Vicky.in Blog

Hero which plans to enter multiple overseas markets including USA will foray into matured markets with a new scooter. The leap hybrid scooter which was showcased in 2012 and in 2014 auto expo will be the first product for overseas products. Hero’s gurgaon plant will produce the scooter albeit in small number initially (around 6000 units).  Remember, Mahindra recently showcased a new electric scooter concept for US market. Hero plans to have 20 manufacturing facility by the decade end to achieve its target of 100 million units. To achieve this ambitious target, Hero would have presence in as many as 50 countries. The leap hybrid scooter would pave way for entry in to many of the matured markets

Suzuki has announced a mouth watering deal for the bike enthusiast today. Inazuma or GW250 price has been slashed by Rs1 lakh. The whopping discount is not just for new customers but for current owners too. You read it right. The customers who have earlier  bought the paying the premium will be reimbursed Rs. 1 lakh. Its the first time that a company has played a fair play to owners. Powered by a 250cc parallel-twin engine which develops 25Ps of max power and the engine is mated to a 6 speed gear box

Hero motocorp which is speculated to produce an ultra low cost bike on the likes of Tata Nano.  Hero Motocorp knows its bread and butter segment is 100cc where it remains the undisputed king till date. To further strengthen its position, hero may come up with low cost variant of HF-dawn which itself a low cost bike. But the new bike as you could see from the pictures could be ultra utilitarian.  However the engine and other mechanicals could be shared with HF-dawn. Hero might target the rural segment with this bike. But the lukewarm response for TVS Max 4R and Bajaj Boxer could dent its ambitions. Let’s see whether the market leads turn it around where other failed.

Yamaha FZ fuel injection is here. Yamaha FZ V2.0 is now confirmed that it will get a fuel injection engine. The engine power ratings remains the same.  However it will get a new muffler and cosmetic changes

Quick look on 2014 Karizma R changes over the outgoing one. 2014 Karizma R gets a redesigned fairing which design is left to debate. LED tail lamps and pilot lamps are other new additions. The most interesting change is the new rear cowl which houses a fatter tyre (120). The new split seats and split grab rail adds glamour to the bike. But the new rear design spoils the overall styling – seems like rear and frontal design are made by different designers.

On the engine side, 2014 Karizma R produces 2.2bhp and 1Nm more than outgoing karizma which results in faster acceleration and greater drive-ability. The top speed figure as per the company is now 126kmph. But it has gained 4kg of extra weight which would neutralise the revised power figures. New karizma is priced Rs94,000 (on-road mumbai)

 

 

2014 pleasure is finally here. Let’s looks at the changes that comes with the new pleasure. In a competitive scooter market, pleasure has made strong case for itself with the ad tag “why should boys have all the fun”.  Has it become more desirable with the addition of new features? Here are list of addition/changes with 2014 pleasure

1) reshaped headlamp cluster

2) New instrument cluster

3) Underseat storage with light

4) glove box now gets lockable lid

5) mobile charging point

Bookings are now open for Suzuki Gixxer. Gixxer which raised expectations due to its flamboyant style and GSX-R inspired theme might carry the same mechanicals as GS150R. However it will come with a five speed gearbox. Other major changes include a monoshock suspension and fatter 140/60 R17 at the rear. Booking amount is Rs5000 and the price of the bike is not known. Expect the launch of Gixxer in August

2014 xtreme is here. Let’s go through the changes Hero team has effected on the new xtreme over the outgoing one. The new Xtreme gets hosts of new features and graphics.

* 2014 xtreme gets LED tail lamps but sadly the tail lamp cluster sans turn indicators (which are now mounted above the fender like any other street bike)

* Headlamp is redesigned which is now Honda-ish with pilot lamp on the eye brow

* Heat protector shield is new

* Engine immobiliser is a standard feature with LED ring

* Under- seat mobile charging point

* new instrument cluster with digital-analogue meters

* 3-D Xtreme logo on the tank

Ford brazil today unveiled another stunner which is nothing but the pictures of figo sedan production version. To recollect, Figo concept was first unveiled at the delhi auto expo. Yesterday, next generation figo production version was teased and now comes the KA plus (in Brazil). Ford Figo sedan when launched in India could be Ford India’s first under 4metre sedan and will replace the fiesta classic.

Engine options for Figo sedan could be the 1.0L ecoboost engine and 1.5 litre diesel engine which serves the fiesta.  Figo sedan production version looks almost similar to the Ford Figo Concept we seen at the auto expo except for regular headlamps.

Ford’s next generation figo (known as KA in select countries) is here. Ford yesterday unveiled the production version of next generation figo. 2015 Figo retains most of the styling cues figo concept which was shown earlier. Ford showcased the figo concept last year which was followed by the figo concept sedan at the 2014 auto expo in India.

The next gen figo will not replace the current generation figo in india. Ford could follow the path of fiesta classic (renaming and slot it below the current segment) to pave way for the 2015 figo. 2015 figo n India could carry the same engine options of current gen figo  – 1.4-litre diesel and 1.2-litre petrol. However the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine that powers the EcoSport may be seen under the hood of 2015 figo atleast in top end variants.