Posts in category: Electric vehicles cars

Volvo has launched the new, all-electric C40 Recharge for an introductory price of Rs 61.25 lakh, ex-showroom, India. The brand will officially commence bookings for the C40 Recharge from September 5, 5pm onwards. Deliveries are set to commence sometime next week.

The C40 Recharge is essentially the XC40 Recharge re-fashioned into an SUV-coupe; the all-electric SUV, Volvo claims, contributed 25 percent to the brand’s total sales in the first half of 2023 (Jan-June 2023). This will be the second EV in Volvo’s India line-up, one with which the brand intends to push its EV penetration to 35 percent by next year. Unlike the XC40 Recharge, which also has a petrol counterpart in India, the C40 is only available in an all-electric guise. 

1. C40 Recharge has a claimed range of 530km (WLTP cycle)
2. Interior is completely made of vegan-friendly materials, fabric
3. Is a coupe-SUV sibling of the XC40 Recharge

Volvo C40 Recharge exterior design

The C40 Recharge looks largely similar to its SUV counterpart, save for its rear where the roofline has a coupe-like finish and a steeply raked rear windscreen. This has led to a redesigned tailgate and tail-lamp assembly – the tail lamps are a lot slimmer, have a wider wraparound effect, and get new reverse lights. The LED light elements are also fragmented towards the top, instead of the continuous strip found on the XC40 Recharge. Unlike the SUV, the LEDs also protrude onto the tailgate and the overall design gives the C40 Recharge a much wider stance when viewed from the rear.

There’s also a new two-part spoiler – one on the boot lid that’s blacked out, and one on the roof with a unique twin-pod design aimed at improving aerodynamics. And while the bumper remains unchanged from the SUV, the rear design of the C40 Recharge looks a lot sportier than the XC40 Recharge. Additionally, the window line has also been slightly redesigned due to the sloping roofline. The C40 Recharge also exclusively gets Pixel LED headlights that you’ll not find in any other Volvo in India, yet.

Elsewhere, the C40 Recharge remains unchanged from its SUV sibling: the headlamps with Thor’s Hammer LED daytime running lamps; the front bumper and hood; the contouring on the doors; and the dual-tone 19-inch alloy wheels. There’s generous plastic cladding on the lower sides to enhance the SUV character, while the rising window line, which kicks up at the rear, plays to the coupe look.

Volvo C40 Recharge interior and features

On the inside, the dashboard design is typically Volvo and, unsurprisingly, is identical to the XC40 Recharge. It continues with a 9.0-inch portrait-style touchscreen flanked by slim AC vents, wood inlays on the dashboard, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

As far as equipment is concerned, the C40 Recharge gets an Android-based infotainment system with direct access to Google Maps and Assistant, and several apps from the Play Store with the help of an onboard e-SIM. It also gets a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, a 360-degree camera, a full suite of sensor-based ADAS tech with autonomous driving, connected car tech, powered front seats with driver-side memory function, heating and cooling, a dual-zone climate control system, and a premium Harman Kardon sound system. The climate control functions, however, are tucked away in the infotainment screen.

The C40’s Recharge’s boot space, however, has gone down to 413 litres from the SUV’s 452 litres, although the 31-litre frunk space remains unchanged. The rear seat headroom will also have gone down due to the sloping roofline. Notably, Volvo claims that the C40’s interior is completely leather-free, in line with the brand’s aim to eliminate leather from all its electric cars by 2025 to reduce animal harm and carbon emissions.

Volvo C40 Recharge powertrain, range and specs

The underpinnings and powertrain configuration also remain unchanged from the XC40 Recharge. Based on the CMA platform (Compact Modular Architecture), the C40 Recharge in India gets a dual-motor set-up – one on each axle – with a 78kWh battery pack for a claimed range of 530km on a single charge on the WLTP cycle or 683km as per ICAT. Interestingly, the range has shot up massively over the SUV’s claimed 418km range, thanks to a newer generation battery and better aerodynamics.

The two electric motors give it all-wheel-drive capability and, combined, produce 408hp and 660Nm of torque. Volvo claims it can sprint from 0-100kph in 4.7 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds faster than the XC40 Recharge. The C40 Recharge is capable of fast charging with a 150kW DC charger that can top up its batteries from 0 to 100 percent in 27 minutes.

Volvo C40 Recharge rivals

The C40 Recharge competes with the likes of the Kia EV6 (Rs 60.95-Rs 65.95 lakh) and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (Rs 48.47 lakh), and sits comfortably below other luxury electric SUVs. Like the XC40 Recharge (Rs 56.90 lakh), the C40 is locally assembled, but commands a premium of Rs. 4.35 lakh over its SUV counterpart. 

Also see:

Mercedes-Benz unveils new Concept CLA Class at Munich Motor Show

BMW previews future EVs with Vision Neue Klasse concept

Max Verstappen has re-written the F1 history books, with this latest triumph at Monza earning him 10 consecutive race wins. Sergio Perez finished second, handing Red Bull a 1-2 finish.

Ferrari put up a valiant fight on home turf, with polesitter Carlos Sainz keeping Verstappen at bay for the first 14 laps – the most laps led by a non-Red Bull driver so far this season. But he ultimately had to settle for a podium appearance in third place.

1. Verstappen wins, 6.064 secs from Perez
2. Sainz on podium for Ferrari
3. Albon P7 for Williams

Verstappen makes history at Monza

Verstappen’s been on a victory charge, but Monza proved to be his toughest battle of the season so far. Ferrari opted for a low-drag set-up and it worked, handing Carlos Sainz a triumphant pole position on Saturday. But on the flip side, this also meant that the Spaniard would have to deal with rear tyre degradation in the race.

As the laps went on, Verstappen amped up the pressure on Sainz, eventually forcing his Ferrari rival into a mistake at the first chicane on Lap 15. He sweeped past around the outside at Curva Grande and in typical fashion went on to open a comfortable gap.

“I never would have believed [10 wins in a row] was possible, but we had to work for it today and that was definitely a lot more fun,” said Verstappen, who has now beaten Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 record for the most consecutive F1 race wins.

“We had good pace, we were good on the tyres, but [Ferrari] had a lot of top speed. It was so hard to get close and make the move into Turn 1. I had to force [Sainz] into a mistake and luckily it came at some point where he locked up, and I had better traction out of Turn 2, which was good, so we could do my own race.”

Sergio Perez also beat the Ferrari drivers, giving Red Bull it’s sixth 1-2 finish this year.

Leclerc puts the pressure on Sainz

The Ferrari duo of Sainz and Charles Leclerc provided plenty of heart-racing entertainment for fans at the team’s home race. The two battled wheel-to-wheel right till the chequered flag, with some very close calls – including a huge lock up for Leclerc on the very last lap.

Sainz’ displayed some skilled defending to keep his teammate at bay and secure the last spot on the podium.

Mercedes also bagged some valuable points. Both, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton overcame five-second time penalties to finish fifth and sixth, respectively. Alex Albon continued his solid run, improving on his Dutch GP performance by one place to finish P7.

Lando Norris was eighth for McLaren, followed by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas.

2023 F1 standings

Verstappen now leads the championship by 145 points from his teammate Perez. Alonso holds on to third overall, but he’s 49 points behind Perez.

F1’s next stop is the Singapore GP on September 15-17.

2023 Italian GP results

Also see:

Verstappen wins Dutch GP to equal Vettel’s F1 record

BMW has showcased the Vision Neue Klasse concept at the ongoing Munich Motor Show which gives the best look yet at BMW’s all-electric future. It previews a dramatic change in exterior and interior design direction alongside the introduction of highly advanced drivetrain technology.

BMW’s ambition with Neue Klasse

By the end of 2023, BMW will have an electric car on sale in each of its core market segments, and it aims for more than a quarter of its global sales to be electric by 2025, rising to a third just a year later. Now well on the way to achieving those goals with its current fleet of electric sedans and SUVs, BMW is shifting its focus to the launch of a radical new family of EVs.

It has dubbed this ‘Neue Klasse’ as a reference to the family of brand-reshaping premium sedans and coupés that it launched in the 1960s.

BMW will launch six Neue Klasse EVs in the space of 24 months, although not all of them will be based on the same platform because of the differing requirements of the various segments BMW seeks to cover. CEO Oliver Zipse pledged: “From SUV to sedan, we will have something for every customer.”

The first is set to be a striking 3 Series-sized sedan, and while BMW bosses said this new Vision Neue Klasse concept doesn’t directly preview a production car, it’s understood that it gives strong clues about what to expect from this pioneering EV.

Beneath the skin, the new sedan – and its closely related range-mates – will be almost completely unrelated to BMW’s current crop of EVs, and this technological revolution will be signalled by a totally new design treatment that does away with many established hallmarks and reinterprets others for the new era.

BMW Vision Neue Klasse exterior design

The Vision Neue Klasse is clearly an evolution of the outlandish i Vision Dee concept that BMW showed at CES in Las Vegas earlier this year, drawing on that car’s sharp-angled silhouette but with wide-reaching refinements that paint it more obviously as a close preview of a production car.

BMW has labelled it “clear, elegant, timeless”, highlighting features that will become hallmarks of the Neue Klasse line-up, including a broader, horizontal interpretation of the firm’s kidney grilles, expansive side windows, slimline LED light designs and a “monolithic” silhouette, which is, according to design boss Domagoj Dukec is, “much cleaner in its surfacing and details” than those of recent BMW cars. Not only does this promote a fresh, futuristic treatment, it also means Neue Klasse cars can be made with simpler tooling and fewer components.

The front end is described as a “single interaction area”, with the headlights programmed to display an animation when users approach the car. “Light has helped us strengthen our identity in recent years,” explained Dukec, adding that BMW wants “to replace chrome with light”. Meanwhile, the ‘grille’ panels are designed to host the many cameras and sensors needed for high-level driver assistance functions, although hidden behind the seemingly opaque bodywork for a cleaner look.

The ‘grille’ could also, it has been suggested, display notifications about the car’s charging status or even direction indicators. Similarly, the light clusters could show different colours and designs depending on which driving mode is selected.

Notably, while SUVs account for a huge proportion of BMW’s global sales, the Vision Neue Klasse and i Vision Dee concepts have taken the form of saloons, because the firm believes “there is still a future for flat, low cars – especially the [sedan]”, according to Dukec.

BMW Vision Neue Klasse interior design

Neue Klasse EVs will be marked out from current cars by their minimalist cockpits, which feature only the bare minimum of physical controls, even dropping the iDrive rotary control knob that has been a hallmark of the brand’s interiors since the E65-generation BMW 7 Series arrived in 2001.

Instead, users interact with the new system using a slick central touchscreen, BMW’s voice-activated Intelligent Personal Assistant and a new Panoramic Vision head-up display, which extends across the entire windscreen to provide information at “the ideal height” for the driver and front passenger.

This is operated primarily using a switch on the right-hand spoke of the steering wheel, but the driver can transfer content from the touchscreen to the holographic projection using a swiping gesture. Other clues to Neue Klasse interiors come in the form of the concept’s bright yellow corduroy upholstery, chunky, squared-off steering wheel and ‘floating’ centre console, which holds a wireless phone charger. Also, BMW highlights that just one bracket supports each of the front seats, leaving more room for rear passengers’ feet.

BMW Vision Neue Klasse technical details

Technical details of BMW’s next-generation EV platform remain to be revealed, but R&D boss Frank Weber said it will bring “30 percent more range, 30 percent faster charging, and 25 percent more efficiency” compared with current cars.

BMW’s new Gen6 lithium-ion batteries – with cylindrical rather than prismatic cells and slimmer than current units – will be 20 percent more energy-dense, able to charge at up to 270kW (to add 300km in just 10 minutes) and ultimately offer up to 1000km of range.

Changes to the design and production processes of these next-generation batteries are estimated to cut costs by as much as 50 percent, which could have significant implications for the final prices of BMW’s EVs – although the firm has given no indication of what the Neue Klasse cars will cost.

The EVs will initially be built at BMW’s new factory in Debrecen, Hungary, in a process that is said to be entirely free from fossil fuels, be much more dependent on the use of secondary materials and have a lower CO2 output.

Also See:

New Mini Cooper EV India launch in Q1 2024

Refreshed Tesla Model 3 breaks cover

Here’s what you should know if you are considering buying a used Tata Nano-based Jayem Neo EV.

Published On Aug 31, 2023 05:35:00 PM

Do you fancy owning a small, nimble electric hatchback in the Rs 3 to 5 lakh price bracket? Then here’s an option that might interest you. It has been brought to our attention that there are several pre-owned examples of the Jayem Neo EV – the all-electric Tata Nano – for sale in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi, on various online used car portals.

1. Jayem Neo EV is based on the Tata Nano
2. Used examples available for Rs 3-5 lakh
3. Can be registered by private buyers too

Jayem Neo EV: what is it?

The Jayem Neo EV, or electric Tata Nano as some might know it, was jointly developed and engineered by Coimbatore-based engineering and production house Jayem, and Tata, under the close watch of Emeritus Chairman Ratan Tata. In 2018, Jayem made a batch of 400 cars to cater to an order from Ola Cabs, and these were delivered for use in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The Neo EV was only available in a white finish and wore yellow plates, as these were used for commercial purposes only.

It came with a 17kWh battery and an electric motor that generated 27hp of power and 68Nm of torque. It boasted of a 0-40kph time of around 5.8 seconds. We recently reviewed the Jayem Neo EV, and we can confirm its real-world range is approximately 130km on a full charge. 

Buying a used Jayem Neo EV

Several examples of this electric Nano are on sale in the used car market, and even though it wore commercial plates originally, buyers have the option to register it as a private vehicle as well, as it’s on sale in the pre-owned market. 

Sellers are asking between Rs 3 lakh and 5 lakh for it, and while the price might seem relatively reasonable compared to new entry-level EVs like the MG Comet or Tata Tiago EV, prices for which start at Rs 7.98 lakh and Rs 8.69 lakh, respectively, there are a few things to keep in mind before signing on the dotted line for the Neo EV.

Our sources tell us that most Neo EVs have been out of commission and left abandoned for a few years. Some dealers, however, are refurbishing them, recalibrating their Battery Management System (BMS), and updating their passive cell balancing tech to optimise performance before putting them up for sale.

In addition to the electric powertrain, it is important to check whether all fluids (eg. brake fluids) and its 12V battery are replaced; electrical bits are working fine; and its suspension, brakes, steering and tyres are in good nick. Do keep a close eye for corrosion, as many of these cars were left unattended for unusually long periods of time. 

Along with watching out for the above, you must inspect all the ownership documents (registration certificate, insurance) as well as the availability of an NOC (no objection certificate) from the seller to the buyer, if the latter is from a different state. 

If all these points check out, consider moving ahead, but bear in mind the Jayem Neo EV isn’t backed by any warranty, nor will Tata service centres be able to provide technical support for this niche, all-electric offering.

Copyright (c) Autocar India. All rights reserved.

TVS has released another teaser of its upcoming 310cc naked bike, which is based on the Apache RR 310, ahead of its launch just a week from now. 

1. Adjustable levers, twin-horn setup, horizontal dash visible in teaser
2. Design will be very different when compared to the BMW G 310 R
3. India launch on September 6

We have seen multiple teasers for this new machine, and we already know that the design won’t have much in common with its BMW counterpart, the G 310 R. The design, while literally under wraps for now, is quite edgy and sharp, and it’s must obviously visible in the sharp tank extensions and minimalist tail section. 

The rear subframe and split seat setup appear to be new and the wheels are also different when seen in the light of any other TVS model on sale currently. The dash also appears to be a horizontally-mounted unit, as opposed to the vertical one found on other BMW-TVS 310 platform bikes. While it’s not visible here, the instrument cluster will most likely be a TFT unit. The trapezoidal mirrors also look different than anything seen on any previous TVS model. 

The fork tops do not appear to have adjusters, but the BTO kit offered on the RR 310 could well be offered as an optional extra. What can also be seen here is a large radiator, LED indicators from the Ronin, adjustable levers, and a twin-horn setup. The naked TVS 310 also runs on the same grippy Michelin Road 5 tyres as the Apache RR 310, which is good news.

The exhaust muffler is the same as other Indo-Bavarian 310cc bikes, which means that while the styling and feature-set will likely be very different, expect the mechanicals to be quite familiar. 

The rider in these images is TVS Motor Company’s Managing Director, Sudarshan Venu, who seems to be using a TVS-branded BluArmor-sourced Bluetooth intercom. To read our review of the TVS S20X Bluetooth communicator with mesh connectivity, tap here.

The Karizma XMR is the most affordable bike in India to get an adjustable windscreen.

Published On Aug 29, 2023 05:42:00 PM

The brand-new Hero Karizma XMR has been launched in India, which means it’s time we stack it up against its primary rivals, and another fully-faired Hero, on paper. 

Hero Karizma XMR vs rivals: engine & output

The Karizma XMR has the second-most powerful engine here, and packs in some Hero firsts, such as DOHC, liquid-cooling and a 6-speed gearbox (also seen on the Harley-Davidson X440 made by the company). The outlier here is the Xtreme 200S 4V, which is a notch down compared to the others, and is only here is a reference point as the other fully-faired Hero motorcycle.

Hero Karizma XMR vs rivals: dimensions & weight

Despite having the smallest tank here (the same size as the Yamaha R15 V4), the Karizma XMR is the second heaviest bike here. It also has the longest wheelbase, which should make it quite a stable machine at highway speeds. However, we’ll only be able to vouch for that when our review drops on August 31 at 10am, so stay plugged in. The Yamaha R15 is, by far, the lightest machine here, and is the only serious sportbike, while the others are sport-tourers. This is reflected in the superior chassis componentry it packs in, such as a deltabox frame and a lightweight aluminium swingarm.

Hero Karizma XMR vs rivals: suspension & brakes

Cycle parts are an area where the Karizma isn’t the best-equipped in this company. The Yamaha R15 V4 boasts of a KYB USD fork, not found on any other bike in this comparison. Both, the Bajaj Pulsar RS200 and the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250, also have wider tyres than the XMR. Braking hardware is where the Karizma claws some ground back; it has the largest discs here (a three-way tie between it, the Pulsar RS200 and the Gixxer SF 250). 

Also See:

Hero Karizma XMR image gallery

Hero Karizma XMR vs rivals: features

With an adjustable windscreen, bluetooth connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation, a slip and assist clutch, all-LED lighting and dual-channel ABS, it’s safe to say the Hero Karizma XMR is a feature-packed machine. However, the Yamaha R15 V4 is the only bike to have a traction control system and a quickshifter here. 

Hero Karizma XMR vs rivals: price

At its introductory price, the Hero Karizma XMR undercuts its primary rivals, the R15 and Gixxer SF 250, by a good deal. In fact, its so aggressively priced that its price is almost on par with the dated Bajaj Pulsar RS200. Once the introductory price window closes, prices will rise up to Rs 1,82,900. Bookings have already commenced for the Hero Karizma XMR, and it remains to be seen if this modern reincarnation will achieve the success of the original Hero Honda Karizma.

Copyright (c) Autocar India. All rights reserved.

The 2023 edition of the JK Tyre National Racing Championship (JK NRC) got underway, with Round 1 held at the Kari Motor Speedway.

Tijil Rao started the season on a strong note, securing two wins in the headlining LGB Formula 4 category. Arjun S Nair was another driver to score double wins, with a strong showing in the JK Tyre Novice Cup. Read on for the full results.

LGB Formula 4

The LGB Formula 4 category features made-in-India single seaters, powered by a 1,298cc Suzuki engine. Rao pulled off a last lap overtake to win the opening race, with his Dark Don Racing teammates, Arya Singh and Diljith TS, completing the podium. Race 2 saw the team take a 1-2 finish, this time with Singh defeating Rao.

Singh led most of Race 3, but MSport driver Ruhaan Alva gained ground quickly and passed him on the final lap to take victory. Alva looked set to win the reverse grid Race 4 as well, but spun out of the race. Rao ended up overtaking Diljith TS to score his second win of the weekend.

Results

Race 1

1. Tijil Rao (Dark Don Racing) – 23mins 21:171secs

2. Arya singh (Dark Don Racing) – 23mins 21:369secs

3. Diljith TS (Dark Don Racing) – 23mins 21:586secs

Race 2

1. Arya Singh (Dark Don Racing) – 22mins 28.087secs

2. Tijil Rao (Dark Don Racing) – 22mins 28.370secs

3. Viswas Vijayaraj (Ahura Racing) – 22mins 31.297secs

Race 3

1. Ruhaan Alva (MSport) – 22mins 09.037secs

2. Arya Singh (Dark Don Racing) – 22mins 09.084secs

3. Tijil Rao (Dark Don Racing) – 22mins 10.131secs

Race 4

1. Tijil Rao (Dark Don Racing) – 27mins 51.142secs

2. Diljith TS (Dark Don Racing) – 27mins 51.822secs

3.Saran Vikram Tmars (Mars Racing) – 28mins 05.523secs

JK Tyre Novice Cup

The Novice Cup is for amateurs taking their first steps into the world of formula car racing. Momentum Motorsports’ Arjun S Nair won both races on Saturday. But he failed to repeat this feat on Sunday, with his teammate Neythan McPherson and DTS Racing’s Joel Joseph winning a race each.

Results

Race 1

1. Arjun S Nair (Momentum Motorsports) – 13mins 23:275secs

2. Neythan McPherson (Momentum Motorsports) – 13mins 24:517secs

3. Joel Josheph (DTS Racing) – 13mins 27:272secs

Race 2

1. Arjun S Nair (Momentum Motorsports) – 13mins 41.982secs

2. Saishiva Sankaran (MSport) – 13mins 47.537secs

3. Abhay M (Msport) – 13mins 48.318secs

Race 3

1. Neythan McPherson (Momentum Motorsports) – 14mins 28.205secs

2. Aman Nagdev (MSport) – 14mins 28.801secs

3. Arjun S Nair (Momentum Motorsports) – 14mins 29.264secs

Race 4
1. Joel Joseph (DTS Racing) – 16mins 20.908secs

2. Arjun S Nair (Momentum Motorsports) – 16mins 21.077secs

3. Neythan McPherson (Momentum Motorsports) – 16mins 21.077secs 

Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup

The JK NRC also hosts the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup, where amateur and professional riders compete together on the same grid astride identical, race-prepped Continental GT-R650s.

Anand R survived an incident-packed race and fended off Md. Samrul Zubair to win Race 1. The next race was won by Abhishek Vasudev, but Zubair made another podium appearance, this time in third place.

Results

Race 1

1. Anand R – 14mins 53.242secs

2. Md. Samrul Zubair – 14mins 53.806secs

3. Abhishek Vasudev  – 14mins 54.196secs

Race 2

1. Abhishek Vasudev – 13mins 53.248secs

2. Ullass Nanda – 13mins 53.651secs

3. Md. Samrul Zubair – 13mins 57.403secs

JK Tyre 250 Cup

The JK Tyre 250 Cup race, featuring the Suzuki Gixxer 250cc bikes, was won by Sarvesh Balappa. Polesitter G. Abhinav maintained a good pace, and even set the fastest lap — 1min 25.00secs — but that wasn’t enough to defeat Balappa, who started from P2 on the grid.

Results

1. Sarvesh Balappa – 15mins 16.345secs

2. Abhinav G – 15mins 19.623secs

3. Rohit Lad – 15mins 27.436secs

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New Chennai Street Circuit to host F4 India night race

The Rimac Nevera has broken the Nurburgring lap record for a production electric car, posting a blistering time of 7min 5sec to complete a full lap of the 20.6km circuit. The Croatian company celebrated the record by launching a limited-edition Nevera called the Time Attack at Pebble Beach.

1. Lap record was set by Croatian racing driver Martin Kodrik
2. Nevera produces 1914hp, 2369Nm 
3. Rimac also unveiled a limited edition Nevera Time Attack

Rimac Nevera Nurburgring lap time

Driven by Croatian racing driver Martin Kodrik, the Nevera shattered the previous record for a production EV of 20 seconds by the Tesla Model S Track Pack, which posted a time of 7:25.231. The Nevera produces 1,914hp and 2,369Nm from its four electric motors, and with its 120kWh battery pack, it has a range of up to 490km (WLTP).

Rimac Nevera Time Attack edition details

Alongside setting the lap record, Rimac also unveiled the first of the 12 Nevera Time Attack limited edition cars at Monterey Car Week in the USA. The first Nevera Time Attack is finished in black with highlights – twin stripes, lower half of the body, wheels as well as parts front and rear bumpers – finished in lightning green. Inside, it gets black Alcantara fabric with green contrast stitching and highlights on the seats and door panels, along with a ‘Time Attack: 1 of 12’ plaque.

Rimac Nevera’s other records 

Recently, the Nevera set 23 acceleration and braking records. It achieved a 0-400-0kph time of 29.93 seconds at a test track in Germany, however, less than a month later, the Koenigsegg Regera set a new record of 28.81 seconds. Additionally, the Nevera had done the 0-100kph sprint in just 1.81 seconds, and it also bested the times set by Autocar India in a Pininfarina Battista earlier this year.

Also see:

Rimac Nevera sets new 0-400-0kph record of 29.93 seconds

Mercedes AMG One sets new Nurburgring lap record of 6min 35.183sec

The Global NCAP will hand over the reins of Indian vehicle crash testing to Bharat NCAP, bringing an end to the ‘Safer cars for India’ programme.

Published On Aug 26, 2023 02:28:00 PM

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recently launched the new Bharat NCAP norms that are set to come into effect from October 1, 2023. The programme has been formulated on the latest GNCAP protocols, and while most testing procedures and standards are identical between the two, there’s one major difference that sets them apart.

Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP: the one difference

Under GNCAP, the maximum a vehicle can score in Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) is 34 points, while under BNCAP, it’s 32 points. Both testing protocols award 16 points each for front and side impact test, but GNCAP awards two additional points for seat belt reminders – half a point for each of the front seats and 1 point for the second-row.

BNCAP, on the other hand, does not award any points for seat belt reminders. However, it mandates it for a 3-star rating or higher, albeit only for the front seats. The MoRTH had previously issued a draft notification mandating rear seat belt reminders, which was promptly followed up by manufacturers who installed it in their vehicles. So it’s strange that this has been given a miss.

Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP: the similarities

1. Child occupant protection – For child occupants, the scoring and assessment procedures are identical in both programmes. Both NCAPs award 16 points for the frontal impact test, 8 points for the side impact test, 12 points for CRS installation and 13 points for vehicle-based assessments such as ISOFIX usability, integrated CRS, provision of three-point seatbelts and more.

2. ESC requirement – As of 2023, ESC is optional without a minimum fitment rate, but from 2024, for vehicles to secure 3 stars or higher – under both GNCAP and BNCAP – it has to be a standard fitment. However, there is a clause involved in making ESC standard fitment. The protocols state that fitting ESC in cars must be a two-step process – as standard in the bestselling variant of the vehicle or in equal number in other variants. Both NCAPs also require manufacturers to make ESC standard across all variants within two years of the test result publication. In the same time period, it must also be offered as a ‘standalone’ option, and not combined with any other feature.

3. Side pole impact test – Both GNCAP and BNCAP state that for a vehicle to be tested for pole impact, it has to be fitted with some kind of head protection system, such as side and curtain airbags. Pole tests will not be allowed if side head protection systems are absent. For a 5-star rating, both NCAPs also require at least 50 percent of the vehicle’s variants to be fitted with head protection systems by the end of 2023, 70 percent by the end of 2024, 90 percent by the end of 2025 and 100 percent by 2026.

Interestingly, if a vehicle is tested for side impact in 2023, it could get a 3-star rating or higher, provided it qualifies all other criteria. This is regardless of whether it has a head protection system.

4. Pedestrian Protection – Lastly, Bharat NCAP requires all vehicles to comply with AIS100 norms which is similar to the UN127 norms that’s required by Global NCAP.

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Chandrayaan 3: Five key facts about the Pragyan moon rover

SUV vs Sub: Porsche Cayenne e-hybrid and Kalvari-class submarine

Copyright (c) Autocar India. All rights reserved.