Ather Energy Unveils Ather 450X Series1 Electric Scooter

Ashutosh Chincholikar Of Smart Controls Succumbs To Covid-19

Ather Energy, the Bangalore-based electric scooter manufacturer, has unveiled the collector’s edition of the Ather 450X, called Series1. This limited-edition scooter is available only to those Ather Energy enthusiasts who pre-ordered the scooter before the national launch of the Ather 450X on January 28th, 2020.

Ather 450X has a light hybrid aluminium frame chassis by using premium colour and finish. The Series1 vehicle comes with translucent panels, which is a first for Indian roads. Said to be made in India, the translucent panels in the rear offers a peek inside the scooter. One would be able to see the cast aluminium chassis and the trellis frame, a unique aspect of the Ather scooters, under the seat. The Series1 comes with a high-gloss metallic black body colour combined with accents of red. These signature colors also feature on the 7” touchscreen dashboard of the Series1 scooters, with a special intro screen and subtle hints of red in the UI designed for the scooters.

The Series1 edition will have a 6 kW PMSM electric motor which gets its energy from a 2.9 kWh lithium-ion battery, like the standard Ather 450X. It will also have the same set of riding modes - Eco, Ride, Sport, and a high-performance ‘Warp’ mode. According to internal tests, the 0-40 kmph acceleration time of just 3.3 seconds, makes the Ather 450X one of the quickest electric scooters in the 125cc performance categories in India.

Deliveries of Series1 will begin by November 2020 in all 11 cities - Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Coimbatore, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kozhikode, and Kolkata. Ather Energy has clarified that the initial batches of Series1 scooters will ship out with black panels and will be upgraded to the translucent
panels in May 2021. 

Tarun Mehta, co-founder and CEO of Ather Energy
Tarun Mehta at the launch of Series1, collector's edition of the Ather450X

Tarun Mehta (pictured above), CEO, and Co-founder of Ather Energy said, “Like all our scooters, the Series1 is built from scratch and we hope our community loves it as much as we loved building it. Building automotive grade translucent panels is tricky and I am super excited that Ather is bringing them out for the first time ever with Series1. The teams have been working on it for months and despite the lockdown, have been able to produce something truly fantastic.”
 

Norton Manx R

TVS Motor Co-owned British marquee brand Norton Motorcycles has received a Bronze award at the International Design Excellence Awards for its Manx R superbike in the Automotive and Transportation category.

Organised by the Industrial Designers Society of America, the annual awards ceremony took place in Pasadena, California, where Darren McNeill, Head of Marketing at Norton US, collected the honour. Interestingly, Manx R becomes the first production sports motorcycle with an internal combustion engine (ICE) to receive an IDEA award.

Simon Skinner, Head of Design, Norton Motorcycles, said, “The Manx R was created to challenge what a modern superbike can look and feel like. We wanted to move away from visual noise and create something more reductive, more crafted and more connected to the rider. Every surface, exposed component and detail had to earn its place. Winning an IDEA award is a proud moment for the whole Norton team because it recognises the depth of design thinking behind the bike, not just the finished object.”

The Manx R was developed as the primary model under Norton's Resurgence strategy following its acquisition by TVS Motor Company. Chief Creative Advisor Professor Gerry McGovern OBE shaped the design direction, while Simon Skinner led the engineering and styling teams at Norton’s headquarters in Solihull, UK.

Gerry McGovern said, “From the beginning, the ambition for Norton’s Resurgence was to create a design direction that was modern, emotionally engaging and worthy of the brand’s extraordinary heritage. The Manx R proves that motorcycles, like cars, can be objects of desire through proportion, stance, drama and detail. To see that recognised by an international jury of designers is a meaningful endorsement of the direction Norton has taken.”

The motorcycle features a V4 engine, semi-active suspension, Brembo brakes, rider assistance systems and an eight-inch TFT display. The Manx R superbike and the Atlas adventure motorcycle will go on sale in the United States starting in October 2026.

Royal Enfield Launches Classic 350 Gorkha Edition At INR 210,684 In India

Royal Enfield Gurkha Edition

Chennai-headquartered mid-sized motorcycle major Royal Enfield has launched the Classic 350 Gorkha Edition in India, priced at INR 210,684 ex-showroom, New Delhi.

The new variant is finished in a Gorkha Green paint scheme and features insignia displaying crossed Khukris, reflecting design references to the Gorkha Regiment. Mechanical specifications retain the J-series engine and standard frame configuration, while additions include an assist and slipper clutch alongside a Type-C USB charging port.

Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Chief Commercial Officer, Royal Enfield, said, "With the Classic 350 Gorkha Edition, we pay tribute to an extraordinary military legacy defined by fierce bravery, loyalty and absolute honour. Every detail stays true to the timeless character of the Classic 350, while the bespoke Gorkha insignia speak of the values that have defined this regiment for generations. The Gorkha apparel collection extends that tribute beyond the ride, giving our community a way to carry that legacy forward with pride and purpose."

Lieutenant General Sanjeev Chauhan, President, Gorkha Brigade, said, "The strength of the Gorkha Regiment lies not only in its history, but in the values of courage, discipline and honour that have been upheld across generations. It is a privilege to see this legacy acknowledged through the Royal Enfield Classic 350 Gorkha Edition, which pays tribute to the spirit and traditions of the Gorkha soldiers with dignity and respect."

Royal Enfield also introduced an accompanying merchandise line, designated as the Gorkha Collection. The range includes helmets, leather boots, headgear and apparel designed using military-inspired colour options including olive green, crimson, black, and bronze.

Yamaha Launches Refreshed 125cc Fi Hybrid Scooter Range In India

Yamaha 125cc Fi Hybrid Scooter Lineup

India Yamaha Motor has announced updates to its 125cc Fi Hybrid scooter line-up, which introduces new colour schemes, revised body graphics and technology features across the RayZR and Fascino model ranges.

The RayZR 125 Fi Hybrid receives updated paint finishes and graphics. Within the range, the Street Rally variant now incorporates a Colour TFT Instrument Cluster with Turn-by-Turn navigation functionality for smartphone integration.

The Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid also receives colour updates and bodywork revisions. Pricing for the RayZR range starts at INR 79,880 for the Drum brake variant in Metallic Black, moving to INR 87,680 for the Disc variant available in Metallic Black, Dark Matte Blue, and Ice Fluo Vermillion.

The Street Rally variant with an LCD cluster is priced at INR 93,930 in Ice Fluo Vermillion and Matte Black, while the TFT instrument cluster model costs INR 100,440 in Matte Titan and Matte Black.

The Fascino line-up begins at INR 78,980 for the Drum variant in Yellow Cocktail, rising to INR 91,070 for the Disc variant offered in Metallic Light Green, Cool Blue Metallic and Matte Black. The Fascino S variant is priced at INR 99,030 in Metallic Orangish Gray. Both model lines retain Yamaha’s Smart Motor Generator Hybrid Technology, featuring power assist, silent start and automatic engine stop-start systems.

Hardware across the range includes telescopic front suspension, 21-litre under-seat storage compartments, side-stand engine cut-off switches and E20 fuel compatibility. The Fascino S and RayZR Street Rally TFT variants also feature answer-back function capabilities.

Hero MotoCorp Appoints Srihari Mulgund As Chief Strategy Officer

Srihari Mulgund

Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of scooters and motorcycles, has appointed Srihari Mulgund as its new Chief Strategy Officer, effective 17 August 2026. Following the appointment, Mulgund joins the company's executive leadership team and assumes a senior management role under regulatory listing rules.

He comes with over 24 years of experience across engineering, product development, and strategic planning within the automotive industry, having worked in the United States, Japan, China and India.

Prior to joining Hero MotoCorp, he served as a Partner at EY-Parthenon, where he managed advisory engagements covering electric vehicles, battery technology, internal combustion engines, supply chains and mobility systems.

His career history also includes executive roles at Aisin AW, FEV Inc and Ricardo Strategic Consulting India, where he served as President.

Mulgund holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the National Institute of Engineering in Mysore, a master's degree from the University of Toledo, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

In his new position, Mulgund will oversee the formulation and execution of corporate growth plans, technological development initiatives and market strategy frameworks across the company's business divisions.