After price drop on Metacycle e-motorcycle, SONDORS teases electric dirt bike
The electric bicycle and e-motorcycle company SONDORS is teasing something new, and it looks a lot like an electric dirt bike.
SONDORS just sent out a teaser email to its followers explaining that the “Next SONDORS product release is coming soon.”
There aren’t many details about the new model provided, other than that the coming product announcement is described as being “MetaBIG.”
The play on words invokes the SONDORS Metacycle, a small format electric motorcycle first announced by the company in early 2021 and eventually rolled out to consumers in late 2022.
The Metacycle uses a cast aluminum frame that gives it a distinctive frame cavity. The company originally stated that three accessories would be available for the cavity, including a storage box, Level 2 charger, or an auxiliary battery.
It’s not clear if the upcoming product will be built on the Metacycle frame, but CEO and founder Storm Sondors told Electrek during a Wheel-E Podcast interview that the company was working on multiple models that would be based on the Metacycle platform.
An electric dirt bike would be a likely option, though it could be equally likely that SONDORS develops some type of electric trail bike in line with the Sur Ron Light Bee or other off-road light electric motorcycles.
The teaser image doesn’t reveal much, but we do see off-road tires as well as a distinctive disc brake guard that is normally only found on dirt bikes. The bike also sports a beak-style front fender commonly found on dirt and adventure bikes, as well as a reworked front headlight.
The Metacycle in its current form uses a rear hub motor, which is not ideal for off-road riding. But then again, it’s not exactly the best option for street riding either and that hasn’t stopped SONDORS from selling thousands of the light electric commuter motorcycles.
The company recently announced a ‘credit’ of US $2,500, reducing the price of the US $6,500 electric motorcycle to just US $4,000 before shipping.
The credit apparently helped SONDORS snag 1,000 reservations in a week for the bike, on top of a reported 2,000 units already shipped.
Despite the ramp up of deliveries, SONDORS has faced harsh criticism over the Metacycle’s rollout. Complaints have run the gamut from the bike not living up to its original performance specifications to concerns over build quality to an inability to reach customer service in order to receive timely answers. Many early reservations holders have had trouble cancelling their reservations and receiving refunds, with several waiting several months to hear back from the company about pending refunds.
The company has a long history of making lofty promises with optimistic delivery timelines. But with the exception of its three-wheeled electric car project, SONDORS has generally delivered most of what it promises, though usually several months behind schedule.
The practice has irked riders who aren’t used the the company’s rather “unique” operating method, often leaving frustrated riders wondering when they’ll receive their new e-bike or e-motorcycle. So if history is any indication, it may be a good idea to add a few months to whatever delivery timeline SONDORS touts upon the unveiling of this new ride.
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With its tire-blistering acceleration and record-setting performance, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has been getting attention throughout the auto industry, impressing everyone who’s seen it. That “everyone” now seems to include the OG supercar brand, itself.
CarNewsChina posted pictures from a Weibo user that reportedly show a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra exiting the storied Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy. According to a Chinese blogger going by 西米露在博洛尼亚 (which seems to translate to “Sago Dessert in Bologna”), the prancing horse brand is actively benchmarking the Chinese hypercar for its own upcoming EV.
The SU7 Ultra was definitely coming from inside Ferrari’s facility. After verification, we learned this specific vehicle was officially purchased by Ferrari for testing, and the development of their next-generation electric platform.
Yet another Chinese auto blogger, 苏黎世贝勒爷, claims that Ferrari representatives visited Xiaomi headquarters last year, allegedly to discuss the joint development of next-generation high-performance EV motors.
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra made its debut last year, promising 1,548 hp, sub 2.0-second 0-60 mph times, and a top speed well over 200 mph – all at a price lower than a Tesla Model S Plaid or Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. The car sold out almost immediately after it was unveiled, racking up some 50,000 orders almost overnight.
The new electric benchmark
In the automotive world, “benchmarking” is a process in which car companies systematically tear down each others’ competitive products to compare everything from sound insulation, vehicle ride and handling, component materials, and even manufacturing methods against their own or against other industry leaders. The goal is to evaluate performance, cost, quality, and other key metrics, effectively figuring out “where they stand” in the market.
If Ferrari really did buy an SU7 to benchmark it against their own upcoming electric supercar, it’s more than just a curiosity – it could mean that the highest tiers of automotive innovation have shifted from West to East. Maybe forever.
Featured image via Xiaomi; sources throughout the post.
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We’re finally getting our first teases of the upgraded 2027 Chevy Bolt, built on GM’s battery/motor platform formerly known as Ultium. So far, so good for the vehicle, which will be revealed later this Fall.
Chevy took to social media today to tease the 2027 Chevy Bolt, saying, “You asked, we listened. The #ChevyBolt is back and better than ever. More this fall. 👀”
Chevy ended the original Bolt program with the 2023 model, which was loved by a loyal group of customers (including myself). Some of the major gripes, including charging speed and rear brake lights, already look to be addressed. Also, a new more aggressive fascia is debuting.
Electrek’s take
GM has done an incredible job keeping the 2027 Bolt under wraps. It will be the first GM vehicle with a native NACS port after the Cadillac Optiq-V, which we spied in Seattle last week.
Hopefully, the new Bolt will have improved charging speeds over and above the 54kW that previous Bolts adhered to. One possible downgrade is that the old Bolt’s amazing wireless CarPlay/Android Auto system will likely be replaced by GM’s move to Android’s built-in experience. For a few years, the Chevy Bolt was the most affordable long-range EV, and it won our 2022 Electrek car of the year for its versatility and price.
I would, of course, like to see the new Bolt as a hot hatchback, but GM CEO Mary Barra has hinted that it will likely take more of the EUV’s SUV form factor. Things like AWD options, SuperCruise, pricing, power and range are yet to be revealed, but stay tuned to Electrek for the latest on Bolt developments.
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On today’s test-acular episode of Quick Charge, it’s a new day and a new Chinese ADAS test for Tesla to conquer – but this one’s got a LOT more pedestrian carnage to parse through! We’ve also got some great e-bike deals from Retrospec and a bladder-busting Hyundai.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec – the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure! To that end, we’ve got a pair of Retrospec e-bike reviews followed up by the updated Hyundai IONIQ 6 with nearly 350 miles of range from its updated long-range battery. With that, Hyundai now has the longest range Korean EV on the market, while Texas is adding megawatts of battery energy storage to beef up its troubled grid, and it’s doing so faster and cheaper than ever before.
Plus: Quick Charge listeners can get an extra 10% off the price of their next awesome e-bike by using code ELECTREK10 at retrospec.com!
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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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