Thursday, December 10, 2015
Mercedes Benz launched AMG GT'S 10 th model
The hottest of all AMGs will be launched in India . The Mercedes-AMG GT S sportscar is the more powerful version of the AMG GT and takes over the baton from the highly successful SLS AMG. The GT S goes up against the Porsche 911 and the Jaguar F-Type.
The Mercedes-AMG GT S has been entirely developed by the AMG division and employs an all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 mill in a compact arrangement. This potent engine produces peak power of 510 PS at 6250 rpm and 650 Nm of torque between 1750 to 4750 rpm. All that power and torque lights up the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The AMG GT S can do the 0-100kmph sprint in just 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 310kmph. It’s not just outright acceleration that the GT S is good for though. Mercedes-AMG has done a splendid job to give the GT that handling prowess to rub shoulders with a 911.
The AMG GT S gets an aluminium space frame with independent double-wishbone suspension all round and adjustable damping as standard. Dry sump lubrication, ceramic brakes, forged wheels, dynamically adjusting engine and transmission mounts further make the AMG GT S track worthy.
The styling of the AMG GT will be a big draw too. The tapered front and rear bumpers give more than a peak of the tyres when viewed straight up. What adds to this muscular stance is the SLS AMG inspired wide haunches. The lights of the AMG GT aren’t the best part of the design though.
The best angle to view the AMG GT is definitely side-on. The tiny bubbled roof slopes in smoothly to the rear almost as neatly as the gorgeous Jaguar F-type and that’s saying something.
The Ferrari F12
EICMA 2015: Suzuki unveils new SV650 street fighter
Suzuki has re-ignited the SV Series by unveiling the new SV650 at EICMA 2015, Milan. The Japanese manufacturer aims to returns to all the elements that made the original SV a street fighter classic, but with a big list of upgrades. The dedicated and reliable 645cc liquid-cooled V-twin mill has been updated with more than 60 new components, improving the bike's performance and economy. Like the two spark plugs per cylinder setup to optimize combustion, and the race-proven Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Materials (SCEM) cylinder plating that reduces friction and improves heat transfer and durability, thus improving the efficiency. Suzuki’s Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) fuel injection system also makes an appearance on the new SV650, providing better efficiency and throttle response through a butterfly valve system with the primary valve controlled by the rider and the secondary throttle valve controlled by the engine management system.
The SV’s multifunction LCD instrument panel consists of a gear position, digital speedometer, tachometer, trip meter, average fuel consumption, driving range, clock, water temperature gauge and fuel gauge. Backlight is adjustable in six levels of brightness and can be set to your preference.
Suzuki has not yet disclosed the price-tag for the SV650 yet. The Suzuki SV650 has immense appeal and practicality for everyday riding. Should Suzuki possibly introduce the SV650 to India, it would complete against the Triumph Street Triple, Kawasaki Ninja 650, Benelli TNT600, and the Ducati Scrambler.
EICMA 2015: Hyosung GD450 concept grabs eyeballs
The concept bike, which is set to be the Korean manufacturer’s new street naked, is powered by a liquid-cooled single-cylinder DOHC 449cc engine, which could mean a relatively affordable price tag when it launches. The 96mm bore, with a pretty high compression ratio of 11:8:1, is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The makers claim that it could generate up to 50 PS of power at 7,500 rpm and 47.7 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm.
The 41mm upside down telescopic forks takes charge of the front suspension duties, along with the dual-arm with an offset gas charged hydraulic shock absorber at the rear, adjustable for preload.
The GD450 gets a four-piston radial calliper 300mm petal disc in the front, while the 2-piston 230 mm counterpart is installed in the rear. The 17-inch wheels add to the masculine appeal of the Hyosung with a 120-section on the front and a 160-section on the rear.
EICMA 2015: Hyosung launches GT650R with a fresh look
Hyosung, the Korean manufacturer, has unveiled the GT650R with a completely new design at EICMA 2015. This time round, the manufacturer has mainly concentrated on the design aspect of the fully-faired sports bike. At first glance, one can immediately notice the use of twin pod headlamps as compared to the existing vertical capsule shaped arrangement in the current model. Moving to the body of the GT650R, we can see the designers at Hyosung have opted for a more smooth flowing design concept. Air scoops and vents have been re-sculpted to allow proper air flow around the bike providing stability at triple figures. The GT650R get a new fuel tank which goes well with the overall appearance of the bike. The tank of the new GT650R will have the capacity to hold 15 litres which is apparently 2 litres less compared to the existing model.
Moving to the rear section of the Hyosung, the seat of the GT650R has been extended towards the tank to improve comfort for the rider. For the pillion, the GT650R continues to have a split seat with a slightly rounded shape. The grab rails have been mounted flush to the tail body panels. The foot pegs for the pillion now are bolted to the centre portion of the chassis.
Hyosung has upped the aesthetic appeal of the GT650R by providing petal discs to the existing setup. Adding to that, the GT650R will also come with new multi spoke alloys. The exhaust can apparently has not received any change.
On the engine end, the Hyosung GT650R will be powered with the same existing 4-stroke, DOHC, 8 valve, 90 degree V-Twin 647cc, water cooled power plant which will produce 74.4PS in power with 54.5Nm of torque. Mated to the engine will be a 6-speed constant mesh transmission. The new Hyosung GT650R is claimed to be lighter by 10 kgs, which will improve the power to weight ratio in terms of performance figures.
Along with the GT650R, Hyosung has also unveiled the GV300 and the GT300R at EICMA 2015. We expect Hyosung to showcase the GT650R at the 2016 Auto Expo held at Delhi in the beginning of the New Year.
EICMA 2015: Triumph unveils 2016 Tiger Explorers
Triumph has unveiled six new motorcycles in its 2016 Tiger Explorer line-up at the EICMA show in Milan.
Just the like the different variants in the Tiger 800 line-up, the 2016 Tiger Explorers will also get different XR and XC variants – XR for on-road use and XC for off-road use. The entry level XR and XC variants will be equipped with WP suspension for 2016 year models, and the up-spec variants will include the XRx and XRt for pavement and the XCx and top of the line XCa for off-road adventure use.
All variants will be powered by an updated 1,215cc three-cylinder engine, now with more power and torque and with shaft final drive. Triumph says the 2016 Tiger Explorers will also get a clutch with a lighter pull.
The XCx, XCa, XRx and XRt will come equipped with a new, five-mode electronics package which includes semi-active suspension, with ABS and traction control which will work in association with an onboard computer, called the Inertial Measurement Unit.
The IMU will send the motorcycle movement data to help control the new cornering optimized ABS and traction control system. The base XR and XC models have standard mutli-channel switchable ABS and traction control but no high-end electronics.
The 2016 Tiger Explorers will also come with the Hill Hold Control feature, helping keep the bike from rolling back when starting on a steep incline. The 2016 Tiger Explorer will also have an electronically adjustable touring windscreen.
EICMA 2015: 2016 KTM Duke 690, 690R unveiled
KTM has unveiled a revised 2016 model year Duke 690 and Duke 690 R at the ongoing EICMA show in Milan.
Both the Duke 690 and the Duke 690 R are powered by a 690cc single-cylinder motor, which makes 73PS of power and 74.5Nm of torque. Additional tweaks on the 2016 model include new steering geometry for improved stability and better cornering precision. ABS is standard and the Duke 690 also gets an optional track pack which includes sport and rain mode, traction control and Motor Slip Regulation (MSR).
The 2016 models also get 1000rpm of extra revs, thanks to a new cylinder head, refined exhaust and inlet systems. A new, ultra light piston and connecting rod, a new crankshaft with new bearings, and twin spark plugs with individual mapping also adds to the superior performance of the new Duke 690. Then there’s a balancer shaft as well to make the single-cylinder motor more refined.
The Duke 690 R makes more power at 75PS, and gets an Akrapovic exhaust, fully adjustable WP suspension and a Brembo monoblock front caliper. The R model also adds cornering ABS, traction control, three selectable power modes and the Motor Slip Regulation. The R version also gets an additional Supermoto riding mode.
Like the standard Duke 690, the R comes equipped with a full-colour TFT display dash. The only visual changes on the Duke 690 R are the Akrapovic exhaust system, orange frame, LED indicators and different graphics. There’s no official word yet, on whether the KTM Duke 690 or the Duke 690 R will be launched in India anytime soon.
EICMA 2015: Benelli Tornado Naked T and Leoncino unveiled
Not to be outdone by Ducati’s exhaustive range of Scramblers, Benelli has taken the wraps of the Leoncino, its very own scrambler at the ongoing 2015 Milan Motor Show. And it is quite a striking machine, this Leoncino. It looks good without being too flamboyant, and retro without being too nostalgic. Designed by CentroStile Benelli, the Leoncino is actually a reimagination of one of the marquee’s most beloved brands of the same name, and it shows in the styling.
Powering it is a twin-cylinder four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 500cc mill, with wet sump lubrication, electronic injection, overhead double camshaft timing system, 4 valves per cylinder, hydraulic clutch and a 6-speed gearbox, producing a peak power figure of 48 PS and max torque of 45 Nm.
Suspension duties upfront are handled by an upside down 50mm fork, mated to 4 piston brake calipers gripping 320mm discs. The rear swingarm’s movement is controlled by a laterally mounted shock absorber and braking is handled by a 260mm disc with a two piston caliper. The spoked rims are of aluminum, 19" at the front and 17" at the rear, which accommodate wide-sectioned tyres: 110/80-ZR19 at the front, 150/70-ZR17 at the rear.
The front features an all-LED headlamp and Benelli says ABS will be standard on the Leoncino.
Then there’s the Benelli Tornado Naked T, a new duo of models that we believe could be specially suited for India. Powering it is a single cylinder, 4 stroke, air cooled 4 valves, double spark, available in 125cc or 135 cc guises, the former offering 11.7 PS of power and 10Nm of torque. The slightly larger model – we still don’t understand the rationale behind two engine options so close to each other – offers marginally higher figures at 12.6 PS of power and 10.8Nm of torque.
Both the 125-cc and 135-cc versions of the Benelli Tornado Naked T will ship with 12-inch wheels, with 120/70 and 130/70 tyres at the front and rear, respectively. Suspension is via a 41mm upside-down front fork and a rear swingarm with lateral shock absorber with spring pre-load adjustment.
Braking duties are handled by a 220 mm steel disc upfront, with a smaller 190mm disc taking care of the proceedings at the rear. The fuel tank has a capacity of 7.2 litres.
Both the Benelli Leoncino and the Tornado Naked T are slated to be launched in the latter half of 2016, with competitive pricing, but we reckon they just might show up in India before that at the upcoming 2016 Auto Expo in Delhi.
EICMA 2015: Benelli TRK 502 unveiled
The Benelli TReK 1130 that the Italian manufacturer unveiled earlier this year at the India Bike Week in Goa? Well, Benelli is at pains to underline that the TRK 502 is not a smaller iteration of that machine. And it does look different, quite akin to some large adventure tourers from BMW and Triumph, albeit a bit smaller.
The traditional Benelli steel trellis frame may be conventional, but the engine underneath it is also all-new: a freshly developed twin-cylinder four-stroke liquid-cooled 500cc with electronic injection, overhead double camshaft timing system, and 4 valves per cylinder. That is good enough for 48 PS of peak power at 8,500rpm and 45 Nm of torque at 4,500rpm. The gearbox is a 6-speed affair controlled by a hydraulic clutch. Fuel capacity is a mammoth 20 litres.
As befits an adventure tourer worth its name, the TRK 502 comes with a raft of touring-friendly features that will enable it to chew up the tarmac for days on end. Suspension duties upfront are handled by an adjustable upside down front fork, and at the rear, a swingarm with monoshock, providing suspension travel of 150mm at both ends. Braking is via two front discs, 320 mm in diameter, and two-piston floating caliper upfront, and a twin piston calliper gripping a single 260mm disc at the rear. Tyres are Pirelli Angel 120/70-17 and 160/60-17 at the front and rear, respectively, mounted on 17” alloy wheels.
Benelli is also offering an “off-road” version of the TRK 502 with wire wheels, 19” at the front and 17” at the back. Expect the Benelli TRK 502 to be launched in India sometime later next year.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
The BMW i8
Engine :-
Type :- i-3 1.5 litre
Power :- 225 hp @ 5,800 rpm (170 kW)
Torque:- 236 lb·ft @ 3,700 rpm (320 N·m)
Induction:- Turbocharged
Power to weight ratio:-169.9 W/kg
Bore :- 82 mm
Stroke:- 94 mm
Fuel type:- Premium
CO₂ emissions :- 3,802 kg/year
Eletric Engine :-
Power :- 129 hp @ 4,800 rpm (96 kW)
Torque :- 184 lb·ft (249 N·m)
Battery type :- Lithium-ion (Li-ion)
Energy :- 7 kWh
Voltage :- 355 V
Charging time :- 120V, 10A : 3.0h
240V, 15A : 1.0h
400V : N/A
Cooling :- Liquid
Transmission :- 6-speed automatic
Drivetrain :- AWD
Ferrari 488 Spider
The Ferrari 488 Spider is the most powerful retractable hard top roadster ever built and has a mix of conventional materials like Aluminum and more exotic materials like magnesium and carbon fibre making it almost 25 percent stiffer than the 458 Spider before it.Power comes from a 3.9-litre V8 twin turbo engine that is also used in the 488GTB. Making 670PS at a staggering 8000rpm and 760Nm of torque at 3000rpm. This gives the 488 Spider a 0-100kmph time of only three seconds and a top speed of over 320kmph. In fact, the Ferrari 488 Spider can do a sprint of 0-200kmph in just 8.7 seconds making it a serious fast car. The Ferrari 488 Spider is not only faster than the 458 but also much greener as it makes less CO2 emissions than ever before.
Insane 2300 horsepower twin-turbo Lamborghini Huracan sets new world record
This Lamborghini Huracan is for people like them, created by people like them.
And you know it will be no ordinary machine, for it was created by the mad geniuses at Underground Racing. Yes, them of the YouTube drag-racing notoriety. Thanks to a twin-turbo setup, this Huracan now makes a claimed 2,300 horsepower. That's more than three times more power than what the Huracán makes in stock form. To handle all that power, the dual-clutch transmission was switched out in favor of a sequential gearbox.
Ah yes, we almost forgot, the record itself. Underground Racing’s Verde Green Lamborghini Huracan smashed the existing 1/2-mile (0.8km) world record, hitherto held by another Lambo, a Gallardo, after achieving a top speed of 238.60 mph (384 km/h) during its runs at the WannaGOFAST Texas 1/2 Mile event, last weekend.
2016 Honda CBR500R to debut at AIMExpo
According to Honda, the upgraded CBR500R will get a complete new look based on a design theme of “Aggressive Speed Shape” with sharp and edgy character lines and a sleek look that will give an appearance of speed and purpose.
There are several rider focussed upgrades as well, including front suspension with adjustable pre-load, larger fuel tank with new hinged fuel cap, adjustable brake levers and “wave” style ignition key.
And it’s got impressive performance as well. The 471cc in-line twin with a 180-degree crank and balancer shaft in the current CBR500R makes 47PS of peak power and has an indicated top speed of about 170kmph.
Mahindra Mojo launched at Rs 1.58 lakh in India
Mahindra has already received 100 bookings for the Mojo and has launched it in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Pune; it will be available across 10 select dealerships in Phase 1.Online bookings for the motorcycle start from October 16th. The Mahindra Mojo will be offered in following shades of Glacier White, Charcoal Black, and Volcano Red. Mahindra Two Wheelers also announced the launch of the Mojo Tribe. This exclusive club for Mojo owners has been created for them to share their biking experience with other like minded owners and also be a part of the upcoming rides called the ‘Trails of Mojo Tribe.’ The first of such consumer trails will be flagged off on October 17th at Bengaluru.
Powering the new Mahindra Mojo is a 295cc displacement single-cylinder motor churning out 28PS at 8,000rpm and a peak torque rating of 30Nm at just 5,000rpm. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a six-speed transmission. The Mojo had been loaded with goodies like USD front forks, gas charged monoshock, LED pilot lamps and tail lamps, along with optional Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tyres. Braking is done by disc brakes at front and rear while ABS has been given the miss to keep cost under check.
Mahindra plans to market the Mojo as a touring motorcycle as it has a fuel tank capacity of 21 litres and 173.5mm ground clearance. The Mahindra Mojo will compete against the Honda CBR 250R and the Royal Enfield Classic 500 in the Indian market.
Renault ZOE powered almost entirely by renewable energy in Scotland
Electric cars in Scotland are powered almost entirely by renewable energy, and Renault decided to use this as an advantage for marketing their EVs – ZOE and Kangoo Z.E.
Nine ZOE and one Kangoo Z.E. are now available to hire on an hourly or daily basis, by residents and visitors to the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
“Much of the electricity needed to charge the electric vehicles will be generated by the Pentland Road Wind Farm. The nine ZOE hatchbacks and a Kangoo Van Z.E. have been introduced through a unique partnership between E-Car Club and the wind farm operators. The Renault models’ specification, fun drive, reliability and excellent customer feedback (98%, a level never reached before at Renault), were key factors in the decision to integrate them in the car sharing scheme.
Representing an investment of £24 million and developed over a 12-year period, Pentland Road Windfarm will generate power for the new vehicles as part of providing renewable electricity to the islands. Such is the efficiency of the wind farm and the suitability of the local climate to support wind power, the six turbines will supply sufficient electricity to meet the entire domestic load of the Outer Hebrides.
A Renault EV’s carbon footprint can only decrease with time, as the production of renewable energies grows. In comparison, an ICE car’s carbon footprint will always remain the same. According to the International Energy Agency, 7 million EVs on the road could help save 400,000 oil barrels per day by 2020.”
Over 550 Nissan Electric Taxis In Europe
Thanks to Uber in the US, I know of one emission-free driver who makes his fares and saves $500+ a month avoiding gas and oil changes thanks to his Nissan LEAF. Still, in the US, we may have some catching up to do with Europe, where more than 550 Nissan electric taxis glide quietly on European roads. A recent press release, “Hailing Its Taxis: Nissan Exceeds All-Important 500 Electric Taxi Milestone,” shares that, as with my Uber friend, Nissan is the European choice for such driving.
Nissan is Europe’s best-selling manufacturer of 100% electric taxis. “During 2015, more than 100 electric vehicles were delivered to taxi companies across Europe,” Nissan notes.
Nissan electric vehicles — the Nissan LEAF and e-NV200, a passenger and light commercial vehicle, are catching on progressively among European taxi businesses. The Netherlands and the UK lead Nissan’s e-taxi league table.
As the Nissan press release points out, taxi drivers are demanding users with the highest mileage. Nissan EVs have proven reliability as well as massive fuel and maintenance savings. “In Estonia, it has been reported that a Nissan LEAF owned by the taxi company, Elektritakso, has clocked up over 218,000 kilometres on its original battery pack, showcasing the high quality and reliability of Nissan’s electric vehicle range.”
The increase of EVs in the electric taxi market is not going to slow. Nissan’s popularity has started to take hold in Eastern Europe as well.
“Green Lite Taxi Kft., based in Budapest, has purchased 65 Nissan LEAFs in a bid to become Hungary’s largest zero-emission fleet. To power its pioneering franchise, CEO Örs Lévay has installed seven quick chargers within the city.”
Clean air, quiet traffic, and thanks to the launch of the new 30 kWh Nissan LEAF, more range. Drivers can travel 25% further making it an even more practical choice for taxi companies.
Ferrari inaugurates new showroom in Delhi
Ferrari has re-started operations in India after inaugurating a new showroom in Delhi, appointing Select Cars Pvt Ltd as the Ferrari Dealer.
The new showroom becomes Ferrari’s only official dealership in New Delhi and will be the first in India, followed by a second showroom to be inaugurated in Mumbai. The Italian brand plans to expand its sales and service operations, re-entering India for a second after terminating its first outing and partnership in India ended in 2014 with the Shreyans Group, due to customer complaints.
Already, there has been considerable interest from prospective customers. Although Ferrari refused to divulge any numbers, officials are excited at the brand’s prospects and say the response over the past six months have exceeded expectations. And the past six months, the brand has been busy putting the infrastructure in place.
“We hired some staff from the Middle East, who have already been working in Ferrari and wanted to come back to India, some of our senior mechanics have already been to Dubai for training, to Italy for training. They have gone for 3-4 course of training in Ferrari. So, these six months there has been a lot of background work. All these guys are trained to handle any Ferrari in our service station,” said Yadur Kapur, Director, Select Cars Pvt Ltd.
The new showroom can accommodate up to three cars in the display area and will offer a hallmark service with a personalization area to support the customer to uniquely configure their Ferrari.
