Auto producers file patents for numerous concepts each single day, and generally, you come throughout one which’s truly fascinating. It appears Toyota is considering inside the field on this one.
Patent number US 11,858,408 B1 was initially filed again in June 2022 however printed early this yr. In essence, it is an air mattress caught to the underside of a pickup mattress cowl. Flip a change and it inflates downward into the mattress, pushing into and surrounding in any other case unfastened gadgets, holding them neatly in place till you flip one other change to deflate it. Or till a pointy nook of the metal cabinets you are hauling punctures the bladder. Presumably, Toyota assumes this would not be used with gadgets which have the potential to tear by way of plastic, vinyl, material, or no matter this huge air bladder is made from.
As you would possibly count on, it is inflated with an air compressor put in within the mattress between the internal wall and outer sheet steel. The patent description says it could possibly be hooked into the truck’s pc mind, monitoring stress on the bladder (or bladders) to maintain issues safe.
It does seem to be a novel solution to hold the groceries or that cool set of used golf golf equipment you scored at a storage sale from skidding across the mattress whereas driving house. Toyota particularly makes use of the time period “air mattress” within the patent’s description. In reality, it is referenced as getting used for tenting, be it on the bottom or within the mattress of the truck.
Canoo nonetheless hasn’t delivered a single automotive to shoppers, but the upstart EV firm is inking offers left and proper with authorities companies. First, they teamed up with NASA for shuttle transport automobiles, then the Oklahoma state authorities – even the US Army evaluated Canoo’s capabilities. Now the United States Postal Service (USPS) is pinging Canoo for a pint-sized fleet of mail supply vans.
The USPS positioned an order for six right-hand-drive variations of the Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle 190 – an prolonged variant of its electrical van with an enclosed rear cargo maintain. Yes, simply six automobiles.
The USPS ought to have the ability to get round 200 miles of vary with the Canoo LDV 190, which has a 79.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack with DC quick charging capabilities, and 200 horsepower on the bottom model (or as much as 350 hp on sure specs). The cargo maintain can carry as much as 172.0 cubic toes and haul as much as 1,624 kilos of mail. Converting the Canoos to right-hand drive was a comparatively easy course of, notes Canoo CEO Tony Aquila.
“The multi-purpose platform with steer-by-wire technology and a unique low-profile suspension system allows for a readily configurable right-hand drive system,” says Aquila.
The electrical vans play a small position within the Postal Service’s bigger $40 billion funding towards upgrading and enhancing its fleet. In 2022, the federal government introduced Oshkosh Defense would construct a brand new fleet of mail vehicles for the USPS, however after delays surrounding powertrain points, these upgraded mail vehicles have been put on hold till later this yr.
The six Canoo vans shall be delivered to the USPS early this yr, and by the tip of 2024, we might see these USPS EVs and Oshkosh mail vehicles on the street concurrently.
In an announcement from the USPS to Motor1, the group mentioned that’s persevering with to “explore commercial-off-the-shelf electric delivery vehicles that have the potential to meet the unique requirements of our delivery mission.” So if it likes the Canoo’s efficiency, we might be seeing an entire lot extra Government-owned startup electrical vans sooner or later.
The 2024 version of the King of the Hammers pitted riders on a single loops for the Saturday qualifier adopted by a three-lap Sunday major occasion. Friday rain would make for epic situations fairly than the same old excessive desert mud. Saturday’s qualifier would have the riders dealing with a large rocky vertical ascent. Cody Webb would blast out to the opening shot adopted by a number of different riders. A lead group of Webb, Trystan Hart, Ryder Leblond, Will Riorden, Colton Haaker and Cooper Abbott would set a really excessive tempo from the inexperienced flag.
As the riders crested the ultimate hill, it was Webb, Hart, Leblond, and Riorden. As they entered the pit, the FactoryONE Sherco staff despatched Webb out with out refueling. This would give him a spot that he would by no means relinquish. He would end p1 adopted by Hart and Leblond. Cooper Abbott completed p7 for the qualifier.
Late afternoon rain on Saturday would imply the situations would stay good for the Sunday finale. Riders would have their gate choose primarily based on Saturday’s consequence thus giving Webb the prime choose. He selected correctly as he rocketed to a second holeshot because the riders climbed “Chocolate Thunder.”
“Honestly I was a bit surprised,” mentioned Webb. “I haven’t hole-shotted the weekend ever. I was pretty stoked on that,” continued the ecstatic Webb. “With a three-loop format, I felt like we all knew that we were going to ride together for the first lap or two and then feel it out from there. Yesterday we chose not to fuel because we saw that we were getting amazing fuel mileage thanks to the SmartCarb on my bike. With that, we thought we might be able to skip the last fuel stop which could play into our hands.” concluded Webb.
Webb would lead the highest riders into the gas cease every time, however to the shock of everybody, he would make a 180 flip and head again out on the course with out stopping. The technique would repay giving Webb an nearly one-minute lead for the third and last loop. While a shorter final lap, it could be probably the most difficult for the riders.
Cooper Abbott would come to the ultimate gas cease in p6, nearly a minute and a half right down to Colton Haaker. In a daring transfer, FactoryONE president Ron Sallman waived Abbott to maintain going. This transfer additionally paid off as he was in a position to reel in Haaker shortly thereafter.
Louise Forsley gained the girl’s division
Tensions have been excessive within the Sherco pit because the chase helicopter made it recognized that the chief was approaching. A thunderous roar came to visit the group as Webb crested the ultimate hill in p1 with solely the media in tow. An elated Webb punched the air along with his fist taking the win with the identical one-minute hole over Trystan Hart after which Ryder Leblond. Cooper Abbott would end p5 with simply sufficient gas to spare.
“I had goosebumps the last little bit,” mentioned Webb. “I was feeling so strong all weekend and our pit strategy paid off. The conditions were awesome and I feel like Justin did a great job with the race course this year. I am honestly just so stoked on this win. Trystan and Ryder were riding so great. We would yoyo back and forth but today was my day. I am so happy to be back on top,” concluded Webb.
America is just too large, too numerous and too divided. There’s no single sequence or championship that may hope to find out the most effective off-road rider within the nation. We have deserts, woods, swamps, mountains and even stadiums that maintain races requiring fully totally different ability units. This is our annual effort to make sense of all of it. The Caselli Cup is a rating of America’s prime off-road riders from coast to coast. It is, after all, very subjective and maybe even arbitrary. Many of those riders have by no means met. But, we’ve got discovered that there’s a definite pecking order that presents itself originally of every season. This isn’t meant to be a rehash of 2023. We like to think about this as a snapshot of America’s riders proper now. As such, new expertise is rewarded for potential, and we attempt to account for damage and circumstance. We gladly embrace overseas riders if they’re competing within the U.S., and likewise, we contemplate American riders competing overseas. The Caselli Cup is now in its 18th 12 months, though it wasn’t at all times referred to as that. From 2006 to 2012 it was merely our listing of America’s finest off-road racers. When Kurt Caselli handed in 2013, we modified the identify of the award as a tribute to him; he was—and nonetheless is—the winningest rider of all. We additionally modified the factors. We now really feel the rider who wins should exhibit power and spirit that goes past easy race wins. This 12 months we owe a particular because of Tyler Shepardson of the On the Pipe podcast for the insights he dropped at the desk. Here are the racers who made the listing for 2024.
Photos by Mark Kariya, Simon Cudby, Future7Media, Mack Faint, Ken Hill, Ron Lawson, Mark Tilley & Jack Jaxson
1 U.S. ISDE TEAM
Back in 2016, the collective U.S. ISDE crew had an unforgettable 12 months. We received the World Trophy for the primary time ever. That’s the best honor on the ISDE and essentially the most prestigious achievement in a worldwide off-road competitors. We additionally received the Women’s Trophy class and positioned second in each the Junior Trophy and the Club lessons. We thought we might by no means equal that. Guess what? We simply did. American riders as soon as once more received the World Trophy on the 2023 International Six-Day Enduro in San Juan, Argentina, and did it by the largest margin in latest historical past. The U.S. Women’s crew additionally received, the U.S. Junior Trophy crew was second, and this time our membership groups completed first, second and fourth of their division. So, for the second time within the historical past of the Caselli Cup, we’ve got a gaggle win going to the 31 U.S. ISDE crew members. Matching this achievement will probably be even harder for the ISDE groups of the longer term. But, as we’ve got discovered, it’s not unattainable.
2023 U.S. ISDE TEAM MEMBERS Dante Oliveira—U.S. World Trophy Team member Taylor Robert—U.S. World Trophy Team member Johnny Girroir—U.S. World Trophy Team member Cole Martinez—U.S. World Trophy Team member Mateo Oliveira—U.S. Junior Trophy Team member Grant Davis—U.S. Junior Trophy Team member Kai Aiello—U.S. Junior Trophy Team member Brandy Richards—U.S. Women’s Trophy Team member Korie Steede—U.S. Women’s Trophy Team member Rachel Gutish—U.S. Women’s Trophy Team member Josh Toth—U.S. Club Team member Preston Campbell—U.S. Club Team member Jaden Dahners—U.S. Club Team member Austin Serpa—U.S. Club Team member Axel Pearson—U.S. Club Team member Devlin Thorn—U.S. Club Team member Jhak Walker—U.S. Club Team member Hunter Smith—U.S. Club Team member Ryan Surratt—U.S. Club Team member Trevor Maley—U.S. Club Team member Nathan Ferderer—U.S. Club Team member Chase Bright—U.S. Club Team member Jackson Davis—U.S. Club Team member John Beal—U.S. Club Team member Kyle Tichenor—U.S. Club Team member Ava Silvestri—U.S. Club Team member Rick Emerson—U.S. Club Team member Jeremy Shoning—U.S. Club Team member Nolan Cate—U.S. Club Team member Zachary Toth—U.S. Club Team member Cade Henderson—U.S. Club Team member
2 DANTE OLIVEIRA–ISDE Gold, AMA NGPC Champion, AMA West Hare Scramble Champion
Technically, Dante is in each first and second this 12 months as a result of he had the most effective rating of all of the Americans on the ISDE. His different achievements in 2023 can’t go unmentioned. He received the AMA National Grand Prix Championship crown for the fourth 12 months in a row, dominated the AMA West Hare Scrambles sequence and even earned some factors within the AMA Pro Motocross sequence.
3 TRYSTAN HART—AMA Hard Enduro Champion, AMA EnduroCross Champion, TKO Winner
Trystan Hart swept the U.S. Hard Enduro Series this 12 months and received the Tennessee Knockout towards the most effective riders on this planet. Then he completed the 12 months with a dramatic last-round win of the EnduroCross Championship. The younger Canadian has dominated his area in the united statesand is already setting his sights on the remainder of the world.
4 STEWARD BAYLOR—GNCC XC-1 #2, AMA National Enduro #2
In 2023 Steward Baylor received extra premier-level AMA National Championship races than every other rider within the east. Again. Even although he got here up heartbreakingly wanting this life-long aim of the general GNCC Championship, he additional solidified his place as the person to beat anyplace he goes. For 2024 he can have a brand new program that guarantees to make him extra aggressive than ever.
5 CRAIG DELONG—GNCC XC1 Champion, AMA National Enduro #4
The 2023 GNCC Championship gave us essentially the most aggressive battle within the historical past of the game. There have been at least eight total winners in the midst of the 12 months, however Craig DeLong overcame all of it to assert the XC-1 number-one plate, which is essentially the most coveted prize in American off-road racing. For 2024 he’ll return to steer the Rockstar Husqvarna crew and defend his title.
6 GRANT BAYLOR—AMA National Enduro Champion, GNCC XC-1 #6
Since 2017, somebody named Baylor has been the AMA National Enduro champion. For three of the final 4 years, it’s been Grant. Beating everybody else within the nation is one factor, however when your brother is Steward Baylor, beating everybody else in your loved ones is essentially the most spectacular achievement of all.
7 BEN KELLEY—GNCC XC1 #3
After a devastating damage in 2022, Ben Kelley got here into 2023 not realizing if he was in control. He was. By spherical two he was on prime of the rostrum, and he would lead the factors within the early levels of the 12 months. His restoration was in no way full, although, and he would battle in races to return. Going into 2024, he appears to be like ahead to regular im-provement and can return to the Red Bull KTM crew.
8 JOHNNY GIRROIR–ISDE Gold, GNCC XC1 #8
Johnny Girroir has at all times had the velocity, however now he has the main target and the expertise to match. He scored his first GNCC total win this 12 months after which proved his versatility by excelling within the ISDE, the place situations couldn’t be farther faraway from these of his native New England. For 2024 Johnny will return on the Red Bull KTM crew.
9 JOSH TOTH—ISDE Gold, AMA National Enduro #3, US Sprint Enduro Champion
Josh normally punctuates the 12 months with an excellent efficiency on the ISDE, however this 12 months he outdid himself. He was the highest Club Team particular person in the entire world and led XC Gear to its win. He additionally received a National Enduro, was the U.S. Sprint Enduro champion and even raced a spherical of the AMA Pro Motocross sequence.
10 DALTON SHIREY–AMA Hare & Hound Champion
Sometimes, when a rider reaches his stride, there’s no stopping him. Dalton Shirey had his finest 12 months ever in 2023, successful 5 rounds of the AMA Hare & Hound Championship. He additionally made his mark in NGPC and WORCS. Dalton will return to the Rockstar Husqvarna crew to defend his title in 2024.
11 MATEO OLIVEIRA—ISDE Gold, NGPC #6, WORCS #2
After dominating the 250 class, Mateo made the soar to a 450 the place he needed to contend along with his brother Dante within the 2023 NGPC Pro class. It was a troublesome transition, however by the tip of the 12 months, he fought his technique to the rostrum. He topped the 12 months with a convincing efficiency on the ISDE, the place he led the Junior Trophy crew to second place. He will return as a member of the Red Bull KTM crew for 2024.
12 RYAN SURRATT—ISDE Gold, NGPC #2
Ryan has lengthy had one foot within the motocross world and one foot off-road. This 12 months he shifted most of his focus to the NGPC sequence, and it paid off with two total wins and a second place within the year-end factors. At the ISDE he rode on the XC Gear crew with Josh Toth and Austin Serpa to win the Club Team competitors on the world stage.
13 JUSTIN HOEFT–WORCS Champion
Justin Hoeft spent most of his early years getting soiled within the newbie motocross world. For 2023 he rode WORCS as a privateer and received the championship in a area that included manufacturing unit riders.
14 JORDAN ASHBURN—GNCC XC1 #4
Jordan Ashburn has been within the trenches of the GNCC Pro class for over a decade. Last 12 months was totally different: he had a number-one plate on his bike and a giant goal on his again. He withstood the stress like a real champ and got here away with a win in essentially the most aggressive season ever.
15 RICKY RUSSELL–GNCC XC1 #5
At 32 years previous, Ricky is one other veteran of GNCC racing who finds his manner onto the rostrum race after race, 12 months after 12 months. In 2023 he began the 12 months with a damaged collarbone, however managed so as to add one other win to his profession complete, which now stands at 4.
16 COLE MARTINEZ—ISDE Gold, NGPC #4, WORCS #6
After a full MX profession, Cole has grow to be a weight-bearing member of the SLR Honda off-road crew. In 2023 he took total wins in each NGPC and WORCS, then was chosen for the U.S. Trophy Team on the ISDE. In the person rankings, Cole was ninth finest in the entire world.
17 AUSTIN WALTON–NGCP #3, AMA West Hare Scrambles #9
Even although Austin admits that 2023 didn’t go as he deliberate, he nonetheless completed on the rostrum 3 times and was third within the AMA NGPC Pro class. Austin will return to the Rockstar Husqvarna off-road crew in 2024 the place he’ll contest NGPC and hare scrambles as soon as once more.
18 RYDER LAFFERTY–GNCC XC1 #13
Ryder began 2023 with two consecutive wins within the GNCC XC2 class. Late within the season, he made the soar as much as the XC1 class and located himself main most of his very first race towards the most effective riders within the nation. Look for his inventory worth to develop even larger in 2024.
19 LIAM DRAPER–GNCC XC2 Champion, AMA National Enduro Pro 2 Champion
There’s one thing concerning the XC2 class that appeals to riders born south of the equator. New Zealand’s Liam Draper received an intense battle to grow to be the XC2 champion within the GNCC ranks in 2023 and backed it up with a National Enduro Pro 2 Championship for the AmPro Yamaha crew.
20 ANGUS RIORDAN–GNCC XC2 #2
Angus might need been the runner-up within the XC2 class, however he was the highest 250 rider within the total GNCC standings on the finish of the 12 months due to the distinction in total end versus class outcomes. Whether or not the factors work in his favor, he’s a critical contender in any class he rides.
21 ZANE ROBERTS–AMA Hare & Hound #2, AMA West Hare Scrambles #3
If you propose on successful a hare & hound or hare scrambles out west, it’s a must to undergo Zane Roberts first. Zane was a contender in each race he entered in 2023, however didn’t get to the highest step of the rostrum in both sequence due to two critical points—Dante Oliveira and Dalton Shirey. He will experience for Beta once more in 2024.
22 GRANT DAVIS–ISDE Gold, GNCC XC2 #18
Grant Davis appeared like a wildcard choice for the U.S. Junior Trophy Team, however crew supervisor Antti Kallonen noticed one thing plain within the younger rider. Grant proved himself in Argentina and is now residing and coaching with Kailub Russell.
23 CODY WEBB–AMA Hard Enduro #2, EnduroCross #4
After years of damage and disappointment, Cody Webb lastly put collectively a full season of racing in 2023. His outcomes nonetheless didn’t mirror who he’s or what he can do, however nobody in his proper thoughts would depend Cody out for a return to kind in 2024.
24 COLTON HAAKER–EnduroCross #3, AMA Hard Enduro #5
Colton Haaker nonetheless is perhaps the most effective EnduroCross rider on this planet no matter what the factors say. The schedule for that sequence is closely weighted in direction of one transient interval on the finish of the 12 months. If Colton is on, be careful. He will return for the Rockstar Husqvarna crew in 2024.
25 RACHEL ARCHER–GNCC WXC Champion, U.S. Sprint Enduro Women’s Pro Champion
Female athletes battle to get the eye they deserve, however typically they simply can’t be neglected. Rachel Archer received 9 GNCC WXC races and 10 U.S. Sprint Enduro races. She will defend her titles for a brand new crew in 2024.
Having produced the last 300C earlier this month, Chrysler is right down to a single product. And the Pacifica is getting up there. The minivan went on sale again in 2016 and obtained its final main facelift in 2020 with the brand new all-wheel-drive model. Now lastly, one other replace is coming.
Chrysler CEO Christine Feuell introduced a “mid-cycle action plan for the Pacifica,” in an interview. She went on to say “it will be more than just a moderate refresh. It will be pretty significant.” Although she declined to say when it will go on sale, the pinnacle honcho revealed it’s going to come back out after Chrysler’s first EV.
When it launches, the e-3008 will come with a front-mounted single motor generating 207bhp and a 73kWh battery, providing a range of 326 miles. The starting price for this model is £45,850.
About 10 months later, the e-3008 lineup will expand to include a Long Range single-motor version with a slightly more powerful 227bhp motor and a 98kWh battery pack, offering a range of 435 miles. Additionally, there will be a dual-motor version with the 73kWh battery, providing four-wheel drive and a combined 316bhp.
At launch, there will also be a mild-hybrid 1.2-litre petrol model in a standard 3008, starting from £34,650. A plug-in hybrid model will be introduced around the same time as the additions to the e-3008 range.
My experience with the e-3008 brought to mind the word “fine,” a term that my colleague Matt Prior believes is not used often enough in car reviews. The e-3008 is fine to drive, akin to a comfortable 16°C day where you can leave your umbrella at home and simply wear one layer when the sun peeks out from behind the light clouds.
One of its most notable attributes is its refinement, for which the e-3008 deserves praise. It is remarkably quiet and provides a soothing driving experience. While there is some motor whine during acceleration, overall it is very peaceful.
In real-world driving scenarios, it offers sufficient power, accelerating quickly off the line before tapering off. It has a 0-62mph time of 8.7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 105mph. Its performance may not be remarkable in numerical terms, but the way it delivers performance makes for a relaxed driving experience.
Regenerative braking can be controlled using the paddles and is effective for reducing speed gradually. It offers three levels of regenerative assistance, which function well. However, the initial 10% of travel for the brake pedal feels unnervingly empty.
We had a brief test drive of an early dual-motor version on a circuit, which proved to be similar to the standard car but with improved acceleration and a more immediate response to accelerator inputs. This is not surprising, considering there are hardly any significant changes to the car apart from an additional 60kg of weight and some software revisions.
During these laps, we also had the opportunity to experience the excellent 10.6m turning circle, which will be advantageous for parking and city driving.
The EQE electric SUV arrives in a single fully loaded variant and promises a claimed range of up to 550km
The EQE SUV uses a 90.56kWh battery pack, mated to an all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrain.
It churns out 408PS and 858Nm, and has a claimed top-speed of 210kmph.
Inside, the EQE electric SUV features a 56-inch MBUX hyperscreen setup.
Safety features include nine airbags, 360-degree camera with transparent bonnet feature and Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
It comes with a battery warranty of 10 years, which is the highest offered on an EV by any manufacturer.
Mercedes-Benz EQE electric SUV has arrived on our shores as the brand’s third all-electric offering, following the EQB 3-row electric SUV and EQS electric sedan. It is available in a single fully loaded variant – the EQE 500 4MATIC – for an introductory price of Rs 1.39 crore (ex-showroom pan India). Let’s explore what Mercedes’ new electric SUV has to offer.
Recognisable EQ Design
The design of the Mercedes-Benz EQE electric SUV embraces the latest EQ styling cues seen on other electric offerings from the German carmaker. Up front, there’s a connected LED strip, and a prominent black grille with a star-like pattern with the Mercedes logo at its centre. This closed grille merges with the sleek looking LED headlights, and below there’s a closed off air dam as well.
The electric SUV has a sleek profile with an aerodynamically sloping roofline and minimal creases. The EQE electric SUV gets flush-fitting door handles, and aerodynamically optimised 21-inch alloy wheels. Additionally, cladding runs around the wheel arches, enhancing the overall SUV appeal of the EQE. At the rear of the EQE electric SUV, you’ll immediately notice the modernistic execution of the connected LED tail lamp setup, another design element shared with other EQ models.
Similar to the exterior, the interior of the Mercedes EQE SUV follows the same design pattern seen on other electric Mercedes models. The main highlight of the cabin is the 56-inch MBUX Hyperscreen setup, which includes a digital driver’s display, a central infotainment display, and a front passenger display. Other notable features of the cabin include a 15-speaker 750W Burmester sound system with Dolby Atmos, active ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and four-zone climate control.
Safety is ensured by nine airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC), and a 360-degree camera with transparent bonnet feature. The electric SUV also features advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and parking assist. It also comes with a Pre-safe feature that shifts the passengers in the middle of the cabin during an emergency situation, to prevent major injuries during a crash.
Also Read:
Powertrain Options
The EQE electric SUV comes with a 90.56kWh battery pack, and the specifications have been detailed below.
Variant
EQE 500 4MATIC
Battery
90.56kWh
Drivetrain
AWD
Power/Torque
408PS/ 858Nm
Claimed Range (WLTP)
Up to 550km
Acceleration 0-100 (kmph)
4.9 seconds
The EQE electric SUV supports two charging options: an 11 kW AC and a 170kW DC fast charging. The latter can replenish the EQE’s battery from 10 to 100 percent in over 30 minutes. For the asking price, Mercedes-Benz will also install a wallbox charger at a location of the buyer’s choosing (home/office) for charging convenience. Furthermore, Mercedes also has over 140 charging stations across the country that can offer 60kW DC Fast charging or 180kW DC Ultra-fast charging.
As a highly equipped luxury SUV, the EQE also comes with AIRMATIC active suspension for improved ride quality which can also increase ground clearance by 25mm.
Mercedes-Benz is offering a 10 year battery warranty with the EQE, which is the highest warranty period offered on an EV by any manufacturer. Also, the service interval for the EQE electric SUV is 2 years/30,000km which is not as frequent as any combustion engine model that usually requires a service every year due to the higher number of moving parts and fluids.
The Black Storm edition is based on the mid-spec Smart trim and comes with a single engine option
Prices for the Black Storm edition range from Rs 14.48 lakh to Rs 15.77 lakh (ex-showroom).
Gets an all-black exterior, similar to the Gloster Black Storm edition.
On the inside, it gets an all-black upholstery with red inserts.
Features a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, panoramic sunroof and ADAS.
Astor gets two petrol engine options: a 110PS, 1.5-litre unit and a 140PS, 1.3-litre turbocharged unit.
The MG Astor has introduced the Black Storm edition. This special edition features an all-black design with red highlights, similar to the MG Gloster Black Storm edition. The Black Storm edition is based on the mid-spec Smart variant of the Astor and comes with the following prices:
Price (ex-showroom)
Variants
Standard
Black Storm Edition
Difference
Smart MT
Rs 14.21 lakh
Rs 14.48 lakh
+ Rs 27,000
Smart CVT
Rs 15.50 lakh
Rs 15.77 lakh
+ Rs 27,000
The Black Storm edition is priced Rs 27,000 higher than the regular Astor Smart trim.
Cosmetic Changes
The special edition Astor features an all-black exterior with a black honeycomb grille, black front and rear bumpers, smoked headlights, and blacked-out alloy wheels. It also has red front brake calipers and “Black Storm” badges on the front fenders.
Inside, the Black Storm edition features all-black upholstery with red stitching on the seats. It also has red inserts on the steering wheel, around the AC vents, and on the console tunnel.
Any New Features?
The Black Storm edition primarily focuses on cosmetic changes and retains the same features as the regular Astor Smart variant. However, it does come with a dealer-fitted JBL sound system. The Astor already offers a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, cruise control, and a panoramic sunroof.
In terms of safety, the Smart variant offers dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability program (ESP), hill hold and descent control, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera.
The One Powertrain
The MG Astor offers two engine options: a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine (140PS/220Nm) with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine (110PS/144Nm) with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT. The Black Storm edition only comes with the 1.5-litre engine option, available with both manual and automatic transmissions.
Honda Elevate gets a single powertrain option, while all of its rivals get at least two engine choices
Prices of the Honda Elevate have been revealed, which start from Rs 11 lakh (ex-showroom). It is the Japanese carmaker’s much-awaited contender for the compact SUV segment. The Honda SUV arrives with a competitive price tag and is fairly well-equipped in terms of safety features and conveniences. Let’s see how its prices compare to that of its direct rivals.
Before that, here’s a quick check on their specifications:
Specs
Honda Elevate
Maruti Grand Vitara / Toyota Hyryder
Hyundai Creta
Kia Seltos
Skoda Kushaq / Volkswagen Taigun
MG Astor
Engine
1.5-litre petrol
1.5-litre petrol
1.5-litre petrol-hybrid
1.5-litre petrol
1.5-litre petrol
1.5-litre turbo-petrol
1-litre turbo-petrol
1.5-litre turbo-petrol
1.5-litre petrol
1.3-litre turbo-petrol
Power
121PS
103PS
116PS
115PS
115PS
160PS
115PS
150PS
110PS
140PS
Torque
145Nm
137Nm
141Nm
144Nm
144Nm
253Nm
178Nm
250Nm
144Nm
220Nm
Transmission
6-speed MT / CVT
5-speed MT / 6-speed AT
e-CVT
6-speed MT / CVT
6-speed MT / CVT
6-speed iMT / 7-speed DCT
6-speed MT / 6-speed AT
6-speed MT / 7-speed DCT
5-speed MT / CVT
6-speed AT
Since the Honda Elevate is only available with a petrol engine, we have not included the diesel engine options of its rivals in this comparison. The Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, MG Astor, and Kia Seltos also get the option of a turbo-petrol engine while Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder get the choice of a strong-hybrid powertrain.
Petrol-Manual Price Check
Honda Elevate
Maruti Grand Vitara
Hyundai Creta
Kia seltos
Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
Skoda Kushaq
Volkswagen Taigun
MG Astor
SV MT – Rs 11 lakh
Sigma – Rs 10.70 lakh
E – Rs 10.87 lakh
HTE – Rs 10.90 lakh
E – Rs 10.86 lakh
Style – Rs 10.82 lakh
EX – Rs 11.81 lakh
Active – Rs 11.59 lakh
Comfortline – Rs 11.62 lakh
V – Rs 12.11 lakh
Delta – Rs 12.10 lakh
HTK – Rs 12.10 lakh
Onyx – Rs 12.39 lakh
S – Rs 12.61 lakh
Super – Rs 12.52 lakh
S – Rs 13.06 lakh
Ambition – Rs 13.34 lakh
VX – Rs 13.50 lakh
Zeta – Rs 13.91 lakh
HTK Plus – Rs 13.50 lakh
Highline – Rs 13.70 lakh
SX (E) – Rs 13.99 lakh
Smart – Rs 14.21 lakh
ZX – Rs 14.90 lakh
SX – Rs 14.81 lakh
HTK Plus Turbo iMT – Rs 15 lakh
G – Rs 14.49 lakh
Ambition 1.5 TSI – Rs 14.99 lakh
Sharp – Rs 15.15 lakh
Alpha – Rs 15.41 lakh
HTX – Rs 15.20 lakh
Style – Rs 15.59 (non-sunroof)/ Rs 15.79 lakh
Topline – Rs 15.84 lakh
V – Rs 16.04 lakh
GT 1.5 TSI – Rs 16.26 lakh
The Grand Vitara has the most affordable entry-level price among its rivals, while the Taigun is the costliest.
The Elevate’s top-end manual variant is more affordable than top-spec variants of other compact SUVs by a large margin.
SUVs like the MG Astor and Kia Seltos do not offer the choice of a manual stick on their top-end turbo-petrol variants. The Seltos however gets a iMT (manual without clutch pedal) with the turbo-petrol engine, whose entry-option is priced close to the top-end Honda SUV.
The Kushaq and Taigun are the only ones in this list to get the turbo-petrol engine with a manual transmission. The entry-level 150PS option for the Kushaq is priced closest to the fully-loaded Elevate while their top-end MT variants being the costliest, going past even the Rs 18 lakh mark.
Petrol-Automatic Check
Honda Elevate
Maruti Grand Vitara
Hyundai Creta
Kia seltos
Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
Skoda Kushaq
Volkswagen Taigun
MG Astor
V CVT – Rs 13.21 lakh
Delta AT – Rs 13.60 lakh
S AT – Rs 13.81 lakh
Super CVT – Rs 13.94 lakh
VX CVT – Rs 14.60 lakh
Zeta AT – Rs 15.41 lakh
S Turbo DCT – Rs 15.79 lakh
G AT – Rs 15.69 lakh
Ambition AT – Rs 15.14 lakh
Highline AT – Rs 15.20 lakh
Smart CVT – Rs 15.50 lakh
ZX CVT – Rs 16 lakh
SX IVT – Rs 16.33 lakh
S Hybrid – Rs 16.46 lakh
Sharp CVT – Rs 16.14 lakh
Alpha AT – Rs 16.91 lakh
HTX IVT – Rs 16.60 lakh
Ambition 1.5 DSG – Rs 16.79 lakh
GT DSG – Rs 16.80 lakh
Savvy CVT – Rs 17 lakh
SX (O) IVT – Rs 17.54 lakh
V AT – RS 17.24 lakh
Style AT – Rs 17.39 lakh
Topline AT – Rs 17.35 lakh
Smart Turbo AT – Rs 17.11 lakh
The Honda Elevate offers the most affordable automatic variant in the compact SUV space. Its top-end variant undercuts the other models by a significant margin, since it gets a single powertrain option. All the other compact SUVs get two petrol engine options.
For the choice of a performance-oriented turbo-petrol compact SUV, like the Kushaq, Taigun, or Astor, it will cost you around a lakh more over the top-spec Elevate.
The Grand Vitara and Hyryder are available with the strong-hybrid option, which claims an efficiency of up to 27.97kmpl. The latter offers the hybrid option at a more affordable entry price which is still more expensive than the fully-loaded Honda SUV.
The Seltos is the costliest option compared to the other turbo-petrol automatic compact SUVs. The top-spec Kushaq and hybrid variants of the Maruti-Toyota duo are not far behind.
It’s a good thing that the Elevate undercuts most of its rivals, but it also skips out on several premium features already offered in the segment. There’s no panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, driver seat height adjustment, six airbags as standard, and a 360-degree camera. However, it does get the ADAS safety feature, at an affordable price, which is only available with the top-end variants of the Seltos and Astor for now.
The refreshed Velar receives subtle exterior design changes and an updated cabin
Available in a single fully loaded Dynamic HSE trim.
Exterior changes include newly designed grille and updated lighting elements.
Features onboard include 11.4-inch touchscreen and panoramic sunroof.
Powered by the 250PS 2-litre petrol and 204PS 2-litre diesel engine options as before.
Bookings already underway, deliveries to start from September 2023.
Land Rover has launched the facelifted Range Rover Velar SUV in India priced at Rs 93 lakh (ex-showroom). The refreshed Velar is being offered in a single, fully loaded Dynamic HSE trim with both petrol and diesel engine options. Bookings are already underway, while deliveries are scheduled to start from September. Let’s take a look at what’s new on the Range Rover Velar facelift.
Minor Design Tweaks
The 2023 Velar has received subtle design changes, including a new grille design and tweaked front and rear bumpers. The headlights and taillights now have a sleeker look and feature new lighting elements. The side profile remains largely unchanged, though there are new alloy wheel designs. Two new exterior shades, Metallic Varesine Blue and Premium Metallic Zadar Grey, have been introduced.
The dashboard of the 2023 Range Rover Velar now has two screens instead of three, with the climate control switches integrated into the newer infotainment unit for a cleaner look. It features a new floating 11.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
Other features onboard the Velar include a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display with navigation and infotainment integration, wireless phone charging, a 1,300W Meridian sound system, cabin air purifier, and heated, cooled, and massaging front seats. Land Rover also offers it with an Active Road Noise Cancellation system that makes the cabin even quieter.
Powertrains Check
The new Velar comes with both petrol and diesel engine options: a 2-liter petrol engine (250PS and 365Nm) and a 2-liter diesel engine (204PS and 420Nm). Both units are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrain is standard.
The Range Rover Velar also offers an air suspension system that adapts to road conditions to provide a more comfortable ride.
