Indian Autos blog

Reliable sources online say the next generation Nissan March/Micra comes with a 1,000cc engine that uses both a supercharger and turbocharger! We don’t know how they can sell it as a budget hatch if they couple both the compressors to a new engine with dual injection technology.

Could the technology filled SI engine trigger a revolution in the auto industry? Or will it make things easier for the i10 and A-Star by leaving them with no opposition to face?

According to the report, the Micra/March would come with a total of three engines -

- HR10DD – 1,000 cc – Naturally Aspirated, for the entry level model

- HR10DDT – 1,000 cc -Supercharger + Turbocharger

- HR12DD – 1,200 cc – output would be between 90-110 horsepower

Our close follower from Korea, Park, emailed us an official shot of the upcoming Hyundai Tucson/ix35. The newest crossover from the Hyundai stable was photographed last week in Australia while Ad filming.

The new Tucson could be the first car from Hyundai to feature a double clutch six speed transmission. The ix35 represents a charismatic departure from the older car and it will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Show next month.

Some of you would have already come across the story on the Suzuki Zen Estilo undergoing a make over and on the 23rd this month according to reports, would be in dealer showrooms. The Zen Estilo could receive new headlamps, the grill will be changed and so will be its engine.

The new engine will be none other than the rev-friendly 3-pot unit from the A-Star. Christened K-Series, the new engine promises a great deal, hinting at changing the Estilo’s attitude entirely. Maruti is also rumored to have dropped the Zen name from its badge, which some say was the cause of this model’s unsatisfactory showing. Whatever the naming convention followed, the K-Series engine could lend it a new lease of life.

Now lets come to the difficult part, things we like and dislike in the City.

What we like on the New City-

1. The i-VTEC engine, very refined and agile (2nd gear does 100kmph)
2. Short throw gear box a pleasure to use aided with the longer gear ratios.
3. USB dock is exactly where it should be and not in the glove box as the Linea.
4. Excellent seating height.
5. Sporty looks and dominating chiseled edges on the exteriors.
6. ABS and airbags standard on all variants.
7. Top notch handling aided with the improved EPS.
8. A few of the parts are carried over from the Civic’s bin.
9. Sensible use of space.
10. Excellent build quality, the car we tested had done 11k kms and not a single vibration or noise was heard, it even had the new car scent inside.
11. Very sweet sounding horn.

Which brings us to things we did not like on the New City-

1. Fog lamps absent and no provision on the bumpers to even fit them
2. Tyre size a bit narrow for a car in this segment.
3. Retractable or self folding mirrors absent.
4. The exhaust note could have been a bit more noisier – a personal choice
5. Rear headrests are not adjustable.
6. No rear bottle holders on the door panel.
7. No rear map pockets behind the driver seat.
8. 60-40 split seats missing.
9. Stereo is great but the speakers could have been better.
10. Glove box has no cooling nor light within.
11. No CD player!! I initially thought Honda were playing a trick on us by giving a media vehicle without it.

Suspension -

The New City has an MacPherson Strut with stabilizer, coil spring in the front and torsion beam axle with stabilizer, coil spring setup at the rear.

We drove on the city roads and on the highways in the ratio of 60-40 before we came to a conclusion that the New City is able enough to handle the highways better than the city. At low speeds, over pot holes, a lot of noise filters into the cabin, and due to the harder suspension, the thuds are sometimes irritating.

On the smoother highways, the suspension works like a charm. It felt like the suspension had been swapped as we passed city limits!

What we also discovered after a brief research is the Indian City has 10-15mm more ground clearance compared to its South Asian Citys. The high seating is an added advantage over the older generations.

click on the title to read the full report

This is a short video which we made during our outing with the A4 3.2 FSI a few weeks back (links 1 2 3 4 5). We’re still suffering from the withdrawal symptoms.

Click here to jump over to the gallery of A4 photographs taken during dusk and night.

This is an article that explains to the common man some of the basic details regarding an essential part of their motorcycle – the Tyre

Tubed and Tubeless Tyres

In simple terms, tyres which have tube in it are called tubed tyres and the ones which don’t are called tubeless tyres.

But there is more to this than what has been just said as each type of tyre is made for a particular kind of usage. For example, a tubed tyre might not be suitable for high speeds as it generates more heat than the tubeless tyre. In case there is a sudden puncture they are more dangerous as the tyre could free itself from the rim. The tubeless tyre is more suitable for high speeds and in case of a puncture there are less chances of an accident as the tyre fits more tightly on to the rim than a tubed one.

Tubed tyres along with their spoked rims can also handle tough off road conditions better than alloy wheels. One of the advantages with tubeless tyres is that the puncture can be repaired very easily without actually taking off the tyre except in the case of a puncture on the side wall.

click on the post title to read more

Answer to the previous question – Mitsubishi Outlander

Winners - Nishant Lakhina, ahamed, sibu, Aj, Aseef, Jishnu Sasidharan V , Naveen s, Fiat Fan, Shoeb, Adithya Arikere, Aditya Prakash, modifii, Vivek Shukla, Hapinder Harry

Today’s Question – Behind the girls and the red cover, what do you see?

Click on the title of the post, and then fill in your answers in the comment box below. Come back tomorrow to check whether you’ve guessed correctly along with another challenge.