Hey, Your Top Automobile News for 06 October, 2020

Your Daily Automobile updates From Around The World [img]  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [img]( [The Automobile News]( [Harley-Davidson Low Rider S | California rock music that turned into a swan song]( Harley-Davidson Low Rider S is the last motorcycle to come from H-D’s standalone operations in India. It is everything we expect from a Harley power cruiser and sets the mood for the B-side of the H-D India album. The very first day of the week I spent with the new Harley-Davidson Low Rider S, all I could think of was Low Rider by War playing in my head – not just for its lyrics but also for the upbeat and funky music. But as the time for it go back came closer, we heard the news about Harley-Davidson announcing its exit from India and the song playing on a loop in my mind was replaced by Hey Hey My My by Battleme. The year 2020 had claimed yet another sad story. Harley-Davidson is joining a growing list of foreign companies folding their wings in India. General Motors shut down its operations in India in 2017 but continued with exports and earlier this year announced an agreement for the sale of its plant in Talegaon to China’s Great Wall Motors, shutting shop completely. Eicher Polaris exited in March 2018, the same year Ssangyong Motor seized stand-alone operations, Volkswagen Group’s MAN Truck and Bus also wrapped operations in 2018, FCA India Automobiles pulled the plug on Fiat in March 2019, the same year US-based Cleveland Motorcycles exited, and in October 2019, it was the end of the road for UM. Ford agreed last year to move all its assets into a JV with Mahindra & Mahindra, and this year, Toyota announced that it wouldn’t expand its India business any further. Harley pulling the plug on independent operations here is a blow to the country’s efforts to lure and retain foreign manufacturers. US President Donald Trump had stated earlier that Harley’s decision to exit India could brew another diplomatic tussle with the US with whom India is negotiating a free trade agreement. However, the brand has struggled in India to gain stable ground even after import tariffs were slashed by 50%, owing to an extensively competitive two-wheeler market which also happens to the largest in the world. 1.7 crore motorcycles and scooters are sold here every year. Nodding to the funky beat of War’s Low Rider, Harley-Davidson motorcycles have been incredibly popular in India. For some, they are the epitome of what motorcycles should look and sound like for the Indian motorcyclist adores the appeal of a big cruiser. Should the price tags on H-D bikes be only as big as those Royal Enfields, we’d probably ache to see other brands on the road at all. But the fact is the opposite as Harleys remain out of reach for most. Another problem came from the fact that many are preferring a used Harley. If kept well and nurtured with some soul, these are the kind of motorcycles that can be passed down generations. Founded in 1903, Harley-Davidson has been an icon that put American motorcycles on the world map. Having been featured on classic 1969 Hollywood movie Easy Rider, the American riding culture catapulted to young hearts around the world. Then there are the one-percenter motorcycle clubs like Hell’s Angels. Sure, no need to absorb the outlaw behaviour from them but they propagated the joys and freedom of the open road. [Read more…]( The post [Harley-Davidson Low Rider S | California rock music that turned into a swan song]( first appeared on [TheAutomobileNews.com](. [Read Full Story]( [Bookings for Audi Q2 starts at INR 2 Lakh in India]( HIGHLIGHTS: - Audi has started the bookings for the Audi Q2 in India. - Customers can book Audi Q2 against a token amount of ₹2,00,000. - Audi Q2 will rival the Mercedes GLA and BMW X1 in India. Audi has recenlt unveiled the 2021 Audi Q2 globally. However, this time the company has started bookings of the all-new Audi Q2. The German carmaker has decided to start the bookings for the Audi Q2 against a token amount of ₹2,00,000. With the revised- LED headlights, front bumper and air dams, the 2021 Audi looks totalAudily refreshing. However, this time, the dynamic swipe indicator also becomes an optional feature.2,0 The engine that powers the all-new Audi Q2 is a 2.0L turbo petrol engine. This engine comes paired to a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox with the Quattro all-wheel drive powertrain. Meanwhile, it produces 190HP of power and 320Nm of peak torque. Inside the cabin, the 2021 Audi Q2 comes with a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit and an 8.3-inch infotainment system. Other than this the infotainment system also comes paired to the Bang & Olufsen surround sound system. Meanwhile, the Audi Q2 also gets connected car feature. [Read more…]( The post [Bookings for Audi Q2 starts at INR 2 Lakh in India]( first appeared on [TheAutomobileNews.com](. [Read Full Story]( [Sportscar Racing Legends At Hampton Court, Part One]( In the first of two articles, Tim Dunlop takes a look around last month’s Concours of Elegance held at Hampton Court Palace. Having attended this event last year I knew that walking through the East Front gates of Hampton Court and into the resplendent gardens would leave me with an issue, do I look left or right first? Well, this year the decision was quite easy given the display directly in front of me. The organisers had entitled the group of cars ‘Ford vs Ferrari’, 5 glorious historically significant automobiles from the stables of two prideful men involved in one of the greatest rivalries in motor sport. While this rivalry has been well documented in many documentaries, books, and even big-budget Hollywood feature films this display was quite simple in its execution, and to be honest it didn’t need to be any more complicated. The first car in this selection was a Ford GT40. Chassis 1007 was one of ten cars built during the 1965 season, it was the second car allocated to Ford of France and was finished in their livery of white with a blue centre stripe and red pinstripes. Following its display at the Monza Racing Car Show and an appearance in the highly-rated Claude Le Louch film ‘Un Homme et Une Femme’, 1007 began its racing career in May 1966 at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Although retired from the big race after 15 hours was perhaps not the start the team wanted, a sixth-place finish at the Monza 1000km and a class win at the Targa Florio began to make up for the disappointment at La Sarthe. An accident in late 1966 while competing saw the car sent back to Ford Advanced Vehicles for a new engine and lighter bodywork before the car returned to competition in 1967 for three rounds of the Worlds Sportscar Championship. The car would only compete once more at the ‘67 Nurburgring 1000km although in latter years it has been entered in many historic competitions, including the French Tour Auto and Coupes de Printemps. Next to the Ford stood two Ferrari race cars. Unusual in their un-Ferrari Yellow paint the first car was not one I was instantly familiar with, my knowledge of early prototype racing cars being a little sketchy. A little more research showed this car to be a 365P, although that’s not how it started its life. Chassis 0828 emerged from Scuderia Ferrari in Italy as a 275P around the same time as the GT40 next to it had left Ford in Slough. Hot on the heels of the Le Mans winning 250P which took victory in 1963, the 275P saw a larger displacement engine and slightly modified bodywork. This car would first see track action at Le Mans test day in April 65 where it would be piloted by John Surtees who gelled with the car almost from the off taking the car to a second-place at the Monza 1000km only a few weeks later. [Read more…]( The post [Sportscar Racing Legends At Hampton Court, Part One]( first appeared on [TheAutomobileNews.com](. [Read Full Story]( ------------------ You Might Like [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](        ------------------ Connect with TheAutomobileNews on Facebook and Twitter [fb](  [tw]( ------------------ You received this email because you operate or create content for a website/service and based on your website it seemed like this could be important information to you and your users. TheAutomobileNews daily newsletter is managed by [Postbox Consultancy Services Pvt. 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