Lenovo Signs as a Title partner of Ducati MotoGP Team

By

-

February 11, 2021

Lenovo and Ducati have announced Lenovo as the Title Partner of the Ducati MotoGP Team and have unveiled the new “Ducati Lenovo Team” team. The announcement also tells that it is a three-year partnership with Ducati.

Commenting on this launch, Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, said, “It is always a great emotion to start a new racing season, which as always we face with dedication and incredible passion, driven by the support of the Ducatisti all over the world. We start strong after winning the Constructors’ World Title last year, despite the complexities that have forced us to overcome obstacles and situations that we have never experienced before. In 2021 there are many novelties, starting with the riders: Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia. They are now the young riders of our official team after gaining experience with the Pramac Racing Team. This year Lenovo, which has already accompanied us since 2018, becomes the new Title Partner of the Ducati Lenovo Team. Together with our factory team’s riders, we also have Ducati’s MotoGP riders Johann Zarco and three of the best talents coming from Moto2, Enea Bastianini, Luca Marini, and Jorge Martin. They will be a very young and future-oriented presence in the championship. We look forward to the start of the 2021 season on 28th March in Qatar and as always #ForzaDucati.”

The Ducati brand is a well-known brand around the world as one of the best technology, design, and passion for motorsports. And with this cooperation, Lenovo affords significant visibility at the international level as well. This new partnership would even make Lenovo’s status as a global technology leader in enabling Ducati to drive faster, smarter, and with better performance.

Well with that said, do let us know if you have any queries about this new Lenovo and Ducati partnership by dropping a comment down below.

Rapido launches ‘Rapido Rental’ a renting service in India

By

Madhav Banka

-

February 10, 2021

Rapido has announced the launch of Rapido Rental services, in Six Indian cities, which are Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Jaipur. For the first time in India, they introduce the concept of 2W bike taxi rental services. This service is mainly for customers who have to complete multiple tasks at different locations but want to avoid the hassle of multiple bookings.

Commenting on the launch, Aravind Sanka, Co-Founder, Rapido, said, “In the last months, we have noticed a rising need for multi-stop, affordable and easily accessible ride among customers, especially our high usage customers. With Rapido Rental, we aim to address the need of such users who have a use case of multi-point travel. This can be a short stopover to pick a few things from a local shop to longer/ multiple stops related to work or personal use-cases such as for comprehensive shopping, house hunting, etc. We hope to provide a superior user experience and win -win situation for our customers and Captains.”

This rental service by Rapido can be booked under selected package duration of 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, and 6 hours, and a dedicated Rapido driver-partner will be available with the customer for the entire trip. Every driver will be eligible for this service and by default is enabled for Rental.

With this first of its kind service, the company aims to provide a superior user experience to customers and better earning the opportunity to the drivers. The pricing of this rental service is mentioned below-

Package	Fare (Rs.)	Duration Limit (hrs)	Distance Limit (Kms)
Package 1	99	1	10
Package 2	199	2	20
Package3	299	3	30
Package 4	399	4	40
Package 5	599	6	60
Usage beyond package allowance
Per Km	Rs. 10	Per-Min	Rs 1.5

Well with that said, do let us know if you have any queries about this rental service, by dropping a comment down below.

Jeff Bezos said to Shift to the Space Venture Blue Origin

By

Madhav Banka

-

February 9, 2021

After Jeff Bezos stepped down as the position of CEO of Amazon. He is expected to focus on his space venture, Blue Origin. Many Industry sources also said that it faces fierce competition from Elon Musk’s SpaceX which is also a Space Venture.

Jeff who’s 57-year old has been a lifelong space enthusiast. And also he’s the world’s second-richest person too coming in just after Elon Musk who recently surpassed him. Blue Origin has always fallen far behind SpaceX on orbital transportation and lost to SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) on billions of dollars’ worth of US national security launch contracts which are going to begin in 2022.

Blue Origin would now battle to win a competition with SpaceX and Dynetics to develop a new lunar lander for NASA’s multibillion-dollar push to return humans to the Moon in a few years.

After Bezos stepped down from the position of CEO of Amazon, He told Amazon employees he would stay engaged in important Amazon initiatives but also devote time to Blue Origin and various media passions. “He is going to kick Blue Origin into a higher gear,” said one senior industry source with knowledge from the operations by Blue Origin.

The company Blue Origin was founded in 2000 and it is a Kent, Washington based company. It has about 3,500 employees and launch facilities in Texas, Florida, and Alabama. Some of its ambitious portfolios include selling tourist trips to space, heavy-lift launch services for satellites, and the lander but none of which are yet fully commercially available.

F1 2021 Driver Lineup announced. Lewis Hamilton signs a 1-year contract with Mercedes

By

Madhav Banka

-

February 9, 2021

The 2021 Formula One is very near and now confirmation of Lewis Hamilton’s deal means the 2021 Formula One grid is now complete. Hamilton will partner Valtteri Bottas, whose one-year deal extension was announced last August, for a fifth successive campaign.

Formula One on Twitter also released an official statement, which confirmed this news.

https://twitter.com/F1/status/1358750593867788297?s=20

Commenting on this Lewis said, “I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes teammates,” further added “Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further, while continuously looking to improve, both on and off the track.

“We have always been aligned with Lewis that we would continue, but the very unusual year we had in 2020 meant it took some time to finish the process, The story of Mercedes and Lewis has written itself into the history books of our sport over the past eight seasons, and we are hungry to compete and to add more chapters to it.”

This deal also confirms that, the 2021 F1 grid is now complete, with the Briton targeting an unprecedented eighth world championship – and what would be a seventh in eight years.

2021 MG ZS EV launched at Rs. 21 lakh in India

By

Madhav Banka

-

February 8, 2021

MG Motors has launched the 2021 MG ZS EV in India, at a price of Rs. 21 lakhs. A major highlight in this car is that it now includes Hinglish voice commands and many additional features as well.

Coming to the car itself now, it comes with a 44.5 kWh battery that can produce up to 143bhp and 353Nm of torque. This new model has a hi-tech battery that MG claims to return a charge of 419kms, and can even sprint from 0-100kmph in just 8.5 seconds. This new ZS EV can be charged with a 50 kW DC charger which enables it to go from 0-80% charge in just 50 minutes. While a standard AC charger could take at least six to eight hours for a full charge.

MG has updated the iSmart system with Hinglish voice commands. This enables the vehicle to respond to over 35 Hinglish voice commands which would operate the various functions of a car, such as turning on the radio, opening the sunroof, and adjusting the AC temperature controls with Hinglish commands.

For the exterior design now, it comes with projector headlamps, LED DRLs, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED taillights, and an integrated rear spoiler. Inside, it comes equipped with a panoramic sunroof, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support as well. There is support for cruise control, a three-level Kinetic Energy Recovery System, different drive modes, electric parking brake, six airbags, HSA, HDC, reverse parking camera, and sensors, as well as a pedestrian warning system.

Coming to the price of this MG ZS EV, it comes in two variants, Excite and Exclusive which are priced at Rs 20,99,800 and Rs 24,18,000, respectively.

Tata’s upcoming Micro-SUV HBX will also come with an AMT transmission option

By

Madhav Banka

-

February 7, 2021

One of the most awaited, Tata HBX AMT is being spied and it has been confirmed to have some new and great things. Even before its launch, it is confirmed to have the Tata AMT gearbox.

Some of the main highlights include, that the Micro-SUV will be positioned under the Nexon. It will come with a 1.2-liter petrol engine, and it is also expected and a 5-speed manual.

Coming to the interior which could be expected, HBX will stick to the concept that was shown last year, and can be confirmed here is that Tata will two gearbox options. A closer look at the car also reveals that the interior actually is a mix-and-match of some of the bits that are already present in other Tata models like the Tiago. It has very similar front seats, flat-bottom steering wheel, switchgear, instrument cluster, HVAC controls, and also the same 7.0-inch floating touchscreen.

It is also expected to be spacious on the inside and come with doors that would open 90 degrees. There will be space for three at the rear, which is also expected to be sufficient, especially as it comes with some relatively flat floors.

Now for the engine and the gearbox of this car, it will come with an 86hp, 1.2-litre, three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol unit. Also, either a five-speed manual or a five-speed AMT auto gearbox options will be available. A 1.2-liter turbo-petrol could join in at a later stage as well.

Later this year, when it arrives at the Tata Showrooms it is expected to priced in-between the Tiago and the Altroz. This would put it in competition with the Ignis from Maruti and Mahindra KUV100 NXT, along with the petrol versions of the Ford Freestyle.

2021 Maserati Ghibli launched in India at Rs 1.15 crore

By

Madhav Banka

-

February 6, 2021

The 2021 Maserati Ghibli has been launched in India, with the price of the car starting from Rs 1.15 crore for the new Ghibli Hybrid and it goes up to Rs 1.93 crore for the high-performance Trofeo. For the first time, Maserati is offering the Ghibli with a V8 engine and consequently, the Ghibli hybrid is also their first hybrid model.

Some highlights of this launch are, that the entry-level Ghibli Hybrid is introduced in three variants which are, Base, GranLusso, and GranSport. The Ghibli Hybrid also gets a unique blue highlight, inside and out as well. Also, the top-spec Ghibli Trofeo comes with a 580hp V8 engine.

Coming to the actual car now, starting with the cosmetics, the 2021 Ghibli receives tweaks to the front grille and tail-lights. The Ghibli Hybrid is further different from itself with blue highlights on surfaces such as the side vents on the front fenders, brake calipers, and the Seatta logo on the C-pillar. Inside, the blue highlights come in the form of contrast stitching.

Talking about Trofeo on the other hand, features red highlights on the exterior and interior along with getting a revised grille, tweaks to the bumpers, and vents on the bonnet.

For the inside of the car now, it is where we see one of the biggest changes. The center touchscreen is upgraded from an 8.4-inch unit to a higher resolution 10.1-inch unit with a new interface as well. Maserati is also offering its Maserati Connect connected technology with the updated system allowing the owner to remotely control in-car functions with just their smartphones and even via Google and Amazon Alexa voice assistant.

Coming to the price of the new 2021 Maserati Ghibli models, it starts at Rs. 1.15 crore and can go up to a whopping 1.93 crores. Here is a list of all the models and their prices-

Ghibli Hybrid Base – Rs. 1,15,40,175
Ghibli Hybrid GranLusso – Rs. 1,42,42,054
Ghibli Hybrid GranSport – Rs. 1,38,57,411
Ghibli V6 GranLusso – Rs. 1,55,71,598
Ghibli V6 GranSport – Rs. 1,51,86,144
Ghibli V8 Trofeo – Rs. 1,93,17,324

Earth Energy launches it’s 3 Electric Two-Wheeler in India

By

Madhav Banka

-

February 6, 2021

Earth Energy has launched its 3 electric two-wheelers GLYDE +, EVOLVE R & EVOLVE X in the Indian market during a Virtual Event. The brand has distributed the EV industry by launching these new electric two-wheelers.

Commenting on the Launch, Mr. Rushi S., CEO & Founder, Earth Energy EV says, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our first range of electric two-Wheelers. The EV industry in India is emerging on account of various factors such as the growing awareness toward the environment, increasing petrol prices, and stringent emission norms, etc. We feel that the consumption of electric vehicles will go up now than ever.”

Coming to the actual products launched by the brands themselves, the first product launched by them is the Earth Energy Glyde+. This electric two-wheeler is powered by a 2.4W electric motor that offers a top speed of 60km/h, hence it can compete with petrol scooters with its sporty looks providing you space, agility, and comfort. The brand also states that the design inspiration for this product is taken from Eagles.

The second product launched by the brand is, Evolve Z. The Evolve Z comes with a very sporty vibe and it supports a 96 AH/ Li-ion Battery. It can go with about a range of 100km and 15 degrees of grade ability. The design inspiration for this two-wheeler is taken from a Diamond.

Last but not the least, the brand has also launched another two-wheeler, the Evolve R. The Evolve R offers very dominant looks when it hits the roads, it can be charged completely in just about 40 minutes with its fast charge facility. And the max it can go up to is 110 km at full charge. The design inspiration of this product comes from an Arrowhead.

Now, for the price for each and every product. Earth Energy has priced the Glyde+ at a price of INR 92,000. Coming to the Evolve Z, it is priced at INR 1,30,000, and the Evolve R comes at a price of INR 1,42,000.

Ford and Google to Accelerate Auto Innovation, Reinvent Connected Vehicle Experience

By

Madhav Banka

-

February 6, 2021

Ford and Google today announced a unique strategic partnership to accelerate Ford’s transformation and reinvent the connected vehicle experience.

Commenting on this Jim Farley, President and CEO of Ford said “As Ford continues the most profound transformation in our history with electrification, connectivity, and self-driving, Google and Ford coming together establishes an innovation powerhouse truly able to deliver a superior experience for our customers and modernize our business,” He then further added “From the first moving assembly line to the latest driver-assist technology, Ford has set the pace of innovation for the automotive industry for nearly 120 years,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. “We’re proud to partner to apply the best of Google’s AI, data analytics, compute and cloud platforms to help transform Ford’s business and build automotive technologies that keep people safe and connected on the road.”

Ford has also named Google Cloud its preferred cloud provider to Google’s world-class expertise in data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. As part of this new, six-year partnership and beginning in 2023, millions of future Ford and Lincoln vehicles at all price points will be powered by Android, with Google apps and services built-in.

This is big news as it could be bringing a lot in common with Cars and Mobile Phones. So the integration between these two devices will be very proper and it could bring some new and great features as well. Android in the car also enables Ford and third-party developers to build apps that provide a constantly improving and ever more personalized ownership experience.

Down below are some of the features that could be coming to Ford Cars if the integration with Google is proper-

Google Assistant- Drivers would be able to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, by getting things done with just their voice.
Google Maps- As the vehicles’ primary navigation, drivers can reach their destination faster with information on real-time traffic, automatic rerouting, lane guidance, and more.
Google Play- Drivers will have access to their favorite apps for listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks, and more. These apps are optimized and integrated for in-vehicle use.

80,000th Continental GT Rolls Out of Bentley Factory in Orange Flame Hue #BentleyContinentalGT

By

News Desk

-

January 31, 2021

Bentley Motors on Sunday announced that it has produced the 80,000th example of the Continental GT at its factory in Crewe, UK. The latest car is a handcrafted, right-hand drive Continental GT V8 with Orange Flame exterior paintwork.

In terms of the features, the luxury grand tourer has been finished with the optional Blackline Specification and Styling Specification, both of which add to the car’s presence and hint at its performance credentials.

To celebrate the production milestone, a heritage fleet was drawn up by Bentley to highlight the evolution and achievements of the Continental GT since 2003.

The fleet included the very first production Continental GT, a Continental Supersports coupe, commonly considered the pinnacle of the first generation GT family, a second-generation Continental GT V8 S coupe finished in Jetstream, and a Dragon Red Continental GT Convertible.

The line-up was joined by some of the most exciting performance-focused Continental GTs, marking the luxury tourer’s contribution in the carmaker’s history of racing and record-breaking.

The current version, which is the third-gen of the car features an upgraded platform, redefined proportions, and is more sculpted and sharply defined.

It gets a choice of powertrains and 17 billion various configuration options for interior as well as exterior. Nearly 5,000 individual examples of the model are delivered to customers around the world every year.

For those of you wondering, the series was launched way back in 2003 and since then, the company has been able to come up with three generations of the model that has undergone several significant styling, technology and engineering upgrades.

What are your thoughts regarding the car? Are you impressed by its rich heritage? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Toyota Kirloskar grows 92% on YOY basis