Latest news with #SomnathChatterjee
Man of Many
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Man of Many
Toyota Unveils ‘First-Ever' Performance Hybrid LandCruiser 300 Series
By Somnath Chatterjee - News Published: 22 June 2025 |Last Updated: 21 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 3 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Toyota has announced a new LandCruiser 300 Series with a powerful one-motor hybrid powertrain . . The automaker claims this will be the ' most powerful LandCruiser to date '. '. The first-ever performance hybrid LandCruiser 300 Series will arrive in Australia in H1, 2026 . . Further details on the new LandCruiser will be made available closer to its Australian introduction. The most powerful LandCruiser ever is headed Down Under. Toyota has announced that the much-loved LandCruiser 300 series is getting a major upgrade, confirming that for the first time, it will be available with a one-motor hybrid powertrain instead of the traditional diesel engine. That's right, come early next year, you can expect to see a LandCruiser hybrid hit the road with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine paired alongside a large electric motor. The big off-roader's watershed moment marks a significant step in Toyota's continued electrification strategy, with the brand outlining plans to offer customers a 'mix of powertrain technologies to support their varied lifestyles'. Hybrids are not new to the Toyota brand, having first appeared in October 2001 with the introduction of the Prius to Australia. This time around, however, the brand is introducing the technology on its flagship off-road model. 2026 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series GXL Model Interior | Image: Toyota Australia Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series Hybrid According to Toyota, the parallel hybrid configuration means that both the engine and the motor can power the wheels either together or separately. In terms of the numbers, the petrol hybrid LandCruiser comfortably sails past its diesel sibling with figures of 341kW/790Nm vs 227kW/700Nm on the diesel model. Harnessing all that power is a standard 10-speed automatic, paired with a four-wheel drive system with a low-range transfer case. As Toyota Australia vice president sales, marketing and franchise operations Sean Hanley revealed, the new hybrid configuration not only continues the brand's electrification journey, it also makes this LandCruiser the fastest iteration ever released. 'For decades, Australians have trusted the LandCruiser to get them to the furthest reaches of the country and back again – it is synonymous with Australian outback touring thanks to its incredible capability and dependability,' Hanley said. 'We have always said that Toyota aims to offer the right powertrains to suit our customers, and we are excited to introduce the first performance hybrid LandCruiser next year, which will offer a level of capability never before seen on our flagship four-wheel drive.' Also, the hybrid powertrain will add more refinement and greater touring range, with an efficiency of about 10.9 km based on the specs of the model available in the UAE market. Details will be revealed for the Australian market close to the launch. 2026 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series Hybrid Revealed | Image: Toyota Australia Hybrid LandCruiser Release Information Set to arrive by the first half of 2026, the LandCruiser's performance hybrid powertrain has been extensively tested across the world's harshest environments to match the capability and rugged nature of the LandCruiser moniker. The performance hybrid LandCruiser 300 Series is clearly aimed at the Nissan Patrol, which in turn will come later next year with a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine. It seems that the new battleground for these SUVs is combining petrol power with electrification of some sort as carmakers look to maintain the rugged appeal of these beasts while expanding their appeal to cater to a wider market.
Man of Many
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Man of Many
BYD Atto 2 and Flagship Sealion 8 Set to Shake Up Australia
By Somnath Chatterjee - News Published: 19 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 5 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Chinese automaker BYD has confirmed that the Atto 2 compact vehicle and the flagship Sealion 8 will be arriving in Australia. and the will be arriving in Australia. The Atto 2 will slot in between the Dolphin and the Atto 3, with expected pricing to be sub-$35,000 . . Sealion 8 PHEV will serve as BYD's new three-row flagship SUV . . Both launches are scheduled in the next few months, with the Atto 2 to arrive first. It is no secret that BYD plans to dominate the Australian automotive market. Over the past few years, the Chinese automaker has steadily rolled out new budget-conscious models, surprisingly spacious lifestyle vehicles and a flagship release or two, but in 2025, BYD is stepping up its game. After moving from a private distributor to an in-house model, the brand is aggressively expanding its Australian presence, starting with the newly unveiled Atto 2 and Sealion 8. Both new vehicles, which operate on separate ends of the BYD spectrum, represent lucrative product launches for the ever-expanding BYD clientele. Better still, both new vehicles are expected to land Down Under in the 'next few months', meaning the rest of the industry better watch out. BYD Atto 2 confirmed for Australia | Image: BYD Automotive BYD Atto 2 As the brand's latest small SUV, the Atto 2 promises to further democratise EVs for Australian consumers, namely through price and convenience. The small but conservatively styled vehicle represents BYD's new entry-level crossover for the Australian market and essentially uses the same underpinnings as the Dolphin, albeit in a more universally appealing SUV body style. Two trims will be available from launch, Essential and Premium, both of which utilise a front motor with an output of 130kW/290Nm. BYD has noted a claimed range of 401km with a 51.3 kWh LFP battery; however, you can expect a more realistic figure of 300km on the WLTP test. BYD Atto 2 interior | Image: BYD Automotive Features Impressively, while the Atto 2 might be BYD's entry-level SUV, the feature list is far from bare-bones. According to Wing You, BYD Australia general manager, the new vehicle will arrive with staple brand additions such as a 12.8-inch touchscreen, 360-degree camera, and ADAS. 'With its exciting looks, superlative technology, and eminent versatility, the Atto 2 promises to be a game-changer in the small-size SUV segment,' Wing You said. 'The Atto family of vehicles is expanding in Australia, and we're confident this latest addition will be well received by local buyers.' Atto 2 Pricing While BYD has not officially confirmed the pricing, the expectation is that the new small SUV will be a step up from the $29,990 Dolphin. That being said, it could quite easily take the title of being the most affordable Chinese SUV by undercutting the likes of the Chery E5 ($39,990 before on-road costs) and the MG S5 (costing $40,490). In other words, it could be the most popular BYD SUV by occupying the sweet spot between the Dolphin and the Atto 3. BYD Sealion 8 confirmed for Australia | Image: BYD Automotive BYD Sealion 8 Meanwhile, BYD continues to enter the premium luxury segment with its largest product yet, while also ticking the box for a three-row SUV. The massive Sealion 8 is a plug-in hybrid SUV with a 110kW, 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that comes with either a front wheel drive configuration in the DM-i (Intelligence) hybrid trim with a 200kw electric motor plus a 19kW battery or the all-wheel drive DM-p (Performance) hybrid variant which adds a second 141kW motor at the rear axle while having a larger 35.6kWh battery. With a bigger battery pack than the Shark Ute, expect the pure electric range to surpass the pick-up at more than 100km. BYD Sealion 8 Performance In terms of performance, the large Sealion 8 DM-p has plenty of firepower with a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds, which is remarkably close to the smaller Sealion 7. The interiors, meanwhile, are plush, and you need not have to get these eccentric leather colours, but the cabin would be decked out with massage, heated and cooled seats for both the front and second row. It will also be the most cavernous BYD with a large storage capacity. Expect the pricing of the Sealion 8 to be north of $80,000 when it goes on sale here, and that means it will fight head-on with the Kia Sorento PHEV. BYD Sealion 8 interior | Image: BYD Automotive 'We've listened to our customers. We know the desire is here for a proper full-size, seven-seater PHEV SUV,' Wing You, BYD Australia general manager said. 'We're incredibly proud of what the SEALION 8 will represent for BYD in Australia. It's going to be a flagship model for us, and, in classic BYD fashion, it will exceed the consumers' expectations for tech, luxury, and value.' The Atto 2 will come towards the end of the year and the Sealion 8 will be launched by early next year while the launches will not stop there either as BYD looks to fill in all the gaps in its product range by introducing an even smaller car below the Dolphin which is the Seagull or Dolphin Mini. Plus, off-road fans would rejoice at the prospect of the Denza sub-brand, which brings an array of rugged SUVs. It seems BYD wants to clearly increase its market share in Australia over the next few years and will not stop until it does so. BYD Atto 2 confirmed for Australia | Image: BYD Automotive
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Suraksha Diagnostics to invest Rs 200 cr to set up over 20 centres across east India
New Delhi: Suraksha Diagnostics on Wednesday said it will invest Rs 200 crore to set up over 20 advanced imaging centres across eastern India. The plan, which will be executed in collaboration with United Imaging, is aimed at expanding access to advanced diagnostic services in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, enhancing both affordability and healthcare quality in smaller towns and semi-urban regions, it said. No timeline was, however, revealed for the investment rollout. "This collaboration will assist us in expanding our reach and offer high-quality diagnostic services to a large population in eastern India," Suraksha Diagnostics CMD Somnath Chatterjee said. United Imaging will supply cutting-edge imaging solutions, while Suraksha Diagnostics will leverage its existing network and operational expertise to set up the new centres, the company said. Suraksha Diagnostics raised Rs 846.25 crore through an IPO in December for funding its expansion plans. At present, it operates 59 diagnostic centres and 166 sample collection centres across West Bengal , Bihar , Assam, and Meghalaya .
Man of Many
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Man of Many
Porsche Just Built a One-of-a-Kind V8 963 Hypercar
By Somnath Chatterjee - News Published: 18 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 5 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Porsche has unveiled the 963 RSP , a one-off street-legal version of the 917 racing car that dominated motorsports across eras. , a one-off street-legal version of the 917 racing car that dominated motorsports across eras. The hypercar was built to mark 50 years since Count Rossi drove the Porsche 917 from Zuffenhausen to Paris. It comes with a hybrid V8 powertrain with roots to the 918 Spyder, alongside a 917-inspired paint job. with roots to the 918 Spyder, alongside a 917-inspired paint job. The Porsche 963 RSP was built for Roger Penske and could well be the most expensive Porsche ever made. Porsche is not playing around. This week, the fabled German automaker sent a stern message to the global high-performance market, unveiling a thinly disguised road-legal version of its extreme 963 hybrid Le Mans race car. Built for billionaire racing team owner Roger Penske, this is a one-of-a-kind ride is, aside from being the ultimate flex in the ALDI parking lot, inspired by the equally bonkers and iconic 917. 'This really started out as a 'what if?' – a passion project by a small team of enthusiasts at Penske and at Porsche who together imagined a version of the 963 that really resembled as closely as possible the spirit and appearance of the Count Rossi 917,' Porsche Cars North America president and CEO Timo Resch said. 'The 917 from the story was every inch a race car – albeit one driven on the road – and we took the same approach with the 963 RSP. It uses beautiful materials of the best quality available, but is still every bit a race car underneath.' Porsche 963 RSP | Image: Porsche A racecar, indeed. The ultra-unique 963 RSP model was reportedly developed as a sort of skunkworks project, with the ethos to stay as close to the original car as possible. Unbelievably, the hybrid V8 powertrain, which comes with a lithium-ion battery, continues to remain in race tune in the 963 RSP. The 4.6-litre twin-turbocharged V8 dishes up 680 hp and originated in the RS Spyder race program operated by Penske. As Porsche fanatics may remember, that same engine, in an enlarged form, was used in the 918 hypercar; however, where the 918 Spyder used the engine in naturally aspirated form, the 963 pairs it with two turbochargers provided by the Dutch manufacturer Van der Lee. Hence, the acceleration is violent and has nearly the same intensity as that of the race car. Crazy. Porsche 963 RSP interior | Image: Porsche With so much additional acceleration power, Porsche has understandably remapped the ECU for a (relatively) smoother power delivery, while also modifying the control unit to use headlights and indicators. Of course, if you want to drive a racing car on the road, the ride height must be increased, and the same has been done here with the adjustable Multimatic DSSV dampers. These handy additions are generally reserved for racing prototypes and in this setting, have been tuned to their softest setting. According to Porsche, this creates a more compliant ride, one that will leave your spine intact next time you go on the morning coffee run. Make no mistake, this is not a Panamera but a true hardcore machine, and the driving experience has been kept as uncorrupted as possible. Porsche 963 RSP | Image: Porsche The same goes for the design, which looks stunning, especially when clad in this 'Martini Silver' hue, which matches the 917, and it is not a wrap. To add a contrast effect, some of the components have been painted in satin black with a 3D printed '963 RSP' logo being applied to the rear of the car. The 963 RSP does have some changes over the 963, including fender vents and carbon fibre blanking plates that sit within the rear wing. To further bring it closer to the 917, the Porsche logo is enamel and not a graphic, along with 1970s-era Michelin logos for the tire walls with 18-inch tyres. Compared to the 963, the road car is far more luxurious on the inside and comes with a lovely tan interior, while the single-piece carbon seat comes trimmed in leather, no less. There is even a detachable 3D-printed cup holder, which means it is quite a practical Porsche, although luggage space is questionable. Porsche 963 RSP | Image: Porsche 'We have enjoyed a terrific relationship with Porsche dating back to 1972. The Porsche 917/30 was one of the greatest eras in Team Penske history with numerous wins and championships, along with the closed-course speed record set by Mark Donohue in 1975,' Roger Penske, chairman of the Penske Corporation said. 'With such a remarkable partnership continuing to this day, we felt it was time to create the most exciting car we could imagine. Just like the 917, I wanted this car to be authentic to its origin and have as few changes to it as possible. When we got into the project, the differences in the two generations of race cars provided a great challenge. What emerged is a car that has lost none of its edge and is exciting whether on the track or on the road.' Porsche has not revealed just how much the 963 RSP costs, but for a one-off like this, you can expect the price tag to mirror the 917. In all likelihood, the Porsche 963 RSP price could run into millions, making it one of the most expensive Porsches ever built. We're just glad such a ludicrous thing exists. Porsche 963 RSP | Image: Porsche Porsche 963 RSP | Image: Porsche
Man of Many
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Man of Many
Desmo450 MX: Ducati's ‘First-Ever' Motocross Bike Slated for September Debut
By Somnath Chatterjee - News Published: 12 June 2025 |Last Updated: 10 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 4 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Ducati has announced the Desmo450 MX; it's first production motocross bike . . The new motocross offering is due for launch in September 2025 with a price tag of AUD$16,300 . with a price tag of . Desmo450 MX is the first model in a complete range of specialist off-road bikes . . Highlights include an off-road spec suspension and a lightweight frame with the Desmodromic engine. As if the Multistrada and the Desert X were not enough to satiate off-road enthusiasts, Ducati has now entered its first proper motocross bike into production. The Desmo450 MX is the motorcycle brand's latest foray into the cross-performance market, offering improved suspension, a lightweight frame and, by the looks of the first images, a heck of a lot of fun. Most importantly, the Ducati Desmo450 MX is set to hit showrooms later this year, and it won't cost as much as you'd think. Slated for a September 2025 release and priced at a cursory AUD$16,300, the Desmo450 MX marks a new frontier for Ducati; one typified by reinvention. A cursory glance gives a clue as to how off-road-focused the Desmo450 MX really is, and the initial reports are promising. Desmo450 MX: Ducati's 'First-Ever' Motocross Bike | Image: Ducati Desmo450 MX Powertrain Ducati revealed that the new motocross bike has been developed with World Motocross Champion Tony Cairoli and Italian champion Alessandro Lupino, in order to provide the most authentic trail-faring experience. The result is a 449.6 cc Ducati single-cylinder engine with Desmodromic distribution, where the powertrain has been tuned for off-road performance, allowing riders to make use of every gear ratio. The trade-off of this is that the power delivery has been prioritised for lower revs, which means this may not be a tarmac screamer like the typical Ducati fare that we are used to, but something more sinister. That being said, Ducati claims that the Desmo450 MX will still rev upto 11,900 rpm, which is nothing to sneeze at. 'We looked around, searching for the important unique features of our corporate culture and finding what I believe characterises Ducati like perhaps no other company: the closeness between the world of racing and that of production motorcycles,' Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said. 'And discovering, at the same time, that we have an incredible resource in-house in the form of many off-road enthusiasts in the various departments. All this has allowed us to present the Desmo450 MX: an easy and high-performance bike, for amateurs and professionals alike.' Desmo450 MX: Ducati's 'First-Ever' Motocross Bike | Image: Ducati Weight is also the mantra for the Desmo450 MX, where its lightweight aluminium frame, whihc measures in at 104.8 kgs, has been designed to have the least possible number of welds. Further, Ducati claims that this is the first motocross bike in the world equipped with a Traction Control capable of precisely defining actual rear wheel slippage. Of course, a Ducati will not be complete without a Akrapovič titanium slip-on silencer, with the robust suspension consisting of a 49mm Showa upside-down fork at the front and a fully adjustable monoshock at the rear. Brake power comes courtesy of Brembo, and the gearbox is a six-speed unit with a quick shifter. Desmo450 MX: Ducati's 'First-Ever' Motocross Bike | Image: Ducati Desmo450 MX Style Styling-wise, Ducati hasn't strayed too far from the beaten path. The latest Desmo450 MX keeps the angular family DNA that the brand has become synonymous with, and it's not hard to see hints of the flagship Panigale amidst those sharp lines. More of the detail-oriented side, you can expect to find Takasago Excel rims laced with Alpina spokes being wrapped around Pirelli Scorpion MX32 tyres. At first glance, the Desmo450 MX does cut an imposing figure. Compared to the previous off-road-focused machines from Ducati, this is a far more serious product, designed with the singular focus of decimating dirt trails. Make no mistake, this is not a lifestyle bike, but rather a purposeful machine designed with a clean sheet of paper, which is a huge advantage when you take into account Ducati's trademark pomp and glamour. It might be a new segment for Ducati, but the brand has kept its core appeal well entrenched in this bike. The Ducati Desmo450 MX will arrive at selected European dealerships starting from June 2025. According to the brand, Distribution will extend to North America in July, and then to the rest of the world, with Australia slated for a September release. The new motocross bike will be priced at AUD$16,300 ride-away. Desmo450 MX: Ducati's 'First-Ever' Motocross Bike | Image: Ducati Desmo450 MX: Ducati's 'First-Ever' Motocross Bike | Image: Ducati Desmo450 MX: Ducati's 'First-Ever' Motocross Bike | Image: Ducati Desmo450 MX: Ducati's 'First-Ever' Motocross Bike | Image: Ducati
