The drawings could point to a production-spec version of the Yuntu plug-in hybrid concept displayed at the 2017 Shanghai motor show.

New patent drawings that have been registered at the European Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM) shows that a seven-seat Jeep SUV is possibly on the way.

The new seven-seat SUV is likely to be the production version of the Yuntu plug-in hybrid concept that was showcased the 2017 Shanghai motor show in April. This can be inferred from the design-based similarities between the patent drawings and the concept, particularly the silhouette, wheel arches and the grille. The design of both also hints that the SUV may not be in the same league as its stable mates when it comes to off-roading, indicated by the low approach and departure angles.

While the American manufacturer has not confirmed production for the Yuntu, the patent drawings could mean that the SUV may be revealed sometime next year. The production-spec Yuntu hybrid is only expected to be sold in the Chinese market though the potential for an India entry is there as seven-seat SUVs of the Skoda Kodiaq’s ilk are in demand in our marketplace.

Jeep currently has the Compass, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler Unlimited in its India line-up and is expected to bring its entry-level SUV, the Renegade, to the market late in 2018 or early in 2019.

Courtesy : Autocar

Bookings have opened for the Triumph Street Triple 765 RS and the first lot of bikes has already sold out till February 2018.

The Street Triple 765 RS, launched at Rs 10.55 lakh (ex-showroom, India), is the highest-spec version in the Street Triple family and it sits above the Street Triple 765 S in terms of power and the quality of the cycle parts on offer. For Rs 1.84 lakh over the standard Street Triple S, the RS offers a number of high-performance upgrades.

For starters, the 765cc, inline, three-cylinder engine makes more power and torque than the standard bike. Power rises by 10hp to a total of 123hp and torque has increased by 4Nm to 77Nm. Both arrive at a slightly higher rpm, resulting in a harder-hitting top-end that will work well with its race track focus.

The second big upgrade comes to the suspension, which gets fully-adjustable Showa Big Piston forks up front and an Ohlins STX40 monoshock for the rear. Further, the front brakes now use Brembo’s fabulous M50 monoblock brake system while Pirelli’s super sticky, track-focused Supercorsa tyres ship as standard. All these features are usually seen in high-spec, litre-class sports bikes and are a segment first. At 166kg dry, it is already the lightest bike in its segment by a fair margin.

The electronics see a boost too. The RS uses a lovely, high resolution colour screen that is a big step-up from the simple analogue-digital combination meter on the S. The RS also introduces three additional riding modes, taking the total to five. Finally, there’s a quick shifter that works on upshifts. 

Visual updates come in the form a body coloured rear seat cowl and two unique colours - Matt Silver Ice or Phantom Black metallic. The RS will retail out of all 14 of Triumph’s existing dealerships, a number the brand plans to increase to 17 this quarter with the opening of new outlets in Goa, Mangalore and Gurgaon.

When you consider all the additional equipment on offer, Triumph has done a great job with the pricing, keeping it below Rs 2 lakh. For the rider who wants a street bike that can also be an effective weapon on the track, the Street Triple RS looks like an excellent option. When we rode the RS in Spain earlier this year, it wowed us with its performance on the track but it did seem a bit firm on the road, so we’re eager to see what it feels like here at home.

Buyers seem to agree with the value of the RS and Triumph has announced that the first lot of bikes (the company won’t clarify how many that is) is already pre-sold and bookings have been accounted for till February 2018.

Courtesy : Autocar

The MSO R coupe and the Spider have been produced for one customer; both sport a 688hp, 3.8-litre V8 motor.

McLaren has revealed a pair of bespoke models created by the brand’s MSO (McLaren Special Operations) division – a coupe and a Spider convertible.

Both models have been made for a single customer and share the same powertrain, chassis, suspension and all other mechanical bits. The only difference is their body style.

The MSO R cars are based on the 675LT, like the MSO HS models displayed last year. They are powered by a retuned version of the 675LT’s twin-turbo, 3.8-litre V8 motor, which now churns out 688hp (an increase of  13hp over the 675LT) thanks to hand polished exhaust ports and a titanium exhaust. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The bespoke models feature new aggressive aerodynamic enhancements including a large rear spoiler, front dive planes and the MSO Visual Carbon-fibre Pack parts. Both cars come with five-spoke wheels; the coupé’s are finished in satin black, while the Spider’s are gloss black.

In the cabin, both models get a dashboard covered in black Alcantara, red bucket seats complete with MSO R stitching and MSO R plaques on their upper sills.

As both the coupe and Spider are bespoke models, there will not be another exactly like it.

Courtesy : Autocar

Limited-edition flagship model to come with unique bronze paint and additional accessories; remains mechanically unchanged.

Tata Motors is gearing up to launch a special edition of its flagship Hexa in the coming days. The Hexa special edition will be based on the top-spec trim and will feature unique ‘Urban Bronze’ exterior paint shade which is similar to the one offered on the recently-launched Tigor compact sedan.

Additionally, the company will offer a long list of official Tata Motors accessories with the special-edition Hexa, which includes rear-seat entertainment, unique seat covers, a heads-up display, a tyre pressure monitoring system and a few more goodies. The Hexa special edition will not feature any mechanical changes.

The Hexa in higher trims comes with a 156hp 2.2-litre Varicor 400 diesel engine mated to either a six-speed manual or an automatic gearbox. Sources tell us that the Hexa special edition is likely to cost around Rs 85,000 over the cost of the standard top-spec Hexa XT variant.

Courtesy : Autocar

Royal Enfield fans would probably know about the fabled Carberry Enfield, a motorcycle with a 1,000cc engine that was created by fusing two existing Royal Enfield 500cc engines in a V-Twin format. After talks with Royal Enfield did not bear fruit, Paul Carberry, the man responsible for the Carberry V-Twin, tied up with Jaspreet Singh Bhatia from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh in India, and shifted operations here last year from Australia.

Priced at Rs 7.35 lakh, bookings for the Carberry Enfield are now open and deliveries are expected to commence within the next four to seven months. This new version fuses two 500cc blocks from the newer Royal Enfield UCE engine, as opposed to the original Carberry Enfield which utilised two of the older cast-iron engine blocks. The 55-degree V-Twin runs a dual carburettor setup. However, a fuel-injected version that will be BS-IV compliant is also under development in India. The engine is mated to a five-speed gearbox with a seven-plate clutch and high-strength primary chain. It also gets a heavy duty starter, while the lifters and oil pump run in their own housing that can protect the engine from wear and damage. The new 1,000cc Carberry V-Twin produces about 53hp and 82Nm of peak torque.

Currently, this engine cannot be fitted onto pre-owned bikes; the engine and bike will be sold as a complete package. Carberry already has test mules of a new bike, dubbed the Double Barrel 1000, running with this engine, in the process of homologation. Unlike the previous Carberry bike which used a heavily modified version of the existing Royal Enfield chassis to deal with the increased load and stresses, the Double Barrel has a brand new double-cradle frame. The bike will also feature front and rear disc brakes with ABS, as well as a two-into-one exhaust system.

Courtesy : Autocar