Brands
Hero MotoCorp rides out the all-new Destini 125
MUMBAI: If you can hear the vroom-vroom of a scooter in the distance and it sounds like a cat purring then you can be sure it is Hero Motorcorp’s latest 125 cc scooter. The two-wheeler maker is hoping that it can stir up things in the 125 cc segment with the launch of its Desitni 125. – a new range it introduced recently. Designed to enhance urban mobility, this innovative scooter combines advanced technology, impressive mileage, and reliable performance, establishing new standards for city riding.
The Hero Destini 125 will be available in three variants to suit various consumer preferences:
– **Destini 125 VX**: Rs 80,450
– **Destini 125 ZX**: Rs 89,300
– **Destini 125 ZX+**: Rs 90,300
(*Introductory ex-showroom prices in Delhi.*)
Hero MotoCorp, says It has, emphasied its commitment to innovation, pointing out the 30 patent applications for the Destini 125. Key features include an illuminated start switch and auto-cancel winkers for improved rider safety. With a segment-leading mileage of 59 km per litre, it’s an ideal choice for practical families.
Focusing on comfort, the scooter offers spacious legroom and an extended seat perfect for long urban commutes. Enhanced with a modern digital speedometer, a 190mm front disc brake, and the robust 12/12 platform, the Destini 125 guarantees superior handling and stability. The innovative i3S (Idle Stop-Start System) technology further boosts fuel efficiency.
Hero MotoCorp chief business officer – India business unit – Ranjivjit Singh expressed excitement for the new Destini 125, saying, “It combines style, convenience, and advanced technology to meet modern rider demands.”
Powered by a refined 125cc engine, the scooter delivers 9 bhp and 10.4 Nm of torque, ensuring both efficiency and performance. Convenience features include a front glove box, boot lamp for low-light access, and Bluetooth connectivity for real-time navigation and alerts.
Safety is prioritised with advanced LED projector headlamps and reliable brakes, making it suitable for both city commutes and leisurely rides. Its neo-retro design, with LED daytime running lights and premium alloy wheels, adds to its appeal.
The Destini 125 will be available in five exclusive color options, including Eternal White, Regal Black, and Groovy Red, ensuring it meets diverse consumer tastes.
With the new Destini 125, Hero MotoCorp is set to redefine benchmarks in the 125cc scooter segment, delivering a blend of style, performance, and family-friendly features that enhance urban mobility across India.
Brands
Uber launches hotel bookings feature in partnership with Expedia
From hotel bookings to room service at your door, the ride-hailing giant is making its boldest push yet into everyday life
CALIFORNIA: Uber is done being just a taxi app. At its annual GO-GET product event, the world’s leading mobility and delivery platform unveiled a sweeping set of new features designed to plant itself at the centre of how people travel, eat and shop, hotel bookings included.
The headline move is a partnership with Expedia Group that lets Uber users in the United States book hotels directly within the Uber app, with access to a catalogue that will eventually grow to more than 700,000 properties worldwide. Uber One members get 10 per cent back in Uber One credits on all hotel bookings and savings of at least 20 per cent on a rolling list of more than 10,000 hotels globally. Vacation rentals from Vrbo, Expedia Group’s home-rental brand, will be added later this year. The partnership is expected to expand beyond the United States. From June, Uber rides will also be integrated directly into the Expedia app, with push notifications sent to travellers ahead of hotel check-in to book discounted Uber rides for the duration of their stay.
Dara Khosrowshahi, chief executive of Uber, framed the expansion in terms of the modern condition. “Uber is becoming an app for everything, helping people go, get, and now travel all in one place,” he said. “We’re all living through a moment of real cognitive overload: too many apps, too many decisions, too much noise. At the end of the day, our job is to help people reclaim their time, spending less of it managing the logistics of life and more of it actually living.”
Ariane Gorin, chief executive of Expedia Group, struck a similarly ambitious note. “Travel should feel effortless, and this partnership gets us one step closer to offering a seamless traveller experience,” she said. “By connecting our two-sided marketplace with Uber, we’re bringing Uber rides directly into the Expedia app and Expedia Group’s lodging inventory into the Uber app through our Rapid API technology. Together, we’re helping travellers spend less time planning and more time enjoying the journey.”
Beyond hotels, the product announcements come thick and fast. Travel Mode, available within both the Uber and Uber Eats apps, offers curated recommendations on local favourites, tourist destinations, OpenTable restaurant reservations and on-demand delivery to hotel rooms. Uber One International means the membership programme now works globally, allowing members to earn credits on rides abroad that can be redeemed once back home. A new Shop for Me feature lets users request items from any store, even those not listed on the app. Eats for the Way allows riders in select cities booking an Uber Black or Uber Black SUV to have a drink or snack waiting for them in the car. Voice Bookings, powered by artificial intelligence, lets users book a ride conversationally, without touching their phone. And a redesigned One Search bar consolidates results for places, food and items across the entire Uber platform in a single query.
Uber has now logged more than 72 billion trips since it launched in 2010. The question it is now answering is what comes after the ride. The answer, apparently, is everything else. Whether users want a hotel in Paris, a coffee in the back of a car or a snake plant from the local garden centre, Uber would very much like to be the one to provide it. The app economy’s land grab has a new front-runner.
NOTE: The image used is AI generated and only for representational purposes.
