KTM has updated the 690 Duke with additional power and added list of features as part of its updates signalling the fact that production of the 690 Duke will not be stopped soon.

KTM has announced updates for the 690 Duke. As part of the new update, the 2016 KTM 690 Duke gets a power boost that hikes the power output figure to 74PS at 8,500rpm. The torque figure has also been hiked by six per cent in the updated model.  According to the Austrian bikemaker, they have employed larger bore and shorter stroke which has resulted in the bump in power. Also the 2016 KTM 690 Duke will witness a minor displacement increase of 3cc, for 693cc in total. Other changes include larger valves and the new 690 Duke is also Euro IV compliant. The 2016 KTM 690 Duke will be available with three rider modes that consist of Sport, Street and Rain, selectable by the updated left handlebar switch gear.

Other goodies on the new bike include a switchable Bosch ABS as standard fitment while traction control will be an optional add-on. The 2016 KTM 690 Duke will also be the first KTM offering to sport a TFT display screen as part of its instrument cluster. The new updates signal the fact that the KTM 690 Duke will not be discontinued soon. Pictures of the KTM 790 Duke with a twin-cylinder motor undergoing testing were posted recently and it was expected that the 690 Duke will be given the boot. But it seems KTM wants to keep diversity in its product portfolio and the largest single-cylinder displacement production motorcycle will continue to enthral bikers. 

Courtesy : Zigwheels

Harley-Davidson has kick-started the Ultimate Test Ride competition which gives prospective clients to win their very own Dark Custom motorcycle designed and styled by the Harley-Davidson senior industrial designer – Dais Nagao

At the unveiling of the 2016 Dark Custom models, Harley-Davidson has announced a special Ultimate Test Ride competition for prospective clients. Winners of the contest get a unique opportunity to customise their dream bike. The Ultimate Test Ride competition will be an Asia Pacific wide competition. To enter this contest, all one needs to do is login into h-d.in/testrideandwin to locate your nearest Harley-Davidson dealer and book a test ride. Competitors will have to test ride any of the new Harley-Davidson Dark Custom range of motorcycles that includes the Street 750, Forty-Eight and Iron 883. One lucky winner will get the opportunity to build and design their custom Dark Custom Harley-Davidson bike. Making it more special is the fact that the bike will be styled and designed by Dais Nago, senior industrial designer at Harley-Davidson and the man behind the Iron 883. 

The winner will be flown to Milwaukee, USA, the home of the Harley-Davidson and at the headquarters Dias will design the bike with the lucky contestant. Once the design is finalised, the custom Harley-Davidson bike will be built at the local dealership. Other goodies in store for the winner includes a tour of the Harley-Davidson Museum, tickets to local sports or music events and a camera to record the memorable moments. If the winning entrant has already bought a Harley-Davidson Street 750, Iron 883 or Forty-Eight, after their test ride and during the promotion period (September 14th to December 31st 2015), Harley-Davidson will fully refund their purchase and Dais Nagao will customise their original bike.

Courtesy :  Autocar

Here are our first impressions from behind the handlebars of India’s only 150cc scooters today; the Vespa VXL and SXL.

You’ve already met Vespa’s earlier LX 125, VX 125 and Vespa S, 125cc gearless scooters boasting instantly recognisable retro styling with a generous sprinkling of Italian seasoning.

The winds of change are billowing at Vespa in India, visible in renewed energy injected by parent Piaggio India’s savvy new managing director, Stefano Pelle, and the new Vespa VXL 150 and SXL 150.

The VXL and SXL offer refreshing styling, in a range of attractive, bright colours as expected. There’s a choice of matte shades too, for those that don’t subscribe to a glossy finish on their scooter. The VXL and SXL show off smart alloy rims, with single side suspension front and rear. There are hints of chrome here and there on these well-equipped scooters. The palm grips are comfortable to hold, and the VXL and SXL scooters come with top-quality switches and chrome body mirrors, these easily adjusted and offering good vision. There’s a city light facility offered, along with a smooth functioning, spring loaded, push-to-cancel indicator operation switch. A set of machined alloy front and rear brake control levers look good as well.

The VXL and SXL share digital instruments consoles, with analogue speedometers. You get a clock, tripmeter and fuel gauge as standard with the new Vespas. There are handy storage cubbies below both handlebars, as well as under the long, well-padded riding saddle. The VXL and SXL offer ribbed footwells, with a raised central section your feet may take time getting used to fitting around; a small price to pay for these scooters' true-blue retro style.

Other subtle differences between the VXL and SXL are the S losing a grab bar at rear, and offering different seat lining, darked out wheels, a rectangular headlight and mirrors.

The VXL and SXL feel like top-quality scooters, with excellent paint lustre and an impressive level of fit-and-finish.

The newest Yamaha plant in India is located on the outskirts of Chennai and is the third manufacturing unit after Surajpur in Uttar Pradesh and Faridabad in Haryana.

India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. (IYM) has inaugurated its third manufacturing facility at the industrial park in Vallam Vadagal situated at the outskirts of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The new factory will be the first in the Yamaha Motor group to have a vendor park in its vicinity. Spread across 177 acres, the new facility covers an area of 109 acres for IYM and 68 acres for vendor partners.

The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Tamil Nadu in May, 2012 to construct and operate the two-wheeler factory in the state. The new facility will join the currently operating factories of IYM at Surajpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Faridabad (Haryana) to meet the rising demand for two-wheelers in India. With the new Chennai factory and the company’s plants in Surajpur and Faridabad, IYM will have a combined two-wheelers production capacity of 2.5 million units by 2018.

On this occasion, Hiroaki Fujita, Chairman, India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd., said: "We plan to invest a total of Rs. 1,500 crores in phases till 2018 when the new plant is expected to have a capacity of 1.8 million units.The company has sold 7.4 lakh units in 2014 and we are eyeing double-digit sales growth in 2015. The company is also targeting a significant increase in the domestic market share in the coming three years."

The vendor park has 9 vendors who plan to invest Rs. 1,000 crore and will employ around 3,000 people by 2018. The facility will bring together the production operations of main external parts suppliers, enabling complete synchronization of external supplier parts production as well. This system will reduce losses in the areas of production management and distribution to extremely low levels in the overall engineering and manufacturing process, and make the new production base a highly-efficient and profitable plant.

The Chennai plant incorporates state-of-the-art infrastructure and advanced technologies for Zero-water discharge and recycle/ reuse of waste water and maximum use of sunlight. The building is compatible to solar power system installation. All common utilities are located in the centre to minimize distribution loss and centralized management.

To begin with, Yamaha will produce the new 125cc Saluto motorcycle and scooters including new Fascino, Alpha, RAY & Ray Z at the new plant, which will have an initial annual capacity of 450,000 units. The plant employs more than 2,000 people currently and will have 3,900 employees by 2018, out of which about 40 per cent will be women workers.

Courtesy : Zigwheels

Suzuki’s new global hatchback, the Baleno will be showcased for the first time at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show 2015. India-bound soon.

Recently, spy pictures of what looked like the production version of the upcoming Suzuki Baleno surfaced on the internet. Today, a new set of images have unofficially confirmed the roll out of the new Baleno from Maruti’s plant. The new Baleno (Codename: YRA) is likely to hit Indian showrooms very soon.

The new made-in-India Baleno is a global model and will be officially unveiled globally at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show 2015. In India, it will sit above the Swift. Though not officially confirmed, but Maruti could sell this new hatchback via its newly launched Nexa premium dealership that also sells the S-Cross.

Powering this new hatchback will be an all-new 1.0-litre turbo petrol Boosterjet motor. Maruti, in India is also likely to offer the 1.2-litre K12 as well as the popular 1.3-litre Fiat-sourced diesel engine. Maruti’s recently launched SHVS diesel-hybrid technology will also be coupled with the diesel version.

In India, the new hatchback will take on the likes of the Hyundai i20 and Honda Jazz. It is based on a new-generation platform which will underpin upcoming models from Suzuki. The carmaker is also readying an all-new compact SUV (Codename: YBA) for the market. 

Courtesy : Autocar