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BETE 500RS DUAL-SPORT FIRST RIDE: THE WRAP

Rodney Smith personally delivered our 2024 Beta 500RS a few weeks in the past. You gotta find it irresistible when a five-time GNCC champion drops by, arms you the keys to one of many best dual-sport bikes on earth and simply says “Have fun.”

The Beta 500RS is a barely authorized dual-sport.

We’ve been doing our greatest. The Beta is an unimaginable bike. It’s the least bottled up of the totally licensed 500cc dual-sports–even the KTM and Husky 500s can’t sustain. Two years in the past, Tom Webb beloved the bike a lot that he bought one for himself and he nonetheless prefers using it over the various take a look at bikes he has out there. This yr, there aren’t many modifications for the Beta dual-sport line. The most noticeable one is a change within the identify. It’s now referred to as the 500RS slightly than the 500RR. For 2024, the “RR” suffix refers back to the dirt-only four-stroke fashions in Beta’s line up. Those haven’t been out there for just a few years, and that takes a bit of stress off the street-legal fashions. It doesn’t must serve two totally different masters. It does, nonetheless, make it tough for Beta sellers to maintain all of the fashions on the showroom ground. As prior to now, there are 4 dual-sport bikes that look nearly equivalent. The 500 shares its chassis and most of its motor with a 430, a 390 and a 350. When you ask Beta officers why they don’t skinny down the hurd, they are saying it’s like attempting to resolve which of your kids you like essentially the most.

The Beta 500RS sells for $11,799. Our take a look at bike is inventory other than the Seat Concepts tall saddle.

The extra mechanically oriented modifications for 2024 embody shaped radiators to extend the turning sweep from lock to lock, a softer seat, a brand new entrance brake hose, new fork settings, new graphics and a redesigned taillight/license-plate holder. The 500RS has a double overhead cam motor with a six-speed gearbox. The suspension is by Sachs, the brakes are Nissin and the tires on our take a look at bike are Maxxis. All RS fashions embody the Trail Tech Voyager GPS unit with the flexibility to add and obtain using routes. Other options embody a visit meter, a speedo, a tach, engine temp, outdoors temp and a voltmeter.
This is among the only a few dual-sport bikes that doesn’t want something. Most homeowners of Austrian dual-sport bikes finally go in search of extra energy, and that may be tough. It’s not like you possibly can simply set up a pipe and go racing. The mapping on all the road authorized bikes could be very lean and the CPU is meant to be tamper-proof. We know numerous riders who’ve managed to jail break their ignition methods, however the level is that you just don’t have to try this with the Beta. Apparently, Beta is keen to fly nearer to the solar with the inventory emission settings. The bike can also be a bit of louder than different dual-sport bikes, however nonetheless very quiet by filth bike requirements.

Riding it is rather like using an actual filth bike. It’s fairly mild (255 kilos with out gasoline on our scale) and fairly highly effective. You nonetheless have to know that this can be a path bike not a 450 race bike. You can go hill-climbing with the boys and be shamed, however should you suppose you’re going to go to a motocross monitor, you’ll run out of steam shortly. Likewise, the suspension could be very path oriented. It’s nice for rocky trails however could be very delicate and can wallow and backside should you get carried away. The brakes are wonderful and it has a brilliant mild clutch pull. We additionally love all of the detailing. The mirrors fold out of your means, it has respectable handguards and the brand new license plate bracket nonetheless hasn’t gotten sucked into the rear wheel.

If you’re a type of guys who has to switch every little thing he owns, suspension ought to be the primary merchandise on the checklist. Put motor work in third or fourth place. We may have the Beta facet by facet with the brand new KTM 500EXC very quickly and that ought to be a really attention-grabbing comparability. The full take a look at will seem within the March, Buyer’s Guide print version of Dirt Bike.

MASON KLEIN & KOVE

Mason Klein and his father/chief mechanic Larry.

Mason Klein is deep in Dakar coaching. The rally begins on January 5 and can happen in Saudi Arabia for the fifth time. Mason might be formally supported by Chinese producer Kove, which is a really massive step for each events. This might be Mason’s first time on a manufacturing facility bike and the primary time that Kove has had a top-5 rider. We have positively been having fun with our Kove test bike, which you can read about here.

The Dakar route for 2024.


THE CASELLI CUP

Each yr presently we choose the finalists for the Caselli Cup, in any other case often known as America’s Top Off-road racers. This is a snapshot view of the perfect riders going into the brand new season. The checklist might be dropped on January 1, 2024. Here are the riders being thought of and what they’ve achieved within the earlier season. Who are you pulling for? drop us a line at [email protected].

GNCC Overall
1 CRAIG DELONG — 3 wins–246 factors
2 STEWARD BAYLOR JR — 2 wins–235
3 BENJAMIN KELLEY — 2 wins–215
4 JORDAN ASHBURN — 1 win–201
5 RICKY RUSSELL — 1 win–175
6 GRANT BAYLOR — 1 win–173
7 JOSH STRANG — 1 win–170
8 JONATHAN GIRROIR — 1 win–145
9 ANGUS RIORDAN — XC2 –Best end seventh o/a–135
10 LIAM DRAPER — XC2 — Best end 4th o/a–131
11 CODY BARNES — Best end fifth–121
12 RUY BARBOSA — Best end seventh–104
13 RYDER LAFFERTY — Best end fifth–91
14 MICHAEL WITKOWSKI Best end third–84
15 MASON SEMMENS –Best end seventh–67
16 EVAN SMITH — Best end eighth–55
17 TREVOR BOLLINGER — Best end sixth–50
18 GRANT DAVIS — Best end ninth–49
19 LYNDON SNODGRASS — Best end eighth–47
20 JONATHAN JOHNSON — Best end 7–42

GNCC XC2
1 LIAM DRAPER — 3 wins
2 ANGUS RIORDAN — 2 wins
3 CODY J BARNES — 1 win
4 RUY BARBOSA — 2 wins
5 MASON SEMMENS — greatest end 2nd

GNCC XCW

1 RACHAEL ARCHER 9 wins
2 KORIE STEEDE 3 wins
3 RACHEL GUTISH

NGPC 450 Pro
1 DANTE OLIVEIRA –6 win– 232
2 RYAN SURRATT — 2 wins–175
3 AUSTIN WALTON — 2 2nds–167
4 COLE MARTINEZ — 1 win–158
5 JUSTIN HOEFT — 2 2nds–140
6 MATEO OLIVEIRA — 1 third–118
7 ZACH BELL –1 third–112
8 TYLER LYNN — 1 third–109
9 DALTON SHIREY — 1 4th–107
10 GIACOMO REDONDI — 3 seventh–104
11 TALLON LA FOUNTAINE — 1 third–88
12 TREVOR STEWART — 3 fifth–74
13 DARE DEMARTILE — 1 2nd–62

NGPC Pro2
1 KADE TINKLER-WALKER 6 wins
2 JACK SIMPSON 1 win
3 COLTON AECK 1 win
4 JP ALVAREZ 1 win
5 KAI AIELLO 1 second
6 COLE ZELLER 2 5ths
7 THOMAS DUNN 1 fifth
8 COLLIER MARTINEZ 1 4th
9 CLAY HENGEVELD 2 eighth
10 CODY SIMPSON

National Enduro Overall
1 Grant Baylor — 3 wins — 227
2 Steward Baylor Jr — 4 wins — 200
3 Josh Toth — 1 win — 194
4 Craig Delong — 1 win –166
5 Ryder Lafferty — Best end 2nds –154
6 Ricky Russell — Best end 2nd — 145
7 Liam Draper Pro2 — Best end 2nd o/a– 126
8 Thorn Devlin Pro2 — Best end sixth o/a — 83
9 Evan Smith — Best end fifth — 72
10 Nathaniel Tasha Pro2 — Best end eighth o/a –24

National Enduro Pro2
1 Liam Draper — 4 wins
2 Thorn Devlin — 4 wins
3 Nathaniel Tasha — Best end 2nds
4 Jonathan Johnson — Best end 2nds
5 Will Sievenpiper — Best end 2nd
6 Grant Davis — Best end 2nd
7 Steve Nicholas III — Best end 3rds
8 Brody Johnson — Best end seventh
9 Mike Witkowski — Best end 2nd
10 Vincent Smith — Best end eighth

WORCS PRO 450
1 JUSTIN HOEFT — 3 wins
2 MATEO OLIVEIRA — 2 wins
3 TYLER LYNN — 2 wins
4 ZACH BELL — Best end 2nd
5 TALLON LAFOUNTAINE –1 win
6 COLE MARTINEZ –1 win
7 TREVOR STEWART — Best end third
8 DARE DEMARTILE — Best end 2nd
9 QUENTIN PAHI — Best end eighth
10 KADE WALKER Best end fifth
12 Giacomo Redoni
16 Dalton Shirey

WORCS PRO 250
1 JACK SIMPSON 3 wins 210
2 JAKE ALVAREZ 1 win 145
3 COLTON AECK — Best end 2nd 143
4 KAI AIELLO — Best end 2nd 134
5 THOMAS DUNN — Best end third 127

AMA Hare & Hound
1 Dalton Shirey — 5 wins — 171
2 Zane Roberts — 117
3 Carter Klein — 100
4 Clayton Roberts — 93
5 Joseph Wasson — 82
6 Preston Campbell — 77
7 Nic Colangeli — 56
8 Tyler Lynn — 1 win — 55
9 Axel Pearson — 43
10 Corbin Mcpherson — 42

AMA Hard Enduros
1 TRYSTAN HART 6 wins 195
2 CODY WEBB 4 2nd locations 150
3 RYDER LEBLOND 2 2nd locations 136
4 WILL RIORDAN 112
5 COLTON HAAKER 99
6 BRANDEN PETRIE 80
7 JAMES FLYNN 70
8 LOGAN BOLOPUE 54
9 COOPER ABBOTT 54
10 QUINN WENTZEL 53

ENDUROCROSS
1 TRYSTAN HART -3 wins
2 JONNY WALKER -2 wins
3 COLTON HAAKER -1 win
4 CODY WEBB
5 RYDER LEBLOND
6 COOPER ABBOTT
7 MAX GERSTON
8 WILL RIORDAN
9 TADDY BLAZUSIAK
10 DOMINIK OLSZOWY

AMA West Hare Scrambles
1 Dante Oliveria –5 wins–171
2 Giacomo Redondi –1 win– 146
3 Zane Roberts — 112
4 Joseph Wasson — 96
5 Jaden Dahners — 85
6 Tyler Vore — 85
7 Layton Smail — 83
8 Mason Ottersberg — 76
9 Austin Walton — 68
10 Ryder Thomaselli — 57

FULL GAS SPRINT ENDURO
1 Layne Michael — 3 wins — 161
2 Joshua Strang — 3 wins — 158
3 Tyler Medaglia — 42
4 Ricky Russell — 39
5 Michael McLean — 32
6 Mike Witkowski — 25
7 Lyndon Snodgrass — 25
8 Trevor Bollinger — 21
9 Steward Baylor — 18
10 Ben Nelko — 18

BITD
1 Hayden Hintz — 233
2 Danny Cooper — 78
3 Mason Klein — 78
4 Jesse Canepa — 75
5 Mike Baxter — 73
6 David Broderick v42
7 Chris Brown — 41

US Sprint Enduro
1 JOSH TOTH — 411
2 LAYNE MICHAEL — 399
3 LIAM DRAPER — 315

US Sprint Enduro 250 Class
1 Cody Barnes — 470
2 Thorn Devlin — 360
3 Angus Riordan — 357

JDAY
1 Chris Canning — 281
2 Brandon Gregoire — 260
3 Simon Johnson — 254
4 Gavin Simon — 236
5 Brayden Nolette — 216
13 Ben Kelley — 75
29 Ricky Russell — 25
29 Stewart Baylor — 25
32 Josh Toth — 22

ISDE Trophy Scratch
3 Dante Oliveira E2 — 6′ 08. 44
4 Taylor Robert E2 — 7′ 19. 64
5 Johnny Girroir E2 — 8′ 14. 36
9 Cole Martinez E2 — 11′ 28. 91
14 Mateo Oliveira E2 — 13′ 33. 87
29 Grant Davis E1 — 22′ 53. 44
34 Kai Aiello E2 — 26′ 17. 19
51 Brandy Richards E1 — 42′ 46. 16
64 Korie Steede E1 — 59′ 15. 22
68 Rachel Gutish E2 — 1:03′ 04. 51

ISDE Club Scratch
1 Josh Toth c2 chief
2 Preston Campbell c2 — 10′ 59. 14
3 Jaden Dahners c1 — 12′ 58. 49
4 Austin Serpa c2 — 14′ 55. 73
5 Axel Pearson c2 — 15′ 19. 27
8 Devlin Thorn c2 — 17′ 04. 61
10 Jhak Walker c1 — 19′ 26. 42
11 Hunter Smith c2 — 19′ 51. 37
12 Ryan Surratt c2 — 19′ 56. 62
17 Trevor Maley c1 — 25′ 13. 17
18 Nathan Ferderer c2 — 25′ 40. 96
23 Chase Bright c1 — 30′ 25. 13
26 Jackson Davis c2 — 34′ 54. 07
38 John Beal c1 — 44′ 21. 26
41 Kyle Tichenor c2 — 45′ 22. 07
52 Ava Silvestri c1 — 54′ 46. 63
71 Rick Emerson c3 — 1:09′ 17. 75
155 Jeremy Shoning c2 — 7:36′ 10.10 — ret
162 Nolan Cate c1 — 9:35′ 38.17 — ret
164 Zachary Toth c2 — 9:37′ 10. 36 — ret
172 Cade Henderson c1 — 11:41′ 52. 35 — ret

World Rally Standings
9 Ricky Brabec
10 Skyler Howes
14 Mason Klein

See you subsequent yr!

–Ron Lawson
Motorsport

What People Who Actually Drove The Cybertruck Are Saying

Tesla Cybertruck deliveries began with a big event on Thursday. The company only delivered a few pickups, so they won’t be seen everywhere just yet. Due to the lack of a press department at Tesla, only a few publications have had the chance to test drive the Cybertruck. However, those who did seemed to be impressed. Let’s see what they think of the Cybertruck.

“It’s exterior is actually the least outrageous part of Tesla’s new creation.”

Jason Cammisa’s in-depth review delves into the features of the Cybertruck. He explains that the truck is more than just a lifted Model S with a metal body. The review covers the battery technology, steer-by-wire system, and the update to a full 48-volt architecture. Cammisa also highlights its impressive speed, agility, and safety features. He is particularly impressed with how it drives and handles, despite the unconventional steer-by-wire system. Additionally, the steel construction makes it extremely rigid and safe in the event of a crash.

“The Cybertruck is a rolling sci-fi film prop from the dark recesses of Elon’s brain that makes little sense but takes edgy and wedgie to a whole new level.”

Top Gear features an interview with Tesla’s Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen and Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy. They discuss the Cybertruck’s development process, including its inspiration from the Spy Who Loved Me submarine Lotus Esprits. While the truck can stop subsonic bullets, Moravy refrains from claiming it’s fully bulletproof. The review emphasizes the truck’s stiffness and impressive acceleration for its weight.

“There are some surprising things about it; some features that are really cool; things I think truck people are really going to like, but also some concerns I have, some surprises.”

Marques Brownlee, who drove a pre-production Tesla Cybertruck before its debut, highlights some concerns with the vehicle, such as large or uneven panel gaps and the practicality of handle-less doors in icy conditions. Despite the concerns, he acknowledges the truck’s cool features that truck enthusiasts are likely to appreciate.

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BILLY BOLT TAKES FRENCH SUPER ENDURO WIN

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt claimed victory in round one of the 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship by dominating the competition inside the Arena Stade couvert de Lievin. Bolt secured three wins from three starts and also topped the SuperPole hot lap, earning a maximum points score for the round. Jonny Walker, who had minimal test time and raced the same bike from the previous year’s championship, secured second place.

“I didn’t even think about the race before because we were too busy getting here from America. My bike is the same one from last year that finished championship on and has about four hours on it. So I put new plastics on, changed tyres and put it in the van. I didn’t even start it from last year and then when I got here then I was like, shit, I hope it starts!

Will Hoare, racing on Beta UK-supported RR 300 two-stroke, secured third place. Hoare, who had recently joined the team and had not planned on racing the series, expressed surprise at his results. “I’ve only just jumped on the Beta really, without much time training. When we got here the times were pretty good and I was up there, I was second in the timed qualifying I think so it was a matter of making it happen in the races. I wasn’t gonna go to the other rounds but I think I’d better get driving to Poland in a couple of weeks now!”

UK Beta sponsored Will Hoare went 5-3-3 for a third overall finish.

Mani Lettenbichler, returning to indoor racing, faced challenges and commented on the intense competition. “It was a mixed evening for me and definitely wild. The boys are unbelievably fast right now, especially Billy and Jonny, they’re on another level. I was struggling quite a bit and I feel like I went to the extreme on my suspension, too soft in the settings so I think we’re going to go back and try to find something more for Poland.”

Mani Lettenbichler, the Hard Enduro World champion is back on the SuperEnduro circuit. His results were pedestrian, finishing sixth overall.
One of the biggest stories of the weekend came with Taddy Blazusiak and his new Stark ride and the sudden decision from the FIM on ‘not’ allowing electric motorcycles in this “open class” race championship.

The debut of Taddy Blazusiak and Stark was marred by frustration when the FIM changed their rulebook less than 24 hours before the technical inspection opened. The rulebook was updated to exclude electric motorcycles from the open categories (E1, E2, and E3 for all classes), causing disappointment for the Stark team.

Jonny Walker, Billy Bolt, and Will Hoare on the podium

The FIM SuperEnduro World Championship now moves on to round two in Krakow, Poland on December 9th.

Featured

Volvo C40 Recharge EV Deliveries Begin In India

The first two Volvo C40 Recharge models were delivered in Kerala and Tamil Nadu

Volvo C40 Recharge

  • Volvo retails the C40 Recharge for Rs 61.25 lakh (introductory ex-showroom pan-India).

  • The EV is based on the same platform as the XC40 Recharge and is its coupe version.

  • Gets a 78kWh battery pack good for 530km of WLTP-claimed range.

  • Features a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital driver display and ADAS.

The Volvo C40 Recharge went on sale on September 4, and after almost 10 days, the carmaker has started delivering the EV to customers. The first two units of the Volvo EV were delivered in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is a coupe version of the XC40 Recharge electric SUV, and is sold in a single fully loaded variant priced at Rs 61.25 lakh (introductory ex-showroom pan-India).

What Powers It?

Volvo C40 Recharge front

Volvo has provided the C40 Recharge with a 78kWh battery pack, having a WLTP-claimed range of 530km and an ICAT-claimed range of 683km. The EV comes with a dual-motor AWD setup rated at 408PS and 660Nm, enabling it to sprint from 0-100kmph in 4.7 seconds.

Volvo has made it capable of supporting 150kW fast charging that helps refill the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 27 minutes. The carmaker has supplied the C40 Recharge with an 11kW charger on board.

Also Check Out: Tesla Model 3 Updated With Sleeker Looks And Nicer Cabin

Plenty Of Tech To Play With

Volvo C40 Recharge interior

The C40 Recharge’s equipment list packs a 9-inch vertically-oriented touchscreen, powered front seats with heating and cooling function, dual-zone climate control, 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, a 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and a panoramic glass roof. You get luggage space in the front (31 litres) as well as the back (413 litres).

Volvo has ensured passengers are kept safe by providing the EV with seven airbags, hill-assist, a 360-degree camera, and a range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, and blind-spot detection.

Who Are Its Challengers?

Volvo C40 Recharge rear

Volvo’s second EV offering in India doesn’t have any direct competitors but is an alternative to the BMW i4, Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Also Read: Kia EV5 Breaks Cover Globally, May Come To India By 2025

Read More on : Volvo C40 Recharge Automatic

BMW

BMW Motorrad Motorsport in Most: Successful WorldSBK Weekend with Notable Moments

Most. The eighth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship 2023 (WorldSBK) in Most (CZE) delivered solid results and some highlights for BMW Motorrad Motorsport, both teams and the four BMW Motorrad factory riders. Scott Redding (GBR / ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finished fourth in the first main race to match his best race result of the season. Loris Baz (FRA / Bonovo action BMW Racing Team) reached the top ten in both main races. His team-mate Garrett Gerloff (USA) recorded his best qualifying result of the season so far with sixth place in the Superpole, but endured some bad luck in both main races. Michael van der Mark (NED), returning to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team after missing an extended period due to injury, chalked up some points and got plenty of race kilometres under his belt.

The BMW Motorrad factory riders performed well in the free practice sessions. Redding set the fastest time in FP1 on Friday, while Gerloff was the quickest in FP3 on Saturday morning with Redding right behind him in second place. There was an air of optimism before the Superpole, but multiple falls and yellow flags in qualifying hindered their hunt for fast lap times. Gerloff was the highest-placed BMW rider in eighth. As other riders saw their fastest laps canceled, he moved up to sixth on the grid. Baz started race one from 13th, with Redding and van der Mark starting from 15th and 18th respectively.

Race one on Saturday afternoon turned into a tire gamble. Rain started at the beginning, but it was expected to ease off and the track was predicted to dry quickly. The question on the wet grid was which tires to start the race on. Redding chose wet-weather tires initially but headed for the pits after the warm-up lap to switch to intermediates. This meant he had to start from the pit lane, at the back of the field. However, Redding made an impressive comeback, overtaking many riders and spending time in second place before finishing fourth after 22 laps. Baz and his team opted for intermediates, and he finished in tenth place. Van der Mark started on wet-weather tires and pitted after a few laps to switch to slicks. He scored points in his first race after a long break due to injury, finishing 13th. Unfortunately, Gerloff had a stroke of bad luck. While running in seventh place, he slipped on a wet patch and crashed.

Rain returned on Saturday night and Sunday morning, but the track dried out just in time for the Superpole Race before noon. Gerloff finished the race in ninth, while Baz, Redding, and van der Mark finished 12th, 13th, and 14th respectively.

Rain clouds reappeared before the start of the second main race on Sunday afternoon, but the weather remained dry for the race. Redding started from 15th and once again showcased his impressive skills as he climbed up to eighth. Baz also made progress, reaching the top eight at one point and finishing in 10th place after 22 laps. Van der Mark secured another point by finishing 15th. Unfortunately, Gerloff experienced more misfortune. He had a great start from ninth on the grid but crashed on the first lap. He was able to rejoin the race after a brief stop in the pits for repairs and finished 20th.

The WorldSBK is now taking a summer break. The ninth round of the 2023 season will be held on September 8th to 10th in Magny-Cours, France.

Reactions to the Most round.

 

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “It was a very mixed weekend, both in terms of results and weather. And these were partly related. For Michael, his comeback weekend unfortunately started negatively. In FP2, there was a mechanical issue that caused a crash. Fortunately, he was okay and from Saturday onwards things went smoothly in technical terms, and it was good that he could do several laps to assess where he stands and what he needs to work on. He finished all the races and scored points. We are very satisfied with that. For Scott, we were very strong in the free practices, however qualifying was difficult. The session is short and tight, and with the rule that lap times get cancelled with yellow flags, even with a strong pace, it’s possible to come up short. And that was the case with Scott. However, he made a good decision in the first race and came in again before the start to switch to intermediates. He secured an extremely strong fourth place. In the second main race, he climbed from P15 to eighth. He had a solid pace again, but starting from the back is still challenging. Garrett showed strong lap times in the free practices and had a very good qualifying with P6. Unfortunately, he couldn’t capitalise on the Superpole position in the first race due to a crash in the wet conditions. In the Superpole race, he stayed within the crucial top nine. He also had a great start in race two, but unfortunately, he went into neutral and crashed. Although he continued with very strong lap times, he was outside the points. Loris had a consistently solid weekend, and we can be satisfied with his two top-10 results. Now we head into the summer break, and in early September, we hope for a strong start to the final stretch of the season in Magny-Cours.”

 

Scott Redding, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 15 / R01: 4 / SP Race: 13 / R02: 8): “Overall the weekend was pretty good. We were first on Friday in mixed conditions and second in FP3. We were a bit more up there, which was nice. Obviously, we had to take a gamble in different conditions, but it paid off. I was a bit upset with the result in this morning’s Superpole race. We had an issue, something was not quite right, and it made it difficult to stop the bike. It was hard because I wanted to try and finish in the top nine, to have a better start position for race two, and knew I had a better pace than that but I just couldn’t do it, so it was frustrating. In race two, I wanted to try and bounce back and show my potential again as a rider, so to come from 15th and have a good pace in the second half of the race was good. It took me a while to get through a few guys and to get a clear track, but I felt I was riding well and the pace was good. I think we were 13 seconds off the leader, of which I probably lost three, four, five in the beginning. It wasn’t ideal, but I felt strong, and the main thing is I enjoyed riding the bike today.”

 

Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 13 / R01: 10 / SP Race: 12 / R02: 10): “It wasn’t a bad weekend. We have now had two good weekends in a row, and I don’t know when this was last the case. I am happy as I didn’t crash, and nobody took me out, so hopefully, we have left the bad luck behind us. I am even more proud and happy with the job we did here because in Imola, I felt really good from the beginning. Here, I didn’t feel comfortable on Friday or yesterday, and I was struggling a lot in some parts of the track. But we managed to improve the bike, and that on a track where we struggled last year. So yes, it was good. My Superpole race was okay. I was struggling a lot to overtake Dominique Aegerter, but we were not in the top nine, and that is what matters in the sprint race. Race two was good. I had a really strong start, and then I was trying to go at my pace, to not make any mistakes, and be there at the end. I struggled a bit with arm pump, and I was still in pain from my left shoulder since the crash in Imola. But I am happy. In the top ten again. I was just a bit disappointed to lose the top nine on the last lap.”

 

Michael van der Mark, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 18 / R01: 13 / SP Race: 14 / R02: 15): “This Sunday was OK for me. My priority was to do as many laps as possible. Of course, you also want to go as fast as possible too. In this morning’s Superpole race, I was happy. I had quite a good rhythm, but it was not more than ten laps. Then in race two, I had a good start but was a bit too cautious into turn one, and then I was behind a big group. I stayed with them for a while, but I was pushing too much to stay with them, so I backed off because I knew I had to do as many laps as possible. It was a lonely race, but we had to finish, we had to do the laps. So I am happy with the result. Overall, it’s nice to be back.”

 

Garrett Gerloff, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 6 / R01: DNF / SP Race: 9 / R02: 20): “I was happy to stay in the top nine in the Superpole race. I had a really good start in race two, but unfortunately, the bike went into neutral going into turn one, and I ended up crashing. That was the end of the weekend, and I am just sad about it. I know our potential is really good, so it makes it even more frustrating, but after the summer break, we will come back stronger in France.”

Motorsport

2024 Porsche Panamera Seen Testing at Nurburgring with Camouflaged Headlights

Last year, Porsche sold a total of 309,884 vehicles, out of which 34,142 were Panameras. Despite being outsold by its electric counterpart, the Taycan, Porsche is not giving up on combustion-powered executive sedans. The automaker is currently working on a refresh for the Panamera, although its long-term future is still uncertain.

The Panamera prototype is currently undergoing intense testing at the Nurburgring track. Our photographers managed to capture shots of the model being driven by what seems to be a professional test driver. Oblivious to our spies, the driver pushed the 2024 Panamera to its limits.

BMW

Strong Momentum in Q2: Double-Digit Sales Growth (+11.3%), BEV Deliveries More Than Doubled Again

The BMW Group had a strong second quarter in 2023, delivering a total of 88,289 fully-electric BMW and MINI vehicles, which is more than double the BEV sales from the same period last year (+117.5%). This indicates significant growth and shows the wide appeal of electric vehicles to customers worldwide.

The company’s success in sales, particularly with fully-electric vehicles, is attributed to having the right products available at the right time. The BMW Group plans to continue the rapid expansion of its electric vehicle offerings in the second half of the year. With a diverse range of vehicles, including highly efficient combustion engines and fully-electric models, the BMW Group aims to address the various needs of customers globally.

In the second quarter, the BMW Group delivered a total of 626,726 BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles, representing a year-on-year growth of +11.3%. For the first half of the year, BMW Group sales reached 1,214,864 units, an increase of +4.7%.

The BMW brand continued to lead the global premium segment in the second quarter, with a delivery of 553,369 vehicles worldwide (+11.5% YoY). The brand’s fully-electric vehicles also performed exceptionally well, with deliveries more than doubling from the same period in 2022 (+150.7%). Notable models contributing to this success include the fully-electric BMW i7, the new BMW X7, the BMW 4 Series, and the BMW i4. The BMW X5 also experienced strong demand, following the expansion of its production capacity.

The BMW Group received positive feedback on the new BMW 5 Series range and the upcoming fully-electric BMW i5. The company plans to launch the BMW i5, a fully-electric business sedan, in October 2023, providing a fully-electric option in each of its core vehicle segments. Additionally, the new BMW 5 Series will introduce a partially automated driving system called the Highway Assistant, allowing drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel at speeds up to 130 km/h.

The MINI brand achieved significant sales growth in the second quarter, delivering 71,816 vehicles (+10.2% YoY). Its fully-electric vehicles also saw an increase of +8.8% in sales. The MINI Cooper SE remains the brand’s most popular model, and the MINI lineup now includes the fully-electric MINI Cooper SE Convertible.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars reported sales of 3,181 cars in the first half of 2023, with demand remaining strong. The fully-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre super coupé has exceeded expectations, with an order book extending to the end of 2024. Rolls-Royce plans to offer only fully-electric vehicles by 2030, and the first client deliveries of the Rolls-Royce Spectre are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2023.

In the motorcycle segment, BMW Motorrad delivered 64,936 motorcycles in the second quarter of 2023 (+8.0% YoY). This continued the strong customer demand seen in the first quarter, with the successful market launch of new models like the Power Roadster M 1000 R.

BMW Group sales were strong in various regions. In China, the company sold 197,807 BMW and MINI vehicles (+16.2% YoY) in the second quarter. The US saw an increase of +13.7% with 95,533 BMW and MINI vehicles delivered. In Europe, sales reached 232,706 units (+9.0% YoY), and in Germany, 76,962 BMW and MINI vehicles were registered.

Overall, the BMW Group’s automotive sales in the second quarter of 2023 reached 626,726 units (+11.3% YoY), with double-digit growth in various segments. The company’s commitment to electromobility and its diverse product offerings have contributed to its continued success.

The reported delivery figures are provisional and subject to change until the quarterly statement is published.

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Mahindra XUV700 Reaches 1 Lakh Homes In India


The last 50,000 units of the Mahindra XUV700 were delivered in the last 8 months

The Mahindra XUV700, Mahindra’s flagship SUV launched in 2021 as a successor to the Mahindra XUV500, has achieved a significant milestone. It has delivered 1 lakh units to customers in India. The XUV700 achieved this milestone in just 20 months, which is quite impressive considering its fairly premium offerings and popular variants priced around Rs 20 lakh. Since its launch, the XUV700 has faced a significant waiting period. Mahindra received 50,000 bookings in the first three hours, and it took 12 months to deliver those units. The next 50,000 units were delivered in 8 months. The waiting times for the XUV700 are still high, and Mahindra is now working on increasing production capacity to speed up the delivery of the next 50,000 units, according to their statement.

What does it offer

The Mahindra XUV700 comes with a host of features, including an integrated 10.25-inch screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, and a 12-speaker 3D sound system by Sony. In terms of safety, it offers seven airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), a 360-degree camera, reversing camera, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and high-beam assist.

Also Read: Mahindra Scorpio Nameplate Crosses 9 Lakh Production Milestone

Powertrain Details

The Mahindra XUV700 is available with two engine options: a 2-litre turbo petrol engine (200PS/380Nm) and a 2.2-litre diesel engine (up to 185PS/450Nm), both paired with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. The top-spec diesel variants also come with an all-wheel-drive drivetrain.

Price & Rivals

The prices for the Mahindra XUV700 range between Rs 14.04 lakh and Rs 26.18 lakh (ex-showroom pan India). Its rivals in the market include the Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus, and Hyundai Alcazar. The lower variants of the XUV700 also offer a 5-seater configuration, competing with 5-seater SUVs like the Tata Harrier, MG Hector, and Hyundai Creta.

Read More on : Mahindra XUV700 on road price