Kawasaki to give its middle-weight offerings Ninja 650 and the ER6n an update. Expected to be launched in early 2016

Kawasaki first brought the popular Ninja 650 to India shores in 2011. A year after that the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer was quick to introduce an updated version. However, it has been more than three years since then and now Kawasaki has finally decided to give its popular middle-weight a much needed update. Along with the fully faired offering, Kawasaki will also give an upgrade to its naked ER-6n. 

While details of the updates are still sketchy, sources close to the company revealed that both these bikes will receive mere cosmetic changes. The Kawasaki Ninja 650 will now get a new colour scheme, with the green fairing fading out into white at the bottom. The black plastics too get a gloss finish instead of the matte black. The only mechanical change on the Ninja 650 is a new fuel filter. Similarly, the naked sibling ER-6n too will get just cosmetic changes with an identical green spring at the rear. Although the 2015 ER-6n will continue to be sold in black, it will now get green highlights. The logos too have been changed. 

As far as the engine is concerned, both these motorcycles will continue to sport the same 649cc, liquid-cooled parallel twin unit that makes 72.1PS of power at 8,500rpm and 64Nm of peak torque at 7,000rpm. All of this power is sent to the rear wheel via a 6-speed transmission. 

Pricing of the 2015 Kawasaki Ninja 650 as well as the 2015 ER-6n is expected to be more or less the same. Deliveries of the updated versions of both these bikes is expected to commence soon. 

Courtesy : Zigwheels

Heavy rains and the resultant floods in the city of Chennai have forced automobile manufacturers such as Ford, Hyundai and Renault-Nissan to suspend operations at their plants. This is the second time in a fortnight that the auto majors have had to take this step.

Ford claims that it has stopped production at its assembly and engine plant in the interest of its employees' safety. The floods have rendered many roads in the city unusable.

Hyundai said that it has suspended three shifts at it main plant is likely to resume operations only when the conditions permit.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance has also kept it plant closed and will restart operations only after the conditions improve.

Ford's plant has an annual rolex replica watches production capacity of 3.4 lakh engines and 2 lakh vehicles. The Hyundai plant has the capacity to roll out 6.8 lakh vehicles annually and the Renault-Nissan facility can produce 4.8 lakh vehicles per year.

Courtesy : Team BHP

Under the Polestar badge, Volvo is looking at developing high-performance versions of the sedan and estate with focus on electrification.

 Volvo revealed the all-new S90 on December 2, 2015. The sedan, based on the SPA platform underpinning the new XC90, is set to replace the ageing S80 in the company’s line-up internationally. An estate version, to be called V90 is also being developed and is expected to be revealed sometime in 2016.

Following the global reveal, Volvo boss Håkan Samuelsson stated that the company is planning on developing performance versions of the flagship sedan and estate under the Polestar badge with hybrid powertrains.

Samuelsson also suggested that Polestar’s future direction would include hybrid models and the brand is definitely going to focus on electrification.

Volvo’s R&D head, Peter Mertens added that Polestar aimed to offer sophisticated performance in place of ‘boy racer’ models with large engines. He said that Tesla had legitimised electric performance and Polestar aimed to offer greater sophistication along with “performance without regrets”.

On the topic of Polestar models, Nick Connor, MD, Volvo UK, said that there was a clash of ideals currently between the brand’s environmental-led image and its performance model, and the use of hybrid powertrains could help to tie the two sides together.

“Polestar optimising the T8 hybrid powertrain would be very interesting,” he said. “That would present a very interesting technical solution, with the ultimate power being combined with an environmental powertrain.”

Courtesy : Autocar

Could be badged i5; BMW is in the final stages of deciding the type of model to add to its 'i' line-up.

BMW board member for sales and marketing, Ian Robertson, has revealed that the company has nearly confirmed a third ‘i’ model to slot in between the electric-drive only i3 and the i8 hybrid. Likely to be badged i5, the new car could either be a mini-MPV version of the i3 or a sedan that could rival the upcoming Tesla Model 3.

“You will see more i products,” said Robertson, “and we are in the final stages of deciding what the next car will be and when you’ll see it.” The unveiling of the new ‘i’ model is expected coincide with the German automaker’s centenary celebration in early 2016.

Robertson also revealed that while the i8 had been a success in the internationally markets, the i3’s modest sales were down to low demand for the model and not production-related problems that plagued the model at the time of launch. “We see lots of outside factors involved,” he said, “including range anxiety, incentives in some countries but not in others, and the price of fuel [in the United States]. But sales of the i3 are up 60% year on year and it’s the third best-selling EV in the world. We’re convinced the i steps have been right.”

Courtesy : Autocar

It looks like the S90 scale model spy shots didn't lie, as the Volvo S80's successor has been revealed and looks exactly like what we had imagined. In terms of design, the S90 can be safely called a sedan equivalent to the XC90, and after the SUV, this is the second car developed from scratch by Volvo since the takeover by Geely.

Unveiled at a special event in Gothenburg, Sweden, the S90 will share its powertrain options with the XC90 and will feature a host of 4-cylinder mills. The range will include the 2.0L, 4-cylinder turbocharged and supercharged T6, a turbocharged T5 variant and T8 Twin Engine (direct injection petrol) plug-in hybrid powertrain. A D5 diesel variant will also be offered in select markets, including India.

Like the XC90, the interior features a clutter free setup with key functions (including infotainment through a Bowers & Wilkins sound system, navigation and climate control) being controlled through the 9-inch central touchscreen display.

As expected from Volvo, safety has taken the driver's seat and the S90 gets features like lane keeping assist and an interesting safety feature called City Safety with large animal detection. The system is capable of detecting large animals such as elk, horses or moose, night or day. The technology offers an intuitive warning and brake support to help avoid a collision.

The S90 is set to be publicly unveiled at the NAIAS in Detroit, with details including the specifications and pricing expected as well.

Courtesy : Team BHP