Showing posts with label Automobile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Automobile. Show all posts
Sweet january gift: Xylo
[Sunday, December 28, 2008 | 2 comments ]

Mahindra Xylo (pronounced Zy-lo), the multi utility vehicle that is being readied by Mahindra and Mahindra will debut on January 13, 2009. "We have started production of t he Xylo at our Nashik facility on schedule, after extensive road tests and will launch the vehicle on January 13, 2009. The Xylo would be available in a phased manner across our dealerships from day one and we will open for customer bookings on January 14," said Dr. Pawan Goenka, President – Automotive Sector, M&M Ltd.

The company's Nashik facility will build the Xylo and will be introduced simultaneously in several overseas markets. The Mahindra Xylo is tipped as Mahindra and Mahindra's most ambitious project after its hugely successful Scorpio. To be positioned in the same plane as the company's current bestsellers such as the Bolero and the Scorpio, the Mahindra Xylo MUV will come in multiple variants and will initially have a diesel engine (2.5 litre CRDi) followed by a petrol engine (co-developed by AVL) and an automatic transmission variant, M&M has said.


Mahindra Xylo spotted during a road test (Photo courtesy: DHD)

The Mahindra Xylo, which was earlier codenamed Ingenio, is an in-house production having been developed completely by Mahindras' talent and research after the success of the Scorpio. M&M is hoping to produce at least 25,000 units of the Xylo.
The company has said that the much awaited Mahindra Xylo has been co-created with customers for developing a vehicle around the lifestyle and luxury aspirations of its end customer. Xylo has been developed by a team consisting of 160 experts with added focus on new benchmarks in styling, technology and performance, it added.

The MUV is likely to have a price tag of around Rs 6 to 8 lakh and is a direct competition to Toyota Innova.


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Get the iBonus: i20 is certainly i10+i10
[Saturday, December 27, 2008 | 0 comments ]

Hyundai i10 is doing great after its debut in India, now Hyundai India is coming up with another small car called "Hyundai i20". Hyundai i10 targets A segment customer, all new Hyundai i20 will target B or B+ segment customers. Hyundai i20 has been developer under codename "PB" which will replace current Hyundai Getz globally but not in india. Hyundai i20 will positioned above Hyundai Getz.

With its fresh and head-turning styling, versatile interior, class-leading safety and engaging driver dynamics, the sparkling new Hyundai i20 took centre stage on the Hyundai stand at the 2008 Paris Auto Show. Building on the reputation for peerless reliability and exceptional cost-effectiveness established by its Hyundai Getz predecessor, i20 offers drivers more of everything - enhanced functionality from the intelligently configured cabin layout, higher levels of luxury, convenience and safety equipment, engaging handling from its all-new chassis and tuned suspension, and an extensive seven-strong line-up of punchy petrol and frugal turbo-diesels engines, with the choice of manual or automatic transmissions.
Designed and developed in Europe to meet the high expectations of European drivers, and benefiting from Hyundai's unlimited mileage three-year warranty, the Hyundai i20 arrives fully armed to succeed in Europe's ultra-competitive supermini sector. Initially available as a five-door model, a sportier three-door i20 version debuts in January 2009. Since Hyundai India is shifting its small car plant from Korea to India, Hyundai India will offer all new Hyundai i20 as a bonus to the Indian Customers.

Style and Design
Designed at Hyundai's European headquarters in Russelsheim, Germany, the chic new i20 follows in the stylish European footsteps of the acclaimed i10 and i30 models. Lower, longer and wider than the Getz it replaces, the five-door Hyundai i20 rides on an extended 2525mm wheelbase, enhancing both its athletic stance and spacious interior architecture. Featuring Hyundai's distinctive design motifs - a bold chrome-topped grille flanked by piercing teardrop headlamps at the front and striking stacked rear light clusters - the i20's modern lines are further strengthened by neat detailing, including colour-co-ordinated bumpers, sills and wing mirrors, integrated antenna, mechanical boot release, flush-mounted door handles and chunky standard-fit 16-inch 12-spoke alloy wheels. And new Hyundai i20 arrives with a palette of 10 new solid and metallic exterior hues - including fashionable Crystal White.



Interior
Luxury and versatility blend seamlessly in the new Hyundai i20's spacious and generously appointed cabin. With all four trim levels - Classic, Comfort, Style and Premium - featuring climate control, a powerful four-speaker radio, CD and MP3 audio system with integrated data display screen, a multi-function steering wheel, tyre pressure monitoring system, height-adjustable driver seat, keyless entry and electrically operated windows and side mirrors, i20's list of standard features puts it head and shoulders above the majority of its rivals.

Suspension, Ride Quality and NVH
In keeping with its dynamic styling, Hyundai i20 rides on an all-new platform that delivers an athletic and agile driving experience. With much of the car's ride and handling development work undertaken on European roads - hot weather testing was carried out in Spain, cold weather testing in Sweden and high-speed testing in Germany - Hyundai's ride and handling engineers have ensured i20's front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension delivers the taut and alert ride quality favoured by the European market. The new rack and pinion steering setup has also been tuned to deliver quick and accurate responses resulting in excellent urban agility. Extensive use of advanced noise reduction materials throughout the development process - particularly in the diesel-powered models - has resulted in exceptionally high levels of refinement, imbuing Hyundai i20 with a sophisticated and cosseting cabin ambience.

Powertrain
Hyundai's new i20 debuts with a range of seven petrol and diesel engines that have been extensively revised to deliver greater performance, enhanced economy and lower emissions than before. The Euro IV-compliant petrol line-up comprises the 78PS 1.2, 100PS 1.4 and 126PS 1.6 all available with five-speed manual transmissions, with the option of four-speed automatic gearboxes on the 1.4 and 1.6 models.

Posting a low CO₂rating of just 124g/km and returning just 5.2 l/100km on the combined cycle, the all-new 1.2 all-alloy engine delivers an excellent combination of performance and economy.

Geared up to meet the high European demand for diesel power, Hyundai i20 arrives with four Euro IV -compliant turbo diesel engines, fitted with CPF diesel particulate traps as standard for 1.6 (115ps & 128ps) diesel engine. The 1.4 comes in two specifications - 75PS and 90PS - while the flagship 1.6 is available in 115PS and 128PS trim. Economical and clean, the 115PS variant returns a class-leading CO₂figure of 115g/km and 4.3l/100km on the combined cycle. Both 1.4 models come with five-speed manual transmissions, while the flagship 1.6 is mated to a six-gear manual drivetrain.

Safety
Hyundai is synonymous with class-leading safety, and the new Hyundai i20 debuts with exceptionally high levels of active and passive safety equipment. Its outright agility and responsiveness play a key role in keeping the Hyundai i20 driver out of harm's way, but should the worst occur those on board are protected by the extensive use of high-tensile steel in the Hyundai's robust chassis, six airbags - front, side and curtain - fitted as standard, active headrests, front seatbelt pretensioners and latest generation ABS anti-lock brakes, ESP electronic stability control, EBD Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. This safety package is further enhanced by an advanced tyre pressure monitoring system, Isofix mounting points in the rear and seatbelt reminders for all five occupants, which means Hyundai i20 arrives on the market as one of the safest cars in its class. Hyundai is confident of a full five-star Euro NCAP adult occupant protection and child protection crash test result for the Hyundai i20.

Convenience
The Hyundai i20's five-seater interior may pamper, but it also majors on everyday practicalities with a 40:60 split flat-folding rear bench with a low lip for easy loading into the a roomy and regularly-shaped 295-litre rear loadbay, numerous intelligently positioned interior storage spaces including a large cooled passenger glovebox and two cupholders, and excellent all round visibility. These elements are complemented by the reach-and-rake adjustable steering wheel, complete with integrated audio controls and keyless central locking actuated by Hyundai i20's ergonomically designed folding keyfob.

Price:
The i20 model, which will come in many variants, is expected to be priced anywhere between Rs 5-6 lakh in India.

PS: I had been to Hyundai Motors India Limited's Chennai (Sri Perumbuddur) plant some years ago. You can checkout some raw in-plant videos here, here, here, here and here. See yourself the Hyundai Santro in making. Please do not expect the quality as the videos were shot with Nokia 6600. :-)

Courtesy: http://www.netcarshow.com/


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A-Star is born!
[Wednesday, November 19, 2008 | 0 comments ]

A day after Finance Minister’s Price Cut prescription, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. announced the launch of their new car, Maruti Suzuki Alto A-Star. Built on a brand new platform, the A-star is an excellent city car with best in class turning radius, power, flat torque (minimum gearshifts) and performance.

The A-star was launched in New Delhi today by R.C. Bhargava, Chairman of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. The A-star has been designed keeping in mind aspirations of the urban economy-conscious customers, who seek best-in-class fuel efficiency, lower emission, and high quality and high performance alongwith style. It also takes the engine technology in India to the next level. A-star is the most relevant car that addresses the needs of today's customers be it India or any other part of the world, says company in a press release.



Positioned in the premium A2 segment and targeted towards urban young professionals, the stylish, sporty and youthful A-star delivers a fantastic driving experience with futuristic looks.

A Brand New Engine and Transmission
Powered by the new, state-of-the-art, light weight, 998 cc K10B petrol engine, A-star is the best in class fuel-efficient car with a mileage of 19.59 kilometers per litre, as tested by ARAI, Pune, country's premier automotive research agency.
The new-generation three-cylinder, light-weight aluminum K10B engine is a major initiative undertaken by the company towards offering latest technology to its customers. Maruti Suzuki engineers have put together a host of innovative technologies to enhance performance, minimise friction and provide high acceleration. The engine offers power of 67ps @ 6200 rpm and torque of 90nm @ 3500 rpm.

Driving Comfort
With a turning radius of 4.5 meters and a ground clearance of 170 mm, the A-star is suitable for all Indian conditions, including congested areas and potholed roads. The A-star boasts of a unique all-round gas damped suspension, making rides much more comfortable, and also reducing wear and tear resulting in a low maintenance cost.
The A-star has a front suspension frame for excellent handling. Front and rear suspensions have been fine-tuned for enhanced riding comfort with perfect handling on Indian road conditions. Ultra high-grade steel used in coil springs provides high rigidity and agility for passenger comfort.

Safety
Some important safety features on the A-star include:
- Crushable structure energy dispersing frame and a high rigidity body combined with lightness
- Airbags and ABS

The A-star's body reflects the Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) concept in the form of crushable structures that absorb impact energy and then disperse impact energy away from occupants in the event of a collision.

Aesthetics: A class apart
One of the most striking features that capture attention is the highly contoured rear bumper, which brings in the cool quotient to the premium A2 segment car.
A-star car is available in three variants: LXi, VXi and the top-end fully loaded ZXi. An array of nine vibrant colours.

Price:
Ex-Showroom, New Delhi.
A-star Lxi Rs. 3,46,775
A-star Vxi Rs. 3,74,775
A-star Zxi Rs. 4,11,775


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New cars and bikes: Which one’s for you?
[Friday, October 17, 2008 | 2 comments ]

India witnessed a record new car launches this year. With Tata Nano announced at the beginning of this year in Auto Expo, a whole lot of Indian and International brands crowded Indian market with their new vehicles. IndiaMart has compiled a list of newly launched four and two wheelers. I am putting the same list here for your convenience. With 10 months gone, you have plenty of choices to buy from. Which car are you planning to buy this Diwali?






Please open this post in Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome or any other browser for better view. Firefox may not give you better results.

(Click on the company name or brand name for more information. Courtsey:IndiaMart)

Cars that would rock 2008, See in Pics, a compilation by The Economic Times.


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India gets her first auto transmission SUV: Scorpio Automatic
[Monday, October 13, 2008 | 2 comments ]

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), the leader in the UV segment in India started its campaign for Automatic Transmission Scorpio just ahead of Diwali. It announced launch of the Scorpio Automatic which incorporates a fully automatic 6-speed gear box and the powerful 2.2 litre mHawk engine two weeks ago in Bengaluru. Scorpio is the first Indian brand and the first SUV in its class to offer a 6-speed fully Automatic Transmission.


TEST RUN: Scorpio Automatic spotted by www.team-bhp.com member during test run

This new edition of one of India’s most loved SUVs is equipped with in-built intelligent driving modes for an effortless drive and a wide array of smart features, giving the Scorpio an even greater competitive edge in its segment. The new Scorpio Automatic is available in VLS and VLX variants and is priced from Rs. 10.34 lakhs onwards, ex-showroom price Bengaluru.

“The new Scorpio Automatic has been designed to make driving an effortless experience, allowing one to focus on the drive rather than gear selection. The car’s intelligent driving modes provide greater vehicle control in a variety of conditions, be it stop-and-go traffic, slippery roads or steep inclines. Moreover, the Automatic is powered by the technologically superior mHawk engine which ensures a smoother drive and better fuel efficiency,” said Dr. Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

The Scorpio Automatic has a fully electronically controlled automatic gearbox which results in shorter shift times and hence, improved drivability. This is a major technological improvement over earlier Automatics which were hydraulic controlled.

The Scorpio Automatic is also remarkably low maintenance due to several advantages. The transmission is permanently sealed and does not require an oil change throughout its life. The Automatic also incorporates an adaptive strategy to maintain optimum shift quality through the entire life of the transmission. An inbuilt overheat self-protection strategy and a high self-diagnostic capability are additional benefits.

In addition to eliminating the need for constant gear changes, the Scorpio Automatic allows easy manoeuvrability in heavy traffic, anti roll-back when in ‘Drive’ mode and also ensures that the engine does not stall.

Click here to read the test drive report by Vicky Blog

The Scorpio Automatic’s intelligent driving modes allow the driver to tackle various driving conditions with ease. These include User Engaged Modes and Auto Engaged Modes.

User Engaged Modes

Normal Mode ‘N’ – A mode for ordinary driving conditions with optimised fuel management

Winter Mode ‘W’ – Meant for use on ice and slippery or unstable road conditions. This mode regulates torque at the wheels, maintaining high stability in adverse conditions

Manual / Engine Brake Mode ‘M’ – This mode selects the lowest possible gear for a defined vehicle speed, utilising engine braking for better control on steep downhill descents

Auto Engaged Modes
Up and Downhill Modes – In this mode the control unit detects the gradient automatically and then implements the respective shift schedule. The detection is instant, thus improving drivability.

Fast-Off Mode – In case of quick release of the pedal, the transmission will hold the current gear for a preset time period, thus avoiding unnecessary rapid gear shifts.

The new Scorpio Automatic also features the mHawk engine which is a hallmark of M&M’s innovative cutting edge technology. A technologically superior, more refined and more fuel efficient engine, it puts serious power at the driver’s command.


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Own a BIG car: The all New Honda City!
[Friday, October 10, 2008 | 0 comments ]


First I saw the TVC of new Honda City and was under impression till the end that the car I am looking at is actually a Honda Civic. To my surprise, at the end, I was compelled to beleive that it was actually the all new Honda City. Then I happened to read this review in The Economic Times which says:
The new City is automobile evolution at its best. From being a small Civic-like derivative for Asian markets, the new City has now crafted a league of its own. It's distinct exterior styling, coupled with a two tone sculpted interior that follows the edgy exterior design theme and the fact that the car is now wider and longer than any of its predecessors goes to show how the car has grown

A full road test is bound to reveal more secrets about the new Honda, and to top it off, the final nail in the coffin of the competition is the stellar pricing.

New Honda City

SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: Inline 4 cylinder i-VTEC
Displacement: 1.5-litre
Max power: 118 PS
Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox / automatic

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 2,550mm
Overall Length: 4,395mm
Overall Width: 1,695mm
Overall Height: 1,045mm

SAFETY FEATURES
ABS, BA (Brake-Assist), Dual SR Airbags, G-CON

PRICE
(Ex-Showroom prices in Pune)
City 1.5 E MT: Rs. 796,000
City 1.5 S MT: Rs. 846,000
City 1.5 S AT : Rs. 916,000


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