Autocross Championship Of Bangalore On Apr 28, 29

The first round of Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) Indian National Autocross Championship's (INAC) Bangalore round will be held on April 28 and 29 at Palace grounds here. The championship which is organised by Karnataka Motor Sports Clubs will see more than 100 motor enthusiasts participating in it. Autocross would be a base for enthusiastic drivers who are looking to move into other more competitive forms of motorsport including rally and circuit racing. The competition will be a timed one where drivers race through a defined course. Read: ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ A press release by INAC says: The AUTOCROSS of Bangalore 2012’, which is Round One of the FMSCI Indian National Autocross Championship – 2012 will run in compliance with the international sporting code, (and its appendices), of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the applicable General Prescriptions of the FMSCI. Spectator safety at the circuit has been heightened with barricades put in place trauma care ambulances and fire engines standing by for emergency situations. Auto enthusiasts interested to take part in the competition can visit the official website of INAC. An acrobatic show by the group Lakshya of Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bi Karega fame will be held at the venue with the city's Harley Davidson Club called The Bangalore Pandhis' show being an extra attraction. The INAC Rock Hammer Competition will also be featured at the event where several bands will get an chance to prove their talent. The winners will perform with 'Parikarma' at the concluding event on Sunday.

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45 Yamaha R15s Burn Down On Chennai Race Track

The Irungattukottai race track saw a major fire accident which saw 45 new Yamaha R15 bikes burning down completely after stray sparks from a nearby car ignited them. These bikes were brought to the race track in preparation to a practice camp for racers that was to be held between May 8th and 11th. The Yamaha R15's fire accident has put a brakes on this year's Yamaha R15 championship. Yamaha has been organizing this race event annually to encourage enthusiasts since 2008. The Irungattukottai race track has been the location for the race since the beginning. Reports say the 45 Yamaha R15s that caught fire in a shed have burnt down completely without any scope for repairs. A race car that was being welded outside the shed resulted in some stray parks entering the shed and igniting the bikes. The fire was so massive that the personnel at the race track could do little to stop the fire from engulfing and burning down all R15 bikes in side the shed. Tamil automobile magazine Motor Vikatan has posted the image of the burnt down Yamaha R15s in its Facebook page. We have seen several instances of cars catching fire. But this is the first time we get to hear news about bikes having such accidents. Fortunately, the fire was not caused by any issues within the bike. So Yamaha R15 owners need not worry about any risk in their bikes.

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Yamaha FZ-S Gets Minor Upgrades

Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha has given a few upgrades to its popular FZ series. The FZ series bikes including the FZ 16 has got a a new paint shade - Fiery Orange. The FZ series is available in four colour options, Black Cyber Green, Sunset Red, Competition White and the new Fiery Orange. Along with the colour update, Yamaha has also elongated and widened the not so comfortable pillion seat of the FZ in response to customer feedback. A new grab rail has also been added to the FZ series. This is what yamaha has said on the addition of the new grab rail: “The grab bar not only acts as a backrest but is something the pillion rider can hold on to if the road is bumpy.” A chain cover which covers the upper and lower portion of the chain also makes it to the list of new additions to FZ. Interestingly, there has been no increase in the price of the updated FZ series.

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Honda Emerges 3rd Biggest Indian Motorcycle Maker

Japan's Honda has emerged the 3rd biggest motorcycle manufacturer in India In terms of sale. Honda has grabbed the 3rd place by overtaking Indian two-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company. Honda sold 21,07,228 units in 2011-12 placing it the third highest after Indian firms Hero Motocorp and Bajaj Auto. According to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturer's (SIAM) latest report, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) sold a total of 19,96,320 units in 2012. Meanwhile, TVS Motor could only sell a total of 18,95,500 two-wheelers last year. India's two-wheeler majors Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj Auto sold 60,69,280 and 25,66,757 units respectively last year. Honda motorcycles are known for their smooth engines and comfortable ride. The two-wheelers which Honda sells the most in India are the Unicorn motorcycle and the Activa scooter.

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Harley Davidson Set To Open 9th Dealership In Goa

American life style motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson is set to open its 9th Indian showroom in Goa. Harley is reportedly looking to open the dealership at the state's capital city Panjim. Besides its iconic motorcycles, Harley will also sell a range of branded accessories alike in other showrooms in the country. The motorcycle maker will sell its complete range of bikes including the ones which are expected to arrive in India in the coming months. The state of Goa which is mainly known for tourism is also rich with minerals like iron ore and manganese making it one of the prosperous states in the country. Harley has this in mind and intends to sell the life style brand in good numbers. Goa already hosts a Garware-Hyosung showroom with a Ducati showroom expected to be set up soon. We sure can expect many Harley's on Goan roads once it opens the showroom there.

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Bajaj Increases Stake In KTM to 47%

Bajaj Auto, the Indian motorcycle and commercial vehicle manufacturer is truly becoming an international brand. Not only are its exports increasing but its products are getting an international touch too. Soon after Bajaj purchased a minority stake in Austrian bike firm KTM, we have noticed a marked difference in Bajaj's motorcycle. KTM's expertise of building powerful sports bikes appears to have rubbed in to Bajaj too. The most obvious changes in Bajaj will become apparent as and when it will launch its new Pulsar 200 NS. Recent reports from Europe indicate that Bajaj has been gradually increasing its stake in KTM. According to these reports Bajaj Auto currently owns a 47% stake in KTM after purchasing 6.3% stake recently. Bajaj Auto CEO Rajiv Bajaj has stated that the company has no intentions of becoming a majority stakeholder in KTM. He has also said he wants KTM to retain its brand identity. Bajaj auto started buying KTM's shares way back in 2007 and has been consistently increasing it. The company wants to utilize the name and brand image of KTM which is quite popular in Europe and in America. Bajaj has been interacting with KTM on many aspects including design and product development. The first India based KTM product has been the KTM Duke 125 which is built at Bajaj's plant exclusively for exports. The KTM Duke 200 has now been launched in India. Incidentally, the soon to be launched Pulsar 200 NS shares the Duke 200's engine. However the Pulsar's engine is tuned differently.

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Suzuki to Construct a New Motorcycle Plant in India

Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL), a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan has decided to build a new two wheeler plant at Rohtak in state of Haryana, India. Today Honorable Haryana chief minister Sh. Bhupinder Singh Hooda performed the foundation stone laying ceremony at the planned site. In Year 2004 Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan (SMC) had set up SMIPL for manufacturing and sales of two wheeler. SMIPL started producing two wheelers from 2006 at Gurgaon plant in Haryana state. Two wheeler market in India has been expanding and it crossed 13.4 million units in the last financial year 2011-2012. The market is expected to further increase; therefore, SMIPL has taken an approval from Haryana Government to build an additional two wheeler and components plant by using 4 lakh.㎡land that is a part of land allotted to Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), subsidiary of SMC in India. Planned production capacity of this plant is 5lac units, and the plant is expected to be completed in the year 2014. Further expansion of the plant will be planned according to the expansion of the two wheeler market in India. In SMIPL, at present two models of scooters, two models of motorcycles are being produced in Gurgaon Plant and production achievement of year 2011 was 3.5 lakh. (122% of previous year). Current overall production models are Suzuki Access 125, Suzuki Swish 125, Slingshot Plus, etc.

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Test Ride Mahindra Duro DZ, Get Rs 500 Cash

Test ride Mahindra Duro DZ scooter and get Rs 500 cash,' don't get surprised, this is a bold offer made by Indian automobile manufacturer Mahindra hoping that interested buyers will stick to its scooter once they try it. Interestingly, the auto maker says that they will give the cash price even if the buyers go for any other scooter after trying the Duro DZ.

By this move, Mahindra is doing whatever it can to break way into the two-wheeler market which is mainly dominated by Hero Motocorp, Honda Motor and Bajaj Auto. The offer will be valid till April 30 all over India (just one more week remaining). Mahindra has set a list of terms and conditions to receive the cash price on test riding the Duro DZ.
This is what Mahindra says about the Duro DZ: “the all new Mahindra Duro DZ is a solid and powerful 125 cc scooter, designed specifically for the tough Indian roads. It not only looks stylish, it's also the perfect family scooter with immense power, great mileage and amazing stability, all set to give you and your family a comfortable and a safe ride. We're confident that you will love the new Mahindra Duro DZ. Test ride the Romba Solid scooter and decide for yourself.” (Apply for the test ride)

The duro Dz comes with a 125 cc engine which is more fuel efficient with a mileage of around 45 kmpl. The scooter is available with a starting price of Rs. 40,712 (ex-showroom Delhi).

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Royal Enfield To Celebrate 80th Anniversary In UK

Cult motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield is celebrating its 80th anniversary this June. Royal Enfield will conduct the celebrations at Watsonian-Squire works in Blockley, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom on 23rd and 24th of June.

The company's latest models will be shown and offered for test ride at the event. The world's longest running production model, Royal Enfield was first rolled out at at Redditch, United Kingdom in 1932.

Royal Enfield started building bullets in Chennai, India in the year 1955 which is still operational. The classy bullets have been a large success in the country with the company selling 70,000 motorcycles, its highest ever yearly sales, last year. The production at the UK facility was stopped in 1962.

The Company was bought by India's Eicher Motors in 1995. Currently, it sells the Classic 500, Classic 350, Thundebird, Bullet Electra and Bullet 350 models in India. The motorcycle is also being exported to other countries from India.

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