Kawasaki Launches New Ninza ZX-10R And ZX-14R Bikes

Kawasaki Launches New Ninza ZX-10R And ZX-14R Bikes

Japanese Bike maker Kawasaki Motors which is known for it's super bikes today launched new Ninza Models - Ninza ZX 10R and Ninza ZX 14R, priced at 15.70 lakh and 16.90 lakh. The bikes will be imported  as Completely Builts Unit (CBU) from Japan and sold through Kawasaki's upcoming exclusive outlet in Pune, a press release said here.

Shigeto Nishikawa, deputy managing director, India Kawasaki Motors, said, "We are presently studying what more brands could we launch in India. We have many brands in our portfolio and we need to see which category can we enter"

Stating that Kawasaki had carefully studied the 1000 plus cc segment before rolling it out in the domestic market, company's deputy managing director Shigeto Nishikawa said the segment has seen a healthy growth of 25-30 per cent year-on-year in the last two years.

"Kawasaki has carefully monitored the 1000 plus cc market in India for the past five years. Only two years ago, the segment was almost negligible but now it is growing by 25-30 per cent y-o-y," Nishikawa said.

There has been a noticeable demand for the super bikes in the last one year alone, he said adding, "We would like to be a part of this growth story. We are looking at cornering 20 per cent market share from the segment by 2015."

The Ninja 300 and Ninja 650 will however continue to be sold by Bajaj Auto's dealership under the KTM brand but buyers can also purchase them at Kawasaki dealerships. Bajaj Auto is focussing on the mid-segment upto 800cc and opted out of partnering Kawasaki in setting up a separate line of dealerships.

The Japanese company will launch 1-2 new products every year in the class of 1000cc and above. India Kawasaki Motors targets sales of 100 units per year. IKM is looking at selecting and training staff that can work on the two motorcycles.

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Flip From Bicycle To Stroller With Vagabond

Flip From Bicycle To Stroller With Vagabond

We could say that all bicycles are environmentally friendly, healthy and fun, but what makes Vagabond from Spanish company SmartBikes different from others is that it does double duty as a bicycle with integrated child seat and a stroller.

In bike mode, the vehicle adopts a two wheels front and one wheel rear configuration. The two front wheels and split handlebars are positioned either side of the child seat with the rider sitting behind.

The Vagabond in bicycle mode

To convert the Vagabond to the stroller mode, the rider lowers their seat, removes the child seat and folds the frame in half by way of a centrally-located hinge. The child seat is then reattached with a single wheel now at the front and two at the rear. The whole conversion process takes less than a minute.

The Vagabond in stroller mode

SPECIFICATIONS:

>> 16-inch wheels

>> Aluminum frame

>> 73 cm wide x 165 cm long x 102 cm high (28.7 x 64.9 x 40.1 in) in bike mode

>> 73 cm wide x 120 cm x 102 cm (28.7 x 47.2 x cm x 40.1 in) in stroller mode

>> Shimano Nexus 3-speed gears

>> Mechanic disc front brakes

>> Shimano Roller rear brakes

>> Weighs from 20 to 29 kg (44 to 64 lb)

>> Support maximum rider weight of 100 kg (220 lb)

>> Can carry a single child of 25 kg (55 lb) and another child of up to 20 kg (44 lb) with the optional double       child seat in bike mode

>> Can take one or two children weighing 15 kg (33 lb) each in stroller mode

From edgy design, and with three wheels, Vagabond makes you feel safety and comfort, which offers maximum stability, even allowing you to not have to put his feet on the ground when standing.

The Vagabond is available for order online for €999 (US$1,330) with a €40 (US$43) delivery fee.

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Ashok Leyland Unveils New Neptune Engine

Ashok Leyland unveils new Neptune Engine

Commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland, the Hinduja Group flagship, friday launched the NEPTUNE engine ushering in a new era in engine technology.

Designed and developed in-house from a clean sheet, with a modular sub-system design, the NEPTUNE family of engines has been globally benchmarked for greater fuel efficiency, lower maintenance, longer life, greater reliability, lower life-cycle cost and superior NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) characteristics.

The Neptune engine will be available in BS-III and BS-IV versions and is also package protected for BS-V and BS-VI. The engines range from 160 HP to 380 HP and will be deployed across a range of trucks and buses in a phased manner, the release added.

Vinod K. Dasari, Managing Director, said: “The engine platform has come through over two million km of trials in the most demanding of operating conditions. With Neptune, we are confident of strengthening our position in the medium and heavy commercial vehicle space.”

Ashok Leyland unveils new Neptune Engine

Ashok Leyland’s new truck, the first offering powered by the NEPTUNE engine, launched at Sankagiri, Tamil Nadu, has been named – SANKAGIRI EXPRESS 3120 – as a tribute to the strong bonds that have been forged and nurtured over time between the lorry operators in the region and the Company. It is also an acknowledgement and recognition of a rich relationship of participation and contribution that has fructified into the co-development of new engines and vehicles perfectly suited to the needs of the customers of the region. The dedication of the SANKAGIRI EXPRESS 3120 to the customers of this major auto hub in Tamil Nadu is also to honour the Sankagiri Transport Association that is considered one of the oldest and most influential in the State.

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Land Rover's First Electric Defender Begins Real-World Trials At Eden Project

Land Rover's First Electric Defender Begins Real-World Trials At Eden Project

Earlier this year, Land Rover announced it would be electrifying a Defender. Land Rover has the first working model of an Electric Defender is at work in its first real world tests at the Eden Project in Cornwall, England.

The electric 4x4 is a rolling lab for investigating electrification in a real-world environment.

The Defender 110 Pick Up badged All terrain Electric Research Vehicle tows a 12-tonne (13-ton) road train made up of four trailers carrying up to 60 passengers on a 6 % incline to and from the hexagonal-panelled domes of the Eden site.

The Electric Defender tows a 12-tonne (13-ton) road train made up of four trailers carrying up to 60 passengers on a 6 % incline

The vehicle has been designed to work throughout the day before being recharged overnight in 10 hours for the approximate cost of £2 (€2.30). The Defender 110, known as the “All Terrain Electric Research Vehicle,” has enough power to hit 70 mph (112 km/h) while retaining its status as a serious off-roader.

Defender can be recharged in ten hours  for the approximate cost of £2 (€2.30)

It has been engineered to test the latest sustainable technologies. Hill Descent Control is linked to a regenerative braking function, and up to 80% of the car’s kinetic energy can be recovered.  Initial figures from the Eden Project claim up to 30 kW is being fed back to the batteries through this regenerative braking method. It currently takes 10 hours to fully charge the vehicle's lithium-ion batteries, but the company claims it will be possible to get this down to four hours using "fast-charge" technology. Land Rover’s Terrain Response system has been adapted for electric drive, offering an 80 km range with a reserve of a further 20 km.

 Hill Descent Control is linked to a regenerative braking function, and up to 80% of the car’s kinetic energy can be recovered

Electric Defender has a reported range of 80 km with a reserve of a further 20 km

Electric Defender principal engineer Jeremy Greenwood says it’s ideal for the sensitive ecology of the Eden Project and Swill provide excellent data for future electric vehicles.

“The car has been modified so it now includes a second battery,” he says. “That will allow it to work a full day at the Eden Project, but also improves weight distribution and stability.”

Gus Grand, climate change lead at the Eden Project, says the project “proves electric vehicles can be every bit as tough as their fossil fuel counterparts, while being much quieter, cheaper to run and with zero emissions at the point of use.”

Under slower, off-road conditions, Land Rover reports their test subject can easily go eight hours playing about in the peaty bog on a single charge. Powering the plug-in Defender is a 70 kW (90 bhp), high-torque electric motor that powers all the wheels through Land Rover’s patented permanent four-wheel drive system.

"It will be a great talking point for our visitors and proves that electric vehicles can be every bit as tough and rugged as their fossil fuel counterparts, while being much quieter, cheaper to run and with zero emissions at the point of use," said Gus Grand, Climate Change Lead at the Eden Project.

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BMW i8 362-hp Plug-in Speeds Closer to Production

As we know, Last week BMW launches the i3, it was the first car in its "i" brand of sustainable vehicles. Now it is really wondering us when we'll see the sportier i8 . As,BMW held an event at its Miramas test track in France, showing the latest prototype.

BMW showed the latest prototype at a drive event in France

The latest iteration of the i8 loses the glass doors of the concepts. As,the doors continue to swing open toward the sky. And rest of the body is cloaked in the usual camouflage, and it's difficult to tell exactly what else has changed.

BMW's latest information concerns itself more with technology and performance than looks. The basic underpinnings of the squiggly-camo prototype remain the same as they were the last time we checked in with the i8, but the numbers are tweaked ever so slightly.

BMW i8 362-hp 

The rear-mounted 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo 3-cylinder engine puts out 231 hp, a slight increase over the 220 hp we had last heard. That engine works through a 6-speed automatic transmission also mounted in the rear. Teaming with the 131-hp front electric unit and its two-stage automatic transmission, the combo offers both all-electric driving, for about 22 miles (35 km), and quick, sporty all-wheel driving. The system puts out up to 420 lb-ft (570 Nm) of torque.

BMW i8 362-hp 

BMW says that the i8 will become the first mass-produced vehicle outfitted with chemically hardened glass, commonly called Gorilla Glass. 

Features

Previously BMW had said that the engine and electric motors could push the aluminum-chassised, CFRP-bodied i8 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in under five seconds, and now it estimates that its capabilities will be a full half-second under five seconds at 4.5 seconds.

 It can travel at speeds up to 75 mph (120 km/h) on pure electric power and 155 mph (250 km/h, electronically limited) under pure gasoline power. Like the i3, the i8 has a low center of gravity and near-perfect 50:50 weight ratio. Its curb weight is 3,285 lb (1,490 kg). BMW explains that the car's variable front-rear power splitting creates lively cornering by sending more power to the rear at the start of the corner and returning to the normal split to shoot the car out of the corner.

Like the latest performance specs, BMW's latest fuel economy estimate is a little higher than past figures i.e. 95 mpg US (less than 2.5 L/100 km), with CO2 emissions at less than 59 g/km. The lithium-ion battery will take about 3.5 hours to charge from a 120-volt source and 1.5 hours with a 220-volt input.

We're sure BMW will have plenty more details when it shows the production i8 at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show. The car will go on sale next year.

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Lamborghini's Most Extreme Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse Sports Car Unveiled

Lamborghini's Most Extreme Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse Sports Car Unveiled

Lamborghini is referring its new Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse as a way to experience the emotion of the race track in a street car.

Based on Lamborghini’s Super Trofeo track cars, the new LP 570-4 Squadra Corse sports a 570 hp, V10 engine that will launch it from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a prompt 3.4 seconds before hitting a top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph), rear wing capable of generating three times the downforce of the Gallardo LP 560-4 and removeable engine hood as its race cars. And it derives the same benefits from them — unbelievable quickness, ground hugging ability and fast pit stops. Lambo calls it the “most extreme” in line-up Gallardo yet. Both the cover and rear wing are made from carbon composites to reduce weight which adds its quickness.

Squadra Corse's carbon fiber rear wing generates three times the downforce of the Gallardo LP 560-4

Speaking of weight loss programs, the new Gallardo tips the scales at a svelte 1340 kg (2954 lb), 70 kg (154 lb) lighter than the LP 560-4. Carbon fiber and aluminum architecture is used throughout, resulting in a stiffer, lighter chassis.

The new Gallardo weighs in at 1340 kg (2954 lb), 70 kg (154 lb) lighter than the LP 560-4

To break down the car's moniker, 570 refers to the 5.7 liter engine while the 4 refers to the all-wheel drive setup. Squadra Corse refers to the recently-founded division within Automobili Lamborghini that manages all of the company’s motorsport activities.

Carbon fiber also dominates the Squadra Corse's interior. The door panels, the racing seats, the center console cover, the handbrake frame, the lower rim of the steering wheel, the trim around the main and secondary instrument panels, and the door handles are some of the parts that have been made from the sturdy yet lightweight material. Alcantara, meanwhile, is used on the underside of the dashboard, the central panel of the seat cushion and the backrest. For more comfort Buyers can substitute ordinary seats for the standard racing seats.

The door panels, the racing seats, the center console cover, the handbrake frame, the lower rim of the steering wheel, the trim around the main and secondary instrument panels, and the door handles are made of carbon fiber, while  Alcantara is used on the underside of the dashboard, the central panel of the seat cushion and the backrest to soften the mood

As comfortable as it is made, there will be no mistaking its race-bred bearings when drivers step on the gas pedal. Squadra Corse sprints from zero to 62 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds. Zero to 124 mph comes in a blazing 10.4 seconds. It tops out somewhere north of 170 mph. It is paired with a six-speed transmission with paddle shifters.

The LP 570-4 Squadra Corse will make its world debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor in September, the same car show at which the Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale debuted two years ago. The Squadra Corse will be available in Giallo Midas (yellow), Bianco Monocerus (white), Grigio Thalasso (grey) and of course, Rosso Mars (red), with a decal strip along the flank displaying the colors of the Italian flag.

Accentuating the Squadra Corse's exterior is the matte-black finish on the large rear wing that contrasts with the body color and the high-gloss black paint on the hood, front air intakes, rear diffuser and 19-inch forged wheels. The brake calipers, meanwhile, are available in red, black or yellow. Pricing is to be revealed later this year.

Squadra Corse's exterior is the matte-black finish on the large rear wing

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BMW launches it's i3 Electric Car

Front View Of BMW i3 Electric Car

Back View Of BMW i3 Electric Car

The German luxury carmaker BMW has presented its first mass-production i3 electric hatchback. The Munich-based company underscored the seriousness of its long-term ambitions regarding mobility in Germany and abroad.
The i3 is a funky-looking four-seater that Wired is calling “the most innovative thing to come out of Munich in a decade.”
The i3 comes after an estimated $2.7 billion (2 billion euros) investment program, with the German carmaker hoping the resources pumped into research and development will eventually pay off.
The i3 is more than just a car. It's a revolutionary step towards sustainable mobility. It is purpose-built around an electric power train to serve the needs of our megacity customers," said Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Norbert Reithofer, at the world premiere in New York on Monday.

The fact that a typical electric vehicle (EV) can only be driven 75 miles to 80 miles (120 km to 130 km) before requiring a recharge — which takes up a lot more time than a gas-station pit stop — is a deal breaker for many consumers. Using electric power, the BMW i3 can be driven out 80 miles (130 km), perhaps 100 miles (160 km). That’s fine for many commuters, but insufficient for longer journeys.
Extending the driving range of the i3 is as simple as purchasing the optional two-cylinder, 34-horsepower rear engine that runs on gasoline — and that basically doubles the vehicle’s range. BMW is also expected to give i3 owners access to gas-powered loaner cars during the days when they need a vehicle with longer driving range — on, say, a weekend road trip.

BMW i3 Electric Car's interiors

BMW i3 Electric Car's interiors

One of the most common arguments against EVs is that the math doesn’t add up: whatever money you’d save on gas is negated by the premium you pay compared with a traditional gas-powered car. Prices have already dropped significantly on electric cars, with abundant cheap lease deals and thousands of dollars slashed off the sticker prices of the Ford Focus EV, Nissan Leaf and others.

The i3 also leverages the latest mobile technology to enhance functionality both in and out of the car. An Apple cable connects iPhone owners with apps and phone features. The BMW i Remote smartphone app offers functions like battery monitoring, car location, and door locking and unlocking.

The i3 comes with an i Remote smartphone app

In the U.S., the BMW i3 will start at US$41,350 or US$45,200 for the version with the backup gasoline engine, before factoring in federal and state rebates and tax incentives. That’s not cheap, but it’s less expensive than what many anticipated for an electric-powered BMW. It’s also a lot less pricey than the Tesla Model S, the premium that has already set the standard for electric cars — and that starts at around US$70,000.

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The TerraCraft: 3 Wheeler Car And Motorbike Hybrid With A Unique Steering System

The TerraCraft 3 wheeler car and motorbike hybrid

The Terracraft is a sharp-looking 3-wheeler concept that aims to offer a unique hybrid of the motorcycle riding and car driving experiences. It offers a retractable roof and doors which can offer weather protection and aerodynamics. There is a tandem double seat inside which mirrors the motorbike pillion experience.

Its unique steering system means the driver can manually dial in a tilt angle to replicate the sensation of leaning a motorcycle into a corner. The seating looks like the same padded comfort models from a long distance BMW or Honda tourer.

James ‘Wes’ Abbott, a former NASA sub contractor, said that the hybrid is ideal for ‘aging baby boomers who are looking for alternatives to stay on the road and to keep cruising with their clubs’. The TerraCraft is a very sexy-looking concept bike. It almost looks as if a Bugatti Veyron has been squashed to a third of its normal width and equipped with formula one-style open wheels, albeit with a much narrower track, he added.

The TerraCraft 3 wheeler car and motorbike hybrid

It's a tandem 2-seater, much like a motorcycle, with a very comfy looking saddle straight out of a luxury mega-tourer, and it's got the added benefit of retractable side doors and a roof canopy that also slides back into the rear of the vehicle to make it a convertible.

The designer is working on a prototype right now taking  the back half of a Honda GoldWing GL1500 to build a proof of concept he should be able to unveil at The Texas Lone Star Rally later in the year.

"I'm at 70% on the prototype chassis, working about 12 hours a day on that right now. I have the rolling chassis, I have the suspension fabricated up and right now I'm about to start doing some refinements in the steering linkage to mitigate bumps and such."

The TerraCraft 3 wheeler car and motorbike hybrid

The TerraCraft 3 wheeler car and motorbike hybrid

The TerraCraft 3 wheeler car and motorbike hybrid

"Being that we're bootstrapping this right now we're not putting a lot of giant funds into getting this built. I'm kind of building it, and the engineers are kind of coming in behind me and reverse engineering what I do. Otherwise, these guys are NASA trained engineers, and they'll think of seven different designs and debate about it for seven years and about 70 million dollars' worth of budget."

Abbott says TerraCraft is "doing a bit of fundraising – we're kind of bootstrapping this and trying to maintain ownership and control without going into the heavy investors. We really want to stick with the niche market. and potentially go into the market with kit options and segue into the production models after that. We'd like to mitigate dilution and take care of our core group."

To that end, he's willing to offer the first 10 TerraCraft vehicles to early adopters at cost price as the company tools up toward production, or even less if the new owner is willing to take the bike out to expo shows and presentations.

It's looks great with  lots of good ideas and he is thinking to give the pilot a chance to be either in the wind or protected from the rain.  I hope it is not too expensive.

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