New Harley-Davidson ‘Sprint' motorcycle reportedly set for 2026 debut, inspired by Aermacchi era
According to the publication, the modern Sprint, reviving the name of a model first seen during the company's partnership with Italian manufacturer Aermacchi in the 1960s and 1970s, is expected to debut publicly this autumn, with a starting price under $6,000.
The announcement reportedly came during Harley-Davidson's Q2 2025 earnings call, where Chief Executive Jochen Zeitz revealed that the Sprint will be presented to dealers at a company event in October.
Designed for both domestic and international markets, the upcoming Sprint will likely be a small-capacity motorcycle, aimed at attracting new riders and expanding Harley-Davidson's global footprint in the lower-displacement segment.
'This bike is rooted in our heritage and taps into the spirit of the original Harley-Davidson Sprint,' Zeitz said, noting that the model has been in development since 2021. He added that it forms part of a broader strategy to ensure sustainable profitability in the entry-level market, an area where previous efforts, such as the Street 500 and Street 750, failed to deliver long-term success.
Alongside the Sprint, Harley-Davidson is also planning to release a second, yet-to-be-named entry-level cruiser as part of its 2026 lineup, the report added.
Zeitz acknowledged the company's historical struggle to generate profits from smaller motorcycles, stating, 'We believe that how we've engineered this product, it will be profitable.' The new Sprint is expected to play a critical role in Harley-Davidson's plans to re-enter and strengthen its presence in segments it had either exited or failed to establish a strong foothold in.
Reportedly, the original Sprint was introduced in 1961 after Harley-Davidson acquired a stake in Aermacchi's motorcycle division, and featured a 250cc single-cylinder engine. It later evolved into the Sprint 350 in 1969 before being discontinued in 1974.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Indian Express
Ferrari's Leclerc stuns the McLarens to take pole for F1's Hungarian Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc snatched a surprise first pole position of the year for Ferrari at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday, beating both McLarens. Leclerc punched the air in delight as he climbed out of the car after beating Oscar Piastri by 0.026 of a second and the other McLaren of Lando Norris by .041. Leclerc had consistently been the best of the rest behind the McLarens in practice but remained well off Piastri and Norris' pace. That changed in qualifying, with the help of conditions which gradually got gloomier and windier, working against the McLarens. Norris and Piastri were each about half a second slower per lap in the final part of qualifying, compared to the second segment. Still, pole came as a shock at a circuit which Leclerc had called 'by far the worst track of the season for me' on Thursday. 'What?' Leclerc exclaimed over the radio when he was told he'd qualified first. 'Honestly, I have no words. It's probably one of the best pole positions I've ever had because it's the most unexpected,' Leclerc added later. Pole position is usually a big advantage in Hungary, where overtaking is difficult, but Norris noted the chance that rain could spring some surprises for Sunday's race. 'I have no idea how it will go, but one thing for sure is that I will do absolutely everything in order to keep that first place,' said Leclerc, who's on pole for the 27th time in F1 but doesn't have the best record converting those starts into wins. He'll be seeking his ninth F1 victory Sunday. It was a stark contrast with yet another frustrating day for Lewis Hamilton in the other Ferrari. Hamilton has won the Hungarian Grand Prix a record eight times but qualified 12th as the seven-time champion's troubles in his first season with Ferrari continued. 'Every time, every time,' Hamilton told the team over the radio after he qualified outside the top 10 for the second straight race. That came after Ferrari's executive chairman John Elkann called it 'a rough season' in comments Saturday on the F1 website, and defended Ferrari's trust in team principal Fred Vasseur, whose contract extension was announced Thursday. Ferrari hasn't won a Grand Prix since Carlos Sainz, Jr.'s victory in Mexico in October, when the Spanish driver — now at Williams — also had the Italian team's last pole. Defending champion Max Verstappen was only eighth after struggling with the balance of his Red Bull, and his teammate Yuki Tsunoda was 16th. That piles more pressure on the Japanese driver, who hasn't scored a point in six races.
News18
10 hours ago
- News18
'The Wind' Blows In Ferrari's Favour: McLaren's 'Pathetic' Excuse After Leclerc Pole At Hungarian GP
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc claimed a surprise pole at the Hungarian GP, beating McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in changing weather. It's Ferrari's first pole of 2025. After dominating every practice session throughout the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, McLaren were left stunned during Saturday's qualifying as Ferrari's Charles Leclerc surged to a surprise pole position under rapidly changing weather conditions. Having set the pace in all three practice sessions, McLaren entered qualifying as clear favourites. But when it mattered most, series leader Oscar Piastri and his teammate — and closest title rival — Lando Norris found themselves outpaced by Leclerc's perfectly timed final lap. Piastri, who leads the championship standings after 13 of the 24 scheduled races, was left to reflect on what might have been after qualifying second on the grid. 'I think the wind changed a lot," said the Australian. 'It always sounds so pathetic, blaming things on the wind, but the wind basically did a 180 from Q1 to Q3, so it just meant a lot of the corners felt completely different." Piastri admitted that the shift in conditions caught him off guard. 'My first lap in Q3 felt pretty terrible because I wasn't used to it, and then I thought the second lap was better – but it was even slower," he said. 'It's so difficult to judge in those conditions – and maybe not the best execution. I was a bit surprised that we couldn't go quicker than that. Second is still a decent spot to start. We'll see what we can do tomorrow." Norris, who qualified third and sits just 16 points behind Piastri in the championship, echoed similar frustrations, suggesting the team may have been too conservative as the wind disrupted their usual rhythm. 'I think Charles did a good job on the last lap and he probably risked a bit more in these conditions," said Norris. 'The wind changed a lot and it really seemed to punish us in a bigger way." Leclerc Takes First Pole of 2025 Leclerc's pole lap not only secured his first-ever top spot in Hungary but also marked Ferrari's first pole of the 2025 season and the 27th of his career. It was a dramatic turnaround for the Italian team, who have struggled to consistently challenge McLaren and Red Bull this year. His late flyer in Q3 edged out Piastri by just 0.021 seconds, with Norris another 0.032 seconds behind — underlining just how tight the session was. Historic Qualifying Tightness In fact, just 0.543 seconds separated pole-sitter Leclerc from 10th-placed rookie Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls, making it one of the closest qualifying sessions in Formula One history. The top ten for Sunday's grid will line up as follows: About the Author Siddarth Sriram After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His More News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Economic Times
14 hours ago
- Economic Times
Lyft ditches humans! Self-driving shuttles to battle Uber & Waymo by 2026
Synopsis Lyft robotaxi launch 2026 marks a bold move by the ride-sharing giant as it partners with Holon to bring self-driving electric shuttles to U.S. cities. These futuristic vehicles, powered by Mobileye's Level 4 autonomy, are set to hit roads in late 2026—beginning in Dallas and Atlanta. Lyft's shift from a human-only model to full autonomy signals growing competition with Uber, Waymo, and Tesla in the robotaxi race. With sleek design, zero emissions, and smart partnerships, Lyft aims to change the future of urban travel, making it smarter, safer, and more sustainable for riders across the country. Lyft is officially diving into the robotaxi race, leaving behind its 'human-only' ride model and stepping into the world of fully autonomous vehicles. In a bold move, the company has announced it will launch self-driving electric shuttles by 2026, taking direct aim at rivals like Uber, Waymo, and Tesla. Partnering with Holon and powered by Mobileye's advanced autonomy tech, Lyft plans to reshape the future of urban travel — safer, smarter, and completely driverless. Lyft is officially stepping into the fast-growing robotaxi race, unveiling plans to launch fully autonomous electric shuttles in late 2026. This marks a major shift from its previous 'human-only' ride strategy. Teaming up with Holon, a cutting-edge mobility company spun out of Benteler Group, Lyft aims to challenge big players like Uber with Waymo, Tesla, and Cruise in the future of self-driving transportation. Lyft's 2026 rollout will see electric, driverless Holon Urban shuttles hit select U.S. streets. These futuristic vehicles will be fully integrated into the Lyft app, giving riders the choice to ride in an autonomous vehicle for short urban trips — especially in airports, downtown corridors, and transit hubs. With the support of Mobileye's Level 4 autonomy technology and Japanese partner Marubeni, Lyft is betting big on a driverless future. After years of distancing itself from autonomous vehicle development, Lyft is now re-entering the space with a smart, low-risk strategy. Instead of building its own driverless cars, Lyft is collaborating with partners like Holon, Mobileye, and Marubeni SmartFleet. Their joint plan? To roll out Level 4 electric autonomous shuttles that can operate without a human driver in controlled environments. Holon's self-driving shuttle — designed by Italian auto legend Pininfarina — will carry up to 15 passengers, reach speeds of up to 37 mph, and operate on fixed routes in cities. These all-electric vehicles will prioritize accessibility, low emissions, and urban efficiency — fitting Lyft's vision of safer, cleaner mobility. This pivot is a major reversal for Lyft. Back in 2021, it sold its in-house autonomous vehicle division to Toyota's Woven Planet and publicly committed to focusing on human drivers. But as competition heats up in the robotaxi space, Lyft is changing gears. By partnering with autonomous leaders and outsourcing vehicle development and fleet management, Lyft is adopting an 'asset-light' strategy — letting it scale faster while avoiding the high costs of owning or building AV fleets. The new shuttles will be operated by fleet partners like Marubeni, while Lyft handles the app, routing, and rider experience. Lyft's move comes as Uber rapidly expands its robotaxi network through Waymo, now available in cities like Phoenix, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami. Riders can book driverless rides directly through the Uber app in some cities — a major milestone in robotaxi adoption. Waymo, owned by Alphabet (Google's parent company), is considered the current industry leader, running over 250,000 rides weekly and scaling fast. Meanwhile, Tesla is pushing its own robotaxi service in Austin, using its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, with plans to launch dedicated robotaxi vehicles in 2026. The Holon Urban Shuttle, which Lyft plans to deploy, is designed with both tech and style in mind. With zero emissions, spacious interiors, and AI-powered sensors, it promises a smooth, safe, and comfortable ride for passengers. Its Level 4 autonomy allows it to operate entirely without human intervention in geofenced areas. These shuttles will initially serve airports and busy urban hubs where traffic flow is predictable — ideal for early robotaxi deployment. With safety top-of-mind, the shuttles are built using Mobileye's advanced autonomous driving system, which includes a 360-degree vision system, AI decision-making, and constant monitoring. Lyft's robotaxi rollout is expected to begin with Atlanta as the first test city in mid-2025, followed by Dallas and other major metros in 2026. In Atlanta, Lyft is already testing autonomous vehicles from May Mobility, and the company has launched a 'Driver Autonomous Forum' to involve human drivers in its transition plans. In Dallas, Lyft plans to deploy the Holon shuttles in partnership with Marubeni, serving areas like airports, corporate campuses, and entertainment districts. These deployments will help Lyft test public acceptance, fine-tune its services, and gradually expand. While Waymo is leading the robotaxi race, it hasn't been without issues. The company has faced public pushback, with San Francisco residents protesting the presence of self-driving cars by placing cones on their hoods. Some vehicles have been reported to stall or block traffic in unusual scenarios, raising questions about readiness. Still, Waymo continues to expand and improve, with its latest fleet using fifth-generation Jaguar I-PACE vehicles and mapping new cities like Tokyo, San Antonio, and Washington D.C. Tesla is expected to reveal its dedicated robotaxi vehicle later in 2026, but so far, its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software still requires a safety driver in most jurisdictions. While CEO Elon Musk claims Tesla's AI will eventually power fully autonomous driving, regulators remain cautious, especially after several high-profile crashes. Still, Tesla's plan to operate a network of FSD-powered robotaxis remains central to its future — and could disrupt the rideshare industry if it gains regulatory approval. Lyft's entry into the robotaxi market is both strategic and timely. By teaming up with global partners like Holon, Mobileye, and Marubeni, Lyft avoids the massive investment risks that Uber, Tesla, and Waymo face — while still competing for market share in autonomous mobility. As public awareness and trust in self-driving technology grows, Lyft could emerge as a flexible, app-based platform for multiple autonomous providers. Its 2026 launch of Holon electric shuttles is a critical step in that direction — and signals a major new chapter in the robotaxi race. Q1. When will Lyft launch its robotaxi service in the U.S.? Lyft's robotaxi launch with Holon is set for late 2026. Q2. What is Holon and how is it part of Lyft's robotaxi plan? Holon is Lyft's shuttle partner providing self-driving electric vehicles for the 2026 rollout.
