MOTOWN INDIA Vol 12 / Issue 3 DECEMBER 2021
VOL-12 • ISSUE-3 • DECEMBER 2021 • `300/-
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EDITOR
PUNNOOSE THARYAN (ROY)
ptharyan@motownindia.com -------------------------------News Coordinator - Jisha P Sr. Correspondent - Aki Paul Video Editor - Ramesh Kumar Content Manger - Vrinda Desai Digital In-charge Naveen Kumar Web Correspondents - Avdesh Kumar, Seema Paul Photo Journalist - Afsar Beg --------------------------------FOR EDITORIAL CONTACT editorial@motownindia.com, editorial.motown@gmail.com -------------------------------FOR MARKETING & SALES CONTACT Head-Operations - Jisha P jisha@motownindia.com, +91-9958125645 advertising@motownindia.com, advertising.motown@gmail.com -------------------------------FOR ACCOUNTS CONTACT editorial.motown@gmail.com -------------------------------Office Executive - Ravinder -------------------------------EDITORIAL DELHI OFFICE 4058 / D-4, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070 -------------------------------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. -------------------------------Motown India is owned by Motown Publications Private Limited and published from 4058 / D-4, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070. -------------------------------This issue of Motown India magazine contains 128 pages including both covers. -------------------------------EDITORIAL ADVISORS Alexander T. & Annie Jacob
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CAR NEWS
Skoda Slavia mid-size premium sedan is a style icon
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BIKE NEWS
ALL-NEW TRIUMPH TIGER 1200 : The Tiger sharpens its claws
92 WHEELZ & ROADZ MARUTI SUZUKI CELERIO The all-new Maruti Suzuki Celerio which was launched a month or so back is definitely a head turner compared to its predecessor. It is a lot more stylish, looks more aerodynamic and sporty.
WHEELZ & ROADZ 100
2021 TRIUMPH TRIDENT 660
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TVS RAIDER
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WALKAROUND
SKODA SLAVIA MID-SIZE PREMIUM SEDAN IS A STYLE ICON
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Report: Roy Punnoose Tharyan Photography: Afsar Beg
koda Auto globally unveiled the new Skoda Slavia mid-sized premium sedan at a virtual meet that saw the presence of Thomas Schaffer, CEO of Skoda Auto, Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, Oliver Stefani, Head of Design, Skoda Auto and Zac Hollis, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India.
A few days after the launch, we got to see the Slavia in skin and size, parked in an area in Mumbai adjacent to the expansive sea. The weather was humid and we were sweating like pigs. But no one was complaining. The car looked radiant and breathtaking under the hot sun. We had been given just about 45 minutes to absorb its beauty, figure out its features and do our video report on it. The time offered was too little and everybody was complaining. But a job is a job and we had to do it fast.
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CAR NEWS
The Slavia comes in three variants: Active, Ambition and Style and will have the option of five body colours including a new crystal blue colour. Bookings for the car have begun and deliveries will be made in the first quarter of 2022. The introduction of the Slavia marks the start of Skoda Auto’s next stage in the India 2.0 project. Following the successful launch of the midsize SUV Kushaq, the brand-new sedan is the Czech carmaker’s second India-specific model. The sedan is based on the MQB-A0-IN platform – an MQB variant specially adapted by Skoda Auto for India. The elegantly designed car is 4541 in length, 1752 in width and 1487 in height. It has a wheelbase of 2651mm. The Slavia will have an option of a 1 litre turbocharged stratified Ignition or TSI petrol engine and a 1.5 Litre TSI petrol engine. The 1 litre engine will have an option of an AQ250-six speed automatic transmission as well as an MQ200-six speed manual
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transmission. The 1.5 litre engine will have an option of a DQ200-7speed DSG automatic transmission and an MQ281 6-speed manual torque convertor transmission. The 1.5 litre TSI engine will come with Active Cylinder Technology which automatically shuts down two cylinder when the engine load is low.
EXTERIOR With sharply contoured lines, the Slavia gives a very masculine and sporty look. In fact, the car is bigger in size than the first generation Octavia that was launched in India several years ago. The grille consists of a chrome frame with vertical slats. The large bumper comes with air inlets. It has bi-module full LED headlamps and sits on R16 Dual Tone alloy wheels. It has key less entry feature KESS. The new Skoda Slavia comes with an electric sunroof which incorporates a bounce back system. The rear has crystalline split LED tail lamps.
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CAR NEWS
INTERIOR The interior is a mix of space and styling. The Slavia front seats are ventilated and rear too is as comfortable with independent AC vents and C type USB charging slots. The dashboard comprises a 10 inches touchscreen infotainment system with Skoda Play Apps. It has an 8 inches digital cockpit. The infotainment systems available across all variants of the new Skoda Slavia can be operated easily and intuitively, and entirely via the colour touchscreen. They feature SmartLink technology enabling the integration of smartphones. The Ambition and Style trim levels provide access to a plethora of MySkoda Connect mobile online services with Skoda Play apps, which can be used to download a navigation function for the top-end infotainment system.
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CAR NEWS
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Also included in the cabin are auto dimming rear view mirror as well as wireless charging facility. There are elastic brands in front door pockets and smartphone pocket as well. On the dashboard is a utility recess space, smart grip mat and a ticket holder. The new Slavia gets a multi function two spoke steering wheel with tilt and telescopic function. The circular air vents are another striking feature. From the Ambition trim upwards, the touch-control Climatronic with air care comes as standard, while comfort features such as ventilated front seats upholstered in leather are available for the top-end specification Style variant. The line running underneath the infotainment screen is inspired by the silhouette of the Skoda grille and provides a hand rest for use when operating the display. A horizontal, colour contrasting decorative strip accentuates the width of the spacious interior and connects the circular side air vents. Rear passengers get cup holders, coat hanger and comfortable seats which provide ample space. The doors have reflector tapes. The car has a boot space of 521 litres.
SAFETY FEATURES There are several safety features in the all new Slavia. Apart from features like Isofix mounts and three point safety belts with pretensioners, the Slavia has traction control, hill hold control, six airbags, ABS, tyre pressure monitoring, vehicle stability management, rain and light sensor, electronic brake force distribution, disc brake wiping, multi collision braking, electronic differential locking system, cruie control, etc. The walk around video exercise had taken us almost an hour and I could see Skoda Auto public relations people glaring at me. It was time for me to pack up and hop on to a flight back to Delhi, courtesy Skoda Auto India. As my cameraperson began packing his kit, I dashed off to the bar section to grab a chilled beer. The Corona beer quenched my thirst and I smiled to myself. Not all coronas are bad, some are very refreshing!
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DECEMBER 2021 | MOTOWN INDIA | 9
CAR NEWS
BMW iX E-CAR ACHIEVES 5-STARS IN EURO NCAP TEST
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he BMW iX premium electric car which has been launched in India, has achieved five-star ratings in all test categories of the Euro NCAP crash test. In the assessment of adult occupant protection, the testers highlighted among other features the effectiveness of the new interactive airbag between the driver and front passenger seats, which provides additional protection against injury in the event of a side collision. Child safety in the rear of the BMW iX was also given the highest possible score for both frontal and side collisions. With its purely electric drive and comprehensive range of digital features, the BMW iX represents a new era in individual mobility. In addition, it operates at the highest level of safety. This is according to the experts of the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) – the consumer protection institute specialising in automotive safety – who awarded the BMW iX the highest possible rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP safety assessment. During the course of the test programme, which was further intensified in 2020, the BMW Group’s new technology flagship impressed with both its outstanding occupant protection and its advanced driver assistance systems, which are particularly effective in helping to prevent accidents.
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CAR NEWS
Meanwhile, the integrated safety concept of the BMW iX ensures the highest level of passenger protection. In addition to precisely coordinated restraint systems, this includes highly resilient support structures and precisely designed deformation zones that absorb the impact of a collision and keep it away from the passenger compartment. The body structure of the BMW iX combines an aluminium spaceframe concept with a carbon cage for the passenger compartment. Particularly torsion-resistant components made of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) are used in the roof, side and rear sections of the BMW iX. “The BMW iX sets new standards in sustainability, and its top rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP underlines the vehicle’s comprehensive sustainability concept,” says Dominik Schuster, Head of Vehicle Safety BMW,
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adding that, “The extremely stable body structure and the extended range of restraint systems ensure an outstanding level of occupant protection. In addition, the BMW iX scores highly both in the test programme and in everyday driving with innovative driver assistance systems that significantly reduce the risk of accidents in a wide array of situations.” Among other features, the BMW iX has a front collision warning system with brake intervention that can detect pedestrians and cyclists as well as vehicles. In addition, the automatic emergency braking system now also reacts in turning situations, helping to minimise the risk to pedestrians when turning and the risk of collision with oncoming traffic when turning left. If a collision does occur, the risk of injury to vulnerable road users is reduced by carefully designed body elements and flexible structures at the front of the vehicle.
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CAR NEWS
The BMW iX also features an active bonnet, which is raised by means of a pyrotechnical triggering mechanism as soon as the data collected by sensors indicate a corresponding collision. This creates a deformation zone that prevents direct impact between the pedestrian or cyclist and hard components in the engine compartment. Other standard features of the BMW iX include an attention assistant, lane departure warning and speed limit recognition, all of which scored positively in the Euro NCAP crash test. The Driving Assistant Professional package is offered as an option, which also includes steering and lane guidance assistance. In a separate assessment, BMW’s Driving Assistant Professional in the iX3 was also recently awarded the top rating of “very good” by Euro NCAP.
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CAR NEWS
KIA REVEALS OFFICIAL SKETCHES OF KIA CARENS
K
ia Corporation has teased sketches of Kia Carens, the company’s highly-anticipated model due for its world premiere on December 16, 2021. With luxurious interiors, smart connectivity features, bold exteriors and generous space for all occupants including even the third row ones, the Kia Carens is all poised to create a new class of recreational vehicles in India. The Kia Carens has been designed keeping in mind the evolved, unmet needs of modern Indian families who want to enjoy commuting together. The Kia Carens debuts the company’s new design philosophy ‘Opposites United’ in India. The daring and bold design language takes inspiration from the contrasts found in nature and humanity. This design philosophy is based on five strong pillars. Bold for nature, Joy for reason, Power to progress, Technology for life, and Tension for serenity. Carens’ design is based on the ‘Bold for Nature’ theme and pays homage to nature’s perfection and simplicity while connecting to the brand’s new design direction. The Kia Carens hosts the company’s unique and powerful design language,
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personifying youthfulness in its character. The exterior boasts high-tech styling details, including Kia’s unique Tiger Face design at the front, strikingly highlighted intake grille, LED headlamps, and daytime running lights (DRLs), which all together give a strong and impressive look. The SUV-like side profile takes a muscular stance and further underlines the strong yet refined style of the vehicle. The interior is designed to meet mobility lifestyle needs and daily usage preference in India. The high-tech wraparound dash design depicts a future-oriented image while giving an impression of wide and luxurious cabin. The chrome garnish applied to the doors enhances the overall premium feel. The 10.25-inch Audio Video Navigation Telematics (AVNT) is located at the center of the dash, offering a modern ambience. “The Kia Carens perfectly embodies our latest design philosophy, ‘Opposites United’, and it successfully combines sportiness with a sophisticated personality and style with unique aesthetics,” said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Design Center, adding that, “The Kia Carens is a true reflection on what today’s customers want from their three-row vehicles.”
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CAR NEWS
VOLKSWAGEN INDIA LAUNCHES NEW TIGUAN AT `31.99 LAKH
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olkswagen Passenger Cars launched its flagship and global best seller, the new Tiguan in India at an introductory price of Rs 31.99 lakh (ex-showroom). With the launch of the new Tiguan, Volkswagen India has fulfilled its commitment of launching four SUVWs by end of 2021. The feature rich new Tiguan is based on the globally renowned MQB platform and is being offered in the ‘Elegance’. It comes equipped with a muscular designed bumper with piano black finish inserts and a broad radiator grille with the new Volkswagen logo right in the centre. The new Tiguan has LED matrix headlights featuring the intelligent and adaptive IQ.Light that has a more commanding on-road stance. The IQ.Light matrix is a revolutionary vehicle lighting system made of 24 individual LEDs that guide the driver through the night with enhanced convenience and comfort. It has a dynamic and advanced front lighting system (AFS) with range control, cornering light, poor weather light that provides specially configured light beams for country roads, highways and offroad driving as well. The AFS adapts the lighting in front of the vehicle to various driving situations by changing the geometry of the headlight beam.
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The IQ.Light matrix offers the best visibility and even greater safety to the driver, while driving through different terrain modes and weather conditions. Complementing this are the dark LED combination tail lamps at the rear, with the new light signatures that emanate sophistication. The tail-light cluster includes a switch function for the LEDs when braking, the “click-clack” effect. The conspicuous switching between the taillights and brake lights warns tailing traffic more effectively. The new Tiguan is powered by a 2.0L TSI engine mated to a 7-speed DSG transmission with 4Motion technology that produces a peak power output of 190PS ranging from 42006000 rpm and a peak torque of 320Nm right from 1500 rpm and flat up to 4100 rpm. The new Tiguan offers a fuel efficiency of 12.65 kmpl (ARAI certified). For the ease of customers, the Tiguan is equipped with an advanced reverse camera giving 4 different views for convenient parking. It has a 25.4cm customizable digital cockpit and a 20.32cm touchscreen infotainment system with gesture control. The new Tiguan is fitted with illuminated scuff plates & USB C-ports, Vienna leather seats, soft touch dashboard, flat bottom multi-function steering wheel and a three zone Climatronic air-conditioning system with touch control.
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CAR NEWS
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CAR NEWS
SUZUKI UNVEILS ALLFOR GLOBAL MARKETS
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CAR NEWS
NEW S-CROSS MODEL S
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uzuki Motor Corporation has unveiled the all-new S-Cross model for the European market. The model will eventually make its way into India in 2022. The new S-Cross makes a strong statement with bold, dynamic SUV styling complemented with a spacious and versatile interior and 48V mild hybrid technology. The vehicle is being offered in the UK markets in new grades: Motion and Ultra. The SUV is powered by a 1.4-litre K14D turbocharged petrol engine with Suzuki’s renowned Boosterjet technology offers a wide spread of available torque of 235Nm available from 2,000rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. An AllGrip ‘Select’ four-wheel drive is available as standard equipment on Ultra grade. Standard features for the global markets include a dual sensor brake Support automated braking, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control included as standard on all versions. High level of standard specification fitted to both new S-Cross grades include Apple CarPlay & Android Auto smartphone link, keyless entry and start, dual-zone auto air conditioning, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors.
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CAR NEWS
Ultra specification adds 360 view camera, leather upholstery, on-board navigation and large sliding panoramic sunroof. The hybrid models include 12V, 48V, Higher Voltage Hybrid and PHEV models. It is expected to be on sale in the UK in January 2022. The S-Cross is produced at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary which also produces Vitara models for European markets as well as exports of both vehicles around the world. Standard equipment for Motion is comprehensive and includes seven airbags, 17-inch painted alloy wheels, three signature LED projector headlamps for low and high beam, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Monitor, Adaptive Cruise Control with speed limiter, keyless entry and start, dual zone auto air conditioning, heated front seats and front and rear parking sensors. Moving up to Ultra adds 17-inch polished alloy wheels, leather seat upholstery, integrated on-board navigation, panoramic sliding sunroof and further driver safety and convenience with the fitment of a 360 view camera. The 1.4-litre engine offers strong benefits in performance too with a 0-62mph acceleration time of 9.5 seconds (2WD models) for both manual and automatic transmissions and a maximum speed (where permitted) of 118mph. The 48V Suzuki system is lightweight and consists of a lithium-ion battery, Integrated Starter Generator (known as ISG) and 48V-12V (DC/DC) converter to power components requiring lower voltage including lights, audio and air conditioning. The ISG acts as both a generator and starter motor, is belt driven and assists the petrol engine during vehicle take off for a higher level of torque with 235Nm available from 2,000rpm and up to 3,000rpm.
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BIKE NEWS
BENELLI INDIA PRE-BOOKINGS
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BIKE NEWS
A COMMENCES S OF TRK 251
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enelli, the Italy based superbike manufacturer, has commenced the pre-bookings for its all-new adventure tourer, the Benelli TRK 251. The TRK 251 is the younger sibling of the TRK tribe. It follows the adventure-oriented silhouette of the TRK tribe.
The Benelli TRK 251 design includes stylish high-set twin headlights, visible steel trestle frame, ultra-comfortable riding ergonomics, plush seats, and upswept chrome exhaust pipe. The TRK 251’s exhaust pipe shell out an unmistakable Benelli roar and channels the power of the new generation 250cc motor while offering outstanding ground clearance. The Benelli TRK 251 combines adventure-oriented design, aggressive styling, comfortable ergonomics and engaging performance. The Benelli TRK 251can be pre-booked by paying a token amount of Rs. 6,000. The customers can book the all-new young adventure tourer at their nearest authorized Benelli showroom or online by logging into - http://india.benelli. com/campaigns/benellitrk251. The deliveries of the Benelli TRK 251 are scheduled to start from January 2022 across all the exclusive Benelli showrooms in India. The Benelli TRK 251will be offered in three colour options – glossy white, glossy black and glossy grey. The TRK 251 is powered by a refined 250cc, four-stroke, and four-valve single-cylinder engine. The TRK 251 gets an 18-litre fuel tank that helps you to continue with your journey without stopping for fuel breaks. It also gets a fully digital console that provides all the information that a rider needs in a single glance. The TRK 251 gets unmatched comfort and riding ergonomics, thanks to the plush seats, wide handlebars and ergonomically-set foot pegs.
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BIKE NEWS
HERO MOTOCORP LAUNCHES H-D SPORTSTER S AT INDIA BIKE WEEK 2021
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ero MotoCorp, the exclusive distributor of HarleyDavidson in India, has announced the arrival of the all-new sport custom motorcycle, the Sportster S, at the special edition of India Bike Week held in Aamby Valley in Lonavala in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The Sportster S is priced at Rs. 15,51,000 exshowroom Delhi onward. With a taut, lightweight chassis and premium suspension, riders can expect responsive, intuitive handling on a stylish and powerful ride. An addition to the 2021 Harley-Davidson motorcycle line-up, the Sportster S was unveiled recently at the global virtual launch experience “From Evolution to Revolution”.
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BIKE NEWS The Sportster S is powered by a 121-hp Revolution Max 1250T V-Twin engine that puts the Sportster S rider in command of unrelenting, on-demand torque. This new version of the latest Harley-Davidson liquid-cooled V-Twin engine is tuned to make tremendous torque at low rpm, with a torque curve that stays flat through the powerband – engine performance designed to deliver strong acceleration from a start with robust power through the mid-range. The Sportster S model appears crouched and powerful, coupled with subtle yet purposeful details on texture, colors and finishes to give it the look of a custom show bike. The fuel tank and tail section frame the engine as the centerpiece of the motorcycle, while the massive front tyre recalls the fender-less front end of a classic bobber. Finally, the tail section, high-mount exhaust, and slim solo seat draw inspiration from the
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Harley-Davidson XR750 flat tracker. Celebrating selfexpression, riders can choose from an array of Sportster S model accessories and paint colors - Vivid Black; Stone Washed White Pearl; Midnight Crimson. Three pre-programmed, selectable Ride Modes (Sport, Road and Rain) electronically control the performance characteristics of the motorcycle, and the level of technology intervention. Two Custom modes may be used by the rider to create a set of performance characteristics to meet personal preference or for special situations. Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson, a collection of technologies intended to enhance rider confidence during unexpected situations or adverse road conditions, are designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking, in a straight line or while in a turn.
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BIKE NEWS
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BIKE NEWS
NORTON MOTORCYCLES REVEALS NEW V4 CAFÉ RACER PROTOTYPE Norton Motorcycles, a TVS Motor Company controlled company, has revealed a prototype of the V4CR, a naked Café Racer derivative of the V4SV superbike. This is the first prototype to be designed, engineered and built at the recently opened global headquarters in the UK. Sharing the same engineering DNA, 185bhp 1200cc V4 engine and engineering advancements from the V4SV, the new V4CR’s stripped-back appearance showcases the unrivalled craftmanship and uncompromising quality behind one of the most powerful British café racers out there. Fitted with a carbon fibre fuel tank and body panels, polished billet aluminium swing arm and frame, the V4CR also features compact framework and a
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shorter rear frame for an aggressive and commanding stance. Dr Robert Hentschel, Chief Executive Officer, Norton Motorcycles:“The prototype VC4R is the next step in Norton’s strategic growth plan on its journey to becoming the world-leader in luxury hand-crafted motorcycles.” TheV4CR prototype is Norton’s latest project to use the marque’s refined V4 platform, revised over the last 16 months by a team of 30 engineers and subject to tens of thousands of road and track miles, as part of Norton’s unrelenting development process. The V4CR builds on those solid foundations and reintroduces fans to Norton’s iconic café racer heritage.
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BIKE NEWS
TVS APACHE RTR 200 4V WITH DRL HEADLAMP AT `1.33 LAKH ONWARD TVS Motor Company has introduced an updated 2022 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V motorcycle. The motorcycle is equipped with a new headlamp and signature Daytime Running Lamp (DRL), which continues to glow, changing its stance to a Front Position Lamp (FPL) that simultaneously functions with low and high beams.
dual-channel ABS (ex-showroom, Delhi) and Rs 1,33,840/- for single-channel ABS(exshowroom, Delhi). The 2022 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V is powered by a 197.75cc, singlecylinder, 4-stroke, 4-valve, oil-cooled engine, which is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The engine develops 20.82 PS of power at 9,000 RPM and 17.25 Nm of torque at 7,800 RPM.
The updated 2022 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V motorcycle will be available in three colours, namely, Gloss Black, Pearl White, and Matte Blue, and is priced at Rs 1,38,890/- for
TVS Apache RTR 200 4Vmotorcycle has three ride modes: Sport, Urban, and Rain. The high-performance Showa front suspension comes with a preloaded
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adjustment that allows the rider to choose between a plush ride or track ride, while the new Showa rear suspension is tuned for enhanced track performance. The TVS SmartXonnect provides an array of race analytics and data to review their racing style and constantly improve it on the track. It also comes with adjustable brakes and clutch levers with 3-step adjustment, which are ergonomically designed basis the phalange of the middle finger, which covers 5 to 95 percentile of ridersand a gear shift indicator.
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BIKE NEWS
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BIKE NEWS
ALL-NEW TRIUMPH TIGER 1200
THE TIGER SHARPENS ITS CLAWS T riumph Motorcycles of UK has unveiled the new Tiger 1200 that is a lot lighter than its predecessor, more powerful and comes with lot of new features.
For the first time, the Tiger 1200 lineup gets two all-new 30 litre tank Tiger Explorer options. The new Tiger 1200 family can be divided broadly into the GT family and the Rally family. The Tiger 1200 GT family is tailor made for the perfect road-focused adventure ride, with 19” front and 18” rear cast aluminium wheels. The Tiger 1200 GT and the GT Pro get a 20-litre fuel tank, while the Tiger 1200 GT Explorer gets a 30-litre tank. The Tiger 1200 Rally family is ideally tailor made for the perfect all-terrain adventure, with 21” front and 18” rear tubeless spoked wheels. The family consists of the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro with a 20-litre
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tank and the Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer with a 30-litre tank. The all new Tiger 1200 is more than 25kg lighter than the previous generation.
IMPROVISED FEATURES
The new Tiger 1200 gets an all-new light weight chassis, new lightweight frame with bolt-on rear aluminium subframe and pillion hangers, new lighter and stronger ‘tri-link’ swingarm and new category-leading Brembo Stylema monobloc brakes plus optimised cornering ABS with IMU. The incredible stopping power provided by the Brembo calipers is managed by the advanced Optimised Cornering ABS system fitted to all of the new models, which is supported by a sophisticated IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), which continuously measures the motorcycle’s movement (pitch rate, yaw rate, roll rate, vertical acceleration, lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration) to calculate the lean angle of the bike and deliver the optimum level of ABS intervention.
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BIKE NEWS
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BIKE NEWS The new Tiger 1200 now has advanced Showa semiactive suspension set-up tuned for maximum road and off-road capability. For the GT, GT Pro and GT Explorer there are two seat height settings –850mm and 870mm, while for the Rally Pro and Rally Explorer these are 875mm and 895mm. Through the accessory-fit low seat option, customers will also be able to lower the seat position by an additional 20mm.
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A further enhancement to comfort is provided by the new easily adjustable screen, with a simple onehanded adjustment mechanism, plus new aero screen diffuser that deflect the wind off both the rider and pillion.
T-PLANE TRIPLE ENGINE ADVANTAGE Triumph’s T-plane triple engine advantage continues and in fact this unique crankshaft setting ensures that the new 1160cc triple engine is now designed to set
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BIKE NEWS a new benchmark for engine character. There’s more power of 150PS@9000rpm and more torque with 130Nm@7000rpm. That translates to 9PS more than the previous generation. The new T-plane triple crank brings the best of both worlds, with the low down tractability of a twin at the bottom end, making it great off road, combined with the performance benefits of a triple at the top end, which makes the Tiger even better on the road where riders spend most of their time. Technically, the T-plane crank gives the new Tiger 1200 engine firing pulses at 180, 270 and 270 degrees, resulting in one short gap and two long gaps between the firing, delivering improved character and tractability at low rpm. Every Tiger features the new lightweight lowmaintenance shaft drive, a key practical advantage valued by adventure touring riders.
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TECHNOLOGY SAVVY On the technology front, the new Tiger 1200 gets all-new Triumph Blind Spot Radar System, developed in partnership with Continental which is available on the GT Explorer and Rally Explorer only. Then you have an all-new 7” TFT instruments with integrated My TriumphConnectivity System . Depending on the model, there are up to 6 riding modes available, which adjust throttle response, ABS, traction control and suspension settings for maximum rider control in all riding conditions. The Off-Road Pro riding mode, exclusive to the Rally Pro and Rally Explorer models, is Triumph’s most extreme off-road set-up for advanced off-road adventure, with ABS and traction control turned off, and an off-road throttle map. Rain mode has been tailored to deliver the most intervention and is limited to 100PS for enhanced safety and control when conditions are compromised.
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BIKE NEWS
Then you get all-new keyless system, including ignition, steering lock and fuel cap, all-new LED lighting with DRL, plus Adaptive Cornering Lights the latter not being available on GT, Triumph Shift Assist which is standard on all except GT, heated grips and seats with the heated seats standard on GT Explorer & Rally Explorer only, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System which comes standard on GT Explorer & Rally Explorer only and Hill Hold feature which is again not available on GT. The list of accessories for the new Tiger 1200 is also quite extensive when it comes to hard luggage, moulded luggage, a new 52 litre trekker twin helmet top box with upholstered passenger backrest, new expedition panniers that comprises alloy luggage, top opening, new Triumph Sena Bluetooth communication system with the Triumph Sena headset featuring a new Harman Kardon sound system, etc.
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LONG TERM TEST 2
LONG TERM TEST 1 ROYAL ENFIELD
INTERCEPTOR 650 BS6 Time on test: 2 Month Odo Reading: 1426km Average Mileage: 23kmpl
We’ve been busy. The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 went for its first service or check-up at 546km or so. Once it was back from the service, we’ve been using it on a daily basis in Pune’s hideous weekend traffic, racing squids on 390s and fetching a lot of groceries (with a bag of course). Since I was fresh off a track test (where I won the award for the slowest lap time ever), I even managed to give the bike its first taste of the rev-limiter. The Ed called me asking how the bike was doing and what I’d be using it for. Very responsibly, I said “I’m not happy with the way I ride. I’m getting fit and using the Interceptor to ride better”. In reality I’m just ripping the 650 on every other straightway and hogging Tacos from Taco Bell. The weather in Pune is much more pleasant which leaves us craving for long rides. Maybe the next step is a set of accessories. Words by Hari Kudchadkar
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EICMA 2021 scores
BIG in the midst of pandemic Pictures courtesy: EICMA
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T
he pandemic was not really over. Masks and social distancing were still mandatory all over the world. Only vaccinated people were allowed to travel. Yet the spirit of motorcycling could not wait. The year 2020 was completely washed out but the Eicma
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2021 show in Milan, Italy just made it before Omicron raised its ugly head. The crowd, both domestic and foreign came in droves to check out the new two wheelers. In the end it was passion that won, the great desire by the public to experience the event in person, the determination of the exhibitors
and the desire by the trade to go back to doing business one on one. The 78th EICMA, the International Two Wheels Exhibition, closed its doors on the night of Nov 28, 2021. Despite the contraction of the exhibition area, laid down by the consequences of the pandemic, in the four days it was open to
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the public, the maximum limit of capacity allowed by the legislation currently in force was reached. A total of 342,644 visitors and people were registered in the five halls occupied this year and in the outdoor areas. Despite the latest restrictions and the difficulties linked to international travel,
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around 28,841 trade professionals (43% foreign) and 45,127 journalists, influencers, technicians and communication professionals (35% from abroad), took advantage this year of the exclusive press day. The exhibitors include the big and the not so big names of the two wheeler world.
Electric two wheelers, cycles and other forms of mobility were exhibited. Of course, IC engine two wheelers continued to pull crowds. Let’s see some the products on display at the Eicma 2021. The dates for EICMA 2022 have been announced from November 8 to 13, 2022.
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BENELLI
TRK 800
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BENELLI
TRAIL 800
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HONDA
ADV 350
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HONDA
CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP 2022
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KAWASAKI
NINJA H2SX
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KAWASAKI
VERSYS 650
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MV AGUSTA
SUPERVELOCE AGO
VOTED BEST BIKE OF EICMA 2021
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MV AGUSTA
RUSH 1000
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PIAGGIO - APRILIA
TUAREG 660
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PIAGGIO - APRILIA
SR GT
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PIAGGIO MOTO GUZZI
V100 MANDELLO
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PIAGGIO - VESPA
ELETTRICA
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ROYAL ENFIELD
120th Year Anniversary Edition of Interceptor INT 650 Continental GT 650
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ROYAL ENFIELD
SG 650 CONCEPT
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SUZUKI
KATANA
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SUZUKI
HAYABUSA
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TRIUMPH
SPEED TRIPLE 1200RR
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TRIUMPH ROCKET 3 R
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YAMAHA MT-10
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YAMAHA T-MAX
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FEATURES
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FEATURES
BACK TO RETRO RACING WITH ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT-R650
CONTINENTAL GT CUP Text: Hari Kudchadkar
T
he word ‘Racing’ isn’t by any means new to the folks at Royal Enfield. They’ve been building motorcycles since 1901 for God’s sake. Enfield has built wartime motorcycles during the first and second World War. The year 1948, Enfield pioneered the popular Bullet 350 and 500 motorcycles, giving birth to the ‘Bullet’ fad in India.
Might not occur to any of us that Royal Enfield supplied motorcycles with Twins during the war and also built some for the crowd in the 50’s, the most noteworthy being the 700cc Twin Cylinder Constellation. 1965 marked the birth of the Continental GT moniker with Enfield building a very special 250cc version with a fibreglass fuel tank, clip-ons, rear-set footpegs, upswept exhaust pipes and was available with a flyscreen or a now-retro race fairing for added race-cred.
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FEATURES
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THE SHOLAVARAM DAYS Now, this is all firangi talk to be honest. All this happened yes. But outside our motherland. You see, Indians are no slow-coaches when it comes to motorsport. Back in the day, the one circuit that had all the action was at the Sholavaram Race Track in Chennai, set on a vast space of a defunct Airfield. It was quite literally the biggest celebration of Motorsport in India with over 60,000 spectators flocking in to watch the races every February! Only one notable, legendary name comes to mind when thinking about the Indian motorcycle racing scene – ‘Bullet Bose’. In the few years I have covered motorsport, I’ve heard this name plenty of times and seen the legend only twice during race weekends as he comes to witness the new talents. Bullet Bose is a sobriquet that Chennai-based Shubhash Chandra Bose earned as a motorcycle racer. He raced between 1968 and 1994. In this period, he managed 15 godly wins at Sholavaram Race Meet that too on a tuned 350cc Bullet which topped out at 160kmph battling international motorcycles of yesteryear. Now Royal Enfield has managed to cook up a motorcycle that will take you right back, back to the days of Retro Racing.
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RETRO RACING IS BACK AT KARI Years of motorsport heritage and yet the motorsport team at Royal Enfield was so damn excited about their new baby – The Continental GT Cup. It’s a one-make race series that is held alongside the JK Tyre National Racing Championship and features track-focused versions of the highly popular Continental GT 650 which was launched back in 2018. The production motorcycle is a brilliant slate for building a track-spec motorcycle. It has a potent, sturdy frame, a powerful 47bhp parallel-twin motor which has tremendous potential for more power output! Royal Enfield Motorsports wanted to build a bike that was a notch above the production with only the most vital power and handling upgrades for track-readiness. Royal Enfield called it the Continental GT-R650 where R stands for Racing or Racier. It is essentially a GT 650 underneath with a retro race fairing and mods to boost power and improve grip and handling. With the 2021 Continental GT Cup, Royal Enfield aims at making track racing more accessible to new talent and also experienced racing talent. The maiden round saw seasoned motorcycle racers such as Anish Damodar Shetty taking to the start grid along with Allwin Xavier. The engineers were be able to gauge the potential of the GT Cup bike by how much the riders were able to push the limit on the new Kari layout. Veteran racer, Anish Shetty was able to clock in the range of 1 minute 18 seconds which is quick! A feather in the cap really for the wrench team at RE and the riders.
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THE CONTINENTAL GT-R650 BUILD Man, when I first saw the images of this motorcycle, I went bonkers. It has such a retro-cool vibe to it. The day I reached the track, I spent 15mins just walking around the motorcycle, wondering what all was cut, boosted and prepped for racing. The motorcycles were developed by seasoned motorcycle racers Aspi and Sheri Bathena. The idea was to keep it as simple and retro as possible. The stock Continental GT 650 was used as a base and the first things to be taken off were the round headlamps, the factory clip-ons and the stock exhaust system. The subframe was chopped off a few inches for “Just the racy look” is what Sheri said. The front end was fitted with the most retro element of this motorcycle – The nosecone cowl with a windshield and space for a racing number instead of a round headlight. In my opinion, these cowls still have more street-cred than aero fairings with wings and winglets of today. The seat and the seat cowl was straight out of the Royal Enfield Accessory list – Black Touring Rider Seat and Rocking Red Single Seat Cowl. The stock clip-ons were swapped for a lower custom-made set of clip-ons to allow for a more aggressive riding position. The ergonomics were made even more aggressive with rear set foot pegs which had my thighs cramping to glory. Because Racebike. Even the suspension was tweaked for better handling, but only just enough. The front forks were tweaked, re-valved for stiffer compression and rebound and can be adjusted for pre-load. The rear shock absorbers had a linear rate to provide a slightly stiffer yet confident ride through the corners. The brake callipers and discs on both ends were untouched. The key piece of the puzzle was the soft compound tyres by JK Tyre. Even though these were not racing slicks, they provided immense confidence on the newly layered tarmac at Kari. Not to mention that this was my first time on the new layout and I was as sceptical as dear in headlights.
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The only thing remaining is the engine! There were no mods done to the engine. No high comp pistons or all that jazz. Just a fine-tuned, stainlesssteel exhaust system that was said to extract close to 12% more power from the parallel-twin motor. What it also managed to do was unlock some topend grunt.
ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE Boy oh boy was it a racket on track. It was fast and properly nimble for a 180kg bike, even though it required a bit of hustling on chicanes. Every rider would hit the rev limiter and the motor didn’t break a sweat. The only thing that broke two sweats was yours truly. It took me 5 laps to figure the new track, another two to get my position right and the rest to figure out where to look to hit that apex (Which I did only twice). On just my fourth lap, I managed to overshoot C1 due to some overconfidence and lack of engine braking. It took me a while to get used to the straight and the entry into C1 and the sync between using the brakes and engine braking at the same time. The most fun part for me was the kink after C6 which got me opening the throttle letting all those 55 odd horses loose while I tried to tuck in as hard as I could. The pièce de résistance was the throaty rumble of the exhaust, letting out the raw symphony of the 650cc parallel twin motor.
UNTIL NEXT TIME Thank God no one recorded my lap times, dead sure it would be past the two-minute mark. Honestly, this isn’t even the first time I was reminded about the lack of form, but watching a couple of other seasoned riders push this bike as they did has changed my mind forever now. I won’t even mention anything about the racers. Anish Shetty, the champ that he is, took both the race wins in the first round with Allwin right on his tail for second. Judging by the feedback from the pro riders and even the Industry experts, the maiden GT Cup event was a huge success. We hope to see more tweaks on the GT-R650 in the coming rounds and even more hope that the Coimbatore weather is more pleasant during the second round. A big shoutout to the team at Royal Enfield Motorsports for making this happen and to let us experience Retro-Racing!
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CELE WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience
ALL-NEW MARUTI SUZUKI
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ERIO WHEELZ & ROADZ
A driving experience
Sporty & Thrifty
The all-new Maruti Suzuki Celerio is a lot more stylish, looks more aerodynamic and sporty compared to the slightly boxy shape of its predecessor, and has a host of refreshing features, says P. Tharyan
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T
Photography: Afsar Beg
he all-new Maruti Suzuki Celerio which was launched a month or so back is definitely a head turner compared to its predecessor. It is a lot more stylish, looks more aerodynamic and sporty compared to the slightly boxy shape of its predecessor, and has a host of refreshing features.
automatic transmission or Auto Gear Shift (AGS) variant does not have an LXi trim level. We got to drive the top end ZXi+ models in both manual as well as automatic. The company claims that the ZXi+ AGS gives a fuel efficiency of 26.00 km/l, the ZXi+ MT gives around 24.97 km/l. Incidentally, the Vxi AGS gives the best average at 26.68kmpl.
The Celerio comes in four trim levels for the manual transmission variant and three trim levels for the automatic transmission variant. Trim levels start with Lxi and goes up to VXi, ZXi and ZXi+. The
EXTERIOR
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A quick walk around of the vehicle and you will get to see its sporty shape and smart design. It’s a 3D organic sculpted design. Upfront you have
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WHEELZ & ROADZ
A driving experience
a radiant grille with chrome accent, animated sweeping front headlamps and front fog lamps. There are no DRLs and neither are there any LEDs, either in front or at the rear. The technology seems a bit dated here.
front two handles. By pressing this small black switch, you can lock and open the front door with your key in your pocket. The same switch is also provided for the boot lid. The B-pillar of the car gets a black out tape.
As you move to the side you notice the 15” Urbane black alloy wheels, body coloured ORVMs with turn indicators (these are electrically foldable) and body coloured outside door handles. Since the top end gets remote keyless entry, you also notice a door request switch near the
The rear of the new Celerio too is sporty and it comes with droplet-styled tail lamps. The new Celerio has a marginally increased wheelbase. It has a length of 3695mm, a height of 1555mm and a width of 1655mm. The wheelbase is around 2435mm.
S P EC IFIC AT IO N S ENGINE K10C, 998cc, aluminium, 3 cylinders, BSVI petrol TRANSMISSION 5MT/ Auto Gear Shift MAX POWER 66hp@5500rpm MAX TORQUE 89Nm@3500rpm TYRES 175/60 R15 FUEL EFFICIENCY ZXi+ AGS- 26kmpl / ZXi+ MT- 24.97kmpl
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INTERIOR Step inside the Celerio cabin and you realise that it is indeed a spacious cabin. The seats are cushiony and comfortable and when you sit on the height adjustable driver’s seat you get hold of a tilt power steering with steering mounted audio and voice control. All the seats come with integrated head rests. Though the driver only gets a sun visor with ticket holder, the co-passenger in front gets
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a sun visor with vanity mirror. Then you have push start with smart key. The dash area looks neat and the plastics used are of good quality. Apart from small storage spaces, you also get a 12v socket up front and a USB slot with aux-in. The switches to operate the power windows are on the dash along with those for hazard lights and lock/unlock.
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WHEELZ & ROADZ
A driving experience
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A driving experience
It’s a centre-focused design with sweeping character lines. Features include a manual air conditioner, 7 inches SmartPlay studio infotainment system with smartphone navigation and voice command (Android Auto and Apple Car Play enabled), organic sculpted 3D Instrument panel and trims, twin slot centre AC ventilation with bright chrome accents with bold barrelthemed side air vents and pollen type AC filter. The AGS variant has a new stylish gear shift lever with an ergonomic grip. The space for rear passengers is quite liberal with enough leg room, knee room and head room. Three people can fit in at the back. No rear ac vents but definitely very spacious and comfortable. The rear seats are 60:40 split.
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ENGINE & PERFORMANCE The new Celerio is powered by a new K10C 998cc petrol engine that is made of aluminium block. It has three cylinders and has four valves in each cylinder. It’s the next generation K-Series engine with Dual Jet, Dual VVT. The engine produces a peak power of 66hp@5500RPM and a peak torque of 89Nm@3500rpm. It gets an idle start-stop. I took turns driving the automatic and manual transmission models. The AGS is a lot more sedate compared to the manual one and while driving the AGS model one has to take care while accelerating the car. If the accelerator pedal is pressed gently with your foot, you will get a very smooth and linear performance from the engine, but if you were to step on it hard, the engine will exhibit a “kick down” effect. For example, if you are travelling at 45kmph and you want to overtake the vehicle in front and you step on the accelerator pedal (it is an electric type) a bit harshly with your foot, the engine tends to downshift to generate enough power to speed up. You may experience a kind of jerk and before you conclude that the engine is acting a bit sloppy, the fact is that it is merely getting ready for action. A lot of people may find this confusing. It’s similar to a manual machine where you downshift to suddenly accelerate. The AGS works smoothly otherwise and has a good performance. The ride and handling of the vehicle are good and even at speeds around 120kmph, I noticed the car tends to remain planted on the road and is rock solid. The NVH levels, however, could have been better. As for the suspension, I felt that it could have been a bit stiffer; it was a bit too soft for the Indian potholes. The braking too is efficient with ABS / ventilated disc in front and drum at the rear. The manual machine, on the other hand, is a pure delight. It’s quite zippy and very responsive. You don’t experience any lag here and depending on how you slot your gears, it moves like a small missile. You almost get the enthusiast in you screaming for more with the manual transmission. The new Celerio is built on Suzuki’s signature HEARTECT platform and there has been extensive use of high tensile steel in making it. The Celerio offers first-insegment Hill Hold Assist function with AGS and the vehicle complies with all Indian safety regulations like frontal-offset, side crash, and pedestrian protection. The car comes with driver and front passenger air bags and has speed sensitive auto door lock. It also has impact sensing auto door unlock. You also get features like reverse parking assist sensors, rear defogger, front seat belt pre-tensioner and force limited, etc.
VERDICT The Maruti Suzuki Celerio may not be a race car you are looking to buy, but it is definitely a family car and is ideal for a country like India where speed limits are max in and around the 100kmph mark. It offers a lot of cabin comfort and has several safety features built into it. For city driving it’s a perfect buy and for highway driving, it can never disappoint you. One major USP is its fuel efficiency which makes the car extremely thrifty to drive. It’s comfortable, it’s sporty and it’s thrifty. It’s rare to get such a lovely combination.
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WHEELZ & ROADZ
A driving experience
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WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience
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WHEELZ & ROADZ
A riding experience
2021 Triumph Trident 660
The Triple Treat! We review Triumph’s smallest and arguably the coolest beginner motorcycle in the country – Introducing the 2021 Triumph Trident 660! Report: Hari Kudchadkar / Photography: Triumph
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A
ll I can say is I am an enthusiast who has a wide grin and trembling hands every time I ride a motorcycle. I have only ridden a triple once in my life, the Triumph Street Triple and that too only on the straights where I got to experience the 765’s wild top end howl! It has managed to send chills down my spine, given me sweaty palms and a very fuzzy feeling elsewhere. Then I thought, if a motorcycle isn’t able to do this to you, just let go of it, unless you are looking for a commuter that is. So, the checklist was made and here I was hoping to tick all these boxes while on the saddle of Triumph’s smallest street naked offering for the Indian market – the mid-capacity, 660 triple powered Trident! Even at first glance you can tell that the motorcycle is as compact as the 390 Duke or even the Dominar for instance. However, the spec sheet will blow your minds. It’s almost as if Triumph wanted us to prove that the best things come in small packages. The name ‘Trident’ is not a new one. The name dates back to the beginning of the era of fast bikes, more than a century ago. The Trident gets the 660 triple motor borrowed from Triumph’s Street Triple S which is sold overseas. Obviously, the motor has been tweaked in terms of bore x stroke and compression and makes less power compared to the Triple S. But there is no complaining!
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THE DESIGN A huge applaud to the Hinckley team for sculpting the Trident and Frascoli for adding the finishing touches. The overall look of the Trident is compact starting with a rather small LED headlamp with a detailed Triumph logo element inside it. The instrument cluster too is small and simple, made to show you just enough. But that’s not what the eye catches first. The big, rounded fuel tank with accommodating recesses is what steals the show along with a little help from the sweet looking radiator shrouds. Once you are done staring at the ravishing tank, you head on over to take a look at the sporty rear end. The taillight is integrated while the number plate and turn indicators are fit flush on the tyre hugger. The grab handles make it look even more menacing. Wait. You just noticed something while you glanced the rear. A polished exhaust can peek from under the swingarm. Yes, that along with the downpipes are the first thing that get naughty with the speed breakers when you have a pillion. Talking about sporty, those pegs are quite rearset for a slightly aggressive riding posture. The 189kg kerb weight, 805mm seat height and the large knee indents can accommodate different types of riders. A point to note will be that the taller riders might not enjoy the ergonomics as their knees would reach the edge of the knee indents. The boots I was wearing were quite slim, whereas, bigger boots would have made contact with the pillion foot pegs.
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THE PERFORMANCE Triumph has done a phenomenal job with the Trident 660. It is a compact, yet powerful masterpiece. The 660cc inline-three makes 80bhp of power at 10,250rpm and 64Nm of torque at 6,250rpm. The power flows through a rather slick 6-speed gearbox with quickshifter. The 660cc motor is the same one from the StreetTripleS but with a different bore and stroke along with a lower compression ratio. The motor is so smooth, with the power delivery being very linear. Now, smooth is one thing. What it did miss is the crazy 12k top end that the motor in the Street Triple boasts. Even though this motor tops out at 10,000rpm, it’s still a gem! Makes enough horsepower for its size and retains the tractability of the triples. The tractable motor along with the short 6-speed helps you cruise at really slow speeds in higher gears without throwing a knock at you. However, you would need to get used to the weirdly sudden surge of power as it hits around 3,000rpm, which happens every single time and is a bit of a pain in stop and go traffic. But then there’s a plus point – The exhaust note, it’s a symphony that is iconic! The harder you rev, the more your ears crave the sound. Get closer to the top end and the vibes slowly creep into the handlebar and pegs. For experienced riders, the one turn off is that there is no sport mode, just Rain and road. The full bandwidth of power is only available in the Road mode with the traction control being quite intrusive. In rain mode you will have slightly lesser power. Thankfully the traction control can be switched off. Overall, the motor is manic! That slight surge post 3,000 is like an adrenaline shot right up your bottom.
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S P EC I F I C AT IO NS ENGINE 660cc Liquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC, inline 3-cylinder TRANSMISSION 6 speed MAX POWER 80 bhp@10,250 rpm MAX TORQUE 64 Nm @ 6,250 rpm TYRES Front Tyre : 120/70R17 Rear Tyre : 180/55R17
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A riding experience
RIDE AND HANDLING Got a chance to ride the Trident over the whole weekend facing peak traffic, heavy rains and slippery roads. It’s safe to say that the motorcycle does carry the pedigree from its older siblings. Yes, it certainly can take on bad, broken roads but not for too long as the suspension is more on the stiffer side. The ground clearance is more than enough for a street naked, but your weight coupled with a pillion, adding big Pune speed breakers to the equation equals to scraping downpipes. Took my wife out for a spin, and managed to bank the pipes at the edge of the entrance and exit ramp.However, she did praise the seat to be comfortable enough for a bike like this. The Trident features 41mm Showa USD forks and a Showa monoshock unit adjustable for preload. Unlike the Street Triple, the frame is made of steel. Despite this, it manages to take on corners really well, also courtesy of the grippy Michelin Road 5 tyres. The stiff ride and tyres inspire confidence while cornering but is at times too stiff for taking on Pune’s broken roads on a daily basis. Thought the riding position is upright and quite comfortable, you would go in search of pristine roads to put the power down or maybe stand up and blast past the bad patches. To drop anchor the Trident gets 310mm twin disc with dual pot calipers at the front and a 255mm disc with single piston caliper. The front brakes deliver great initial bite but lack linear progression.
IS IT WORTH BUYING? Won’t say no to this. It’s an ideal motorcycle for beginners, especially someone who wants to move up from the 300-400cc capacity motorcycles. The service intervals are every 16,000km, even thought it would cost you somewhere around the 8k mark for a regular service. The Trident will set you back Rs 6.95 lakh ex-showroom and somewhere close to 8.5 lakh on road. For this price you get a potent package that you can live with and also maybe take it to the track once in a while for some proper fun.
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TVS RAIDER
Spirited Commuter
TVS Motor Company has redefined the commuter segment with the new TVS Raider. Commuter bikes generally are identified by their plain Jane looks, but this one is as flashy as a race bike and when it comes to short sprints it’s as good as Speedy Gonzales! Report & Photography: Roy Punnoose Tharyan
SP EC I F I C AT IO NS ENGINE 124.8 cc air & oil-cooled 3V TRANSMISSION 5 speed MAX POWER 11.22hp@7500rpm MAX TORQUE 11.2Nm@6000rpm TYRES Front: 17” alloy 80/100 - 17 Tubeless, 46P Rear : 100/90 - 17 Tubeless, 55P
PRICE `85,469 (ex-showroom price for disc variant)
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T
he new TVS Raider is a good looking commuter bike with loads of interesting features. We shall elaborate on each of them and also tell you all about its performance. The TVS Raider comes in two variants, drum and disc. The former is priced at Rs 77,500 while the latter with disc brakes in front and drum at the rear costs Rs 85,469, ex showroom Delhi. We got the latter for a review.
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EXTERIOR STYLING & FEATURES TVS Motor Company has redefined the commuter segment with the new TVS Raider. No more are motorcycles in this segment dreary looking and bereft of features and power. Commuter bikes generally are identified by their plain Jane looks, but this one is as flashy as a race bike and when it comes to short sprints it’s as good as Speedy Gonzales!
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The TVS Raider has a very youthful character when it comes to its exterior styling. It gets LED headlamp and tail lamp. The DRLs and the position lights give the bike a very athletic character. The almost heart shaped headlamp casing along with piano black finish on top, shielding the instrument cluster, give the Raider an impressive front look. In front you also have telescopic suspension and moving down you get to see the 240mm disc brakes. The Raider gets 17” alloy chunky wide tyres (Front Tyre 80/100 - 17 Tubeless, 46P Rear Tyre100/90 - 17 Tubeless, 55P). Switches and buttons on the handlebar are minimalistic. On the right you have the electric start switch for which you need to first turn the ignition switch in front. This switch does not double up as a kill switch so in order to switch off the
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engine you need to turn the ignition key to the off position. Just above this switch you have the one for selecting the ride mode, Eco or Power. Coming to the left of the handlebar, you get the horn switch, one for the indicators and on top there is a switch for the hi-beam and lo-beam. Behind this module is the pass switch. The handlebar is wide and sturdy and gives you a race bike feel when you are ride. The handlebar can be locked on both sidesright and left with the turn of the ignition key in the respective direction. This makes a lot of sense while parking and locking the bike in narrow, congested parking lots. Now coming to the instrument cluster, the TVS Raider gets a reverse LCD full digital speedometer with several features. You get various displays that include the
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tachometer, the eco mode and power mode button displays, odometer reading, Trip A and B readings, gear position indicator, speedometer, side stand indicator with engine inhibitor, distance to empty, average fuel economy, helmet reminder, etc. There are two buttons on the side of this LCD panel with which you can change the settings like move to Trip A, or Trip B or adjust the time etc.
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Now as you move away from the handle bar, you noticed the well sculpted fuel tank with an equally well designed fuel cap. Just above the fuel tank you get a USB charging slot. The TVS Raider gets wide, cushiony split seats. The rear seat has decent grab handles on the sides and this seat can also be unlocked with the ignition key from a slot at the rear, exposing a small storage space.
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The space is not very large, just deep enough to keep importable copies of your documents.
a spring on an unused road to clock 99kmph on the eco mode and 100kmph top speed on the power mode.
The TVS Raider gets an air and oil cooled engine. As you move to the rear, you get to see stylish tail lamp and a chunky muffler which in a way enhances the style quotient of the motorcycle. You also noticed that the Raider comes with mono shock suspension that is gas charged and is 5-step adjustable.
The Raider also has the TVS intelliGO that intelligently switches off the engine during long idling like traffic signals and other transient stops. But it works only on Eco mode. Thus , while you are riding in Eco mode and you hit a traffic light and if your engine is idling for a few seconds, it stops automatically. It is effective if your gear is on neutral or you are in a geared position with the clutch lever pressed. All you have to tug at the throttle and the engine roars to life.
ENGINE & PERFORMANCE The TVS Raider is powered by a 124.8 cc air and oil-cooled 3V engine that produces a maximum power of 11.22hp@7500rpm and peak torque of 11.2Nm@ 6000rpm. The Raider engine has Ecothrust Fuel injection (ETFi) technology that delivers good mileage, refinement and durability. It can accelerate from 0-60 kmph in 5.9 seconds and has a top speed of 99 kmph. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. This commuter bike is quick on its feet. The transmission comes with short gear throws and by the time you have reach around the 50kmph speed, you are already slotted into the 5th gear. This kind of engine is best suited for city rides where you need to quickly get off your feet from a stationery position at a traffic light. We also did
The good thing about the engine and the technology surrounding it is that it is not only practical but also performance oriented. The ride quality too is top notch and the suspension well tuned for the Indian roads. The advantage of a mono shock suspension is that it delivers and engaging ride and handling.
VERDICT The TVS Raider is a stylish commuter bike with a whole host of modern features, technologically and practically tailored in. Its performance is note worthy and its engine has a great oomph factor. At the price at which it is being offered, it’s an exciting offer from TVS Motor Company.
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An Electric Marvel
EULER MOTORS HILOAD ELECTRIC 3W CARGO
The USPs of the Euler HiLoad are its strong body and its energetic performance. With 20 cooking gas cylinders, the vehicle pulled without any fuss.
Report: Roy Punnoose Tharyan / Photography: Afsar Beg
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C
ommercial electric vehicles are getting savvier by the day in terms of style, design and of course utility and the HiLoad electric three-wheeler cargo by Euler Motors is no exception. Founded in 2018, Euler Motors has been in the business of leasing out electric three-wheeler cargo vehicles in the L3 and L5 categories. Now it has finally launched an L5N category HiLoad for B2B consumers at a starting price of Rs 3,49,999.
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The company claims that the HiLoad is India’s most powerful 3W Cargo vehicle. Boasting of the highest payload capacity at 688 kgs across the 3W cargo segment in India (including ICE), it also has a powerful combination of highest battery power of 12.4 kWh and certified range 151 KM on a single charge. The batteries are IP67 certified.
EXTERIOR The HiLoad electric three-wheeler is a smart looking cargo vehicle. The front is pretty wide
with an exceptionally large windshield with a long single wiper. The entire cabin area is made up of reinforced sheet metal, unlike the Fiber Reinforced Polymer or FRP used by several competitors. This ensures safety for the occupants in the cabin and saves them from major injuries during frontal crash. The dark coloured plastic cladding running horizontally in front and just above the front wheel gives the HiLoad a visual appeal. Within this horizontal cladding are the LED projector headlamps, normal parking lights, reflectors
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and the Euler badging. Just below this cladding are the indicators. Not to miss are the large manually adjusted ORVMs or outside rear view mirrors. The doors on either side have a slim handle, though I would have preferred slightly chunkier ones in its place. I would have also preferred a better quality locking mechanism for the door. It was a bit flimsy to my liking. But the butterfly windows and the sealed window panes on both doors are built to the advantage of those inside
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the cabin. On the doors you get to see the word ‘Electric’ written prominently and on the left side the word ‘HiLoad’ is printed. At the bottom of the door is written ‘Powered by Arc Reactor’. We shall explain this in the performance section later. The tyres are radial tubeless ones with R12 5.5 dimension. The loading deck has a length of 6 feet and a width of 4.7 feet. Its height depends on the frame one goes for whether you want a tall body design
or a more flat design for the loading deck. The loading capacity for the HiLoad is 688 Kg which incidentally is the highest among all 3W cargo in India including Internal Combustion Engine or ICE cargo 3 wheelers. The vehicle has reflectors on both sides and as one moves to the back you get to see a set of three circular tail lamps at two ends comprising of the parking light which doubles up as the brake light too, the reverse light and the indicator. The number plate at the rear has a small lamp too.
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INTERIOR The cabin for the driver has a very large and comfortable seat. Though it is a fixed seat it does get a back rest of a small kind. The company is providing a lap seat belt for the driver, though vehicles of L5 category do not require a seat belt or have to meet crash test norms. The HiLoad gets a handlebar with switches on its right for high and low beam, indicators and horn. A red switch with the letters FNR signifies in which direction you need to move the vehicle once it is started. F is for forward, N for Neutral and R for Reverse. This red switch needs to be in Neutral when the vehicle is started with the ignition key and only then will it engage the F and R gears. The dash area made of good quality plastic has a small cavity on the left along with a USB slot for charging your mobile. On the handlebar the company is providing a mobile holder for easy access and use for the driver. On the right side is a lockable glovebox. Just at the bottom level of the plastic dash, you have four large switches for the wiper, the headlamp, the parking
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lamp and the hazard lamp. You will also notice that the company has given a provision to fit in an audio system and two speakers. The company also fits one for the consumer if he or she so desires. At the floor level the driver gets a brake pedal with a container with brake fluid. Once pressed with the foot, the brake pedal engages both the front disc and the rear drum brakes. I felt the brake pedal needed a slight curve in its design to make it more effective while pressing it with the foot. On the left side of the seat is the mechanical hand brake lever. If the hand brake lever is engaged then the vehicle will not start, which is a good safety feature. On the dash area you also have a small digital screen which gives readings pertaining to battery range, the charging indication whether slow charging or fast charging, speed, trip meter, time etc. I
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must say the screen proved very ineffective in bright daylight. We suggest that the screen is redesigned to make it a lot brighter with bold colourful readings. Let me give you an example of a bright and colourful small screen.
PERFORMANCE The USPs of the Euler HiLoad are its strong body and its energetic performance. We took turns driving a loaded as well as an unloaded HiLoad and were quite impressed by its entire suspension set up. With 20 cooking gas cylinders, the vehicle pulled without any fuss. The instant torque of 88.5Nm was very effective, especially when it had to pull itself out of potholes. We chose a very bad road to test the vehicle’s suspension.
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At speeds of around 40 kmph it moved with great energy. The trailing arm which is part of the rear suspension is strong and rock solid and along with the shock absorbers with helical spring, it soaked in most of the bumps quite effectively. In front also the HiLoad has hydraulic shock absorber with helical spring. We spent a considerable time checking out the suspensions and were quite convinced that the company had built robust ones. Braking too is quite effective with 200mm disc brakes in front and drum brakes at the rear. The company informed that the vehicle has a gradeability of 9.45 degrees or 21per cent which is the best in its segment. The vehicle has a ground clearance of 190mm.
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On the whole, the HiLoad from Euler Motors seems to be a true commercial vehicle for its load bearing capabilities as well as for maintaining a healthy battery range.”
The vehicle has a three phase induction motor with a peak power of 10.96kw. Now coming to the Arc Reactor which I mentioned earlier in the show, well this too is a great USP for the company. So what is this technology all about? But before that let me explain to you all a few things about the batteries of an electric vehicle. The batteries are perhaps the most expensive component in an electric vehicle. The battery is like an internal combustion engine. If the engine stops, so will the vehicle. Batteries need to be protected from water, rubble, dust etc. Thus they are packed and protected on the strong chassis at the bottom level just behind the driver sear, thus providing safety as
well as a perfect centre of gravity for the vehicle. The vehicle has a water wading height of 1 foot or 12 inches. Also, in order for the battery to release the right amount of energy, it has to be protected from excessive heat and cold. That is where Arc Reactor technology comes into play. It’s basically a thermal management system which involves liquid cooling technology. Liquid or glycol runs through the battery pack keeping the batteries from getting overheated or c cooled below a temperature. The liquid or coolant needs to be replaced or checked every year. Thus, with this technology, the batteries will last a lot many years and will perform a lot more effectively.
With a capacity of 12.4KWh, the batteries take anywhere between 3 to 4 hours for a full charge.
The company claims that with its 688 kg load, the electric HiLoad can travel as much as 151km on a single charge. This is an ARAI figure but in a real world once can expect a little more than a 100km on a single charge. The time taken to charge batteries in an electric vehicle is also equally important. With a capacity of 12.4KWh, the batteries take anywhere between 3 to 4 hours for a full charge. Of course, the company is also making fast charging stations for its consumers for quick charging. A 50km range can be added on in just 15 minutes. The HiLoad comes with regenerative braking which in turn improves the battery range of the vehicle.
VERDICT On the whole, the HiLoad from Euler Motors seems to be a true commercial vehicle for its load bearing capabilities as well as for maintaining a healthy battery range. The product is rock solid and has several firsts to boast of in terms of technology. At a price of around Rs 3.5 lakh, the vehicle is sure to find a lot of buyers in the CV segment.
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