Honda Grom minibike

Introduction for Honda Grom minibike:

     The Honda Grom is, without a doubt, one of those bikes most macho riders wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. But it’s also a back-to-basics ride that consistently delivers spontaneous grins and unexpected fun, recalling the sorts of low velocity thrills you’ll find familiar if you ever grew up on a minibike.

     While certainly not for everyone, Honda’s $3,000 Grom is welcoming to a wider range of people than you might expect thanks to its manageable ergonomics, user-friendly controls, and modern touches like fuel-injection and a digital instrument panel-and it's so perfect for new riders, it easily earns a spot on our list of 10 Great First Motorcycles while also sporting the lowest price. The Grom may not be a practical solution for a long distance daily commute, but its focus on fun makes it a great replacement for casual urban runabouts like scooters, offering legitimate motorcycle mechanicals for a fraction of the cost of a full-sized bike.

     My only regret? The fact that the Grom’s 125cc engine prevents it from being freeway legal… but hey, Honda product planners haven’t ruled out the possibility of future spinoffs like a 150cc version, as they did with the Honda PCX. With a bigger, highway-legal engine, the Grom just could outdo itself as the ultimate— and most usable urban micro machine.

Colour: Black

Colour: Red

2014 Honda Grom Specifications:

• Price: $2,999
• Engine: 125cc, single-cylinder, fuel-injected four-stroke
• Transmission: 4-speed manual
• Fuel Capacity: 1.45 gallons
• Front Suspension: 31mm inverted fork, 3.9 inches of travel
• Rear Suspension: Single shock, 4.1 inches of travel
• Front Brake: Single 220mm disc, hydraulic dual-piston caliper
• Rear Brake: Single 190mm disc, hydraulic single-piston caliper
• Seat Height: 29.7 inches
• Rake/Trail: 25º/3.2 inches
• Curb Weight: 225 pounds
• Available Colours: Red, Black

Mercedes-Benz's AMG Division Record Sales

Mercedes-Benz's AMG Division Posts Record Sales of 32,000 Cars in 2013.

     AMG has gone from a two-man operation that was founded in n 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, to a fully incorporated Mercedes-Benz subsidiary employing 1,200 workers and selling a record-breaking 32,000 cars in 2013.

"We are looking back on the company’s strongest year ever,” said Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “This extraordinary growth has exceeded even our own expectations."

     

     The German brand attributed its sales success to several factors including the broad introduction of the AMG-developed version of its all-wheel drive 4MATIC system on a number of models, including the E63 and CLS 63 AMG, as well as the arrival of the most affordable models in its range, the compact A 45 and CLA 45 AMG.

Mercedes noted that after its introduction, around 90 percent (!) of buyers of the new E 63 AMG chose the all-wheel drive 4MATIC technology.

     

     AMG posted an overall growth of around 20 percent, with its two main European markets, Germany recording a 10 percent increase with the UK being up 40 percent. The company added that in China, 2013 sales were up around a quarter on the previous year, even though the new entry-level A 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG models, as well as the new S 63 AMG 4MATIC, were not available there.

     As for the future, AMG said it plans to enter a new segment with "a sports car it has fully developed itself" - it is likely referring to the SLC or GT AMG, a more affordable model aimed at the likes of the Porsche 911.