Tag Archives: roots

Motorsport

We Might Get An Electric Nissan GT-R By 2030

The Nissan GT-R is as previous as dust, tracing its roots again to 2001 with the Skyline GT-R concept. Despite its venerable age, the Japanese supercar had a superb 2023 when gross sales shot up by 584 percent within the United States. Still, the R35 technology is in dire want of a substitute.

At the Japan Mobility Show final October, Nissan hinted on the prospects of a next-gen automotive. This spectacular Hyper Force stole the present in Tokyo with its loopy design and the promise of 1,341 horsepower. It had entrance and rear motors, all-wheel drive, butterfly doorways, and a pixelated GT-R brand. Now, the corporate’s program design director suggests the eye-catching idea has an opportunity of evolving right into a manufacturing mannequin by 2030.


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BMW CE 02 Enters Production In India In Partnership With TVS

BMW and TVS Motor Company, a company based in India, have a long-standing partnership. This partnership began with the G 310 range of entry-level motorcycles. While the G 310 range is considered entry-level in the US and European markets, it is seen as an upgrade in the Asian market. Now, BMW and TVS are extending their partnership to electric motorcycles.

The BMW CE 02, a compact and low-power electric motorcycle primarily designed for urban mobility, has entered production in India. TVS Motor Company is producing the electric scooter at its manufacturing facility in Hosur, near Chennai. Although the bike is not yet available in the Indian market, it will first be exported to other markets where it has been announced. For instance, in the US, it will be released with a starting retail price of $7,599.

BMW CE 02 - Parked

Technically, the BMW CE 02 is powered by an electric motor with a maximum output of 11 kilowatts (15 horsepower). It delivers 55 Newton-meters (44 pound-feet) of torque. The bike is equipped with a 2-kilowatt-hour battery pack that provides a claimed range of 56 miles per charge.

On the feature side, the CE 02 comes with ride modes, LED lights, a USB charging port, keyless ignition, a 3.5-inch full-color TFT display, ABS, and a reverse gear for easier parking. It rides on 14-inch wheels fitted with tires measuring 120/80 at the front and 150/70 at the rear. The suspension consists of inverted forks and an adjustable monoshock connected to a single-sided swingarm at the rear.

BMW CE 02 - Parked 2

Once launched, the CE 02 is expected to offer optional accessories such as a comfort saddle, luggage sets, and a windscreen. Pricing and availability for the Indian market are yet to be confirmed, but it is anticipated that the bike will be introduced in limited quantities by 2024. Considering that the CE 02 is manufactured in India, it is expected to be more affordable than its US market price of $7,599.

Featured

Miller Motorcars’ Bugatti Centodieci Takes Home ‘Evolution of the Supercar’ Award at The Quail

During Monterey Car Week, a modern hypercar that pays tribute to its historical roots stole the show. A customer-owned Bugatti Centodieci won the prestigious ‘Evolution of the Supercar’ award at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. The event took place at the renowned Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, and this accolade is a celebration of Bugatti’s design and innovation.

The Bugatti Centodieci is a limited edition model, with only ten examples ever produced. It pays homage to the Bugatti EB110, which is widely considered to be the first super sports car of the 20th century. The Centodieci combines nostalgia with modern design, making it a clear winner among the judges and spectators at The Quail.

Miller Motorcars and Bugatti Greenwich represented the winning Centodieci, showcasing its seamless blend of classic and contemporary elements. The victory further highlights Bugatti’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of hypercar capabilities, combining luxury, performance, and cutting-edge technology. The Centodieci’s triumph at such a prestigious event solidifies its elite status and reinforces the Bugatti brand as an industry leader. You can explore Miller Motorcars’ current inventory for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below.

View All Miller Motorcars Inventory

ToyotaUk

Environmental Icon Dr. Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Youth Program Sustainability Supported by Toyota

About Roots & Shoots USA

In 1991, local youth gathered on Jane Goodall’s front porch in Tanzania and expressed how they felt powerless against the problems in the world around them. As the students told stories and offered ideas, Jane realized the solution was right in front of them: their power to create change. The Roots & Shoots program was born. Roots & Shoots provides the resources to encourage and motivate young people to take action on issues that matter to them. Today, the tools and support offered through the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) program empower youth in all 50 states and over 65 countries to use their voices and ideas to address the issues that matter most to them in their communities. Through Jane’s hopeful message and the Roots & Shoots model, youth around the world are encouraged to put their ideas into action. Since 1991, millions of students have taken on the challenge of making the world a better place for people, other animals and the environment we share. Roots & Shoots youth are not only the future–they are the present– and they are changing the world.  Learn more at rootsandshoots.org and follow us @rootsandshoots.

About the Jane Goodall Institute

The Jane Goodall Institute is a global community-centered conservation organization founded in 1977 that advances the vision and work of world renowned ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE and UN Messenger of Peace. By understanding, protecting and improving the welfare of chimpanzees and other great apes, while inspiring action to conserve the natural world we all share, we improve the lives of people, other animals, and the environment. Learn more at janegoodall.org. Follow Jane and JGI at Facebook.com/JaneGoodall and @janegoodallinst on Instagram and Twitter.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).

Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

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Lamborghini Lanzador Concept Gives A Sneak Peak At Lamborghini’s First EV


The Lanzador concept EV stays close to its roots as it takes heavy inspiration from previous Lamborghini models

Lamborghini Lanzador

The Lamborghini Lanzador is an electric car concept that showcases the brand’s first fully electric model. It draws inspiration from other Lamborghini models in terms of design.

Fusion Exterior Design

Lamborghini Lanzador Front

The front of the Lanzador resembles the Urus with its high-mounted bumper, pointy nose, and similarly shaped air dams. However, the air dams have closed panels unlike the Urus.

Lamborghini Lanzador Side

From the sides, the Lanzador has a sleek design and extended rear end, resembling a fusion between a Huracan and an Urus.

Lamborghini Lanzador Rear

The rear profile of the Lanzador features a muscular look with a massive bumper, sharp cuts on the protruding rear, and sleek air dams on the sides. It also has a three-insignia tail lamps design.

Shocking Interiors

Lamborghini Lanzador Dashboard

The interior of the Lanzador concept has a futuristic look with a black dashboard layered with silver and golden inserts. It features a curved design, a fully digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, and a front passenger infotainment display. The centre tunnel has minimalistic geometric switchgear, while the start-stop button retains the Lamborghini essence.

Lamborghini Lanzador Seats

The concept has sporty bucket seats for all passengers in a grey and golden hue. The production version of the Lanzador may have relatively conventional seats to accommodate passengers while providing a sporty feel.

Power? Lots Of It

Lamborghini Lanzador Engine Start/Stop Button

The Lanzador is powered by a battery pack with two electric motors, one on each axle, providing an all-wheel drive setup. The electric motor setup delivers over one megawatt, making it the most powerful Lamborghini model to date.

Apart from performance, the Lanzador focuses on range and aerodynamics. It features active aero systems like the front air shutter and movable splitter, as well as rear airblades for better downforce.

Green Details

Lamborghini Lanzador

The Lanzador concept incorporates sustainably sourced and recycled materials in its construction. The cabin features elements made from 3D-printed recycled fibers and regenerated carbon to reduce the use of fresh carbon fiber while maintaining its properties.

Launch Timelines

Lamborghini Lanzador Top

The production-ready model of the Lanzador is expected to be revealed by 2028 with likely exterior and interior changes. It will be Lamborghini’s first road-going electric car and will compete with other electric SUVs like the Tesla Model X, Lucid Gravity, and Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.

Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Lamborghini, believes that the Lanzador is the logical extension of the brand’s portfolio and serves as the perfect link between the Urus and their super sports cars.

Featured

Lamborghini Lanzador Concept Gives A Sneak Peak At Lamborghini’s First EV

The Lanzador concept EV stays close to its roots as it takes heavy inspiration from previous Lamborghini models

Lamborghini Lanzador

Lamborghini has unwrapped its electric car concept called the Lamborghini Lanzador. The four-seater electric crossover SUV concept previews the carmaker’s first fully electric model and its design draws a resemblance to other models from the brand’s portfolio. 

Fusion Exterior Design

Lamborghini Lanzador Front

It can be reasonably argued that the Lanzador is not one of Lamborghini’s usual beauties, and a far cry from its last four-door concept, the Estoque. However, it does blend from other Lamborghinis. For instance, the front of the Lanzador looks a lot like the Urus with its high-mounted bumper, pointy nose and similarly shaped air dams. But these air dams appear to have closed panels, unlike the Urus.

Lamborghini Lanzador Side

From the sides, it gets a mixed design. While it does get squarish wheel arches and side cladding like the Urus, its body shape resembles the carmaker’s sports cars with its sleek design and extended rear end. Overall, it appears to be a fusion between a Huracan and an Urus.

Lamborghini Lanzador Rear

The rear profile focuses on making this crossover look more muscular, which it gets from the massive bumper, sharp cuts on the protruding rear profile and sleek air dams on the sides. It also gets a three-insignia tail lamps design as previously seen on the Sian FKP 37.

Shocking Interiors

Lamborghini Lanzador Dashboard

From the inside, the Lanzador concept looks futuristic. The black dashboard is layered with silver and golden inserts and it curves in the middle. The steering wheel gets a similar colour treatment and behind that there is a fully digital instrument cluster. While there is no centre-mounted infotainment display, there is one for the front passenger. There is also a centre tunnel with minimalistic geometric switchgear, which adds to the futuristic cockpit look. However, it still has a start-stop button with a red flip-cover, retaining more of that Lamborghini essence.

Lamborghini Lanzador Seats

The concept gets sporty bucket seats for all passengers in a grey and golden hue. While these seats do complement the design of the cabin, the production-spec version of the Lanzador will most likely get relatively conventional seats to easily accommodate passengers while still offering a sporty thrill.

Power? Lots Of It

Lamborghini Lanzador Engine Start/Stop Button

As of now, there is not much information about the battery pack powering the Lanzador, but Lamborghini has revealed that it has two electric motors, one on each axle giving the Lanzador an all-wheel drive setup. As per Lamborghini, this electric motor setup delivers over one megawatt, which translates to over 1360PS, making it the most powerful Lamborghini model to date.

Also Read: Foxconn Eyes India For Its EV-making Plans

A Lamborghini EV is not just about peak performance output but also about range and aerodynamics. As such the Lanzador features a new application of the marque’s active aero systems such as the front air shutter and movable splitter. At the back, narrow airblades can extend out of the sides and from the diffuser for better downforce.

Green Details

Lamborghini Lanzador

As an EV of the future, the Lamborghini Lanzador concept uses various sustainably sourced and recycled materials throughout its construction. The cabin features elements made from 3D-printed recycled fibers while also using regenerated carbon to reduce the use of fresh carbon fibre without sacrificing on the material’s rigged and lightweight properties.

Launch Timelines

Lamborghini Lanzador Top

Lamborghini will reveal the production-ready model of the Lanzador by 2028 with likely a lot of exterior and interior changes. But the overall shape and proportions of the EV may be quite similar to this concept. When launched, it will be Lamborghini’s first road-going electric car and will be an alternative to the likes of the Tesla Model X, Lucid Gravity, and Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.

Also Read: Audi Q8 e-tron Launched In India, Starts At Rs 1.14 Crore

On the occasion of unveiling its first preview of the brand’s fourth model, Chairman and CEO of Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann stated, “For us, the fourth model is the absolutely logical extension of the existing portfolio – the perfect link between Urus and our super sports cars.”

News

New Mini Cooper EV gets exhaust note and woodland sounds

Mini is bringing back a retro-futuristic cabin design for its 2024 Cooper EV, taking inspiration from the original 1959 car designed by Alec Issigonis.

Prior to its official debut in the coming months, the new Mini’s cockpit has been described as “more Mini than ever before.” The electric supermini will come with an exhaust note and eight different drive modes.

The new model will utilize Mini’s ninth-generation operating system, which has been optimized for touch and voice controls. It will introduce a new ‘Mini Experience’ feature with various drive modes that allow users to adjust the car’s system’s color theme, driving characteristics, and interior lighting.

A standout feature is the Balance mode, which is inspired by sounds from a forest during the day or night. It includes the sound of a rippling stream, crickets, and rustling wind.

Listen to the new Balance mode below…

Another mode called ‘Go-kart’ mode enhances the Mini’s interior with black and red accents, visually replacing the car’s head-up display with a speedometer. This mode optimizes the car’s throttle response for a more dynamic driving experience.

‘Timeless’ mode aims to replicate the exhaust note of internal combustion Minis, along with a “futuristic interpretation of the Mini” and an “acoustic journey through time.”

‘Vivid’ mode syncs the car’s ambient lighting color with the album art of the currently playing song and projects those colors throughout the cabin. Other modes include ‘Trail,’ ‘Core,’ and ‘Green.’ The ‘Green’ mode transforms the interior lighting to green, while optimizing the accelerator pedal for more fuel-efficient driving.

The redesigned interior includes a prominent central touchscreen, reminiscent of the iconic central speedometer found in all Mini hatch models since the original Austin Seven.

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300 DUAL-SPORT BIKES: KAWASAKI VS HONDA–THE WRAP

This article compares two small-bore dual-sport bikes: the Honda CRF300L and the Kawasaki KLX300. Both bikes are priced around $5500 and are manufactured in Thailand. They are designed for simple transportation rather than fast off-road riding.

The Honda CRF300L and Kawasaki KLX300 are more about trail transportation than dirt thrills.

The Honda CRF300L was first introduced as the CRF250L in 2013 but received a major update in 2021. It features a 286cc engine with new camshafts, redesigned airbox and exhaust, and Nissin brakes. The suspension is basic with only adjustable spring preload in the rear. The bike weighs 286 pounds without fuel.

The Honda has the upper hand in mid-range power and ground clearance.

The Kawasaki KLX300 has a different history. It has been in and out of production since 1994. The off-road version of the KLX300 lasted for about 15 years, while the dual-sport version KLX250 was introduced in 2006 and lasted until 2014. The current version of the bike was released in 2021 with a 292cc engine. The Kawasaki has better suspension than the Honda, with adjustable rebound damping in the fork and adjustable preload, rebound, and compression damping in the shock. The bike weighs 282 pounds without fuel.

The Kawasaki gets the better of the Honda in the suspension department. It also is a more compact motorcycle.

Both bikes have taller seat heights than expected. The lowest part of the Kawasaki’s seat is 36.5 inches, while the Honda’s is 37.2 inches. The Kawasaki settles more when its suspension is under its own weight, making it easier for shorter riders to touch the ground. However, the Honda has more ground clearance. Both bikes come with street-oriented tires that need to be replaced with knobbies for off-road riding.

The Honda and Kawasaki have similar performance, with both producing around 23 horsepower and revving out around 9500 rpm. They are capable of respectable speed on level, hard-packed trails but struggle in sandy hills. The Honda has slightly more low-end power and is geared lower in first and second gear. Both bikes could benefit from lower final gearing for better off-road performance. The Honda has a wider seat and more ground clearance, making it better suited for taller and more experienced riders.

The Honda CRF300L weighs 286 pounds without fuel. The Kawasaki KLX300 is 282 pounds without fuel–both measured on our scale.

In terms of suspension, both bikes are not optimized for off-road riding and are more suited for comfortable riding around the campsite. The Kawasaki offers some adjustability, while the Honda lacks any adjustability and could benefit from improved damping. While both bikes can be improved with aftermarket upgrades, they are not built for racing. The overall winner between the two bikes is yet to be determined.

For more information on the bikes, you can watch the following videos:

– Honda CRF300L Dual Sport – Dirt Bike Magazine: [embedded content]
– 2023 Kawasaki KLX300 Dual Sport – Dirt Bike Magazine: [embedded content]
– Kawasaki KLX300 VS Honda CRF300L – Dirt Bike Magazine: [embedded content]

BACK IN THE DAY

The article concludes with a discussion of notable motocross bikes from the past. Some of the bikes mentioned include the 1981 Suzuki RM125, which was the first liquid-cooled dirt bike from Suzuki, the 1981 Maico MC490, which is highly regarded by vintage bike enthusiasts, the 1981 Honda CR250R, known for its innovative liquid-cooling and single shock suspension, and the 1981 Yamaha YZ125, the first mainstream liquid-cooled motocross bike.

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MBP Looks to Enter Malaysian Market with MForce Bike Holdings

MBP, also known as Moto Bologna Passione, is an emerging motorcycle brand originating from Italy. It has been gaining traction in the European market with a series of recent launches. The brand was officially introduced at EICMA 2022, where it showcased its premium adventure-tourer called the T1002V.

It turns out that MBP is a subsidiary of Qianjiang, a Chinese motorcycle giant. This affiliation places the brand alongside other up-and-coming marques like Benelli, QJ Motor, and Keeway. This connection to Qianjiang, which is part of China’s Geely Group, explains MBP’s rapid growth and expansion of its model range.

Keeway's Premium Sub-Brand MBP Presents The C650V Power Cruiser

In recent months, MBP has released a range of motorcycles targeted at the premium market. Alongside the T1002V adventure bike, MBP also unveiled the C650V cruiser, a retro-inspired, muscular cruiser designed for the European market. Additionally, MBP introduced the SC300 maxi-scooter to cater to the growing demand for practical and efficient two-wheelers in Europe.

While establishing its presence in Europe, MBP is now setting its sights on the Asian market due to the significant increase in sales of premium motorcycles. The brand has partnered with MForce Bike Holdings in Malaysia and intends to launch some of its models in the Southeast Asian country by 2023. MForce Bike Holdings currently manages the sales and distribution of other Qianjiang group brands in Malaysia, including Benelli, Keeway, and Taiwanese manufacturer SYM.

Keeway Subsidiary MBP Launches The SC300 Maxi-Scooter

MForce Bike Holdings has announced that MBP will make its official debut in the Malaysian market at the Kuala Lumpur Bike Show 2023, scheduled to take place in August at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Center. The specific models that MBP will offer in Malaysia have not been revealed yet. However, considering the recent launch of high-end motorcycles in the country, it is not far-fetched to envision MBP making a strong impact in the premium segment.