The Z250SL is powered by a single-cylinder 249cc, four-stroke, liquid-cooled engine; Kawasaki may use locally sourced components.

Kawasaki is expected to launch the Z250SL in India, its first single-cylinder offering in the market. Unlike the Z250, which uses a parallel-twin, 249cc, 31.5bhp engine, the Z250SL uses a similar displacement, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, four-stroke motor which is expected to develop around 27bhp.

The Z250SL is 20kg lighter than the Z250, thanks to the use of high tensile steel for its trellis frame. The models weighs 148kg for the non-ABS model, while the ABS-equipped model weighs 150kg.

A source close to the development told our sister publication Autocar Professional, “Components such as handlebars, clutch plates, front and rear suspensions, wheels, tyres, head- and tail-lamps, electrical switches, switch housings, radiator fans and other similar parts may be locally sourced for the Z250SL. The engine and its parts are, on the other hand, imported from Thailand. Kawasaki is working on localising this model to keep costs low and is sharing the part vendors of Bajaj Auto. Also, the single-cylinder engine will ensure that this model (Z250SL) would be the most affordable model from Kawasaki ever.”

However, deputy MD of India Kawasaki Motors, Shigeto Nishikawa, in an official communication to our sister publication, refused to make any comments about the upcoming new model.

The Z250SL is expected to be launched by end-2015, with a cost likely to be hovering around the Rs 2 lakh mark. Once launched, the motorcycle will compete against the likes of the single-cylinder 199.5cc, 25bhp KTM Duke 200, the single-cylinder 249cc, 26bhp Honda CBR250R and other models in the entry- level performance bike segment.

Kawasaki stated that it has no plans to discontinue the Z250.

Courtesy : Autocar

Carbon fibre chassis technology has been present in racing motorcycles and special limited edition production bikes. But until now carbon fibre chassis has been a niche technology owing to its higher production cost and is among the first features to be equipped in limited edition machines. BMW Motorrad though plans to change this scenario soon. The German brand is the pioneer in the automotive industry when it comes to this miracle material. It is the only manufacturer that has cracked the code of mass production of carbon fibre structure for the BMW i8 and i3 cars. 

The German manufacturer wants to expand this knowhow of carbon fibre mass production into the world of two-wheels. According to reports BMW Motorrad is developing new carbon fibre chassis to replace aluminium and steel frames in its range of motorcycles. Patents have leaked for the next generation frame designs along with the manufacturing procedure. The benefit of carbon fibre is its lightweight nature. Weight is the biggest enemy for any performance machine and engineers strive their level best to shed as much kilograms from a motorcycle. Carbon fibre is used extensively in the world of racing for the fact that it is almost 40 per cent lighter than its metal equivalent. BMW Motorrad is working on a carbon fibre beam frame which would be employed in its performance range of machines.

Expect the carbon fibre frame to make its presence felt on the next generation BMWS 1000RR and the BMW S1000. The Bavarian manufacturer will be using the “pultrusion” to produce the beam frame section. The second frame will be the carbon fibre trellis frame which is a bit more tedious to manufacture as in conventional trellis frame the tubes are welded together while in carbon fibre construction it would joined with cast junction blocks. The trellis carbon fibre frame would be used on the mainstream range of BMW Motorrad motorcycles. Mass production of carbon fibre frames would be a giant leap in the world of production motorcycles and we sincerely hope BMW Motorrad is able to pull of this technology advancement. 

Courtesy :  Zigwheels.

Finally, Honda is ready to join the compact SUV bandwagon with this: the BR-V. Unveiled at the ongoing Indonesia International Auto Show, the BR-V is the fourth product that Honda has created on the same platform that also forms the basis for the Brio, Amaze and Mobilio. Which is why its likeness to Honda's newest MPV comes as no surprise.

It will be positioned as a rival to the Renault Duster-Nissan Terrano and the Hyundai Creta, but it actually looks a lot like a Mobilio wearing thick-soled boots. The face and the rear section look different, yes, but from the side, it is a plastic-clad Mobilio that appears to be like an SUV. That belief is strengthened when you read what Honda has to say about what the BR-V really is: "This new generation crossover utility vehicle features the combination of an SUV appearance and handling and great utility and the spacious cabin of an MPV". So, potential Renault Lodgy Stepway buyers may just be tempted to do some cross-shopping.

Anyway, the BR-V's heightened stance means there's more ground clearance on offer, and since it is a Mobilio in SUV clothing, it also has seven seats, which will make it the only offering in its class to have three rows of seating. We do not have official interior images yet, but we can tell you the dash design will be noticeably different from the insides of the Mobilio. Honda claims the BR-V's interior space is "class-leading", and also tells us that the car will come with air-conditioning for rear-seat passengers as well.

For the Indonesian market, Honda will sell the BR-V with the 1.5-litre i-VTEC (found in the City) which develops 117 horses and 145Nm of torque. When it comes to India, the BR-V will be sold with the 1.5 petrol, as well as the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel (99bhp, 200Nm). Sending power to the front wheels is a six-speed manual, and a CVT gearbox is on offer, too. However, for India we think Honda will stick to the existing 5-speeder.

Safety-wise, the BR-V is equipped with dual front airbags, ABS and Vehicle Stability Assist. To compete with a car like the Creta, which is packed to the gills with features, Honda will have to bless the BR-V with sufficient kit. Like it did with the Mobilio, expect a posher 'RS' version to join the ranks some time in the future.

In Indonesia, the BR-V will be priced between Rs 11-12.5 lakh, so you know this one's aiming for the big guns. Expect Honda to first showcase the car at the Delhi Auto Expo in February, and follow it up with a launch in the months that follow.

Courtesy : BBC TopGear.

This is the new Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe. It has two doors, driven wheels at the rear, lots of noise, and a bi-turbo V8 with the option of 470bhp or 503bhp. The latter is the correct option.

The new C63 follows in the footsteps of the regular C-Class Coupe revealed earlier this week, and of course, the C63 Saloon, with which it shares much of its DNA.

So you’ll spot those familiar flared wheel arches, accommodating a 64mm wider track up front and 66mm wider track at the back, and housing wider tyres. Which, of course, are likely to get torched, thanks to the engine from the AMG GT installed under that power-domed bonnet.

Like the C63 Saloon, the Coupe gets the AMG GT supercar’s bi-turbo, 4.0-litre V8 with dynamic engine mounts, in either base 470bhp form - 0-100kph in 4 seconds – or C63 ‘S’. That ‘S’ gets 503bhp and a 0–100kph time of 3.9 seconds. By any metric, that’s seriously quick.

Both versions are quicker than their equivalent C63 saloons by a tenth, and – perhaps more crucially – faster than the BMW M4. Both versions are also capped at 250kph, though you can select the AMG Driver’s Package to liberate up to 290kph.

A new exhaust flap developed specifically for the Coupe ensures many noises are made, too, while you can even option a proper performance exhaust for yet more shouting. Merc’s dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox is the only transmission on offer, of course driving the rear wheels.

AMG has tweaked the coupe’s suspension relative to the C63 Saloon, too: there are new steering knuckles, while the contact surfaces of the wheel bearings were pushed 25mm further out. Yeah, exactly.

The coupe also gets new wheel carriers, stiffer elastikinematic tuning, and a higher negative camber. Naturally, you get AMG’s ‘ride control’ in the shape of adaptive dampers.

The base car comes with a mechanical limited-slip diff, while the C63 ‘S’ gets an electronic version.

Looks the part, too, don’t you think? A new front spoiler, aforementioned twin-dome bonnet and flared arches, new side skirts, rear diffuser and spoiler lip all help distinguish the AMG from the regular C Coupe - though there is a distinct whiff of Mustang about its swooping roofline profile - while inside it is as upmarket as you would expect from an AMG Mercedes.

Prices have yet to be announced, but expect a small premium over the base C63 Saloon’s starting price (which will be out on September 3). Now, here’s the big one: this, or the six-cylinder, 425bhp BMW M4? On paper at least, the Merc has it licked, but we know things are different out there in the ‘real’ world of pumped-up, 250kph coupes…

Courtesy :  BBC TopGear.