Harley Davidson FXDB Street Bob & FXDC Super Glide launched

Harley-Davidson is on a roll! After an impressive sales build-up in 2011, H-D has now announced its CKD (completely knocked-down) operation expansion by adding the FXDB Street Bob and FXDC Super Glide Custom to that list!

This means the Street Bob is now priced at Rs 9.95 lakh as opposed to it's earlier tag of Rs 13.95 lakh! That's not it, you see, since the Super Glide Custom is now priced at Rs 11.5 lakh, down by Rs 4 lakh from its previous price tag of Rs 15.45 lakh. The Street Bob is a classic bobber styled motorcycle and is the first 1600cc motorcycle to be priced under Rs 10 lakh - certainly a value proposition. Bookings for both motorcycles are open!



So far, Harley-Davidson's CKD import operations have been limited to the SuperLow, 883 and Forty-Eight. With the Dyna family being added to that list, H-D can now boast of locally assembling five out of its range of fifteen motorcycles in the country.  Apart from this fantastic bit of new, H-D has also showcased five custom motorcycles based on Harley-Davidson's official parts and accessories range. The custom bits include fenders, fuel tanks, handlebars, footpegs and other detailing elements typical to Harley-Davidsons.

Last, but definitely not the least, was the presence of the Delhi chapter of the HOG (Harley Owners Group) at the Expo, who drowned out the buzz with their potato-potato exhausts!

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 launched

The Thunderbird has always been the tool of choice for those who persevere to ride into the sunset and this one will get you there a whole lot faster, all thanks to that unit constructed and fuel injected 500 cc motor that makes good for a wholesome 27.2 bhp.

Available in 3 shades of black for the body work and a blackened engine with polished fins, the motorcycle also features a redesigned seat to compliment the new positions for the meaty footpegs. Speaking of seats, the pillion pad can now be removed to accomodate more expansive panniers.
The handlebars have been tweaked to improve ergonomics, the forks are a girthy 41 mm and finally now you have hooks to er, hook up your bungee cords to tie down those bags, rather than looping them around the tail light bracket or such. Oh, and the forks have grown in girth to end up at 41 mm.
The headlights are really important on our roads and more so for the touring folk. Royal Enfield has endowed the Thunderbird 500 with a new headlight that incorporates a 55W projector lamp for the low beam and for the high beam, it works in conjunction with a 55W halogen. Also adding to the safety factor, the new T'Bird 500 features a disc at the rear, so when you do spot something in your way, you now have an increased capability to stop.
To keep you riding further with the least amount of discomfort, the comfortable riding position works very well with the increased capacity 20 litre petrol tank.

The Chennai based company has also launched its own line of riding kit and clothing, all of which will appeal to fans of the marque.

HONDA CBR150R LAUNCHED AT THE 2012 AUTO EXPO

Surprise surprise! Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Ltd (HMSI) has pulled a fast one on unsuspecting Indian motorcycle enthusiasts! The motorcycle giant has launched the CBR 150R in the country and it has a spec sheet that's hotter than a blasting furnace! The CBR 150R produces 18 bhp@10,500 rpm and 1.28 kgm@7500 rpm from its 150cc DOHC single-cylinder mill which employs liquid cooling and fuel-injection too!

Bodywork is largely identical to that of the CBR 250R, which means there's the dual-layered fairing, a stubby exhaust and a Y shaped headlight. Also included in the features list are digital meters, front and rear disc brakes (no mention of ABS - we think they'll give it a miss on the 150R), tubeless tyres and a monoshock at the rear!

It sports a twin tubular frame and since it's bound to be lighter than the CBR 250R, we expect it to be a much more agile handler than the latter. The CBR 150R will be available in two variants - Standard and Deluxe. The Standard can be had in two shades, Black and Red, both set against Pearl Sunbeam White while the Deluxe sports additional sporty decals and two colours - Candy Palm Green and Vibrant Orange, both set against Pearl Sunbeam White.
The specification sheet and features list of the CBR 150R definitely look far superior to that of the Yamaha R15 V2.0 and how it is priced remains to be seen. Although Honda, in its press release has mentioned 'value for money that exceeds customers' expectations'. Amen to that!
Alongside the CBR 150R launch, HMSI also unveiled a new paint scheme for the CBR 250R - Pearl Heron Blue - which is a typical Honda white-blue-red combination as seen on many iconic Honda motorcycles. Can't wait to get our hands on both!

Aston Martin's new V12 Zagato

Aston Martin has finished refining the styling of its V12 Zagato, the ‘baby One-77’ that will become a new hand-built flagship for its compact Vantage range when it goes on sale later this year.


The car was shown in concept form at the Villa d’Este last May and the Frankfurt show last September, and it raced as a prototype in June at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. It will make its debut in showroom-ready trim at the Kuwait Concours d’Elegance next week. Production - strictly limited to 150 units - is due to begin in September.


The V12 Zagato marks the 50-year relationship between Aston Martin and Zagato (the pioneering DB4 GT first appeared in 1961 and was sold during 1962). It is the first Zagato-badged car ever to have been designed entirely in the UK.


The V12 project was agreed between Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez and the Italian company’s head, Andrea Zagato, in early 2010, and they set their designers a direct competition to come up with a production theme. The British design was rapidly selected by Bez and Zagato, and its main elements were finalised by late March 2010.


Aston design boss Marek Reichman revealed last week that, although produced with the close co operation of the Italian coachbuilder, the design is “100 per cent British”. He claims this is the first time a UK design has taken top spot in the hard-fought ‘concepts and prototypes’ class at the Villa d’Este concours.


The V12 Zagato questions some of Aston’s usual design values, said Reichman. There is a strong line cutting through the cant rail above the windows, plus a new expression of Zagato’s characteristic double-bubble roof, a reassuring ‘hockey stick’ lower window line and a convex, full-faced grille. “Zagato’s Astons have always had a slightly bulging quality,” said Reichman, “as if the T-shirt was a little too tight for the muscles beneath.”


Since June, Aston’s engineers have been completing the car’s quilted interior design and refining its structure and aerodynamics. It will use many of the construction methods adopted for the One-77.


Each V12 Zagato will take about 2000 hours to build. It will sit on the Vantage’s extruded aluminium VH chassis but will be clad with a hand-finished alloy bonnet, roof and door panels. The front and rear wings, door sills and boot surround will be of carbonfibre.


The car will use the V12 Vantage’s powertrain: a normally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 producing 510bhp at 6500rpm, plus 58.06kgm of torque at 5750rpm. The manual six-speed gearbox is mounted in unit with the differential under the rear of the car, connected by an alloy torque tube and a carbonfibre tailshaft. Top speed is estimated at 305kph and 0-100kph will take 4.2sec.

Volvo S60,S80 and XC60 get new D3 Variant

Volvo has added an entry-level diesel variant for its S60 and S80 saloons and XC60 SUV line-up. This new variant, called the D3, comes with a 2.0-litre diesel engine that churns out 163bhp. All entry-level D3 variants get standard leather interiors.

In addition to the recently added D3 variant, the XC60 also comes with a 205bhp, 2.4-litre engine which is sold as the D5.

For the S60 saloon, the new engine adds to the earlier line-up that includes a 205bhp, 2.4-litre diesel engine in D5 trim and a 306bhp, 3.0-litre petrol motor, the T6.

The Swedish carmaker’s flagship S80 saloon now comes only with two diesel engine options – the D5 that has the same 2.4-litre motor churning out 205bhp, and the D3. The V8 petrol variant has been discountinued.

The S60 D3 is priced at Rs 23.2 lakh, the XC60 D3 at Rs 33.2 lakh and the S80 D3 at Rs 31.2 lakh. Volvo says all prices are introductory and will go up by Rs 70,000 on all D3 variants from March this year. Volvo has also stopped taking orders for the XC90 SUV.

Mitsubish's new Outlander Unveiled

Mitsubishi has revealed its all-new Mitsubishi Outlander ahead of its world debut at next month’s Geneva motor show. The new Outlander line-up will include a plug-in hybrid model for some markets.


The new Outlander was most recently previewed at the Tokyo motor show as the PX-MiEV II concept car. The production Outlander sports very little changes over the concept, featuring a slightly softened front end with circular fog lights, a revised front grille and a different lower front bumper.


The concept car’s sleek wing mirrors have also been replaced with more conventional units. No rear image has been revealed in an overall design that Mitsubishi calls “solid, simple, safe”.


Mitsubishi claims the interior, which has also yet to have been pictured, sports a similar design to the current car. The seven-seat interior features plenty of padded surfaces and a soft-touch finish, a new dashboard for “better driver concentration”, a new multi-function steering wheel and a clearer instrument panel.


New features include a steering column that adjusts for reach and rake, ‘wide vision’ xenon headlamps, dual-zone air-con, a flat cargo area and a powered tailgate. Added safety kit includes a ‘Forward Collision Mitigation System, a lane departure warning system and active cruise control.


Globally, engine options include revised versions of the current 2.0-litre MIVEC petrol and 2.2-litre MIVEC clean diesel engine. Front and four-wheel drive will be offered, alongside stop-start, a new six-speed automatic gearbox and a new eco driving mode.


The all-wheel drive plug-in drivetrain will be available in Europe from 2013 following the standard car's launch later this summer. The system uses two electric motors, one to power each axle, and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. It can travel up to 48km on electric power alone, and combined economy could be as high as 60kpl.

The new Outlander will not be built in Europe, however, following Mitsubishi's decision to end production at its Dutch factory due to falling production volumes.

2012 AUTO EXPO - Ducati Monster 795 launched

Ducati has launched the much-awaited Monster 795! Essentially, it's a de-specced Monster 796 so it loses the single-sided swingarm, to start with. More details will be coming in shortly. It is excitingly priced at Rs 6.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) - way off the sub-6 Lakh pricing we were expecting, but it's still a whopping 2.3 Lakh off the 796's pricing

In terms of power and torque output, the 795 is the same as the 796 - 85.8 bhp@8250 rpm and 8 kgm@6250 rpm. The front tyre is a 120/60 ZR17 while the one at the rear is a 160/60 ZR17. The 795 has a twin-disc setup at the front and a single disc at the rear. At 167 kg (dry), the 795 (like the 796) will be a fantastic motorcycle to ride both, in the city and in the twisties.




While it's hard to tell from the images, it isn't known yet how the Rs 2.3 Lakh price cut has come about. A safe guess would be to point at that swingarm and some other details. Still, it's a smashing looking motorcycle, a proper Ducati replete with a Trellis frame and glossy red paintwork! We'll keep you updated!

2012 AUTO EXPO-UNVEILED NEW TATA SAFARI STORME

Tata Motors has showcased their new Tata Safari Storme at the 2012 Auto Expo. The Safari Storme is based on the Tata Aria platform and has new underpinnings. The size and outward appearance of the SUV, however, remain largely unchanged

Tata Motors has showcased their new Tata Safari Storme at the 2012 Auto Expo. The Safari Storme is based on the Tata Aria platform and has new underpinnings. The size and outward appearance of the SUV, however, remain largely unchanged

Tata Motors has showcased their new Tata Safari Storme at the 2012 Auto Expo. The Safari Storme is based on the Tata Aria platform and has new underpinnings. The size and outward appearance of the SUV, however, remain largely unchanged.

Onto the engine, then. The Safari gets a 2.2-litre 16-valve common-rail DiCOR engine that makes 138 bhp and has 32.4 kgm of peak torque on offer. This is mated to a 5-speed gearbox, same as the one on the Tata Aria. This gearbox was upgraded from the one on the older Safari. The car also has rack and pinion steering, dual SRS airbags.

While the car is 85 per cent new, due to the mild changes to the exterior, it does look like all that has happened is a facelift, however.