Although not all customers will be able to avail this offer because of limited availability of such test cars with Tata, but many serious customers may get this offer based of dealer’s or Tata’s discretion.

In an interaction with media, a spokesperson for Tata Motors quoted :

As part of the test-drive initiative, we are also inviting those who test drive to express interest on whether they would also like to keep a car for 15 days to get more acquainted with it.

Considering the backlog of the deliveries of Tata Nano yet to reach the first one lakh buyers, this is a bold step and also reflects the confidence and capability of Tata Nano’s Gujarat plant. The time is not far when Tata Nano Will Be Readily Available without any waiting or premium.

source- Business Line

The concept utilizes a highly sensitive radar sensor to monitor the distance from the vehicle in front and its relative speed.

When the system judges that deceleration is required, it alerts the driver using both a screen display and sound, then generates a force that pushes the accelerator pedal up and smoothly applies partial braking to assist the driver in slowing the vehicle down.

If the system judges that there is the possibility of a collision, it will automatically apply harder braking and tighten the driver’s seatbelt.

The new “Forward Collision Avoidance Assist Concept” detects the vehicle in front at an earlier stage and generates warnings so that the driver can take action to keep away from a high risk situation. Because the system is designed to help the driver decelerate smoothly, it is also expected to help reduce the risk of the vehicle being rear-ended by another vehicle approaching from behind.

Nissan is promoting the development of safety technologies as part of its “Safety Shield” concept, based on the idea that “vehicles help to protect people.” From the viewpoint that the driver is always the main subject of driving, Nissan places emphasis on assisting the driver intuitively through means such as visual and audio notifications.

source – Nissan

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What is Brake Override And How Brake Override Works

The down the line offering from Yamaha comprise of:

• Yamaha SZ 150
• Yamaha YBR 125
• New Refreshed Yamaha Fazer

Out of the three the SZ 150,sporting a 2-Valve 11BHP 1.04kgm torque unit, is the most significant as it will be only offering from Yamaha in the 150CC segment which will cost between Rs 55,000 to Rs 60,000, unlike the FZ-16 which is priced at over Rs 70,000 and its speculated that the bike will have sort alloy wheels and will have a longer wheelbase.

Joining over will be Yamaha YBR 125, with hopes to bring the YBR back in market and will compete with the Hero Honda Splendor and Bajaj Discover . It is also said that the new model of YBR will replace the YBR 110CC once it is launched.

Last but not the least the very dynamic Fazer will get an altogether refreshing makeover so as to be in the competition and we really hope these bikes do well and do not let the brand down.

New Delhi: General Motors India today concluded a line-up of several activities planned across its centres to commemorate the World Environment Day on June 5, 2010. GM India, an active agent of alternate mobility solutions, takes its commitment forward through several planned and ongoing key initiatives across the nation to engage with its stakeholders.

To celebrate World Environment Day, GM India held Free Pollution Check Campaigns at all its workshops and issued Free Pollution under Control (PUC) certificates, if the vehicle met the necessary emission requirements, in collaboration with SIAM. In order to engage its internal audience and spread the “Go Green” approach, several activities were organized by GM India. At GMI’s Technical Centre (GMTCI), a Walkathon was held in association with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Panel of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). This was a walk to spread awareness about a greener environment and maintain an ecological balance. In its plants in Halol and Talegaon, GMI undertook tree plantation drives in the premises, and quiz, banner, slogan and poster-making competitions for all staff members. Additionally, GM India sponsored the World Environment Day initiatives undertaken by Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda including All India Essay Competition, On the Spot Poster Competition and Seminar on Biodiversity Conservation for Green Economy.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr P Balendran, Vice-President, General Motors India, said, “World Environment Day is an important day to understand and educate environmental issues that our planet faces today. GM India is deeply committed to being an agent of change to reduce carbon footprint and adopt green technology, and has taken several steps to attain this. Be it LPG and CNG variants of our products, the EV technology we possess or the development of Jatropha for bio-diesel, GM India constantly strives towards safeguarding the environment and presenting consumers with options to be able to adopt alternate mobility solutions and environment-friendly technology.”

GM India has relentlessly endeavored to undertake initiatives and develop associations that have the ability to re-define how automotive companies in India work and to develop future mobility solutions keeping the carbon footprints and environmental issues in mind. In tandem with this, GM India has signed a five-year partnership with US Department of Energy and India’s Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) to develop Jatropha as a sustainable bio-fuel energy crop, reiterating the company’s commitment to green technology and alternative fuels. The partnership will also explore the development of new varieties of the plant that have high yields and can withstand adverse environmental conditions.  GM India will be ready to respond by introducing biodiesel-capable products with Jatropha proving commercially viable. GM India has also introduced Spark LPG and Aveo CNG in the market to offer wider portfolio and greener technology to its consumers.

New Delhi: General Motors India and Punjab National Bank have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide retail auto financing to all General Motors India. The agreement was signed by Mr. Ankush Arora, Vice President, Sales, Marketing & After Sales, General Motors India and Mrs Sudeshna Sharma, General Manager (Retail), Punjab National Bank.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ankush Arora said, “We are extremely pleased to partner with Punjab National Bank which is one the largest public sector bank in the country.  Its extensive reach across India will help our customers avail of loan facilities to buy our most sought after products. Low interest rates in addition to low processing charges are some of the many benefits which our customers can enjoy while availing of loan facilities of from PNB for financing of our vehicles.”

As per the MoU, Punjab National Bank will now provide retail financing to customers for purchase of GM India vehicles across the country. GM India in collaboration with Punjab National Bank will promote schemes to offer easy finance options to their customers by leveraging the pan India presence of Punjab National Bank. With a network of over 4,900 branches across the country, Punjab National Bank is one of the largest in India and has been growing rapidly since its inception. Recently, it has been ranked as one of the top ranking banks of international repute. 

It may be recalled that GM India had already signed agreements previously with several banks for financing of its vehicles.  The financing arrangements with the public sector banks are helping the company in providing auto loans in over 200 cities, where its customers and dealers are located.  Gearing up for a major drive to further consolidate its position in the automobile market, General Motors India has ramped up production by adding the second shifts at Halol and Talegaon plants recently to meet the increased demand of its products. The company is also rapidly expanding its sales and service network to support the market demand of its cars. It intends to take the network to 300 sales points and an equal number of authorized service outlets by the end of this year from the current 206 sales points and 200 authorized service outlets across the country.

March 11, 2010, Bangalore: General Motors India has showcased Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Cruze and the Chevrolet Beat at the International Auto Expo 2010, which opened in Bangalore today. The all muscle legendry Camaro SS and the newest offerings from Chevrolet India’s stable – Chevrolet Cruze and Chevrolet Beat, hold the centre stage at GM India’s stall the Expo.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President, General Motors India said, “Display of GM’s latest generation vehicles at the Auto Expo demonstrates and reiterates GM’s continued commitment to this market.  We brought these outstanding models to Bangalore to demonstrate our prowess in terms of technology, performance, latest design philosophy, and to seek local feedback on our products that we believe have long-term potential in the domestic market.”

GM India’s latest offerings from 300 series, Chevy Cruze and Beat, have received an overwhelming response from the market. GM India is now in the process of further ramping up its production by adding the third shift at its Halol plant and second shift at Talegaon plant to meet the increased demand of its products.  General Motors India has registered a record growth of 126 % in sales in February 2010, compared to the corresponding period last year by selling 11,111 units, recording its highest ever sales since inception . In addition, the company is also rapidly expanding   its sales and service network to 300 locations across the country by the end of this year from the present 206 outlets to support the market demand of its cars.

Camaro

The New Chevrolet Camaro combines great looks and performance; advanced technology and surprising efficiency. The 2010 Camaro honours its heritage while delivering on customer expectations of a sports coupe for the 21st century. The all new Camaro was created to meet that mission. It was developed by an international team of designers and engineers who made sure that it was 21st century on entry level.

With a design almost mirroring the original concept and paying homage to the first generation model, the 2010 Camaro acknowledges its heritage and features classic proportions over its 2,852 mm wheelbase. The aerodynamic qualities are not compromised by the Camaro’s muscular stance, and drag co-efficient is kept low, due to a long hood and short deck. Designed to compete with the best in the world, a state of the art fully independent suspension system gives the 2010 Camaro a very light and nimble feel.

The SS model is equipped with a 6.2L V8 pumping out a 462 hp at 6400 rpm and 609 Nm at 4800 rpm of torque. Indeed, the surprising fuel efficiency of the new Camaro enhances the driving experience.  The Camaro offers a comprehensive system of safety features including the use of high strength and ultra high-strength steel in key areas throughout the structure.  A comprehensive 8 air bag system, safety belt load limiters and front passenger air-bag deployment suppression detection systems combine to ensure safety too is high on the agenda for Camaro.

Chevy Beat

Sexy, Smart & Tough – New Global mini car is the key pillar of Chevrolet’s growth strategy in India. Based on GM’s global mini-vehicle architecture, experts took 27 months to develop the Beat. With its best-in-segment design, performance and safety, the Beat is destined to become an industry benchmark and a winner among consumers in India.   The Beat is a car that is ideal for those with a modern lifestyle.  With the styling of a sporty hatchback, it showcases the new direction of Chevrolet design and a new trend in the design of mini-cars.

The Beat comes with a new generation Smart-TEC II 1.2L engine delivering a class leading 80.5ps and an exceptionally high fuel efficiency of 18.6kmpl per ARAI tests.

There is liberal use of High Strength and Ultra-High Strength Steel in the body of Chevrolet Beat. It is also offered with host of active and passive safety features like Dual Airbags, Seatbelts with Load Limiters, ABS and Tubeless Tyres. In fact, the Chevrolet Beat has already received high Star ratings in the Euro NCAP tests.

The Beat also offers some segment first luxury features like Automatic Climate Control and Tilt Steering. An integrated rear spoiler is also standard which adds style and also improves the aerodynamics of the car enabling better fuel efficiency.

The Beat comes in three trim levels: 1.2, 1.2LS and 1.2LT. In addition to this there is an Option pack available on LT that consists of ABS, Alloy wheels, Dual Airbags and Seatbelts with Load limiters.

Chevy Cruze

The Cruze is the result of a development process that fully harnessed GM’s expertise.  It is the first of a new family of global products from GM that delivers world class quality. It is also one of the key drivers of the global expansion of Chevrolet. The Cruze has received excellent market response since its launch in the last quarter of 2009.  The auto Journalists in India who had test driven the vehicle have rated it as the best in its segment for its unique product attributes, and it has won several awards.

It is backed by the highest scores in major crash safety ratings.  The Chevrolet Cruze has also recently received the maximum five-star rating in European New Car Assessment Program (ENCAP) rating,after winning 5 star ratings in Australian and China NCAP. The latest feather in Chevrolet Cruze’s cap is its selection as a finalist in the reputed ‘World Car of the Year’ Award.

The Cruze is all about value, refinement and power-packed diesel performance combined with an array of unique features. And with the Automatic transmission option the Cruze offers everything any discerning Indian car buyer could want in a Sedan at a price point that represents uncontestable value for money.

These two bikes only address to 150CC segment and to make people believe in the company’s capability, it recently announced the launch of Yamaha SZ 125CC bike and the latest news is that prior to the SZ launch, this major has launched Yamaha SS125, a 125CC bike which is meaner, sportier and stylish and is very impressive when it comes to performance.

Yamaha SS125 Technical Specifications

• Engine
  • Engine type:Air cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC
  • Cylinder layout:Forward-inclined single cylinder
  • Displacement:123cc
  • Bore & Stroke:54.0 x 54.0 mm
  • Compression ratio:10.0:1
  • Maximum output:11 PS/7500 rpm (8 KW@7500rpm)
  • Maximum torque:10.4 Nm/6,500 rpm
  • Lubrication system:Wet sump
  • Fuel supply:Carburettor
  • Starting method:Electric starter and kickstarter
  • Clutch type:Wet, multiple-disc
  • Ignition type:CDI
  • Transmission type:5-gear Constant mesh
  • Primary/Secondary reduction ratio:Prim r = 68/20 (3.400); sec r = 45/14 (3.214)
  • Gear ratios:1st – 33/11 (3.000) 2nd – 32/18 (1.778) 3rd – 25/19 (1.316) 4th – 23/22 (1.045) 5th – 21/24 (0.875)
• Chassis
  • Frame type:Diamond tubular type
  • Suspension (front/rear):Telescopic fork, Swingarm
  • Brake type (front/rear):Disk, drum
  • Tyre size (front/rear):2.75-18.4PR, 3.00-18.6PR
  • Battery:12V-5AH
  • Caster/Trail:26.0 degree/90.0 mm
  • Headlight :12V 35/25W Halogen bulb
• Dimensions
  • Overall length x width x height :1995 x 730 x 1110 mm
  • Seat height:795 mm
  • Wheelbase:1,295 mm
  • Minimum ground clearance:155 mm
  • With oil and fuel:125 kg
  • Fuel tank capacity:13.6 litres
  • Engine oil volume:1 litres
• Fuel Consumption
  • The SS125 is expected to deliver a mileage of 70KM/L

Yamaha SS125 Features

• Yamaha Throttle Position Sensor (YTPS)
• Ergonomically designed for Riders
• Sporty Tachometer
• Lightweight Aluminum wheels
• Front Disc Brakes
• High Flow Air Filter
• Du metal Front Fork for Smoother Shock Absorption
• Convenient Retractable Footrest
• Sport Inspired Engine Crowl
• Dynamic Sporty Graphics
• Machine Gun Type Muffler

Yamaha SS125 Available Colors

The bike is available in two colors, Black X Red and Blue X Black

Yamaha SS125 Price In India

The bike is seen to come with a price tag falling between Rs 50,000 to Rs 54,000.

For the scooters the market is becoming more and more competitive and Bajaj certainly needs to consider the existing scooters from Mahindra like the Rodeo, Flyte and Duro and TVS Wego. Coming to the motorcycle segment again the brand has to think a couple of times before launching its new 300CC pulsar since the bike will definitely get an aggressive response from other manufacturers.

Specifications Of Bajaj Pulsar 300CC

Apart from the 300CC 4-Valve heart, the new pulsar is speculated to feature sporty looks, seat saddle, dual disc brakes , mono shock absorber and a few more appealing addons. Its also said that Kawasaki initially proposed the design for the new pulsar but Bajaj seems to be working on making it more acceptable for the Indian customers.

Price Of Bajaj Pulsar 300CC

Since the bike will cross the 300CC mark it should come with a price tag falling between Rs 1 – Rs 1.5 Lakh and if it stays below the 1 Lakh rupee mark then the company’s effort will be highly appreciated.

source

In this article, I will share all the available Specification, Features and Price details as available from various sources right now. I will update this information for completeness as soon as the official updates are received.

New Maruti Alto K10 Specifications Vs Old Maruti Alto

• Bigger 1000 CC MPFI Petrol Engine compared to previous Alto’s 800 CC Engine
• More Power – Max Power – 67 BHP @6200 ROM compared to previous Alto’s 46 BHP max power
• Max Torque  90Nm @ 3500 RPM compared to old Alto’s max torque of 62 Nm @3000 RPM
• 5 Speed Manual Transmission with cable shift compared to previous Alto’s Lever Shift mechanism
• Fuel Mileage of 20.2 KMPL as per ARAI testing compared to previous Alto’s 19.73 KMPL
• Length 3620mm, compared to earlier Alto’s Length of 3495mm.
• 13 Inch Wheels compared to earlier 12 inch wheels
• Power steering as standard feature
• Booster Assisted Power Brakes

New Maruti Alto K10 Features Vs Old Maruti Alto

• New Style Hood
• New Crystal Eagle Eye Headlamps
• New Front Grille
• New Bumper Design
• Body Colored Bumper
• New Dual Tone Interiors
• Improved Mileage
• Fog Lamps
• Side Moldings
• Wheel Covers
• New Stylish tail lamps
• Three Spoke Steering Wheel
• Integrated headrest in front seats
• Amber illuminated speedometer
• Tachometer / RPM Meter
• Electronic trip meter
• Internally adjustable ORVM
• Key reminder
• Remote boot opener
• Central locking
• Power windows
• Rear parcel tray
• Accessory socket
• Remote fuel lid opener
• Power Steering

New Maruti Alto K10 Variants And Colour Options

The new Alto will be available in two variants:

• Maruti Alto K10 Lxi
• Maruti Alto K10 Vxi

The colour options on Maruti Alto K10 will be as follows :

• Midnight Black
• Ecru Beige
• Fire Brick Red
• Superior White
• Silky Silver
• Blue Blaze

New Maruti Alto K10 On Road Price In India

The on road price of new Maruti Alto K10 is expected to be about Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000 more compared with the existing Alto. This means an approximate on road price in Delhi starting Rs. 3.3 Lakhs or so which is very lucrative price for a car with so many features and a long legacy and repute with Indian customers.

We will update this article with more information as soon as any official information is released.

Updates 29th July 2010

Some more pictures from Indonesia International Motor Show 2010

image credit – Kompas | Otomotif | detik oto

Moving a step ahead for providing better comfort, Nissan has announced its “Health & Well-Being” Concept which has been designed to give the driver and passengers a comfortable in-car environment in order to make the ride more convenient and aims at providing, 1) A comfortable posture and thermal environment to help improve blood circulation and 2) Good cabin air quality for improved health.

“Life On Board” is a strategic technology of which the “Health & Well-Being” Concept,is a very small part and is described in five different steps which are:-

• Getting into the vehicle
• Preparing to drive
• Driving
• Arriving at the destination and
• Getting out

This broader term focuses creating an ideal in-car environment by considering three very significant areas of comfort:-

• A cockpit designed for easy driving
• Cabin comfort and
• A well-made interior

The Life On Board technology through a vast research conducted, has helped the brand in several ways including “Intelligent Control Display,” an easy-to-use versatile multi-function information system coming with the Nissan Juke; the “Forest AC” air conditioning system introduced on the Nissan FUGA designed to recreate the environment of natural forests; improvements to the quality and texture of interior materials.

Comfortable Captain Seats

This new design has incorporated three new technologies simultaneously:-

• Seat cushion-integrated leg rest – Maintains a relaxed and Stress free posture
• Articulated seatback – Maintains the  muscular force around backbone close to zero gravity
• Three-layered cushion pads – For greater comfort in various seating postures

Advanced Climate Control System

This new system controls three related devices with one switch:-

• Plasmacluster Ions generator – Helps keep the skin naturally moisturized
• Inside/outside air control
• The grape polyphenol clean air filter

Quick Comfort Seat Heater

This new technology is designed to optimize heating density and control which is the outcome of the study conducted in a joint program with Professor Yutaka Tochihara of Kyushu University Faculty of Design,based on human temperature sensitivity.

In the above picture the heater first warms the area covering the buttocks and thighs and once the temperature becomes stable the time for a person to feel warm is reduced by atleast 35 % and brings a longer sense of comfort.

All these technologies together provide a ride unlike any other technology in the world and we really wish to see other majors working on similar projects in the near future.