Motown India August 2018

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VOL-8 • ISSUE-11 • AUGUST 2018 • `100/-

MAHINDRA MPV U321 IS CHRISTENED 'MARAZZO'

INDIA FEATURE

FIREFOX SURFELO SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO*

HARLEY-DAVIDSON PLANS 250-500CC BIKES FOR INDIA

MAHINDRA UNVEILS FURIO ICVs

ISUZU RFC INDIA 2018 CONCLUDES IN GOA

FIRST DRIVE

2018 HONDA JAZZ

FIRST RIDE

SUZUKI BURGMAN STREET * • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

EDITOR Punnoose Tharyan (Roy) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------News Coordinator - Jisha P Principal Correspondent - Aakash Paul Video Editor - Ramesh Kumar Content Manger - Vrinda Desai Digital In-charge Naveen Kumar Web Correspondents - Avdesh Kumar, Seema Paul Photo Journalists - Afsar Baig, Neeraj Panwar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------For Editorial contact editorial@motownindia.com, editorial.motown@gmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR MARKETING & SALES CONTACT Marketing Head - Chandan Punhani 9891092066 Head-Operations - Jisha P jisha@motownindia.com, +91-9958125645 advertising@motownindia.com, advertising.motown@gmail.com /+91-9811097399 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR ACCOUNTS CONTACT Ankit Sharma, ankit@motownindia.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTION CONTACT Dalip Singh Bagdwal subscription@motownindia.com / +91-9811305822 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Office Executive Ravinder ------------------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL DELHI OFFICE 145 B/9, First Floor, Kishangarh, Next to United Free Church, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, Tel: 011-26122756/58 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------DISTRIBUTED BY Central News Agency, New Delhi ------------------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL CONTENT The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the contents in the magazine are correct. However, he can accept no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions. Any unauthorised reproduction of Motown India content is strictly forbidden.

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T

P. THARYAN (ROY) he August 2018 issue of Motown India is like a breath of fresh air. Quite literally! We have on the cover a non-polluting product. The Firefox Surfelo bicycle comes with 10 gears.

We have also reviewed a battery operated cycle - Hero Lectro EZephyr. We are not undermining the role of cars and motorcycles in this modern world of ours. We are simply

trying to tell our readers that it is time to take care of the environment and our health. With enough data out there in the public domain telling us that the world is getting polluted by the day and cases of lifestyle related diseases are on the rise, it is time we stop to ponder.

The cycles that we reviewed in this issue are good, but what needs to be done on an urgent basis is for the government to create an infrastructure for people to ride these cycles. Cycle tracks and parks with such tracks are the need of the hour.

There is also plenty of news from the automotive world that we have covered in this issue. These include Harley-Davidson’s plans to get into the 250-500cc motorcycle segment in India, Mahindra’s new MPV being christened ‘Marazzo’ (the word in Basque language means “shark”), launch of the Mahindra Furio range of trucks, Bloomberg report on electric vehicles and a visit to the Hyundai Motor India plant, among others. There are also several interesting feature reports we are carrying in this issue.

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CONTE NTS VOL 8 | ISSUE 11 | AUGUST 2018

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12

GLOBAL NEWS:

GLOBAL NEWS:

Bentley to make 100 limited edition Mulsanne W.O. Edition by Mulliner

14

Volvo XC40 gets 5-star safety rating by Euro NCAP

18

WHEELZ & ROADZ : 2018 Honda Jazz - First Drive

32

36

FEATURE: Hero Lectro EZephyr - The colour of Fit

FEATURE: Firefox Surfelo - Road Surfing

COVER REPORT : Mahindra Furio line of trucks launched in ICV segment

4 | MOTOWN INDIA | AUGUST 2018

inspired Mahindra MPV codenamed U321 is christened Marazzo

24

INDIA BIKE NEWS: Harley-Davidson succumbs to Indian curry, finally plans 250-500cc bikes for India

54

INDIA CAR NEWS: Shark

65 COMMERCIAL VEHICLES:

Higher axle loads to improve transport efficiency, says SIAM

67 TECHNOLOGY: Continental offers cyber security solutions from Argus and Elektrobit www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY. UNMATCHED SAFETY. Safety is the underlining feature of any bearing that goes into an application. That is why we use the best technology in developing each bearing. In fact, we put the best minds in the industry to improve the existing products. It is not without a reason that our customers see us as the most Dependable Partner.

GLOBAL NEWS

Bentley to make 100 limited edition Mulsanne W.O. Edition by Mulliner

B

entley Motors is demonstrating the beauty of bespoke with a new very special limited edition Mulsanne. The Mulsanne W.O. Edition

by Mulliner pays homage to the founding father of the company and incorporates a genuine piece of Bentley history in every car.

Inside each of the 100 limited edition Mulsannes, a slice of the original crankshaft taken from W.O. Bentley’s personal 8 Litre car decades ago – the last model he designed for Bentley Motors back in 1930 – is displayed.

As Bentley approaches its centenary in 2019, Mulliner designers reflected on the last 99 years of an extraordinary British automotive story to imagine the new Mulsanne W.O. Edition. In doing so, they have created a truly unique collector’s item.

The Mulsanne W.O. Edition can be specified on

6 | MOTOWN INDIA | AUGUST 2018

any of the three-model Mulsanne range, based on customer preference. Key features include a colour split interior cut from Heritage Hide reflecting the patina of vintage cars, elegant Beluga black wheels, and a stunning cocktail cabinet or bottle cooler featuring a slice of W.O.’s own 8 Litre crankshaft set into the armrest.

This special model will make its public debut at Monterey Car Week in California USA in late August, with customer deliveries commencing in 2019 – Bentley’s centenary year.

The interior displays a range of exquisite features inspired by luxury living in the 1930s – key to which is the Mulliner illuminated cocktail cabinet.

A marquetry scene on the handcrafted unit – depicting the geometric front matrix grille and headlight of the 8 Litre – reveals a display window, inside which a piece of the crankshaft from W.O.

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GLOBAL NEWS

Bentley’s own 8 Litre car is showcased.

Just below the machined metal display case is an inscription detailing the significance of the Bentley artefact.

To create the marquetry scene, a number of different veneers and materials were used. Four different wood types give contrast and depth to the piece, while aluminium is used to achieve the highlights, signature and geometric pattern. The diamond-like borders that run parallel to each side add to the contemporary look while retaining an art deco feel. The piece is finished with W.O.’s signature.

An interior colour split made from luxurious Fireglow Heritage and Fireglow hide is complemented further by Beluga hide detailing and blind stitching. Dark

8 | MOTOWN INDIA | AUGUST 2018

Stain Burr Walnut veneer extends to the minor gauge panel, steering wheel rim and other areas. The Mulsanne is finished with Fireglow lambs wool rugs, glass tumblers, privacy curtains to the rear doors, and a rear seat entertainment system.

The Mulsanne W.O. Edition further enhances its formidable road presence with Onyx paintwork (although customers can specify other colours from Bentley’s extensive pallet), chrome bonnet strip and graceful Flying B Mascot atop the optional chrome radiator shell and grille. A discreet W.O. Bentley signature badge is displayed on the lower bumper, while special centenary badging adorns the self-levelling wheel centres and door treadplates.

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GLOBAL NEWS

Bugatti to launch Divo, a limited edition new race car type model

B The Bugatti Divo is named after Albert Divo, the French racing driver who won the famous Targa Florio mountain race twice for Bugatti.

Pictures courtesy 2018 Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.

ugatti is working on a new model, the Bugatti Divo, named after Albert Divo, the French racing driver who won the famous Targa Florio race on a mountainous circuit in Sicily for Bugatti twice in the late 1920s. Based on the requirements for such a race, the Bugatti Divo will be light and nimble and will boast enormous downforce and g-forces. The result will be outstanding handling properties and the dynamic character of the car will be underlined by a new, strong design language.

Gathering“ in California, USA.

The Divo is being made in a limited series of only 40 vehicles. The net price is Euros 5 million (approx. Rs 40.32 crore). Bugatti plans to unveil the Divo as a world premiere on August 24, 2018 at the renowned event “The Quail – A Motorsports

With the Divo, Bugatti is reviving its coach building tradition. In the first decades of its history, the French luxury brand had considerable success with bodies designed in-house under the leadership of Jean Bugatti and installed on existing chassis.

“Happiness is not around the corner. It is the corner. The Divo is made for corners,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. “With the Divo, we want to thrill people throughout the world,” the Bugatti President says, adding that “With this project, the Bugatti team has an opportunity to interpret the brand DNA in terms of agile, nimble handling in a significantly more performance-oriented way.”

Targa Florio, 1929: Albert Divo at the wheel of the Bugatti Type 35 with which he won the demanding circuit race in Sicily, as he had done the previous year.

10 | MOTOWN INDIA | AUGUST 2018

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GLOBAL NEWS

Volvo XC40 gets 5-star safety rating

by Euro NCAP

E

XC40 was launched in India recently.

But it is in the area of active safety and Vulnerable Road User protection that both cars impress most. Both XC40 and the Focus are equipped with an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system that detects cyclists as well as pedestrians. The Volvo also has emergency lane keeping (ELK) technology that acts in

emergency situations to help stop the car leaving the road or from being steered into the path of oncoming traffic.

Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP,said, “It’s good to see that manufacturers, both in the premium sector and the volume market, are responding to our tough new requirements introduced in 2018 by fitting technologies

that will save lives.

“Technologies like AEB and ELK deliver immediate safety benefits but they are also enabling technologies for the autonomous vehicles of the future. Euro NCAP’s roadmap sets a series of demanding tests for each of these ‘milestone’ technologies seeking to ensure that their performance saves lives today as well as tomorrow.”

Pictures courtesy: Euro NCAP

uro NCAP released the safety ratings of two new cars. Both Volvo’s new small off-roader, the XC40, and the latest version of Ford’s small family car, the Focus, achieved a maximum five-star rating. The XC40 scored 97 percent for adult occupant protection, putting it amongst the top five cars for this aspect of safety tested by Euro NCAP in the last three years. The Volvo

12 | MOTOWN INDIA | AUGUST 2018

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GLOBAL NEWS

VOLVO CAR INDIA ADDS: This means the XC40 joins its larger siblings in the 60 and 90 series as one of the safest cars on the roads.

The 2018 Euro NCAP testing was the toughest ever with new and more demanding challenges on safety technology, including cyclistdetection with auto-brake and emergency lane keeping systems. Overall, the new

XC40 received the highest safety score among all cars tested under the new regime.

“The new XC40 is one of the safest cars on the market,” said Malin Ekholm, Head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

“It comes standard with the largest offering of safety technology of any small SUVs, helping drivers detect and avoid collisions, remain safely in their lane and reduce the

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impact of accidentally running off the road,” he added.

All tested Volvo cars on sale today have received five stars in their respective Euro NCAP assessments. Last year, the XC60 was crowned the overall best-performing large off-roader and the best overall performer in the prestigious Euro NCAP 2017 Best in Class safety awards.

The XC90 received the same

accolade in 2015.

In March, the XC40 was named 2018 European Car of the Year, the first Volvo to win the prestigious award, and it has since been one of Volvo’s top sellers. The company announced in May that it would expand production in its manufacturing facilities in both Europe and China to meet the overwhelming demand for the car.

AUGUST 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 13

CAR NEWS

Shark inspired Mahindra MPV U321 is christened Marazzo

M

ahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), a part of the Mahindra Group, has named its eagerly awaited global model, codenamed U321, as Marazzo. Derived from Basque, a sub-language of Spanish, the word Marazzo means shark and is linked to the vehicle’s shark-inspired design.

The Mahindra Design Studio and Italian design house Pininfarina have collaborated closely during the design development process.

The Marazzo’s shark-inspired design is evident in the streamlined and aerodynamic shape, in the overall silhouette and in the front grille inserts which resemble shark-like teeth and adds to the vehicle’s aggressive stance. The design cues further flow into the tail lamps that are inspired by the tail of a shark.

norms, safety, regulations and emission and will launch before the end of Q2 FY2019.

Speaking at the name reveal, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, M&M Ltd. noted, “The shark-inspired Marazzo symbolises the next generation of aspirational Mahindra vehicles. A collaborative effort of Pininfarina, Mahindra Design Studio, MNATC and MRV, Marazzo is born of a vision to design a global vehicle with quality and refinement keeping in mind the aspirations of our customers.”

Marazzo is a globally developed product, engineered through a collaboration between Mahindra North America Technical Centre (MNATC) and Mahindra Research Valley (MRV) in Chennai.

Marazzo comes with a patented architecture, for a unique balance of smooth ride, agile handling, space and quiet cabin. It has will be manufactured at the company’s Nasik facility and has gone through the most rigorous testing compared to any Mahindra vehicle. The Mahindra Marazzo has been benchmarked against global standards of quality, technology, testing and validation

14 | MOTOWN INDIA | AUGUST 2018

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CAR NEWS

Porsche 911 GT2 RS arrives in India at `3.88 crore Porsche’s ultimate driving machine, the 911 GT2 RS, is now available in India. As the road-approved sports car record holder on the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife with a lap time of 6 minutes and 47.3 seconds (the record has since been broken by the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ), the arrival of the special model was celebrated at an exclusive event in the Porsche Centre Mumbai showroom. The new Porsche 911 GT2 RS is now

available at Porsche Centres across India with a basic retail price of Rs 3,88,31,000.

The car was launched in the presence of Pavan Shetty, Director of Porsche India.

At the heart of Porsche’s fastest 911 of all time is a 3.8 litre, 700 hp biturbo flat engine, which delivers a power increase of 80 hp over its 3.6-litre predecessor. Weighing in at 1,470 kg with a full fuel tank, the lightweight two-seater accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds. The rear-wheel drive Coupé has a top speed of 340 km/h, and with its near-motorsport drive technology, achieves a torque output of 750 Nm (an increase of 50 Nm). The new

model is the first 911 GT2 RS to be equipped with a double-clutch transmission. The Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) has been customised for the GT2 RS and offers special features designed specifically for the track.

The Intelligent Shift Program enhances gear shifting, whilst the “Paddle Neutral” function gives greater driver control and is reserved solely for Porsche GT sports cars. A motorsport chassis with active performance systems is central to the outstanding driving performance of the 911 GT2 RS. Ultra High Performance mixed tyres, the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system as standard, rear-axle steering and active driving systems including the PSM Sport function for faster lap times, combine for optimal driving dynamics.

Audi launches Design Edition of Q3 and Q7 Audi has launched the Audi Q3 and the Audi Q7 Design Edition. These editions are equipped with new features to accentuate the luxury experience for customers. .

The Audi Q3 and the Audi Q7

Design Edition are priced at Rs 40,76,000 and Rs 82,37,000 onwards respectively.

The Audi Q3 Design Edition will boast of sporty features like the rear crystal clear tail lamps and Nappa leather seats combined

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with a full paint finish. Features like the rear seat entertainment and Audi cool bag are there in the Audi Q7 Design Edition.

The Audi Q3 Design Edition boasts of a 2.0 TDI quattro engine generating 184hp and

380 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 7-speed S tronic transmission and the car can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 7.9 seconds. As per ARAI, the vehicle delivers a fuel economy of 15.17 Kmpl.

AUGUST 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 15

CAR NEWS

New BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Sport launched at `46,60,000 BMW India launched the new 3 Series Gran Turismo Sport at a price of Rs 46,60,000.

The BMW 320d Gran Turismo Sport cuts a visibly sportier figure with a number of new and striking elements and features. Locallyproduced at BMW Group Plant, Chennai and now available at BMW dealerships across India, the new BMW 320d Gran Turismo Sport further diversifies the model’s diesel portfolio.

the BMW 320d Gran Turismo produces an output of 190 hp and produces a maximum torque of 400 Nm at 1,750-2,500 rpm. The car accelerates from 0 -100 km/hr in just 7.7 seconds. The engine is mated to an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission and is available with steering wheel paddle shifters. Furthermore, the BMW 320d Edition Sport comes with a Launch Control function as standard.

The two-litre four cylinder diesel engine of

The new BMW 320d Gran Turismo Sport

is available in Alpine White as nonmetallic color and Black Sapphire and Imperial Blue Brilliant Effect as metallic colour. The range of fine upholstery combinations in BMW 320d Gran Turismo Sport Sport include Sensatec Black/Red highlight | Black and Sensatec Veneto Beige | Veneto Beige.

The car comes with sports seat, interior trim in fine-wood trim ash grain and highlight trim finisher in pearl chrome.

Jaguar F-Type gets 4-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine Jaguar Land Rover India has broadened the appeal of the F-Type with the introduction of the four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine. The F-Type now spans from the entry-level four-cylinder model to Jaguar’s 322 km/h, all-weather supercar – the F-Type SVR. The all-aluminium sports car with the 296hp, 2.0L turbocharged petrol motor delivers Jaguar sports car DNA with enhanced agility and improved efficiency and affordability.

The Ingenium engine contributes to an overall vehicle weight reduction of 52 kg – most of which is over the front axle – and this is key to the four-cylinder F-Type’s enhanced agility. Meticulous tuning of the chassis to complement the new engine delivers even greater steering response, body control and ride comfort. A finely-tuned active exhaust is standard on entry-level F-Type models, while the R-Dynamic variants feature a switchable active exhaust for an even more involving driving experience.

16 | MOTOWN INDIA | AUGUST 2018

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CAR NEWS

Honda Cars India launches New Honda Jazz 2018 at `7.35 lakh

Tata Motors most awaited SUV christened as Tata Harrier

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) launched the new Honda Jazz 2018 with enhanced style, enriched interiors and added safety features. Enhanced exterior styling elements include signature rear LED wing light, chrome door handles and 2 new exterior colours. The starting price of the new Honda Honda Jazz 2018 is Rs 7.35 lakh.

Ex-showroom Delhi prices for the complete line-up of New Jazz 2018: Variants V MT VX MT VCVT VX CVT

PETROL Price (Rs) `7,35,000 `7,79,000 `8,55,000 `8,99,000

Variants S MT V MT VX MT

DIESEL Price (Rs) `8,05,000 `8,85,000 `9,29,000

(Road Review report on Page 24)

Tata Nexon mid variant gets AMT feature at `7.50 lakh onward

Unveiled at the Auto Expo 2018 as the H5X concept, Tata Motors is gearing up to launch its next generation SUV. In the run-up to the commercial launch preparations, Tata Motors has christened its most promising SUV till date. The company announced the name of the muchacclaimed SUV as ‘Tata Harrier’. The word Harrier means a dominant beast imbued with endless stamina and strength, gifted with unwavering instinct, effortlessly conquers every challenge thrown its way. Tata Harrier is the first vehicle to sport the ‘Impact Design 2.0’ philosophy. It will offer extraordinary exterior design, thoughtfully and intelligently designed plush interiors, future ready connectivity and best-in-class infotainment.

This 5-seater monocoque SUV is engineered on the new generation ‘Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced’ Architecture , which is developed in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover. This architecture is derived from the legendary Land Rover D8 architecture and is adapted to suit the Indian conditions by Tata Motors engineers.

To further penetrate into the automatic-drive market, Tata Motors has announced the launch of the Tata Nexon HyprDrive Self-Shift Gears (S-SG) - XMA, sporting the AMT gearbox in its best-selling XM variant. With this introduction, the Nexon range will henceforth have two AMT variants – XMA & XZA+ which will be offered in 1.2L turbocharged Revotron petrol and 1.5L turbocharged Revotorq diesel engines respectively.

Priced at Rs 7.50 lakh for the petrol variant and at Rs 8.53 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the Diesel variant, the Tata Nexon XMA will be the first AMT in India to offer Multi-Drive modes (3 modes – Eco, City and Sport).

Volvo XC40 gets 200 orders since launch; 2 more variants added Volvo Car India has confirmed bookings for the first 200 compact Luxury SUV XC40 R-Design within a fortnight of launch. This means the special introductory price offer on R-Design has come to a very successful conclusion. Two new variants of the model have been opened for bookings with scheduled deliveries later this month – XC40 D4 Momentum priced at Rs 39.9 lakh (ex-showroom) and XC40 D4 Inscription priced at Rs 43.9 lakh (ex-showroom). The XC40 R-Design is now available at Rs 42.9 lakh (ex-showroom). This completes the variant line-up of XC40 for this year. Incidentally, the price of the XC40 R-Design which was an introductory one, has been hiked from its earlier price of Rs 39.9 lakh.

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AUGUST 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 17

BIKE NEWS

Harley-Davidson succumbs to Indian curry, finally plans 250-500cc bikes for India

Harley-Davidson’s first Adventure Touring motorcycle, the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 is planned to launch in 2020.

Report: P. Tharyan Iconic motorcycle manufacturer of the US and a favourite company of US President Donald Trump is beginning to appreciate the flavour of Indian curry. It has just announced its own recipe for the Indian palate wherein it would be manufacturing motorcycles in the range of 250cc to 500 cc within two years for which it would be entering into a strategic alliance with a company in Asia.

With this, Harley-Davidson would be taking head on the market leader in the country – Royal Enfield of the Eicher Group. The latter has been dominating this space for a very long time with its range of motorcycles that are in a way dated

18 | MOTOWN INDIA | AUGUST 2018

in technology and looks in a world full of modern technology run motorcycles.

Already this 250cc to 500cc space is beginning to be explored by the likes of TVS Motor Company and BMW. Bajaj Auto has also entered into an alliance with Triumph Motorcycles of the UK to explore this space.

Other motorcycle makers in India too are gunning for this space.

sales numbers for the US company in India.

Currently, Harley-Davidson India sells motorcycles in India in the price range of Rs 5.25 lakh (for the Harley-Davidson Street 750) to Rs 49.99 lakh (for the CVO Limited).

The company’s touring bike Road Glide Special costs Rs 32.99 lakh. Incidentally, the HD Street 750 is the model that brings the

The latest Harley-Davidson future plans were revealed in an investor communication sent out on July 30, 2018 titled, ‘More Roads to Harley-Davidson: Accelerated Strategy’. The company clearly stated that it would not only be launching these 250cc to 500cc motorcycles in India within two years

The company also plans to push its electric dream by launching its first electric motorcycle, LiveWire, in 2019 - the first in a broad, no-clutch “twist and go” portfolio of electric two-wheelers designed to establish the company as the leader in the electrification of the sport.

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BIKE NEWS

Harley-Davidson’s electric motorcycle, LiveWire - the first in a broad, no-clutch “twist and go” portfolio of electric two-wheelers designed to establish the company as the leader in the electrification of the sport – is planned to launch in 2019.

but would also in other emerging markets in Asia over time.

The company’s 2027 objective includes building 2 million new Harley-Davidson riders in the US, grow international business to 50pc of annual volume, launch 100 new high impact HD motorcycles, deliver superior return on invested capital for HDMC and grow its business without growing its environmental impact.

The company hopes that by adopting a new strategy, it would be able to grow its revenues by 2022 to $1.5 billion from the current level of US $ 1.0 billion. It also expects its operating profit to increase

from $ 200m to $250 million. The urgency to address challenges is driven by a shifting global consumer, said the report.

It pointed out that consumer spending on discretionary, premium products is reaching critical mass in China, India and Southeast Asia. While China motorcycle volumes are expected to grow rapidly, India’s 250cc500cc motorcycle segment is expected to grow at 25%/yr through 2021. India’s 250cc-500cc sales volume in 2017 stood at 700,000 with a CAGR of 25%. In the 500cc and more segment, overall sales stood at 8,500 units (CAGR 18-28pc).

“The bold actions we are announcing today leverage Harley-Davidson’s vast

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capabilities and competitive firepower – our excellence in product development and manufacturing, the global appeal of the brand and of course, our great dealer network,” said Matt Levatich, president and chief executive officer, Harley-Davidson, Inc. “Alongside our existing loyal riders, we will lead the next revolution of two-wheeled freedom to inspire future riders who have yet to even think about the thrill of riding,” he added.

“We expect this plan will result in an engaged, expanded Harley-Davidson community with a more diverse rider base, along with industry-leading margins and cash flow,” said Levatich.

AUGUST 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 19

BIKE NEWS

BMW G 310 R, BMW G 310 GS launched at `2.99 lakh and `3.49 lakh BMW Motorrad India launched the all-new BMW G 310 R and the all-new BMW G 310 GS in India. The two most-awaited motorcycles of the year are now available for test drives and are on sale throughout the BMW Motorrad dealer network.

The BMW G 310 R is priced at Rs 2,99,000, while the BMW G 310 GS is priced at Rs 3,49,000 (ex-showroom). Newly conceived from scratch, the BMW G 310 R and the BMW G 310 GS mark the company’s foray into the sub500 cc segment in India.

The BMW G 310 R and the

BMW G 310 GS are powered by a completely newly developed 313cc water-cooled singlecylinder 4-stroke engine with four valves and two overhead camshafts together with electronic fuel injection. With an output of 34hp at 9,500rpm and a maximum torque of 28Nm at 7,500 rpm, the engine is an ideal partner for dynamic riding pleasure. A remarkable feature of the engine is its backward-tilted cylinder in open-deck design with the cylinder head turned by 180 degrees, making it possible to position the intake tract at the front, viewed in the direction of travel. The motorcycles

20 | MOTOWN INDIA | AUGUST 2018

accelerate from 0 – 50 km/hr in just 2.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 143 km/hr.

The newly engineered 6-speed gearbox transfers the torque with an optimised transmission ratio.

The BMW G 310 R and the BMW G 310 GS have been developed in Munich, Germany

by BMW Motorrad and will be produced in Hosur, India by cooperation partner TVS Motor Company.

TVS has already brought out the TVS Apache RR310 which

shares a lot of its parts with the German bikes. The new BMW bikes were launched in the presence of Dimitris Raptis, Head of Region Asia, China, Pacific, South Africa, BMW Motorrad and Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India The BMW G 310 R has been launched in the following metallic colours - Style HP, Cosmic Black and Racing Red. While the BMW G 310 GS has been launched in the following metallic colours – Pearl White Metallic, Cosmic Black and Racing Red. (For Style HP and Pearl White Metallic add Rs 10,000 to ex-showroom price.)

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BIKE NEWS

Suzuki Burgman Street scooter launched at `68,000 Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd launched the Burgman Street, a 125cc scooter and the descendant from its legendary Burgman portfolio. The scooter was launched in the presence of Satoshi Uchida, Managing Director and Sajeev Rajasekharan, Executive Vice President, Suzuki Motorcycle India.

The scooter is priced at Rs 68,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).

The new Suzuki Burgman Street is powered by a 125cc, 4-stroke aircooled, SOHC 2 valve single cylinder BS-IV engine which churns out 8.58hp@7000 rpm and 10.2Nm of peak torque@5000 rpm. The engine comes with Suzuki Eco Performance technology. The CBS on the new Suzuki Burgman Street enables

operation of both brakes from the left brake lever.

The Suzuki Burgman Street comes with LED headlight, position lamp and tail lamp. There are chrome accents on front and rear body parts.

Built for comfortable riding, the Suzuki Burgman Street has a flexible foot position. It has a multifunction, fully digital instrument panel with a digital clock, fuel gauge, oil change indicator and a dual trip meter. The body mounted windscreen adopted from the international Burgman series, reduces the wind blast by improving the aerodynamics. The scooter has a long and comfortable seat.

(First Ride Review report on Page 28)

New Suzuki Gixxer SP, Gixxer SF SP 2018 Series launched Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL) has introduced the new 2018 series for the Gixxer SP (with ABS) and the Gixxer SF SP (with FI + ABS) motorcycles. The Gixxer SF SP 2018 Series will be available in shades of Metallic Majestic Gold/Glass Sparkle Black across Suzuki dealerships. The Gixxer SP (with ABS) is priced at Rs 87,250 (ex-showroom Delhi); while the Gixxer SF SP (with FI + ABS) is priced at Rs 1,00,630 (exshowroom, Delhi).

The Gixxer SF SP 2018

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series variants feature a gold and black colour combination, new unique SP 2018 emblem; and new graphics on the front cowl and the fuel-tank that add to the premium appeal of the motorcycles.

Both the Gixxer and the Gixxer SF series, are powered by the ultralight 155cc engine with Suzuki’s Eco Performance (SEP) technology, with a wide array of cutting-edge features and a powerful chassis developed by the engineers who designed the legendary GSX-R series.

AUGUST 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 21

BIKE NEWS

Yamaha launches Street Rally edition of Cygnus Ray ZR India Yamaha Motor (IYM) Pvt. Ltd. has introduced another edition to its Cygnus Ray ZR scooter series with the all new Street Rally Edition.

The scooter is priced at Rs.57,898 (ex-showroom Delhi). The new Street Rally edition is available in two different colours – Rally Red and Racing Blue, and adopts a newly designed wing style fairing (front fairing) inspired from Yamaha MT-09 which along with serving as the wind deflector, will also enhance the sporty look.

The new knuckle guard protects from windblasts on the handle grip and the movable front fender protects from mud splatter, while both add up to its sporty appeal. The characterised rising air tail along with the sharp, sporty mirrors and fully digital meter come along with roller rocker arm that reduces horsepower loss and easy-to-use power settings in extremely low speed ranges.

2018 Honda Avaitor & Activa i launched Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. has launched the 2018 editions of Aviator and Activa i. The new Aviator has been priced at Rs 55,157 (ex-showroom Delhi) while the Activa i has been priced at Rs 50,010 (ex-showroom Delhi). The all-new Aviator now comes with an LED headlamp and position lamp, 4-in-1 lock with Seat Opener Switch, metal muffler protector and retractable rear hook. The 2018 Aviator is now available in new Pearl Spartan Red colour which adds to the existing 3 colours (Pearl Igneous Black / Matte Selene Silver Metallic / Pearl Amazing White). You can get the Aviator in three variants - standard, alloy drum & alloy disc. The Activa i gets modern features like a new dynamic instrument panel with a ‘blue’ backlight, 4-in-1 lock with Seat Opening Switch, front hook and metal muffler protector. Making the Activa i even more exciting are the two new colours including Candy Jazzy Blue and Matt Axis Grey Metallic.

The Cygnus Ray ZR Street Rally Edition continues to draw power from an air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve, 113cc BLUE CORE engine with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) unit.

2018 Honda CD 110 Dream DX launched at `48,641 Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, has announced availability of 2018 CD 110 Dream DX. Highly popular amongst first time motorcycle buyers, new 2018 CD 110 Dream DX traces its legacy to Honda’s first mass motorcycle Dream D which was launched in Japan in 1949.

The 2018 edition of CD 110 Dream DX is priced starting at Rs. 48,641 (ex-showroom, Delhi). The 2018 CD 110 Dream DX is now available in four colours (New Black with Cabin Gold, Black with Green Metallic, Black with Grey Silver Metallic, Black with Red, Black with Blue Metallic). The 2018 edition of CD 110 Dream DX gets new gold graphics and chrome muffler protector. The utilitarian CD 110 Dream DX gets a heavy duty rear carrier.

Powering the CD 110 Dream DX is a 110cc HET (Honda Eco Technology) engine.

Honda 2 Wheelers launches 2018 edition Navi at `44,775 Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI) launched the new 2018 edition of Navi with new stylish fuel gauge and metal muffler protector which provide for extra convenience. Complementing existing utility package, all new body coloured elements- grab rail, headlight cover, rear view mirrors and sporty red colour cushion spring add to its overall looks. The 2018 Navi will also be available in two new colours - Ranger Green and Ladakh Brown. The Navi is available at Rs. 44,775 (ex-showroom Delhi).

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BIKE NEWS

Triumph Motorcycles introduces 2 new colour options for Street Triple RS Triumph Motorcycles India has introduced two new colours for the Street Triple RS. These are crystal white and matt jet black.

The Street Triple RS is equipped with an all-new 765cc engine derived from the celebrated Triumph Daytona which produces 121.3bhp @ 11,700rpm. The motorcycle features a new ride-by-wire throttle with up to five riding modes, new full colour 5” angle adjustable TFT instrument panel, new switchgear incorporating a 5 way joystick, Quickshifter and lap timer. The bike comes with an all new gullwing rear swingarm for improved high speed stability. It has a higher level specification of suspension, brakes and tyres.

All new Ninja 300 with ABS launched at `2.98 lakh

India Kawasaki launched the all new Ninja 300 in the Indian market. The all new Ninja 300 comes with front and rear Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) along with new colours and graphics. As a part of India Kawasaki’s expansion plan, the all new Ninja 300 also gets locally produced parts. The price of the all new Ninja 300 with ABS is Rs 2,98,000 (ex-showroom Delhi). Now the all new Ninja 300 ABS is available in two colour options namely lime green/ebony and candy plasma blue. Customers doing pre-booking will be given “3 years of unlimited mileage warranty offer” on the all new Ninja 300 ABS. This offer will be discontinued without any prior intimation in order to give a worthy benefit to early birds.

The all new Ninja 300 is equipped with a liquid-cooled parallel twin cylinder, DOHC and 8 valves engine like other models of Ninja series. The new high-tensile steel frame adds to the chassis stability and the assist & slipper clutch, based on racing technology, acts as both a backtorque limiter and self-servo mechanism that enables a lighter clutch lever pull.

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Kawasaki Z900RS in black launched at `15.30 lakh India Kawasaki Motors has introduced the retro and classic Z900RS in black colour. The newly launched Z900RS in black is made available for Rs 15,30,000 (ex-showroom) and its bookings are open. The Z900RS is a perfect concoction of 1970s’ original king of cool Z1 and modern Z900. In February 2018, India Kawasaki launched Z900RS in candy tone orange colour.

Conceived as a homage to the legendary Z1, it is powered by a liquid-cooled 900cc-class In-Line Four – an engine choice that makes Z900RS unique in this category. Z900RS comes with Kawasaki’s first tuned exhaust note, which has been designed after performing sound research. The sound tuning is focused on the engine’s initial roar to life, idling and low-speed riding where the rider is best able to enjoy the exhaust’s deep rumble.

MY19 Kawasaki Ninja 650 in black launched at `5.49 lakh India Kawasaki has launched the Model Year 2019 Ninja 650 in metallic flat spark black colour. With this launch, India Kawasaki now has three options in Ninja 650.

Last year Ninja 650 was introduced in KRT edition and in blue colour edition, which sold well. A powerful parallel twin engine with DOHC, 8 valve system and nimble handling have been the main forte of Ninja 650 always. To give a versatility for daily riding or long touring, Ninja 650 has an upright riding position, low seat height and manageable power delivery. Features like ABS, Economical Riding Indicator, Assist and Slipper Clutch etc. give a boost to the riding excitement. MY19 Ninja 650 standard is available for Rs 5,49,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) while the prices of Ninja 650 KRT edition is Rs 5,69,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

MY19 Ninja 650 is available in black and KRT edition and Ninja 650 in blue colour belongs to MY18.

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

2018 HONDA JAZZ

FINE TUNED Report: Aakash S. Paul ; Photography: Motown India Bureau

T

he Honda Jazz has been a much loved product in the Indian market. It has been in the premium hatch segment for quite a while now. Lately, the competition has armored itself to the teeth so the Jazz was in need of an update. The update came and we got the chance to drive it on an especially rainy day. How big is the update and how much up to speed is the

Jazz now, we find out.

DESIGN AND STYLING It was a bit disheartening to see that not much has changed on the exterior of the car.

It sports the same look as it always used to, except for some additions. Along with the chrome slat on the front and rear of the car you now get chrome door handles. The rear also has the LED wing lights which give the

rear a handsome look about it. The tail-lamp extends vertically along the edge of the boot lid and has a honeycomb like design inside.

Apart from this the car retains its simple looks that are not essentially bad or bland in any way. I would have liked to see LED DRLs in the wraparound headlamps. The 15-inches alloy wheel look smart and in my opinion the rear section is the most busy and interesting to look at.

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#2018HONDAJAZZ

This new update of the Jazz adds a few extra notes to an already jazzy tune. The touchscreen infotainment system with navigation is perhaps the best of the new additions and the armrest is also appreciated. The move to make dual airbags, ABS and EBD standard, enhances the safety factor. By no means is the Jazz a bad pick.

S P EC IFIC ATIO N S ENGINE 1199cc, i-VTEC SOHC, Petrol TRANSMISSION 7-step CVT POWER 88.7hp@6000rpm TORQUE 110Nm@4800rpm TYRES 175/65 R15 PRICE `7.35-8.99 lakh (ex-showroom

INTERIORS The interiors have been treated to more changes when compared to the exterior. The most notable of them is the new 7.0 inches touchscreen infotainment system which Honda calls as DigiPad 2.0. This new screen is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Touch response is smooth and while it might not be the most vibrant looking screen in the business, it does its

bidding. The 2018 Jazz also comes with satellite navigation and that is definitely a plus in today’s time. In our limited time with the car, the navigation system worked great and found correct routes to places we wanted to go. You also get a smart key with the new Jazz and if you opt for the top end model then you even get an engine start/stop button. There is also an armrest present in the Jazz now that can be used

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Delhi)

to perch your arm. Underneath it, is a large area for storing things. Speaking of storage, Honda Jazz has always had lots of places to store things and this new avatar is no different in that regard. There are cavities with all four doors for storing bottles, cubby holes and cup holders on the centre floor console and a special cup holder for the

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

driver. This time around, the driver also gets a vanity mirror. The ORVMs are now electronically controlled and can be adjusted, retracted and opened with the controls on the driver side door. The seats remain comfortable and the cushioning is adequate. The side bolsters keep you held in place and as a 6 feet tall person, I had no lack of headroom or legroom.

Even the thigh support was great.

In the second row you get a bench that can easily seat 3 people thanks to the mostly flat tunnel. Even with the driver seat set to my preference, I had plenty of legroom and kneeroom in the second row. Thigh support, however, could have been better. Altogether the Honda Jazz has a lot of space inside. But what I felt was missing in the second row were seatback

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pockets and adjustable headrests. While there are no dedicated AC vents for the second row occupants, that is hardly a problem as the automatic climate control unite at the front is more than capable of regulating the temperature of the cabin even on a hot day.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE The 2018 Honda Jazz is available in both petrol and diesel options. The 1.2L petrol engine comes mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or and 7-speed CVT. The diesel on the other hand can only be had with a 6-speed manual as of now.

We drove the petrol automatic and found that there is not much that has changed. This is the same refined i-VTEC engine from Honda and it

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#2018HONDAJAZZ

packs 88.7hp and 110Nm of torque. The car can easily take on city traffic and perform everyday overtaking maneuvers. There is now a cruise control option that will be liked by those that take on the highways regularly.

The Jazz can easily reach and maintain triple digit speeds without breaking a sweat. The 7 step CVT is smooth and you do not notice the gear changes until you stomp on the gas pedal. Honda has also added paddle shifts into the mix along with a sport mode. The combination of these two definitely turns the driving dynamics of this car a lot more exciting and controllable.

As I mentioned earlier, it was raining continuously while we were testing the Jazz and I was quite impressed by the grip of the tyres and the bite from the brakes despite the wet weather. The wheels provided loads of contact with the wet tarmac and inspired a lot of confidence in me. Taking turns at high speeds was just as fun as it is on a normal day. The disc at the front and drum at the rear, combined with ABS and EBD (which have become standard now) brought the car to a halt without locking the wheels. The suspension setup also feels soft enough to soak in almost all the bumps that the roads

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had to offer.

VERDICT This new update of the Jazz adds a few extra notes to an already jazzy tune. The touchscreen infotainment system with navigation is perhaps the best of the new additions and the armrest is also appreciated.

The move to make dual airbags, ABS and EBD standard, enhances the safety factor. By no means is the Jazz a bad pick. It definitely will have a lot of takers in the form of people who like space and a funky ride.

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

SUZUKI BURGMAN STREET

SIZE MATTERS Report: Aakash S. Paul ; Photography: Afsar Baig

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#SUZUKIBURGMANSTREET S P EC IFIC ATION S ENGINE 124cc, i-VTEC SOHC, Petrol TRANSMISSION CVT POWER 8.6hp@7000rpm TORQUE 10.2Nm@5000rpm TYRES Front - 90/90-12 54J Tubeless Rear - 90/100-10 54J Tubeless

PRICE `68,000 (ex-showroom Delhi)

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W

hile it might not have hit India yet, there is a whole culture revolving around maxi scooters. But that might all change very soon as Suzuki has brought the Burgman name to India. For the uninitiated, it is their range of scooters that are meant for cruising on endless roads. While they can be as big as 400-650cc, in India we have been introduced to a much smaller 125cc model called the Burgman Street. So we explore this new horizon by riding the Burgman Street.

DESIGN AND STYLE Just when you think that you have seen it all, something different like the Burgman

Street arrives on the scene. This is a bulky and broad looking scooter that can be truly called as a muscular being with aggressive lines running through its skin. The front of the Burgman Street does catch your eyes with its aggressive designing. The apron houses a wide LED headlamp cluster in the middle which is flanked by turn indicators.

At the top is a windscreen that does a good job of saving you from some of the windblast, especially when you duck in. There is a decent amount of chrome that is fit in subtly. Additionally you can even get chrome finish for the rear view mirrors. The 21.5L of under seat storage is plenty spacious for most helmet sizes. There are two pockets at the front. The one on the right can easily

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accommodate a small water bottle and is quite deep. The one on the left has a lid to cover it and also has a 12V charging socket. You can get a USB option for it as an accessory and there is enough space inside to keep large size phones.

This time around Suzuki has decided to put an all-digital instrument cluster on their scooter and I appreciate the move. But they will have to put a little more work on the design considering the price premium and the competition. The display is nice and legible and shows you your speed, fuel level, distance covered, time and even has 2 trip meters but it does not have the most attractive design and fonts. There are two

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WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

buttons below the display, one for switching between the two trip meters and one for resetting the trip. While the reset button worked fine, the other button required multiple presses to work at times. The rest of the switchgear has a nice finish but a pass-by switch, engine kill switch and parking brake are missing from the scene. The addition of some or all of these at the same cost would have justified the current price. What you do get is Suzuki’s Easy Start System which is a small convenience feature that is much appreciated.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE Powering the Burgman Street is the same

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124cc air cooled, single cylinder engine that is also seen on Suzuki’s popular Access 125 scooter.

Even the performance of the scooters is quite similar as the engine has been tuned to produce the same amount of power and torque. The Burgman Street has enough meat in the mid-range to carry itself and overtaking below 50kmph is no problem either. If you weigh average or

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#SUZUKIBURGMANSTREET

relatively less then you can easily hit 75kmph from standstill in just a few seconds. Even maintaining a cruising speed of 70kmph is no big task for this scooter. I was able to ride it at triple digit speeds on the highway and while the scooter did not feel completely at home at the speed, it did hold it rather well. Riding position is also pretty comfortable with the handlebar being not too far out of reach and the seat cushion being long and soft. The floorboard offers plenty of space and tall riders will like that a lot. The flexible foot position allows for riders to perch their feet on an elevated section carved in the front apron. This results in a position that is similar to cruiser bikes and while it may not be of much use in the city, you will appreciate it on the highways.

We did not have enough time to test the real world mileage of the scooter but the company claims a figure of 53kmpl. So you can get about 45kmpl on this and with a 5.6L fuel tank, you get a decent range for long rides. While the suspension on the Burgman Street is pretty good at soaking minor bumps and gentle speed breakers, I did feel that it could have been tuned to provide a more plush experience, especially considering its cruising nature. But the scooter

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did impress me when it came to braking. The disc brake at the front and the drum in the rear are quick to bring you to a halt with the help of Combined Braking System (CBS). I really liked the strong bite from the disc brake. The tubeless tyres on the Burgman Street are also identical to the Access. You get a 12 inches one at the front and a 10 inches wheel at the rear, both of which provide a solid amount of grip on the road. I even had fun while throwing this scooter into sharp corners. But the rear tyre does look a bit odd when compared to the rest of the proportions.

VERDICT It is nice to see a maxi scooter for the masses.

The Burgman Street definitely has the benefit of distinct and drawing looks at a time when scooter designs are almost stagnating. The convenience features such as flexible foot position, boot space, charging compartment are all great and thoughtful additions.

However, it is the price premium that might hold some people back. People who just want a good 125cc scooter might just opt for the Access for its lower cost and similar (if not better) performance. As was the case with the Intruder, you pay for exclusivity with the Burgman Street and for what you pay, you get a solid product.

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FEATURES

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#FIREFOXSURFELO

FIREFOX SURFELO

Road Surfing O Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

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But then thanks to smart cycles and their expensive avatars, cycles are slowly making a comeback in India.

Bad roads, bad climate, lack of cycle tracks and lack of physical stamina all combine to make up the several excuses for not riding a cycle in India. But if someone is determined to ride a cycle, one can do

AUGUST 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 33

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nce upon a time cycles were used as a mode of transport for the middle class in India.

But then as income levels rose and motorised vehicles became affordable, the use of cycles was confined to those who were economically weak. That continues to be the story for commuter bikes even today in our country.

FEATURES

so. You have just got to find a space and time for that.

And unlike motorised vehicles, cycles do not pollute the air and definitely go a long way in improving your health, especially your muscles and your heart.

NO ORDINARY BICYCLE The Firefox Surfelo is no ordinary cycle. It is meant for those who are good cyclists and those who understand the use of gears in a cycle. This cycle is meant for serious riding and for those who are extremely disciplined when it comes to their health and exercise. To put it simply, the difference between an ordinary commuter cycle and the Firefox Surfelo is like comparing the Maruti Suzuki Alto to the Maruti Ciaz. As you move up the value chain in terms of offerings, you need to get more and more responsible as to how to handle the product. The Firefox Surfelo needs to be handled professionally.

Just to get into some of the basics of riding, Firefox Surfelo comes with two chain rings. The chain ring is the big ring in front and while ordinary bikes have a single chain ring, this one has two - One a big chain ring, the other a small one. When you are riding on the big ring, it is obvious that it is harder to pedal and you are going fast. It’s ideal for a downhill or a flat section of the road.

But when you engage the small chain ring, it is easier to pedal, but you are going slower. It’s engaged when you are climbing a hill. But the smartness lies in engaging the right chain ring with the right ring in the cassette. The cassette comprises the gear rings at the rear which make up the ten different gears for the cycle. Here the rings work in exactly the opposite manner as those in front. The smaller gear is engaged when you have to go faster but it makes your pedaling harder. The bigger gear is engaged when you have to go slower, but it is easy to pedal.

attached to either sides of the handle bar. It’s akin to paddle shifters you find attached to the steering wheel of an automatic car where you can change gears manually.

The shifters are able to change the gears with the help of a derailleur which is basically a bicycle gear which works by lifting the chain from one sprocket wheel to another of a different size.

The Firefox Surfelo is made of some very efficient parts, be it the light, yet very strong alloy frames, the Tiagra Drivetrain System, the shifters which ensure quick and responsive shifting for fast city commute, high performance Tektro Disc Braking System and a lightweight comfort saddle for long rides The Firefox Surfelo has an alloy hardtail hybrid frame with internal cabling for front and rear derailleur. As for the suspension, in front it has an alloy rigid fork. Since this cycle does not have suspension of any nature, except for the rigid frame, you have to make sure that you ride on smooth tarmac or a track, or you can damage the cycle and your spine. Unfortunately in India, though we have cycle tracks in some remote corners, our city and roads are very unfriendly for cycles like the Surfelo. Yes, but if you do take time out on a Sunday morning and hook on your bike to your car and drive to places like the RashtrapathiBhawan roads in New Delhi, you can definitely enjoy the fun of riding such a versatile cycle like the Firefox Surfelo. Let me reiterate, this cycle does not come with bells or a stand or mud guards etc. These come as accessories and can be added on as per your wish. The soft seat along with the strong and straight handlebars, makes it a perfect bike for long commute.

Thus, to give you an example, if you are climbing a hill, you need to engage the smaller chain ring and at the rear match it with the biggest gear ring. The Firefox Surfelo comes with 10 gears at the rear and two chain rings in the front. The chain rings and the gear rings or the cassette can be changed with the help of shifters

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#FIREFOXSURFELO TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Frame: Superior Alloy Hardtail Hybrid with internal cabling for front & rear derailleur Frame Size: 18 & 19.5�

Suspension: Front - Alloy Rigid Fork Rear - NA Shifters: Shimano Tiagra 4700 2Ă—10 speed Front & Rear Derailleurs: Shimano Tiagra 4700 Cassette: Shimano Tiagra HG500, 11-32T Pedals: FP Alloy Wheels: Alloy 28 Holes Double Wall Rims Tyres: Kenda K1018 700 X 25C Price (ex-showroom): `52,900/-

The Firefox Surfelo comes with top notch Shimano Tiagra parts. The wheels may look slim and fragile, but I can vouch for the fact they are strong as a bull. If it can carry an overweight person like me weighing more than 85 kilos with considerable ease, I am sure they arerock solid. The alloy 28 holes double wall rims are shrouded with K1018 700 X 25C Kenda Tyres. Kenda, incidentally is a Tiawanese company with factories and establishments in Taiwan, China,

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US, Germany and Indonesia. They make automobile tyres, besides cycle tyres. In 2017 Kenda acquired Starco, a Danish company with automobile tyre manufacturing centres in Croatia, UK and China.

So, there you go guys, you want to raise your bar when it comes to cycling, then the Firefox Surfelo is a great bike to begin with. Assuming you are riding on a good, smooth road, the Firefox Surfelo offers road surfing all along!

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FEATURES

R U O L O C E H T OF FIT HERO LECTRO EZEPHYR

Report: Aakash S. Paul; Photography: Afsar Baig

I

n our daily struggle of achieving a better living we often forget about living healthy. The result, a body that is out of shape. Everyone might not like to hit a gymnasium but cycling is something that you can just do on your own without the need of an instructor. If you have not done cycling in a long while then trying to get back to it can be a daunting task. This is where Electrically Pedal Assisted Cycles (EPACs) come into play. These are not completely electric but rather aid the rider and reduce the rider’s effort while peddling. We got to ride one such EPAC from Hero, the Lectro EZephyr.

The Lectro EZephyr has a sleek and slim frame.

Hero has intelligently hidden the battery inside the frame of the cycle, further adding to the shaved look of the cycle. By doing so the battery can be saved from any damage, unlike the case where the battery is placed outside on the frame. The downside, however, is that you need to have a charging point at a place where you can carry the cycle. There is a small outlet in the hub of the pedals where you can plug in the charger that comes along with the cycle. Thankfully the cycle just weighs 16kgs which

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#HEROLECTROEZEPHYR

FEATURES

is quite light for an electric cycle.

You really appreciate the cycle’s light weight when you have to carry and it also means that you have to drag less weight if you ride the cycle without any aid from the electric motor.

When it comes to riding the cycle, you are in a relaxed position that is not too taxing even after an hour of riding. The handlebars are not too far out but the seat height means that riders below 5’8” will have their feet in the air. There is a small console on the left side of the handlebar that has a few buttons and indicators. There is a Mode button that when pressed, switches between the 3 levels of assist you can get from the 36V/250W BLDC motor and you can use it to completely shut any kind of assistance.

The three modes - Low, Medium and High, are self-explanatory and kick in without much delay. Additionally you can ride the cycle without peddling at all using an accelerator provided on the right side. You can achieve a top speed of 25kmph if you use this.

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Since the purpose of riding a cycle is to put your body to some work, I would recommend using the motor only when you are completely exhausted.

The battery will last for about 30kms if you use the accelerator and then require about 4 hours to fully charge.

There is a nice little indicator on the handlebar console that shows you the battery level. There is also a button that you can press and hold and the cycle will cruise at 6kmph. While it is a nice feature, we hardly found ourselves using it. The same button also doubles up as a toggle for the LED light upfront.

The light does not throw enough light to illuminate dark roads but it can act as an indicator for others. Beyond the electronics you have a 7-speed transmission from Shimao that works just like how you expect the gears in a cycle to work. You can go up and down the gears using the shifter on the right side of the handlebar.

The 18 inch tyres are quite thin and they are meant for the city roads.

Taking it off road is not the best idea,

especially considering the lack of any kind of suspension set up. Your back might not like it if you take this cycle on broken roads. You get disc brake at the front and a conventional V-brake at the rear, both of which have enough power to bring the cycle to a halt without much effort. You get a good response from the moment you apply the brakes.

Despite the Lectro EZephyr being a well packed product it does miss out on a few basic things like a bell, mudguards, chain guard and a carriage. All these are offered as accessories.

Hero has not just kept the weight of the cycle under control. Even the price is relatively competitive. At Rs 26,999 the cycle is priced decent. In case you feel like punching that paunch back inside or are tired of running on the treadmill in the confines of your home then the Lectro EZephyr can be a great way of not only losing weight but also getting some fresh air and sun. You can even take it a step further and use this for commutes to nearby places and help curb pollution.

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In case you feel like punching that paunch back inside or are tired of running on the treadmill in the confines of your home then the Lectro EZephyr can be a great way of not only losing weight but also getting some fresh air and sun. www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Motor: BLDC 36V/250W Battery: 36V x 5.8Ah Li-ion Gears: 7-speed Shimano Gears Weight: 16kg Suspension: Rigid Brakes: Front - Disc brake, Rear - V-brake Tyres: 18 inch Price (ex-showroom): `26,999/-

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FEATURES

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO*

MFC Services is India’s largest chain of multi-brand service workshops and part of the Mahindra Group. This unique initiative, ‘A Date with your Car’ is meant for all those enthusiasts who are keen to service their own car under professional supervision. Customers will get a hands-on experience of servicing their cars under the guidance of MFCS technicians.

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MAHINDRA FIRST CHOICE ANY CAR SERVICE

GOING ON A DATE

F

or many of us who have gone on a date will always recall the fond memories associated with it. A first date would have had its share of nervousness and excitement. For me, those fond memories were once again rekindled in my heart and mind when I experienced a date with my car. Yes, you have read that correctly! Mahindra First Choice (MFC) Services recently introduced a new service plan that goes by the name, ‘A Date with your Car’. When I got a call from the company asking me whether I was interested in experiencing a date with my car, I simply could not resist it!

MFC Services is India’s largest chain of multi-brand service workshops and part of the Mahindra Group. This unique initiative, ‘A Date with your Car’ is meant for all those enthusiasts who are keen to service their own car under professional supervision.

Customers will get a hands-on experience of servicing their cars under the guidance of MFCS technicians. The company is also targeting all car owners with Carworkz, a mobile and web-based platform, that will enable the owners to find the best and nearest workshop for servicing their car. They can get service estimates, avail exclusive offers and conveniently book appointments on the go.

When it comes to servicing cars, I know of several car owners who have had a bad experience after they have given their cars to authorised service stations. The problem is simple. The moment a car goes into a service station, the owner is not really sure what is happening with their car in the bay area. If they say a particular filter or part has been changed you have got to believe them. And then you hear of stories where car owners have been presented with inflated bills for parts they may or may not have changed.

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AUGUST 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 41

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Report: Aakash S Paul; Photography: Neeraj Panwar

FEATURES

It’s usually with a heavy heart that a person let’s go off his car to be serviced at a service centre.

It’s this distrust that has led many car owners to visit local mechanics with their problems. However, the problem with local mechanics is that they are ill-trained and operate out of badly constructed shops or road side outlets. Watching your car being repaired in fly-infested and dirty environment is no easy feat. This new initiative from MFC Services could change the way car owners perceive service stations and the way they take care of your car.

A DATE WITH MY KUV100 MFC Services franchise outlets number more than 340 and are spread across 24 states. The franchisee workshops have skilled technicians to handle service needs of all cars, especially those of Maruti, Hyundai, Tata and Mahindra which constitute approximately 79 per cent of the car services market.

‘A Date with your Car’ is an initiative that I am sure will catch on real fast.... Apart from the fun element, it would also be an exercise to understand the parts of one’s car.

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As I drove in my Mahindra car into the workshop - Poonam Motors in New Delhi’s Dwarka Sector 23 market, I was greeted by a workshop supervisor who asked me to park my car in the bay area. He took down all my details and that of my vehicle and asked whether I was facing any problem with the car. I told him my car was a fairly new one, having done barely 5000km and I was keen to simply service it with my own hands.

The car was given a thorough inspection both from inside and outside. The bonnet was opened and the mechanics checked the engine area and also the level of the engine oil, coolant, brake fluid and wiper fluid. He felt something was amiss. It was time to lift the car and check the underbody.

As the car was raised by a two-post lift, I got ready to service my own car. I had to don a safety helmet and wear cotton gloves. A wheeled tray containing several tools was brought

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AUGUST 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 43

FEATURES

closer to the car as it was raised. The tray contained tools like socket wrenches, torque wrenches, ordinary wrenches, screw drivers and hammers, among other things.

We went around inspecting the different tyres and the suspension. Nothing seemed amiss. But since the engine oil was a bit too low, we needed to inspect the oil pan or sump. It had a large cover over it. The mechanic guided me to open the screw holding them with the help of a wrench. It was not as easy as I thought, but was far too excited to actually realise the physical effort I was putting in. While the mechanic too helped me, we managed to open the pan. A large funnel and can were put under it to ensure that the oil did not splash on the ground, rather it could directly fall into the huge can.

I was surprised to note that there was hardly any engine oil in the sump. There was a leak too which was a result of a screw that had got loose. On a closer look of the area, we realised that there was a leak from the sides too, which meant that the gasket had to be changed too.

How could this have happened? Mechanical faults can

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happen because of a lot of reasons, primarily because of the bad roads that our car travels on. Now had I not seen this with my own eyes, I would not have believed the mechanic at all.

After an hour or so of repairing and then re-filling the various oils in the engine compartment, the car was taken for washing. Since this was going to be a messy affair, I opted to watch my car getting cleaned. First, the car was thoroughly vacuumed from inside. The plastic mats were

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brought out for washing. A four-post car lift raised the car and the underbody was first washed with high pressure jets.

When the car was brought down to the ground, the exteriors were washed clean.

A high pressure air jet was used to dry up the engine compartment and other areas that had earlier been washed with water. Finally, the car was wiped clean with cloth.

The car was then taken to the dry bay area where it was checked with the help of a diagnostic tool. Everything seemed to be fine, the technician assured me.

The supervisor, who had greeted me earlier, suddenly emerged from nowhere and handed me the keys of my car

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with a smile. As I drove off from the service station, I could not help but feel immensely satisfied with my experience.

‘A Date with your Car’ is an initiative that I am sure will catch on real fast. There are hundreds and thousands out there keen to go for a date like this with their cars. Maybe an entire family can go for a date with their cars. I can imagine how excited the children would be at the thought of observing their cars being serviced. Apart from the fun element, it would also be an exercise to understand the parts of one’s car. Mahindra First Choice Services will be making the dreams of hundreds and thousands out there come true with their new “A Date With Your Car’ initiative!

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FEATURES

ISUZU RFC INDIA 2018

JAGAT NANJAPPA, CHETAN CHANGAPPA FROM COORG WIN Proving that age has nothing to do with winning tough off road events, veteran rallyist Jagat Nanjappa showed to the world that it is fitness, grit and determination that make a winner. After a week-long grueling off-roading action, last moment surprises and unprecedented ups and downs on the leader board Nanjappa and co-driver Chetan Changappa of Coorg’s Team V5 Offroaders emerged as the ultimate champions of Isuzu RFC India 2018. They won the fifth season of India’s toughest international off-road motorsport competition with a total score of 2006 points out of 2600.

Pictures courtesy: Cougar Motorsport

This year, 39 teams, each consisting of a driver and a co-driver, competed in the event. The week-long event which began at Suquerbag in Quepem, moved on to the Green Hills Agri Farm in Maina, Quepem before culminating at the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat in Dona Paula on July 28.

RFC India was launched by Delhi-based Cougar Motorsport Pvt. Ltd. in 2014. It is the India Chapter of the Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia, which is listed among the top ten toughest motor races in the World and has over 51 editions being held in 21 countries worldwide. Now five editions old, RFC India is unarguably considered as the country’s toughest international off-road motorsport competition and is counted amongst the top three toughest events in the RFC Global Series.

With this win, Jagat and Chetan have become the second Indian, and the first offroader from South India, to win the coveted title ever since its launch in the country in 2014. The Isuzu RFC India 2018 Champions,

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Jagat and Chetan will represent the country at RFC 2018 Global Series Grand Finale. The total benefits they have received amount to USD 10,000, including the entry fee, airfares as well as support towards car rental in Malaysia.

The overall second position was held by Malaysian driver Mervyn Lim (co-driver Alex Tan) of Team G.O.A. Fairmont with 1849 points.

Defending RFC India Champion Gurmeet Virdi (co-driver Kirpal Singh Tung) of Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh clinched the third spot on the podium with 1800 points. Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal (co-driver Gurpartap Singh Sandhu) of Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh was at the fourth spot in the competition with 1742 points, while Dr Chaitanya Challa (co-driver Shabarish Jagarapu) from Hyderabad, also representing Team G.O.A. Fairmont, secured a spot in the top five with 1668 points.

After missing the title by just one rank last year, Jagat was elated upon completing the ‘unfinished task’ this year. He said, “This is an incredible feeling. I would like to thank

The winners with the Isuzu RFC 2018 organisers

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AUGUST 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 47

FEATURES

my co-driver, my service team and my buddy – the Jeep – all of whom put up a fantastic performance. We enjoyed every moment of this competition, specially the challenging ones.

We were prepared for a tougher and more competitive event this time and we knew that we had to maintain the lead from the very start. The conditions of the competition were highly unpredictable and kept varying from contender to contender. In the end, I think these conditions

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worked in our favor and piloted us to the victory.”

A nine-time Indian National Rally Riders Champion from 1986 to 1996 in the motorbike section, a Great Desert Rally Champion in 1988, Coimbatore Rally Champion of 1992, MASA Rally Mumbai Champion of 1993 and 1994, Jagat has had an illustrious motorsport career spanning four decades. Claiming the only remaining gem in his string of pearls, Jagat has

finally added the RFC India title to the list of his achievements in the third attempt at the competition.

Jagat, alongside other podium finishers, category winners and special award winners, were felicitated at a glittering prize distribution ceremony held at the International Centre Goa in Dona Paula in the presence of Luis J.A. Wee (Founder & Creator, The Rainforest Challenge

International), Ken Takashima (Deputy Managing Director, Isuzu Motors India Pvt. Ltd.), Capt. J. Shankar Srinivas (Vice President – Service, Customer Relations, EA & PR, Isuzu Motors India Pvt. Ltd.) and Ashish Gupta (Founder & Director, Cougar Motorsport Pvt. Ltd.).

Ashish Gupta said, “We witnessed an unprecedented intense level of competition this year. Given that we continuously upgrade the toughness quotient

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of the Special Stages every year, with a supplementary addition of night stages this time around, I had expected the competition to be highly challenging. I am extremely happy that our contenders have managed to sail through such tough challenges as well. This proves that Indian off-roading is now attaining maturity and our off-roaders are no less than their international counterparts. I would like to congratulate and applaud all the competitors of Isuzu RFC India 2018 for their exemplary display of

offroading skills, valour, hard work and determination throughout the course of the competition.�

On this occasion, Luis J.A. Wee was felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his unparalleled contribution to the off-roading community. Wee launched the Rainforest Challenge in Malaysia in 1997. Today, it is counted among the top ten toughest motor races in the World and has 51 editions being held across 21 countries.

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FEATURES

Record attendance at 10th edition of World Ducati Week The 10th edition of World Ducati Week, the international gathering that brings the Ducati community together every two years, ended with a record turnout. WDW2018 engaged and excited tens of thousands of motorcyclists coming from all over the world, meeting at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” from 20 to 22 July to celebrate and share their enthusiasm for Ducati.

An incredible number of people and lots of motorcycles made this unique celebration even greater. In three days there were 91,596 attendees at the Misano World Circuit, exceeding the previous record of 81,000 attendees set in 2016 by 13%. The participants travelled to the Adriatic Riviera from five continents, representing 73 countries.

While 60% of the riders were Italian, the remaining 40% are evidence of the power and appeal of the Ducati brand around the world. Of particular note were Ken Lu and Lv Fei, the two Chinese riders who rode their Multistrada 1200 Enduro from Xinjiang (China) to Bologna in only seven days. The journey across continents was an extraordinary undertaking which saw them travel 7,575 km through 10 countries to arrive at Misano Adriatico.

Harley-Davidson introduces Battle of the Kings in India Battle of the Kings, a custom build off competition is known around the world for giving rise to some of the most innovative, beautiful, and memorable creations in terms of customised motorcycle designs by HarleyDavidson dealership staff. The 2018 edition finally debuts in India with 10 dealerships participating from different states across the country.

Limiting each motorcycle to a strictly enforced budget of no more than Rs 5 lakh along with the use of Street 750 and Street Rod for the customisation process, the contest is the ultimate expression of freedom

and creativity.

All submissions are subjected to a public voting process initiated online wherein fans can vote for their favorite custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle on h-d.com/battleofthekings.

The final winner of Battle of the Kings will be announced via microsite.

in Milan, Italy. The final winner will be announced at the EICMA 2018.

Peter MacKenzie, Managing Director of Harley-Davidson India said, “The theme of the Battle of the Kings 2018 edition

reflects 115 years of HarleyDavidson. Showcasing the talent and enthusiasm of the dealership staff, the contest also demonstrates the brand’s ideals of individuality, freedom and expression while providing inspiration for our customers.”

The contest involves 250 dealers from across the world to compete against each other to be one of the prodigious custom builds. A panel of judges will then pick a finalist from each region and the finalists will be sent for EICMA 2018 motorcycle show

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Mercedes-Benz India launches Service on Wheels initiative Mercedes-Benz India announced the launch of yet another innovative customer service offering for its customers called ‘Service on Wheels’. This novel initiative comprises a service truck equipped with all tools along with professional service personnel to attend to customer cars, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where Mercedes-Benz doesn’t have a direct presence.

On being notified, a mobile service truck will visit the customer’s area and carry out the inspection, repairs and service of the car, adding great value and convenience to the customers. This initiative is part of Mercedes-Benz’s hugely popular service differentiation strategy under the ‘My Mercedes, My Service’ umbrella, launched in July 2016.

‘Service on Wheels’ is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Indian luxury car industry, which is highly customer-centric and tailor-made for the Indian market. This concept is a result of the Business Innovation project which is conceptualised by the employees of Mercedes-Benz India. It was launched by Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO and Santosh Iyer, Vice President-Customer Service, Retail Training and Corporate Affairs, Mercedes-Benz India in the key market of Amritsar, Punjab. The Phase I of ‘Service on Wheels’ will travel to 15 different Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets undertaking service related requirements of customers in the remaining months of the 2018.

India’s first smart crossover electric bike - Tronx One

Hero Cycles revives 110year-old Classic British cycling brand Viking

Tronx Motors, a Smartron company, has announced the launch of India’s 1st smart crossover electric bike, Tronx One. Tronx Motors was earlier known as Volta Motors.

India-based global cycle major Hero Cycles is breathing fresh life into one of Britain’s most famous bike brands - Viking. Hero Cycles, the world’s biggest bicycle manufacturer by volumes, bought the 110-year-old Viking brand when it purchased Manchester based bike distributor Avocet Cycles in 2015. Now this month after a near 40-year absence the first range of bespoke British designed Viking bikes is rolling into cycle shops across the UK. Avocet CEO Sreeram Venkateswaran said following decades of ownership changes and neglect Viking is back with a range of bikes ‘fit to wear the badge’. “When Hero Cycles bought Avocet we wanted to make an impact on the UK market,” he said.

priced at Rs 49,999/- on an introductory offer for limited units is open for preorders and will be available in two colors - magma red and pacific blue.

Tronx One is Smartron’s first step towards building the Tronx Motors vertical coupled with the company’s own tronXTM ecosystem. As part of the tronXTM portfolio, Smartron has already launched mobile, compute and wearable devices in the past and is now entering a new EV vertical. Designed and engineered in India, Tronx One is a future ready bike that offers a powerful ride experience combined with a unique design sensibility. The e-bike

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AUGUST 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 51

AUTO STUFF

MARUTI SUZUKI LAUNCHES SUZUKI CONNECT TELEMATICS SOLUTION Maruti Suzuki announced the launch of its advanced telematics solution Suzuki Connect for its Nexa customers.

Suzuki Connect aims to enhance user convenience and experience through advanced technology for emergency alerts, vehicle tracking, live vehicle status, and preventive maintenance calls. Suzuki Connect will be available as an option that can be installed by customers in their cars across Nexa network in the country. Suzuki Connect is available at Rs. 9,999/- (inclusive of taxes) for three years subscription of this solution for all Nexa customers Once installed and connected with smartphone through the Nexa App, customers can experience its progressive features like emergency alerts, vehicle tracking, driving behaviour analysis, car assistance, driving analytics report amongst a host of other features.

GLOBAL OIL BRAND ECSTAR NOW AT MARUTI SUZUKI ARENA NETWORK Maruti Suzuki India introduced Ecstar, the global brand of lubricants, coolant and car care products. Previously available at Nexa service workshops only, Ecstar will be now offered across all Maruti Suzuki Arena workshops in India. Maruti Suzuki is also introducing a new range of engine oil 0W16. This advanced oil will help reduce friction leading to improved fuel efficiency and cut down on CO2 emissions. It will also ensure engine durability being low viscosity oil. The range of Ecstar products includes engine oils, coolants, injector cleaner, automatic transmission oil, car care products, and screen wash for the cars. More products will be added to the ECSTAR range in India progressively.

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AUTO STUFF

GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLEMAX 2 In conjunction with Goodyear’s 120th anniversary, Goodyear India has announced the launch of Assurance TripleMax 2 for the mid-passenger segment. Assurance TripleMax was first launched in 2015 in the Indian market. Assurance TripleMax 2 is the successor version of the current Assurance TripleMax and is designed to improve the safety and durability of the tyres. In addition, it is also optimised for excellent grip performance with short braking distance under wet road conditions, enabling drivers to stop faster and drive safer. Assurance TripleMax 2 also provides superior ride and comfort. New Assurance TripleMax 2 with HydroTred Technology is improved to deliver better performances in the following areas: Excellent Wet Braking Performance: Innovative compound formulation to increase stickiness and the optimized microstructure delivers better grip and braking performance in wet road conditions.

Enhanced Handling Performance: The new HydroTred Technology with optimized footprint and more effective contact pressure delivers an enhanced driving experience with better tire cornering power and steering precision.

Improved Comfort Performance: Innovative tread pattern is designed to minimize pattern noise throughout tire life, providing a smoother and more comfortable drive.

Resistance Performance: Additional technical features on the sidewall and construction design and materials are introduced to Assurance TripleMax 2, in order to increase resistance to sidewall impacts.

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STEELBIRD NEW HELMET RANGE FOR GIRLS AND BOYS UNDER HI-GN BRAND Steelbird Hi-Tech India limited, Asia’s largest helmet manufacturer under their Hi-GN brand unveiled a new helmet range “Frost for girls” and “Pulse for boys”. The Frost Dashing helmet is priced at Rs 949/and Frost Glossy/Matt is at Rs 1099/- The Pulse Dashing is priced at Rs 899/- and Pulse Glossy/Matt at Rs 1049/-.

“Frost for girls” and “Pulse for boys” helmets are designed with some defining characteristics. The high-impact ABS material shells provide excellent resistance to any collision in case of an accident; the helmet is sturdy yet light in weight. It also utilises EPS (thermocol) high density for more safety; Both the models also have an anti-theft ring.

Both the models Frost for girls and Pulse for boys offers hygienic Interiors with breathable padding to help the riders ride at ease and with plenty ventilation. Additionally the long cheek pads facilitate extra comfort to the riders. The two models also come with polycarbonate visor with hard coated which protects the rider from pollution, dust and smoke, without obstructing the view.

Furthermore, the quick release micro metric buckle ensures a secure fit to the riders. The buckle is convenient to open and lock even with the hand gloves. The models are available in 540MM, 560MM and 580MM sizes in colours like red, blue, yellow and more.

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B2B COVER REPORT

* • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

Mahindra Furio line of trucks launched in ICV segment

Report: P. Tharyan; Photography: Afsar Baig

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M

ahindra’s Truck and Bus Division (MTBD), a part of the Mahindra Group, unveiled the Furio, its brand new range of Intermediate Commercial Vehicles (ICVs) that will range from 6.5 tonnes to 16 tonnes. Furio marks the company’s entry into the ICV segment and is set to make Mahindra a full range commercial vehicle player.

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comfortable cabins.

Mahindra Furio is the culmination of focused efforts from more than 500 Mahindra engineers, 180 suppliers and an investment of Rs. 600 crore.

The trucks will be made in the company’s facility in Chakan near Pune while the designing duties have been carried by Pininfarina and the trucks will offer safe, ergonomic and

The Furio range will consists of 21 different models, seven of which will be launched in BS4 emission standard engines, while the remaining 14 would be launched in and around 2020 when the BS 6 emission norms kick in. These 14 models will be coming with BS6 standard engines. Five different engine

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B2B COVER REPORT

options will be offered for the Furio range.

that will set new standards. I am confident that just like the Blazo HCV Series, the Furio range of ICVs will also set new benchmarks for performance, earnings and deliver better value to customers.”

At the heart of these trucks will be the MDI Tech engine, with Fuel Smart technology. The engine promises to deliver higher fuel efficiency while providing more power and requiring minimum maintenance. The company claims to have thoroughly tested these trucks on Indian terrain with over 17 lakh kilometers covered in total.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. noted, “The unveiling of the new Furio range of ICV trucks is a defining moment for our Truck and Bus business as we are set to enter a new orbit and become a full range commercial vehicle player. With Pininfarina inspired design, the Furio

is set to be a game changer for us and perhaps for the industry, giving the new truck one of the safest, most ergonomic and comfortable cabins

(L) Rajan Wadhera, President, Automotive Sector, Vinod K Sahay, CEO, Mahindra Truck & Bus/ Mahindra Construction Equipment Divisions, Mahindra & Mahindra

According to Vinod Sahay, CEO, Mahindra Truck and Bus and Construction Equipment Divisions, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., “Indian ICV customers have been longing for a truck which can deliver higher earnings, lower operating costs, better safety, improved ergonomics, a comfortable ride and most importantly a world-class ownership experience, as an ideal package. Our new Furio range is built precisely around these elements and we are confident that it will soon be a preferred choice for ICV customers.”

&A with

VINOD K SAHAY CEO, Mahindra Truck & Bus / Mahindra Construction Equipment Divisions, M&M

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO*

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Will it be ‘fast & Furio’ for your truck and bus division with the launch of the new Mahindra Furio truck range?

We surely hope so. We are quite confident it will be so.

Your Blazo trucks are also doing quite well in the market. Can we have your views on that?

Blazo has done very well.

We launched Blazo around two years ago. We knew we were a challenger brand and we cannot afford to launch a me-too product, so the whole objective of Blazo was that we were going to launch a product with which we are going to give guarantees to the customer. Everyone claims their truck is best in terms of fuel efficiency, in terms of service parts, but with the Blazo we gave a guarantee that you get the best mileage for your truck compared to any other truck in the industry or your fleet.

Otherwise you return our truck. I am very happy to report that after more than 15,000 Blazo trucks on the road, not a single truck has come back. Blazo today has clearly established itself as the most fuel efficient and fluid efficient truck in the Indian trucking industry in its class. Backed by its fuel efficiency guarantee, we also gave service and parts guarantee and as a result of which Blazo is continuously growing on volume and market share. We have doubled our market share compared to what it was two years back. From 2.7pc we have already moved to 5.4pc and gong forward

we are hoping to do much better than what we have done so far.

Before the Furio was launched, you were missing in the 6.5 tonnes to 16 tonnes segment in the trucking industry. With the Furio, do you think, things will move FURIOusly ahead for your company?

Yes, that’s the plan. As you know for the entire commercial vehicle segment, Mahindra is the number two brand and we are a clear No. 1 when it comes to small commercial vehicles and we are No. 3 when it comes to light commercial vehicles, we have come to No.4 in heavy commercial vehicles and aspire to be No.3 very soon.

But this range you have rightly said, the 6.2 tonnes to 16.2 tonnes, we were missing. We did not have this range in Mahindra & Mahindra. And that’s what we were working for in the last four years, to come up with a platform which we have named Furio rightly so, which is a modular platform which will have the whole gamut of the range coming in this GVW portfolio with five engine options which will come in different segments and different class of vehicles,

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three transmission types and three cabin types. With that we address the full range and we hope to have a far higher level of volume and market share than we currently have in the overall commercial vehicle space.

Do you think this is a very critical segment in the commercial vehicle industry?

It is a very important segment because with India moving more towards a clear hub and spoke model, there are three large segments that are going to emerge.

One is of course small commercial vehicle, second is the heavy commercial vehicles on a GVW of 37 to 49 tonne class, and in between the LCV and ICV range.

Already the industry is at a 1.5 lakh units volume per year which Mahindra has been missing, and that is why the segment is critical to us, not just that it completes the whole range, but also gives us additional volumes and additional profits which we can make out of putting Furio on the platform in this segment where we are able to sell more and get to a No. 3 position.

The Furio range would comprise of 21 models with

five engine options. Can you elaborate on that?

Overall, this platform from 6.2 tonnes to 16.2 tonnes has 21 products. Each of those products will have multiple wheelbases and multiple load body types.

Of the 21 products, we are going to launch seven in BS 4 version. We have unveiled four today -11, 12, 13 and 14 tonne range. Progressively we are going to launch 15 tonne and 16 tonne, as well as a 7.5 tonne truck in BS 4 standards. Because the window for BS 4 that is left is very small, we are directly going to launch 14 models in BS 6 standards. By the time BS 6 comes in the country in 2020 April to June quarter, we will have the full 21 different products of this platform playing fully in the market.

Your company is now a No.2 player overall in the CV business in the country. WIll your company emerge as a very significant player here with the Furio coming in?

Overall commercial vehicle we are No. 2 player but our aspiration in the short term and medium term is that we want to be No.3 player in rest of the specific segments we are playing.

We are already No. 3 when it comes to LCVs, we are inching towards becoming No. 3 in HCVs. With the Furio, our immediate plan is that in a couple of years when the full range plays out, is to get to No.3 over there. With that we come to a far stronger No. 2 than what we are today.

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Hyundai Motor India Plant is ready for new Santro, EV vehicles Report: Motown India Bureau Hyundai Motor India plant in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu is bustling with frenzied activity. They are getting ready to manufacture the new Santro family car. The new Santro would soon be launched in the country.

Codenamed AH2, the new Santro may not be known as the Santro, rather a name would be decided soon because the car will be launched during the coming festive season in OctoberNovember 2018. The Santro car sold more than 1.85 million units worldwide and they were all made in the India plant of Hyundai Motors.

Beginning August 16th a naming campaign would start for the new family car. Hyundai Motor India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Y K Koo told journalists that the company will be launching 8 new products between 2018-2020 including an electric SUV. The electric SUV will be launched in the second half of 2019.

The electric SUV will be imported as a completely knocked down unit. This plant will then be producing electric vehicles.

Incidentally, Hyundai Motor India is also celebrating 20 years of its existence in the country. It was in 1996 that the South Korean auto major had invested US 3.1 billion to set up a plant near Chennai and the vendors had invested another US $ 1.5 billion. In

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1998 the iconic Santro was launched with Bollywood heart throb Shahrukh Khan as its brand ambassador. The rest, they say is history. Santro, the tall boy designed small car became an instant hit and Hyundai a name unknown among Indian families became a household name.

Spread across a total area of 536 acres and along with advanced manufacturing 4.0 production equipped with over 590 generation 4 robots, quality and testing capabilities along with flexible engine plants, Hyundai Motor India today has a production capacity of 7.13 lakh units which will increase to 7.50 lakh units in 2019 by smart engineering. The plant is running at almost 100pc capacity utilisation.

The company plans to roll out 10 million cars in the first half of 2021.

Today the company produces and sells cars like the Eon, Grand i10, Xcent, Elite i20-Live Premium, i20-Live Active, Verna, Elantra, Creta and Tucson at the plant. The company is the second largest car manufacturer in India and the largest car exporter in the country.

The Hyundai plant near Chennai consists of two plants with modern press shops, body shops, paint shops, welding shops, engine and transmission shops, assembly areas and delivery locations.

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B2B NEWS

EVs to represent 10% of India’s total passenger vehicle fleet in 2040, says Bloomberg study As dependence on conventional fossil fuels abates considerably all over the world in the coming years, electricity generated by wind, sun and batteries will define the way power is generated. The share of coal will shrink to just 11per cent of global electricity generation by mid-century, from 38 per cent now. As for vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries, the scenario looks promising as, by 2040, 55 per cent of all new car sales and 33 per cent of the global fleet will be electric.

(L-R): Ashish Sethia, Head of Research, Asia Pacific for Bloomberg NEF, Jon Moore, CEO, Bloomberg NEF, and Shantanu Jaiswal, Head of India Research, Bloomberg NEF

These observations form part of a study published by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), an industry research firm focused on helping energy professionals generate opportunities. The New Energy Outlook (NEO) 2018 BNEF 150 pages report highlights the huge impact the falling battery costs will have on electricity mix over the coming decades. “India

is a priority country for Bloomberg globally, one whose power and transport sectors are expected to fundamentally change by mid-century with its economic transformation,” said Jon Moore, CEO, Bloomberg NEF. He was addressing media in the Capital.

“We will continue to track key changes such as the electrification of transport and the transition to a lower carbon power sector. In power generation alone, we are expecting to see a $1.6 trillion investment opportunity for investors by 2050,” Moore added.

But the report highlights that electric vehicles will represent just 10 per cent of India’s total passenger vehicle fleet in 2040. While countries like China, US and those in Europe will be seeing rapid increase in electric vehicles, the growth in India

will be slow. “India’s car market is dominated by affordable (below US$ 10,000) small vehicles, and the Indian government has not shown any appetite to provide the subsidies that would be required to make electric passenger vehicles (4-wheelers) affordable for private citizens in the short term,” the report said.

Bloomberg experts maintained that they were skeptical of claims made by many that India will be the next big EV market set to follow China’s lead. Low average vehicle prices will inhibit EV uptake for the next ten years before adoption rises in the 2030s. Progress on e-bikes, rickshaws and e-buses looks promising over the next ten years. “We expect EVs to represent just 10% of India’s total passenger vehicle fleet in 2040,” the report pointed out.

“India is often touted as the next big electric vehicle market set to follow China’s lead,” said Ashish Sethia, Head of Research, Asia Pacific for Bloomberg NEF. “However, low average vehicle prices will inhibit EV uptake for the next 10 years. After 2030, we expect EV sales in India to accelerate with increased affordability, as well as the government’s efforts to ensure universal access to electricity which lower challenges with charging infrastructure,” he said.

“As we chart the future of energy with the Bloomberg New Energy Outlook 2018, we project that cheap renewable energy and batteries will reshape the entire electricity system,” said Shantanu Jaiswal, Head of India Research, Bloomberg NEF. “Looking ahead, we see new power generation assets growing, the cost of wind energy to come down significantly, and renewables to supply 62% electricity in China and 75% in India by 2050. Asia

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Pacific is recording almost as much investment in power plants as the rest of the world combined, with China seeing 49% and India 29% of the total regional investment,” he added.

The pace of electrification in transport will vary by country, particularly over the next 12 years as some markets jump ahead of others.

BNEF forecasts that in 2030, EVs will make up 44% of European light-duty vehicle sales, 41% of those in China, 34% in the U.S., and 17% in Japan.

However, a shortage of charging infrastructure and a lack of affordable models will hold back the market in India, so that EVs will make up just 7% of new car sales in 2030 there.

BNEF’s projections imply big opportunities for lithium-ion battery manufacturers. China is already dominant in this market, with a 59% global share of production capacity in 2018, and this is forecast to rise to 73% by 2021.

The number of ICE vehicles sold per year (gasoline or diesel) is expected to start declining in the mid-2020s,

as EVs bite hard into their market.

In 2040, some 60 million EVs are projected to be sold, equivalent to 55% of the global light-duty vehicle market.

‘Shared mobility’ cars will be a small but growing element .

The advance of e-buses will be even more rapid than for electric cars, according to BNEF’s analysis. It shows electric buses in almost all charging configurations having a lower total cost of ownership than conventional municipal buses by 2019. There are already over 300,000 e-buses on the road in China, and electric models are on track to dominate the global market by the late 2020s.

NEO 2018 sees $11.5 trillion being invested globally in new power generation capacity between 2018 and 2050, with $8.4 trillion of that going to wind and solar and a further $1.5 trillion to other zero-carbon technologies such as hydro and nuclear.

Mahindra e2oPlus Picture for representation purpose only.

This year’s outlook is the first to highlight the huge impact that falling battery costs will have on the electricity mix over the coming decades. BNEF predicts that lithium-ion battery prices, already down by nearly 80% per megawatthour since 2010, will continue to tumble as electric vehicle manufacturing builds up through the 2020s.

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B2B NEWS

Purpose-built electric vehicles for mobility on demand, says Roland Berger The growing demand for ridesharing services is giving rise to a new category of vehicles. These are cars with a flexible interior that can be individually tailored to the needs of their users. The potential for automakers is considerable here, according to a report titled, “A new breed of cars: Purpose-built electric vehicles for mobility on demand” by Roland Berger.

Roland Berger, founded in 1967, is the only leading global consultancy of German heritage and European origin. With 2,400 employees working from 34 countries, the consultancy has successful operations in all major international markets.

The report said that until 2020 the number of these purpose built e-vehicles could go up to about 1 million units, and then rise by 21% until 2025 and 14% until 2030. China is expected to be by far the largest market for the new vehicle class, with a market share of 60%, followed by North America (22%), Europe (13%) and MENA (5%).

Says Jan-Philipp Hasenberg, Partner at Roland Berger, “This new type of car unites two of the key mobility megatrends in one vehicle: ride-sharing and electromobility.

“Vehicle manufacturers should take active steps to get into this niche market now so that they can establish a strong competitive position and get their customers excited about the new models. One of the main drivers here will be China, which makes up at least 60 percent of the market, but Europe and the United States will also see their market for these vehicles grow as time goes on. Indeed, this is a key growth market that no OEM can afford to ignore.

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Wolfgang Bernhart, Partner at Roland Berger says that “We anticipate the price per kilometer for using these cars to come in at between 0.5 and 0.8 euros. These purpose-built vehicles will therefore be among the cheapest means of getting around in a car. The only thing that will be cheaper to use, at less than 0.3 euros per kilometer, will be genuine robocabs without a driver.”

By now it has become a common view that the automotive market will gradually shift from vehicle ownership to new shared mobility concepts within the coming decade. Mobility on Demand and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) are the latest buzzwords. While this undoubtedly creates headaches for executives in the automotive industry given that fewer vehicles will be sold to end customers, it also opens up a new opportunity – a new breed of purpose-built vehicles for shared

mobility concepts, the study says.

Ultimately those vehicles will be fully autonomous vehicles or “robocabs”.

While several players like Waymo or GM have announced plans to launch those vehicles as early as 2019, a more widespread adoption will most likely not occur before 2025. But vehicle manufacturers have the chance to start producing a new breed of car now: purpose-built electric vehicles for on-demand mobility solutions.

Manufacturers could gain a foothold in this new segment and in so doing gain valuable experience that they can later profit from in the production of fully autonomous vehicles, the study points out.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Optimising vehicle concepts for shared mobility requires a radical shift of focus, from driver experience

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B2B NEWS

to passenger ride experience. It means designing flexible interior concepts to support different use cases, concentrating on durability and serviceability and including a significant amount of additional vehicle content, the study reveals.

Passengers value “quality time” during rides and will soon expect to be able to request a vehicle with an interior design and facilities tailored to their needs and moods – whether that is getting work done, catching up on sleep or simply having fun with friends.

At the same time, purpose-built ride-sharing vehicles give automakers an opportunity to significantly lower vehicle-to-market costs thanks to their shorter development times, lower vehicle complexity and limited number of customers. This new breed of vehicles also has implications for lifecycle management as they have shorter lifetimes and their modular nature makes it easy to replace parts.

approach.

The report mentions that ride sharing is on the rise. Dominating the new types of on-demand mobility services is ride-sharing (also known as “ride hailing” or “ride for hire”).

Players such as Uber, Lyft in the United States and Didi Chuxing in China do pretty much what taxis did in the past, moving passengers from A to B in return for payment of a fare. However, the competitive pricing of these new entrants and their focus on convenient service offerings has added a new dimension to the traditional market.

Globally the market size for ridesharing services is now an estimated 50 million rides a day. China, where the leading ride-sharing company Didi Chuxing provides an average of 25 million rides a day, is showing remarkable growth. Current forecasts are that ridesharing will represent

20 percent of total consumer transportation in the country in 2018, compared to less than one percent in 2015. The market in 2018 will be worth around EUR 180 billion.

This exponential growth is due to a widespread lack of mobility, the result of China’s limited public transit capacity, insufficient taxi services and restrictions on the number of license plates issued for privately owned vehicles. Indeed, Roland Berger estimates that approximately 40 percent of demand for licensed taxi services in China is currently unfulfilled, met instead by unlicensed taxis and public transit where available.

Today’s traditional taxis – with the exception of London’s black cabs and JPN taxi (Toyota) – are little more than conventional vehicles with a taxi sign on top. Purpose-built vehicles are a whole new ball game.

The Roland Berger report points out that OEMs are busy working on designs for fully autonomous “robocabs”. But these vehicles are unlikely to enter mass production before 2025. In the meantime automakers have a unique opportunity to capture the valuable new market for purpose-built vehicles for on-demand mobility services – an emerging segment that they cannot afford to ignore. If they can succeed in positioning themselves in the game now, winning customers and building up valuable early experience, they will be well prepared for the next step into the robocab universe. When driverless technology finally arrives it will then be relatively simple for them to take their tried and tested purpose-built vehicle designs and basically replace the driver with the automated driving system, with user experience of driving the vehicle already tested and optimised to a large extent. This will put some OEMs ahead of the game compared to other OEMs that have taken a more cautious, wait-and-see

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B2B NEWS

Sergio Marchionne, former CEO of Fiat Chrysler dies at 66 Sixty-six-year-old Sergio Marchionne, the former chief executive officer of Fiat Chrysler has died. Marchionne who was undergoing treatment in a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland was recently replaced as CEO, according to Exor NV, the holding company of Fiat’s founding Agnelli family. His health had deteriorated following complications from shoulder surgery, according to news agencies.

The sad news has come days after the Maranello-based company announced “with deep sadness” that Marchionne was unable to return to work, with John Elkann named as Chairman and Louis C. Camilleri CEO. “Sergio Marchionne, man and friend, is gone,”

Elkann said in a statement. “My family and I will be forever grateful for what he has done,” he said. Elkann, is also chairman and CEO of Exor.

CEO of Fiat SpA since June 2004, Marchionne has been credited for taking Fiat from the brink of bankruptcy to a profitable organization under Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, a company created when Fiat bought the Detroit carmaker Chrysler.

Agencies add: During his tenure at Fiat, Marchionne boosted the company’s value more than 10-fold by restructuring the auto business.

Among the biggest spinoffs was the 2015 listing of supercar-maker Ferrari NV, where Marchionne also served as CEO and chairman.

Sun Mobility, Microsoft partner to build Smart Network for EV energy infrastructure Sun Mobility, a leading provider in energy infrastructure and services for electric vehicles (EVs), is building a Smart Network to effectively deploy its universal energy infrastructure in partnership with Microsoft. Sun Mobility’s Smart Network will use Microsoft’s technology to connect the Sun Mobility Smart Battery and Sun Mobility Quick Interchange Station (QIS) with end users through a mobile application. The Smart Network will help users experience seamless service delivery of Sun Mobility’s energy infrastructure by tracking battery charge and identifying the nearest QIS.

Isuzu Motors India rolls out 10,000th vehicle from SriCity plant Isuzu Motors India rolled out the 10,000th vehicle from its factory located in SriCity, Andhra Pradesh. The company rolled-out an Isuzu D-Max V-Cross from its assembly line marking the milestone and commitment to the Indian market. The plant which went operational from April 2016 has been producing Isuzu D-Max V-Cross - India’s First Adventure Utility Vehicle, Isuzu mu-X, a 7-seater, full-size family SUV in the personal segment and Isuzu D-Max S-CAB and Regular Cab models for the commercial segment. Isuzu Motors India crossed the cumulative sale of 10,000 units in March 2018 which includes the models that were manufactured at Hindustan Motors facility near Chennai till early 2016. The SriCity plant was inaugurated by Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu in April 2016 and the company rolled out the first V-Cross, marking the commencement of its manufacturing operations in India.

The plant is one of the key manufacturing hubs for Isuzu, globally and has already begun exports to neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan.

Uno Minda acquires German software company iSYS RTS GmbH Minda Industries Limited, flagship company of Uno Minda Group has announced acquisition of Germany based iSYS RTS GmbH, a leading developer of embedded systems and software to global vehicle manufacturers. The agreement, which is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed by second quarter of FY18-19. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, iSYS RTS develops embedded systems as well as hardware and software components for Global OEM’s.

The company offers engineering services and also manufactures automotive electronic control units (ECUs). Areas of specialisation of iSYS RTS include ECUs for automotive body and comfort systems, Autosar ECUs, ECUs and Software components for automotive lighting, interior lighting systems, electrical drive ECUs and development of HMI and infotainment applications. With increasing electronic content per vehicle in the areas of body and comfort, automotive lighting and cockpit electronics, Minda Industries has identified electronic control modules as one of the major product line for growth and expansion.

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Higher axle loads to improve transport efficiency, says SIAM Safety Concerns need to be addressed The recent notification by Government allowing an increase in the maximum permissible axle load on trucks is a move in right direction which will improve the efficiency of commercial transport in the country.

However, in the absence of adequate enforcement of rated load compliance in the field, prevalent practices of rampant overload could pose serious road safety threats, which may necessitate government issuing suitable advisories for better clarity.

This was stated by Dr. Abhay Firodia, President, SIAM. Dr. Firodia said, “Globally, higher axle loads are permitted which enables higher efficiencies in the goods transport industry.

In India, historically, we had allowed lower axle loads as well as lower vehicle speeds due to the inability of our road and highway infrastructure to support such higher loads or speeds. With the modernisation of India’s roads and highways, it is natural for

Government to look at higher load carrying capacities in trucks. SIAM, in principle, has supported an increase in axle loads up to the European levels” Dr. Firodia added.

The notification does away with the present CMVR table of tyres & Axle combination against permissible Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). This allows easier and more flexible development of new vehicle configurations of different tonnage by the manufacturers as it provides freedom of selection of any combination of tyre & axle within the CMVR permissible dimensions. This is also a welcome step, said Dr. Firodia.

However, the notification also raises some concerns related to safety, applicable date of the change and the readiness of the supply chain. Dr. Firodia said that the existing vehicles on the road are not certified for safety with the higher axle loads. Hence, this provision should not allow the existing vehicles with higher loads

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or else it will tantamount to legalising the wrong practice of overloading of the vehicles.

Such overloaded vehicles may or may not be able to meet the mandatory braking and steering performance requirements leading to safety issues on the road.

The new norms should be applicable only to the new vehicles which are certified by the test agencies from the safety point of view.

Higher loads on vehicles will also require upgraded tyres and new specifications of the axles for which the supply chain also needs to gear up.

Finally, there is no date of implementation mentioned in the notification. As BS6 vehicles development is in full swing and many of the OEMs as well as the supply chain would need some time to upgrade product designs and certify these new vehicles, a clear date of implementation of April 1, 2020 aligning with introduction of BS6 vehicles would be more appropriate, said Dr. Firodia.

Eicher introduces 7-speed transmission tech in medium duty trucks

Eicher has introduced a 7-speed transmission technology in the entire range of medium duty trucks. In the first phase, 7-speed transmission will be launched in Eicher Pro 3015 and Eicher Pro 1114XP with an aim to optimise drivability, infuse fuel efficiency and productivity while reducing fatigue for the driver.

The new four cylinder E494 engine with 7 speed ET50S7 gearbox comprises of 7 forward and 1 reverse gear, designed for smooth gearshifts and less torque interruption. Eicher has been known as “Mileage Ka Baadshah” for delivering best in class fuel efficiency in LMD segment. Eicher has the highest payload in the 1415T GVW segment which drives significantly higher revenues.

Commercial vehicles engines are designed to operate under various tough conditions and 7 speed transmission is a superior innovation, enabling the vehicle to operate at a higher torque range (due to flat torque curve) and eliminating the need to repeatedly shift gears. The technology will help driver to reach the top gear as early as possible by optimising the drivability in lower gear and incentivising performance in higher gear. This, in turn, ensures a superior turnaround time, optimize engine performance and avoid unnecessary acceleration.

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Dana to provide e-Drivetrain for Mecalac electric compact wheeled excavator Dana Incorporated has announced that the company has been collaborating with Mecalac to develop a customised e-Drivetrain system for the new Mecalac e12 electric compact wheeled excavator. This vehicle earned the Energy Transition Award earlier this year as part of the 2018 Intermat Innovation Awards.

With the proven Mecalac 12MTX as a base frame, this version is the world’s first compact wheeled excavator powered entirely by electricity.

Featuring Spicer 112 axles and a Spicer 367 shift-on-fly transmission, the Mecalac e12 wheeled excavator delivers the range, performance, and compact size required to support modern urban construction sites.

“As the European construction market embraces the trend toward zero-emission standards for small to mid-sized vehicles, our customers are demanding great strides in efficiency while also requiring reliable performance,” said Jean-Baptiste Rousseau, technologies manager at Mecalac, adding that “Dana was able to adapt the 12MTX drivetrain to add electric drive capabilities within our existing vehicle architecture. With their technical expertise and open collaboration, we developed an optimal solution and accelerated the delivery of this vehicle to market.”

company also offers patented battery and electronic cooling technologies, along with fuel-cell technology. In addition, Dana engineers had extensive experience with this particular application because the diesel-powered version of this vehicle also features Spicer drivetrain components.

“As a Tier-One supplier, we understand that the success of electrification in the off-highway industry is driven by performance.

These technologies must support a smooth transition to fully integrated electric-drive technologies optimized within a single package, providing both electrified and conventional powertrain options,” said Aziz Aghili, president of Dana Off-Highway Drive and Motion Technologies. “Dana’s support for new energy vehicles has been considerable, and growing every year, as the importance of engineering for hybridization and electrification is further elevated throughout the industry,” he noted.

Dana is leveraging a wide portfolio of technologies for off-highway customers to offer dozens of successful electrified driveline applications in production and pre-production testing.

Lohia Auto launches Humsafar cargo and passenger vehicles Lohia Auto Industries has launched two new diesel commercial vehicles – Humsafar DLX (D+5 passenger) and Humsafar 2000 (Loader).

The vehicles are specially designed for the Indian roads to carry the heavy load with highly equipped shock absorbing technology.

Humsafar DLX (D+5) passenger and Humsafar 2000 loader are priced at Rs 1,84,768 and Rs 1,80,160 respectively (UP Price). Humsafar 2000 loader, due to its size, weight and robust structure is ideal for carrying goods, while the Humsafar DLX passenger offers a stylish body design with striking colours that create a visual appeal while keeping the seating compact yet spacious.

Both these models boast of having a single cylinder naturally aspirated and air cooled; and four stroke Diesel DI compression ignition engine with a good ground clearance of 180 mm. Another USP of both the automobiles is the dual hydraulic shock absorber with helical spring is highly equipped to absorb the rear shocks creating a smooth travel. Both the Humsafar DLX passenger and Humsafar 2000 loader are equipped with 4 Speed constant mesh gear box, the rear shock absorber has independent suspension with triangular arm, rubber compression spring and unique monocoque chassis design with pressed steel sheet.

The rear brake drum is accompanied with an automatic adjuster that ensures that the ride is comfortable in all rural, urban, potted roads and streets.

With an eight-hour working range, the engine compartment in the Mecalac e12 houses LiFePO4 battery technology – lithium iron phosphate for service life that is three times longer than classic batteries. The batteries can be charged in approximately seven hours.

Dana has a long history of developing drivetrain systems for hybrid and electric vehicle architectures. The

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TECHNOLOGY

Continental offers cyber security solutions from Argus and Elektrobit Technology company Continental announced that it is offering end-to-end cyber security and over-the-air software update solutions from Argus Cyber Security (Argus) and Elektrobit (EB) pre-integrated into its connected vehicle electronics products including telematics units, infotainment systems, gateways and more.

“More than 60 million connected vehicles will be sold worldwide per year by 2021”, says Wolfgang Bernhart, Senior Partner at the consultancy

Roland Berger. “Automobile connectivity will allow for additional functions between model upgrades or even during a vehicle’s life cycle. That means that the automotive industry will have to deal with serious cyber security issues in order to guarantee people’s safety in a strongly automated traffic scenario. And time is short as the share of connected vehicles is increasing rapidly all over the world, making cars the next big target for cyber attacks after mobile devices”, adds Wolfgang Bernhart.

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“Just as brakes are imperative for safe driving, connected vehicles require state-of-theart cyber security as a basic feature. Therefore, we have decided to offer end-to-end cyber security solutions from Argus and Elektrobit in all of our connected vehicle electronics and as a standalone solution for third party products,” said Werner Koestler, Head of Strategy, Interior division, Continental.

Continental, Elektrobit and Argus’ cyber security philosophy is based on three critical pillars:

enabling OEMs to prevent, understand and respond to cyber threats. Continental will now offer solutions from Elektrobit and Argus, providing vehicle manufacturers an end-to-end offering to secure their fleets from current and future cyber threats. To prevent possible attacks, EB not only provides consultation, but also offers security components for the application layer, hardwarespecific security products, AUTOSAR basic software and security solutions for bootloader.

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TECHNOLOGY

Those components are designed for applications including secure communication, authenticated identification, secure updates and diagnostics, and are already on the road in millions of cars today.

Argus provides multi-layered solutions that offer additional state-of-the-art prevention from cyber-attacks against the vehicle as well as the ability to detect and respond to attacks in real-time with Argus Connectivity Protection installed on telematic and infotainment units and Argus Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS) deployed in the in-vehicle network.

Argus Lifespan Protection (LP), an automotive security operations center, offers an additional layer of prevention, understanding and response by providing OEMs visibility into the cyber health of their fleets, analysis of cross-fleet information to generate insights into the nature of attacks when they happen, identification of emerging threats, and a rapid response to incidents by immunizing the fleet. To react as quickly as possible and install software patches to resolve vulnerabilities in their fleets around the world, vehicle manufacturers can rely on EB’s over-the-air software update service EB cadian Sync.

“Our multi-layered approach is an end-to-end offering for automotive cyber security, from the development of new products and ongoing monitoring, to the ability to resolve vulnerabilities via over-the-air updates to immunize the fleet from further attacks,” Koestler explained.

GATEWAY AND INVEHICLE SERVER: MASTERING CYBER SECURITY TODAY AND TOMORROW Continental is making these multi-layered solutions a part of its portfolio, ensuring its components are as robustly secured against attacks as possible. “Especially for

components, which build an entry point for remote attacks such as telematics units or infotainment systems, the requirements have been drastically increasing over the last couple of years.

As an international automotive supplier, we see it as our duty to provide the best protection possible for our customers,” Koestler continues. In addition, Continental is also developing control units, which themselves serve as important elements in the security chain. Continental’s Gateway, for example, acts as a router within the vehicle computing network in classical distributed in-vehicle computing architectures or today’s domain architectures.

A CNG car as seen from the inside THE COMPONENTS OF A GAS-POWERED VEHICLE Gas powered vehicles feature a single internal combustion engine that operates with gas by default The tanks are sealed and reach half the pressure they can actually withstand.

For easy refuelling there are two filler necks beneath the fuel door, one for gas and the other for petrol They are ecological and run on a fuel that is less expensive and just as safe as petrol or diesel; but do we really know how natural gas powered cars work? Andrew Shepherd and Antonio Calvo, experts on compressed natural gas (CNG) at SEAT car company, tell us all about how these vehicles operate:

# Dual filler necks behind the fuel door: You can readily see the two filler necks for both fuel types when you open the fuel door.

“Refuelling is the same as on a petrol or diesel car.

The filler neck is in the same location and it takes practically the same amount of time. And since the refuelling is done with natural gas, it doesn’t smell or drip”, explains Antonio Calvo. # Sealed tanks: They are located beneath the boot floor, where you would normally find the spare tyre, and are made

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of high resistance steel with an anticorrosion treatment. A set of solenoid safety valves seal the gas inside and only open when

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TECHNOLOGY

the ignition is turned on. Their condition gets certified every 4 years and the components have been tested to withstand extreme conditions: “The tanks on this car resist 200 bars of pressure, but they’re made to withstand more than double that, so safety is completely guaranteed”, says Antonio.

Two fuel types and a single engine: CNG cars are equipped with a latest generation internal combustion engine that works indistinctly with compressed natural gas or petrol. By default, the car drives on gas until it is depleted, and automatically switches over to petrol. The driver cannot tell when the shift takes place, as the engine’s performance is exactly the same with both fuel

types. “The engine features many specifically reinforced components for burning natural gas. It complies with the most stringent emissions regulations, and the ECO label issued by the Directorate General of Traffic to cars fuelled with CNG is evidence of this”, explains SEAT CNG product manager Andrew Shepherd.

#

# Shock proof: CNG vehicles comply with the most stringent industry standards. During the entire development stage, they undergo a series of tests, including crash testing, to guarantee they are completely safe. “In the most extreme case of high temperatures caused by fire, the gas would be released constantly in a controlled manner thanks to the thermal

fuses located in each tank, thus preventing an excessive pressure build-up” says Andrew. # Electronically controlled and adaptable pressure: The natural gas is housed in the tanks at around 200 bars, but it gets injected in the engine at a pressure that does not exceed 10 bars. A two-stage pressure regulator located in the engine bay reduces the pressure and ensures an optimum gas supply, and the engine control module monitors this electronic regulator at all times. # An indicator displays the fuel type in use: The feeling at the wheel is the same whether you drive with natural gas or petrol, so the only way the driver can tell the difference is by looking at the indicator on the instrument

panel. When it’s on, the car is operating with natural gas; when it’s off it means the car is in petrol mode. In addition, two further indicators display the level of each fuel type and the trip computer provides information such as consumption and how much range is left. # CNG cars are just like any other: Andrew Shepherd explains that “gas fuelled cars are designed, made and certified according to the industry’s highest quality standards”.

“There are no differences either during their production or when driving them. I like to say that there is absolutely nothing unusual about a CNG powered car, and that it’s just as safe and reliable as all the rest”, concludes Antonio Calvo.

TOP LEVEL CHANGES IN MOTOWN Former President of BMW Group India, VIKRAM PAWAH, has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group Australia and New Zealand effective August 1, 2018. He has additionally been promoted as the Chairman of BMW Group India and will remain committed to the Indian market in his expanded role. Hans-Christian Baertels, currently Director, Finance and Administration at BMW Group India will take over responsibility as the acting President.

Leading motorcycle manufacturer Bajaj Auto has appointed RAKESH SHARMA the company’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), a post newly created, with immediate effect. Several senior management people will now be reporting to the CCO. These include Eric Vas who will continue to lead the Motorcycle Business Unit (MBU), Ramesh Maheshwari who will continue to lead the Intracity Business Unit (IBU), KS Grihapathy who will now lead the Export Business Unit (EBU) and Subash Rao who will continue to lead the Auto Finance Business of Bajaj Finance (BFL-AF).

Castrol India Limited, India’s leading automotive and industrial lubricant manufacturing and marketing company, announced the appointment of SANGEETA TALWAR as an independent non-executive director to the Board of Directors of Castrol India Limited with effect from July 23, 2018. In a career spanning over 30 years, Sangeeta Talwar has worked across large European, American and Indian corporations. She has worked with the private sector in India and in Switzerland.

India’s leading luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz has announced the appointment of MARTIN SCHWENK as the new Managing Director and CEO of its India operations effective from Nov 1, 2018. Martin Schwenk will replace Roland Folger, who will assume a new position for Mercedes-Benz’s Thailand & Vietnam markets. Martin Schwenk has an Engineering degree from the University of Stuttgart and started his career at Daimler in 1992, through the Mercedes-Benz Trainee Program.

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AUGUST 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 69

PICTURE OF THE MONTH

They say life has its share of ups and downs. There is nothing more courageous and admirable if you can manage a smile when your chips are down. Here, two women participants at the recently concluded Isuzu RFC 2018 event in Goa are all smiles even when they are confronted with a tough scenario. Picture courtesy: Cougar Motorsport.

70 | MOTOWN INDIA | AUGUST 2018

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