CARMA Issue 4

The Ferrari BerlineTTa

Ford FiesTa a/M BaJa 2012

Geneva MoTor show

inside

PeTrol vs. diesel

elecTric vehicles

deePly disManTled

hyundai XinG

carMa. news

carMa. TiPs

GadGeT zone

reader’s corner

1929 auBurn

FeaTures

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aBs 52

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CORRECTIONIn issue #3, we mentioned that the author of our reader’s article, Vivek, is from SASTRA university. He is a student of SRM university, Chennai.

GuEST WRITERJaidev Krishnan

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1

PeTrol vs. dieselThe past, present and future.

where are we headed?

Jaidev Krishnan

ANAlySIS

The caTch 22 For The auToMoBile indusTry :

Petrol versus Diesel:

What makes the difference ? Where do we draw the lakshman Rekha ?Does it make us unnecessarily finicky ? OR, is it a financial decision which calls for a family meet ?

No. In this article, I am not going to grum-ble about how the vibration of diesel cars can cause funny bowel movements, or how the ballooning cost of petrol means that we will have to soon sell our pets to pay for fuel. Deep down, we already know that.

Having said that and made you rather comfortable with what you might be up

against, I’d like you to just open your mind for a moment and let my thoughts inundate you.

The PasT ThaT was

A drive down the memory lane of the In-dian automobile market will show that we didn’t concern ourselves with the trivi-alities of the Euro norms. With cars guz-zling gas at the same rate at which smoke came out of the exhaust, no one really bothered themselves with the then tiny and insignificant environmental rights activists flashing their banners. Only to get run over by vexed motorists. They were treated like those bootless ads on Facebook.


On the contrary, cars were treated with respect. Especially the Ambassador 1.5l petrol and the 2.0 Diesel, the Fiat - Pre-mier Padmini 118NE and the 137D, the Contessa Classic 1.8Gl and the Turbo-Diesel 2.0. These were the cars that changed the face of the Indian automo-bile Industry. They didn’t have limited Slip Differentials or number crunching applications flaunting the aerodynamic effect of the wind screen wipers over the top speed. Although they came at a premium, they had a simple formula and they got it right.

The Contessa had a regal feel to it. It was quite the looker, with plush roomy interiors; it was the car to look out for. This car was hailed the Indian version of the “Muscle car”. Servicing was a bit of a problem but the reliability of the engine (Isuzu outsourced) was unmatched. There were a few issues regarding the suspension though, it had a tendency to bottom out on bumps.

The simple leaf spring suspension of the Premier Padmini didn’t give you the con-fidence that it could last World War – III, but, the Air-conditioning did mean that you wouldn’t have to sweat it out at least. Its meagre 50-60 BHP engines meant that they could do only a top speed of a 120 Km/Hr. But, where were the roads to vroom on really?

The petrols of yesterday were envir-mentally jovial, easy on the pocket, had minimal vibrations, and were easier to service when compared to their diesel counterparts. They could start in any weather without difficulty and their batteries didn’t need frequent replacement because of the light loads they were meant to prime. These were the “good boys” of the market and those

were the days when petrol was still affordable.

The diesels on the other hand did make for quite a rickety ride but the sheer weight of the car translated to a solid feel behind the wheel. Diesel Injection meant that it gave staggering read-outs of kil-ometerage. Cold starts were almost impossible and the stigma of the ‘Dirty Fuel’ stuck on like industrial glue. To be fair to the diesels, they did long drives with extreme solidarity, had the range of a camel on steroids, and also transported the luggage of a nuclear family, all, without a squeal. Their throaty exhausts did attract quite a fan following. This included me.

Racing in those days meant only one thing, high revs, clean exhaust notes, fast acceleration, and most importantly, petrol. The diesels with their enormous lag and mammoth engines were just not as easy to handle and it frankly required a pair of muscular arms to wrestle around a track.

a verdicT on The PasT

In my opinion, the clear cut winner is: the Petrol. And this was because it didn’t burn a hole in your pocket and remem-ber, this was when petrol was not only for the nawabs. The servicing cost and maintenance was not an issue. The cars could start in any weather which meant the kids didn’t have a reason to go late to school. Although diesel engines did last longer, there were still rudimentary issues which were yet to be solved. The cold starts, glow plugs blow outs, sumo wrestler weight, and the exhaust that bellowed black foundry smoke were a few among them.


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These issues over-shadowed the practicality, mind-blowing efficiency, and load carrying capacity that they were known for.

The diesels, according to me, were equipping themselves for the war to come. They were waiting in eagerness for the attack of nano-technology and material optimization to give them a make-over they were begging for.

TraversinG The PresenT, all The way To The Fu-Ture

Global players were tentative to en-ter the Indian market; companies like Peugeot, Daewoo, Toyota, Fiat, and Suzuki introduced only a few of their products in a “never-before-tested” market. Toyota launched what went on to be one of their most successful cars ever, the Qualis 2.4 D. An Affordable SuV, cheap spare parts, very useful for long drives, and no fancy gadgetry made this recipe gram perfect.

Though it had a grossly underpowered engine it made for a decent drive to the hills for the summer holidays.

Maruti meanwhile captured a chunk of market share by reinventing what was called – The Hatchback. The Daewoo Ma-tiz and the Maruti 800 were cars that sold like Vada Pao’s in Bombay on Friday evenings. These exciting looking cars had small Petrol Engines that weaved their way through traffic with consum-mate ease and could easily accommo-date an average Indian Family. The prima donna of the pack, the car that paved a segment of its own in terms of styling, design, and comfort was the

Maruti Esteem 1000. This new car from Maruti did drive as well as it looked and was the sort of car you could throw around a track without bothering about the cost of spares. It was comfortable enough for long drives and was a petrol-head’s delight in every trifling way.

More manufacturers began stepping foot in India over the years. In essence, it caused a technological revolution which resulted in better cars on the Indian roads.The Mitsubishi lancer 1.8l was the touchstone for quality, performance, and luxury for diesel cars.

CARMA | CARS uNlIMITED India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine| Volume 1 Issue 4 CARMA | CARS uNlIMITED India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine| Volume 1 Issue 4

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The only annoying part was with the turbo lag and what most people failed to realize was that they had a stupid smile stuck on their face each time it kicked in.

The Opel Astra 1.6 Multi point Injection – Petrol, and the Honda’s i-Vtec City which borrowed technology from their F1racing team, BAR Honda, re-defined the words extravagance, style, and technology. The throttle response was so refined that it was similar to one of Frankenstein’s ob-noxious experiments going right, incredibly right in-fact. You only had to scrunch your face when you heard the word “service”, which meant an arm and half a leg. But, some would say, it was actually worth it.

By then, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and all their other European comrades made a rather hyped entry into the Indian market. The entire country waited with bated breath to see what was going to be on offer. I daresay it was worth the wait.The diesels suddenly became quiet and mellow. Their foundry was thrown out of the exhaust and the engine mountings were re-engineered to eliminate vibrations.

Turbo lag was made a fable of the past with low pressure turbo-chargers being used for better acceleration off the line and high pressure turbos for a thumping mid range and better power delivery. By now, any normal human being would have had their head blown off, but not a German.When are they content ? They’d probably even frown while watching a comedy soap just because it wasn’t serious enough. So, just for fun, a bunch of engineers at BMW got together and designed a Tri-Turbocharged engine while having a heated argument about whose in-laws were most annoying. And

sure enough, these engines were ultra efficient (15.86 Km/litre - Efficient) and unnecessarily powerful (760 BHP - pow-erful).Meanwhile, Audi perfected their 5.5 litre V8 Twin-turbo Diesel in the le Mans 24 hour race rumoured to have produced a colossal 700 BHP.

Petrol engines meanwhile now adopted lean Burn strategies, stratified injection, some even tried fiddling around with the exhaust to make their cars go quicker. In addition, the overall weight of the engine was reduced by the development of special light-weight Aluminum-Silicon alloys.

With all this technology developing at such a rapid rate, the battle hung on a knives edge.This was the part when the Diesels downshifted and overtook their spark ignition buddies and threw a kitchen sink of torque on the way, like they were just waiting for that Start-Finish straight for a chance to show-off. The tables turned, just like that, in a blinding instant.

Everything spiraled out of control. This happens when a super-power like America almost defaults. Chrysler declared Bankruptcy, Opel bought itself out of GM, Volkswagen bought a major stake in Audi and took over Skoda. Petro-leum prices tore through the roof amidst the failing dollar. The production of Petrols took a back seat. And with Diesels being cheaper to run, people didn’t mind the higher initial cost as long as they didn’t have to check their bank balance each time they had to top-up on fuel.


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Some might say this entire recession was bad for the world, but I feel it did more good than bad. It helped organizations re-structure, plan their finances, and think about the future of their cars and businesses.

With all said, choosing between the two is similar to playing a game of blind chess.Petrol with its business class like feel and effortless driving and the Diesel with its new found brilliance and lowered run-ning cost, the choice was much tougher than I expected.

The Final say

If I was asked to take a call on my final verdict, I would choose a Diesel. I love them for their hair raising torque, meaty exhaust, and beautifully orchestrated engines. On a one to one basis, they are more efficient than the petrols, on par when it comes to performance, and most of all, they are built to last a generation, running many miles. The world in the future as we all see it is moving towards greener technology with Range Extenders, Hybrid cars, Hydro-gen powered vehicles, and even Com-pressed-Air powered cars being developed at a blistering rate. This means that a few years down the line we won’t be able to distinguish the cho-reography of a Ferrari from that of a lamborghini, or the boisterousness of a Pulsar from that of a CBR. The roads are going to become uncannily quiet.

My only question to you is, for how long do you think it is sensible to wage this war? Is this where we take our cue and

start talking about the “Green” vehicles? Strange indeed.

Frankly, I shudder at the very thought of it.

The author is a guest writer for CARMA volume 1 Issue

4.

Jaidev Krishnan is a final year mechanical engineer-ing student from SASTRA

University, Tanjore.


4 5

ThE FORD FIESTA A/M

“Truly impressive for indian roads

and yeT This is jusT The beginning.”

raGhavan ravi

Imagine this line up - at the left end of the ring, weighing 1030 kilos, he’s the mighty comeback from the Japanese and the Koreans… I give you the mighty Hyundai Verna!

At the center of the ring, weighing around 1120 kilos, we have the current heavyweight German champion of this segment, VW Vento!

last but not the least, at the right end of the ring stands tall the new con-tender of the day, weigh-ing 1125 kilos, the all new, mighty and fierce Ford Fiesta! And this baby’s automatic version has just come out!

A round robin between this trio would be a gory one and hence I shall release the name of the winner already, yes folks it’s none other than the Ford Almighty! Instead of saying why this one’s awesome and rating it, I’m going to do it the other way round. I’d give this one a ten on ten and I’m going to tell you why. It’s not just the bold exterior or the power, and it’s not just the amazing in-car Voice Control; it’s the Ford way of saying “we’re still in the race and we’re sure as hell beating you to the finish line!”


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This is just the beginning and there are many more functionalities of this amazing application.

You also have a variety of technologies starting from the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Keyless En-try, Hill-launch Assist, En-gine Immobilizer, Crash Sen-sor, and Dual Airbags at both the driver and the passenger side.


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under The hood

The all-new Ford Fiesta engine comes in two versions and both of them have a 1.5 litre engine. The petrol head whips out 108 Bhp, while the tamed diesel one gives an output of 90 Bhp. A 5-speed gearbox has been provided to both these fellas. But wait, Ford was not happy with just that and then one day, decided to make fuel hungry India happier by releasing their Dual Clutch 6 speed Automatic Transmission. The company claims that its mileage would go up to even 17 kmpl. Truly impressive for Indian roads and yet this is just the beginning. Braking and Handling are seamless with the engine’s ECu firing responses to the suspension and the brakes at a blinding speed. The ESP makes sure of that part. And the cruise control option makes the road traffic in India much more tolerable.

wearinG iTs hearT on iTs sleeve

The exteriors and interiors of this one are truly stunning. The curves are bold and fresh which reinforce Ford’s outlook at wanting to attract the youngsters. The front has a pair of clever and wily looking headlights while the whole body seems to be crouched like a feline in a hunting position. The rear is raised, and the curves starting from the doors and rising to the end is a perfect example of how stream-lined a car’s aerodynamics can be. The front also features the quintessential Ford logo and the daunting looks of the front grille reinforces the feline look. The rear lights seem to be a fitting finish to this one and boot space is a strict no-no. Having taken up so many responsibilities to juice

up the car, Ford have given up on the boot space; but then again, it is not a huge cause

of concern because the ones who can afford this wouldn’t mind giving up a teeny bit of boot space!

inTeriors

The interiors are filled with leather and the in-cabin quietness is remarkable. It’s just you and your silence/music. The seats have proper resting points in order to guarantee a great level of comfort and the dash is ex-actly what the name suggests - quite dash-ing. The console is a bit cluttered but then again, the Multi-functional lED screen gob-bles up almost all of the space. The Steer-ing has height adjustable options and has too many buttons on it, however, a close look will tell you that its NOT confusing!

CARMA | CARS uNlIMITED India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine| Volume 1 Issue 4 8

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One can find the voice control button and the climate controls on the steering console itself.

The verdicT

Ford has gone back on their promise. They said they’d give us an amazing se-dan, but promised it to us at a much less-er price. However, as I said earlier - with the gadgets, the brand tag, the life of the components inside, it is AlMOST worth it compared to its competitors. The all-new Ford Fiesta comes in 6 variants combin-ing diesel and petrol versions, and all of them vary between 9-10.5 lakhs. It does burst the bubble in our middle class pockets but if someone had the money and was looking at sedans this one is the way forward. Thumbs up for the futuristic looks plus gadgets plus engine and the comfort! Ford has done it again.


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Electric Vehicles The neXT revoluTion?

Not so long ago, we lived in an era in which the absence of fossil fuel (like petrol and diesel) probably meant the freezing of automotive industries. Who would have imagined what could happen next? When my fuel indicator points down at E, I run to the nearby sta-tion and refill it up- What could happen if the station itself goes empty?And so, today we have a new class of cars, promising to help us in the fuel cri-sis in the long run - the electric vehicle. Have you ever thought electricity could be used to run your car? And that it could be as easy as charging your mobile bat-tery or laptop?

That is exactly what the manufacturers are trying to do. The PluG-IN ElECTRIC VEHIClES (PIEV) these days is a part of the core area in which continuous research is being done, to explore the possibilities.

Many automotive manufacturers started releasing their EV vehicles, like GM EV1, Chevrolet S10. The most common one you are bound to come across is REVA, our very own Mahindra’s product which has set its own mark in terms of customer satisfaction and is widely used in many countries.

So why are we going in for electric vehicles? The automotive emissions are providing a tough time to the environ-ment by harming the various constituents under the same. The Nitrogen oxides in the vehicular emissions are on the rise, since no economical way of stopping them is being found. And once, they tried to bring down the level of these gases, automatically the level of unburnt Hydrocarbons (uBHC) in the fuels went up.

- swaThi i


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The reva nXr is an elec-tric vehicle produced by the maini group, now owned by mahindra and mahindra.

The reva’s launch in in-dia is expected to be some-where mid-2012.

We could only try to balance the concen-tration of both the gases in the emission- but they were not able to control their quantity in exhaust. In this scenario, it is fascinating to note that the electric cars had no ‘emissions’ which immediately drew the satisfaction of the scientists. Hence they came into existence.

So why aren’t these replacing the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles? Mainly the price of the electric vehicle is too much to pay-the cost of the battery

is high. You would need special safety features, other than those available in normal vehicles, which has not yet been discussed. Further these vehicles don’t give much top speed nor have a good pick up.

My final word is if you need a vehicle safer than two-wheelers for small dis-tance travel then go for it. It is definitely a worthy automobile for that purpose!

The TaTa mega piXel concept displayed in the geneva motor show is a hybrid that employs a pet-rol engine and a supple-mentary electric motor. all that resulting in a 100 kmpl fuel economy.

read more about the mega pixel and the geneva mo-tor show in this issue.


1312


1

730 hORSES. 509 kgM TORqUE.6.2 LITRE V12.

AND ThAT’S hOW YOU DEFINE RAW POWER.

ThE FERRARI BERLINETTA.

FEATuRE SToRy


1

- saThyaJiTh saisridhar


‘There are two things Italians have got perfectly right-food and fast cars’. Pininfa-rina only made the statement more truth-ful with the launch of the new Ferrari F12 on February 29 at the Geneva Motor show. The Berlinetta happens to be the best per-formance Ferrari ever. Ferrari boss luca di Montezemolo didn’t speak much at the press conference; he didn’t need to. The Berlinetta speaks for herself.

Being the successor of The 599, The Ber-linetta had aroused a lot of expectations which she has come up to with enormous ease. She’s not just the fastest but the most

powerful too. The Berlinetta replaces the 599 Fiorano and though both share the same basic format, the newbie is far sleek-er and lighter. Sharing the same 6262cc engine capacity and 65 degree configu-ration, the power output of Berlinetta is increased by approximately 80bhp to just over 730bhp (740CV) and the engine pro-duces 509 torques. In other words, F12 is the most powerful road-going Ferrari ever. legally, that is. The V12 engine, which is being described as something that caters to the new generation is the reason for the above stated barbaric displays of power.


NOTE: The following facts are deemed very dangerous for those with a faint heart.

The Berlinetta is also fast, real fast, sprint-ing from 0-100 km/h in 3.1 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 8.5 seconds. What this translates to in practical terms is a lap of Fiorano in just 1 minute and 23 seconds. That’s record time ladies and gentlemen. The top speed of the Berlinetta being 340 km per hour prompts Felippe Massa to call the engine “mean”.The F12 Berlinetta transmits power through a 7-speed dual-clutch automated semi-automatic gearbox, which is some-thing Ferrari has been doing regularly as seen with the California, 458 Italia and FF. Another commendable gesture about Fer-rari’s design is the way it bridges the tech-nology used for its F1 and road cars. One such technology is the Aero Bridge which shapes the bonnet in such a way that the air flows through the bonnet and down the side of the car to increase downforce. Though Ferrari may quote a lot of specifications and statistics to make it look like a sophisticated thing for the common man, experts feel it is more of a marketing strategy than a

requirement for the Berlinetta.The other technology being employed is the Active Brake Cooling, which opens vanes to the cooling ducts at high operating temperatures to reduce drag. There are five outlets underneath the car, and in effect, these various innovations mean that the car’s shape is unsullied by an out-sized rear spoiler. Also, the same braking technology is being adhered to viz Ferrari’s third gen-eration CCM3 carbon ceramic disc brakes with ABS, SCM-E magnetorheological sus-pension, an electronic limited slip differential, ESP Premium stability control and F1-Trac traction control.

Moving to interiors, it looks strangely familiar with the 458 racing seats and steer-ing wheel. Frankly, the racing seats from the 458 look much better than those in F12. The F12 makes the 599 GTO look dated. Agreed. But the interiors could have been better. Some may notice that the headlights resemble that of the Ferrari FF. Yes, the Headlights are similar but definitely not the same- the lED arrangement is different.


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Moving to interiors, it looks strangely familiar with the 458 racing seats and steering wheel. Frankly, the racing seats from the 458 look much better than those in F12. The F12 makes the 599 GTO look dated. Agreed. But the interiors could have been better. Some may notice that the headlights resem-ble that of the Ferrari FF. Yes, the Head-lights are similar but definitely not the same- the lED arrangement is different. Also, strange 90’s cell phone on the rear bumper is a horrible mistake. It spoils the sheer beauty of the rear. If you get the F1 context, it is a pretty cool detail. Or at least Ferrari loyalists like to think so. The rear light is a direct link to the sport. It’s a gimmick but so are the but-tons on the steering wheel and we all think that’s cool now too.The F12’s chassis is a combination of twelve different alloys as a result of which she is now lighter and her struc-

tural rigidity is enhanced by 20% com-pared to the 599. The loss in weight is about 70kg and the weight distribution is 46% in the front and 54% in the rear. The F12 is also reported to have greater boot space. How thoughtful! All you future owners out there, you can stack in two more golf bags inside. Overall, the berlinetta has arrived with a bang. The features, even though new, all seem to be taken from earlier Fer-raris like the California. Though we know that we’ll be surrounded by lots of F12s, yes, in our laptops, bedroom walls and mobile wallpapers, we know it is an impractical thing for Indian roads. I cannot buy a F12 and just have her in my garage to show off without being able to drive her. Similar to beautiful actresses about whom we only fantasize. Hence, F12 BERlINETTA-EYE CANDY!

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T H E 1929 AUBU RN Special thanks to Mr.Royce Ramsey for his contribution


T H E 1929 AUBU RN Special thanks to Mr.Royce Ramsey for his contribution

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anJan ravi


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When I heard about the vintage vehicle for this month, the first thing I did was to refer Google for some info. I had no clue whatsoever about Auburn Automobile and for good reason too. This company was established sometime in the early 1900’s and they shut shop as soon as the 1930’s. And even in their thirty year ten-ure, the company had never once got praises such as ‘top in sales’ or ‘Car Of The Year’ or any such thing. So it was comforting that I did not know anything

about this Boattail speedster. I guessed the fact that the car would have a rear end shaped like a Boat (and surprisingly I was right)

So with much plagiarism I type this arti-cle. So here goes.

The Auburn Automobile Company was founded in 1903 and ceased manufactur-ing automobiles in 1937.


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During its 34 year history its financial performance would best be described as tumultuous. Despite the economic ef-fects of the Great Depression the com-pany experienced periods of strong sales followed by years of dismal oper-ating results.

The Auburn Automobile Company experienced its best year in 1929, just prior to the Stock Market Crash. Its sleekest model was the 8-90 Boattail Speedster. In the Model 8-90 Auburn offered a straight-eight at prices put-ting it within reach of thousands of people who had previously paid more for six-cylinder cars not comparable in size or performance. More then 2,000 of the two-seater speedsters with the boat tail-shaped rear-end were sold. An eight-cylinder, 4 liter lycoming engine that produced 93 horsepower powered the Auburn 8-90 series.The Auburn Boattail Speedster was not able to generate the necessary level of sales to keep the company afloat. At the end of 1937 the Auburn Automobile Company ceased manufacturing auto-mobiles.

Whatever is indicated above could tell a non-auto enthusiast that the car was essentially a flop. However, when you look at the picture there is a different story to be told. Just look at the wheels which have the side-walls painted in white. This was a classic feature which was essentially kick-started in this period. And mounting spare wheels on either side of the frame is a classic in-

dication of the American roots this car symbolizes. And somehow, in a little bit weird way, I fancy cars which have their windscreens partitioned. Then there is the extensive use of chrome which seems to give the impression that Au-burn bought more chrome metal parts than they bought engines for the car itself. What stands out the most is the rear which I think looks stunning. The proportions are well thought off and somehow by aligning the number plate holder to the left, the car looks even better! Very few cars carry out this trait and for those ‘cool’ people who buy a modern 21st century car and modify it in such a way that your number plate is towards one side while your actual number plate reads something like ‘Speed Devil’ or some nonsense, who are you kidding? I think if the same car had been made by a more prominent marque such as GM, there would be people wiling to pay a good six-figure amount in an auction.

Have you clicked a photo of an exotic or a vintage vehice?

Send in your images to [email protected]

And we will publish it and also mention your name!


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reader’s corner

eFFecT oF BudGeT 2012 on TheauToMoTive indusTryBy Anil Kumar, NIT - Trichy

The budget 2012 was a mixed bag for the Indian automotive industry. Well, as a big relief for the customers and industry alike there was no mention of the diesel cess proposed to be imposed on Diesel passenger cars. So that’s a go ahead given by the government to the industry and it seems that the point was taken by the industry titans who unveiled ambitious plans to upgrade their existing production lines keeping up with the ever increasing demand for diesel cars in the Indian market largely driven by the ever increasing difference in prices between Petrol and Diesel. Well, now “diesel car owners” don’t think that you have successfully turned the tide and laugh at those people who bought Petrol vehicles as the government has introduced measures to restrict the fuel subsidies to 2% of the GDP which some current estimates peg them to be around 2.5% of GDP in the Financial year 2011-12.So industry awaits increases in the die-sel prices so as to tame the subsidies.The basic customs duty on cars was in-creased from 10% to 12% which the in-dustry is expected to pass on to the cus-tomers as wafer-thin margins and high input costs prevent industry to absorb

this raise. So this will affect all the pro

spective buyers irrespective of their seg-ment. This move was condemned by the industry. But, alas who listens to the indus-try, the government will probably main-tain its silence on this issue and let the manufacturers fall in line with the official policy (As always, sic...) As a response car makers like Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra and Honda Siel Cars India have already cleared the deck for the price hike of their vehicles by up to Rs 70,000.To give the domestic manufacturers a fil-lip, the government increased the duty of imported cars from 50% to 75% but in unlikely to deter prospective customers as they are generally rich and affluent to be bothered by this kind of raise.The luxury car market will also be af-fected by this as the duty for this segment increased from 24% from 22%.Audi India expressed its displeasure on this and said that they will be working on the pricing strategy. Indications are that the company will would absorb the effect and give it a much needed competitive edge over its competitors and further cement its posi-tion in the Market.

-

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Send your articles on anything auto- related to [email protected]


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Price : inr 7000 onwards

Are you a businessman? Are you a gam-er? Or, are you really fond of television soaps?

We understand the boredom you experi-ence when you are stuck in really long journeys without any company. Here’s a perfect gadget that can keep you occu-pied. Here comes a 7-inch headrest DVD play-er + gaming system which is a perfect entertainment system for your car. It is at-tachable to the headrest of your car seats (only at the back, though) to keep you entertained.

This headrest DVD player kit has a clear display with a resolution of 800 x 480, which is optimum for playing movies, videos, and having exciting game plays. It’s equipped with AV inputs to connect to any AV sources with a RCA connection including your video game, camcorders, iPods etc. Not just that, it is also equipped with a built-in DVB-T that allows you to tune to the digital TV broadcast. Another additional feature is that it is made from high quality faux leather and comes in a zip-up design, so you can zip it up to pro-tect it from theft.

FeaTures

1) Easy installation and there is absolute-ly no harm to other on board electronics 2) No additional player is needed for the integration of display and player.3) With built-in FM stereo function, it could be connected wirelessly with the original car FM radio part and the user

can enjoy the sound effects through the speakers.4) The input ports of audio and video are provided for the connection with GPS navigation system.5) Supports 8 bit & 32 bit games to pro-vide entertainment for kids.6) Supports uSB drives and Memory Cards.

- sai srinivasan


1


DEEPLY DISMANTLEDAN INSIgHT INTo AuTomobIlE TEcHNology.

bEHIND THE ScENES oF A gEAR box.

swaThi i.

27

In the previous issue we helped you choose the right engine for your vehicle. Next to engine, choosing the right gear box is very important.It is a common term- ‘gear’ that we all come across. Some of us think it is the lever that we move, some think it is a disc. So, what exactly is a gear? A gear is any component which has some teeth in it, capable of rotating when some shaft is inserted in it and transmitting power.Gearboxes have a set of gears which transmit the energy from engine to wheels, in simple terms. The gear box is generally used in a vehicle for a spe-cific purpose- to step up or step down the speed. The output of engine is al-ways constant. So, when you travel at low speeds, the excess energy generated is stored, and also the right amount of en-ergy is supplied according to how the driver wishes to accelerate.

As shown in the figure the designers take specific interest in how to design the teeth for efficient transmission. The hole in the centre is where the shaft passes in which can be compared to a rod, to put it in a laymans language. Now, getting into a little more specific side, the manufacturer would provide the customer two types of gear boxes: Manu-al / Automatic. In general, the higher end of most models is equipped with auto-matic transmission these days. They have epicyclical gearboxes, in which power loss is less, and transmission is good. Hence if you are going for a higher end of a particular model, I would say go in for the one with an automatic transmis-sion. Further no gear levers are present in automatic. As you accelerate, the gears automatically move to the next, and you wouldn’t even know it!

a cross-section of an actual gear box you find in vehicles.


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Manual transmission generally comes with a 5 speed transmissions in the present gen-eration of cars. Maruti 800 during its launch had only a 4 speed transmission!!! However, with the advancement of technology and with an increasing number of people who love zipping down the road, these days, a 6 speed transmission is also becoming a common sight.

But what does this number indicate? It in-dicates the maximum number of gears you can shift while driving. Also in the gear box all these gears are mounted on a single shaft. When you move the gear fork lever (That is the thing which is present near the driver seat) there is a lever which moves and selects the particular disc which has to be put to work. So the whole weight of vehi-cle is decided by such simple mechanisms. Amazing, isn’t it?

Did you know that the reversing of the ve-hicle is mainly dependent upon the reverse gear? This is also a disc with teeth inside gear box, which rotates in opposite direc-tion and hence your vehicle moves that way.Apart from this some manufacturers might specify Manual 4+1. You might wonder what that one stands for, or simply why couldn’t they put it as 5. The ‘1’ stands for overdrive- a special concept. This increases the ef-ficiency of vehicle and fuel consumption is also decreased. Go for such vehicles, they are good.

So now you know what happens inside that small gear box. The next time you are stuck up between two cars; investigate the speci-fications like a pro!


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carMa i3 carMa i2

carMa i1

in case you have Missed our Previous issues, you can view TheM here.


http://autocarma.in/2012/03/08/carma-issue-3/

http://autocarma.in/2011/12/18/373/

http://autocarma.in/2011/12/18/373/

http://autocarma.in/2012/03/08/carma-issue-3/

http://autocarma.in/2012/01/22/carma-i2/


1

BAJA 2012

Feb 16th - 18th 2012naTraX, Pithampur

FEATuRE SToRy


1 1

- anJan ravi

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Baja SAE India is an intercollegiate de-sign competition run by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Teams of students from universities all over the country participate in this out-of-class-room educational experience.

Each team’s goal is to design and build a prototype of a rugged single seat, off-road recreational four-wheel vehicle intended for sale to a non-professional, weekend off-road enthusiast.

The theme for BAJA 2012 was i4-ideate, incubate, implement, innovate, which was taken forward this year from Go Green, the theme for BAJA 2011.BAJA SAE India 2012 was sponsored by Mahindra and saw the participation of over 24 00 students.

The event took place at NATRAX (Na-tional Automotive Test tracks) facility of NATRIP (National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project) in Pithampur, Indore.

This year, BAJA saw 232 Engineering Colleges registering for the event. At the Virtual Baja in August 2011 in which teams’ designs are validated, 132 of them got filtered and the rest 100 teams were selected for the final competition in Pithampur. Out of the 100 teams, 82 teams participated in the endurance race.

All cars must adhere to SAE’s rules, and pass SAE’s technical inspection and judg-ing; a car may not race until all safety inspections are passed. Small engine manufacturer Briggs & Stratton sponsors Baja SAE teams by providing the SAE sanctioned engine free of charge, at a replacement rate of one engine for every

two years in competition.

There are multiple dynamic events, usu-ally four per event, as well as a single four-hour endurance race. The dynamic events include hill climbs, manoeuvrabil-ity events, rock crawls, and suspension & traction events.

Static events, such as written reports, presentations and design evaluations are provided by participating teams. This is when the teams are judged on ergonom-ics, functionality, and producibility of their cars; ensuring that the final place-ment of the team does not rest solely on the vehicle’s performance but rather on a combination of static and dynamic events. Required reports detail the en-gineering and design process that was used in developing each system of the team’s vehicle, supported with sound en-gineering principles.

A shot of the NATRAX track at Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh.


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Also, a cost report that provides all the background information necessary to verify the vehicle’s actual cost is used to rate the most economically feasi-ble for production. These reports are submitted weeks in advance of each event, where the presentations and design evaluations are given on site in the presence of SAE design judges.

The overall winners of BAJA 2012 was TEAM CONRODS (SRM university) un-der the leadership of K Subhash Babu.

CARMA managed to get an exclusive interview with K.Subash Babu about his experience at Baja 2012.

Q: What were the main challenges you faced while making the car? a: The major problem we faced was man-agement of funds. We also faced technical issues due to change in engine and also its delayed delivery.

Q: how important was it for you to make the car light weight? how did you do it? a: Making the car light weight was of utmost importance to our team. The engine being the same for all team, power to weight ratio was very important for the improved power. Extensive analysis was carried to for reduc-ing the size of the mounts and for making the car compact. Zero tolerance was followed during fabrication to avoid deviations from the design.

Q: Compared to last years vehicle, what were the new additions or innovations in this years vehicle? a: We had a few innovations, incorporating electronics and electrical, which were mainly focused on driver safety. The innovation included a GPS modules, driver to pit com-munication systems and a fire extinguisher system.

Q: The engine was standard for all the teams. how did you feel the engine was?a: Engine was better compared to previous year’s engine. It was compact, refined, light weight but slightly under powered. Q: if there was one thing bad or not up to the mark with your vehicle, what was it? a: Chain drive of our transmission was not really up to the mark. We have issues of pow-er loss in it.

Q: if there was one parameter you could change, what would it be? a: Reduction in the engine vibrations would be a parameter to be changed. That can be done with the use of anti vibration mounts.

A shot of the NATRAX track at Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh.


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Q: What are your plans for next years ve-hicle?a: Our Plans for the next year would be to make the car more compact and increase its top speed

Q: What about your goals for next year? a: To defend our Champion’s Position and to bag as many awards as possible.

Q: Lets say your vehicle goes on sale in india. how much would you price it at?A: Our ex-show room price would be Rs. 1.26 lakhs for our high end model

Q: baja and supra are two very good events which focus on different things though. if you could choose between the two events, what would it be?a: Both Baja and Supra are outstanding in their own ways. They are events of com-pletely different segments. I would choose Baja because of my interest in Off-Roading Vehicles and the fun involved in making them.

Q: right now, what is your favorite car on the indian roads? Why? a: My favourite car is Range Rover Evoque. It is stylish,elegant, power packed and still reasonably priced. I find it to be a highly capable SuV.

Q: f1 or WrC?a: WRC

Q: you are allowed to buy any car in the world except the veyron. Which one would it be? a: Hummer H3, if it was still under produc-tion!


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36

CARMA TIPS

how To choose a scond hand car


Contrary to popular belief, purchasing a second hand vehicle is more complicated than buying a new one. In addition to picking a manufacturer, a model and a place to buy it, one also has to contend with decisions such as mileage, condition, and age, none of which is a factor in new cars but are important considerations when buying a used car.We recommend you to keep the following issues in mind.

1. worK ouT an esTiMaTe on your MonThly or annual usaGe

Knowing this estimate can make your decision making a lot simpler. If you are plan-ning on buying a vehicle for mostly in-city driving, it is recommended you go for a small hatch back or a mid segment vehicle so that you face the least trouble while parking and manoeuvring. If the usage is mostly on highways, it is usually recom-mended you go for a SuV. However, second hand SuVs are vehicles you should avoid. SuVs are never idle or the second car in a household. They are put to rough and con-tinuous use thereby making its maintenance an issue for the previous owner to sell it. A hatchback or a mid segment would still do the trick, but a SuV can be way more comfortable in this case. This can also help in deciding whether you require a petrol or a diesel driven vehicle. Diesel vehicles cost more than the petrol ones, but as a fuel, diesel is way less expen-sive. High maintenance costs come hand in hand with low fuel cost.

2. decide on The TyPe oF vehicle you wanT To Buy.

By deciding this, your decision making is 50% complete. If you’re planning on pur-chasing a vehicle for professional usage, we recommend you go for a hatch or a mid segment. If you’re looking out for a family car, go for a mid segment or a sedan. Try avoiding SuVs. If inevitable, try going for SuVs which have recently been introduced in the market and have sold well.

3. Know The reason For The vehicle’s sale.

Try asking your used car sale dealer for the reason why the vehicle is put on sale. Most first-hand owners sell their vehicles due to frequently repeating unsolvable problems. Also, check the odometer for its reading.

6 siMPle sTePs

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A city car usually averages 10,000 to 11,000 km in a year. You can roughly calculate the age of the vehicle.

4. insPecT The Previous owner’s MainTenance

This plays a major role in your choice. You may like the vehicle and the price, but nothing ends with just that.All drivers do not drive in the same fashion. Some are rough, some are soft. Some take it easy on their clutches, some think that their M 800s are their Ferraris and rev it hard, with rough gear shifting thereby causing damage to the gearbox and abnormal clutch play.So we recommend you sit in the car and take it on a test drive to check the pedals, the gauges on your dash – speedometers, tachometers (if available) and your fuel level gauge. Also, check if all the in-car electronics are in good condition. Coming to the exterior, check the wipers – front and rear (if available), lights – headlight, tail light, reverse light, indicators and also the light in the interior. You may find minor scratches/paint trades on the exterior. Overlook them. It is extremely difficult to find a second hand vehicle without any minor exterior damage. Such minor problems can be fixed anytime, anywhere.Make sure the seats are comfortable and also rate your ride quality.

5. availaBiliTy oF sPare ParTs.

When you decide on a car, immediately check for its availability of spare parts. This plays quite an important factor. You need spare parts for your vehicle in case of any damage or trouble shooting.Do not go for cars whose manufacturer doesn’t exist or have a market in your country/province. It is impossible to get spare parts for cars whose manufacturers have closed down. You’ll end up with no choice but to go for a substitute that is made by another company which may not be completely compatible with your model. In the case of the manufacturer not having a market in your country, you’ll have to wait till your request for a spare gets processed, shipped down to your country and then, transported to your province and wait for technicians to fix them.

6. checK iF The vehicle is cauGhT in any leGal issue.

The last thing that you’d want to happen to your car is the police seizing it. Ergo, double check or even triple check whether the vehicle comes with no strings attached. Check the background of the previous owner and his details.There is no database in India that keeps a log of such transactions involving vehicles. Even if you’re purchasing through a used car sales company dealer, the problem is still not solved. Those dealers are merely middle men.


1

FeaTure

sTory

Gene va MoTor show

ToP 10 ProducTion

and ToP 10 concePT

cars!

1

Gene va MoTor show

ToP 10 ProducTion

and ToP 10 concePT

cars!

40

The Geneva MoTor showCARMA | CARS uNlIMITED India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine| Volume 1 Issue 4

a mention of Switzerland and my mind is bombarded with thoughts of Cheese, chocolates, watches, bollywood song locations, beautiful sceneries and of course (after all the distractions), the Salon International de l’Auto or more commonly known as, the Geneva motor show. This is a place where all the bigwigs of the automobile industry come to show off or display their flagship cars. Be it production cars or con-cept cars, this is the place where they are debuted to the automobile world. Exotic supercars often steal the spotlight during their debuts at the show. Prototypes, new equipment, technical breakthroughs, international partnerships, as well as political and social debates, have been announced at the exhibition. Out of the 100 odd cars exhibited at the Geneva motor show 2012 we have selected the top 10 production and concept cars which impressed us the most.

ToP 10 ProducTion cars.

The latest from the lexus stable which has followed the tradition of having lED head-lights. This car has a 3.5 liter V-6 engine with VVT, port and direct injection to achieve a maximum power of 306HP at 6500rpm. The F Sport package includes a stiffer ver-sion of lexus’ Adaptive Variable Suspension, as well as electric-assist Variable Gear Ratio Steering. 19” tires seem to do justice to this beast. Although a V-8 engine would have been better, this car has the capability to be a top contender. The prices are yet to be announced

10. leXus Gs-F SPORT

40 41

Next in line is this muscular look-ing piece of metal. What the Brabus people have done is create a much more muscular version of the Merc C class. They have even modified the engine from a Merc. After tweak-ing, the engine produces 800HP at 5500 rpm, 300HP more than the original engine. This means that it is incredibly quick in a straight line. This one can do 0-100kmph in 3.7 seconds. The top speed is more than 370kmph and to stop this car from such tremendous speed.


The car relies on a dual circuit brake system with Brake Assist and a high-perfor-mance brake system. The car is equipped all the latest safety features and also has huge 20” tires. If the movie Bullit was ever to be remade, this car can easily feature in the epic car chase. The starting cost of this car is 500,000 uSD

The Bentleys have done it again. They have introduced a new ver-sion of their flagship model, the Bentley continental and this time, it is a GT version. The new V8 en-gine delivers 500 HP at 6000 rpm. The models equipped with this new engine will also be offered a new close-ratio 8-speed automatic transmission and will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, while top speed will go up to 180 mph.

Fuel economy and CO2 emissions have been improved significantly and it can do 800 kms on a single tank of fuel. The car sports 20” stock tires but customers can opt for 21” tires too. The price of this car is almost 220,000 uSD.

8. BenTley conTinenTal GT v8

9. BraBus BulliT couPe 800


German car maker Audi has introduced a new Audi RS TT Plus. The 2.5-liter turbo-charged direct-injection en-gine produces 360HP with a max torque output of 465Nm. Audi’s curvy headlight line-age still continues. Custom-ers can choose between a manual six-speed transmis-sion and the seven-speed S tronic. The dual-clutch trans-mission comes with a launch control function. The vehicle is fitted with 19” wheels.

Accessories like the external mirrors are made of carbon fiber. The knob on the gear or selector lever features an aluminum-look trim ring and a TT RS plus badge. This car tops at 280kmph. It is priced at a modest amount of 85,000 uSD.

The elusive BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé has finally de-buted after a long wait. The car is powered by a Twin Power turbo 6-cylinder en-gine with an output of 315 HP at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 450 Nm delivered at 4,500 rpm. This car will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds and will hit a top speed of 155 mph.

It will be equipped with a standard 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission combined with BMW Efficient Dynamics, Brake Energy Regeneration, engine Auto Start-Stop, on-demand operation of ancillary components, intelligent lightweight construction, and extensive aerodynamic refinement. The price starts at 76,895 uSD.

In case you missed the New Delhi auto expo that we cov-ered, click here to view it.

carMa i2

6. BMw 6 series Gran couPé

7. audi rs TT Plus

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One of the most impressive cars at the show - The Ma-serati Gran Turismo and it does a wonderful job at that. The front has been exten-sively modified with a re-designed front bumper that improves the air flow and the cooling of the front brakes, while the space between the new headlamps and the tra-ditional oval grille is united by a new styling element. On the center of the grille, you will find a chromed

trident with red accents, while the front light cluster has been completely rede-signed and improved, thanks to the addition of DRl lED technology. In the rear, the Maserati has added restyled, darker light clusters. The most significant change is a boost in power from the previous 4.7-liter V8. The engine now produces 460 horse-power – up from 434. Prices for the new Maserati Granturismo Sport will be an-nounced closer to its market launch.

Gumpert have introduced two new models called En-raged and Apollo R. While Apollo R is a proper race car built for track days, Enraged comes pretty close and is probably most powerful street legal car the company has ever produced. One interesting fact is that both these cars have been built to satisfy the Asian market. Both the cars are powered by a twin turbocharged 4.2 liter V8 Audi engine.

The Enraged produces 760HP while the Gumpert Apollo R pumps out 860 horse-power from its 4.2-liter engine, thanks to higher boost pressure, custom ignition and control adjustments, a special racing exhaust system and increased airflow thanks to re-positioned air intakes. The pricing details haven’t been issued as of now.

4. GuMPerT aPollo r

5. MaseraTi Gran TurisMo s

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Stealing the spotlight at As-ton Martin’s 2012 Geneva Motor Show display is the new V12 Zagato. With only 150 units of the Aston Mar-tin V12 Zagato to be built, the car is very exclusive and very expensive with prices starting at 522,652 uSD. Not to mention, pro-duction will take quite a long time since each V12 Zagato takes about 2,000 man-hours to complete. It’s powered by a 6.0 liter

V12 engine making 510HP and 310Nm of torque. Fitted to a 6-speed manual trans-mission, the V12 Zagato will go from 0 100kmph in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 305 kmph. At the front it looks like a V12 vantage, but at the back it has clearly been inspired by Ferrari.

The latest from Maranello is the new Ferrari F12 Ber-linetta. The new Berlinetta is powered by Ferrari’s 6.3l V12 with 730HP and is the fastest Ferrari road car ever, weighing just over 1500kgs. The Berlinetta sports a space frame chas-sis and body shell con-structed from 12 different kinds of alloys With a 46/54 front/rear weight distribu-tion, a lower center of grav-ity than the 599,

In addition to what Ferrari calls AeroBridge technology (which directs air from the hood down the sides of the car to increase down force), fully integrated stability and traction control, plus Active Brake Cooling (which adjusts the flow of air to the brakes depending on the temperature), the F12 is a worthy successor to the 599 and a car that can trace its bloodline directly back to the much revered 275 and 365 GTB mod-els.

2. Ferrari F12 BerlineTTa

3. asTon MarTin v12 zaGaTo

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Predictably, it has got the first place on our list and is well qualified for that es-teemed position. It is really wonderful to see that Bugatti hasn’t dropped its Veyron line. That is one of the reasons why this car tops the list. The latest development in the line is the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. The tag line which is accompany-ing this is ‘where top speed goes topless’.

did you Know ?

The first Geneva Motor Show was held in 1905. This year’s event was it’s 82nd edition.

1. BuGaTTi veyron Grand sPorT viTesse

The Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse gets the same engine tuning as the Veyron Super Sport, which means it comes packed with an 8.0-liter, quad-turbo W-16 engine good for 1,200 horsepower and 1,106 pound-feet of torque. The standard Grand Sport chassis has been reinforced to cope with the additional power, which comes as a courtesy of larger turbos. Bugatti states that the Grand Sport Vitesse is the most powerful production roadster of all time, and once this thing hits the street, it’ll sure-ly be the fastest too. It takes only 2.6 seconds to achieve 0-100kmph.It is expected to achieve a top speed of 410kmph. It is priced at 2.5 million uSD.

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ToP 10 concePT cars.

Tata Motors have introduced the Tata Megapixel, a new four-seater, city-smart global range extended elec-tric vehicle (REEV) concept for the performance-seeking and environ-ment-conscious motorists. Combin-ing a lithium ion phosphate battery and an on-board petrol engine gen-erator for recharging on the move, the Tata Megapixel offers a range of up to 900km (with a single tank of fuel), path-breaking CO2 emission of just 22gm/km and fuel economy of 100km/litre (under battery only power).

Megapixel has a 13 KwH battery which runs for 87 kms on the charge. Of course it can fall back on the gasoline generator to charge itself back up. The class-leading ‘Zero Turn’ drive system of the Tata Pixel (shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show) has been taken to an even higher level of maneuverability in the Tata Megapixel.

The Toyota FT-Bh, a hybrid concept at the Geneva Motor Show that gets 134.5 mpg. Toyota’s new FT-Bh con-cept is a vehicle designed to take the efficiency of full hybrid vehicles to new heights.The FT-Bh’s powertrain is just as mini-mal as its chassis. It uses the same Hybrid Synergy Drive layout as other Toyotas, but everything is smaller. . like an eco-friendly house, the FT-Bh’s windows and paint are designed to regulate interior temperatures. Con-sequently, Toyota has installed more efficient heating and air conditioning.

Toyota did not announce any plans to build the FT-Bh, but it did say the car was fu-ture-proof. The two-cylinder engine can switch from gasoline to compressed natural gas (CNG), and the whole powertrain could be converted to a plug-in setup.

9. ToyoTa FT-Bh

10. TaTa MeGaPiXel

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Electric car pioneer Tesla has revealed its latest model – a full-size seven-seat SuV that can crack 0-100kmph faster than a Porsche 911. The com-pany claims that the Tesla Model X will go into pro-duction alongside the firm’s Model S saloon by the end of 2013. The Model X gets its own, unique, all-wheel drive system. It gets a pair of inno-vative ‘falcon’ rear doors.

. There’s a generous rear cargo hold even with the third-row seat erected, plus a de-cent front trunk as well. With no tall gasoline engine in front, there’s plenty of space, and dynamically, its handling promises to be unusually good despite the Model X’s height, what with all the weighty stuff being so low .

Embracing a simple, almost plain, yet still engaging and aesthetic, the Cambiano is Pininfarina’s latest foray into elegant, modern design. un-derpinned by a diesel tur-bine/electric power train, it’s theoretically capable of 0-100 kmph sprints in just 4.2 sec-onds, a range of 800 kms, and generates 816 horsepower.. It has a number of unconven-tional aspects including the arrangement of the doors with only one door on the driver’s side, yet two on pas-senger side.

It has a number of unconventional aspects including the arrangement of the doors with only one door on the driver’s side, yet two on passenger side. It also has no B-pillar to facilitate access and to maximize the interior space and comfort for the four seats. . The Cambiano also packs a very conceptual interior, a pillar-less cabin, and light off-white-on-white theme with blue accents.

7. PininFarina caMBiano

8. Tesla Model X

46 47


The EMERG-E is the first In-finiti ever to utilize a plug-in electric drive train paired with a range-extending in-ternal combustion engine, but that’s hardly the car’s most interesting point. The EMERG-E plug-in features a mid-engine setup, with a pair of electric motors providing 402 horsepower. Infiniti says the EMERG-E can accelerate from 0-100 in just 4 seconds. On the exterior, this concept sports, among other design touches, crescent-shaped lED

Its features include an integrated, touch-screen display, a semi-aniline leather en-casing the dashboard and seats that allows light to shine through and, craziest of all, bursts of light that briefly streak “around the cabin to provide live confirmation” that the vehicle is ready to go when you start the ignition.

Built upon an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione body, this front-mid engine rear-wheel-drive Italian sports car car-ries a powertrain churning out 444-hp, 4.7 liter V8, the 6-speed sequential gearbox, a limited slip differential, as well as front and rear double-wishbone suspension. The Disco Volante 2012 reaches 0-100kmph in 4.2 seconds and attains a top speed of about 290kmph. Each donor 8C Competizione will

undergo an extensive build process that takes approximately 4,000 hours under the hands of highly skilled craftsmen and engineers of Milan. This translates to a deliv-ery time of eight months after the reception of a donor 8C.

5. carozzerria TourinG suPer-leGGera disco volanTe

6. inFiniTi eMerG-e

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Italian design firm Bertone has revealed their Centenary celebration concept called the Nuccio at the Geneva Motor Show this week. The Nuccio is a fully functional prototype powered by a mid-mounted, 480HP 4.3-liter V8. Signaling the company’s futuristic styling language, the Nuccio concept gushes with details such as the webbed lattice design in the front fascia and sides. The front end also incorporates an lED light bar in lieu of traditional right and left headlamp units.

At the rear there are brushed aluminum tail pipes in a trapezoidal shape which flank a huge exposed diffuser travelling half way up the rear body.

The Giugiaro Brivido is a hugely interesting concept and one that promises an exciting array of technology for future vehicles under the Volkswagen Group. The Brivido makes ex-tensive use of lED technology with a bespoke light cluster set up, front and rear that include repeaters stretching along the side panels of the car. Even more sci-fi are the two moni-tors mounted on the steering column. adaptive unit at the rear. The suspension is high-tech too, with double wishbone and adaptive air suspension,

leveling system and automatic ride height adjustment for the front, and a multi-link system using the same adaptive unit at the rear. The concept is powered by a 3.0-lit-er V6 engine that delivers a total of 360 HP and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Brivido can sprint from 0 to 100 kmph in just 5.8 seconds and can hit a top speed of 275 kmph.

3. GiuGiaro Brivido

4. BerTone nuccio concePT

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Honda has introduced a new NSX concept which is a re-branding of the Acura NSX concept introduced at De-troit motor show. It makes use of a unique twin electric motor drive unit with a bilat-eral torque adjustable control system. This is coupled with a powerful next-generation VTEC V6 engine with direct-injection and a dual clutch transmission. It sports a range of new technologies, including the innovative Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) hybrid system.

Honda hasn’t released any details on the final output of this setup, but rumors say it will go up to about 400 HP, or just enough to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds.


lamborghini has done it again. They have created a stunning car which is just breath taking. Officially, it is not a concept car as it is a street legal pro-duction car, but since only one will ever be made it has been classified as a concept. It’s one thing to create a convertible version of the gorgeous lam-borghini Aventador lP700-4, but it’s totally another to take off the roof and the wind-screen, fitting two small wind deflectors in front of the driver and passenger compartments.

1. laMBorGhini avenTador J

2. honda nsX

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K. shreyas hande


CARMA NEWS

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Hungary

Thailand

JapanChina

Switzerland

Germany

u.S.A

Mercedes confirms new coupé for Kecskemét

HuNGARY

JAPAN

Nissan brings back Datsun budget brand

SWITZERlAND

Geneva motor show: Nissan to build a new compact car called “INVITATION” , at its Sunderland factory.

CHINA

Jaguar land Rover agrees joint venture with Chery in China.

GERMANY

A new system of stereo cameras detects pedestrians from within the car

u.S.A

GM unveils new Chevy Impala.


aBs (anTi locK BraKinG sysTeM)

The ABS has proved to be a major assist to drivers on slippery roads which is oth-erwise a nerve-wracking challenge. Even professional drivers can’t stop as quickly without ABS as an average driver can with ABS. On slippery roads, wheels slip off the surface resulting in less traction and thus, skidding while braking. ABS avoids this and helps you stop faster, letting you steer while doing so.

coMPonenTsThere are four main components to an ABS system - Speed sensors, Pump, Valves and a Controller

sPeed sensorsSpeed sensors are located at each wheel, or in some cases, in the differential. They pro-vide the information about when a wheel is about to lock up.

valvesThere is a valve in the brake line of each brake controlled by the ABS. On some sys-tems, the valve has three positions. In po-

sition one, the valve is open and pressure from the master cylinder is passed right through to the brake. In position two, the valve blocks the line, isolating that brake from the master cylinder. This prevents the pressure from rising further should the driv-er push the brake pedal harder. In position three, the valve releases some of the pressure from the brake.

PuMPSince the valve is able to release pressure from the brakes, there has to be some way to put that pressure back. That is what the pump does. When a valve reduces the pressure in a line, the pump is there to get the pressure back up.

conTrollerA controller is a computer in the car. It watches the speed sensors and controls the valves.

worKinGThe controller monitors the speed sensors at all times looking for decelerations in the wheel that are out of the ordinary. Right before a wheel locks up, it experiences rapid deceleration.

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anTi locK BreaKinG sysTeM

sai srinivasan


in the wheel that are out of the ordinary. Right before a wheel locks up, it experi-ences rapid deceleration. It might take a car roughly six seconds to stop from 100km/hr on a highway, but a wheel that locks up could stop spinning in less than a second.

The ABS controller knows that such a rapid deceleration is impossible, so it reduces the pressure to that brake until it sees ac-celeration, then it increases the pressure until it sees the deceleration again. It can do this very quickly, before the tire can actually significantly change speed. The result is that the tire slows down at the same rate as the car, with the brakes keep-ing the tires very near to the point at which they start to lock up. This gives the system maximum braking power.

When the ABS system is in operation you will feel a pulsing in the brake pedal; this comes from the rapid opening and closing of the valves. Some ABS systems can cycle up to 15 times per second.Four-channel, four-sensor ABS has speed sensors on all four wheels and a separate valve for each of them. With this setup, the controller monitors each wheel individu-ally to make sure it achieves the maximum

braking force.

PrecauTions

One should not pump the brake pedal in a car with ABS. Pumping the brakes is a technique that is sometimes used during slippery conditions to allow the wheels to unlock so that the vehicle stays straight during a stop. In a car with ABS the wheels should never lock in the first place, so pumping the brakes will just take longer to stop. During a sudden stop in a car with ABS, apply the brake pedal firmly and hold it while the ABS does all the work. Nor-mally, you will feel a violent pulsing in the pedal, so don’t let go off the brake.Most drivers of ABS-equipped cars use the ABS incorrectly, either by pumping the brakes or by releasing the brakes when they feel the system pulsing. Since ABS al-lows you to steer during a panic stop, more people run off the road and crash, resulting in accidents that could have been avoided otherwise.

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hYUNDAI XINg

XINg IS kINg?

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XinG is KinG?

The Hyundai Xing came in as a succes-sor to Hyundai’s super seller – the Santro. Xing already has a fairly good number on the roads and is still under production.We got a 6 year old Xing for a test drive this week. Here’s what.

The Hyundai Xing (Petrol)

carMa overall rating: 6.1

Advice: Xing is not the best in its class of hatchbacks. We recommend you go for a fairly newer Xing if you are keen on buy-ing it. However, you should also check out the other hatchbacks in its class.

ExTERNAl STylINg

Despite styling being largely considered to be subjective, in this case, the judgement can be arrived at with no ar-guments. Yes, the Xing has a rather ugly design. It lurks around showing no signs of design detailing or styling cues result-ing in almost zero visual rating. But, when you look at it from a totally

different school of thought, you realize it has been built keeping only the cost cut-ting in mind. Surprisingly, it worked won-ders for Hyundai. This Hyundai-stable originated box-on-wheels is designed for a family particu-larly for in-city driving. It is small and compact, serving just the purpose with no value addition.

The head lamp and tail lamp units in the front and rear look retro and as if they have been ripped off from an old scrap vendor. lamp-styling is a parameter that has entered the Indian consumers’ needs quite recently and also, given the fact that Hyundai has done their feedback study in developing their fluidic designs, we shouldn’t complain.

Indian consumers have a tendency to re-late almost everything to humans, out of respect and pride. A car’s headlights give the impression of “eyes” which are the most descriptive elements in us. Hence the lamp styling plays quite a significant-ly critical role.


vignesh v. ramakrishnan and Praveen srikanth

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Wipers fitted in the vehicle we tested were in good condition. But the washer fluid sprayer was missing. This variant being the lowest ends on offer, there were no rear wipers available.

Xing was developed from the Santro. Santro, on the other hand, was developed keeping the HM Ambassador in mind. So the ground clearance is safely high giv-ing you the confidence that the under belly has low chances of damage.

WHAT’S IN?

Xing’s features, to name a few (of a few) are 4 speakers (2+2), Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and also a dead pedal to the left of the clutch where you can rest your foot. Making the comfort factor take a deep negative dive are the hard seats that hurt your rear and make you miss your cosy bean bags. The only feature that gives us some hope to survive our comfort scru-tiny of this vehicle is the air condition-ing. The very decent throw levels help in quicker cooling and circulation.

Open the skeleton-thin doors and the dash board catches your eye. With a dull grey and basic electronics enabled body, it shows no class or uniqueness. But that is probably a lot to expect from a sub 4 lakh INR vehicle. The instrument panel housing the speedometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge and the odometer seems to work fine. No tachometer is in-cluded though.

The Xing comes with a basic interior design. Seats have been compromised on their quality due to cost cutting. Oth-erwise all knobs and levers are easily locatable, identifiable and usable.

You cannot expect extraordinary leg space, not enough for you to put foot above another in the rear passenger seat. However, we felt the Xing had better leg space than the Chevy Spark we had test-ed earlier.

Boot space is not very large. But to be honest, I felt that it was just enough in terms of volume. Rear seats are collaps-ible to help in expansion, but they are not separable.


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RIDE AND HANDlINg

The driving position is high, which is no surprise given the fact that it is a tall boy hatch. A tall driver would feel cramped with his knees coming in contact with the steering wheel.

Experience wise, it was not something great, but satisfactory with the grumpy gear box and horribly clutch play add-ing to the kill joy factor.

The ride quality is somewhere below the poor and satisfactory line. The high ride is supposed to give you some comfort, but the hard seats just murder it grossly. A lot of engine noise somehow leaks into the cabin.

In the vehicle we tested, the suspensions were very stiff and just bearable thereby filtering road irregularities to a certain low degree.

Given the tall boy hatch compact design, the vehicle should be blessed with good manoeuvrability. But, it just proved other-wise. The Electric Power Steering (EPS) showed no signs of existence. Sharp cor-ners required excessive driver effort.

Burning down to the judgement - the Xing might be a king when it comes to sales numbers but definitely not when it comes to driving pleasure and value for money. This review clearly states it is not an after-life car, not intended for second hand purchasing.

goINg TEcHIE!

ENgINE AND bATTERy

4 cylinder 1 litre inline engine. Battery was recently replaced.

TRANSmISSIoN:5 speed manual

TyRES

155/R15 Bridgestone

mIlEAgE

11kmpl

PERFoRmANcE

Acceleration from 0 to 60kmph without air-con: 7.07 sAcceleration from 0 to 60kmpn with air-con: 7.41 s


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we will Be BacK.

carMa v1 i5

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CARMA Issue 4