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Toyota has taken the wraps off the all-new Hilux Champ pickup, its first model based on the recently unveiled IMV 0 platform. Earlier this month, we had reported to you that this new Toyota pickup will be christened Hilux Champ upon debut.

The Hilux Champ has been unveiled in Thailand, which is where it will first go on sale; in the future, it will be launched in more markets like Indonesia, Africa and South America.

1. Toyota Hilux Champ gets two wheelbase options
2. Three engines, two gearbox options on offer
3. IMV 0 platform to spawn a future affordable off-roader

Toyota Hilux Champ: what exactly is it?

The Hilux Champ is the second product for Toyota’s Hilux brand. It has been introduced as a customisable vehicle with as many as 10 configurations, depending on the market. This means, apart from the platform, mechanicals and some body panels, the Hilux Champ can be customised as per a buyer’s needs by third-party car body-builders.

This pickup is primarily aimed at customers who are looking for an affordable alternative to the Hilux, which has now grown much larger in size and also in price from the original. Toyota previewed the Hilux Champ as the IMV 0 concept at the Japan Mobility Show, and as the Toyota Rangga concept in Indonesia a few months ago. The model was also shown in the Philippines where there is a huge demand for customisable vehicles. 

In production form, the Hilux Champ gets three powertrain choices. First is the 2.4-litre diesel good for 150hp and mated to either a 5-speed manual (350Nm torque) or a 6-speed automatic (400Nm torque). It also gets two naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine options – a 2.0-litre unit good for 130hp and 183Nm, and a 2.7-litre unit that delivers 166hp and 245Nm of torque. Both these engines also get a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gearbox as options. Additionally, there are talks of a strong hybrid petrol option also making its way in some markets.

As far as wheelbase options are concerned, the Hilux Champ SWB is 4.9 metres long, 1.8 metres wide and 1.8 metres tall. It has a 2,750mm wheelbase, which is identical to the Toyota Innova Crysta. Meanwhile, the Hilux Champ LWB is 5.3 metres long, has a 3,085mm wheelbase, and is identical in width and height to the SWB version. Both versions get a 180mm ground clearance.

Toyota Hilux Champ could spawn an affordable Fortuner

While there is no official word on whether the Toyota Hilux Champ will make it to India, the IMV 0 platform, which is a ladder-frame unit, is meant for developing markets, and is likely to spawn an affordable version of the Fortuner. However, sources tell us the Hilux Champ is likely to make its way to India in the future, and the SUV derivative is expected to go on sale around a year after the pickup’s India launch.

IMAGE SOURCE

Also see:

Toyota Innova Crysta waiting period extends to 9 months

Toyota announces third manufacturing plant in India

Toyota Innova Hycross waiting period stretches to one year

Following the global unveiling of the new third-gen Panamera, Porsche has already launched its sports sedan in India, and the company says it will start official bookings by next week.

Porsche has only released the price for the regular rear-wheel drive V6 Panamera, which comes in at Rs 1.68 crore (ex showroom, India). The outgoing V6 Panamera was priced at Rs 1.57 crore.

The Rs 1.68 crore price tag, however, is before options, and standard equipment includes 8-way adjustable electric seats, matrix LED headlights, 6 airbags, a full-HD 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with Navigation, Mobile Phone Preparation, Audio Interface and Voice Control.

Technical specs include the 2.9 litre twin-turbo V6 engine coupled with an 8-speed PDK auto, rear-wheel drive and a two-way adaptive rear spoiler. Further technical details, including the exact power figures, are yet to be revealed.

The Porsche Panamera rivals the Mercedes-AMG GT63 S e-Performance 4-door Coupe (Rs 3.3 crore, ex-showroom).

New Porsche Panamera: no hybrid for India

The V8-powered models of the Panamera will be launched in India at a later date, however, Porsche says that India will not get both V6 and V8 hybrids as it found extremely few takers in the past. However, the GTS version – which will be revealed next year – will launch in India, making it the most powerful Panamera available; the Turbo models won’t make it here as they’re all hybrids.

This also means that the new, fully active suspension system will also not be available here as it needs the hybrid’s high voltage electrical system to operate. Thus, the Indian models will only come with the semi-active air spring setup.

Porsche Panamera long wheelbase to come later

In addition to the regular wheelbase, the Panamera will also have an executive long wheelbase model, given the high demand the previous version saw in China. The new long wheelbase model has been extended by 150mm, with the overall length stretching to 5.2 metres. Given that the previous long wheelbase Panamera was on sale in India, we expect the new model to also make its way here. 

Those looking for the Sport Turismo estate version will be disappointed though, as globally, this body style will no longer be available on the Panamera. Porsche says it saw very few takers globally, and that it is limiting this estate body style to the Taycan.

Also see: 

New Porsche Panamera prototype review: Floats like a butterfly

Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo revealed

Yes, electric mobility is here to stay and we must adapt

No, it’s not a proper Royal Enfield without the sound and feel

Total Votes : 1014

This story came to light when one of our readers shared with us that he had been contacted by Simple Energy to cancel his pre-booking. Since this came as a phone call, the customer was uncertain whether it was a scam, so he wrote an email to the company’s customer care helpline to confirm if this indeed was the case. This was the response he received from Simple Energy’s customer care email id: 

“Our team is attempting to reach all our customers via telephone. Meanwhile, our intention is to create awareness among our customers about the recent fraudulent happening forging Simpleenergy Private Limited. This affects our brand value as customers believe these imposters and lose their hard-earned money. Hence, we are taking this step of initiating the refund to all our customers.

We reached out to Simple Energy for a statement and this is what the company shared with us:

“It has come to our attention that certain customers have received emails urging them to cancel their pre-bookings with Simple Energy. We understand the concern and wish to clarify the situation to alleviate any doubts or uncertainties. These emails were specifically sent to select customers residing in cities where fraudulent activities were detected, posing a potential risk to our company’s reputation. This proactive measure was taken to safeguard our customers and offer them the option of a refund, should they wish to reconsider their pre-bookings.”

We are also given to understand that the customer care service is handled by an external agency and that this has led to some miscommunication. Simple tells us that this email has not been sent to all pre-booking customers, despite what was mentioned in the email. 

Nevertheless, the rationale mentioned by Simple does leave some questions. For one, it does not explain why the customer who shared this with us received this notification as he had made his booking in August 2021, well before any fraudulent activities may have begun. Beyond that, it’s also strange to see any company asking its customers to take their money back as a safeguard against potential fraudulent activities – regardless of whether those customers have actually been a victim of said fraud. 

It does come across that there is another possibility here – perhaps the company is looking to ease the load of back orders as it navigates through the journey of setting up and stabilising its production capabilities. This theory is reinforced by what is mentioned further down in Simple Energy customer care email sent to the customer:  

“Once we have an experience center in your city, you will be the first priority customer as per the sequence of your pre-book to be reached for delivery of Simple One. In the meantime, please stay tuned to our social media platforms for more updates and also on our website.”   

After all, Simple Energy’s sales numbers have trickled down to a halt in the last few months. 

Back in May 2023, Simple stated that deliveries would begin in June in Bengaluru, with other cities to follow soon. The company also stated at that point that it had a target of setting up ‘140 to 150’ showrooms in India over the next 8 to 10 months. However, as in the past, things haven’t gone as promised and according to government registration data, Simple Energy has delivered less than 40 scooters to date.

To be precise, the company sold 10 scooters in June, 14 in July and 13 in August. Since then, the company has not delivered any scooters, as of 23 November 2023. We asked Simple about this as well and this is what we were told:

“Regarding zero deliveries, it’s important to note that this was attributed to a comprehensive pilot program aimed at evaluating real-world scenarios and potential user-related challenges. Such assessments are a standard practice to ensure the utmost quality and customer satisfaction.

We are pleased to inform you that following the successful conclusion of our assessment phase, Simple Energy is now positioned favourably. As a result, we are diligently planning to scale up our operations. Anticipate a significant surge in scooter deliveries by the end of November or early December, signifying our commitment to meeting your expectations.”

Have you made a pre-booking for a Simple Energy electric scooter and if so, have you received similar communication from the company? Do let us know if that is the case. 

Confirming our previous reports, Ather Energy CEO and co-founder Tarun Mehta has now officially confirmed the launch of two new electric scooters in 2024 via a social media post. One will be a new family-oriented electric scooter aimed to address a few issues with the existing 450 series that’s focused on performance; the other will be an evolution of the existing 450X with improved performance and more features.

1. New family-oriented scooter will have affordable pricing
2. Existing 450X to gain more performance and features
3. Both models confirmed for launch in 2024

New family-oriented Ather scooter: what to expect?

The current 450S and 450X are sporty, fun-to-ride scooters, but their compact size doesn’t quite bode well for practicality. And that’s exactly what Ather will be looking to address with the new scooter, possibly with a larger and wider seat, a more spacious floorboard and larger boot space to better suit the needs of an urban commuter.

The scooter may be tuned for greater range and gentler performance in order to better suit its use case. It’ll also likely be priced below the existing 450 range in order to make it accessible to a wider audience.

“It’s designed with your entire family in mind, offering comfort, ample size, and a whole lot more – all wrapped up in one fantastic package. We’re ensuring it’s affordable, making the Ather family experience accessible to more people,” said Mehta.

New Ather 450 with improved performance

Mehta calls this scooter an “evolution” of the existing 450 series, which is already one of the quickest accelerating (from 0-40kph) scooters in the country with a top speed of 90kph. Perhaps the new model could bring in a small increment in acceleration and push the top speed to 100kph. A slightly updated design with new features will likely also be part of the package. However, this will be accompanied by a premium over the existing range, but one that Mehta says will be justifiable.

“This new iteration is set to be the absolute pinnacle of refined performance. It will have best-in-class features that will redefine your riding experience. We’re launching in early 2024, and yes, it comes with a premium price tag, but trust me, it’s worth every bit,” he added.

Also See:

Honda CB350 launched at Rs 2 lakh, rivals RE Classic 350

Ather’s iQube rival spied testing in Bengaluru

Toyota has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Karnataka to set up a third manufacturing plant in India, which would increase its production capacity by 1 lakh units per annum. The upcoming plant will also be situated at Bidadi near Bangalore – near the existing two –and will attract an investment of around Rs 3,300 crores. It will also generate about 2,000 new jobs.

1. Toyota to invest around Rs 3,300 crore for new plant
2. Will be the production base of an all-new three-row SUV
3. To have a production capacity of 1 lakh units per annum

Toyota’s existing plants at Bidadi have a combined output of about 4 lakh units per annum, and this new plant – operational by 2026 – will add about 30 percent to Toyota’s production capacity. This announcement comes on the back of the brand completing 25 years in India.

This new plant will be the primary production base for an upcoming three-row SUV, which, as we have reported previously, will be a longer version of the Corolla Cross sold overseas. It’s codenamed the 340D and Toyota is expected to produce 60,000 units annually, with a launch likely by 2026.

Toyota three-row SUV to roll out from new plant

The Corolla Cross-based SUV for India will be underpinned by Toyota’s TNGA-C platform, which is also used by the Innova Hycross. Globally, the Corolla Cross has a wheelbase of 2,640mm, but the India-spec version will likely be lengthened by about 150mm, enough to add a third row of seats.

Not much is known on the styling front, but Toyota could choose to differentiate it from the Corolla Cross with a new nose and new soft parts, including a plastic bumper, grille and headlights. Given the additional length, it will also have a completely new rear end. The upcoming 340D SUV, however, will not be specific to India, and is likely to be exported to other markets as well, although it’s not known if it will spawn a Maruti derivative.

Future IMV 0 platform-based models headed to India  

At the Japan Mobility Show that concluded last month, Toyota showcased the new IMV 0 ladder-frame platform, a low-cost version of the IMV platform that underpins the Innova Crysta and Fortuner. This platform will spawn more affordable alternatives of vehicles like the Hilux pickup truck and Fortuner SUV and is India-bound. It, however, remains to be seen which plant it will be produced in.

Also See:

Toyota Innova Hycross waiting period stretches to one year

Toyota Innova Hycross GX Limited Edition priced at Rs 20.07 lakh

A thrilling MotoGP race under the floodlights in Qatar saw an ebullient Fabio Di Giannantonio take his first-ever MotoGP victory. Rounding out an all-Italian podium were Ducati Lenovo’s Francesco Bagnaia, who increased his championship lead, and Mooney VR46 Racing’s Luca Marini, who is strongly tipped to default to Repsol Honda next year.

1. Martin struggles to 10th place, blames tyre issue
2. Bagnaia’s championship lead grows to 21 points
3. 37 points up for grabs at the final round in Valencia

Di Giannantonio-Bagnaia battle nearly ends in tears

Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia only managed fifth place in qualifying, but rocketed off the line to get the holeshot into turn one. Behind him, three other Ducatis jostled for the position – Marini and the Gresini racing pair of Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez. Di Giannantonio emerged as the quickest of the chasers, and found himself glued to Bagnaia’s rear tyre for much of the race.

Had he been given a contract renewal for next year, Di Giannantonio may well have refrained from attacking Ducati’s star rider and championship hopeful. But seeing as how he’s currently unemployed for next year, the outgoing Gresini rider made a brave move to get past Bagnaia on lap 19. What followed was a hair-raising moment as Bagnaia got sucked into Di Giannantonio’s slip-stream braking from 350kph into turn one. The championship leader nearly ran into the back of his countryman, only narrowly avoiding contact, and running wide into the tarmac run-off area. Fortunately, with a 5-second gap behind him, Bagnaia was able to rejoin in second place, where he finished the race. 

Jorge Martin sees championship hopes fade away

After a successful outing in Saturday’s Tissot Sprint sprint where he halved his points deficit to championship leader Francesco Bagnaia, Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin had a disastrous Qatar GP on Sunday, only managing 10th place. The Spaniard blamed his poor performance on a tyre issue – he had massive wheelspin at the race start, and seemed to struggle for rear grip throughout the GP, even looking back at his rear tyre immediately after crossing the chequered flag. The Ducati man was vocal about the issue in his post-race debriefs, saying that the tyre felt “like a stone” from the start, and he felt like the championship had been “stolen” from him.

With his 10th place finish giving him just 6 points, and Bagnaia picking up 20 points for his second place finish, the gap at the top of the standings grows to 21 points, with 37 points still up for grabs at the final round in Valencia this weekend. After Sunday’s result, Bagnaia has one hand already on the championship trophy – the Italian can afford to finish both races (the sprint and the main race) in fifth place and still be assured the championship victory. If this were to happen with Martin winning both races, the pair would end up equal on points, with the title going to Bagnaia by virtue of his greater number of race wins over the season.

Also See:

Thai MotoGP: Martin wins to slash Bagnaia’s title lead

Rajiv Sethu crowned 2023 INMRC champion

The Las Vegas GP may have gotten off to a rocky start, but the venue delivered plenty of action on race day. Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez all led the race at some point, but Verstappen ended up taking his 18th win of the season. And it was a hard-fought win, with Verstappen overcoming a penalty, wing damage and overtaking his rivals along the way.

1. Vertsappen wins, 2.070secs from Leclerc
2. Perez goes from P11 to P3

Verstappen wins Las Vegas GP thriller

Verstappen took the lead at the start, but was handed a five-second time penalty for forcing Leclerc off track. Leclerc then passed Verstappen on Lap 16, just before the Red Bull driver headed into the pits to serve his penalty.

While trying to claw his way back into the lead, Verstappen collided with George Russell, with both cars picking up some damage in the process. Russell was given a five-second time penalty for the incident.

Down the order, Sergio Perez was gaining ground, having pitted on the opening lap after contact with Valtteri Bottas. The Safety Car – brought out to clean up the debris on track following the Verstappen/Russell clash – gave Perez the perfect opportunity. The Mexican took his final pitstop and emerged just behind Leclerc. He briefly even took the lead, but Leclerc repassed him a few laps later.

All of this allowed Verstappen to catch up and he cleared both Perez and Leclerc to take victory. With this, the Red Bull driver now equals Sebastian Vettel’s tally of F1 wins. “It was a tough one,” Verstappen admitted.

“I tried to go for it [with Leclerc] at the start. I think we both braked quite late, then I just ran out of grip and we ended up a bit wide, so the stewards gave me a penalty for that. Of course, that put us a little bit on the backfoot, I had to pass quite a few cars, then the Safety Car again. At the point already there was a lot going on in the race,”

“Once we had the message to the end we could go flat-out. You could clearly see with the DRS around here it was very powerful, so even when you would take the lead, if the guy behind would stay in the DRS, he would still have an opportunity to come back at you. I think it created quite a lot of good racing here today, so it was definitely a lot of fun.”

Leclerc defeats Perez for P2

Leclerc locked up into Turn 14, handing P2 to Sergio Perez. But the Ferrari driver remained within DRS range and pulled off a move on the very last lap, into the Turn 14 braking zone, to reclaim P2.

Russell finished P4 on track, but his penalty dropped him to eighth place. This handed P4 to Esteban Ocon. Lance Stroll was fifth, followed by Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton. Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri completed the top 10.

There’s just one more F1 race to go this year, with Abu Dhabi set to host the finale on November 24-25.

2023 Las Vegas GP results

Also see:

Verstappen wins Brazil GP; Alonso bags photo finish P3