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Yamaha Motor India has announced prices for the Aerox Electric, its second electric scooter for the Indian market after the River Indie-based EC-06. Priced at Rs 2.82 lakh (ex-showroom), the Aerox Electric costs nearly twice as much as its petrol-powered counterpart and roughly Rs 1.09 lakh more than the EC-06. With this, it also becomes Yamaha's most expensive two-wheeler currently on sale in India.
Powering the Aerox Electric is a 9.4 kW (12.6 bhp) electric motor, producing a peak 48 Nm of torque. The motor draws power from two removable 1.5 kWh battery packs (3 kWh total capacity), which can be charged separately at home. Yamaha claims a range of up to 117 km (IDC) on a full charge, while the scooter can reach a claimed top speed of 95.5 kmph in Power mode with the Boost function activated.
Charging the battery packs from 0-100 per cent takes 3 hours 10 minutes for a single battery, while charging both packs together requires 6 hours 20 minutes. As for ride modes, one can choose between Eco, Standard and Power riding modes, while the Boost function unlocks full power for 10 seconds at a time. A reverse mode is also offered as a part of the package.
On the features front, the Aerox Electric comes equipped with full-LED lighting, a colour TFT instrument cluster with turn-by-turn navigation, and a smart key with an ‘Answer Back’ function that flashes the indicators and sounds a buzzer to help locate the scooter in parking lots.
Visually, the Aerox Electric remains largely identical to its petrol sibling, retaining the same maxi-scooter styling. However, Yamaha has revised the ergonomics of the electric derivative, while the underseat storage has been reduced to accommodate changes to the battery pack and bodywork. The scooter tips the scales at 139 kg (kerb) and features disc brakes at both ends along with single-channel ABS.
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Rolls-Royce has revealed the Phantom Regatta, a one-of-one Phantom Extended commission that celebrates the sailing culture of England's south coast. The bespoke commission will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026.
Created by the marque's Bespoke division, the Phantom Regatta draws inspiration from the Solent, Chichester Harbour and the famous Cowes Week sailing regatta. The commission also pays tribute to Rolls-Royce co-founder Sir Henry Royce, whose former home at West Wittering is located close to the company's Goodwood headquarters.
Its exterior is finished in a two-tone combination of Regatta Blue and English White, designed to resemble a yacht's hull cutting through water. Completing the look are 22-inch fully polished disc wheels inspired by the polished hardware found on racing yachts.
On the inside, the cabin follows the same nautical theme. The front section is trimmed in Navy Blue leather, while the rear gets Grace White upholstery to mimic sails and sea spray. Turquoise RR monograms, dual-tone stitching and matching steering wheel detailing complete the bespoke interior.
One of the highlights is the hand-painted 'Watercolour' Gallery artwork stretching across the dashboard. Created using specially developed paints, the artwork recreates the movement of waves through a custom blending technique developed by Rolls-Royce's in-house artist.
The bespoke touches continue overhead with a Starlight Headliner featuring 1,307 fibre-optic lights arranged to represent the tidal currents around the Isle of Wight. The illuminated doors further add to the cabin's theatre.
The rear picnic tables have also received special attention. Crafted over approximately 120 hours, they feature Royal Walnut and Black Bolivar wood arranged to resemble the deck of a luxury yacht.
In another subtle nod to its origins, the adjustable air vents hide engraved coordinates. One points to Goodwood House, while the other marks the Home of Rolls-Royce, linking the Phantom Regatta directly to the place where it was conceived and handcrafted.
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JSW MG Motor India, in a recent press release, confirmed plans for new models in the Indian market. The company has said that it will launch three ‘New Energy Vehicles’ (NEVs) in India in the current financial year (FY2027).
Of the three, one will be a plug-in hybrid, with the likely contender being a Wuling Starlight 560-based SUV, which has been spied testing on Indian roads on multiple occasions. The Starlight 560 measures a little over 4.7m in length, sits on a 2,810 mm wheelbase, and, depending on the variant, is offered in 5- and 7-seat configurations. This makes it roughly the same size as an MG Hector, though the wheelbase is around 60 mm longer.
On the powertrain front, the PHEV features a 1.5-litre petrol engine under the hood paired with a 20.5kWh battery pack and electric motor developing a combined 194 bhp and 230 Nm. The PHEV system offers a claimed 100 km of range in EV mode alone.
In terms of looks, the Starlight 560 looks the part of a contemporary SUV with upright proportions and squared-out design elements. The front features sleek rectangular headlamps with twin LED DRL elements flanking a slim grille. The PHEV features a large central intake just below, with a chunky bumper down below. In profile, the squared-out wheel arches add to the SUV’s character while the large window line should aid in the airy feel within the cabin. The rear is quite staid as well, with rectangular tail lamps with the twin lighting element, shallow bumper and a recessed numberplate housing on the tailgate.
Inside, the cabin follows a minimalist design theme with a free-standing digital instrument cluster and a large free-standing central touchscreen.
Starlight 560 EV Could Also Be On The Cards
As for the EVs, one of the options for the Indian market is expected to be the Starlight 560 PHEV’s all-electric sibling. The electric SUV, too, has been spied testing on Indian roads in recent months, with the differentiator between PHEV and EV coming down to the intake below the grille, which has been replaced by a body coloured blanked-out panel.
The EV gets a 56.7kWh battery pack paired with a front-mounted electric motor pushing 134 bhp and 200 Nm. IT has a claimed range of up to 500 km on a full charge.
A second EV is set to arrive in the current financial year and could either be a replacement for the ageing MG ZS EV or a new premium EV that could join the MG M9 and Cyberster at MG’s Select dealerships.
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Ducati has revealed a pre-production version of its upcoming Desmo450 SM supermoto at Misano World Circuit. The Desmo450 SM marks 100 years of the brand and was unveiled as part of the World Ducati Week celebrations in Misano. So far, the Desmo450 SM has only been revealed, and full details, including specifications will only be announced in September.
The competition-only bike is based on the Desmo450 MX motocross bike has been specifically designed for supermoto racing, featuring dedicated brakes, suspension, engine components and specific bodywork elements. It features a 449.6 cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine from the Desmo450 MX, and in that version it puts out 62.6 bhp and 53.5 Nm.
The styling is typical supermoto, with a minimalistic design and the prototype has already been used in racing, piloted by five-time Supermoto World Champion Marc Reiner Schmidt. Ducati has confirmed that the 450 SM has already secured victories during its first competitive racing outings.
Without doubt, the Desmo450 SM will be a niche product and will be be kitted out with top-spec components, including manually-adjustable Showa suspension, and specially developed braking hardware, as well as sporting the signature supermoto design language. However, being a competition-only model, it will be an extremely niche proposition, and perhaps not even make it to the India market.
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JSW MG Motor India has announced that wholesales of the MG Windsor EV have crossed the 75,000-unit mark in under 2 years. The announcement comes around 7 months after the popular EV crossed the 50,000-unit sales mark in November last year. Sales of the EV in H1 CY2026, meanwhile, have crossed 19,000 units. The Windsor EV was launched in the Indian market in October 2024, with the option of a larger battery becoming available starting in May 2025.
Commenting on the occasion, Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, “The Windsor is a winning proposition delivering strong value and resonating with the preferences of Indian car buyers. With its customers spanning across metros and emerging markets, the MG Windsor has meaningfully contributed to accelerating India’s EV adoption, transforming the way India moves.”
Since its launch, the Windsor EV has gone on to become one of the best-selling EVs in the Indian market. The EV is available in a choice of three variants and two battery pack options. Lower variants are offered with a 38 kWh battery offering a range of up to 331 km, while buyers wanting more range can opt for the Pro trims, which offer a larger 449 km range and some additional features such as a powered tailgate and ADAS tech on the top model.
Prices for the Windsor EV start from Rs 14.70 lakh and go up to Rs 19.00 lakh (ex-showroom) for outright purchase. Buyers also get the option to purchase the vehicle under the Battery-as-a-service model that reduces the starting price to Rs 9.99 lakh with battery rental costing an additional Rs 3.99 per km (Rs 4.50 per km for the larger battery).
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The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations announced best-ever auto sales for June 2026 with industry sales growing by over 20 per cent year-on-year. The apex dealer body reported cumulative auto sales of 25,57,234 units – a growth of 21.83 per cent over June 2025, the highest figure ever recorded for June. Sales across segments were up by over 15 per cent, with passenger vehicles and two-wheelers recording the highest year-on-year growth of 28.63 per cent and 21.22 per cent, respectively.
Commenting on the sales performance, FADA President C S Vigneshwar said: “June’26 has been a landmark month for Indian Auto Retail — the best June ever recorded, with Two-Wheelers, Three-Wheelers, Commercial Vehicles, Passenger Vehicles and overall registrations each posting their highest-ever June figures. The industry retailed 25,57,234 units, a robust 21.83% YoY growth and a 1.03% rise over May, with PV at +28.63% and Tractors at +25.31% leading, followed by 2W at +21.22%, CV at +16.88% and 3W at +16.20%, while Wheeled Construction Equipment declined 40.94% on a high base. Tractors recorded their second-best June ever.”
Passenger Vehicle Sales Grow Over 28 Per Cent; Alternative Fuel Vehicle Sales Share Crosses 40 Per Cent
Passenger Vehicles reported the strongest growth in June 2026 at 28.63 per cent, rising from 2,19,412 units in June 2025 to 4,10,853 units in 2026 – the best-ever sales for June. FADA reported a sharper sales growth in rural markets for passenger vehicles at 35.09 per cent as against 24.67 per cent year-on-year in urban areas, though it did note that month-on-month sales in rural markets had slipped a minor 0.11 per cent linked to a ‘monsoon-linked rural pause’.
A major milestone this month was that the combined sales share of CNG, hybrids, and EVs crossed 40 per cent of total sales for the first time in the Indian market. CNG was the dominant contributor to the sales, with hybrid second and EVs a close third.
Commenting on PV sales, Vigneshwar added, “Passenger Vehicle retails were the standout at 4,10,853 units, up 28.63% YoY and 2.05% MoM — the best June ever. On a YoY basis, the Bharat-led character remains intact, with Rural PV at +35.09% versus Urban at +24.67%; sequentially, however, Rural PV slipped 0.11% MoM against Urban’s +3.54%, mirroring the monsoon-linked rural pause. The defining milestone of the month: PV alternative-fuel share — CNG, Hybrid and EV combined — crossed the 40% mark for the first time, at 40.35% (CNG 24.33%, Hybrid 8.27%, EV 7.75%), with PV EV retails of 31,823 units, an all-time high.”
Two-Wheeler Sales Grow 21.22 Per Cent; EVs Account For Over 10 Per Cent Of Sales
In the two-wheeler segment, FADA reported total sales of 18,28,458 units in June 2026 – up from 15,08,378 units a year ago. While this marked an over 20 per cent gain year-on-year and was the best-ever figure for the month – sales compared to May 2026 were down by 0.89 per cent owing to a decline in demand in rural markets – down 4.55 per cent month-on-month.
The dealer body also noted that sales share for EVs in the two-wheeler segment had crossed into double digits for the first time ever. EVs accounted for 10.6 per cent of all two-wheelers sold.
Commercial Vehicles & Three-Wheelers Grow Over 15 Per Cent; Tractors Up 25 Per Cent
Rounding out segments, Commercial Vehicles and Three-Wheelers also reported their best-ever sales for the month with 90,972 units and 1,20,889 units sold, respectively. CV sales were up 16.88 per cent year-on-year and 8.53 per cent over May 2026, while 3W sales grew 16.20 per cent year-on-year and 8.40 per cent over May 2026.
Tractor sales, meanwhile, were up by 25.31 per cent year-on-year at 1,00,818 units – the second highest figure for the segment in June.
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Oben Electric has commenced deliveries of its new electric motorcycle, the Oben Rorr Evo through the company’s First to Rorr delivery event, held in Bengaluru. According to the company, the Oben Rorr Evo will be progressively announced across its network of 150 showrooms over the coming weeks. The Oben Rorr Evo has received more than 25,000 bookings within just 15 days of its launch in May 2026.
The company is now ramping up deliveries of the electric motorcycles to customers with its annual production capacity of 1 lakh electric motorcycles. Oben Electric currently has over 150 showroom and dedicated Oben Care service centres across more than 90 cities in 18 states across India.
Watch the Oben Rorr Evo First Look:
Oben Rorr Evo Key Specifications & Features
Priced at Rs. 1.25 lakh (Ex-showroom), the Rorr Evo is powered by a 9 kW motor and 3.4 kWh LFP battery. The motorcycle has a claimed top speed of 110 kmph, a claimed range of 180 km and 0-40 kmph acceleration time in just 3 seconds. With fast charging, the Rorr Evo has a claimed 0-80 per cent charging time of just 90 minutes and a 8-year battery warranty. Other features include a 5-inch TFT display, OTA updates, turn-by-turn navigation, geo-fencing, remote immobilisation and fall detection with emergency SOS.
“Building demand is one milestone but consistently delivering on that demand is what builds enduring customer trust. The commencement of Rorr Evo deliveries marks an important milestone for us as strong customer demand now translates into real motorcycles on the road, and we are deeply grateful to the customers who placed their faith in us,” said Madhumita Agrawal, Founder & CEO, Oben Electric.
Oben Electric was founded in August 2020 and operates a 3.5-acre manufacturing facility in Bengaluru with an annual production capacity of 1 lakh units. The company says all critical EV components, including LFP batteries, motors, VCUs, chargers and proprietary software are designed, developed and manufactured in-house.
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TVS Motor Company finished June 2026 ahead of both Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) in overall two-wheeler sales, clocking 5,65,417 units during the month. Hero dispatched 5,41,159 motorcycles and scooters, while Honda followed closely with 5,28,281 units.
The numbers mark a strong month for TVS, which also posted the highest year-on-year growth among the three manufacturers at 47 per cent, compared to Honda's 23 per cent increase. Hero, meanwhile, saw dispatches dip slightly from the 5,53,963 units it reported in June 2025.
In the domestic market, Honda continued to hold the top spot with 4,68,956 units, up 21 per cent year-on-year. Hero remained close behind with 5,02,890 units, although its domestic dispatches were lower than the 5,25,136 units recorded a year ago. TVS sold 4,11,014 two-wheelers in India during June, registering a 46 per cent increase over last year.
TVS also maintained a sizeable advantage in overseas markets. The company exported 1,54,403 two-wheelers in June, up 48 per cent from last year. Honda exported 59,325 units, while Hero's overseas dispatches stood at 38,269 units.
Breaking up further, TVS sold 2,67,096 motorcycles and 2,47,950 scooters in June, with both segments posting double-digit growth. Hero continued to derive the bulk of its volumes from motorcycles, dispatching 4,78,701 units, while scooter sales stood at 62,458 units. Honda, meanwhile, does not provide a segment-wise monthly breakup between motorcycles and scooters, although its commuter Activa range continues to account for a substantial share of domestic volumes.
On the EV side of things, TVS sold 48,537 electric two-wheelers, more than three times the 14,400 units it recorded a year earlier. Hero's electric vehicle arm Vida reported 21,812 Vahan registrations during the month.
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Ferrari has brought back the iconic gated shifter and a proper three-pedal setup, but not quite in the way purists might expect. The newly unveiled 12Cilindri Manuale gets a manual gear lever and clutch pedal, yet underneath it all sits Ferrari's familiar eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, reworked through an all-new Manuale By-Wire system developed in-house by the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer.
The result is something entirely different from a conventional manual gearbox. Ferrari says the idea was to recreate the physical interaction and engagement of classic front-engined V12 grand tourers. Production will be limited to 1,499 units worldwide.
Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale: Gearbox
The biggest talking point here is the transmission itself. Ferrari has done away with steering-mounted paddle shifters and brought back a proper gear lever, an open-gate shift pattern and a clutch pedal. However, there is no mechanical linkage between the lever and the gearbox.
Instead, the Manuale By-Wire system uses electronic controls and sensors to translate the driver's inputs into gear changes through the existing dual-clutch transmission. Ferrari says considerable effort went into replicating the weight, resistance and click of a traditional manual, right down to the sounds made by the mechanism while shifting gears.
The clutch pedal follows a similar philosophy. It's a clutch-by-wire setup, but one designed to mimic the feel and load characteristics of a conventional manual car. Drivers can still execute heel-and-toe downshifts, while poorly timed shifts can result in jerks or even stall the engine. For those moments when convenience takes priority, it can also be driven in a fully automatic mode.
Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale: Engine
Ferrari hasn't touched the powertrain, and that's probably for the best. Under the bonnet sits the same naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12, producing 819 bhp and revving all the way to 9,500 rpm. Peak torque stands at 678 Nm, with power sent to the rear wheels through the reworked eight-speed transmission.
Performance remains every bit as outrageous as the standard car, with Ferrari quoting a 0-100 kmph time of around 3.0 seconds and a top speed in excess of 340 kmph.
Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale: Interior and Design
The cabin has been redesigned around the new transmission setup. The centre console now features a reinterpretation of Ferrari's famous open-gate shifter, complete with a six-speed shift pattern and a round aluminium gear knob that displays the selected driving mode. Ferrari says the entire setup was designed to make the interaction between driver and machine feel as natural and involving as possible.
Elsewhere, the Manuale gets a number of exclusive touches, including special forged wheels, engraved aluminium door sills and unique Tailor Made specifications. The launch car wears a new Rosso Rubino shade, one of 25 historic Ferrari colours available on the model.
Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale: Limited To 1,499 Units
The 12Cilindri Manuale will be limited to 1,499 examples globally, with the number itself paying tribute to the displacement of Ferrari's first V12 engine from 1947.
The special edition is aimed squarely at enthusiasts who still crave the involvement of a manual transmission. In many ways, it's a bridge between old-school grand touring and contemporary tech, and perhaps the closest thing to a traditional manual Ferrari that buyers will get in today's date.
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Yamaha India is getting ready to launch its new entry-level sports bike, the new Yamaha YZF-R2. The R2 will essentially introduce a 200 cc, full-faired sports bike, expanding what the company believes will be as successful as the R15, which was first introduced in 2008. A ‘Block your Date’ invitation from Yamaha suggests that the R2 will be launched on August 27, 2026, in Chennai.
The R15 has a strong following in India and is still considered as one of the best beginner-friendly sports bikes offering a high-revving engine and sharp dynamics. For reference, the R15 is powered by a 155 cc, liquid-cooled, four-valve engine which puts out 18.1 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 14.2 Nm of peak torque at 7,500 rpm.
The 200 cc engine of the R2 could be a bored out version of the same unit, offering more performance, yet retaining fuel efficiency and refinement. More details will be known on August 27, 2026 when full specifications and price of the Yamaha R2 will be announced.
Yamaha’s 155 cc models are likely to continue to be offered on sale, including the R15, as well as the MT-15 and the XSR155. Essentially, the new R2 will sit just above the R15 offering a worthy competitor to the likes of the KTM RC 200 as well as the Hero Karizma XMR 210.
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We already knew the electric derivative was imminent when the newborn Sierra arrived with petrol, turbo-petrol, and diesel engine options late last year. Now the covers are off the Sierra Electric, giving buyers a different way to bring home the iconic nameplate.
At first glance, the two derivatives of the Sierra might look nearly identical, but take a closer look, and there are a few important differences which set them apart. And that’s why we took that closer look, so that you don’t have to before making an informed decision between the two.
Tata has kept the overall silhouette unchanged between the two versions. But where the Sierra’s signature upright stance, with near-vertical nose, has a blacked-out, squared-off, piano-finished grille, in the ICE derivative, the EV gives that up for a sleeker connected LED light setup on top and a comparatively bigger lower bumper. The fog lamps, silver skid plate and overall bumper layout remain unchanged.
In profile, the wraparound rear quarter glass and clean proportions remain, as do the flush door handles and 19-inch alloy wheels. But the ones in the EV get the aero design like the ones seen on the Curvv EV and Harrier EV. The easiest way to tell them apart is by the badging on the front doors.
At the back, the only noticeable distinction is the tailgate badge. Everything else, including the connected LED tail lamps, spoiler and bumper design, remains more or less the same on both derivatives.
On the inside, you'll immediately notice that Tata hasn't heavily reworked the cabin for the electric version. The same dashboard layout with three displays stretching across the width of the cabin is seen on both, but the biggest recognisable difference comes in the form of colour scheme.
The Sierra EV uses a lighter grey and off-white theme with contrast stitching, while the ICE version gets a darker black-and-beige combination. In terms of feature lists, they are almost identical too. Common features between the two are: a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, ventilated and powered front seats, dual-zone climate control, a powered tailgate, a 12-speaker JBL Black audio system and a head-up display.
However, the EV has a few features and technologies that are exclusive to an electric car. For instance, there’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) charging apart from new-age auto park assist, summon mode and a 540-degree camera system that expands on the standard 360-degree setup.
As for the safety, the equipment list remains largely unchanged between the two. Both come equipped with six airbags as standard, Level 2 ADAS, an electronic parking brake with auto hold, front and rear fog lamps and a comprehensive suite of active safety features. Both are equally well equipped when it comes to occupant crash protection.
The new Sierra EV is built on Tata's Acti.ev+ architecture and is available with two battery pack options. The 63kWh battery powers a rear-wheel-drive setup with a claimed range of up to 535km. And a larger 75kWh battery with either rear-wheel drive single-motor or an all-wheel drive dual-motor configuration. The RWD version offers a claimed range of up to 665km, while the dual-motor AWD variant claims to deliver 504Nm of torque with a claimed range of 624km. Interestingly, the AWD version also makes the Sierra EV only the second Tata electric SUV to offer four-wheel traction after the Harrier EV.
The standard Sierra ICE powertrain options include a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine options. The Revotron petrol makes 105bhp and 145Nm and can be had either with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT automatic. And the newer Hyperion turbopetrol produces 156bhp and 255Nm but can be had exclusively with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. Lastly, the Kryojet diesel generates 118bhp and 260Nm of torque (manual) or 280 Nm of torque (automatic) and is available with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
The Tata Sierra ICE is priced between Rs 11.49 lakh and Rs 21.29 lakh (ex-showroom), while the Sierra EV starts at Rs 18.79 lakh and goes up to Rs 25.99 lakh (ex-showroom). That means the electric version commands a sizeable premium, especially at the entry level. However, it also brings unique capabilities such as rear-wheel drive, an optional all-wheel-drive setup, significantly higher technology content and EV-exclusive convenience features.
The Sierra ICE is likely to appeal to buyers looking for a familiar ownership experience with multiple engine options and a more accessible starting price. The Sierra EV, on the other hand, targets those willing to spend more for emission-free driving, longer driving ranges, new-age technology and the added go-anywhere capability of an AWD system.
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