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      Hero Passion, Splendor, Xtreme 100 Million Edition And Xpulse 200T Launched

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      Hero Passion Pro 100 Million Edition. Image – Rohit Rider
      The Hero Motocorp 100 Million special edition models sport dual-tone red-white livery but there are no other changes

      Hero Motorcorp has introduced a range of special edition models to commemorate the significant production milestone of surpassing 100 million units. The world’s largest two wheeler maker in terms of volume also introduced a model year update of its Xpulse 200T dual-purpose motorcycle.
      2021 Hero Xpulse 200T
      The BS6-compliant 2021 Hero Xpulse 200T is priced at INR 1.13 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). Considering that the Xpulse is still relatively new in the market, the company chose to retain the styling aspects. The BS6 version is available in three color options namely Sports Red, Matte Shield Gold and Panther Black.
      To recap, the Xpulse 200T is powered by a 199.6 cc oil-cooled single-cylinder engine which is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The power and torque figures stand at 18.1 hp and 16.15 Nm respectively. The motorcycle weighs 154 kg and has a ground clearance of 177 mm.
      Feature highlights include a fully digital instrument console with smartphone enabled turn-by-turn navigation system, LED headlamp, front and rear disc brakes with single-channel ABS, alloy wheels and so on. Take a look at the detailed walkaround video of the new Hero Xpulse 200T in the video below, credit to Iam Hyper Rider.
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      100 Million special editions
      Hero Motocorp crossed the significant production milestone in January this year and the 100 millionth motorcycle was a Hero Xtreme 160R. The company has introduced three special edition variants and is set to launch more such variants in the coming days.
      Hero Xtreme 160R 100 Million Edition. Image – MotoXpert Khan
      The Hero Xtreme 160R 100 Million special edition is dearer than the regular two-disc variant by INR 1,800 at INR 1,08,750 (ex-showroom, Delhi). It gets a special white and red livery. There are no other visual enhancements. The street fighter continues to sport LED headlamps, taillight and turn indicators, digital instrument panel, side stand engine cut-off and so on. Power comes from a 163 cc air-cooled engine pushing out 15 hp and 14 Nm of torque.
      Similarly, the Hero Splendor Plus and Passon Pro 100 Million editions are also swathed in special red and white paint job. The special edition Splendor Plus is available in a single variant priced at INR 67,095 while the Passion Pro special edition is available in two variants – disc (INR 69,200) and drum (INR 71,400). All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.
      New Hero Splendor 100 Million Edition. Image – ConsumerABS
      Power the Hero Splendor Plus is a time-proven 97.2 cc air-cooled engine which develops a modest 7.9 hp and 8.05 Nm of torque. The 113 cc air-cooled unit of the Passion Pro puts out 9 hp and 9.89 Nm of torque. Both motorcycles make do with a 4-speed transmission.
      Hero Motocorp will also launch 100 Million editions of Glamour, Destini 125 and Maestro Edge. These special edition versions are expected to have a limited production run for a few months. As a part of its market consolidation strategy, the Indian two wheeler stalwart is planning to introduce 10 new products every year. We can expect a significant electrification drive in the coming years. More

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      2021 KTM RC 200, 125 Spied Testing In India For First Time – New Gen

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      2021 KTM RC 200 / 125 Spied in India – New Gen
      The 2020 KTM RC 200 and its family members will feature revised rear sub-frame and new fairing panels

      The next generation KTM RC family of compact fully faired sportsbikes have been in the news for quite sometime now. The RC 125, 200 and 390 are much older than their Duke siblings but that is going to chance soon.
      A camouflaged prototype of what appears to be either 2021 KTM RC 200 or 125 has been spied testing in India for the first time. Images are credit to Wheel Tronicz on Instagram.
      2021 KTM RC 200 / 125 Spied in India – New Gen
      2021 KTM RC 200 – New styling
      We think this prototype is either an RC 200 or 125 because the RC 390 prototypes which were spotted testing in Europe featured a conventional side slung exhaust canister to meet the stringent emission norms. This particular mule continues to employ underbelly exhaust indicating that a smaller displacement motor does not need larger catalytic converter and hence can manage with an underbelly unit.
      As with the new KTM RC 390, the smaller engined siblings will feature a completely overhauled styling. The new headlamp is in-line with the brand’s new design identity and the fairing around it has a slightly larger surface area than before.
      2021 KTM RC 200 / 125 Spied in India – New Gen
      On the sides, the panels are more revealing than before. For example, the current motorcycle hides the base of the crank case but the upcoming model makes no attempt at concealing it.
      The bodywork is sharper than before but there is an awkward gap between the steering mount and the instrument console which may take a bit of getting used too. Another important change is the rear sub-frame but the tailpiece appears to be retained without significant styling changes. KTM has reportedly worked on making the 2021 RC family more comfortable for taller riders, so expect considerable change in ergonomics.
      Specifications at a glance
      The New Gen KTM RC 200, or the 125 and 390 for that matter, is likely to retain the engine without any change. In case of the RC 200, the existing 199.5 cc liquid-cooled mill dishes out a healthy 25 hp and 19.2 Nm of torque. Transmission is a 6-speed unit. Despite no changes, the motor will still be the most powerful unit in its segment.
      2021 KTM RC 200 / 125 Spied in India – New Gen
      The trellis frame will continue to employ WP inverted telescopic front fork and rear monoshock suspension system. The 2021 KTM RC 200 and its brethren adopt new front disc brake whose rotor is mounted to the spokes rather than the wheel hub. The India-spec RC 200 is expected to carry forward a single-channel ABS to keep the costs in check while the export-spec variant is likely to offer dual-channel system as a standard fitment.
      The 2021 KTM RC 200, 390 and 125 will be made in India at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan facility for global consumption. India is expected to be the launch market for the new generation family of compact sportsbikes. Launch is expected sometime later this year. More

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      Tata Nexon Electric Granted Stay Against Delisting From Delhi EV Policy

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      Image – Auto Town
      Under test conditions is an accepted industry norm, so selectively targeting Nexon seems unfair

      In response to Delhi’s government’s decision to remove Nexon EV from its subsidy list, Tata Motors approached Delhi High Court for a resolution. As may be recalled, Delhi govt. had taken the decision based on a complaint filed by a Nexon user. As per the complaint, Nexon never reached the claimed ARAI certified range of 312 km.
      A Tata Motors spokesperson said, “The Honourable Delhi High Court has issued notice on our writ and granted interim relief by directing a stay against the delisting of Nexon EV from Delhi Government’s eligible list of vehicles. The Honourable High Court has granted time to the Delhi Government to file counter affidavit in the matter.”
      Tata Motors case in Delhi HC
      In its plea, Tata Motors stated that Delhi government’s decision is an extreme step and based on a single complaint filed by an unsatisfied and disgruntled consumer. The plea also mentions that actual range of most other vehicles including petrol, diesel and CNG is different from the claimed range. This is because mileage of a vehicle is dependent on multiple factors such as environment, traffic conditions, overall load, use of AC, condition of the vehicle, driver skills, etc.
      Tata Motors response seems valid as there are various consumer goods that come with claims based on tests conducted in a controlled environment. In the auto industry, it would be difficult to find a vehicle that can match its claimed mileage in actual road tests. Unless Delhi govt. is planning to pinpoint the shortcomings of generally accepted industry norms, it has little chance to win this case in court.
      Tata Nexon Electric
      Facts in favour of Tata Motors
      It is to note that the current suspension of subsidy for Nexon EV is a temporary one. The final decision will be taken after the expert committee submits its report to Delhi government. The committee will look into the complaints filed by Nexon users as well as assertions made by Tata Motors. The committee has representatives from Delhi Transport Department, Tata Motors, and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS).
      In its earlier response to Delhi government, Tata Motors had stated that its claimed mileage is certified by ARAI, which is a govt. approved designated body for testing all mass-produced vehicles. As such, the 312 km range is a proven thing under test conditions. The company has also said that Nexon EV easily meets the minimum range requirement of 140 km, which is necessary to be covered under FAME-II subsidy scheme.
      It further said that Nexon EV has already been approved, as per the eligibility conditions mentioned in Delhi EV Policy 2020. Tata Motors had pointed out that even the complainant has mentioned 200 km range, which is higher than the minimum requirement of 140 km to qualify for the subsidy. These points helped Tata Motors get a favourable decision in the court.
      In response, Delhi government’s assertions seem to ignore all the existing rules and laws and focus solely on the complaints filed by some dissatisfied Nexon users. It’s quite like target fixation as of now. That’s unlikely to have any value in the court of law. More

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      2021 TVS Apache 160 Updated – More Torque, Less Weight

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      2021 TVS Apache 160
      TVS Apache RTR 160 4V locks its horns with Hero Xtreme 160R and Bajaj Pulsar NS160

      TVS currently seems to be on a spree to update its Apache series of sporty commuter motorcycles. After the updated 2021 Apache RTR 200 4V, the Hosur-based bikemaker has now launched the 2021 Apache RTR 160 4V. Available in two variants- Drum brake and Disc brake variants, the latest iteration of the bike has been priced at Rs 1.07 lakh and Rs 1.10 lakh respectively (both prices ex-showroom).
      This means there is no increase in prices when compared to the older model. It will be offered in three colour schemes namely- Racing Red, Knight Black and Metallic Blue. Apart from a handful of cosmetic updates it also gets a slight tweak in its powertrain output as well.
      TVS Apache Prices March 2021 (Ex-Delhi)
      Cosmetic Updates
      The naked streetfighter now comes with an all-new dual-tone seat with a carbon fiber-styled pattern. It has also managed to shed 2 kilos and now tips the weighing scales at 147 kg for the disc brake variant, while the drum brake variant weighs 145 kg.
      The updated RTR 160 4V comes with a reshaped LED headlamp with claw-styled position lamps that add to its overall premium appeal. The cosmetic changes are limited to these updates only. Take a look at the official TVC of new Apache 160 below.
      [embedded content]
      Boost in Output
      However, the manufacturer has also managed to alter the output from its motor. The updated naked motorcycle is powered by a 159.7 cc, single-cylinder, 4-valve, oil-cooled engine that now kicks out 17 bhp at 9250 rpm and 14.73 Nm torque at 7250 rpm.
      This is a bump of 1 bhp and 1 Nm which makes it the most powerful bike in its segment. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The bump in the motor’s output plus the reduction in its weight means an increase in power to weight ratio and will be interesting to see the impact created in its riding experience.
      On the occasion of the launch, Meghashyam Dighole, Head – (Marketing) Premium Motorcycles, TVS Motor Company, said, “The new 2021 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V offers best-in-class performance with enhanced power to weight ratio and increased torque, offering our customers better-riding experiences along with advanced technologies.”
      Features on offer
      The equipment list on the bike has not been altered as it continues to offer the same set of features including a fully digital instrument panel compatible with SmartXconnect technology. This feature allows riders to connect their smartphones with the instrument console for functionalities such as turn-by-turn navigation and phone-related operations. It also gets a ‘feather touch’ start for increased convenience. Apache RTR 160 4V competes against Bajaj Pulsar NS160 and Hero Xtreme 160R. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Kia Electric Crossover EV6 First Official Teasers – LED Lights Detailed

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      Kia EV6
      The Kia EV6 adopts a brand new design philosophy which gets rid of the trademark Tiger Shark grille

      Kia has released a teaser of its first EV to be born of a dedicated electric vehicle platform. Dubbed as the Electric-Global Modular Platform or E-GMP, the flexible architecture is set to be the backbone of the South Korean automaker’s future product portfolio, starting with the EV6 crossover.
      Kia EV6
      The Kia EV6 is not only the first battery electric vehicle to be developed on E-GMP it is also the first vehicle to feature the brand’s new design philosophy which has been realigned with the shifting focus towards electrification. Speaking about the new design philosophy, Kia’s senior VP and head of Kia Global Design Center Karim Habib stated that the aim was to design the physical experience of Kia brand with bold, original and inventive electric vehicles.
      Kia has also unveiled its rather simple naming strategy for its upcoming range of fully electric vehicles. The common prefix EV leaves no doubt about the nature of powertrain while the number 6 denotes the position of the vehicle in the global portfolio. All the future BEVs from Kia will be featuring this alfa-numeric nomenclature.
      What to expect?
      The Kia EV6 is set to make its world premiere during the first quarter of 2021 and that means, we should be seeing the car in its full glory sometime before the end of this month. Details are pretty scarce as of now.
      [embedded content]
      From what we see in the teaser, the new design language phases out the quintessential Tiger Shark grille element and replaces it with a narrow slot. With no IC engine to be cooled down, the designers could emphasis more on aerodynamic efficiency. Angular LED headlamps and curvy bonnet characterize the front fascia.
      The sporty silhouette a near flat roof and steeply raked C-pillar reminds us of the Toyota C-HR. Rear combination lamps appears to run across the width of the car and them some more. Finer details are under wraps but we will know soon. We expect the vehicle to have grounds up interior design as well. We won’t be surprised to see more than one display screens with wide range of functionalities.
      The Kia EV6 is expected to be offered with a range of pure electric powertrains with different outputs and ranges to cover a wide audience base. Keeping up with the trend, the EV6 is likely to be equipped with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) features such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Park Assist, and so on.
      Kia’s next generation range of electric vehicles will eventually make it to India, but we don’t expect them to be here in a hurry. The next launch from Kia in India is going to be an MPV, which will be based on Seltos platform. This new MPV will launch sometime early next year. More

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      Ola Electric Scooter First Official Images Released – Launch Soon

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      Ola Electric Scooter
      The upcoming electric scooter from Ola will be manufactured at the company’s plant in Tamil Nadu

      Ola Electric’s first e-scooter offering has been officially released today. The company, a subsidiary of public mobility aggregator Ola Cabs, last year announced its intention of manufacturing its own line of electric scooters by creating a separate arm for electric vehicle development.
      Last year in May 2020, the ride-hailing giant had acquired Amsterdam-based electric scooter company Etergo BV for an undisclosed amount. The first product to come out of this joint venture is Ola’s version of Etergo AppScooter. The electric scooter is slated to launch in the coming few weeks.
      Ola Electric Scooter
      Details about the upcoming Ola e-scooter
      From the looks of it, testing prototypes of the e-scooter look similar to AppScooter. It even gets the same telescopic forks at front. Although, this iteration of the electric scooter will get a few more subtle updates in order to distinguish itself from its Dutch twin. Its riding dynamics look simple although the rider sits high up with loads of ground clearance on offer.
      As of now, there has been no official word from Ola regarding the development of this e-scooter. What we do know is that Etergo AppScooter uses swappable high energy density batteries to deliver a range of up to 240 km. As claimed by the company, the AppScooter can do a 0-45 kmph sprint in 45 seconds and comes with a digital instrument console and an under-seat storage capacity of 50 litres. More details about its specifications are expected to be revealed in the coming days.
      Ola Electric Scooter
      Found in 2015, Etergo in the past has had developmental experiences with major EV manufacturers such as General Motors, Tesla, Ferrari, BMW and Jaguar. AppScooter has been the recipient of multiple the Automotive Brand Contest in Germany and CES 2019 to name a few.
      Ola’s New EV Manufacturing Facility
      The first batch of Ola e-scooters will be manufactured in Etergo’s Netherlands-based facility. As reported earlier, Ola is building a manufacturing facility of its own in Tamil Nadu which is slated to be the largest two-wheeler manufacturing facility in the country. Ola Electric Factory is nestled in a 500 acre area in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, in India. Being presented as the world’s largest two-wheeler factory, it will be capable of an annual production capacity of 10 million vehicles by 2022. Phase 1 will get underway with an initial annual capacity of 2 million in the next quarter, around June 2021.
      This facility upon its completion would have an annual production capacity of nearly 2 million units and would ultimately lead to the creation of 10,000 new jobs. The company recently signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government which entails an investment of Rs 2,400 crore.
      Production at this proposed facility is set to begin in 3-4 months and the site adopts Industry 4.0 Philosophy. The facility will use solar power and will have test tracks. The upcoming e-scooter from Ola is expected to be priced under Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom) and is expected to take on the likes of Ather 450X, Bajaj Chetak and TVS iQube.
      The mega-factory is capable of roll out of a scooter every 2 seconds when at full capacity, which will have a total of 10 production lines. An integrated manufacturing facility, it will house houses varied units dedicated for battery, paintshop, weld, motor, general assembly, finished goods, and two supplier parks – critical suppliers co-located at Ola FutureFactory. The company is building its own factory test track. On the production front, Ola will put 3000 robots will be in use. More

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      2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350 Instrument Cluster Spied – Gets Tripper Navigation

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      2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350
      The new-gen Royal Enfield Classic 350 is expected to be launched in the next few weeks

      Royal Enfield has its hands full with its recent commitment to launch at least four new products every year. Late last year, the brand launched its all-new cruiser Meteor 350 which was followed by an updated version of Himalayan early this year. For the next quarter, it is expected that the Chennai-based bikemaker will introduce a new generation model of Classic 350.
      Test mules of the upcoming Classic 350 have been spotted on numerous occasions recently. Seeing all spy shots, there hardly seems to be any cosmetic difference between the new model and the current model, at first glance at least. It is evident that Royal Enfield wouldn’t want to tinker with the design of a bike that has been the company’s best-seller for many years.
      Revised Instrument Cluster
      However, there are some crucial additions to this motorcycle that would make the upcoming iteration of the retro-styled classic bike a little more than just bare bones. For the first time, the revamped instrument cluster of the upcoming Classic 350 has been spied.
      We get to notice two important additions- a small digital display along with a Tipper Navigation pod beside it. The digital display will probably read out basic information from the odometer and fuel gauge. It retains the manual speedometer.
      2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350
      The Tripper Navigation made its first appearance in Meteor 350 and later on the update Himalayan and would soon be made available on all models across Royal Enfield’s range. It provides turn-by-turn navigation on the display pod when connected to the rider’s smartphone via the Royal Enfield App where one can enter destination information. The app world in association with Google Maps which feeds the data on the display screen of the pod.
      Styling
      As mentioned earlier, Royal Enfield has not made many changes to its overall design with most of its elements being carried over from the current model. This includes circular headlamps with chrome bezels, chrome-plated exhaust, broad rear fenders, circular rearview mirrors and a teardrop-shaped fuel tank.
      The only notable updates spotted are narrower round LED lights and turn indicators. It gets new split seats with better cushioning for a more comfortable long-distance ride. It now gets a new single-piece grab rail which is positioned slightly higher for better reach to the pillion.
      2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350
      Specifications
      As far as hardware is concerned it will be based on a new J platform the same which underpins Meteor 350. It is built on a double-cradle chassis instead of a single downtube frame as in the current model though suspension setup hasn’t been tinkered much.
      The new-gen Classic 350 will be powered by an all-new 348cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine which churns out 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm of peak torque. This is 1 bhp more and 1 Nm less than the current model’s output. It will be linked to a new 5-speed gearbox. Upon its launch, it will rival the likes of Benelli Imperiale, Jawa Forty-Two and Honda H’Ness CB350. More

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      KTM Plans To Launch GasGas Enduro Motorcycles In India

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      GasGas EC250F
      With is new street-legal lineup, KTM’s subsidiary would be aiming to cater to India’s under served off-road motorcycle segment

      Riding on a strong global sales performance in the recent years, KTM went on an acquisition spree in a bid to consolidate its position as Europe’s largest motorcycle brand. After bringing the Swedish Husqvarna brand into its umbrella and successfully widening its scope, the Austrian brand went ahead and acquired Spanish off-road specialist GasGas in 2019. We have learnt that KTM is gearing up to introduce GasGas in India later this year.
      GasGas enduro motorcycle coming to India
      GasGas specializes primarily in medium displacement and pure electric off-road motorcycles but with access to KTM’s well established road-legal platforms, the brand is preparing to foray into new volume-rich segments. International media reports speculate that GasGas is currently working on as many as 3 street motorcycles which are mostly likely to adopt enduro and/or adventure tourer body styles.
      While two of them are expected to be based on KTM’s 790 Duke platform, the entry level model is most likely to be a 250 cc model based on India-made Duke’s platform. So, we believe this quarter liter enduro is going to be the first GasGas to be introduced in our market.
      While the critical components of this platform are already heavily localized in India, some parts including the bodywork are likely to be imported. We expect the GasGas to have a relatively low volume run compared to its KTM and Husqvarna siblings.
      GasGas EC250F
      GasGas 250 motorcycle
      GasGas already has a 250 cc hardcore, track-focused off-roader in its international portfolio in the form of EC250F which retails at 9,700 euros (over INR 8.5 lakh) but we don’t it is a viable product for India. The brand’s new range of street motorcycles are still under wraps and India is likely to be the launch market for one of them.
      The enduro segment in India is heavily under served as of now. The Hero Impulse 200 is the closest one could get to a compact displacement enduro motorcycle in India but it still not serious enough to appeal to hardcore off-road enthusiasts.
      The upcoming GasGas motorcycle based on KTM platform would be aiming to address this niche. With WP suspension setup, high ground clearance, off-road tyres, spoke wheels and lightweight body, the motorcycle is expected to have an entirely different character compared to its platform-mates.
      Launch timeline
      If things progress as per schedule, the new street-legal GasGas enduro motorcycle should be launched in India sometime later this year. In fact the imported kits for the motorcycle have already reached India. GasGas products will be retailed through well established KTM dealership network in the country. We expect the pricing to be on the premium end and dearer than the existing KTM 250 products. More