Featured

Lower Variant Of Facelifted Kia Seltos Spotted Uncovered Ahead Of July Launch


It will finally be receiving one most-awaited feature: a panoramic sunroof

Kia Seltos facelift spied

  • Kia will launch the facelifted Seltos on July 4.

  • New spy video shows a Tech Line variant of a white Seltos with black roof.

  • Its exterior changes include new alloy wheels and connected LED taillights.

  • The video also gives a quick glimpse of the cabin showing the connected screens setup.

  • New features onboard to include dual-zone AC and ADAS.

  • To be provided with the same 1.5-litre petrol, turbo-petrol and diesel engines as the Carens.

  • Prices are likely to begin from Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom).

We are just a week away from the launch of the facelifted Kia Seltos in India. Leaked images and videos of the updated compact SUV have been surfacing online, with the latest sighting revealing an undisguised Tech (HT) Line variant of the new Seltos.

What Does The Video Uncover?

Kia Seltos facelift alloy wheel design spied

The spy video shows the facelifted Seltos in a white with black roof exterior paint option, without any camouflage. It showcases the SUV’s bigger grille, new alloy wheel design, and connected LED taillights. The video does not confirm if the spotted model had the panoramic sunroof or not.

Interior Updates

Kia Seltos facelift interior spied

While there isn’t much revealed about the SUV’s interior in the video, a brief glimpse shows an all-black cabin and the connected screens setup. Kia is expected to offer the Seltos with a revamped cabin and dashboard layout, featuring newly designed central AC vents and a more premium climate control panel.

More Tech To Play With

Kia Seltos facelift cabin

In addition to the new climate control panel and panoramic sunroof, the Kia Seltos is likely to come with a digital driver’s display. The touchscreen options will remain the same, with 8-inch and 10.25-inch screens. Key features like ventilated front seats, wireless phone charging, and an air purifier are expected to be retained.

The SUV’s safety kit will include advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control. Other safety features onboard are expected to be six airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, and a 360-degree camera.

A Familiar Set Of Powertrains

The new Seltos will be offered with the same 115PS, 1.5-litre petrol and 116PS diesel engines as the current model. The petrol engine will continue to be paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and a CVT, while the diesel engine will get a 6-speed iMT and a 6-speed AT. Instead of the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol unit, the facelifted Seltos will receive the Carens’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine (160PS/253Nm), paired with either a 6-speed iMT or a 7-speed DCT.

Launch And Price

Kia Seltos facelift rear spied

The facelifted Kia Seltos is set to go on sale on July 4, with prices expected to start from Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom). It will compete against the Maruti Grand Vitara, Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kushaq, Toyota Hyryder, Volkswagen Taigun, MG Astor, and the upcoming Citroen C3 Aircross.

Image Source

Read more on: Seltos diesel

Featured

Prepare to Pay Higher Tolls Every Year


The NHAI plans to increase taxes on road users to recover its debt

Yamuna Expressway Toll Plaza

Traveling by road and between cities already costs a significant amount in terms of fuel and toll taxes. The NHAI has now decided to make highway journeys even more expensive by increasing the toll prices paid for road usage.

Reasons for High Toll Taxes

Toll Plaza

Reportedly, the NHAI has an outstanding debt of Rs 3.43 lakh crore, which it intends to recover through various methods. One of the primary approaches is increasing tolls on highways and expressways. With the construction of new highways and expressways, the collection of toll taxes will expand, helping the NHAI recover its debts more quickly.

Also Read: Elon Musk Confirms Tesla India Debut After Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi

According to an NHAI representative, toll taxes are set to increase by almost 10 percent each year for the next decade, leading to more expensive travel in the coming years.

Projections for 3 Major Expressways and Their Tolls

Yamuna Expressway

India has several national highways and a few expressways, with more in the works. Among these, three major expressways connect major cities across the country. Let’s calculate the tolls for these routes based on the NHAI’s plans.

Yamuna Expressway (Delhi – Agra): By FY 2023-24, the toll on this expressway for a car will be Rs 440 (one way). Assuming a 10 percent increase in taxes, the toll will reach Rs 484 in FY 2024-25 and could reach Rs 1140 after 10 years.

Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway (Mumbai – Pune): Currently, this car journey costs Rs 320. In the next financial year, it will rise to Rs 352, and after 10 years, it may cost Rs 830.

Delhi – Jaipur Expressway: For a car, the one-way toll on this route is currently Rs 305. After one year, it will increase to Rs 335, and in 10 years, it could be around Rs 790.

These tolls will particularly affect commercial vehicle drivers, such as truck drivers, who already pay higher fees than car users. This will result in increased logistics costs for various industries, which in turn will lead to higher prices for products. Thus, the rising toll rates will impact both highway travelers and the general public.

Other Methods of Debt Recovery

Petrol Pump

Although toll taxes will contribute significantly to debt recovery, they are not the only source of income for the NHAI. The organization can generate additional revenue by establishing more fuel pumps, electric vehicle charging stations, food courts, and other service-related infrastructure. This will benefit the public by improving infrastructure and increasing sales and rental income for the NHAI.

Also Read: Ola Gigafactory For Its Own Battery Cells Now Under Construction

However, with the NHAI’s plan and the frequent increase in fuel prices, travel expenses will undoubtedly rise. Share your thoughts on this development in the comments section below.

Featured

Yami Gautam Adds BMW X7 To Her Luxury Car Collection


The BMW X7, the most luxurious SUV offered by BMW, was given a midlife refresh earlier in the year

Yami Gautam's new BMW X7

Bollywood actress Yami Gautam has recently added the facelifted BMW X7 to her already luxurious car collection. The exact powertrain configuration of the car is not known, but it appears to be finished in the Tanzanite Blue Metallic paint option. Yami already owns an Audi Q7 SUV and an Audi A4.

More About The BMW SUV

2023 BMW X7

The first-generation BMW X7 was launched in India in 2019 and received a refresh in January 2023. The X7 is available in a single “M Sport” trim, with the petrol variant (xDrive40i M Sport) priced at Rs 1.22 crore and the diesel variant (xDrive40d M Sport) priced at Rs 1.25 crore (both ex-showroom Delhi).

Also Read: 3 Things To Know About Shikhar Dhawan’s Latest Ride, The Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography

Powertrain Details

The India-spec BMW X7 is equipped with a 3-litre twin-turbo inline six petrol engine and a diesel engine. The petrol engine produces 381PS/520Nm, while the diesel engine generates 340PS and 700Nm. Both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and power all four wheels.

2023 BMW X7

Both engines also feature a 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, which increases the output by 12PS/200Nm during hard acceleration. The X7 can accelerate from 0 to 100kmph in 5.9 seconds. It offers four driving modes: Comfort, Efficient, Sport, and Sport Plus.

Loaded With Tech

2023 BMW X7 cabin

The BMW X7 is packed with a range of high-end features, including dual screens (12.3-inch digital driver’s display and 14.9-inch infotainment unit), a panoramic sunroof, 14-colour ambient lighting, and digital key. In terms of safety, it offers multiple airbags, a 360-degree camera, dynamic stability control (DSC), cornering brake control (CBC), and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control and driver drowsiness detection.

Also Read: Elon Musk Confirms Tesla India Debut After Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Who Does It Compete With?

2023 BMW X7 rear

The facelifted BMW X7 competes with the Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, and Mercedes-Benz GLS.

Read More on : BMW X7 Automatic

Featured

5-Door Suzuki Jimny Coming to Australia


The 3-door version of the Suzuki Jimny is already available in Australia

Maruti Jimny

  • The launch date and specifications for the 5-door Suzuki Jimny in Australia have not been revealed yet.

  • The 3-door version of the Jimny is already on sale in Australia. It is equipped with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and four-wheel drive (4WD).

  • It is expected that the 5-door Jimny in Australia will have similar features to the off-roader version in India.

  • The 3-door Jimny in Australia also has advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features.

The 3-door Suzuki Jimny was not available in India, but now a 5-door version called the Maruti Jimny has been introduced. With additional doors, a larger boot, and updated features, the longer Jimny is going global and will soon be available in Australia as well. Although Suzuki has yet to release details about its specifications and features, here’s what we can anticipate.

What to Expect

Maruti Jimny

The Australian-spec 5-door Jimny is likely to have the same powertrain as the India-spec 5-door Jimny, with no changes expected under the hood. It will use a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission, and come with 4-wheel drive (4WD) as standard. Compared to the 3-door Jimny in Australia, the India-spec Jimny offers slightly better performance with 105PS and 134Nm of power, which is 3PS and 4Nm more.

Expected Features

Five-door Maruti Jimny Cabin

The Maruti Jimny comes with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cruise control, and automatic climate control. In terms of safety, it is equipped with six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESP), and a rearview camera. It is expected that the 5-door Suzuki Jimny for the Australian market will have a similar set of features.

However, the Australian-spec 3-door Jimny goes further in terms of safety features by including advanced driver assistance system features such as lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, and high beam assist, which are not available in Maruti Suzuki models in India.

Also Read: Did The Maruti Jimny Prices Miss Their Mark?

It is also worth noting that the base-spec 3-door Jimny in Australia does not come with a touchscreen unit, while the top-spec version has a smaller 7-inch touchscreen system, similar to the base-spec Jimny in India.

Jimny Rivals

In India, the Maruti Jimny competes with the Force Gurkha and Mahindra Thar. In Australia, there is no direct rival for the 3-door or 5-door Jimny, but other SUVs of similar size and price are available. The price of the Jimny in India ranges from Rs 12.74 lakh to Rs 15.05 lakh (ex-showroom pan India), while the 3-door Jimny in Australia costs up to AUD 33,500, which is approximately Rs 18.28 lakh.

Read More on : Maruti Jimny on road price

News

The GPX Demon GR200R Da Corsa 2: A Small and Aggressive Sportbike

GPX, a motorcycle manufacturer based in Thailand, offers an interesting range of motorcycles. Their models are predominantly small-displacement commuter bikes masquerading as sporty or retro motorcycles. For instance, the GPX Legend 250 takes design cues from classic roadsters, while the Demon is a compact superbike.

The brand’s popularity is growing due to its ability to combine the reliability of a commuter bike with the style of a sporty or retro machine. Recognizing this, GPX has released a limited edition of the Demon GR200R sportbike in the Malaysian market. This little sportbike aims to compete with the Yamaha YZF-R15, Honda CBR150R, and even the KTM RC 200. Let’s examine it closely.

The GPX Demon GR200R Da Corsa 2 Is An Aggressive Little Sportbike

The sportbike clearly draws inspiration from the styling of liter-class superbikes from well-known manufacturers. The front end resembles the Yamaha YZF-R1, while the fairings bear similarities to the BMW S 1000 RR. Additionally, the bike’s proportions are designed for shorter riders, with a low seat height and short wheelbase. This makes it accessible to a wider range of riders and easier to navigate through congested city streets. In Asian cities, motorcyclists spend a significant amount of time maneuvering between cars in heavy traffic, making the Demon GR200R Da Corsa 2 a practical choice.

In Malaysia, the limited edition GPX Demon GR200R Da Corsa 2 is priced at RM 12,588 (approximately $2,691 USD), undercutting its mainstream competitors. The KTM RC 200 is priced at RM 15,888 ($3,397 USD), and the Yamaha YZF-R15M at RM 14,998 ($3,206 USD). Despite its lower price, the Demon GR200R offers similar performance thanks to its 198cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine. Equipped with a new four-valve cylinder head, this limited edition sports bike produces 19.1 horsepower and 12 pound-feet of torque.

The GR200R features standard components such as a chain-driven six-speed manual transmission, inverted front fork, YSS rear monoshock, and front and rear disc brakes. Riders can stay informed with the full color TFT instrument cluster, while the road ahead is illuminated by full-LED lights.

The GPX Demon GR200R Da Corsa 2 Is An Aggressive Little Sportbike

The limited edition model sets itself apart with a map of the Mugello Circuit on the tank and a choice of three sporty colors: Daytona Black, Da Corsa Blue, and Racing Grey. These colors give the sportbike a supersport-inspired aesthetic.

News

Yamaha Cancels NEO’s Launch Plans In Inda, Developing New Platform Instead

In April, 2023, Yamaha introduced the NEO’s electric scooter for the European market. This scooter was designed to provide convenient urban mobility and was classified as an electric moped. Unlike motorcycles, the NEO’s did not require a motorcycle license but could be ridden with a standard car or B license.

Initially, there were plans to launch the Yamaha NEO’s in India, which has the largest motorcycle market in Asia and is known for its innovation in electric mobility. However, the Indian government recently reduced subsidies for electric vehicles, causing prices to increase for end users. This made the NEO’s too expensive to be competitive in the Indian market, leading Yamaha to reconsider its launch plans.

Eishin Chihana, chairman of Yamaha India, explained that Indian consumers have different needs and preferences when it comes to electric vehicles. While economic value is a major motivation for purchasing electric vehicles in India due to high fuel prices, Yamaha customers also value style, performance, and aspiration. As a result, Yamaha decided to develop a new platform specifically tailored for the Indian market that would offer an exciting, stylish, and sporty scooter.

By localizing production and optimizing the model’s performance, Yamaha aims to reduce costs and better meet the needs of the Indian market. The development of this new platform has been underway for some time, and the company expects the model to be unveiled within the next two to three years.

Yamaha faces tough competition in India’s electric scooter market, which includes impressive offerings such as the Ola Electric S1 and Ather 450 X. These scooters offer excellent range, performance, and features at an affordable price, making them popular among commuters and enthusiasts.

News

Tamburini Celebrates 100 Years Of The Italian Air Force With F43 Centenario

The Italian Air Force will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023, and the newly established Massimo Tamburini brand has introduced its first motorcycle to commemorate this occasion. While Massimo Tamburini himself passed away in 2014, his son, Andrea, is now designing motorcycles and related accessories to continue his father’s moto design legacy.

The Massimo Tamburini F43 Centenario is a highly limited edition bike, with only one unit being produced to honor the Italian Air Force. This bike is based on the MV Agusta F4, and although complete specifications are not yet available, it is known that carbon fiber plays a significant role in its construction.

The Moto Club Massimo Tamburini will auction off this singular F43 Centenario to support a worthy cause, the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC). If you wish to learn more about AIRC or support them, we will include a link to their website in our sources.


Massimo Tamburini F43 Centenario - Italian Air Force 2

30 Photos

This release comes just six months after the unveiling of the Tamburini Corse F43 Tributo in December 2022. At the time of the announcement, five different variants were planned, with Tamburini Corse producing only five of each variant for the public.

One notable difference with the F43 Centenario, aside from its exclusive production of only one unit, is the matching helmet that can be seen in the photos. Designed by Andrea Tamburini, the hand-painted Arai RX-7V Evo perfectly complements the F43 Centenario.

While Tamburini Corse has not yet updated its website with information about this bike, they have been consistently sharing photos from the official unveiling in mid-June 2023 on their active social media accounts. For more details about this bike and its upcoming auction, you can contact Tamburini Corse at info@tamburinicorse.com. The limited-edition Arai RX-7V Evo helmet, which is sold separately, is also available for purchase through Tamburini Corse. For any inquiries, you can use the provided email address to get in touch.

News

Ural Motorcycles introduces Green Tanager Accent Kit for the Gear Up

If you’re a fan of bright colors on motorcycles, you’ll be excited to hear about Ural’s latest Special Project color package for the Gear Up. The 2023 Gear Up Standard 2WD initially came in a standard color called International Klein Blue. To make it more eye-catching, Ural took inspiration from nature once again and created the Green Tanager accent package. This package includes lime green accent pieces such as a headlight bezel, luggage rack, skid plate, lime green badges, and lime green tanager drawing decals. The result is a vibrant and summery look.

The name “Green Tanager” comes from two birds, the glistening green tanager and the green-headed tanager, both of which have similar color schemes. The glistening green tanager has lime green feathers across its body, while the green-headed tanager features a green head transitioning into bright blue feathers on its wings, with pops of neon yellow, black, and acid green under the wings and toward the rear.

If you love this color combination and own a Gear Up or plan to buy one, you can purchase the Green Tanager accent package from your local Ural dealer. You have the option to have it installed by the dealer or install it yourself. The package itself costs $2,250. Adding black powder paint to the powertrain will cost an additional $1,000. A brand new 2023 Ural Gear Up Standard 2WD in International Klein Blue has an MSRP of $21,999.

News

Wayne Rainey Talks About Yamaha’s Role in Helping Him Ride Again in 2022

Wayne Rainey, a living MotoGP legend, made a surprise appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June 2022. Alongside racing legends Kenny Roberts, Kevin Schwantz, and Mick Doohan, Rainey rode his 1992 championship-winning Yamaha YZR500 at the event. This was a special moment not only for the racing fans but also for Rainey himself. He never expected to ride his championship-winning bike again. Thanks to Yamaha’s three-year project, his dream became a reality.

In this video, Rainey talks about the experience and the technical details that made this ride possible. Due to his paraplegia, Rainey can only feel the handlebars when he’s on the bike. To ride again, he needed hand-operated button controls to shift gears. Yamaha made modifications so that operating the clutch lever allows him to shift. It took some getting used to, but Rainey was thrilled to get back on the bike.

Other considerations included mountain bike-style pedal clips to secure his boots on the pegs and a special tank pad that provided support and improved his connection to the bike. These modifications ensured that Rainey’s legs stayed in the right position and gave him more control over the bike’s movements.

Although Rainey was used to having a dedicated pit crew and technical staff in professional racing, his appearance at Goodwood was not drastically different. The crew positioned the bike, and once Rainey was ready, he would signal to the person holding the bike, and they would step aside as he rode away.

FiatUk

Goodbye grey, welcome colours

  • “ITALY. THE LAND OF COLOURS.​ FIAT. THE BRAND OF COLOURS”. Today marks a breakthrough for FIAT as it stops producing grey cars and ushers in a brand-new, colourful world.
  • FIAT is the first automotive maker to make this revolutionary decision, starting with the new Fiat 600e.
  • From now on, the colours in the present and future FIAT lineup are inspired by the Italian Sea, Sun, Earth, and Sky.
  • Grey is the most popular colour for new cars in the UK.
  • Mobility is about to become more colourful and cheerful than ever: FIAT is embracing a real challenge, as shown in the dedicated video available here.

 

Starting today, FIAT will no longer produce grey cars. This decision was made to emphasize the importance of colours in life, embody the Italian way of living, and reaffirm the brand’s new Dolce Vita value. 
 

Italy is closely associated with vibrant colours such as the Sea of Italy, the Sun of Italy, the Earth of Italy, and the Sky of Italy; landscapes that provide FIAT with ample inspiration for its cars. This strategy has been implemented to give FIAT cars a distinctive feature in the automotive market, as 2023 is a year of significant change for the brand.
 

“We broke the rules: we decided to stop the production of grey FIAT cars. This is a challenging and disruptive move aimed at further reinforcing FIAT’s leadership as the brand of joy, colours, and optimism. Italy is the country of colours and, starting today, FIAT’s cars will be too” declared Olivier Francois, FIAT Chief Executive Officer and Global Chief Marketing Officer at Stellantis. “This choice further communicates the New Dolce Vita values and the Italian DNA embodied by the brand. FIAT wants to inspire people to live with optimism and positivity, and this will also be one of the missions of the new Fiat 600e, the electric car for families and friends, which will be presented on July 4th.”

 

In the new dedicated video, viewers can discover FIAT’s brand-new colourful world as the brand’s CEO, Olivier Francois, aboard the new Fiat 600e, takes a deep dive into colour under the claim “ITALY. THE LAND OF COLOURS. FIAT. THE BRAND OF COLOURS.”

 

The current FIAT range – New 500, 500 Hybrid, 500X, Panda, and Tipo – is available in different shades of colours, including Gelato white, Sicilia orange, Paprika orange, Passione red, Blu Dipinto di Blu, Italia blue, Venezia blue, Rugiada green, Foresta green, Rose gold, and Cinema black. All of these colours have evocative names that remind us of Italy’s beautiful landscapes and the Dolce Vita mood.

Grey is the most popular colour for new cars in the UK, according to official registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), representing more than one in four new cars sold in the UK in 2022.

 

Turin, June 26th, 2023

 

Notes to Editors:

https://www.smmt.co.uk/2023/01/colours-put-in-the-shade-as-grey-matters-most-to-uk-car-buyers/