batch has started to arrive at the dealer showroom.XUV400 EV interiors will be seen with a host of new equipment in the form of connected car technology, a 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system with Mahindra’s Adreno X software, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, drive modes of Fun, Fast and Fearless. Other features will include a single pane sunroof, keyless entry, OTA updates, power mirrors and climate controls with safety equipment to include a total of 6 airbags on the top spec trim, disc brakes, ESC and ISOFIX child seat mounts.Mahindra XUV400 Vs Tata Nexon EVMahindra XUV400 Electric comes with a single electric motor powering its front wheels. This motor offers 150 hp power and 310 Nm torque allowing the electric SUV to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds. The motor is mated to a 39.5 kWh lithium ion battery pack which claims to deliver a range of 456 kms on single charge and a top speed of 150 km/h thus making it the quickest in its segment.New Mahindra XUV400 Electric vs Tata Nexon EVCharging is via a 50 kW DC fast charger, allowing a 0-80 percent charge in 50 minutes. Via a 7.2 kW AC charger, the battery will take upto 6.5 hours for a full charge and via 3 pin 3.3 kW/16A domestic socket charging time is 13 hours. This is the first of Mahindra’s electric vehicle offerings which will be followed by the XUV.e and BEV range sometime in 2024. It will find competition from Tata Nexon EV Max, which is currently the best-selling electric car of India. More

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      in Electric Cars

      2023 Tata Sierra Electric SUV Debuts As Pre-Production Concept

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      Tata Motors is developing Sierra electric SUV with AWD capabilities which will be underpinned by the Sigma platform2023 Tata Sierra Electric SUVBy unveiling two future electric vehicle (EV) concepts last year, Tata Motors has made its intentions very clear. The homegrown automobile giant has put its foot down on the throttle and accelerated towards a revolutionary change. The company is already the largest EV manufacturer in the passenger vehicle market in India.More importantly, the carmaker intends to occupy the top spot in future as well and hence is working round the clock to ensure that it offers a wide range of products in the EV space. One of the most awaited EVs from Tata Motors is Sierra which will bring a very popular car moniker back into the Indian market. Today, at the 2023 Auto Expo, Tata Motors has revealed a pre-production concept of the Sierra Electric SUV, along with Harrier EV.2023 Tata Sierra Electric SUVBack in the 1990s, Sierra was one of the most reliable SUVs in the country with 4×4 capabilities. Despite being long gone, the brand name is still remembered by fans. Tata Motors had unveiled a concept model of Sierra back at the last edition of Auto Expo in 2020. In 2020, the company gave its nod to bringing back the Sierra nameplate as a pure EV offering. And now, in 2023, we get to see an updated avatar of the same.Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., had revealed that the company intends to add an electric SUV with all-wheel-drive capabilities to its lineup. The brand has essentially ruled out the possibility of a 4×4 drivetrain in an ICE car, hence, the next EV offering could be an SUV fulfilling this criterion.2023 Tata Sierra Electric SUVTo Be Based On Sigma EV PlatformLast year, Tata Motors unveiled its very ambitious Curvv Concept that is based on the Gen 2 platform. This architecture can host a wide range of powertrains including battery and IC engine-powered setup along with multiple drivetrain options. Officially named Sigma, this architecture is based on the X4 or ALFA platform of Altroz and Punch.It has been heavily re-engineered around a battery pack to avoid any compromises and to optimise packaging. In order to do so, the ALFA platform needs to undergo several modifications including deletion of the transmission tunnel, updates to the fuel tank area and side members being pushed to the sides to clear up space.Sierra EV: Expected LaunchThese updates are also likely to make the Sigma platform lighter, more energy efficient and more spacious than ICE platform-based EVs like Nexon EV and Tigor EV. As far as Sierra EV is concerned, the electric SUV is currently under development and it won’t likely make its debut in production form until 2025. It is part of Tata’s plans of developing as many as six new EVs in the next few years.2023 Tata Sierra Electric SUVUnlike the 2020 concept of Sierra, which had 3 doors, the production-spec Sierra EV will feature a conventional five-door layout. 2023 Sierra seen here, features 5 door layout. More electric SUVs are expected to roll out of Tata’s assembly line in future underpinned by both Gen 2 and Gen 3 platforms. More

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      in Electric Cars

      2023 Maruti EVX Electric SUV Debuts – 550 Kms Range, Creta EV Rival

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      Planned for launch in early 2025, Maruti’s first all-electric SUV is expected to offer range of around 500 km2023 Maruti EVX Electric SUVEV segment in the country is transforming at a fast pace, with several new launches planned for this year. Before born-electric cars become the mainstay, OEMs like Tata and Mahindra are busy launching electric versions of their bestselling ICE-based models. These affordable EVs are helping meet the rising demand for electric cars in the country.Maruti’s strategy seems a bit different, as it will start its EV journey with a born-electric car. Maruti’s first all-electric SUV will debut in early 2025. Till then, Maruti will continue to focus on petrol, hybrid and CNG powertrains. By 2025, other homegrown carmakers are also expected to launch their born-electric range.2023 Maruti EVX Electric SUVMaruti has always been associated with affordability and that USP won’t be lost with its born-electric cars. A balanced approach is likely in terms of features, range and pricing. 2023 Maruti EVX Electric SUV range is 550 kms with a 60 kWh battery pack, which is kind of a sweet spot in terms of alleviating range anxiety. Higher range won’t even be necessary in future, owing to improved charging infrastructure and ultra-fast charging options.For folks with limited budget, Maruti could also introduce a more affordable version of EVX. It will have lesser range of around 400 km. While the top-spec variant will have a 60-kWh battery pack, the affordable variant could be equipped with a 48-kWh unit. Maruti will be sourcing the battery packs from BYD. These will be utilizing LFP blade cell batteries that are claimed to be better in terms of range, power-to-weight ratio and safety. Maruti also announced INR 100 billion investment committed by Suzuki Motor Corporation for production of BEVs and batteries in India.2023 Maruti EVX Electric SUVSpeaking about dimensions, Maruti EVX electric SUV is 4300 mm long, 1800 mm wide, and 1600 mm tall. This makes it a rival to upcoming Hyundai Creta EV. While performance numbers have not been revealed officially, new Maruti electric SUV could deliver power output of around 138-170 hp. Both two-wheel and all-wheel drive variants will be manufactured at Suzuki’s plant in Gujarat. However, it is not certain if all-wheel drive option will be available in India. Around half of the production of EVX will be meant for overseas markets.Futuristic design, spacious interiorsIn line with evolving consumer preferences, Maruti will be utilizing an entirely new design philosophy for its EVX electric SUV and other born-electric cars. It will help compete with rivals like Tata and Mahindra, whose born-electric range will be just as radical and extravagant. A significant percentage of customers will be young buyers, which is where the innovation in design becomes more relevant. Aerodynamics will be a key focus area, as it will not only enhance the looks but also boost overall range.With its born-electric platform, interiors are expected to be a lot more spacious in comparison to a similar sized ICE-based SUV like Creta. Maruti EVX will be based on the 27PL platform, which is a tweaked version of Toyota’s 40PL global platform. Toyota will have its own version of the YY8 SUV.New Maruti EVX electric SUV is expected to be launched in the price range of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. By 2025, it will have a lot of rivals to deal with. With affordable pricing and comprehensive range of features, Maruti EVX could emerge as one of India’s bestselling born-electric SUVs. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Renault Kiger Electric SUV Spied – Upcoming Tata Punch EV Rival

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      Renault Kiger electric SUV is likely to make debut in 2023Renault Kiger Electric SUV SpiedRenault India has not had a great year, where 2022 is concerned. Their annual sales were down by more than 9% to a little over 87k units. 2022 also saw Renault discontinue one of their iconic cars to be ever on sale in India, the Duster SUV. But that was 2022. It is now 2023, and it seems like Renault India is getting ready to have a great year ahead.At the 2020 Auto Expo, Renault India had showcased Kwid electric and had announced plans to launch the same within 2 years. It is 2023 now, and we have not seen the Kwid EV till now. That is likely because, instead of Kwid EV, Renault is getting ready to give us Kiger EV. The first spy shots of the Kiger Electric SUV are now out.Renault Kiger Electric SUV SpiedYes. Kiger EV. Most of us were expecting Renault to launch Kwid EV, as a version of the same, has been launched in many countries already. But with the Kiger electric spy shots now emerging on the internet, it seems like more or less certain which will be Renault’s first electric car in India.Kiger EV spy shots are credit to Talking Cars channel. Seen in a shade of blue, similar to the one which is already on offer with Kiger petrol, Kiger Electric is identical in design to its ICE counterpart. Charging socket is placed under the front logo.Renault Kiger Electric SUV SpiedRenault Kiger Electric interiors too have been spied. Layout is similar to the Kiger petrol, except for the missing gear lever. Instead Kiger EV gets buttons and a rotating knob for selecting drive mode.  Hand brake lever can also be seen. Door panels, steering wheel, seat fabric all are similar to petrol Kiger.Expected Specs, RangeRenault Kiger EV could get a similar battery and electric motor that is on offer with Kwid EV in China. It gets a 26.8 kWh battery pack which will power the motor to deliver 44 hp and 125 Nm torque. Claimed range could be about 300 kms. Considering Kiger is a bit bigger in size, it could accommodate a larger battery pack than the Kwid EV. This will help in delivering a higher range, of maybe 350 kms.Currently, Renault has Kwid, Kiger and Triber on sale. All powered by petrol engine option. Considering these three cars are built on the same platform, it is likely that Renault could launch a Kwid EV or Triber EV in the future. Kiger’s cousin, Magnite is also likely to benefit and we could see Nissan Magnite electric launch later this year.Renault Kiger Electric SUV SpiedWith the launch of their first electric car, 2023 seems to be the year Renault India could be looking forward to. Renault Kiger EV will take on the likes of upcoming Tata Punch EV and Citroen eC3. Renault could price the Kiger EV in the Rs 10-15 lakh range. More details will be revealed in the coming months.Source More

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      in Electric Cars

      2023 Ather Electric Scooter Updates – New Colours, Features & More

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      There was a lot to unpack from Ather Community Day 2023, which included new features, additions, design changes and new colours2023 Ather Electric Scooter Updates – New coloursAther community day was held today in Bangalore. The company embarked on how this community is special over the last one. At the last event, Ather only had around 6,000 users and today, it is around 80,000 owners. 40,000 of which were clocked in the past 6 months. Ather is optimistic that the next 40,000 users will be clocked in the next 3 months.With a cumulative 500 million kilometers covered, Ather is confident that the Billion Kilometer mark will be covered within the next three months. At this event, Ather stressed how software, or Firmware as they call it, is the most paramount on an electric vehicle. There have been multiple iterations of AtherStack software enabling multiple features along the way. On this platform, Ather announced AtherStack 5.0. There are new features enabled. Let’s take a look.2023 Ather Electric Scooter UpdatesWith AtherStack 5.0, there is a new user interface for users to navigate the system with. With better swipe recognition and touch recognition, there is a fluidic space to enhance user experience. This is a lot smarter than before. Ather is trying to push tapping functionality to gesture-based interactions which are easier to use.There is an attempt by Ather to transform the touchscreen interface to mimic that of a smartphone. Icons like Bluetooth and network lie where they would on a phone. Ather says that 450X is the first scooter in the world with Google Maps. Ather is now introducing vector maps that enable zooming, rotating, perspective change and even layering.2023 Ather Electric Scooter Updates – New UI450X and 450 Plus owners now get live traffic integrated as well. This is more in line with Google Maps on a phone. Along with these, Ather is introducing AutoHold feature which mimics mechanical brake locks on a conventional scooter. This had been under testing for 2 years. Ather intends to bring in Cruise control, Crawl control and advanced regen in the coming months.2023 Ather Electric Scooter Updates – Auto holdAther Battery Protect went live in December 2022. It is a 2-year additional warranty, extending warranty to 5 years or 60,000 km. It covers 100% coverage of any failures. Performance Guarantee is also in this package, which assures range and performance at 70% even at the end of 5 years, and even deep discharge protection. Or else, Ather will replace components free of charge. Ather Battery Protect is standard with new 450X and Gen 2 and Gen 3 owners can buy at a discounted price in January 2023.New Colours For 450XTrip Planner saw enhancements as well and now includes return journeys with multiple stops. Ather has installed up to 900 fast-charging grid points and by March 2023, there will be 1300 pan India. Ather has now developed a 3.3 kW universal AC charger that can charge cars, 2W and has a scan and pay system as well. This is a scalable install and can be of any number at your approved building.2023 Ather Electric Scooter Updates – New SeatAther has also revealed a new seat for 450x. It is plusher and is more comfortable than before. Everyone that attended Community day, will get a free seat upgrade. Further, Ather demonstrated new merchandise including t-shirts and more. Lastly, Ather announced new colours for 450X. There are 4 new colours, Lunar Grey with Red accents, Cosmic Black with Aqua Blue accents, True Red with White accents and Salt Green with Orange accents. Salt Green replaces Mint Green which is offered today. More

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      in Bike

      Royal Enfield Parent Co. Invests In Stark Electric Motorcycles

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      Eicher Motors Ltd. (EML) approves strategic investment in Spanish electric motorcycle manufacturer Stark Future SLStark Electric MotorcycleEicher Motors Ltd., parent company of Royal Enfield announced a strategic collaboration with Spain-based Stark Future SL. Eicher Motors Ltd. Board approved an initial equity investment of € 50 million. This entails close to 10.35% equity stake in Stark Future. Eicher Motors Ltd., will have a Director seat on Stark Future’s Board.A development such as this becomes yet another space that’s getting superbly interesting. Royal Enfield’s reputation revolves around the mid-segment. And this collaboration will explore opportunities in electric mobility. Both Royal Enfield and Stark Future are keen on creating global mobility solutions. The manufacturer launched its first high performance electric motocross bike, Stark VARG recently.Stark VARG high performance electric motocross bikeStark Future is focused on performance electric motorcycles that contribute to sustainable mobility. The manufacturer has several patents on its newly developed Stark VARG.Royal Enfield’s R&D programmes too are focused on sustainable mobility technologies. To this end, several ideas are in an advanced stage of testing. Earlier this year, Royal Enfield electric motorcycle plans were in the news. A concept called Electrik01 was also leaked.Stark Electric Motorcycle ManufacturingThe company intends to create uniquely differentiated electric motorcycles in the midweight segment. A segment where the company leads from the front. The investment sets the foundations for a long term partnership in collaboration research and development in electric motorcycles. This extends to technology sharing, technical licensing, and manufacturing.Real breakout growth in the EV leisure spaceEicher Motors Ltd Managing Director, Siddhartha Lal says, “We love the vision, passion and focus of the amazing team at Stark Future. Leisure motorcycles do not easily lend themselves to EV technology at this stage, due to challenges like the battery range, packaging, weight and cost.This has resulted in stunted growth of this segment till now. Stark Future has been able to understand and harness the potential of EV technology by dramatically outperforming ICE offerings, without compromising on range, weight, packaging and cost.They have created an absolutely astounding motocross motorcycle – the Stark VARG as their entry into the EV world. We believe that Stark Future has the highest potential for real breakout growth in the EV leisure space with this model, and the potential to use this strong base to extend into other contiguous segments and beyond.” More

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      in Bike

      Yezdi Production, Sales To Continue Despite Ban – Company To File Appeal

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      While Karnataka High Court has banned Classic Legends from using Yezdi name, the company is seeking legal advice and will file an appeal shortlyYezdi Motorcycle Ban Update. Image – JAY CHOUDHARYAt a time when Yezdi was just starting to gain traction, a court ruling has barred Classic Legends from using the ‘Yezdi’ trademark. In its order, the court said that the Yezdi trademark name remains the property of the official liquidator (OL) of Ideal Jawa. The case to ban the use of Yezdi trademark was filed by Ideal Jawa Employees Association.These developments are a setback for Classic Legends, which has been tasked to resurrect legendary motorcycle brands. After Jawa debuted in 2018, the company had launched Yezdi motorcycles in January 2022. It currently has three bikes – Yezdi Roadster, Scrambler and Adventure.End of Yezdi?While enthusiasts may be a bit disappointed with legal developments, Classic Legends has assured that production and sales will continue. It will be “subject to order of the Appellate Court”. The company will be challenging the court order and is hopeful of getting a favourable resolution.The case is a bit complicated, as it dates back to 1960 when Ideal Jawa (India) came into existence. Registration of Yezdi trademark was received in 1969. While Yezdi enjoyed its glorious days with a significant fan following, the company eventually started facing existential issues in the 1980s. As a result, the company decided to wind up operations in 1991. As part of the winding up process, an Official Liquidator was appointed in 2001.Yezdi Motorcycle Ban Update. Image – Jay ChoudharyAs the company did not pay the necessary fee to renew the Yezdi trademark, it lapsed and was removed by the Trademark Registry. In parallel, other developments were taking place such as launch of Yezdi website in 1998. Later in 2013 and 2014, the Yezdi trademark was registered in trademark offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad. All these registrations were done by Mr. Boman Irani, who is the claimant of Yezdi trademark in this case.Apparently, no one bothered to file a case at that time since Yezdi trademark had hardly any financial value associated with it in 2013. No one would have thought that Yezdi brand would be revived and gain popularity once again. Now that Yezdi brand has decent financial worth, its ownership is being claimed by two parties.What happens next?As per current court ruling, Ideal Jawa Employees Association stands to gain significantly. The court has ordered that Boman Irani and Classic Legends should pay the company for all the gains made via the use of Yezdi trademark. The Official Liquidator of Ideal Jawa has been directed to appoint a Chartered Accountant firm that can provide an estimate of the overall gains made by Mr. Irani and Classic Legends from use of Yezdi trademark.Both Mr. Irani and Classic Legends have also been directed to pay Rs 10 lakh each to the Official Liquidator. The funds will be utilized for the winding up operations of Ideal Jawa. Classic Legends will be challenging the court order, as per legal recourse suggested by their lawyers. Meanwhile, Yezdi sales and production will continue, dependant on orders of the Appellate Court. It is possible that the matter may be resolved via an out-of-court settlement, as no one will benefit in case of a prolonged legal battle. More