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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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      in Bike

      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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      in Bike

      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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      in Bike

      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

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      in Bike

      Kawasaki Ninja 300 Arrives At Dealer Showroom – First Look Walkaround

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      2021 Kawasaki Ninja 300 BS6. Image – Vinod Nareshan
      The updated Kawasaki Ninja 300 will rival the likes of TVS Apache RR 310, Suzuki Gixxer SF250 and the upcoming KTM RC 390

      Ninja brand of motorcycles from Kawasaki holds a very special place in the hearts of all speed-loving biking enthusiasts from India. The updated Ninja 300 has started reaching dealerships across the country.
      In the latest pics, a dealership in India is shown formally revealing the latest iteration of baby Ninja. Its launch price has been set at Rs 3.18 lakh (ex-showroom) which is Rs 20,000 more than the previous BS4 model. On road Mumbai price is Rs 3.68 lakh.
      2021 Kawasaki Ninja 300 BS6
      Overall Styling
      The updates on the new Ninja are very limited, subtle and only limited to minute cosmetic variations. In terms of design, there is not much difference between the BS6 and BS4 models. Most design elements of the previous version of Ninja 300 have been carried forward to the recently launched iteration of the bike.
      This includes a twin-pod headlight cluster, a muscular fuel tank, split-style seats, aggressive split headlamps, a chrome heat shield on the muffler, upswept exhaust and front blinkers on the fairing. The unveiling at dealership and a short video walkaround of the new Kawasaki Ninja 300 can be seen below. Video is credit to Vinod Nareshan.
      [embedded content]
      Large ventilation holes on Ninja 300 are inspired by the brand’s flagship ZX-14R. It also gets three new colour options which give the motorcycle a fresh appeal. These are- Lime Green, Candy Lime Green and Ebony.
      The first one is our pick since it gets a white engine cowl on its underbelly with red accents which are definitely the highlight to watch out for in the new Ninja 300. The riding stature is as usual leaning forward and it sports a minimalist design at the tail section.
      Mechanical Specs
      Mechanically, the new Ninja 300 is every bit identical to its predecessor. It is built on a tube diamond steel frame which is suspended on 37 mm telescopic forks at front and a preload-adjustable mono-shock at rear.
      2021 Kawasaki Ninja 300 BS6
      Stopping duties are carried out by 290mm and 220mm petal disc brakes at front and rear with power delivered by dual-piston calipers on both ends. Safety net is provided by dual-channel ABS as standard. It retains the semi-digital instrument console.
      Coming to its powertrain, the faired race machine draws power from a BS6 compliant 296cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine that could push out 38.4 bhp of power at 11,000 rpm and 27 Nm of peak torque at 10,000 rpm. It is paired with a 6-speed gearbox with a slip and assist clutch for quicker and smoother gear shifts. The same engine-gearbox combination is also likely to be offered in Versys X300 which is expected to be the Japanese bikemaker’s next big launch. More

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      in Bike

      Bajaj Platina 110 ABS Launch Price Rs 66k – Rs 1k More Than H Gear

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      Bajaj Platina 110 ABS
      Platina is the first 110 cc commuter motorcycle in India to get ABS

      In a move that could make rivals sit up and take notice, Bajaj has launched its popular Platina 110 motorcycle with ABS. This will be a segment-first feature that could attract customers looking for improved safety.
      As per rules, ABS is mandatory only for two-wheelers above 125cc. For below 125cc motorcycles, it is mandatory to have combined breaking system (CBS). Platina 110 current model has CBS. It has 240mm disc at the front and 110 mm drum brake at the rear with CBS. The ABS variant will have single-channel ABS integrated with the front disc brake.
      Bajaj Platina 110 ABS other updates
      To ensure that the ABS variant does not become too pricey, Bajaj has downgraded some of the features available with current model (Platina H-gear). For example, the semi-digital instrument console has been replaced with a completely analogue unit. Platina 110 ABS has analogue speedometer and odometer unit on the left, which also displays the ABS icon. On the right, there is analogue fuel gauge along with other standard indictors.
      In comparison, the semi-digital instrument console on-board Platina 110 H-gear model has features such as trip meter, gear shift indicator, low battery indicator and clock. Another cost cutting measure is a standard sticker that replaces the 3D ‘Platina’ logo on the fuel tank.
      Bajaj Platina 110 ABS
      To create a distinct identity for Platina 110 ABS variant, Bajaj has introduced some visual updates. Key among them is white coloured alloy wheels.  It is to note that other Bajaj motorcycles such as the premium Pulsar RS and NS range have this type of styling. In other updates, turn indicators have been replaced with sleeker units and there is ‘ABS’ branding in gold shade.
      Bajaj Platina 110 ABS engine
      Bajaj Platina 110 ABS will continue using the 115.45 cc, single cylinder, electronic injection engine that is capable of generating 8.6 PS of max power at 7000 rpm and 9.81 Nm of peak torque at 5000 rpm. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
      Suspension system will also be the same as earlier; telescopic units at the front and Nitrox gas canister based rear suspension. Bajaj Platina 110 ABS will continue to offer superior comfort to users, which has been one of its primary USPs.
      Bajaj introducing a premium safety feature in its 110 cc monocycle is commendable. However, it remains to be seen if the strategy translates into sale volumes. Platina 110 ABS is priced at Rs 65,926 while the current model H Gear retails at a starting price of Rs 64,685 (ex-showroom, New Delhi). Price is an important factor in this segment, so not all customers may be willing to pay a higher price.
      Mr Sarang Kanade, President – Domestic Motorcycles Business Unit, Bajaj Auto Ltd said, “The new Platina 110 ABS offers unmatched safety by offering riders complete control over unforeseen braking scenarios. We hope that millions of Indians who ride across varying terrains & roads of the country would take cognizance of the need to keep themselves & their loved ones safe and upgrade to the best-in-segment braking technology. The brand Platina has an unmatched proposition of Comfort with over 7 million satisfied customers as a testament to its segment-leading attributes and now with the addition of ABS, it remains a generation ahead of its competitors.” More

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      in Electric Cars

      Tata Nexon Electric Removed From Delhi EV Policy Subsidy List

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      Tata Nexon Electric Subsidy Removed
      Tata Nexon EV de-listed from Delhi EV Policy subsidy eligibility until further notice

      There’s no denying that if one were to opt for an electric car, the options in India are limited to the point of being disadvantageous for the buyer. You either buy this, that, or that. Nothing more. And now trouble seems to be brewing in this limited scope. 
      The matter first surfaced in February 2021 when the company was given the opportunity to counter complaints raised. When it comes to EVs, Delhi has for long been wanting to lead the charge where EV adoption is concerned. This translates into actual benefits for electric car buyers.
      One is offered a purchase incentive of 10 grands per kWh of battery capacity. The max incentive is capped at Rs 1.5 lakhs and is available to the first 1,000 electric cars to be registered in Delhi. Additional benefits include Road Tax, and reg fee waivers. Under the Delhi EV incentive policy, Tata Nexon EV ZX+ was approved.
      ARAI test result
      As is rampant in marketing material, and media information, Nexon EV single charge drive range is stated at 312 kms. A vehicle owner refuted the claim saying his car never provided a range of more than 200 kms. He did follow all advice offered by the dealership (Treo, Safdarjung Enclave) in question. No amount of effort resulted in range improvement. Tata Motors was issued a show cause notice, and a rep countered the matter at hand.
      Mr Gahlot, Cabinet Minister, Govt of NCT of Delhi
      In short, Tata says the Tata Nexon EV got 312 kms on a single full charge during mandatory testing by ARAI. There’s no subjective representation of range of kms on a single charge. Its vehicle has a minimum range of 140 kms as per norm, which also serves as an eligibility criteria for said Policy. Actual range varies on independent factors including use of AC, driving pattern, real-time traffic conditions, and on-ground conditions, User familiarity with new tech is also mentioned. Tata Motors implies that as customers get familiar with the EV, results improve in 4-6 weeks. 
      Tata Motors assertions
      Reasoning furnished by Tata Motors was found to be non-satisfactory.  The body determined that while ARAI testing of 312 kms has value, it’s not sufficient to undermine the complainant’s result, which is based on actual and real time experience. ARAI isn’t responsible for granting each and every Tata unit will function optimally and the particular piece and model could be faulty.
      Despite the situation having come to a head, Tata Motors hasn’t taken any corrective measure to disprove the component by involving any independent third party. A recent post on social media saw a Doc discuss the EVs range in an adverse manner. Which means, this is not an isolated incident, and the ruling body finds merit in the second complaint made by a responsible person in society.
      Pending further investigation
      In simple words, the ruling says, ‘Such a vehicle isn’t expected to perform in a manner, which isn’t in the interest of the very objective behind the said policy.’ Given the situation, the manufacturer can’t be allowed to benefit from the subsidy, as Tata Motor’s is essentially undermining it. The governing body’s stance is clear and looks to be safeguarding customer interest. As a conclusion, if strict action isn’t taken, general public maybe discouraged to rely on range claims made by OEMs. And this is a basic buyer expectation.
      Complainants’ claims as well as assertions made by Tata Motors will now be verified by a specially constituted committee before a final decision is made. In the meantime, until a final report is pending, and to prevent further adverse fallout on the EV policy and its clearly outlined objectives, the situation necessitates the suspension of the Tata Nexon EV listing.

      Tata Nexon Subsidy De-listed from Delhi EV Policy

      Tata Nexon Subsidy De-listed from Delhi EV Policy

      Tata Nexon Subsidy De-listed from Delhi EV Policy

      Tata Nexon Subsidy De-listed from Delhi EV Policy More

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      in Bike

      Okinawa Electric Motorcycle Oki 100 Launch Soon – First Teaser Released

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      Okinawa Electric Motorcycle Teaser
      Save for the battery cells, all the other components of the electric bike will be sourced locally

      Okinawa Autotech showcased the Oki 100 electric motorcycle in the form of a prototype in 2018 Auto Expo. At 2020 Auto Expo, the fast growing electric two wheeler brand announced that its first motorcycle will be launched in the festive season. However, just like several other cases, the Okinawa Oki 100’s launch plans were hampered by the pandemic crisis. Now that the market is recovering, the brand has teased the production version which is set to be launched soon.
      Okinawa Oki 100
      The Okinawa Oki 100 is a compact commuter electric motorcycle which derives its styling inspiration from the Ducati Monster. The LED headlamp, red painted trellis frame, the pseudo fuel tank, and the tailpiece have obvious resemblance to the Italian middle-weight street fighter.
      Compared to the prototype, the production version which has been teased seems to miss out on a few items in a bid to keep the costs in check. For example, the LED turn indicators have been done away with in favor of conventional halogen units. The company earlier confirmed that the Oki 100 will offer connectivity features with a dedicated smartphone app.
      Specifications
      Without revealing the final specifications of the production version, Okinawa earlier stated that the motorcycle will have a top-speed of 100 kmph (hence the 100 in its name) and it will be heavily localized. In fact, save for the battery cells, all the other components will be locally made.
      Okinawa Electric Motorcycle Teaser
      Capacity of the lithium ion battery pack has not been revealed yet but expect the electric commuter to have a range of up to 150 km on a single charge. For reference, the prototype which was showcased in 2018 was powered by a 60 Ah 73 V battery pack which was capable of charging in two hours through a fast charger. The motor was a 3.3 hp unit. Okinawa hinted that the final production version is most likely to have a different battery and motor combination but the key performance figures would remain intact.
      The compact electric motorcycle is equipped with telescopic front forks, monoshock rear suspension, alloy wheels, front and rear disc brakes (could be offered with single-channel ABS), fully digital instrument console, and a belt drive.
      Rivals and price
      With a near 100% localization right from day one, the Okinawa Oki 100 motorcycle is expected to be competitively priced. A starting price of around INR 1 lakh (ex-showroom) would be an attractive proposition.
      Competition will come from the likes of Revolt RV400 which is already in the market and the upcoming Tork T6X which is likely to be introduced later this year. The Okinawa Oki 100 will be manufactured at the company’s Rajasthan plant. The electric commuter motorcycle is expected to widen Okinawa’s audience base significantly. More