1. A turbocharger doesn’t increase the power output and efficiency of a car directly. The turbocharger just increases the efficiency of the engine.
2. A turbocharger consists of a turbine to use the pressure of the exhaust gases to drive an air-compressor which increases the density of air going into the engine cylinder which essentially means more oxygen is pumped into the engine and hence the fuel burns better and more efficiently.
3. Turbo lag is the time taken for the turbocharger to reach speeds above which it can work effectively. Turbo lag is reduced by the use of VGTs (Variable Geometry Turbochargers). In a VGT the aspect ratio or vane angle of the turbine can be altered according to the engine speeds.
4. A turbocharged engine should be idled for 15 seconds before switching off the engine so that turbochargers runs at lower exhaust gas temperatures for some time and the lubrication oil supply is not abruptly cut-off.
5. The first car to use a turbocharger was General Motors’ Oldsmobile Cutlass in 1962. The first bike to come with a turbocharger was the 1978 Kawasaki Z1R TC. The turbocharger boosted the bikes power output from 90 hp to 105 hp.
If there is one segment which is going to be at the helm of the battles in the Indian auto industry, it is without a shadow of doubt the Sport utility vehicles segment where a slew of new entrants are polishing their swords. The newest car manufacturer to join, or should I say re-join the bandwagon is Hyundai who will launch the much awaited Santa Fe SUV in India as a CBU.
The Korean auto manufacturer which sells its hatchbacks and sedans is aiming to grab a decent share in the SUV segment with the very capable Santa Fe. The vehicle will be brought into India through the CBU route and the pricing should be between 20 and 25 lakh rupees.
Hyundai Motor India Managing Director H W Park -
We will bring the Santa Fe in India in the last quarter to expand our product portfolio in the country
Hyundai offered the earlier generation Tucson in India, but found little success. There were no upgradations to the vehicle, which managed single digit sales despite its proven track record globally.
Hyundai could use a 2.2-liter CRDi diesel engine that’s tuned for 150hp. The 5-speed manual gearbox is the logical choice for the entry-level model. Based on the response, Hyundai could think of introducing automatic transmissions and more powerful variants in the future.
Entry posted on July 13, 2010 by
Naveen;
Read More on Toyota
Toyota India would be launching the Corolla Altis diesel in India on July 21st. The diesel version of the Toyota Corolla has been awaited for many years and the Corolla diesel would take the fight right to the doorstep of competitors like the Chevrolet Cruze,Skoda Laura and Volkswagen Jetta.
The Toyota Corolla Altis diesel is expected to be powered by a 4-cylinder common rail 1.4 liter D-4D engine that comes with a VGT (Variable geometry turbocharger). The small and efficient diesel wouldn’t exactly be scorcher as it would produce only 89 hp and 190 Nm of torque. However the strength of Corolla’s diesel engine isn’t its power output but its efficiency, smoothness and driveability.
The Toyota Corolla Altis diesel is said to be extremely efficient and capable of returning up to 21 kmpl. it would be interesting to see how the Indian car buyers react to the Corolla Altis diesel, would they go for the civilized and efficient Altis or would they still opt for the Chevrolet Cruze’s raw power.
Prices for the Corolla Altis diesel is expected to start at about 12.75 lakh Rupees for the G variant and could go up to 15 lakhs for the VL variant.
VW India has started taking bookings for the 1.6-liter petrol Polo in India. An initial amount of 50,000 rupees is all you have to bring to the table to drive home one this festive season.
The Polo 1.6 was on display at the VW stall during the Auto Expo in January. The 1.6-liter engine develops 103.5bhp of power and 15.6 kgm of torque. It is at least three seconds quicker to the 100kph mark and has a mind-boggling top speed of 184kph.
If you’re not impressed with the pricing of the Polo, then you should take a look at the Race Polo body kit which should transform your 1.2 Polo into one fierce VW hatchback.
The number of cars fitted with start-stop systems in the world by 2015, according to the Yano Research Institute in Japan. In 2009, only 900,000 cars were fitted with this fuel saving technology.
Start-stop system shouldn’t be confused with button start in cars like Nissan Micra. Start-stop is an electro-mechanical device which sends the engine into hibernation if it idles for very long, thereby saving fuel when you’re still at the traffic lights.
Vehicles like the Mahindra Scorpio, Bolero, Tata Super Ace come with start-stop technology in India.
Entry posted on July 13, 2010 by
Naveen;
Read More on Fiat
Fiat has given the Linea a makeover in the Argentinian market. The new updated Fiat Linea sedan gets new optional features that include 17″ wheels, beige leather interiors and trim.
The Fiat Linea sedan has been doing well in India thanks to its graceful looks, excellent equipment levels and competitive pricing. The Linea is an excellent product and can’t really dethrone the segment leader Honda City because of a two important reasons, quality issues and underwhelming petrol engines.
Fiat would soon be launching the Linea T-Jet with a turbocharged 1.4 liter petrol engine pumping out hp and 206 Nm of torque. This engine is known for its raw power delivery and this incredibly powerful motor can propel the Linea from 0 to 100kmph in just 9.2 seconds.
Fiat could be launching the Linea T-Jet by August 2010 and could offer leather interiors and bigger wheels on the new version. Fiat could also be looking to launch the updated Linea with an automatic transmission.
With the Volkswagen Vento all set to be launched by October 2010, the Fiat Linea would be seriously in trouble if Fiat can’t prep it up soon enough. The Hyundai Verna Transform has been launched and the refreshed Hyundai does look promising and could get the cash registers ringing for Hyundai again.
Our reader Prakash has dug out a Japanese commercial of the Suzuki Alto (A-Star) tall-boy, which is exclusive to the Japanese market. Suzuki has not expressed any intention to sell this car anywhere other than the Japanese market. Offered both 2WD and 4WD options, prices range from 677,250 yen to 1,157,100 yen (3.53 to 6.04 lakh rupees)
Do you think the tall-boy model will be a suitable replacement for the ailing A-Star in India?
