The all-new BMW iX1 comes with the automaker’s xDrive all-wheel drive technology and promises up to 440 km range on a single charge. Powered by the automaker’s fifth-generation eDrive technology, the iX1 also promises instant acceleration of 0-100 kmph in 5.6 seconds. Powering the EV is a 66.4 kWh battery pack paired with dual electric motors, fitted to each axle and channelling power to all four wheels through an AWD. The electric luxury SUV claims to be capable of running at a top speed of 180 kmph. The electric powerplant onboard the iX1 churns out 308 bhp peak power and 494 Nm of maximum torque.
Watch: 2023 BMW iX1 electric SUV: First Look
The all-new BMW iX1 comes with fast charging technology. Using a 130 kW DC fast charger its battery pack can be topped up from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in 20 minutes. BMW claims the battery pack can ensure a 120-kilometre range with 10 minutes charge using the fast charger. An 11 kW AC charger tops up the battery pack fully in about 6.3 hours.
The BMW iX1 comes with a standard two-year warranty for unlimited kilometres. Also, the battery pack is covered by an eight-year or up to 160,000 kilometres warranty.
The electric luxury SUV comes with a bold and muscular design, in line with BMW’s contemporary styling philosophy. An almost square BMW kidney grille with a closed glossy black panel, and distinct ‘i’ identification make it different from the conventional fuel-powered X1. Other design elements include segment-first adaptive LED headlights, square wheel arches, 18-inch M light alloy wheels, a large surface diffuser at the back and L-shaped LED taillights. The BMW iX1 is available in Alpine White non-metallic paint and Space Silver, Black Sapphire and Storm Bay metallic colour options.
Inside the cabin, the choice of upholstery includes Veganza Perforated Mocha and Veganza Perforated Oyster. The first thing that catches attention inside the cabin is the fully digital BMW curved display. The automaker has used M Sport leather on the steering wheel, while the blue ring finisher logo also adds distinctiveness. It sports ambient lighting, dual-zone AC, a 12-speaker audio system, and multiple massage options for the front seats.
Electric SUV available in single trim with a range of 440km.
BMW has launched the all-electric iX1 xDrive30 SUV for Rs 66.90 lakh (ex-showroom). The SUV is based on the popular BMW X1, which was not just the bestselling luxury SUV for the brand in FY2023 but also the bestseller overall. We broke the story earlier this month that the EV SUV is set to come to India.
10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment
Gets ADAS features
4th electric BMW on sale in India
BMW iX1 exterior and interior
Since it’s based on the combustion-engined X1, the electric iX1 gets an almost identical design, with an ‘i’ on the front grille to differentiate it from the ICE vehicle. The SUV rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and gets adaptive suspension. It’s available in four monotone colours – grey, silver, black and white.
On the inside, the SUV features a 10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit that is operated using BMW’s iDrive operating system; the digital information display is a 10.25-inch unit. The interiors are finished in Aluminium ‘Mesheffect’ with chrome highlight accents, and it gets a reclining rear bench. The SUV has a boot space of 490 litres.
BMW iX1 features and safety
The iX1 gets two-zone climate control, front seats with massage functions, a Harmon Kardon sound system with 12 speakers, 6 ambient lighting modes and a panoramic sunroof. The SUV also gets adaptive LED headlights, automatic tailgate operation and parking assist.
The iX1 gets similar safety equipment as the ICE SUV with features such as ABS, ESP, traction control and ADAS. Since it’s an electric vehicle and has no engine noise, it comes equipped with a feature that plays an artificial sound to alert people on the road, which works at speeds of up to 30 kph only.
BMW iX1 battery, range and performance
The BMW iX1 comes equipped with a motor at each axle that gives it all-wheel drive capability. The combined power output figures are 313hp and 494Nm, which give the EV a 0-100kph speed of 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 180kph. The SUV utilises a 66.4kWh battery pack and has a claimed range of 440km.
Using a standard 11kW AC charger, the BMW’s battery can be charged from 0-100 percent in 6.3 hours, while a 130kW DC fast charger charges it from 10-80 percent in just 29 minutes.
BMW iX1 price and rivals
The BMW iX1 xDrive 30 is the most affordable electric vehicle BMW offers in the country. It also sells the i4 sedan, the iX SUV and the opulent i7.
The BMW iX1 sits between the Mercedes EQB (Rs 77.50 lakh) and the Volvo XC40 Recharge (Rs 56.9 lakh), and also rivals the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (Rs 45.95 lakh) and Kia EV6 (Rs 60.95 lakh). The brand could locally assemble the EV here in the future, as they are doing with the X1, to lower its prices.
Mumbai-based racer Jehan Daruvala has been signed by Maserati MSG Racing to compete in Season 10 of the FIA Formula E World Championship. Daruvala is the second Indian driver after Karun Chandhok to participate in Formula E and only the third Indian (after Narain Karthikeyan and Chandhok) to race in a world car championship. Jehan will join Maximilian Gunther at Maserati, which makes the duo one of the youngest driver pairings on the grid at 24 and 26 years respectively.
Jehan Daruvala becomes the second Indian driver to compete in Formula E after Karun Chandhok
Jehan climbed the ropes of racing with Formula 3 in 2019, progressing to Formula 2 in 2020. The driver went on to secure four race wins and 18 podiums in F2 between 2020 and 2022. He also went on to drive the 2021 McLaren F1 challenger last year with test opportunities. Daruvala progressed to Formula E at the end of 2022 as a reserve driver for Mahindra Racing in Season 9. The driver made two rookie test appearances earlier this year with the Indian team and now comes on board as a full-time driver for Maserati MSG Racing.
Very excited to kick-start this new chapter of my professional racing career!😁 A big thank you to everyone who has supported me in my journey to get here and to @maseratimsg for giving me this opportunity. Can’t wait to get started!✅🔱 pic.twitter.com/6ltArcCJDL
Jehan Daruvala said, “Formula E is a championship that I have admired for a long time, and after taking part in two test sessions, I’m very happy to have the opportunity to step up to a full-time race seat. From my experiences so far, the GEN3 car is completely unique to drive, but I’ve found it to be a very rewarding experience. I would like to thank James and Maserati MSG Racing for giving me this chance and I can’t wait to learn more about the car and get to know the team better in pre-season testing, before hitting the ground running in Mexico City in January.”
James Rossiter, Team Principal, Maserati MSG Racing, said, “We’re excited about our driver lineup for Season 10, and we’re confident that the blend of Max’s experience with Jehan’s determination will prove to be a competitive combination. Max impressed us throughout the 2022/23 season, and continuing our relationship was a natural decision. He has brilliant speed, a strong understanding of Formula E’s GEN3 package, and with five seasons of experience – despite being aged only 26 – has an impressive amount of knowledge. That experience will be invaluable for Jehan, who has already shown good promise in his two rookie test outings with Mahindra earlier this year. Over the past four years, he has shown hunger and determination in Formula 2 and has clearly demonstrated that he has what it takes to win races. Now, Jehan is ready to do the work it takes to succeed in Formula E.”
Maximilian Günther, Driver – Maserati MSG Racing, said, “I’m very proud to continue with Maserati MSG Racing. We had a great first season together, particularly with the momentum we built in the second half of the year with one win, four podiums and two poles. Continuing to build on this base is something that I‘m very much looking forward to in 2024, alongside working with Jehan as my new teammate. After seeing our performance trajectory unfold this year, I‘m confident we can go on to achieve bigger and better things in the future.”
Giovanni Tommaso Sgro, Head of Maserati Corse, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Jehan to the Maserati family. Together with Max, they will form a talented young pairing, and we are excited ahead of the new season. Every year, Formula E fields experienced drivers, alongside some of motorsport’s most promising young talents, confirming itself as the series of the future. We’re confident that Jehan’s arrival will give an extra boost to the whole team. He will also be making a major contribution thanks to his previous experience as a test driver.”
The 2024 Formula E Season 10 is set to kick off in January next year with the Mexico City e-Prix. The electric racing championship will be the longest next season with Tokyo added to the calendar. However, it’s still not clear if the championship will return to Hyderabad for the second time next year. That said, Formula E is yet to announce the venue for Round 4 and 5 to be held on February 10 and 24, respectively.
While Daruvala will begin his stint in Formula E, Max has been on the grid for longer. Gunther joined Dragon Racing as a test and reserve driver in Season 5 and was promoted to a full-time role in 2018. He moved to BMW i Andretti Motorsport in 2019 and later to Nissan e.dams in 2022. The driver joined Maserati in 2023 and went on to secure two pole positions, four podiums and Maserati’s first victory in world championship single-seater races since 1957. Jehan and Max will begin preparations for the 2023/24 campaign with pre-season testing at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo between October 23-27, 2023.
In related news, Mahindra Racing signed Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara as their new driver line-up on multi-year contracts.
After a brief stint in F1, Nyck de Vries returns to Formula E with Mahindra.
Mahindra Racing will field an all-new driver line-up in Formula E next year. In a surprise move, 2021 Formula E championand former F1 driver Nyck de Vries has joined the team alongside former Maserati driver Edoardo Mortara.
Both drivers have signed multi-year contracts with Mahindra and will play a key role as the team looks to bounce back to form.
De Vries and Mortara share 10 E-Prix wins between them
Both drivers have signed multi-year contracts
Mahindra downplays 2024 Formula E expectations
The M9Electro struggled with reliability and efficiency this year, resulting in Mahindra finishing 10th in the championship. The two-season homologation rule means the team will have to field the same car in 2024, too, although it can make some software tweaks to find added performance.
Mahindra Racing CEO Frederic Bertrand has stressed that the team is playing the long-term game, with a number of key structural changes being made as well. “We anticipate next year will be another year of development and progress, and in a championship like Formula E, success is impossible to achieve overnight. But the signing of Nyck and Edo, along with new recruits within the wider team, puts down a solid foundation on which we can build,” he said.
“As a team, we are all embarking on a journey to bring Mahindra Racing back to the front of the grid in the coming years,” Bertrand added. “Equally important for the team are the drivers’ appetites for a long-term project, which makes them the perfect fit for Mahindra Racing at the beginning of this journey.”
Mahindra Racing 2024 Formula E drivers
Mahindra has parted ways with both of its 2023 drivers. Oliver Rowland left the team mid-season and was replaced by Roberto Merhi for the last few rounds. Meanwhile, Lucas di Grassi just recently announced that he’ll be leaving Mahindra after just one season. Reserve driver Jehan Daruvala, meanwhile, has moved to Maserati for a full-time racing role.
But the Indian squad has wasted no time in announcing its revised line-up. Nyck de Vries returns to the championship after a season away. While his F1 stint with AlphaTauri didn’t go to plan, he says that coming back to Formula E “will feel like coming home”.
Despite their recent poor form in the championship, Mahindra now finds itself with one of the stronger driver line-ups on the grid. Both de Vries and Mortara have 10 E-Prix wins between them. De Vries says being part of this process of steering a team back to winning form played a crucial role in his decision to join Mahindra.
“I’m particularly excited about the future plans for the team. The basis is already strong, and the team has all the attributes to succeed. I believe going forwards we will be able to extract even more potential from the project and the organisation, so to be a part of that process was very appealing for me,” he explained.
Mortara echoed the same sentiment, adding, “What I could also feel from the people here is that we share the same values. We have a great project in front of us, but I can see a lot of determination and motivation from everyone in the team, and this is so important.”
Pre-season testing for the 204 Formula E season gets underway next month at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo from October 23-27.
Yamaha Motor has launched the R15 V4 in Japan updated for the 2024 model year. The 2024 Yamaha R15 V4 joins the 2024 R125, also launched in the bike maker’s home market. Both bikes get new colour options while retaining the same mechanicals. The 2024 R15 V4 gets a new all-black paint scheme ‘Black Metallic 12’, which seems to be inspired by the larger R7. The colour option is complemented by the new blacked-out components.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 26 Sep 2023, 21:58 PM
The 2024 Yamaha R15 V4 gets three new paint options in Japan including the all-black ‘Black Metallic 12’
Up next is the new ‘Deep Purplish Blue Metallic C’ that is essentially a blue and black shade borrowed from the larger R1, and ensures the R15 looks a part of the R1 family. Lastly, the 2024 R15 V4 gets the new ‘Dark Bluish Gray Metallic’ shade that brings more flare to the full-faired offering. This includes the neon yellow finished alloy wheels complementing the bodywork finished with the grey-blue shade with neon yellow pinstripes.
The 2024 Yamaha R15 V4 for Japan also gets the neon yellow and Dark Bluish Gray Metallic shade
Apart from the new colour options, the 2024 Yamaha R15 V4 retains the same hardware as the outgoing model. Power comes from the familiar 155 cc single-cylinder, SOHC, liquid-cooled, four-valve engine with VVA system. The motor is tuned to develop 18.1 bhp and 14.1 Nm of peak torque, paired with a 6-speed gearbox. The bike gets a bi-directional quickshifter as well as an assist and slipper clutch. The bike also comes with dual-channel ABS.
The 2024 Yamaha R15 V4 in Japan is priced at 550,000 Yen (approx. ₹3.08 lakh), which makes it nearly twice as expensive as the Indian version. The India-spec R15 V4 is priced from ₹1.82 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) onwards. The R125, meanwhile, is not on sale in the Indian market.
Flying Spur is the second hybrid by Bentley and has an electric-only range of up to 41km.
Bentley has launched the Flying Spur Hybrid at Rs 5.25 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi, before options). Powering the plug-in hybrid Bentley is a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine paired with an electric motor, and combined, it has a range of up to 805km.
Gets a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 paired with an e-motor
Combined, the hybrid powertrain has a range of up to 805km
By 2024, Bentley’s entire portfolio will have a hybrid powertrain option
Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid exterior and interior
The Flying Spur Hybrid will be available in 60 colour options, including Mulliner customisation options as well. Bentley is also offering its blackline specification for the Flying Spur Hybrid that gets a blacked-out treatment for the chrome trims like the grille, window surrounds, headlight surrounds, door trims and handles as well as exhaust pipes and the Flying B mascot. Furthermore, the only identifier that this Flying Spur is a hybrid is the ‘hybrid’ badge on the boot lid.
Inside, Bentley offers customers 15 colour options for the upholstery, with five standard and 10 optional colours. They also get an option of eight veneer options for the dashboard. To up the customisation quotient, Bentley also offers contrast stitching, piping and emblems on the seats.
Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid powertrain
As mentioned, the plug-in hybrid Flying Spur is powered by a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor that, combined, produced 544hp and 750Nm. Bentley claims that the Flying Spur Hybrid can do the 0-100kph spring in 4.3 seconds and has a range of up to 805km with up to 41km of electric-only range.
Future Bentley models
Bentley also mentioned that by 2024 its entire model range – Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga – will be available with a hybrid powertrain option. Now, with the Flying Spur and Bentayga getting a hybrid powertrain option, only the Continental GT remains. In 2025, the British Marque will launch an all-electric model and by 2030, its entire portfolio will only consist of EVs.
Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid rivals
Globally, the Flying Spur Hybrid rivals the Mercedes-Maybach S580e but does not have any direct rivals in India. The standard Flying Spur competes with the likes of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class (Rs 2.69 crore – 3.40 crore) and the Rolls Royce Ghost (Rs 6.95 crore – 7.95 crore).
Under this initiative, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) has embarked on a meticulously designed program to conduct operational trials of 15 Fuel Cell buses powered by Green hydrogen.
These trials will encompass designated routes in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The project’s inaugural moment saw the launch of the first set of two fuel cell buses from India Gate. This program is the first of its kind in India to dispense green hydrogen at 350 bar pressure for operating fuel cell buses.
Furthermore, Indian Oil has established a cutting-edge dispensing facility at its research and development (R&D) campus in Faridabad. This facility can refuel green hydrogen produced through electrolysis using solar photovoltaic panels.
According to SM Vaidya, Chairman of Indian Oil, the launch of these two buses signifies the commencement of a comprehensive assessment of the performance and durability of this new technology. The trial period, spanning more than 3 lakh kilometres across all buses, will generate vital data that will serve as a national repository.
This repository is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of zero-emission mobility in India, powered by green hydrogen. In his address, Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized, the Indian government’s commitment to clean and green energy. Hardeep Singh Puri said, “The Future of our transport will be on green hydrogen”.
BMW is among the automakers who have been working on hydrogen fuel cell technology over the last few years, as hydrogen could be a potential green and clean fuel for future cars.
India’s endeavours in the realm of low-carbon development, including emerging fuels like hydrogen and biofuels, are central to these efforts. Puri said, “India has one of the largest synchronous grids in the world, capable of handling intermittent renewable energy and we have achieved ‘One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency’.”
India, with its extensive synchronous grid capable of handling intermittent renewable energy, is poised to be a global champion in hydrogen production and exports. “We have recently witnessed the launch of the world’s first Bharat Stage 6 (BS 6) (Stage II) Electrified Flex Fuel vehicle prototype that encompasses both the flex fuel engine as well as an electric powertrain that offers higher use of ethanol combined with better fuel efficiencies. With Industry and Government collaboration, India is on its way to becoming a global hub for cleaner technologies and achieving self-reliance in energy soon”, Puri said.
Hydrogen, hailed as the fuel of the future, holds immense potential in helping India achieve its decarbonization targets. The global demand for hydrogen is projected to surge four to seven times by 2050, reaching 500-800 million tonnes. Domestically, demand is set to quadruple, from the current 6 million tonnes to 25-28 million tonnes by 2050.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is actively driving initiatives related to green hydrogen, including production and utilization in refineries, hydrogen blending in natural gas pipelines, localization of electrolyzer-based technologies, and promoting bio-pathways for green hydrogen production.
Fuel cells, the heart of these green hydrogen-powered buses, employ hydrogen and air to generate electricity for propulsion.
These buses are environmentally friendly, with the only byproduct being water, offering a stark contrast to conventional buses running on diesel and petrol.
Fuel cells are also highly efficient compared to internal combustion engines. Fuel cells boast an electrical efficiency of 55-60 per cent, a notable improvement over the thermal efficiency of 25 per cent for conventional internal combustion engines.
These buses are set to achieve a remarkable fuel economy of around 12 km per kilogram of hydrogen, compared to 2.5-3 km per litre for diesel buses.
Hardeep Singh Puri commended IOCL and Tata Motors for their collaborative efforts in developing indigenous solutions for fuel cells and hydrogen infrastructure for heavy-duty buses in passenger transport applications.
Puri stated, “I would like to congratulate the IOCL team for undertaking this collaborative approach along with Tata Motors for the development of indigenous solutions pertaining to Fuel Cell and hydrogen infrastructure in the country, for heavy-duty buses for passenger transport application. I am sure that the ecosystem developed through efforts like these can integrate a larger economy with the energy sector”.
He stressed that this green hydrogen-powered bus initiative could potentially transform India into a net exporter of clean hydrogen energy and set a global precedent in technology transfer and green hydrogen production.
The initiative has plans to soon operate an additional 15 fuel cell buses in the National Capital Region (NCR). Minister Puri expressed his commitment to closely monitoring this project, highlighting its importance on the national stage and its potential to revolutionize city transport in India.
India’s foray into green hydrogen technology signifies a significant stride toward achieving energy self-reliance and global leadership in the realm of sustainable energy solutions.
The Buddh International Circuit was a hit with riders, but did the Indian GP do enough to earn a spot on next year’s calendar? We take a look.
“We kind of made it against all odds,” is what Amit Sandill – co-founder of Fairstreet Sports said to Autocar India when asked about the first ever MotoGP race on Indian soil. There was a lot resting on the event going ahead; after all, it’s the first time that the Buddh International Circuit has hosted a world championship event in a decade.
Given our history with F1 and with next year’s Formula E Hyderabad round under threat, pulling off this MotoGP race was crucial to establish India as a country ready to host international motorsports. So did the inaugural edition do enough? We take a look at all the key talking points.
1. BIC exceeded expectations
Riders were pretty apprehensive about the Buddh International Circuit heading into the race weekend, especially given that the circuit was still pending FIM homologation with just a handful of days to go. The track was originally built for F1, so a number of changes had to be made to make it suitable for motorcycle racing. This included extending the run-off areas and gravel sections, installing upgraded barriers and more.
It was a very different story once the riders actually got some track time, though, with several of them praising the technical nature of the track with its significant elevation changes. The banked parabola section of Turn 8/9 was another hit among riders and MotoGP fans alike.
“The track is very technical, you must be very precise, but all in all, it is beautiful,” said reigning MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia after the opening practice sessions on Friday. Of course, the fact that it is a new track also levelled the playing field a bit, allowing riders like Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo – who’ve had a tough spell recently – to shine.
2. The heat was on
With temperatures ranging from 32-35 degree Celsius all weekend, and humidity levels above 80 percent, it was a gruelling venue for the riders. So, it was no surprise when riders asked for the race distances to be shortened. And following feedback from the official tyre suppliers, Dorna and the FIM obliged – the MotoGP Sprint and junior class races were shortened by one lap each, while the Sunday MotoGP race was shortened by three laps.
And we still saw Jorge Martin suffer from dehydration in the closing stages of the race. Running on a medium rear tyre, compared to most of the grid on softs, the Prima Pramac racer wore himself out trying to hold on to second place and later had to be attended to by the MotoGP medical team.
So, it’s not surprising that organisers are now looking to give the race an October slot if it does go ahead next year, with Sandill saying “[the track is] technical, therefore it’s tiring, and the weather doesn’t help. It’s probably a good idea to have it in October, or November even.”
3. Not a sell-out crowd
Around 58,000 fans attended the race in person on Sunday and over 1,11,000 across the weekend. While those aren’t necessarily bad numbers (Qatar had an attendance of just 17,972 in 2022), it doesn’t paint a good picture to see empty stands, that too when India happens to be one of the largest markets for two-wheelers in the world. Some events like the French GP see over 2,70,000 fans make their way to Le Mans over the weekend.
Organisation plays an important role here. Ticket sales only started in late-June, just three months before the race, with prices ranging from Rs 800-40,000. But uncertainty surrounding the race also had a role to play, potentially holding back people from booking tickets.
Work on the track started fairly late following a legal battle between the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) and Jaypee Associates Ltd. Ultimately MotoGP organisers took on the responsibility to foot the bill for all the repair work. Given this race against time, Sandill admits the focus was simply on making the event happen: “We did it in three months. The event had to happen looking at the time constraints. Marketing did take a bit of a backseat, which to me is not the best way to do it.”
4. Still plenty of work to do for 2024
While the track itself exceeded expectations, there’s plenty of work to be done if MotoGP returns here in the future. Several key staff and even riders like Marc Marquez were affected by visa issues. There were also a number of uncanny track delays; Autocar India understands that Friday’s Moto3 track action was delayed by 45 minutes due to a drinking water shortage for the marshals.
The track itself could also do with some tiny tweaks, with riders pointing out some areas where the walls are a bit too close to the track. There were also some instances where marshal action was not as prompt as one would hope for, but that improved as the weekend went on. But these are all areas that can be worked on.
“There are improvements which will be done, this is the first time. To an extent, it’s also a learning curve for us. If there are any shortfalls, next year we’ll take care of all that,” said Sandill. “I think for the first time, it has been successful. The services have to be improved, I do think that we need more awareness to be built. But that’s not a showstopper.”
He added, “The buildings are a bit dated now and need a proper renovation, which we will do for the following year.”
Dorna and Fairstreet Sports have signed a seven-year deal for the Indian GP. But with several new venues like Hungary looking for a spot on the MotoGP calendar, it remains to be seen if the first edition of the Indian GP did enough for the race to stay on the calendar.
5. Title fight thrown wide open
It’s game on in the 2023 MotoGP championship following the Indian GP. Bagnaia’s costly crash dealt a big blow to his championship hopes, as Marco Bezzecchi cruised to a dominant win at the BIC.
Martin’s second place finish means he’s just 13 points behind leader Bagnaia now. Bezzecchi, meanwhile, is 31 points behind Martin.
The inaugural MotoGP Grand Prix of India ended on a high with VR46 team rider Marco Bezzecchi taking an uncontested win on his Ducati. The Italian rider led the race from the pole position and was unchallenged for most of the 21-lap race as defending world champion Francesco (Pecco) Bagnaia crashed out. The first-ever Indian GP has thrown open a three-way title fight as the top three riders are separated by 44 points in the world rider championship standings.
VR46 rider Marco Bezzecchi took an uncontested win in the inaugural Indian GP main race. Also finishing on the podium were Jorge Martin and Fabio Quartararo (Grand Prix of India/MotoGP)
Marco Bezzecchi started on the pole but a better start for Jorge Martin catapulted him to P1. Pecco also moved up to P2 with the VR46 rider moving down to P3 in the opening corners. But Bezzecchi clearly had better pace on his GP22 Ducati as he reeled back in the lead at Turn 4. There were no crashes on the opening lap since all riders were being extra cautious of Turn 1 braking, unlike the sprint race. Bezzecchi began building his lead with defending champion Pecco Bagnaia right on his tail at the end of the opening lap. Just what the rider needed after a disappointing crash with teammate Luca Marini wiped him in Lap 1, Turn 1 of the sprint race.
Behind Bezzecchi and Bagnaia was Jorge Martin, followed by Honda riders Joan Marc Marquez and Joan Mir. Bagnaia defended his position for the first half of the race as Martin began closing in, battling for P2. The Ducati factory rider had to cut his podium run short though with a crash on Lap 13, Turn 5, removed from contention. The incident promoted Martin to P2, while Fabio Quartararo moved up to P3, as an early crash put Marc Marquez at the back of the order from running fourth in the early stages.
At the front, Bezzecchi built a lead of well over two seconds by Lap 6, extending it further to 5 seconds by Lap 13. The rider remained untouched with a sizeable difference in pace over the rest of the grid. The 24-year-old managed to claim the victory in the first-ever Indian GP with a lead of 8.649 seconds.
Meanwhile, with Pecco out of contention, Fabio turned out to be the unexpected fighter in the Yamaha as he moved in sync with the Pramac Ducati to battle it out for P2. Quartararo managed to pass Martin briefly but the Pramac rider was not the one to give it away that easy and passed the Yamaha again, ensuring to keep the order that way till the end of the race.
Fabio Quartararo finished third in an impressive turnaround for Yamaha this weekend (HT Auto/Sameer Contractor)
Coming in fourth was Brad Binder on the KTM, in what was salvaging a disappointing weekend overall, while Joan Mir finished fifth after battling it out with Binder for P4. Johann Zarco finished sixth, while Franco Morbidelli finished seventh in a dramatic improvement of pace for Yamaha through the weekend. Maverick Vinales finished at P8, while Marc Marquez crossed the chequered flag in ninth place, an impressive finish considering his crash earlier in the race.
Rounding off the top 10 was Raul Fernandez on the RNF Aprilia, followed by Takaaki Nakagami of LCR Honda at 11th place. Miguel Oliveira of RNF Aprilia finished 12th ahead of Pol Espargaro of Tech3. Jack Miller concluded the weekend in 14th place while Stefan Bradl of LCR Honda concluded the list of points scorers in the race. Also finishing the race was Michele Pirro on the Ducati.
The Yamaha R3 hasn’t been on sale in India since the introduction of the BS6 emission norms in early 2020. Yamaha is now bringing back its parallel twin sport bike and it will also come with its street bike sibling, the MT-03.
The bikes will initially launch here as CBU imports from Indonesia with Yamaha intending to switch to CKD production further down the line. With that in mind, it is fair to expect that these will be expensive motorcycles, with ex-showroom prices starting from above the Rs 4 lakh mark. The previous-gen Yamaha R3 last retailed at Rs 3.5 lakh ex-showroom before and the new bike comes with numerous upgrades including fresh style, LED headlamps and a USD fork.
The MT-03 has never been sold in India before this and it is effectively the naked version of the R3 with a similar main chassis and the same 321cc parallel twin engine that produces 42hp.
The Yamaha R3 and MT-03 will both be retailed out of the company’s premium Blue Square dealer network.
The Prima Pramac Racing rider reduces his championship deficit to reigning world champion Bagnaia to 33 points.
After a delayed start due to unseasonal rain, the first ever MotoGP Sprint race in India saw Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin take a dominant victory, leading every lap and crossing the chequered flag 1.4 seconds ahead of fellow Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia.
Having spent all weekend establishing itself as the strongest team at the Indian GP, the Mooney VR46 squad had a disastrous sprint race, with both its riders involved in a turn 1 incident on lap one. Having gotten a strong start from 4th place, Luca Marini left his braking a little too late and ended up slamming into the rear of teammate and pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi. The former crashed out, while the latter was pushed wide and dropped to last position, before making an impressive recovery through the field to finish in 5th. Despite his salvage effort and the 5 points it earned him, Bezzecchi sees his gap to the championship lead grow to 69 points.
Martin stamps his authority
As the dust settled from the turn 1 incident, it was Jorge Martin who emerged in the lead, and he held that position for the entirety of the race. He was followed by Ducati Lenovo man Francesco Bagnaia, who gradually dropped back over the course of the race, before slightly reducing the gap towards the end. The Italian continues to lead the world championship standings, but sees his lead cut down to 33 points by a hard-charging Martin.
Mixed fortunes for Repsol Honda
Rounding out the podium was Repsol Honda man Marc Marquez, who resisted race-long pressure from Red Bull KTM rider Brad Binder to hold onto 3rd place. A strong showing for the Japanese manufacturer thus far was slightly dampened when Joan Mir failed to capitalise on his second row starting position, crashing out at turn 3 soon after having run wide at turn 1 and lost 4th position.
Heading into tomorrow’s 21-lap main race, Bezzecchi will once again set off from pole position, ahead of Bagnaia and Martin. Full qualifying results are available here. Marini, meanwhile, has been diagnosed with a broken collarbone after today’s crash, and will miss the rest of the weekend.
At Ola Electric’s recent event, they showcased four new electric motorcycles. They are named Diamondhead, Adventure, Cruiser and Roadster for now. The production version of the first motorcycle is expected to go on sale by the end of 2024. Ola Electric has showcased the four electric motorcycles at their stall at the MotoGP Bharat 2023.
Ola Diamondhead at the manufacturer’s stall at Buddh International Circuit
Ola Electric is also an industry partner of MotoGP Bharat. The electric two-wheeler manufacturer has provided 150 S1 electric scooters for mobility duties around the track. The electric scooters will also be there for marshall support.
The Diamondhead is designed as a sports bike with a dedicated riding triangle as it has clip-on handlebars and rear-set footpegs. There is an aggressive front with full fairing to improve aerodynamics. The Roadster has sharp body panels, a sleek LED Daytime Running Lamp, split seats and a slightly committed riding position.
As the name suggests, the Adventure is an off-road adventure tourer with a tall stance and comfortable riding posture. There are USD forks, a monoshock at the rear, spoked wheels, chain drive, knuckle guards, a TFT screen and a tall windscreen.
Finally, there is the Cruiser which seems like it is inspired by the Ducati Diavel. It has a wide LED Daytime Running Lamp, front-seat footpegs, a wide handlebar, a TFT screen for instrumentation and aerodynamically efficient body panels. The motorcycle uses 17-inch wheels, USD forks and a monoshock at the rear.
Watch: Ola Electric motorcycle concepts breaks cover | To launch in 2024
Apart from the electric motorcycles, Ola Electric is working on MoveOS 4 which is slated to go public next month. The manufacturer is currently beta-testing the software. With the MoveOS 4, Ola will add its own maps which will be called Ola Maps. Ola Electric says that they have improved features such as regeneration, hill hold, charging time prediction, charging and riding range as well. The Hypercharging is now faster and so is the document syncing, contact syncing, pairing and touch response.
Repsol Editions get dual-tone Ross White and Vibrant Orange paint scheme.
Honda has launched Repsol Editions of the Dio 125 and Hornet 2.0 for Rs 92,300 and Rs 1.4 lakh, respectively, which will be sold via its Red Wing outlets. Both models have been introduced just ahead of the MotoGP race in India this weekend.
Honda says that the new Repsol graphics represent the brand’s rich racing legacy. Both models come with a dual-tone colour combination of Ross White and Vibrant Orange with Repsol-style graphics that have been one of the most popular editions for Honda.
The Honda Dio 125 comes with a 123.92cc, 4 stroke, single-cylinder engine that’s BS6 Phase 2 compliant and puts out 8.3hp and 10.4Nm. It comes with Combi-Brake System (CBS) with Equaliser, a 12-inch front wheel with telescopic suspension and a three-step adjustable rear suspension.
The Hornet 2.0 Repsol comes with a 184.40cc, 4 stroke, single-cylinder engine that churns out 17hp and 15.9Nm, and comes with a new slipper clutch. It also gets dual petal disc brakes with a single-channel ABS.
Lexus is benchmarking Tesla for developing its own next-generation electric cars, reported Automotive News. Lexus International President Takashi Watanabe has reportedly said that the Japanese luxury car brand owned by Toyota humbly looks at and learns from Tesla for its own electric cars, as the auto company aims to transform itself as a major EV player later in this decade.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 22 Sep 2023, 13:45 PM
Lexus plans to make its future electric cars using an altered production technique.
Lexus aims to launch a massive EV offensive with multiple electric cars scheduled to go on sale in 2026. However, the task is not easy considering the fact that there are already several players in both the mass-market segment and the luxury segment as well. Watanabe reportedly finds it a difficult mission to steer the brand through a massive EV overhaul.
Lexus is slated to preview its next-generation electric car that will launch in 2026 through a concept debuting at the Japan Mobility Show next month, claimed the report. The next-generation EV will be built on a modular architecture as the automaker has said. It will come with significantly altered production methods and a completely re-imagined software platform as well. “We have also prioritized vehicle design to embody the essence of Lexus,” he reportedly said while also adding that the auto company plans to make it easier to build and simply as much as possible. “One of our first steps will be modifying and rethinking our production methods,” he said.
With the altered production method, Lexus aims to drive down production costs by commoditizing the hardware as much as possible. With this strategy, it is reportedly aiming to compete with global EV leader Tesla and BYD. However, despite Tesla being its possible competitor, Watanabe didn’t shy away from admitting that Lexus has a lot to learn from the US electric car major.
Interestingly, Toyota at one point remained a key partner of Tesla. It would interesting to see if Lexus implements that learning into its own EV projects. The report claims the production technique is being developed by Toyota, from which Lexus will benefit. The production method will include giga-casting hat will greatly reduce the number of components. Also, the cars will reportedly drive themselves through assembly lines.
Repsol Honda Team rider Marc Marquez unveiled his new helmet ahead of the maiden Indian GP scheduled this weekend. The former MotoGP world champion arrived in India earlier today amidst visa woes that delayed his arrival. Speaking at the first press conference at the Indian GP, the Spaniard spoke about looking forward to riding at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) tomorrow.
Marc Marquez’s new helmet celebrates the vibrant Indian culture with its colours and also gets the tri-colour, making it even more special
Marc Marquez’s new Shoei helmet gets a vibrant colour scheme, representing the vibrant Indian culture. It also features the Indian tri-colour further giving it a unique touch compared to the helmet designed used by the rider in other races. The specially designed helmet certainly celebrates the maiden Indian GP, which kicks off with the practice session on Friday, September 22.
The MotoGP riders also said concerns about track safety have been resolved after arriving in India
Marquez comes to India after the testing session at Misano. Elaborating on the same during the press conference, the rider said that the Honda race bike remained the same in terms of specifications but the new track would make for an interesting playing field for the riders. The BIC has been repurposed for MotoGP duties (originally designed as an F1 circuit) and this will be the very first time MotoGP riders will have their hand on the circuit. This should level the playing field for the riders, making for an even more interesting race weekend.
Earlier in the day, Marc Marquez went around the circuit with former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, interestingly on a Royal Enfield Classic 350 with a sidecar.
The Grand Prix of India will begin with the practice session on Friday with the riders getting the first taste of the circuit, followed by the qualifying and sprint race on Saturday. The main race is scheduled at 3.30 pm (IST) on Sunday, September 24.
The departing Monster Energy Yamaha rider talks BIC first impressions, Yamaha’s continuing struggles in MotoGP, and more.
Speaking to us ahead of the inaugural MotoGP race in India, Monster Energy Yamaha rider Franco Morbidelli discussed an array of topics, ranging from first impressions of the Buddh International Circuit, to the current state of affairs at Yamaha, and MotoGP technical regulations.
Having clinched the rider’s world championship with Fabio Quartararo in 2021, the factory Yamaha squad has since seen a downturn in results, with Quartararo failing to defend his title last year, and languishing down in 11th place in this year’s championship standings. In that time period, Yamaha has gone from fielding four bikes in MotoGP (an extra pair in the RNF Yamaha independent team), to just the two bikes in the factory squad. When asked about how this has affected bike development, Franco Morbidelli said it wasn’t a very influential factor.
Yamaha’s performance struggles in recent times
In his words, “The problems that we are facing this year are similar to the previous years. For sure, when you’re struggling, more data can help you. So I think having more riders at your disposal can help for sure. But our problems have remained the same – it’s not the factor that has affected us this year. Over the last few years, it’s been Quartararo who has been able to push through and overcome the weakness of the package. This year, maybe that’s happened less and the two of us are more in the same boat.”
Another factor that Yamaha’s struggles have been attributed to is the factory’s continued use of an inline-four engine configuration – with the departure of Suzuki from MotoGP at the end of last year, the Yamaha YZR-M1 is now the only remaining inline-four cylinder motorcycle on the MotoGP grid (all the 4 other manufacturers use a V4 engine layout). However, once again, Morbidelli says that the issue isn’t necessarily down to engine configuration.
“Everybody else is racing a V4 engine, but Yamaha has great history with the inline-four. They have been able to win many championships and races with this configuration. I’m not an engineer and I don’t know in detail the positives and negatives of the two structures, maybe I’ll be able to tell you better next year (cheekily referring to his departure from Yamaha to Prima Pramac Ducati at the close of this season). But I believe that there is more potential or power in this, to reach the top even with an inline-four. Right now, our engine is still not on the level of our competitors, and actually this year we lost some rideability to add the extra power we’ve found this year. So the engine has become more nervous, more angry. Yes, it delivers more power, but to get that, we gave away some rideability.” said Morbidelli.
First impressions of Buddh International Circuit
Speaking about his first impressions of the Buddh International Circuit, the Italian says “The track is wonderful. Elevation changes, tricky corners, banking, it looks like an exciting track and I’m sure it will be tomorrow on the bike as well. I think turn 10 should really suit the Yamaha, that’s a corner where our bike should work well.” However, it was not all good news. “The only thing is that in some places the run-off area is a cause for concern. Turn 2 is a corner where we will be carrying a lot of speed and the run-off area is pretty short, turn 4 – we arrive there at a very high speed and the run-off area is very short. Turn 12 is a very fast right, and that’s also an area of concern.” said Morbidelli. Changes have been made to various areas of the track after the FIM visited the BIC earlier this year, but the majority of riders have still expressed concern over the run-off areas in a few spots. That said, the overall level of safety would still appear satisfactory enough for the race weekend to go ahead as planned.
Aerodynamics in MotoGP: good or bad?
As MotoGP makes its debut in India, aerodynamics continues to be a big talking point in the series. With a 1km+ back straight, the BIC features the 6th longest straight on the MotoGP calendar, and aerodynamics could play a big role here. Speaking about what effect the winglets and various other aero appendages have had on MotoGP machines, Morbidelli confidently states that they are definitely more of a help than a risk.
“I like aerodynamics on the bike. Aerodynamics go against the top speed, but it helps in many other areas, especially in terms of controlling wheelie, so it’s a give and take. Aerodynamics change the whole character of the bike. These bikes are very powerful, very peaky, very angry. And as soon as you put aerodynamics on them, they relax, and they are more rideable. The rider is able to extract more from the package. Every aerodynamic item that the engineers put on the bike actually helps settle down the bike and control the huge power.” said Morbidelli.
He then went on to give a practical explanation of how the downforce-generating wings are making the sport safer – “The biggest impact is that up until a few years ago, braking with MotoGP bikes was very tricky. In many braking zones, you would reach the braking point with the front tyre either entirely up in the air, or feeling very light. It was very important for the rider to be careful of the front tyre before braking, and make sure it was really on the ground before braking. Now this is an issue that has completely gone away, because the faster you go, the harder the wings are pushing the front tyre into the ground, so that improves the comfort during braking very much, also improving safety.”
Morbidelli will compete in practice sessions, qualifying, a sprint race and the big blockbuster main race on Sunday, along with the rest of the MotoGP grid. You can read all about the very first Indian MotoGP round here.
Ola Electric’s scooters have been spotted on the Buddh International Circuit track ahead of the upcoming MotoGP Bharat 2023, scheduled between September 22 and 24, 2023. Also, three-time MotoGP world champion and the safety advisor for the upcoming event, Loris Capriossi was seen taking the Ola electric scooter for a spin on the BIC track. The electric vehicle manufacturer has posted several images on social media of its scooters on the BIC tracks. The EV company is the industry partner of the event.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 20 Sep 2023, 13:31 PM
Former world champion Loris Capriossi takes Ola electric scooter for a spin on BIC tracks
Ola Electric is expected to showcase its Diamondhead electric motorcycle at the upcoming MotoGP Bharat event. The Diamondhead is the superbike concept that the EV manufacturer revealed on August 15 this year. This futuristic sportsbike is slated to launch within a few years as part of Ola Electric’s range of electric motorcycles, which were showcased in concept forms in August.
Watch: Ola Electric motorcycle concepts breaks cover | To launch in 2024
The Ola Diamondhead comes with a diamond-shaped panel at the front, which paved the way for the nomenclature. The diamond panel gets a sleek LED strip, while the actual LED headlamp sits beneath the beak. The concept sportsbike was showcased as a semi-faired model.
The pure electric Ola sportsbike gets disc brakes on both front and rear wheels, while the rear wheel comes covered in order to achieve better aerodynamic efficiency. Another exciting fact about this bike is that the front suspension looks completely unconventional as it is positioned almost parallel to the ground. Other design elements of the Ola Diamondhead include a sleek LED strip at the tip of the tail section acting as a taillight.
Besides the Ola Diamondhead, Ola Electric is also expected to showcase its other electric motorcycle concepts at the event. The other models include a cruiser, a roadster and an adventure motorcycle, which all were showcased in August this year.
Mahindrahas unveiled fresh prices for the XUV300, with most trim levels seeing a marginal price drop. The XUV300 line-up currently gets a total of five variants and three engine options mated to either a manual or an AMT transmission.
Mahindra XUV300 pricing updates
As mentioned above, several variants on the XUV300 line-up have received a price cut, however, some variants see a marginal price hike too. Starting with the naturally aspirated petrol options, the ex-showroom prices for W2 and W6 trims remain the same at Rs 7.99 lakh and Rs 9.99 lakh, respectively. The W4 and W8 manual transmission variants are now available at a fresh price of Rs 8.66 lakh and Rs 11.50 lakh – an increase of Rs 25,000 for the W4 and Rs 4,000 for the W8 manual.
XUV 300 Updated prices
Variant
New price
Old price
W2 MT Petrol
Rs 7.99 lakh
Rs 7.99 lakh
W4 MT Petrol
Rs 8.66 lakh
Rs 8.41 lakh
W6 MT Petrol
Rs 9.99 lakh
Rs 9.99 lakh
W6 AMT Petrol
Rs 10.70 lakh
Rs 10.85 lakh
W8 MT Petrol
Rs 11.50 lakh
Rs 11.46 lakh
W8 (O) MT Petrol
Rs 12.60 lakh
Rs 12.68 lakh
W8 (O) AMT Petrol
Rs 13.30 lakh
Rs 13.37 lakh
W4 Turbo Petrol
Rs 9.31 lakh
Rs 9.31 lakh
W6 Turbo Petrol
Rs 10.50 lakh
Rs 10.71 lakh
W8 Turbo Petrol
Rs 12.00 lakh
Rs 12.02 lakh
W8 (O) Turbo Petrol
Rs 13.00 lakh
Rs 13.18 lakh
W4 MT Diesel
Rs 10.21 lakh
Rs 9.90 lakh
W6 MT Diesel
Rs 11.00 lakh
Rs 11.03 lakh
W6 AMT Diesel
Rs 12.30 lakh
Rs 12.35 lakh
W8 MT Sunroof Diesel
Rs 13.00 lakh
Rs 13.05 lakh
W8 (O) MT
Rs 13.92 lakh
Rs 13.90 lakh
W8 (O) AMT
Rs 14.60 lakh
Rs 14.60 lakh
Talking about price cuts, the W6 AMT is now available for a fresh price of Rs 10.70 lakh – reduced by Rs 15,000. The W8 (O) manual and AMT trims are also marginally cheaper at Rs 12.60 lakh and Rs 13.30 lakh, with prices dropping by Rs 8,000 and Rs 7,000, respectively.
Mahindra has decreased prices for the 1.2-litre, 3-cyl turbo-petrol options across the board, barring the base W4 trim, which sees no changes in its price. The W6 trim sees the biggest price cut of Rs 21,000 (now priced at Rs 10.50 lakh), while the W8 (O) variant sees a price drop of Rs 18,000 with the new price set at Rs 13 lakh.
The W8 variant, now available at a price of Rs 12 lakh, sees a Rs 2,000 deduction when compared to the original price.
Mahindra XUV300 diesel prices
The XUV300 W4 manual diesel variant is now Rs 31,000 more expensive, with the revised price being Rs 10.21 lakh. The manual variant of the W8 (O) trim sees a price hike of Rs 2,000 and is now available for an ex-showroom price of Rs 13.92 lakh, while its AMT variant sees no changes in its price.
Meanwhile, the rest of the variants see marginal price cuts. The W6 AMT and W8 MT Sunroof variants both see a price cut of Rs 5,000 each, with new prices of Rs 12.30 lakh and Rs 13 lakh, respectively. Finally, the W6 manual sees a marginal price cut of Rs 3,000 with a revised ex-showroom price of Rs 11 lakh.
Mahindra XUV300 facelift due soon
As we previously reported, the XUV300 is due for a major facelift in the near future, and these new prices could indicate the facelift isn’t very far as Mahindra aims to clear the XUV300 stocks. The XUV300 facelift is likely to be based on the BE SUV concept and could feature a revised bumper and a new two-part grille. Besides the BE concept, it’ll also take major design cues from the XUV700 line-up, especially at the rear.
We expect Mahindra to continue with the same powertrain options as the current-gen XUV300, but there’s been no word on whether they opt for updated transmission options in the XUV300 facelift. Currently, the XUV300 is available with a manual and an AMT transmission.
The organisers of the maiden MotoGP Grand Prix of India have released a list of essentials that spectators can and can’t carry to the race track this week. The first-ever round of MotoGP Bharat is scheduled to take place between September 22-24, 2023, and spectators have been prohibited from carrying items like power banks, laptops, binoculars, professional cameras and more to the Buddh International Circuit (BIC).
The prohibited list of items includes alcohol, sharp objects, power banks, laptops, backpacks, binoculars, chewing gums and more
The list of prohibited items also includes backpacks, radios, chairs, stools, large handbags, umbrellas, balloons, coins, bottles, fireworks, lighter or matchboxes, glass containers, perfume, deodorants, drones, alcohol, cans, chewing tobacco, and chewing gums. Spectators won’t be allowed to bring pets either as well as a laser light, pen/pencil, skateboards, roller blades, and drones. Some of the more obvious items include firearms, crackers, sharp-edged materials, syringes, as well as sprays.
On the other hand, the organisers have shared an essential list of items that can be brought. It includes caps/hats, ear plugs, sunscreen, mat/picnic cloth, sunglasses, baby food, and a medical inhaler. There’s no provision to take food items or even water inside the circuit premises and spectators will be dependent on the food and beverage options available at the race track to choose from.
While the prohibited items may seem arbitrary, most of these items are also prohibited at cricket stadiums across the country. While prohibiting laptops and professional cameras is understandable, the ban on power banks is out of the ordinary. It’s unclear as to what will be the alternatives available at the circuit.
The MotoGP Bharat safety car and bike arrive for the big showdown this weekend
MotoGP Bharat will see the top motorcycle riders from across the world in attendance. 41 teams and 82 riders will be competing over three days across Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP championships. The BIC was originally built as a Formula 1 circuit but has undergone a host of changes to make it suitable for racing motorcycles.
The first practice session will be held at 4.00 pm on September 22, Friday, followed by the second practice session at 10.40 am onwards on September 23, Saturday. Qualifying will take place on the same day in the morning from 11.20 am onwards with the sprint race scheduled at 3.30 pm. The feature race on September 24, Sunday, is scheduled at 4.00 pm (IST).
Tata Nexon.ev Fearless+ offers the most bang for the buck as it comes loaded with many features.
Published On Sep 19, 2023 09:00:00 AM
Tata Motors has launched the Nexon.ev at Rs 14.74 lakh for the entry-level Creative+ MR. The top-spec Empowered+ LR variant is priced at Rs 19.94 lakh. The Nexon.ev has two battery pack options – a 30kWh Medium Range (MR) and a 40.5kWh Long Range (LR).
Tata Nexon EV facelift powertrain, variants explained
The Nexon.ev is available with a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) that produces 129hp in the MR variants and 145hp in the LR variants. Torque output for both variants remains the same at 215Nm, which is up to 38Nm down from the outgoing model. The Nexon.ev comes in three core trims – Creative, Fearless and Empowered. Each trim gets its own special colour option – Creative Ocean, Fearless Purple and Empowered Oxide. These trims also get optional packages denoted by a ‘+’ suffix.
Here’s what you get in each trim:
Tata Nexon.ev Creative+ – Rs 14.74 lakh
Powertrain: 192hp PMSM motor with 30kWh battery
Dual-function Daytime running lamps
LED tail lights
Express cooling
Height-adjustable driver’s seat
Powered tailgate
Touch-based HVAC controls
Umbrella holder in front doors
7.0-inch touchscreen
4 speakers
Android Auto, Apple CarPlay
Steering-mounted controls
Image and video playback
7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
6 airbags, ESC
3-point seat belts for all passengers
Connected car tech
Keyless go
Reverse camera
TPMS
Hill ascent control
ABS with EBD
Tata Nexon.ev Fearless – Rs 16.19 lakh-18.19 lakh
Powertrain: 192hp PMSM motor with 30kWh battery/ 145hp PMSM motor with 40.5kWh battery
In addition to Nexon.ev Creative+, it gets
10.25-inch touchscreen
4 speakers and 4 tweeters
Wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay
10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with navigation
Projector LED headlights
Front fog lamps with cornering function
Sequential turn indicators
16-inch alloy wheels
Rear AC vents
Height adjustable front seat belts
Electrically adjustable wing mirrors with auto-fold
Powertrain: 192hp PMSM motor with 30kWh battery/ 145hp PMSM motor with 40.5kWh battery
In addition to Nexon.ev Fearless, it gets
Arcade app suite
Fabric-lined grand centre console with armrest
Wireless charger
Hill descent control
Tata Nexon.ev Fearless+ S – Rs 17.19 lakh-19.19 lakh
Powertrain: 192hp PMSM motor with 30kWh battery/ 145hp PMSM motor with 40.5kWh battery
In addition to Nexon.ev Fearless+, it gets
Voice-assisted sunroof
Auto headlights
Auto wipers
Tata Nexon.ev Empowered – Rs 17.84 lakh
Powertrain: 192hp PMSM motor with 30kWh battery
In addition to Nexon.ev Empowered, it gets
Air purifier
Ventilated seats
Charging indicator in front DRL
Auto-dimming IRVM
Rear seat centre armrest
360-degree camera
JBL-tuned speaker system
Blind spot monitor
Front parking sensors
Tata Nexon.ev Empowered+ – Rs 19.94 lakh
Powertrain: 145hp PMSM motor with 40.5kWh battery
In addition to Tata Nexon.ev Empowered, it gets
12.3-inch touchscreen
Emergency and Breakdown call assist
While the base-spec Creative+ trim gets many nice features, it’s the Fearless+ trim that offers the most bang for the buck. It gets a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Arcade app suite, wireless charger and more. Moreover, the Fearless+ trim is also available with the Medium Range and Long Range powertrains.
Tata Nexon.ev rivals
As before, the Nexon.ev continues to rival the Mahindra XUV400 EV (Rs 15.99 lakh-19.39 lakh), MG ZS EV (Rs 23.38 lakh-27.90 lakh) and Hyundai Kona Electric (Rs 23.84 lakh). The pre-facelift Nexon EV won our comparison test with the XUV400 as it offered much more in terms of features. This continues as the Nexon.ev now has many more features with a very marginal price hike over the pre-facelift model.