Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
ECO FOCUS!
Geneva 2009: Ford's next Focus, the iosis Max now with EcoBoost!
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ford iosis Max Concept
Ford is preparing to make a major shift to smaller cars over the next few years, starting with the new Fiesta at the end of this year and the new European-based Focus next year. When that next-generation Focus lands in the U.S., it is expected to look a lot like the concept that Ford is showing in Geneva this week. The shape and styling details of the iosis Max give a preview of next years Focus five door hatch although the head-light clusters and doors will surely be more conventional. The sliding rear doors are unlikely to make it to production either.
What will make it through is the drivetrain. This is the third Ford concept this year (along with the Lincoln Concept C and Volvo S60 concepts in Detroit) powered by the new 1.6L EcoBoost four cylinder along with the PowerShift dual clutch transmission. With the automatic start stop system, this combination is expected to top 40 mpg with ease when it arrives.
THE FERRARI IS GOING GREEN!!!
Confirmed: Ferrari going hybrid
Click above for gallery of the Ferrari 599XX
One of the stated reasons that automakers send prototype race cars around tracks at high rates of speed is to further the development of new technology for their road-going automobiles. There's no higher form of automotive motorsport than Formula 1, so it stands to reason that fuel-saving advancements like the kinetic energy recovery hybrid systems that F1 is currently in the midst of implementing will someday make it into production cars. According to Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the Italian automaker is in fact testing its KERS system in a prototype based on the 599 chassis.
There's some speculation that the 599XX at the Geneva Motor Show may have some form of the KERS system installed, but that's not confirmed. With this technology, energy that would otherwise be lost to braking can be stored and reused the next time the vehicle accelerates, thereby boosting both performance and efficiency, and that's something we can all get behind.
THE LOTUS IS BLOOMING!
Geneva 2009: Lotus touts efficiency of new 2010 Exige S
Filed under: Lotus, Geneva Motor Show
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Lotus Exige S
"The same technology that makes a lightweight car a high performer also makes it efficient – how many cars have performance figures of 0 - 100 km/h in 4.77 secs but produce only 199 g/km CO2?" That question was posed by Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive of Group Lotus plc, and he's got a point. As part of its ongoing quest to shave weight, Lotus has blessed us with what are undoubtedly the most efficient fossil fuel-burning sportscars the world has ever seen. Of course, Lotus vehicles have also proven rather adept at accepting EV conversions for this same reason.
For the 2010 model year, Lotus has upped the ante yet again by incrementally improving the aerodynamics of its Exige S, nudging up the fuel efficiency and lowering the carbon emissions in the process. A revised fascia lets more air in to cool the radiator and twin oil coolers and a new rear wing reduces drag and still puts down 42 kilograms (93 pounds) of downforce at 160 km/h (about 100 mph). Add it all up, and the new Exige S emits 199 g/km CO2 and achieves European Combined Cycle ratings of 8.5 litres/100 km (33.2 mpg). Read the full press release after the break.
Gallery: 2010 Lotus Exige S
THE NV 200!
Geneva 2009: NV200 may come to America with electric drive
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Nissan NV200
Nissan is getting into the light commercial vehicle market in the U.S. next year with its new NV2500 and, possibly, with the NV200 that debuted in Geneva this week. The NV200 is a compact van based on Nissan's European B-segment platform used for the Micra. It can be configured as a seven-passenger van or a cargo van with up to 145 cubic feet of cargo room. In Europe, it's powered by gas or diesel engines of 1.5L or 1.6L capacities.
However, if we get the NV200 here there is a distinct possibility that it could come with electric drive. While we were running around in Switzerland, our good friend Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com was at the NTEA work truck show in Chicago. There he caught up with Joe Castelli, Nissan's vice president of light commercial vehicles and fleet, and they discussed alternative drive possibilities. Castelli told Mike that, "dA hybrid or electric vehicle has to be considered for commercial vehicles."
Just as Ford has concluded with its upcoming Transit Connect EV, Castelli admits, "Electric vehicles aren't going to work if you're driving 300 miles a day on the road. But if I'm at a construction site all day or I'm a florist making lots of stops a quarter-mile apart than I can get away with an electric vehicle."
Given Nissan's major emphasis on electric vehicles in the coming years, it makes perfect sense to electrify a vehicle like the NV200. Packaging a battery under the flat load floor would be relatively straightforward and the short range duty cycle for commercial applications would play to the electric's strengths. Castelli even acknowledged that electric or hybrid drive is not out of the question for the larger NV2500.
iMiEV!
Geneva 2009: Mitsubishi Global i MiEV prototype
Debuting at the 79th Geneva Motor Show alongside the Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Air concept was an i MiEV prototype that may have been the most relevant electric car of the show. Although quite similar to the i MiEV design we've been showing you for the past couple years, this is the global version of the Japanese automaker's electric car. As expected, it has a wider stance than the original and the front and rear overhangs have been extended and should offer more protection for passengers as well as any errant (heaven forbid) pedestrians. Also, the steering wheel is on the side you would expect to find it in most parts of the planet, the left.
The company calls this i MiEV iteration the precursor to the car that will go on sale in Europe next year where it will carry the Mitsubishi badge as well as that of Peugeot. Although a timetable for American sales hasn't yet been announced, we expect that it will happen eventually and something very close to this slightly enlarged prototype will one day be available here. Hit the jump for the official Geneva unveiling of the i MiEVs and as well as a bonus video of the global version posing for the camera in a studio and its designer giving some of his thoughts (in Japanese).
TRULY BENTLEY!
Bentley Continental GT, another charming sedan from the stable of Bentley Motors, is creating a stir in the Indian auto
mart with their unique & stylish construction. The coupe boasts of some real exquisite & faultless designs & dynamic driving dynamics. Powered by 6-litre, 12-cylinder, twin-turbo charged engine, the sedan is capable of an awesome speed. Extra interior space is provided with the special installment of 12 cylinder engines configured in four banks of 3 cylinders in a W formation. Constructed with impeccable craftsmanship, the car has been equipped with some real interesting features like :
* Bulls-eye air vents
* Organ stop controls
* Especial wood veneers coating
* Premium leather upholstery
Other Features
Bentley's Continental GT has interesting safety attributes which makes them worth possessing & some of these are listed below :
* Six airbags
* Pre-tensioners
* Retraction systems for all seats
* Front passenger seat occupant detection system
* Self-adjusting air springs
* Electronic dampers
* Large front brakes
Colors
Colors for Bentley Continental GT are quiet vibrant in nature & have appealing shades which automatically transfer the coupe into a magnetic vehicle.
* Silver tempest
* Moonbeam
* Barnato green (solid)
* Spruce
* Cypress
* Beluga (solid)
* Diamond black
* Midnight emerald
* Umbrian red
* St James (solid)
* Chestnut
* Sandstone
* Dark sapphire
* Neptune
* Silverlake
* Glacier white (solid)
Bentley Continental Flying Spur
It differs from Bentley Continental GT in terms of fuel tank capacity which is 90Ltr.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT
ENGINE
Engine Capacity 5998cc
Max. Power (PS / rpm) 552bhp / 560PS / 411kW* @ 6100rpm
Max. Torque (kgm / rpm 650Nm, 479 lb-ft @ 1600rpm
PERFORMANCE
Max. Speed 195mph / 312km/h
Fuel Tank Capacity 50
DIMENSIONS
Overall Length (mm) 5307mm
Overall Width (mm) 1916mm
Overall Height (mm) 1479mm
Wheelbase (mm) 3065mm
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
THE Q5!
Notwithstanding the slowdown in the auto industry, German luxury carmaker Audi will launch its latest sports utility vehicle 'Q5' in India in June, besides giving a facelift to its existing sedan 'A6'.
"The only SUV in India from our stable is Q7, which is doing extremely good even in the present situation. But still some people prefer a smaller SUV and because of this, we have decided to offer Q5 in the Indian market," Audi spokesperson told PTI here.
Q5 was launched in Europe in November 2008, with four versions in both petrol and diesel engines. It is priced between 38,000 euro and 50,000 euro in Germany.
"In June this year, we will launch only two variants of Q5 in India, homologation of which are currently on. These vehicles will be sold there as a completely-built-unit (CBU) and will be exported from the company's Ingolstadt facility," the official said.
The company, which has committed an investment of 30 million euro till 2015 in India, would introduce the car with 3.0 litre TDI (diesel) and 2.0 litre TFSI (petrol) engines for Indian consumers.
Evolution X!
First previewed in 2007, the all-new tenth-generation Lancer Evolution was introduced by
The Evo X is offered in two trim levels. The entry-level GSR is offered with a five-speed manual transmission, Recaro Sport seats and Enkei wheels, as well as optional spoiler, HID headlights, and upgraded sound system.
The upgraded MR includes
Both trim levels feature the new all-aluminum 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder MIVEC4 motor producing 295 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque and Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) drive system.
The S-AWC system, which regulates torque and braking at each wheel includes a bevy of acronyms: ASC (Active Stability Control), ACD (Active Center Differential), AYC (Active Yaw Control) and Sport ABS, an ABS system designed for aggressive driving. The biggest difference over the outgoing car is the large number of yaw sensors included in the system, all designed to keep the Evo X on its intended path. The S-AWC system can be set for three different road surfaces: tarmac (standard), ice and gravel
The Twin Clutch SST on the MR appears similar to Audi/VW's DSG system; even and odd gears are on separate clutches for rapid-fire shifting and no torque loss between gears. Shifting of the TC-SST is controlled by alloy paddles on the steering wheel or the gear shift lever when in manual mode, and by the engine computer in automatic mode. The system has three modes: Normal, Sport and S-Sport, the latter providing the most aggressive, fast shifts.
Safety measures include the Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) unibody system to disperse energy in front and side impact collisions and protect the fuel system from rear impact, and front and side impact air bags, plus a driver's knee air bag.
Xenon!
Photos
Tata Xenon XT
Shades
Tata Xenon XT
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| Mineral Red |
 |
| Black |
 |
| Arctic Silver |
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| White |
Tata Xenon is a lifestyle pickup which was first launched in Thailand. Now, Tata Motors has launced this lifestyle SUV in Indian Market. Xenon XT is positioned as lifestyle SUV not a pick-up.
It is a two cab variant and can comfortably seat 5. The load bed is a 1518 mm x 1414 mm area which lends itself to carrying equipment or having fun, as desired.
The Xenon’s front looks like the recently launched Tata Sumo Grande. The aggressive frontal styling is dominated by the now trademark ‘Tata’ grill complemented by large wraparound clear lens headlamps and flared fenders.
The side indicators are mounted on the outside rear view mirrors while the roof rails come as standard to ease the further accessorisation of the vehicle.
The Xenon XT can be customised to suit individual tastes and styles through a wide range of accessories such as bed-liners, fog lamps, canopy, boot lid, rollover bars and the like which will be on sale along with the vehicle.
Xenon XT comes with a 2179cc Direct Injection COmmon Rail (DICOR) diesel engine earlier did duty in Safari. It also comes with an on the fly 4WD which lets you to switch to AWD with ease.
The common rail diesel engine develops maximum power of 140 Bhp at 4000 rpm and maximum torque of 320 Nm at 1700 rpm.
Xenon XT comes with hosts of comfort & convenience features:
- Power steering
- Power windows
- Remote central locking
- Front & Rear Fog Lights
- HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditionor)
- Electrically adjustable side rear view mirrors
- Leather wrapped steering wheel
- Height adjustable seat belts.
- Engine immobiliser
- Seat belt warning
- Door open warning
- 16" alloy wheels
- Tubeless tyres.
- Rear Defogger
- Adjustable Tilt Steering
- Outside rear view mirror indicators.
Modern technology has enabled Tata to keep the size of the DICOR engine compact while maintaining high output, excellent fuel economy and high durability in order to provide customers an efficient income-generating vehicle.
Tata is confident that customers will clearly notice the difference in the quality of this pickup. Xenon has a length of 5.1m, width of 1.8 m and height of 1.7m. Cargo space is ample (1.40 x 1.40 x 1.40 meters) and can carry payload capacity of 1,000 kilograms.
Xenon was launched in Thailand last year and currently retails in South-East Asian markets and Europe. Xenon retails for $17,000 to $19,500 in Thailand. It has been positioned in the premium lifestyle segment in India.
The only model that comes close to this vehicle in India is Scorpio Getaway. But Xenon XT is better than the Scorpio Getaway in terms of looks and list of features.
It also has a higher ground clearance of 200 mm, an Approach angle of 24 degree, Ramp Break over Angle of 15 degree and the Departure angle of 21 degree. It also has a water wading depth of 300 mm.
Its higher ground clearance, high approach, ramp over, departure angles and the extra grip of the 4WD means you need not stop when the road ends. It is one cross terrain pick up that just doesn't compromise on drivability even while off-roading.
The limited slip differential mechanism enables the axle to provide traction where it's most needed so it never gets stuck.
Xenon XT carries a warranty of 2 years or 75000 kms (whichever is earlier) and will be retailed through 58 Tata Passenger Car dealerships across 39 cities to begin with. The Xenon is already being retailed in the overseas markets of Thailand, Algeria, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
It is available in 2 models in India:
- Xenon XT EX 4x2 - Rs. 7.62 lacs
- Xenon XT EX 4x4 - Rs. 8.58 lacs
Above prices are Ex-showroom New Delhi.
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