About Sameer Contractor
Sameer ContractorConnect with this authorWith an unquenchable thirst for everything automotive, Sameer has always been the go to auto guy that his friends needed. So, it isnt exactly surprising that he chooses to do what he does. A Batman fanatic, Sameers wants to go roof-scaping on the Tumbler, while the Bat motorcycle is certainly on the cards and he plans to build one himself. An avid foodie, he has a road trip in order that will be taking him across the world in search for the best roads and the best cuisines. While his stress buster involves taking aimless motorcycle rides, do not get offended by his sarcasm.
Articles of Sameer Contractor
F1: Alex Albon Replaces Pierre Gasly At Red Bull From Belgian GP
Red Bull Racing has promoted Alexander Albon to the A-team with the young driver replacing Piere Gasly from the Belgian Grand Prix onwards. As much as the announcement comes as unprecedented, it is not surprising given the team's history of pulling moves like this. The swap will see Albon driving alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, while Gasly has been demoted to Toro Rosso and will drive alongside Daniil Kvyat till the remainder of the year. He was pulled in as a replacement to Daniel Ricciardo for 2019, having been racing for Toro Rosso, the previous year. However, Gasly's poor performance seems to have left Red Bull Racing with little patience, especially with the stakes higher than ever for the team this season.
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Ashish Raorane Becomes First Indian To Complete 2019 FIM Baja World Championship
The FIM Baja World Championship certainly had proud moments for India with privateer Ashish Raorane becoming the first Indian rider to complete the rally. The last and final round of the Baja World Cup took place in Hungary, which Ashish finish seventh at the end of the 550 km premier-class rally while taking 12th place overall. What's even more interesting though is the fact that he missed the top 10 by one point. That certainly is a big achievement for the privateer who was astride the KTM 450 motorcycle. Apart from Ashish, Bangalore-based rider Aishwarya Pissay also participated in the rally and was crowned the world champion in the women's category. Pissay finished 23rd overall.
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Maruti Suzuki Ertiga 1.3-Litre Diesel Discontinued
Maruti Suzuki has pulled the plug on the 1.3-litre diesel versions of the Ertiga MPV. The new generation Maruti Suzuki Ertiga will now be available with only the 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines, the latter was introduced earlier this year in the line-up. The Fiat-sourced motor has powered Maruti's small car range for over a decade now and was also the mainstay engine on the Ertiga since the first-generation model was launched way back in 2012. With the BS6 regulations set to come into effect from April 2020, it made little financial sense for the automaker to upgrade the oil burner to the new emission norms. Instead, the Suzuki-developed 1.5-litre diesel takes its place. The Ertiga diesel line-up starts at Rs. 9.86 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) with the VDi trim.
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Updated Tata Tiago JTP & Tigor JTP Launched In India; Prices Start At Rs. 6.69 Lakh
Tata Motors' performance-friendly Tiago and Tigor JTP editions have been updated for the 2019 model year with cosmetic changes and feature additions. The 2019 Tata Tiago JTP is priced at Rs. 6.69 lakh, while the Tata Tigor JTP is priced at Rs. 7.59 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom Delhi). Compared to their standard derivatives, the JTP editions pack in more power and mechanical upgrades for a spirited performance available at pocket-friendly prices. The JTP twins have been introduced under JT Special Vehicles (JTSV), a 50:50 joint venture between Tata Motors and Jayem Automobiles.
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Govt Has No Intent To Orphan ICE-Based Automotive Ecosystem: Anand Mahindra
Even as the Indian auto sector is going through one of its worst times with slumping sales and poor demand, the central government has not abandoned the internal combustion engine (ICE) based automotive ecosystem just yet, according to Anand Mahindra. The Mahindra & Mahindra Group Chairman was reacting to a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the present slowdown in the auto industry. Amidst the slumping sales, the auto industry is at risk of over 10 lakh job losses, while 3.5 lakh people have already lost their jobs since April this year.
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Yamaha To Introduce BS6 Compliant Two-Wheelers By November 2019 In India
Yamaha Motor India has announced that it will be rolling out the BS6 compliant versions of its two-wheelers from November this year, ahead of the April 2020 deadline. The company in a statement said that it plans to introduce the BS6 compliant motorcycles first by early November 2019, while the scooters will follow suit by January 2020. The hike in production cost for launching the BS6 variants will impact the final pricing that is set to increase by 10-15 per cent, depending on the model. It's unclear at the moment as to which motorcycles will get the BS6 compliance first.
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Aishwarya Pissay Becomes India's First-Ever FIM Bajas World Champion
Aishwarya Pissay finished fourth in the fourth and final round of the 2019 FIM Bajas World Cup to lead the championship with four points and claim the title.
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Royal Enfield Revises Service Interval To Reduce Ownership Cost
Having launched the new variants of the Bullet 350 recently at Rs. 1.12 lakh (ex-showroom), Royal Enfield has gone a step further and revised the service interval across its motorcycle range in a bid to reduce the cost of ownership. The bike maker has announced that it will commence the use of a new set of processes and technology, coupled with a new mix of semi-synthetic oil, for servicing. These initiatives will now increase the service interval on its motorcycles from the current three months/3000 km to six months/5000 km.
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Aishwarya Pissay Set To Participate In Hungarian Baja
India's rally racer Aishwarya Pissay will be participating in the fourth and final round of the FIM Baja World Cup in Hungary this weekend. The Hungarian Baja will see the racer compete to win the championship in the women's category. The TVS talent leads the points table with 52 points, followed by Portugal's Rita Vieira (45) and Spaniard Sara Garcia Alvarez (36). The top three riders along with two other women riders will be heading into an exciting battle across 590 km of special stages.
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F1: Mexican GP To Be A Part Of Formula 1 Calendar For Next 3 Seasons
Formula 1 and the Mexican Grand Prix organisers were due for renewal this year and both parties have reached an agreement that will keep the country on the F1 calendar for the next three years. The agreement between Formula 1 and the Corporacion Interamericana de Entretenimiento (CIE) will ensure that the Mexican GP will be held in Mexico City until the end of 2022. The Grand Prix will continue to be held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which hosted its first F1 race in 1963. Mexico remains one of the biggest markets for F1 with a fan base of over 45 million, while over 1.3 million have attended the race since 2015. The Mexican GP was expected to be dropped after it lost the government funding ever since it came to back to the calendar.
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New Generation Jeep Wrangler India Launch Live Updates: Prices, Specifications, Images, Features
Catch all the Live Updates from the new generation Jeep Wrangler India launch Here:
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Royal Enfield Introduces Its Most Affordable Motorcycle - Bullet 350; Prices Start At Rs. 1.12 Lakh
Royal Enfield has added a new version of the Bullet 350 to its fleet and the motorcycle is priced at Rs. 1.12 lakh (ex-showroom), making it the brand's most affordable offering currently to go on sale. The new Royal Enfield Bullet 350 range comes with styling updates and new colour options in a bid to appeal to a wider set of buyers. The new variant is also about Rs. 11,000 cheaper than the standard Bullet 350, and about Rs. 22,000 more affordable than the Bullet 350 ES. Bookings for the new RE Bullet 350 variants starts from today across the company's dealerships.
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Government Sanctions 5,595 Electric Buses For Public Transport In 64 Cities Under FAME II
The central government has sanctioned the use of 5,595 electric buses in 64 cities for intracity and intercity public transportation under the FAME II (Faster Adoption and Manufacture of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles) scheme in India. The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises had invited expression of interest (EoI) from cities with a population in excess of one million; smart cities, states or Union Territory capitals, as well as special category states for submission of the proposal for deployment of electric buses on an operational cost basis. The ministry received about 86 proposals from 26 states and union territories for the deployment of 14,988 electric buses.
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Suzuki Gixxer 250 Launched In India; Priced At Rs. 1.60 Lakh
Suzuki Motorcycle India has introduced the new Gixxer 250 in the country priced at Rs. lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The new Suzuki Gixxer 250 is the recently launched Gixxer SF 250's naked sibling and was confirmed to go on sale in India earlier this year. The naked quarter-litre is about Rs. 11,000 cheaper than the full-faired version and boasts of a muscular styling that we first saw on the updated Suzuki Gixxer 155 that went on sale recently. The Suzuki Gixxer 250 enters a highly competitive space and will take on the likes of the Yamaha FZ25, KTM 250 Duke and the Bajaj Dominar 400.
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New Generation Hyundai i10 Official Sketches Released For Europe
Hyundai Motor unveiled the next generation Grand i10 Nios for the Indian market earlier this week, and now the manufacturer has released the first official sketch of the European-spec version. To be badged as just the Hyundai i10 globally, the new generation model will make its public debut at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Compared to the Indian model, the Euro-spec version is expected to boast of additional features, while the sketch also reveals a few cosmetic changes as well.
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Lighter & More Affordable Audi e-Tron 50 Quattro Electric SUV Revealed
Audi revealed its all-electric SUV, the e-Tron recently in India and the model has now received a new entry-level variant for the international markets. Dubbed as the Audi e-Tron 50 Quattro, the base version is the lighter and more affordable iteration of the SUV that will sport a more accessible price too. This has been made possible largely due to the use of a smaller battery, compared to the one used on the range-topping e-Tron 55 variant, which helps weight savings of around 120 kg over the latter's 2565 kg kerb weight. The 71 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that limits the range to 300 km on a single charge in the WLTP test cycle.
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2020 Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Variants & Engine Details Out
Hyundai Motor India pulled the wraps off the new generation Hyundai Grand i10 Nios earlier today and the hatchback is all set to hit the market later this month on August 20, 2019. India has been the lead market to develop the third generation Grand i10 (i10 globally) and will also be the first market to get the model ahead of its launch in Europe later this year. Hyundai has commenced accepting bookings for the new Grand i10 Nios ahead of its launch and we now have more details on the variants, colours, engine and transmission options that will be available on the upcoming hatchback.
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Nissan Kicks XE Base Variant Launched In India; Priced At Rs. 9.89 Lakh
Its raining compact SUVs this month with all-new launches as well as updated models lined up for launch to sway the market demand. While Hyundai kick-started the month with the Creta Sports Edition, Nissan India has launched the new Kicks XE variant priced at Rs. 9.89 lakh (ex-showroom, India). the Nissan Kicks XE is the new entry-level variant available on the diesel version and undercuts the XL (current base) trim by about Rs. 1.2 lakh. Nissan says the new XE variant comes loaded with over 50 features, while the other variants including the XL, XV and the new XV Pre too get additional features and a price hike.
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Polarity Smart Bikes Teases Electric Bike Range Ahead Of Unveil This Month
Pune-based start-up Polarity Smart Bikes has released teasers for its range of upcoming electric bikes for the Indian market. The company will be unveiling six electric smart bikes later this month, which the company says at the first-of-its-kind road legal EVs to come with pedal assistance. The bikes have been under development since 2017 and promise to be light in weight. The teaser images also give a glimpse on what to expect from the six prototypes that certainly look to have to futuristic edge in design. The manufacturer is calling its Smart Bikes India's first personal mobility vehicle. Pre-bookings for the Polarity Smart Bikes will be open at the time of unveil for a token amount of Rs. 1,001, which will be refundable.
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Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 MotoGP Edition Launched In India; Priced At Rs. 1.71 Lakh
Bringing race colours to its newest offering, Suzuki Motorcycle India has introduced the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 MotoGP Edition. The new version of the quarter-litre offering is priced at Rs. 1.71 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), which remains the same as the standard colour options. The bike comes with a new racing blue paint scheme with Team Suzuki Ecstar decals and pinstripes on the wheel, all of which are inspired from the race-spec 2019 Suzuki GSX-RR that competes in the premier class championship.
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