Ford’s soon to be launched Figo has specks of the Kinetic Design used on modern day Fords. The video above gives you an idea of the interiors and how gracefully the car moves on the road.
Archive for January, 2010
Wonder if Mahindra will launch the Xylo panel van in India
The Mahindra Xylo panel van was launched in South Africa earlier this month. Mahindra also offers the Xylo passenger variant with similar equipment found on the Indian variant.
Powered by a 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine producing 112hp of power and 240 Nm of torque.The panel van measures the same as the passenger version and has a turning circle of 5.4m.
A wire mesh seperates the driver and passenger from the cargo. The front seat comfort remains the same. Mahindra also offers a lockable storage space under the driver’s seat. The driver’s seat can be adjusted for height and steering wheel can also be adjusted for rake.
The cargo variant comes with air conditioning, power steering, electric windows and an immobiliser.
Mahindra Xylo 2.5 CRDe E2 Panel Van costs R164 900 (roughly 10 lakh rupees).
The Chinese SAIC van could be the Maruti Eeco slayer
While GM is busy working out how it will sell SAIC’s commercial vehicles in India under an entirely new setup, the Chinese company is performing harsh testing on products that will land in India next year. Spotted here is the CN100 MPV being put through its paces on ice.
The Chinese MPVs will be sold under a new brand in India. GM will produce the vans and trucks in its Talegaon plant. The engines will also be manufactured locally. The final price is expected to be very competitive to some of the Tatas, Mahindras and Marutis.
GM could price the CN100 close to the recently launched Maruti Eeco. Around 2.8 lakh rupees for the base model sounds like a bargain for such a big vehicle which looks better from all angles. We also expect GM to introduce a new line of diesel engines for the SAIC vans.
click through for spy shots
Banger racing is a popular form of racing in the United Kingdom. It is like any other form of racing you’re used to. The concept is the winner is one who takes the checkered flag, except for one difference – You try and deliberately knock off your opponents on your way to the finish line. Injuries and deaths have been reported in this type of racing in the past. Not surprising.
While Banger racing is conducted using scrap cars and bunch of dudes who have nothing much to do in life, it is not often you see a new Hyundai i10 taking part in such an event.
In the latest edition of Car Dealer magazine, you will.
It is not clear if the bloke who took a new Hyundai i10 to the banger racing circuit was a dealer, but what’s he’s done to it is a sight not for the faint hearted. The bumpers have come off, the headlights disappeared. It is not clear if some of the components were removed prior to the race but nevertheless that car looks like it was run over by a tank.
You have to see this to believe it. The owner says wind and gradient could have played a role. He says it is a stock i10 with no upgrades. The only way to verify this is to head to the Autobahn and find out.
Dr.Wilfried Aulbur poses with the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Desert Gold at Auto Expo
India might be a developing country, but its developing pretty rapidly both in terms of knowledge of supercars and wealth. Here’s proof -
Mercedes Benz has said it found a buyer in Rajasthan for the 2-crore rupee SLS AMG model which it showcased at the Auto Expo earlier this month. The SLS, which comes only as a left-hand-drive model, will soon be manufactured so that people driving on the wrong side of the road can also buy one.
The SLS was developed by AMG, Mercedes Benz’ performance division as a spiritual successor to the 300SL. When I asked Dr.Wilfried Aulbur (Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India) during the launch of the new Mercedes E-Class if he’s contemplating on bringing it here back in September last year, he said “let’s see.”
It was a random thought. I didn’t have anything else to ask him. I read that day in one of the websites that Ferrari and Maserati are planning an assault in India. I thought the SLS could be a possible alternative.
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Traffic is the worst enemy to driving. Here’s how you could make it easier
Cities like Delhi and Mumbai are becoming more and more congested and that means you’ve got to drive for longer time to cover the same distance. The worst part is negotiating traffic as the level of driving difficulty increases. You become stressed, you are prone loose your temper and when you reach home, you have a grin on your face.
Here are a few tips which we thought would make the ride home marginally better -
1) Plan your route
I know a lot of people who don’t plan their journey and get stuck in traffic. There could be a hundred routes to your destination but you there are only few worth considering. Plan your journey in advance so that you have a clear mind and know where exactly you want to go. This method exposes you to lesser anxiety and confusion.
2) Listen to the radio for traffic updates
There are some radio stations which air traffic conditions in frequently used roads and intersections at certain times of the day. If you can get a tip, then you could switch to an alternate route or leave work late.
3) Position your mirrors
I know a lot of people who leave home and half way through the journey they reach out to the passenger’s mirror and adjust it. Once they reach a congested lane, they adjust their in-cabin mirror. This is a practice you should avoid. By adjusting your mirrors to the comfortable position, you get better visibility in traffic and avoid the risk of an accident.
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The Zotye 2008 EV is four times more efficient than the petrol model
The Premier Rio, which is sold under the Zotye brand in China is about to be introduced as an Electric Vehicle. The Zotye 2008 EV will be introduced by the end of this month at a price tag of US $16,000.
The Zotye SUV is a essentially a reworked 1st generation Daihatsu Terios. It was offered in China only with a petrol engine. Premier sources the vehicle’s CKDs from China, assembles it at the Pune facility with a 1.5-liter diesel engine and markets it as the Premier Rio.
According to Zotye, the 2008 has silent operation, emits no pollutants and makes use of L-Ion battery pack which can be charged even at a household socket. The motor generates 27KW and on a single charge, the car can travel up to 300km.
The SUV can also reach a respectable top speed of 110kph. Compared to the petrol model, the EV is four to five times more economical.
Zotye is also planning to introduce this vehicle in London as the city offers many benefits for EV operators.
