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      TVS Ntorq Avengers Marvel Edition Launch – Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain America

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      TVS Ntorq Avengers Marvel Iron Man Edition
      Apart from the superhero-inspired liveries, there are no other changes to the premium scooter

      Just as expected, it is raining special edition variants in both two- and four-wheeler segments, all aiming to take full advantage of the festive season rush. We have seen Hero and Bajaj introducing new variants of its existing models, and now, TVS has joined the fray. The TVS Ntorq Avengers edition scooter with liveries commemorating Iron Man, Captain America and Black Panther have been spied ahead of their office launch later today.
      TVS Ntorq Avengers Super Squad Edition
      Called the Super Squad Edition, the special variants sport Avenger branding at strategic locations like on the front apron and side panels. The Iron Man edition is finished in matte red with golden accents to mimic the superhero’s flying suit. Below is the official teaser video.

      The Captain America livery, as the name suggests, have the depiction of the famous shield on the side panels of the front apron. This variant is liveried in matching blue, white and red.
      There is also a Black Panther Super Soldier edition with black and purpose colour dual-tone colour theme. It remains to be seen if the TVS Ntorq Avengers edition will be available more super-hero-inspired liveries or not.
      TVS Ntorq Avengers Marvel Black Panther Edition
      Equipment
      The TVS Ntorq Avengers Super Squad editions appear to be based on the Race Edition which is equipped with LED headlamps as a standard fitment in addition to 12-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, petal front disc brake, 3D Ntorq logo on the engine cover, split grab rails, USB charger, fully digital instrument console with 60 functions including Bluetooth connectivity, and so on.
      TVS Ntorq Avengers Marvel Captain America Edition
      Specifications
      Powering the TVS Ntorq Avengers edition is the same 124.8 cc air-cooled, fuel-injected mill that caters to the regular variant. Mated to a CVT, the motor delivers 9.25 hp and 10.5 Nm of torque. Suspension system comprises telescopic front forks and rear shock absorbed with hydraulic dampers. A 220 mm disc at the front and a 130 mm rear drum form the braking system.
      The TVS Ntorq Race Edition is priced at INR 75,365 (ex-showroom, Delhi). Expect the Avengers Super Squad edition to be dearer by a few thousand rupees when it hits the showrooms later this month.
      Rivals
      The TVS Ntorq, with its 125 cc engine, sharp styling and plethora of features, targets the young urban audience. The premium automatic scooter locks horns with the likes of Hero Maestro 125 which recently spawned Stealth edition, Aprilia Storm 125, Yamaha RayZR 125 and Honda Grazia.
      Two wheeler sales in general have been witnessing impressive recovery post lockdown. The pent up demand due to inactivity in the previous months, new-found inclination to avoid public transportation and positive sentiment around festive season combined together to give the auto industry a much needed shot in the arm. More

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      Hero Splendor+ Black Accent Edition Launched – 4 New Colours

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      After launching special editions of their scooter range, Hero has now launched special edition of their best selling motorcycle
      Hero Splendor+ Black Accent Edition

      For this festive season, India’s best selling motorcycle, the Hero Splendor Plus, will be available in a special Black and Accent edition. Launched at INR 64,470 (ex-showroom, Delhi, excluding the decal kit), the special edition motorcycle can be specified with one of four livery options that were designed by customers as a part of Hero CoLabs initiative.
      Hero Splendor Plus Black and Accent Edition
      The special edition variant offers the customer the option of selection of the four liveries at the time of purchase. Below are the prices of all Splendor+ variants on offer.
      Hero Splendor+ Prices Oct 2020
      As the name suggests, the Black and Accent Edition has black as base colour with interesting decals. Customers can also opt for the plain black theme without any decals.
      It is to be noted that the 3D Hero logo is an optional accessory. The loudest decals of the lot is the Firefly Golden one which covers most of the fuel tank area, side panels, tailpiece and bikini fairing.
      Hero Splendor+ Black Accent Edition
      The Bumblebee Yellow decal option adopts a minimal approach with thin lines at strategic places. The Beetle Red and white option strikes a balance between the other two and adds a sporty touch.
      The decals are priced at INR 899 over the special edition motorcycle’s base price. For INR 1,399, the customers can purchase the decals, rim tapes and the Hero 3D logo kit.
      All these liveries were the winning entries of the contest which saw participation from over 10,000 people from across the country. The company has stated that more such customer-driven design exercises will be carried out in the future.
      Hero Splendor+ Black Accent Edition
      The Hero Splendor Plus Black and Accent edition features black finished alloy wheels, engine and chain cover. There are no other visual or mechanical changes to the commuter motorcycle.
      Specifications at a glance
      The most popular commuter motorcycle in the country is powered by a BS6-compliant version of the time-proven 97.2 cc air-cooled engine which is paired with a 4-speed gearbox. The power and torque figures stand at 7.9 hp and 8.05 Nm respectively.
      Hero Splendor+ Black Accent Edition
      The fuel-injected motor is available with self-start and i3S start/stop technology. The Hero Splendor Plus Black and Accent edition comes equipped with 18-inch black alloy wheels which are shod with 80/100-18 tubeless tyres. A 130 mm drum at each end takes care of braking. More

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      in Electric Cars

      2021 Renault Kwid Electric Debuts As Dacia Spring EV – 295 kms Drive Range

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      What will be launched in India as the Renault Kwid electric car, has been globally unveiled as the new Dacia Spring EV today
      2021 Renault Kwid Electric

      The Dacia Spring Electric small car will be launched in Europe through car sharing service first, and retail sales for private customers will begin later in 2021.
      The Dacia Spring, essentially the fully electric European-spec Renault Kwid, has been unveiled at Renault EWays event. The French automaker describes it as the most affordable electric vehicle in the old continent. The micro-crossover is expected to become the best selling Dacia in due course.

      Dacia Spring EV / 2021 Renault Kwid Electric
      The Dacia Spring carries forward the Renault Kwid’s basic design but incorporates sportier elements. The Dacia badge sits on a revised front grille which also houses sleek LED DRls. Faux skid plates, low-mounted headlamps, high ground clearance gives the compact car a crossover appeal.
      [embedded content]
      The Dacia Spring EV is presented in the car sharing version at the Renault EWays event. Series production model will be ready for Europe next year. The profile is identical to the India-spec Renault Kwid while the rear fascia receives revised LED taillights and a new bumper with prominent silver skid plates.

      Powertrain
      The Dacia Spring EV is powered by an electric motor which is rated at 33 kW and 125 Nm of torque. The 28.6 kWh battery is claimed to offer 225 km of range as per WLTP driving cycle. As per WLTP City cycle, the vehicle has a claimed range of 295 km.
      Using the Wallbox charger, the battery can be fully charged in 4 hours and 27 minutes. The optional DC fast charging cable will allow you to charge 80% of the battery in 50 minutes using a fast charging column. The car can also be charged using domestic socket.

      Features
      The Dacia Spring EV receives a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 3.5-inch color MID, assisted and camera parking, power windows and remote lock. It also gets LED headlights and 14-inch alloy wheels.

      Launch Timeline
      The Dacia Spring will be available first through car sharing services across Europe from early 2021 with Zity being one of the launch partners. The private customers will be able to book their cars in summer 2021 with deliveries starting in spring 2021. There will also be a cargo version with 800 liters (with a payload capacity of 365 kg) of storage volume for zero emission last mile delivery.

      Coming to India?
      With the popularity of electric vehicles steadily increasing in India, the Renault Kwid EV is likely to be introduced in our market a few months after its European debut. The car will compete with the likes of Mahindra eKUV100, Maruti WagonR EV, new Citroen EV, Tata HBX EV in the domestic market. Expect price to be in the Rs 8-10 lakh range. More

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      KTM 250 Adventure Leaks From Dealer Showcase Event – Launch Soon

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      Upon its launch, the KTM 250 Adventure will compete against the likes of Hero Xpulse 200 and Royal Enfield Himalayan

      KTM is all set to make its fans beaming with joy by introducing its entry-level adventure tourer. The Austrian bike maker is expected to launch the 250 Adventure soon around the festive season later this month. Ahead of that, KTM India has showcased the motorcycle to their dealers in India.
      KTM had earlier revealed its plan to launch the 250 Adventure motorcycle in the first quarter of 2020. However, that as not happened. Instead, BAJAJ-KTM launched Husqvarna 250 Twins in February. The launch of KTM 250 was further delayed due to the outbreak of Covid-19. But now it seems the Austrian brand is finally ready to launch its entry-level tourer.
      The company is currently formulating the pre-launch training process of the upcoming 250 Adventure. Although KTM has not officially revealed this upcoming motorcycle, from the leaked video and spy shots plenty of details can be obtained. Below is the leaked video from the dealer showcase event of KTM 250 Adventure in India, giving the first look at the upcoming motorcycle.
      [embedded content]
      Design
      From the images seen until now, it can be said that the 250 Adventure will be an amalgam of 250 Duke and 390 Adventure. Much of its design has been inspired by its elder sibling. However, it is expected to get the single-piece headlamp instead of the split headlamp setup in the new 390 Adventure. Also to keep the cost in check, it is expected to be a halogen unit although it could be equipped with LED DRLs.
      Features
      In KTM’s product portfolio, the 250 Adventure will be placed above 250 Duke at a premium of Rs 30,000-35,000. For this additional premium, the 250 Adventure will get KTM 390 Adventure-like styling and some extra features. This includes a TFT instrument cluster unlike the LCD unit present in its naked sibling.
      This unit will read out essential information but may miss out Bluetooth connectivity present in 390 Adventure. Since being an entry-level bike, the younger adventure tourer is also set to miss other features such as offroad ABS, traction control system, ride by wire and multiple riding modes.
      Mechanical Details
      The 250 Adventure will draw its power from the same 249cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which also powers its naked sibling. This unit is capable enough to produce 30 bhp at 9000rpm and 24 Nm of peak torque at 7500rpm. It will be paired with a six-speed gearbox assisted by a slipper clutch.
      Hardware used on the bike is expected to be the same as 390 Adventure which means it will be built on the same steel trellis frame. Suspension duties will be carried out by WP Apex 43 mm USD at front and mono-shock at rear. The 250 Adventure is expected to be priced around Rs 2.35 lakh (ex-showroom) which will be about Rs 65k lower than 390 Adventure. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Citroen Plans Rs 8 L Electric Car For India – Tata HBX, WagonR EV Rival

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      Citroen has plans to enter the mass-market entry-level EV segment with eCC21 which is expected to be launched in 2022
      Citroen eCC21 Spied in India

      French automaker Groupe PSA is all set to enter into the Indian market through its brand Citroen. The company has already started testing its first product in India- the premium mid-size SUV C5 Aircross. The flagship product of the Citroen is being assembled at CK Birla Group’s facility in Thiruvallur in Tamil Nadu.
      Apart from conventional fuel-powered vehicles, Citroen also has plans to enter into the electric vehicle (EV) segment in India with a small electric car for the mass market, priced at around Rs 8 lakh. Internally codenamed as eCC21, this electric car is expected to be launched somewhere around 2022. It will be a mini crossover UV.
      New Citroen Electric Car India launch will be around the same time when Hyundai brings its first electric car to India. Other manufacturers like Mahindra, Renault, Tata and Maruti Suzuki are eyeing this segment of a mass-market electric car. Mahindra’s eKUV100, Renault’s Kwid EV and Maruti Suzuki’s WagonR Electric, Tata HBX EV all are currently in the developmental phase.
      Citroen eCC21 Electric mini crossover on test by ARAI. Launch price expected Rs 8 lakhs.
      WagonR EV has also been spotted testing on roads and was initially supposed to launch this year. However, things didn’t materialize as planned. There are reports that Tata Motors too is developing an entry-level EV in line of its upcoming small UV HBX. With all these major players vying for the entry-level EV segment, it is sure to pave the path for future EVs in India.
      Other upcoming products of Citroen
      Citroen has set itself a modest sales target of 3,000 units per annum for eCC21 in India with a mid-term plan of selling 1 lakh cars. Although before this electric UV, the French carmaker is slated to launch its flagship mid-size SUV- C5 Aircross in early 2021. This will be followed by a subcompact UV CC21– its first locally manufactured product in India, in the festive season next year. The latter too has already been spotted testing recently.
      As per reports, the CC21 will be based on a flexi-fuel system. It is said to utilise a 1.2-litre petrol engine. Though being a petrol engine, this motor can run on petrol as well as ethanol blends (from 27% to 100%) – making it India’s first biofuel car. Citroen expects that this small UV will be able to give them the edge of being the first-mover in the flexi-fuel segment in India. CC21 is the first product under Citroen’s ambitious smart car platform internally called the C-Cube program.
      Citroen CC21 Mini UV will be India’s first flexi-fuel powered car
      What is this C-Cube program?
      Citroen C-Cube is a program which has been specifically developed for emerging markets like India. Cars under this program are said to be based on CMP (Common Modular Platform), the same which underpins Peugeot 208, although CMP in India will have a high extent of localisation. The CC21 biofuel and electric versions will be followed by other cars in this program which includes a Kia Sonet / Hyundai Venue rivaling compact sub 4m SUV called CC24 in 2022; and a compact sedan the following year.
      Benefits of Ethanol-blended fuel
      The manufacturer has been developing a flexi-fuel system for India as the government has been encouraging the industry to adopt biofuels in order to reduce its fuel import bill. Ethanol-mixed petrol not only reduces CO2 emissions but only improves the octane value of the fuel, thus giving a better performance.
      As of now, oil companies in India have been able to attain only 5-7 percent ethanol blend. For ethanol blend content up to about 10 percent, no modifications are required in the modern internal combustion engines. However, for blends with higher ethanol content, the engine needs to be re-tuned accordingly.
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      Hero Glamour Blaze Edition Launch Price Rs 72k – Cheaper, Yet More Features

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      The Hero Glamour Blaze edition offers more features than top-end variant for less money

      Hero’s onslaught of special edition versions for the festive season has started. The motorcycle stalwart has introduced the Hero Glamour Blaze edition which is priced at INR 72,200. For reference, the regular version is priced at INR 71,000 for the entry level drum brake alloy wheels variant and INR 74,500 for the disk brake alloy wheels variant. All the prices are ex-showroom, Delhi,
      Hero Glamour Blaze Edition – What’s new?
      The Hero Glamour Blaze is finished in a special Matt Vernier Grey paint job with contrasting fluorescent green decals on the side panels, tailpiece and on the bikini fairing. The new colour theme goes well with black finished engine and alloy wheels.
      The Glamour Blaze not only offers alloy wheels and front disc brake just like the more expensive top-end regular variant, but also offers handle-bar mounted USB charger. Either the price is introductory or the Blaze is a special edition with limited production run.

      Hero Motocorp says that the latest Glamour which was launched recently has been enjoying good demand and the special edition which targets the youth is expected to further augment the brand’s popularity.
      Specifications
      The Hero Glamour Blaze continues to employ the regular variant’s 124 cc air-cooled, fuel injected engine which was introduced earlier this year. The BS6-compliant mill is tuned to deliver 10.7 hp and 10.6 Nm of torque. Transmission is a 5-speed unit. The motorcycle receives Hero’s i3S start-stop technology in addition to Auto Sail technology (allows rider to crawl in traffic without having to downshift).

      The recently updated 125 cc commuter motorcycle benefits from longer front suspension travel compared to the BS4 model for improved comfort, digi-analogue instrument console with mileage indicator and brighter headlamp. The motorcycle is equipped with 240 mm front disc and 130 mm rear drum brakes. The 18-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in 80/100-18 front and 100/80-18 rear tyres. The Glamour weights 123 kg.
      Rivals
      The Hero Glamour BS6 competes with the likes of Honda SP125 and Bajaj Pulsar 125. The 125 cc commuter segment offers a good balance of performance and economy, and with other players withdrawing from the market, the existing models enjoy decent demand.

      More special editions from Hero are coming
      Hero Motocorp is getting more special edition models ready to take advantage of the positive buyer sentiment around this festive season. The Hero Maestro Stealth and Pleasure Plus Platinum Black editions were introduced recently. More

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      Kawasaki 175cc Motorcycle India Launch In 2021 – Price Rs 1.25 L Expected

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      Kawasaki W175 is already on sale in other Asian markets and will serve as the most affordable retro-style classic motorcycle in India

      Retro-style classic motorcycles have always been liked by a certain section of the biking community. In recent times, these bikes have been in demand for the masses as well. With Royal Enfield, Jawa, Benelli and now Honda, in the market with their respective motorcycles, any new entrant will find it difficult to make a place for itself in this segment.
      However, as per latest reports, Kawasaki is expected to enter this space with its entry-level W175 next year. W175 is set to be launched in India in the first quarter of 2021 (Jan to Apr 2021 period). It is already on sale in other Asian markets such as Thailand and Indonesia.
      Design
      As seen from the images, Kawasaki 175cc Motorcycle is a retro-styled bike with a simplistic design approach. It gets pure classic styling with round headlamp, spoked wheels which are wrapped around by tube tyres and a peashooter muffler. It is offered with a conventional round analogue instrument cluster which reads out information from the tripmeter, speedometer and odometer.
      At the rear it gets similar turn indicators with squared off tail light. Overall, the layout seems quite basic yet very neat and simple thanks to the blacked out components such as the engine, tail pipe and suspension springs. It gets a single-piece seat with easy contours and good cushioning. Its international spec model weighs just 126 kg, however, this figure is set to increase when it has to meet all the mandatory safety and emission requirements in our country.

      Powertrain
      Coming to its powertrain, the W175 draws its power from a 177cc single-cylinder air-cooled SOHC motor which produces a modest output of 13bhp and 13.2Nm of peak torque. However, this unit in its international spec is in carburetted form. Therefore, output figures might slightly alter if it comes to India where BS6 emission norms and fuel injection are a certainty. This unit comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox and also gets a balancer shaft to help reduce vibrations.
      Dynamics
      The bike is built on a semi-double-cradle frame with a simple box-section swingarm. Suspension duties are carried out by conventional telescopic forks at front with normal rubber stockings and a twin shock setup at rear. Anchoring duties depend on 220mm disc at front and 110mm drum at rear. India-spec model will also be equipped with ABS although only single-channel ABS is expected to be on offer.
      Estimated Price
      Kawasaki W175 is said to be more than 90 percent localised if and when it comes to India. This will make W175 the second bike in the Japanese manufacturer’s portfolio to be engineered within the company’s R&D setup in India. The first localised bike being Ninja 300 which was launched in 2018.
      Upon its launch, it will be deemed as a more affordable motorcycle in comparison to Royal Enfield Classic 350, Jawa and Honda H’Ness CB350. It is expected to be offered at a price of Rs 1.20-1.40 lakh (ex-showroom, India). It will not only be the smallest engine powered Kawasaki road bike to co on sale in India, but will also be the cheapest and most localized.
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      New Royal Enfield Classic 350 Delayed To 2021 – 250cc Project Cancelled

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      The new Royal Enfield Classic 350 will be a very important volume for the brand’s endeavour to neutralize rising competition
      Image – Hriday

      Royal Enfield was originally supposed to enter into the BS6 era with all guns blazing. On test since 2018, the new gen Classic 350 as well as the Meteor 350 were originally planned for launch by March 2020. Its Oct 2020, and none of these motorcycles have been launched yet.
      Delays in product development and capacity expansion has forced the company to take interim measures and introduce updated versions of its older models. Then the pandemic dealt yet another serious blow that has pushed the launch timeline even further.
      New Royal Enfield Classic 350 launch delayed
      The Royal Enfield Meteor 350, the Thunderbird replacement, is not here in time to take full advantage of the festive season. ET reports that the new Royal Enfield Classic 350 will likely be delayed beyond April 2021. This would make volume recovery in the medium term more challenging than anticipated.
      Royal Enfield’s original plan was to introduce one new product every quarter of this financial year and we have already entered the third quarter and nothing happened except multiple leaks of the Meteor 350. With competition stepping up, it is important for the medium-displacement specialist to get its new Classic 350 in the market at the earliest.
      New Gen Royal Enfield Classic 350 has been on test since 2018. Image – Vilvakumar P
      Entry level quarter liter variant axed
      ET also reports that the entry-level volume oriented 250 cc product, internally known as Project V, has been shelved as the company has decided to prioritize profit market over outright sales numbers. The target is reported to be a 25% EBIDTA margin for 50,000 units a month. The company is planning to achieve this by improving its cost structure.
      New Royal Enfield Classic 350 – Specifications
      The next generation Classic 350 will be based on the new modular J Platform that will underpin the brand’s new family of 350 cc models. The test prototypes seemed to be sporting ad-hoc body panels but one can expect the new Classic to wear old-school charm while also offering modern features like LED headlamps, digital instrument console (at least partially digital unit), new paint schemes and so on. We hope that RE retains the spoke wheels and other chrome bits to keep the nostalgia alive.
      The new generation 350 cc single-cylinder, fuel-injected engine will be shared with the soon-to-be-launched Meteor. The air-cooled motor produces 20.2 hp and 27 Nm of torque on board the Meteor. Transmission is a 5-speed unit.
      We don’t expect the motor to undergo any significant changes on board the new Classic. It is reasonable to assume that the new Royal Enfield Classic will feature front and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS and conventional suspension system comprising telescopic front forks and twin rear shock absorbers. Expect prices to be in the range of Rs 1.6 lakhs to Rs 2 lakhs, ex-sh.
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