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The BrixtonCrossfire 500XC has just received a price cut in the Indian market. Previously priced at Rs 5.19 lakh (ex-showroom), the motorcycle can now be had for Rs 4.92 lakh (ex-showroom). The 500XC is essentially a scrambler based on the Crossfire 500X, with styling cues such as a beak-style front mudguard, metal windshield, and number boards on the side.
Design elements such as the round headlamp, a thin old-school single-piece seat, and the fuel tank with ‘X’ embossed on both ends have all been retained from the 500X.
Suspension duties on the 500XC are handled by a fully adjustable upside-down fork setup up front and a rear monoshock adjustable for preload and rebound, both from KYB. Braking duties are handled by a 320 mm front disc and a 240 mm rear disc, aided by dual-channel ABS. The 500XC gets a 19-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel. The spoked wheels are shod with tubeless tyres.
The Brixton Crossfire 500XC is powered by a 486 cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine that churns out 46 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 43 Nm at 4,350 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed transmission.
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Hero MotoCorp has made waves in the 125 cc commuter motorcycle segment in India with the launch of the new Glamour X. What’s interesting is that it’s the first 125 cc motorcycle in the country to come with cruise control, along with a few other features not seen before in this segment. Now, car&bike has learnt that the Xtreme 125R, which is another popular 125 cc Hero model, will soon get cruise control, ride-by-wire with ride modes as well.
The Xtreme 125R will not only get cruise control, as it’s likely to get loaded with all the bells and whistles that were introduced on the Glamour X. That means a ride-by-wire throttle, which paves the way for cruise control itself, three riding modes – Eco, Road, and Power – and a new colour LCD to top it all off.
When it comes to cruise control, the Xtreme 125R will feature a dedicated switch, like the Glamour X, making it easy to dial in and maintain your cruising speed. A dedicated ride mode switch along with easy-to-use menu buttons, just like the Glamour X will also be carried over to the Xtreme 125. This upgrade is expected to be part of a new variant, much like what we’ve seen with the Glamour range.
On the powertrain front, things will remain unchanged. The Xtreme 125R will stick with its 124.7cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine, now also found in the Glamour X. It produces 11.4 bhp at 8,250 rpm and 10.5 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm and is paired with a 5-speed gearbox.
In other news, Hero MotoCorp has quietly introduced a new single-seat variant of the Xtreme 125R lineup. Priced at Rs 1 lakh, it slots between the split-seat IBS variant at Rs 98,425 and the top-spec ABS variant at Rs 1.02 lakh (all prices ex-showroom). Expect the new ‘X Factor’ Xtreme 125R to be priced above this.
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JSW Defence Pvt Ltd, a part of the JSW Group, has announced that its subsidiary JSW Sarbloh Motors has entered into a joint venture with all-terrain vehicle (ATV) manufacturer Tomcar USA to locally assemble ATVs in India. As per the announcement, JSW Sarbloh Motors will commence local production of Tomcar’s TX range of ATVs in India starting from early 2026.
Commenting on the occasion, Parth Jindal of the JSW Group, said "We are delighted to announce this strategic joint venture between JSW Sarbloh Motors and Tomcar USA, which marks a significant milestone in our commitment to enhance India's defence capabilities. The TX platform is designed to meet the rigorous demands of our armed forces and security agencies whilst ensuring superior durability, flexibility, and safety.”
The TX ATV range has been designed for both civilian, military and law enforcement applications, featuring a modular design allowing the ATV to be modified for different use cases. For now, the primary focus looks to be on the defence sector with JSW Defence stating that product trials with the various branches of India’s armed forces were planned post the locally manufactured TX’s roll out next year.
Mark W. Farage, Interim CEO of Tomcar USA, commented: “This joint venture is the culmination of a thoughtful and deliberate process aimed at creating a truly strategic partnership. We are excited to hopefully contribute to India’s adaptation to the demands of modern warfare by providing the proven, battle-tested Tomcar platform to the Indian Army. In addition, we see enormous opportunity to deploy the Tomcar into India’s diverse commercial sectors – from mining and timber, to search and rescue, border patrol, farming, and beyond.”
Tomcar USA says that the TX is offered with either petrol or all-electric powertrain options. The former uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 161 bhp and 250 Nm, while the electric model utilises a 3-phase AC electric motor capable of 118 bhp and 237 Nm, offering a range of up to 161 km. Standard features include shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive, low range with front and rear differentials, up to 14 inches of suspension travel, dual fuel tanks, and four-wheel individual suspension.
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Citing an ‘an extraordinary outpouring of enthusiasm' from fans of the superhero as well as vehicle collectors, Mahindra has decided to more than triple the production of the BE 6 Batman Edition unveiled just a week ago, on August 14. Originally envisioned as an ultra-exclusive special that would be limited to 300 units, now, a total of 999 examples of the BE 6 Batman Edition will be up for grabs when the booking window opens at 11 am on August 23. Pre-bookings, meanwhile, will open at 5 pm today, August 21, on the Mahindra Electric SUVs website.
The BE 6 Batman Edition wears satin black matte paint complemented by piano black accents on the front and rear bumpers, cladding, ORVMs, and running board. There's a large Batman decal on the front doors. The Batman Edition has something the standard BE 6 does not yet get – 20-inch alloy wheels. Also exclusive to the Batman Edition are its gold-painted brake calipers and suspension components.
20-inch wheels are presently exclusive to the BE 6 Batman Edition.
The Batman hologram is part of the illuminated ‘Infinity’ panoramic glass roof. An 'Alchemy' gold halo wraps around the driver, and there's a plaque to denote the exact number of the vehicle from the production run of 999 units.
The BE 6 Batman Edition is based on the top-spec Pack Three variant with the larger 79kWh battery (ARAI-certified range of 682 km). This pack is paired with a single electric motor that makes a peak 282 bhp and 380 Nm. This edition commands a premium of Rs 89,000 over the standard Pack Three variant.
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Hero MotoCorp has just disrupted the 125 cc commuter segment in India with the launch of the Glamour X 125. The motorcycle represents a notable step forward for the company’s Glamour range, which has more or less used the same formula for years now. Positioned as a premium offering in the commuter segment, the Glamour X has many firsts to its credit, including being the first 125 cc bike to receive cruise control and ride-by-wire. However, Hero has confirmed that the standard Glamour 125 will remain on sale alongside the Glamour X for now. So, how different are the duo according to the spec sheet? We find out.
The Glamour X 125 looks more premium than the standard Glamour 125
Being positioned as a more premium alternative to the standard Glamour, it is no surprise that Hero MotoCorp has given the Glamour X a more stylish design. The Glamour, which essentially sports a more conventional design, in line with other commuters, is rather plain-looking in comparison to the Glamour X.
With the latter, Hero has given it an edgier-looking headlamp setup, a visor, ‘X’ branding around the fuel tank and more angular, sculpted body panels. The rear, meanwhile, gets a taillamp setup which is quite similar to the one on the Karizma XMR. While a few elements, such as the alloy wheels, have clearly been carried over, the previously mentioned changes prove to be successful in distinguishing it as the more aspirational product.
Shown in image- Glamour 125 digital cluster (left), Glamour X 125 digital cluster (right)
The biggest differences between the two bikes are inarguably on the feature front. While both motorcycles get a digital instrument cluster, the unit on the Glamour X is a full-colour TFT which also gets features such as Bluetooth connectivity, brightness adjustment and turn-by-turn navigation.
The Glamour X is one of the most affordable motorcycles to get cruise control in India
On the electronics front, the biggest highlight is arguably the fact that the Glamour X comes with cruise control, a feature that is typically only seen on more premium, high-displacement motorcycles. With this, the commuter has become one of the most affordable models to feature cruise control in India. Other features on the Glamour X include ride-by-wire with three ride modes: Eco, Road, and Power.
Both motorcycles remain identical on the mechanical front. The motorcycles’ underpinnings include a front telescopic fork and twin shocks at the rear. While Hero hasn’t revealed the braking specifications of the Glamour X, it will most likely be the same setup as the standard motorcycle, which includes either a front disc (240 mm diameter) or a front drum (130 mm diameter) paired with a rear drum (130 mm diameter). We have also come to learn that the new Glamour X will not feature ABS, much like the Glamour. Both motorcycles also ride on the same 18-inch alloy wheels.
Powertrain
The Glamour X 125 gets a more powerful engine than the Glamour 125
While both motorcycles are powered by 125 cc engines, the unit on the Glamour X is more powerful than the other, and is the same mill that powers the Xtreme 125. The power figures of the Glamour X are 11.40 bhp at 8,250 rpm and a peak torque of 10.5 Nm at 6,500 rpm, while the Glamour’s engine churns out 10.68 bhp and 10.4 Nm of peak torque. Both motorcycles come with a 5-speed gearbox.
Prices
Despite being equipped with many more features than the standard Glamour, the Glamour X’s price tag is not too different from the former’s. The Glamour X is offered in two variants- Drum and Disc, priced at Rs 89,999 and Rs 99,999, respectively. In contrast, the Glamour, also offered in two variants- Drum and Disc, is priced at Rs 87,198 and Rs 91,198, respectively.
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Lexus India has rolled out a mid-year update for the NX350h. The updated model gets new features, more colour options, and a claimed improved fuel efficiency. Despite these upgrades, prices remain the same, with the model available at an ex-showroom price range of Rs 68.02 lakh to Rs 74.98 lakh.
The updated model is now E20 fuel compliant and delivers a claimed fuel efficiency of 20.26 kmpl. Moreover, Lexus also states that it has added extra insulation material at the rear to help reduce noise levels. The air conditioning system also sees an upgrade, with a thicker filter aimed to improve air quality inside the cabin. The air control system has been tweaked as well to use less energy, which may help with fuel savings.
Furthermore, the NX 350h now gets an Uphill Assist Control feature that works with the hybrid powertrain to manage how the vehicle responds on inclines. Additionally, two new paint options have been added to the lineup: Radiant Red is available for the Exquisite, Luxury, and F-Sport variants, while White Nova is offered on the Exquisite, Luxury, and Overtrail trims.
On the powertrain front, the SUV continues to be powered by a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine mated to a 259-volt battery, which churns out a power output of 240 bhp and 239 Nm of torque. The hybrid powertrain is mated to a CVT and gets paddle shifters as well.
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Hero MotoCorp has expanded its 125 cc motorcycle lineup in India with the launch of the Glamour X 125 motorcycle. The Glamour X is available in two variants: drum and disc. The former is priced at Rs 89,999 while the latter costs Rs 99,999 (both ex-showroom). Packed with several segment-first features, the Glamour X 125 brings a lot to the table for riders looking for a tech-loaded commuter. Let's take a look at all that is new in the latest 125 cc in town.
Starting with features, the Glamour X is currently the only 125 cc motorcycle in India to come with ride-by-wire throttle, which opens the door for some interesting additions such as cruise control, something we usually don’t see in this segment. There's a dedicated switch on the right handlebar that lets you adjust and set your speed for cruising.
But that’s not all, it also comes with three riding modes: Eco, Road, and Power, another first for this category. All of this is displayed on the colour LCD dash, which also offers a Bluetooth connectivity option and turn-by-turn navigation. Hero has also added a panic braking alert system to warn other motorists on the road in case of a sudden braking situation. However, do note that all of this is only offered on the top-spec Disc variant.
On the design side, the Glamour X 125 appears to take on a sportier approach with its sharp look. It features sleek tank shrouds and edgy body panels with plenty of creases. You’ll also find an all-LED setup front and back, along with new H-shaped LED DRLs on both ends.
It’s available in two variants – Drum and Disc – spread across five colour options. The Drum variant comes in Matte Magnetic Silver and Candy Blazing Red, while the Disc version offers Metallic Nexus Blue, Black Teal Blue, and Black Pearl Red.
Powering the Glamour X 125 is a 124.7 cc single-cylinder engine that puts out 11.40 bhp at 8,250 rpm and 10.5 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm. This is the same engine that powers the Hero Xtreme 125R, and it’s paired with a 5-speed gearbox.
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Royal Enfield has officially confirmed the dates for this year’s iteration of the Motoverse. With early-bird tickets currently on sale at Rs 2,499, MotoVerse 2025 will be held from November 21-23. The festival, which is conducted annually, pays tribute to motorcycling and is also known for its range of live music shows. Much like the previous iterations, the festival will be held at Hilltop, Vagator, Goa.
Motoverse, previously known as Ridermania, has often served as a platform for Royal Enfield to showcase its latest offerings. Last year’s Motoverse saw the unveiling of the Scram 440 alongside the launch of the Goan Classic 350. The event will also see several custom-built Royal Enfield motorcycles on display, which serve as one of the highlights of the festival and allow the Indian and international custom motorcycle builders to showcase their talent.
Royal Enfield has also confirmed the list of artists who will be performing at Motoverse 2025. The event will feature musicians such as Hanumankind, Euphoria, Parvaaz, The Yellow Diary, Medieval Pandits, Thaikuddam Bridge, and Kavya Trehan. These names will also be followed by a famous international artist, although Royal Enfield is yet to reveal who that is. Other highlights of the event will include workshops and panel discussions conducted by the likes of Nick Sanders- a long-distance motorcyclist, Vanessa Ruck- adventurer, and rally driver, and Maral Yazarloo, an Iranian-born motorcyclist.
Much like the previous editions, expect to see competitive events including the Slide School, Hill Climb, Hunter Maze Chase and Trail School Program, helping you brush up your riding skills.
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BMW India has launched the 50 Jahre special edition versions of the 3 Series sedan. Limited to 50 units each, this version of the 330Li M-Sport will set you back Rs 64 lakh, while the M340i 50 Jahre is priced at Rs 76.90 lakh (ex-showroom). The “50 Jahre” edition, which translates to ‘50 years’ in German, is meant to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 3 Series model line. Buyers of this edition will also receive a 1:18 scale model of the iconic BMW 3.0 CSL.
The changes on the two limited-run models, over the standard ones, are mostly cosmetic, with both versions featuring laser-etched ‘1/50’ branding. The 330Li gets a carbon fibre interior trim and a head-up display with 3D augmented view, while the M340i comes with elements such as M performance door pins, special ‘50 Jahre’ emblems and hubcaps, in addition to black M badges.
On the feature front, these editions get the same list of features as the standard 3 Series range, which includes comfort features such as keyless entry and go, smartphone-based vehicle lock/unlock function, three-zone climate control, powered front seats, an electric sunroof, 6-colour ambient lighting, hands-free parking, 360-degree cameras and more.
On the powertrain front, the 330Li features a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine pushing out 254 bhp and 400 Nm of peak torque, while the M340i features a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six, making close to 374 bhp and 500 Nm. Both cars feature an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
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The Royal Enfield Himalayan 750 has been spotted testing in India yet again. However, this time, rather curiously, the test mule featured alloy wheels instead of the spoked wheels that we’re usually used to seeing on the Himalayan. This has sparked reports about the upcoming motorcycle being offered in two iterations- one with spoked wheels and the other with alloy wheels, much like the KTM 390 Adventure, which is already on sale here.
Expected to be launched sometime in 2026, the Himalayan 750 will be the largest, most powerful version of the popular adventure touring motorcycle. The design, teased by Royal Enfield themselves, is expected to be quite different from the currently on sale Himalayan, with a larger headlamp covered by bodywork that extends towards the fuel tank alongside noticeably larger tank shrouds. The tail section, however, is quite similar, featuring brake lights integrated into the indicator units.
The Himalayan 750 will get a long-travel USD fork setup at the front and a monoshock at the rear. It isn’t confirmed yet, but chances are that the Himalayan 750 will also get adjustable suspension. For braking, the motorcycle will feature a twin brake setup up front and a single disc at the rear.
The Himalayan 750 will be powered by an updated version of the current 650 parallel-twin engine, which will likely have an increased bore, in addition to a slew of changes to the internals, resulting in a displacement of close to 750 cc. While there is no information on the power figures, expect it to be in the ballpark of 50 bhp and 65 Nm. The engine is expected to be mated to a six-speed gearbox.
We had a quick chat with Manik Nangia, President, Pro-Biking at Bajaj Auto, on the latest initiatives and developments that have been implemented through KTM India for motorcyclists riding to the mountains, especially those enrolling for the renowned Manali – Keylong – Jispa - Sarchu route, further expanding the brand’s service support network. Excerpts from our conversation:
Janak Sorap: The KTM Pro-XP riding program was introduced in September 2021, which is close to four years of curated rides on different environments – Trail, Tarmac, and Track. What are the learnings that KTM as a brand has gained with this program? Also, what are the main highlights that participants tend to speak about compared to the other ride programs if they have attended?
Manik Nangia: The Indian motorcycle segment in the overall motorcycle industry is growing twice the pace of the OEM industry. The growth is evident across the country, predominantly focussed around metro and large cities. But the fact is that with affluence and with the discerning customer choices, more and more customers are looking at what we call, the premium end of the spectrum. So, at Pro-Biking Bajaj Auto, you know that we also represent two brands, KTM and Triumph, we're growing twice or two and a half times that of the industry in this segment.
I think more and more people are learning to accept the fact that being out on the open road being closer to nature is a much better alternative to Netflixing at home. It is much required, I would say. Going back to how it was before. We have these riding community programs across the range. There are programs for absolute beginners, which we call the Adventure Academy. How to navigate different terrains with an capable motorcycle is art by itself. To get the best out of your motorcycle, you have to be coached by professionals. Then we have Adventure Trails for those who have graduated from Adventure Academies, where we have trails, where we take participants on specifically marked trails across various geographical regions. Some of them are day trails, some of them are overnighters because they require you to spend some time there, and then some like Leh-Ladakh tours which are eight to ten days because there's a whole lot of riding involved.
JS: KTM has introduced a new Service Van initiative for XP-Pro rides. Can you tell about the importance of this initiative. Is the Service Van initiative limited only to Ladakh tour and trail events or are there thoughts to having it for other challenging rides as well? And is this initiative backed by feedback from participants or is it something that has been in the pipeline all this while?
MN: It has come as feedback from of our customers, and let me tell you one thing, we take pride in ourselves at Bajaj Pro-Biking where we listen to our customers very carefully. I think our customers are so passionate that there’s loads of virtue in listening to what our customers are saying, because it's their brand as much as ours. So, one of the things that one of our riders who went to Ladakh said ‘We need to see you more during that arduous ride’, and we asked, ‘Why?’ ‘Because we don't know any KTM motorcycles breaking down.’ In fact, you could argue that this is the most capable adventure motorcycle in this country today in its range. And they said, ‘No, no… it may not break down, but there is still a lot of reassurance when we see the KTM brand on the van.’ And so, we said, ‘All right, here you go.’
So, on the mobile van, we have a fully operational service station, almost as capable, if not more, as any other service station with a crew of three, which includes a mechanic and a supervisor, etc. Equipped with all the requisite spares, chances are you'll never need it, but it definitely brings a smile to your face to see your favourite brand along the way. And just in case, if somebody were to need any assistance, we'll be there. So that is the story of the van.
JS: How many rides or tours are usually conducted in a year, given the different format of the events? Also, how much has the program contributed towards building the KTM community of bikers, enthusiasts, and explorers?
MN: So, between these Urban Escape rides, which are the morning rides that we carry out across the country, we do approximately 1,800 to 2,000 of these rides every year, and we have managed to touch between 20,000 to 25,000 customers. An interesting part about our programs that you don't have to be a customer to join these rides. You could be considering which motorcycle to buy, and we are absolutely happy to let you in. With us on a ride, one understands the world of motorcycling and how exciting can it be, are some of the differentiating factors of KTM XP-Pro riding program.
It is the experiences and the stories that your friends will tell you, which will compel you to go out for a ride. So, the very essential part of our presence is to be able to leave memorable experiences with our customers. Because in our view, that's the only thing that works, our job is to expand the culture of motorcycles, introduce new people to this craft, to this sport.
JS: With the KTM 390 Enduro R launched and SMC R on its way, is the ride curriculum expected to expand to accommodate the new category of riders? If yes, can you provide some insight on what is in store?
MN: Surely. There is a spectrum of motorsports that starts from soft off-roading, goes to proper adventure motorcycles, migrates to motocross kind of events with severe terrain, and then it goes to international sport level of off-roading. Not only do we have the products to secure each of these, but we also have academies and experiences that take you from beginner skill level to top skill level. Now, nobody can start from max level, but it is our endeavour to start and provide these experiences for motorcyclists to get to the top. Starting from level one, and to have products complementing each of these key levels, we can truly be across the spectrums of motorcycling as a sport.
JS: Are there any plans of having international rides into our neighbouring countries as an extension of KTM XP-Pro ride program?
MN: Nepal, we have already done. I think our customers imagination is far higher than ours. We will be happy to be led by our customers, if sufficient of them want to go to Bhutan, or to any other country. We'll be happy to even facilitate people from India to join some of these large academies and rides and trails that happen abroad. Our job is to, like I said, boost the culture of serious motorcycling. And we'll do anything that we needs to be done to connect our customers with more of such experiences.
As of now, there are no specific qualifiers program for getting into any of the international events, but that does not mean that we can't put something together in later this year. We have sent some people to the Adventure Rally, that KTM organises internationally. But what I'm saying that just because we haven't done it up until now, does not mean we won't do it. If sufficient number of our customers come to us, why not? We are very close-knit community. Our customers are so passionate about our motorcycles that sometimes I feel that they are more passionate than we are sitting here. So, I mean, I'm very happy to be led by what the customers tell.
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