Updated Suzuki Swish 125 launched at Rs 51,661
Suzuki’s Indian two-wheeler arm, Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL), has just launched an updated version of its Swish 125 scooter at Rs 51,661 (ex-showroom, Delhi). The updated Swish 125 now gets four new paint schemes - silver, black, white and red.
To add to its upmarket feel, Suzuki has also given the Swish 125 a digi-analogue instrument console that displays the time, a service reminder, and houses dual trip meters. It also gets new blue lens position lamps. The maintenance free battery, tubeless tyres and telescopic front suspension are carried over to the updated scooter.
The Swish 125 is powered by a 124cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke engine that also powers the Suzuki Access. It produces 8.58bhp at 7,000rpm, and 1kgm of peak torque is produced at 5,500rpm. It comes with a push-button starter as well as a kick lever.
Atul Gupta, executive vice president, Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL), says that they believe that the new Swish is in tune with the market demands, and that it is attractive enough to draw new and youthful customers.
ARAI to put up 5 inspection, certification test centres
The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) will set up five inspection and certification test centres in the country on the orders of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. So far, it is decided that Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Telangana will get the ARAI test centres.
The ARAI test centres will carry out emission and safety inspection. Emission inspection includes free acceleration tests (diesel-run vehicles) and idle tests (for petrol, LPG, CNG vehicles). The safety inspection centres, on the other hand, will have automated equipment. These will carry out speedometer, brake tests, suspension, underbody and overbody areas, joint play, headlamps, tail-lamps, side slip and others.
ARAI is known for providing consultancy services to set up optimal sized test centres for government and private organisations. It also undertakes turnkey projects, like establishing greenfield test centres, carrying out audits for these centres, and training motor vehicle inspectors and operators. The association is currently engaged with several organisations for providing these services.
Meanwhile, Rashmi Urdhwareshe, director, ARAI, while giving an update on ARAI’s upcoming 55,000 square metre Chakan facility, said: “Augmentation of ARAI’s facilities will have three centres of excellence – one COE in powertrain, fatigue and materials, and passive safety. This will be done at Chakan. Out of these centres, the building of a passive safety lab and its infrastructure is now ready, and the installation of key equipment for crash testing is in the advanced stage of completion.”
Interestingly, the all-new passive test facility built under National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP) at ARAI, Chakan, has equipment for carrying out crash tests such as full frontal, offset frontal, side, side pole and rear impact as per Automatic Identification Systems, Indian Standard (AIS), ECE regulations, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) requirements. It also has a static rollover test facility, a full-fledged dummy calibration facility, an electric AC drive crash test system, with a payload capacity of 3,500kg and propelling speed of 80kph, and many others.
Bajaj Platina ES launched
Bajaj has just launched a new and upgraded Platina called the ES (electric start). This new Platina, as Bajaj mentions, is equipped with the most fuel-efficient engine Bajaj has developed to date.
The Platina ES comes with new body graphics and colour options (red, blue and black). The motorcycle's grab handle will also get the corresponding body colour. A completely blacked-out engine and alloy wheels add to the Platina ES’s fresh appeal. The fuel-tank can hold 11.5 litres, and 110mm drum brakes are standard for both, the front and rear wheels.
The new Bajaj Platina ES is equipped with a 102cc, four-stroke, single cylinder engine which is air-cooled. The motor is equipped with dual spark plugs and twin valves. The engine produces maximum power of 8.2bhp at 7,500rpm and maximum torque of 0.88kgm at 5,000rpm. Power is sent to the rear wheel using a final chain drive and four-speed transmission that shifts in an all-down pattern. The motorcycle weighs only 108kg.
The Platina gets telescopic front suspension and dual hydraulic rear shock absorbers, using Bajaj's patented suspension-in-suspension technology. A no-maintenance battery has also made its way on to this new commuter Bajaj bike.
The Bajaj Platina ES costs Rs 45,431 (ex-showroom, Mumbai) and some dealers are offering a special introductory price of Rs 52,000 (on-road, Mumbai).
