Tag Archives: launching

News

CFMoto Introduces 450CL-C, its New Cruiser Motorcycle

CFMoto, the Chinese motorcycle manufacturer, has been making waves in the global market with its innovative range of motorcycles. Recently, the company announced the global launch of its premium model, the 450NK, which is targeted at beginner riders who desire a versatile bike for various riding purposes.

Following the success of the 450NK, CFMoto has now unveiled the 450CL-C cruiser motorcycle in the Chinese market. Described as the perfect combination of style and comfort, this retro-inspired cruiser shares the same foundation as the 450NK. Let’s delve deeper into the features of this new model.

Visually, the 450CL-C is an attractive motorcycle that combines retro and modern design elements. It features a rounded fuel tank and a circular LED headlight that exude a classic feel, while its inverted front forks, semi-exposed trellis frame, and dual-channel ABS add a touch of modernity to the overall design.

But the standout feature of the 450CL-C is its engine. Like the 450NK, it is equipped with a new 449cc parallel-twin engine that is liquid-cooled and fuel-injected. The engine is built with a 270-degree crankshaft, giving it a unique sound and delivering power similar to a V-twin engine, which is ideal for a cruiser motorcycle. It produces 40 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 29 pound-feet of torque at 6,250 rpm. Power is transferred to the rear wheel through a six-speed manual transmission and a Gates Belt Drive, providing a smooth and efficient ride.

In terms of handling, the 450CL-C features an inverted front fork with 37mm tubes, a centrally mounted rear monoshock, and a 12.5-inch (320mm) front disc brake and an 8.7-inch (220mm) rear disc brake. It also comes with safety features like traction control and dual-channel ABS as standard.

Citreon

CITROËN STREAMLINES ITS PASSENGER VEHICLE RANGE TO IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

 

Citroën has simplified its vehicle range by launching three new trim levels: YOU, PLUS, and MAX. These new trim levels replace the previous Sense, Sense Plus, Shine, and Shine Plus names. The goal of this overhaul is to provide clearer and more transparent commercial offers that connect customers and Citroën’s sales network. The streamlined range aims to simplify the customer purchase process and build trust in the brand by offering well-defined options that are tailored to the needs and lifestyles of customers.

 

Citroën’s new range is inspired by the company’s desire to simplify the consumer experience, improve pricing fairness, and reduce delivery times. The range has been redesigned based on analysis of new consumer habits and a shift towards a more digital world.

 

A SIMPLIFIED RANGE, TAILORED TO CUSTOMER NEEDS

 

The new model range consists of three trim levels: YOU, PLUS, and MAX. This redefined range makes it easier for customers to understand the different trim levels, standard equipment, and options available. Each trim level is designed to meet customer needs and preferences.

 

The range reflects Citroën’s commitment to providing style and comfort. For example, the entry-level YOU trim for the C4 and C4 X models offers Citroën comfort, with features like Advanced Comfort Suspension®, Advanced Comfort Seats®, a 10-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring, and rear parking sensors. The PLUS trim enhances the Citroën experience with a head-up display, a rear-view camera, and connected navigation. The MAX versions provide additional equipment such as hands-free access and adaptive cruise control with the Stop & Go function, along with unique style elements like dark-tinted rear windows and 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

 

Special ‘collection’ versions will also be available for each model range, such as the electric ë-Series collection for ë-C4, ë-C4 X, and C5 Aircross Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid models.

 

AN IMPROVED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

 

By streamlining its range, Citroën aims to improve the buying experience, reduce costs, and minimize delivery lead times. The Citroën Advisor programme is one of the tools used to achieve these goals. It allows customers to provide transparent feedback and opinions on products, sales outlets, and service offerings.

 

The streamlined range and enhanced online navigation on the Citroën website make the buying process less complex and smoother for customers. Production, stock management, and cost controls have also been optimized to ensure fair pricing and shorter delivery lead times.

 

News

Honda EM1 e: Electric Scooter With Swappable Batteries Heads To Indonesia

Honda is expanding its electric scooter lineup by bringing the Honda EM1 e: to the Indonesian market. With a high percentage of households owning motorcycles and millions of motorbikes in the country, Honda sees great potential in Indonesia.

Although electric motorbikes currently make up a small portion of two-wheelers in Indonesia, the country is in the midst of a transition towards electric vehicles. The Indonesian government has announced plans to become fully electric by 2050 and has implemented a subsidy program to encourage the adoption of electric two-wheelers.


Honda EM1 e - Indonesia - Innovative White

13 Photos

The Honda EM1 e: is currently available for purchase in Indonesia through PT Astra Honda Motor. It features Honda’s Mobile Power Pack e: battery packs, which are removable, swappable, and can be charged using a special home charger provided by Honda.

In Indonesia, the EM1 e: is available for sale, unlike in Japan and Europe where it is offered for rental. The price for the scooter alone is 40,000,000 Indonesian rupiah (about $2,610), while the version with the Honda Mobile Power Pack e: costs 45,000,000 rupiah (about $2,936).

Compared to Honda’s combustion models in Indonesia, such as the Honda BeAT, Genio, Scoopy, and Vario, the EM1 e: is more expensive. However, its pricing is comparable to the Honda ADV160, which is available in ABS and Combined Braking System versions. For those looking for a more luxurious option, the Honda Forza is priced at 90,330,000 rupiah (about $5,894) as of August 23, 2023.

Like other countries transitioning to electric vehicles, Indonesia is in the process of developing the necessary infrastructure to support EVs. The progress of this infrastructure development remains to be seen.

Motorsport

1953 Volvo Military Truck Looks Indestructible, And It’s For Sale

A unique piece of Volvo history is currently for sale in Australia on Collecting Cars. It’s a 1953 Volvo TP21 “Sugga,” which could be considered a precursor to the modern SUV.

The TP21 Sugga, meaning “sow” in Swedish, was first introduced in 1953. It was equipped with a 3.67-liter flathead inline-six engine that produced 90 horsepower. The vehicle also featured a four-speed manual transmission, selectable four-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case, and locking front and rear differentials. Volvo primarily produced these trucks as personnel carriers and radio vehicles for military use.

According to a report from Hemmings, some of these TP21 Sugga trucks were still in service with the Swedish military until the 1990s.


Motorsport

Upcoming Aston Martin EV Will Use Pirelli Cyber Tires

Aston Martin has announced that it will be launching four electric vehicles (EVs) in the next few years, with the first one expected to arrive in 2025. During a panel discussion at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Aston Martin’s Chief Technical Officer, Roberto Fedeli, revealed that the first electric model will be equipped with Pirelli’s Cyber Tire system.

The Cyber Tires developed by Pirelli have a built-in sensor that communicates with the vehicle’s onboard computers. This sensor provides various information such as the tire type (summer or winter), recommended pressure, load index, and speed rating. Moreover, the system is capable of monitoring tire wear, temperature, grip, slip details, and load. Depending on how the automaker utilizes this technology, the vehicle can make adjustments to suspension settings, electronic stability control parameters, braking assist, and more.

Cyber Tire explanation

Pirelli highlights that the Cyber Tire system provides the vehicle with additional data that enhances safety while driving.

The McLaren Artura, a production vehicle, was among the first to adopt Pirelli’s Cyber Tires for its bespoke P Zero, P Zero Corsa, and P Zero Winter rubber tires. The Lotus Evija is another vehicle that utilizes this technology.

Pirelli is also working on a version of Cyber Tires that can network with other vehicles and high-tech infrastructure. The idea behind this development is to enable the sharing of road surface information among vehicles.

Back in June 2023, Aston Martin announced a long-term partnership with Lucid for the powertrain and battery components of its upcoming EVs. The British automaker’s chairman, Lawrence Stroll, stated that Aston Martin engineers would customize these components for their vehicles instead of using them in their stock form. As part of this partnership, Lucid acquired a 3.7% share in Aston Martin.

Aston Martin has previously indicated that the Vantage model will eventually switch to an electric powertrain. However, it is unclear whether this particular EV expected to debut in 2025 will be the electrified Vantage. Aston Martin has plans to electrify its entire lineup to some degree by 2030, with half of the models being all-electric vehicles.

News

Volkswagen SSP EV platform to offer up to 1700bhp from 2026

Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to launch its comprehensive SSP (Scalable Systems Platform) electric architecture in 2026, despite potential delays to 2028/29 that were previously mentioned.

Blume stated that the architecture will cover a wide range of vehicles, from city cars to sports cars, with power exceeding 1700bhp. Initially, VW had planned for the SSP to handle around 1100bhp.

“The SSP architecture will balance the need for scale and standardization with differentiation and speed,” Blume emphasized.

The SSP architecture was initially announced in 2021 with a planned launch date in 2026, starting with Audi’s Artemis project. However, delays, particularly concerning the crucial software 2.0, caused development to be pushed back to 2028/29, as previously stated by executives like VW brand CEO Thomas Schäfer.

VW Group brands will share architecture modules across 40 million vehicles as part of their efforts to standardize parts and increase economies of scale, with the goal of reducing the high price of electric cars. Blume stated that “most” vehicles on the SSP platform will achieve profit margin parity with internal-combustion-engined cars, compared to only “some” on the group’s MEB electric car platform.

“Architectures cover up to 75% of all material costs for BEV, compared to up to 10% for ICE,” Blume explained. “Therefore, architectures are a key driver for profitability in the future.”

One component that will be shared across all models is the planned ‘Unified’ battery cell, which will be manufactured in future VW plants and can accommodate a range of chemistries, including the cost-effective LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate).

Blume also revealed new performance details about SSP cars, including a 10%-80% charging time reduced to an average of 12 minutes, compared to the existing 35 minutes for MEB models. Additionally, the software 2.0 and electronic architecture will enable hands-free driving up to level four.

Motorsport

Ford Mustang GT4 Teaser Reveals Upcoming Race Car Prior to June 28 Debut

Ford is expanding its line of racing versions for the new Mustang. Following the release of the GT3 variant, the brand is now giving a glimpse of the GT4 competition machine. The official debut will take place on Wednesday, June 28, at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit in Belgium.

Similar to the GT3, the Mustang GT4 is based on the high-performance Dark Horse model. Multimatic Motorsports takes this starting point and transforms it into a race car. However, Ford has yet to provide details on the specific mechanical modifications for the competition version.

Typically, GT4 cars undergo suspension revisions to allow for adjustable setups tailored to different tracks. The engine generally remains the same as the road-going model, so it is likely that this Mustang will feature a version of the 5.0-liter V8. In racing, horsepower output is often limited within a specific range to ensure competitive balance among all vehicles.


PeugeotUk

PEUGEOT LAUNCHES OPERATION #CAMOCATCH AHEAD OF NEW PEUGEOT 3008 REVEAL

Ahead of the reveal of the new PEUGEOT 3008 in September 2023, PEUGEOT is launching an operation across social media to allow budding designers to choose the camouflage for the new model.

 

Camouflaged prototypes of the new PEUGEOT 3008 will be on the roads of Europe this summer, and PEUGEOT’s #CamoCatch Operation opens the door for the public to have their say on how the long-awaited model will look ahead of launch.

 

Camouflaging has become widespread practice across the automotive industry in the early stages of new product development, concealing the vehicle’s bodywork ahead of the final unveiling. By opening this important design phase to the public, PEUGEOT is embedding its design expertise into every detail of the development process.

 

The PEUGEOT designers have created 10 new, high impact and innovative camouflage patterns, which can conceal the details of the new PEUGEOT 3008’s exterior, whilst demonstrating the expertise of PEUGEOT’s graphic design team.  

 

PEUGEOT launched the initiative earlier today (15 May), with the first phase running until 2 June. PEUGEOT’s social media channels will invite the public to choose their favourite camouflage(s) from among the 10 options. Votes will be open across all of PEUGEOT’s UK social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

The six camouflage designs that receive the most votes will be produced in June and used to cover the new PEUGEOT 3008 models that will be taking part in the open road testing this summer.

 

The new PEUGEOT 3008 camouflaged cars will take to the road between 1 July and 15 August. Anyone who sees the new model is invited to take a photo and post the picture on the PEUGEOT social media accounts with the hashtag #CamoCatch.

 

A selection of participants who have taken part will be invited to an exclusive drive of the car early in 2024.

 

PEUGEOT has been implementing a strategy of collaboration and partnership with young designer artists, such as J. Demsky and Emeric Tchatchoua, since the beginning of 2023.