TVS APACHE RTR 300 aka AKULA 310 spied testing

TVS APACHE RTR 300 CAUGHT TESTING

The production version of the TVS Akula 310 gets spotted testing on public roads for the first time. The prototype, which is fully camouflaged, was spotted by a DriveSpark reader on the Bangalore Hosur road, and bears a temporary Karnataka registration. TVS has already confirmed that the Akula will enter production, but not before 2017.

TVS is calling this fully faired bike a ‘Track Munching Predator’. The Akula 310 will share its powertrain with the BMW G310R that has been spied testing on Indian roads in recent times. Propelling this beast will be a 313cc, single cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that will be mated to a six-speed transmission. The engine fitted in the G310R produces a maximum power output of 34 bhp with a peak torque of 28 Nm. The engine used in the Akula 310 will be retuned for a slight bump in performance.

 The concept showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo was seen with a carbon fibre body. However, in order to bring down the production and final cost, the company will not be using carbon fibre in the entire body. The company can still use the element in some of the body parts and panels to give a premium and sporty appeal. 

 With the Akula entering road test phase, it seems that TVS plans to launch the Akula first in India, rather than the BMW G310R. Once launched, Akula 300 will lock horns with upcoming Bajaj Pulsar CS400, which is due for launch next month.

BAJAJ PULSAR CS 400 Coming Soon

BAJAJ PULSAR CS 400 TO LAUNCH IN AUGUST

The much awaited waited BAJAJ PULSAR CS 400 will be finally launched in August this year. As per latest reports. the new was confirmed by Bajaj Auto, CEO, Rajiv Bajaj at the company's Annual General Meeting and falls in line with the company's earlier announcement of introducing the performance motorcycle in the third quarter of the calendar.

Bajaj Pulsar CS 400 Concept as shown in Autoexpo 2014 with  Upside down Fork

Ever since it made an appearance at the 2014 Auto Expo, the Pulsar CS 400 has been sending pulses of the average Indian motorcycle enthusiast racing. The CS, which stands for Cruiser Sport will be a mellowed down avatar of the performance oriented KTM Duke 390. Upon launch, the Pulsar CS400 is expected to be priced between INR 1.6-2.0 lakhs (ex-showroom), making it the most expensive Bajaj till date.

Bajaj Pulsar CS400 shares its underpinnings with the KTM Duke 390, will be a modified version of its 373.2 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine.

The engine will be mated to a 6-speed transmission. The concept version’s upside-down forks have been replaced by conventional telescopic forks, while at the rear, there will be a monoshock suspension. Single front and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS will provide the stopping power.

Spy pics of CS 400 -PC - AutocarIndia

Right from the concept, the styling on the Bajaj Pulsar CS400 was one of the talking points of the model and a lot of the same has been retained on the production spec version as well. The Ducati Diavel inspired design looks rather good with the LED tail light, single seat, bulbous fuel tank and compact headlight cluster with LED DRLs. The CS400 will also get a side mounted exhaust, unlike the Duke 390's underbelly unit while an all-digital instrument console will showcase the vital information complemented by a LCD display unit on the fuel tank.

Yamaha sets up second R&D centre in Chennai, India

YAMAHA INAUGURATES SECOND R&D CENTRE IN INDIA

Yamaha Motor Research & Development India Pvt. Ltd (YMRI) on Today announced that it has established its second research and development (R&D) centre in India to ensure “optimum utilization of resources” and to focus on the “enhancement of the capability and the capacity”

“The objective of the new centre is to develop models for India and eventually, the global market. The Chennai centre shall be the second main pillar for YMRI. By collaboration with the current development power in Surajpur centre, we aim to strengthen more of the cost reduction and attractive product development in the Chennai centre. The key role of this India Integrated Development Center is to develop optimized specifications for the Indian market,” said Yasuo Ishihara, managing director, YMRI

The new centre located in the premises of India Yamaha Motor Ltd’s (IYM) facility in Kanchipuram district, near Chennai, has been set up at an investment of Rs.66 crore and is part of the Rs.1,500 crore investment that Yamaha has already committed to ‘Make in India’ by 2018.

“The two wheeler market reached 16 million units in 2015 and is expected to continue to grow at a decent pace going forward, led by scooter segment. Yamaha has seen rapid growth in sales numbers with 2016 first-half sales growth at 45% over last year,” the company said in a statement.

During June 2016, out of 14,68,035 two wheeler sold in the country, Yamaha accounted for 67,204 units thus registering growth of 30.67 percent. The company witnessed growth of 42.44 percent in domestic sales during first quarter of current fiscal year, and sold 193,894 units, according to data released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Mercedes-Benz AMG SLC 43 launched in India at 77.5 Lakh

Mercedes-Benz launches AMG SLC 43 in India; prices start at Rs 77.5 lakh

Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new Mercedes-AMG SLC 43 in India at Rs 77.50 lakh (ex-Delhi). The new sportscar features a 3.0-litre bi-turbo V6, that develops 367PS between 5,500rpm and 6,000rpm and 520Nm from 2,000rpm to 4,200rpm. The engine is mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox. Not only is the engine lighter than the unit it replaces, it's 20 % more fuel-efficient too. The turbo unit has been optimised to offer response even in lower engine revs and negate turbo-lag. The SLC 43AMG can launch from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds.

The SLC 43 AMG is presently the only convertible in the country to offer a nine-speed automatic transmission or the 9G-TRONIC as Mercedes calls it. The unit offers the driver a choice between five driving modes, which alter the shifting speed of the unit. Apart from offering quick shifts, the unit also helps improve fuel-efficiency.

The SLC 43 AMG, with its new engine and features has allowed Mercedes-Benz to price it at quite a significantly lower price point than the SLK 55 AMG (Rs 1.25 crore ex-Delhi). That’s what Merecedes-Benz achieved with the GLE 45 AMG Coupe too. At Rs 86 lakh (ex-Mumbai) it massively undercuts the outgoing ML 63 AMG (Rs 1.5 crore) and the BMW X6 (Rs 1.15 crore).

Maruti Suzuki to launch Super Carry this year

Maruti Suzuki Super Carry to be Launched in India this year

Maruti Suzuki, India's largest car maker is all set to foray into light commercial vehicle market of the country. The car maker manufactures Super Carry LCV in India and currently exports to South Africa and Tanzania. Emerging reports say the launch of the Super Carry in India will not take long.

The Suzuki Super Carry has a load hauling capacity of 750 kgs and comes in compact dimensions, measuring 3.8 meters in length and 1.5 meters in width along with a turning radius of 4.3 meters. The cargo area is 2.18 meters long and 1.4 meters wide.  The ground clearance on offer is of 175mm.

Maruti Suzuki has already dispatched the first lot of nearly 100 Super Carry to South Africa and Tanzania. Besides African markets, the company also plans to export the Super Carry to the SAARC countries. The export-spec Super Carry is powered by the G12B four-cylinder petrol engine that develops 72bhp at 6,000rpm and 101Nm of torque at 3,000rpm, mated to five-speed manual transmission.

The LCV segment has also started seeing growth in the last few segments. The forecast for above normal monsoon is further expected to improve demand for LCVs in rural markets as well. In the first quarter of FY 16-17 that ended June 2016, the segment grew by 12 percent.

Maruti Suzuki Beats Q1 Estimates

Maruti Suzuki Posts Q1 Profit Of Rs 1,486 Crore

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd , the country’s top-selling car maker, posted on July 26 a forecast-beating 23 per cent rise in first-quarter net profit, as higher sales offset the adverse impact of an unfavourable foreign exchange rate.

Maruti Suzuki today announced the financial results for the first quarter (April-June) of the 2016-17 financial year, which saw the company sell 3,48,443 units during the quarter. The company registered a year-on-year growth rate of 2.1 per cent during the said period with domestic sales including 3,22,340 units, a growth of 5.4 per cent, while exports stood at 26,103 units. The company's net profit for the period was 14,862 million, a year on year growth of 23 per cent.

SUZUKI IGNIS

“The profit in the quarter was helped by a higher turnover, material cost reduction, higher non-operating income and lower depreciation,” the company said in an emailed statement.

With the festive season all set to commence in the following weeks, Maruti Suzuki is certainly going to be all geared up to introduce new models and special/limited edition versions of its existing cars to grab the attention of your average Indian buyer. The company's launches for the remainder of the year include the more powerful 1.0-litre Boosterjet equipped Baleno RS that will be the automaker's answer to the hot hatchbacks out there, while the Ignis crossover is also on the cards and will be the next product to be sold via the NEXA dealership network. Speculations also suggest that Maruti Suzuki will finally make its foray into the light commercial vehicle segment towards the end of this year with the Super Carry.

Honda CBR 250RR world premieres in Indonesia

HONDA CBR 250RR UNVEILED IN INDONESIA

Showcased in concept format at the Japan Motor Show in 2015, the new 2016 Honda CBR250RR is finally revealed to the world in production ready format. In Indonesia, it comes with a starting price of 63 million Indonesian Rupiah (INR 3.2 lakh).Honda CBR250RR will be available in two formats, non-ABS and ABS. The former is priced from 63-68 million IDR (INR 3.22 – 3.48 lakh) while the latter is priced from 69-70 million IDR (INR 3.53 – 3.58 lakh).

The new Honda will come with a Throttle by Wire (TbW) system with three separate maps, a first for the category. The CBR250RR is graced with some serious cutting edge styling and that could hint at the future direction of Honda sportbikes, with twin LED headlights sitting in a sharp race-style fairing, a twin outlet right side-mounted muffler, inverted forks and ABS with petal-style discs.

The 2017 Honda CBR250RR uses a newly developed steel truss frame, while the swingarm are aluminium gull type with the right-side swingarm shaped to reduce exhaust pipe extrusion. This allows the bike to have a slimmer profile while retaining the bank angle. True to the concept, the CBR250RR features a USD suspension setup at the front and Pro-link suspension featuring 5-step preload at the rear. Braking performance comes from 310 mm front and 240 mm rear wavy disc brakes with dual-channel ABS available as optional.

This parallel twin cylinder motorcycle has been developed from scratch by engineers from Japan as well as Indonesia. Displacing 249.7 cc, the CBR 250RR aims to give total control to the motorcyclist. The output figures have not been released but expect it to be at par with the competition, if not more. Mated to this will be a 6 speed transmission.

HONDA CBR250RR to debut today in Indonesia

HONDA CBR 250 RR TO DEBUT TODAY

The most talked about motorcycle from Honda, the CBR 250 RR will reportedly make its debut today. As per TMC blog, the Indonesian media has just been invited by the Company for a Honda motorcycle event on the same date. The blog also confirmed that they have contacted dealers which have confirmed the news about this new quarter-litre CBR coming.

Honda will bring back the old days of 90's when performance was not just limited to high engine capacity motorcycle. Honda has officially unveiled the ‘Light Weight Super Sport Concept’ (CBR250RR) at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show.

The bike may not make its way into India as the introduction of new generation of CBR250R/CBR300R is still pending from a long time.The prime reason behind not launching the CBR250RR in India is the high price tag. Honda will be forced to price the motorcycle in the region at around Rs. 4 lakh and that price point the it wouldn't be a compelling case against rivals such as Yamaha R3, KTM RC390 and Kawasaki Ninja 300, reports Rushlane.

'Designed with the key phrase “strong presence,” this next-generation super sport concept model and features a look possessing a sense of speed that comes from its long nose and low crouching position. The combination of a plane architecture, which indicates the sense of hardness and solidity, and sharp edges emphasize the aggressive look of this model. Moreover, the exterior featuring matte-black-based low-contrast graphics expresses beauty and the remarkable form.'

The CBR250RR is expected to feature LED head lamp and tail lamp, cruise control, a fully digital instrument cluster, upside-down front suspension and a monoshock rear unit. It is expected to be powered by a new 250cc twin-cylinder engine with estimated 35-40bhp of power mated to a six speed gearbox.

Kawasaki Ninja 650 & ER-6n Indian Models Get Updated

Kawasaki Ninja 650 & ER-6n Indian Models Got Cosmetic Updates

The Ninja 650 & ER-6n motorcycles from Kawasaki have received minor updates for 2016. Models will be equipped with improved tyres and an all-new paint scheme. Deliveries of the new models are set to commence pan India immediately.

India Kawasaki Motors will be equipping the ER-6n with Dunlop Sportmax D214 tyres. The Kawasaki Ninja 650, on the other hand, will continue using Dunlop RoadSmart II tyres. No other radical changes have taken place on either motorcycle.

Starting with the updated Kawasaki Ninja 650 (also known as the ER-6f in certain markets), the sports tourer retains the same mechanical as the outgoing version, but gets new graphics for a fresh look. The trademark green of the Kwacker has been reduced in favour of a dual-coloured fairing with the sides finished in black with dollops of silver at the bottom. 

The Kawasaki moniker on the lower section has been omitted altogether. The front fairing though continues to retain the mean-green look accentuating the dual headlamps.

Speaking about the updated Kawasaki ER-6n, the middleweight offering is essentially the naked version of the Ninja 650 and comes with an all-black paint scheme along with new graphics. The fuel tank and side fenders now feature a green strip that creates a contrast on the paint job. The other design details remain the same and the simpleton styling does little to defy the age of the model.

In terms of powertrain, both the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and ER-6n draw power from the 649cc liquid-cooled, twin-cylinder engine tuned to produce 70bhp and 64Nm of torque. The motor comes paired to a 6-speed transmission. Being locally assembled, both the 650 twins are also the more value for money offerings from the manufacturer, but come void of ABS.

Royal Enfield 750cc twin cylinder bike spotted testing again

HOW ABOUT A ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT 750 TWIN CYLINDER!

There has been a lot of talk going on about Royal Enfield working on a 750cc twin-cylinder engine. So here are a few spy shots of a Royal Enfield motorcycle carrying the all-new engine which it has been testing for a while now.

A few months ago, the same engine was also spotted on a Classic 500 that had been modified to carry the new engine. This time around, the motorcycle on which the engine is mounted is undoubtedly the Continental GT with minor modifications. The length of the motorcycle has been revised so as to accommodate the big engine. Of course, all of this is very crude and the final product will see a lot of revisions.

The test-mule seen here appears to be equipped with carburetors instead of fuel injectors. But this is something that will most likely change closer to production to adhere to the newer, stricter emission norms, especially for European markets.

 RE wants to continue its dominance in the middle displacement segment and the Royal Enfield 750cc bike will go a long way in its foray into the new segment, as its previous largest engine based on displacement was the 535cc single cylinder unit on the Continental GT.

 Pricing will be competitive and that will be its edge in the Indian market in taking on the classic Triumph lineup. But Royal Enfield also has a deep trust and fan following in India, who have been clamoring for a larger displacement RE bike. Current engines will also be suitably updated too, with new bikes joining the lineup.

KIA likely to enter India in 2019

KIA TO SET UP MANUFACTURINg PLANT IN INDIA

Korean car-maker KIA, a subsidiary of the automotive giant Hyundai Motor Company is contemplating entering the Indian market. 

According to Reuters, KIA Motors will finalise a location for their first production plant in India next month. Reports suggest that it will be located in Andhra Pradesh, so as to have a close proximity with sister brand Hyundai’s plant located in the outskirts of Chennai.

The new manufacturing facility is expected to be a state-of-the-art unit with highly automated processes being deployed for high precision manufacturing of cars. Operations are expected to commence in 2019, and the plant will be capable of producing 300,000 vehicles a year. 

KIA’s products for India would share platforms with Hyundai’s established models, which are almost fully localized in the market.

KIA and Hyundai together form the 5th largest automotive conglomerate in the world and have an aggressive growth plan to keep rising up the ladder with time. Even still, the Korean giants have faced a slight de-growth in their business for the first time ever since 2008. The duo saw a decline of 2 per cent in their annual sales targets in 2015 due to a slowdown in major markets like China, Russia and Brazil.

SUZUKI to make Jimny in India

MADE IN INDIA SUZUKI JIMNY IS ON THE CARD!

Despite India being the leading market for Suzuki, the Japanese car maker has never showed interest in launching the Jimny compact SUV in the country. Now, emerging reports indicate that the next generation of the vehicle will be manufactured in India. 

The Jimny is the younger sibling of the Gypsy SUV, which is on sale in India. It is currently in its third generation, which was unveiled in 1998.

NDTV Car & Bike reports that, according to its sources, Suzuki is developing the fourth generation of the Jimny. It will be based on the same platform as the Baleno and Ignis. The chances of India being the global production hub of the upcoming Jimny are very bright as the platform is already heavily localized here for global production.

Jimny in China

It is expected come with the four-wheel-drive system, similar to the upcoming Ignis, as standard. The compact SUV will be powered by a 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo petrol engine. A diesel engine may not be offered. However, Maruti Suzuki may consider a more powerful 1.4-litre BoosterJet engine that does duty on Suzuki Vitara in European markets. The new-gen Jimny's powertrains are expected to couple with either five-speed manual or a new automatic gearbox. Maruti Suzuki will either sell the compact SUV with the Jimny nameplate or it will be positioned as the successor of Gypsy to capitalise on the latter's demand in the country.

Chevrolet Cruze sedan launched in china

India Bound 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Launched in China

American auto manufacturer Chevrolet has launched the all new Cruze sedan in China. The model is also expected to launch in India as well. Chevrolet India has planned to launch five new cars in the country in next two years. The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze is one among them alongside the Chevrolet Trailblazer facelift, new generation Chevrolet Beat, Beat Active soft roader and the Beat based Essentia compact sedan.

New model available in seven trim levels, starting at RMB 109,900 (INR 11,02,784.71)

The new Chevrolet Beat comes more aggressive and stylish looking compare to the previous generation model. The car comes with new design headlamps, new front grille, LED daytime running lights, plenty of chrome garnishing, nice coupe like roofline. The new Cruze also looks sporty compare to the previous model. 2017 Chevy Cruze gets a 27% stiffer and more rigid body, which is aerodynamically more efficient.

The older Chevrolet Cruze measured 4,567 mm in length, 1,786 mm in width and 1,454 mm in height, and had a wheelbase of 2,662 mm. The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze measures 4,666 mm (+99 mm) in length, 1,807 mm (+21 mm) in width and 1,460 mm (+6 mm) in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,700 mm (+38 mm). The new Cruze is bigger in every major aspect, but Chevrolet isn’t adding the ‘XL’ suffix to the name, as reported earlier.The 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine now produces 110 kW (147 hp) and 240 Nm (+5 Nm) of torque, and is paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, like before, develops 84 kW (112 hp) and 146 Nm of torque. However, instead of a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission, this unit can now be linked to a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission.

TVS BMW G310R to run on michelin

TVS BMW G310R TO COME WITH MICHELIN TYRE

Global tyre major Michelin has indicated that it would enhance its focus around the rapidly growing two-wheeler segment in India. 

“We see an enormous growth potential within the two-wheeler segment in India. It’s a market which is not just growing but also evolving quickly,” Gary Guthrie, president, Two-Wheel Tyre Division, Michelin said on the sidelines of the unveiling of its first television campaign featuring the popular 'Michelin Man' in India.

The French tyre major Michelin is making a strong bid to acquire a sizeable market share in the premium motorcycle tyre segment in India. This segment constitutes about 15 per cent of all motorcycles sold in India.

To that effect, the French tyre manufacturer is strengthening its negotiations with automakers to co-develop tyres and the latest upshot of such partnership will be the G 310 R, a single cylinder street bike jointly produced by BMW Motorrad and TVS Motor Co, which will come fitted with Michelin tyres right from launch. The upcoming motorcycle has already been spied donning Michelins earlier this year. 

The company is already working with Harley Davidson in India and supplies to the export variants of the popular Street 750 and Street 500 model, which is not on sale here. Guthrie emphasises the need to get the right balance between road-holding, robustness and braking at a higher level and “better all-round level of performance and safety” which distinguishes Michelin tyres from that of its competitors. The company invests $800 million (approximately Rs 5,350 crore) a year in its research and development process.

The company sells its tyres through 3,000 outlets in India and will double this number by the end of 2017.

Ashok Leyland to set up New Plants in Kenya, Bangladesh

Ashok Leyland to set up Manufacturing Facility in Kenya, Bangladesh

Hinduja Group flagship company Ashok Leyland has firmed up its plans to strengthen overseas presence as part of its vision to garner one-third of revenues from exports.

The heavy commercial vehicles maker is setting up an assembly facility in Kenya, another one in Bangladesh through a partner and also expanding its UAE unit, CFO of Ashok Leyland Gopal Mahadevan said. 

Mahadevan said Kenya was a key market for the company in the African region. The proposed assembly plant will also help Ashok Leyland tap the neighboring African countries, including Ivory Coast and Senegal.

The African region, which was earlier dominated by Chinese firms, has now opened up for Indian companies now. To prove it, the company recently bagged $100 million worth of orders from Ivory Coast and another $50 million worth of orders from Senegal. “Being the first mover into these markets, Ashok Leyland will naturally set to benefit. The company can also offer products at competitive prices,” Mahadevan said.

Ashok Leyland EURO 6 Tractor - Displayed at Autoexpo 2016

“We expect to better the industry’s expected growth of 15% in current fiscal as we had done in Q1 with a 19% growth as against an industry growth of 15%. With the new emission Euro IV norms coming into place effective April 2017 and higher infra spend, we hope to post better growth,” he added.

Honda CBR250RR Teaser Released

Honda's Indonesian importer Astra Honda has released a teaser video of the CBR250RR, bringing the highly awaited motorcycle back into focus for enthusiasts globally. The eagerly anticipated Honda CBR250RR quarter litre supersports motorcycle has been teased for the first time, signalling that the world premiere is not far away.

Based on the Light Weight Super Sport Concept showcased at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, the CBR250RR will be Honda's answer to the tremendously grown quarter-litre segment and will compete with the likes of the Kawasaki Ninja 300,Yamaha YZF-R25/R3 and the likes. That said, Honda is expected to set the new benchmark in the segment with the CBR250RR.

The aggressive multi-surface fuel tank with matte finish sets the tone for the design. Highlights include clip-on handlebars, split seats, contrast red finish for the tailpiece, USD front fork and single front disc. 

In terms of power, the Hodna CBR250RR will be using a 250cc liquid-cooled, twin-cylinder motor that is expected to produce a shade under 40bhp of power and around 30Nm of torque. The motor will be paired to a 6-speed gearbox. Odds are the 250cc twin-cylinder version could be restricted for other Asian markets given the taxation policy based on engine displacement these countries; while a host of nations in the West could get an updated 350cc twin-cylinder unit with more power on tap.

JBM Solaris JV to launch EcoLife in 2017 - India’s first 100% Electric bus

Auto component manufacturer JBM  said it will invest Rs 300 crore for development and manufacturing of electric and hybrid buses in India through its joint venture with Poland's Solaris Bus & Coach. 

This JV will introduce globally proven European technology for electric vehicle, which is sustainable and affordable, first time in India, the company said in a BSE filing. 

"The key focus will be towards locally developing indigenous sources for all key aggregates, systems and components catering to domestic and global requirement," 

JBM Solaris shall further work towards indigenous bringing in the complete range of buses in further phases", the company added.

JBM Auto had entered into a joint venture agreement on July 14, 2016 with Solaris Bus & Coach S.A., Poland.