CONTENTS
DC DESIGN & DC AVANTI PAGE 3
SWIFT DZIRE PAGE 10 FORD ECO SPORT 15 RENAULT PULSE
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CADILLAC LA SALLE
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F1 NEWS 43 MUMBAI GALLERY 45
INSIDE! INDIA AUTO NEWS
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NIGHT VIEW ASSIST
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DEEPLY DISMANTLED
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VOLKSWAGEN JETTA
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FORD FIESTA
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CARMA. CORNER
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FEATURES CARMA. NEWS
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CARMA. TIPS
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GADGET ZONE
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READER’S CORNER
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CARMA. QUIZ
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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3
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PUBLICITY CORRESPONDENTS ABISHEK ANANTH RUCHIRA SURESH JANANI VENKATESH DHANYA RAMASWAMY DHEERAJ MURRAMSHETTI A ADARSH SRIRAM MURALI R K KAILASH AVINASH RAJENDRAN AHAMED RASMI NANDAKIRAN KALPANA RAMESH AJEETHA RAMACHANDRAN We would like to thank
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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3
THE CORE TEAM VIGNESH VENKATAKRISHNAN RAMAKRISHNAN
PRAVEEN SRIKANTH ANJAN RAVI ARAVIND VENKATAKRISHNAN RAGHAVAN RAVI SAI SRINIVASAN ARVIND RAMANATHAN SHREYAS HANDE SWATHI SATHYAJITH SAISRIDHAR
OOPS!! In the previous issue we printed the name of the photographer for the Bugatti section wrong. It is Ali Sufiyan Hussain. Sorry!!
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DC DESIGN
here are certain people we look up to during different stages of our life. It generally begins with a superhero like Batman, Spidey or Captain America and it gradually moves to rock stars or film stars and then to mentors at work and so on and so forth.
fix. Even the politicians then-popular commuter was not spared, as DC made a radical change to the ever reliable Ambassador. They made an even more radical and cooler version again, a few years ago called the Ambi-Rod.
However, for every car enthusiast from India, the Now, here’s a fact I’m sure you wouldn’t know. Rememsuperhero begins and ends with one person - Dilip ber the Aston Martin Vanquish from James Bond’s Die Another Day? Guess who made the first protoChhabria! type of that? DC…! And another fact… there was a Simply referred to as DC, he has changed the mean- Bollywood movie - Tarzan: The Wonder Car released ing of the term “vehicle modification” in the recent in 2004 featured a car which is a DC design. Ok, true years. I can’t tell you how enthusiastic I am just writ- the movie bombed… but then, it’s the car that made ing this article. When the topic of Automotive Design the 120 bucks worth the trip… is broached upon, Pininfarina is to Italy what DC is DC has embarked upon its most important and sigto India. nificant car, which im sure you all would have heard DC, having studied Transportation Design from of. The Avanti as it would be called, will be India’s first the renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasa- supercar and the talking point of this car is of course dena, California, USA, started his career with General - the 30 lakh price tag. That’s nearly equal to a price Motors USA in the year 1983 in their Design Centre of an Audi A4!!! About the car, well… the design is department. A year later, he came back to India and pretty slick and has the road presence that only few set up his automotive accessories business, which is cars can manage. A Ford-tuned 2000cc EcoBoost entoday the largest accessory manufacturing outfit in gine is expected to power the car with a Honda V6 as a the country. Not satisfied with just providing the best later addition. 0-100kmph will be dealt with in under accessories for a car, DC Design was founded in 1993 7 seconds thanks to a low light weight frame. with the purpose of creating one-of-a-kind automotives and offering design services to the automobile Modifying your car once and it will slowly become an addiction. It’s like how people nowadays get an exclubiggies. sive skin or cover for their iPhone for the sole purIt all began in the early 2000’s. The Indian Auto In- pose of exclusivity. Yeah sure, there are about 200,000 dustry was upcoming at a slow rate and it was still the Zens running about. But, a totally modified 2-Door time of the Zen and the Esteem. Tata was the other version? DC didn’t stop at cars. They did vanity vans car maker which sold the popular Safari and the ever- for film stars and busses too and boy did they do one green Sierra. Yes… The Tata Sierra… How many of hell of a job. Im sure Shah Rukh Khan and Sanjay Dutt you actually remember this car? Its unique design (for will couch for that… The series was called the LexIndia at least) certainly did set it apart. But why are we tran DC and these were basically Volvo B7R intercity discussing it in the same breath as we speak about DC busses with radical interiors and exteriors. You would Design? Well, it was the first car to be designed and have noticed how I’ve used the word ‘Radical’ so many produced in India… and… and… it also paved way times. That’s because that the only word I can come up to summarize DC. Cool and awesome sound amafor the Arya Concept Vehicle. teurish. Radical on the other hand, is not! The Sierra sparked off a long list of modified designs based on Indian cars which we would see from DC. Kudos to DC for the first supercar and hope to see more zipping up and down the Indian roads….
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INDIA’S FIRST SUPER CAR
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f I were to mention the word Pizza or Spaghetti, your brain is probably going to associate it with Italy. Actually, the Italians are a lucky lot; they make good food, have an excellent mafia and they are second to none in the business of going fast and looking good a.k.a Sports cars. So, we really can’t blame anyone when they cannot associate India with sports cars. I mean, we’re the least sports car friendly country to begin with given the situation we have going with our roads and traffic discipline and road rage and I can keep going on and on. However, all that is about to change soon. Hopefully. The DC Avanti is like Nargis Fakhri: She was unheard of and all of a sudden she dominates computer wall papers, screen savers and what not. I don’t think anyone had even the slightest clue that DC would be unveiling a sports car concept at the Auto Show. We thought they would be showcasing a radically
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modified Tata Nano or a Maruti Swift which has lasers instead of wipers. But no, they are giving us what could possibly be India’s first home made Sports Car! Forgive me for approaching this with much skepticism but I guess anyone in my position would. Without any further ado, lets get straight to the Avanti! The most important factors are obviously going to be looks and performance. Unfortunately, no one can, at this time at least, answer that second question. All we know is there is going to be a 2 liter Ford EcoBoost engine with possible tuning for better performance. A V6 Honda could also be offered but its not certain. The Ford engine could possibly deliver in excess of 260bhp with the Honda having a more heady 394bhp. Given the extensive use of aluminium with which the car is built, it would weigh no more than say a Skoda Superb. Which means that the engine would provide adequate power. DC claims that the car would
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CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED hit 100kph from standstill in less than 7 seconds. The Skoda Laura 1.8TSi takes 8 while a diesel powered Audi A4 3.0 takes 6! So, this car is definitely not going to be the epitome of straight line performance. There is still no information on who is designing the suspension so I can’t answer if the car would be good to drive. Now coming back to the first question of design. The Avanti does stand out in design and it does look radical. Some may call it cool while others may think of it as a fussy styled car. There is too much of detailing going on and you sort of get the impression that it represents different cars throughout its structure. Lets say Ferrari and Lamborghini were two flavors of ice cream available. If you order a mix or a combo, the Avanti is the result of it. My personal opinion would be so: The car makes a genuine attempt to look good. However, the designers have gone a little bit overboard. This could be good also. When the M&M XUV was launched, I had the same impression; the reception it received though was very good and it goes to show that Indian people like that fussy styling. Based on that same logic, the Avanti could work as well.
India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3 usual array of safety equipment like airbags, ABS and TCS. The car would be having a six speed manual transmission with an option of automatic later on. Again, my crystal ball predicts this: The car would have a long list of features. Build quality however, will not be the best. As I said, crystal ball, so I could be wrong as well and I hope that DC proves me wrong. Finally the price. DC says 30lakhs and I think thats quite decent. They plan on making 200 cars initially per annum and later increasing that to 2000. There will certainly be takers for the Avanti at this price and given that its India’s only Sports Car! Good luck DC!
Now for features and standard kit you can expect the
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THE NEWS
THE MARUTI SUZUKI SWIFT DZIRE
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stand at a distance and watch the eager eyes of my neighbors who are excited about laying their hands on their new car-the new swift dzire. Bliss is what I see in their eyes - the emotion that you experience when you finally acquire what you really dzire. Yes, I’m pretty sure you all might know about the Maruti Swift. Yeah, the same car which youngsters customize and fantasize that they’re driving a Ford mustang .They will eventually grow up. I hope.
facet is the auto speed based volume control and the I-pod connectivity.
Let’s now get to the detail which interests everybody -the mileage. The certified fuel efficiency for the new K-12 M VVT engine is around 19.1 kmpl which is 6.7% better than the previous one. The D13A Intercooler turbocharger DDis engine’s efficiency is up by 7.8% and stands at 23.4kmpl. The acceleration from 0 to 100kmph of the petrol and diesel versions is 12.6 s Alright, let’s get to business. Well, the new swift dzire and 14.8 s respectively. is the second version that has come out in less than six months and reportedly having 150 new traits bet- There are certain safety features too in the dzire; it ter than its predecessor. It is taller, wider and obvi- is not just eye candy. The car is now stronger with ously compact, with a larger wheel base. The capital monocoque exterior and increased tensional rigidity. that was invested in these changes amounts to INR The braking is easier now with additional brake assist, 230 crores. Heads up, the new Dzire now seems to be electronic brake force distribution and Engine drag control system. To add to this, the doors get unlocked an uptown girl! by themselves in case of an accident. Other mentionIt now boasts a multi-layered dashboard with waterfall able traits are the active safety features, including new console. The steering wheel design is contemporary generation ELR seat belts, Font dual SRS airbags in and helps you stay ahead of times. The seats are high top end variants and the new generation ABS which grade and plush fabric and, offer multi information is the lightest and smallest in its category. Maruti has display for all variants - not just for those that require also introduced the Car locator feature and the Dzire you to shell out extra thousands. Another interesting now has a better vehicle departure angle. 10
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The LCD info display is definitely worth mentioning. It is a delight to view the trip meter temperature and the time display. One might also be in awe of the light off buzzer, light off reminder and rear seat arm rest. The instantaneous mileage display and better illuminated warning lamps deserve appreciation. The illumination display has 7 levels of control which makes it even better. The new colors include Pacific Blue and Glistening gray that have been added to the existing list - Bright Red, Midnight Black, Clear Beige, Arctic White and Silky Silver. The prices start from INR 4.8 lacs for the petrol version and INR 5.8 lacs for the diesel version Overall, the Swift Dzire is not like the cars you spot in posh parking lots, the imported firangis that drain more than half of your wealth for maintenance. It is an Indian’s girl next door whose cosmetics expenditure is affordable without the guy having to beg, borrow or steal.
PETROL PRICE
LXi VXi VXi AT ZXi ` 4,79,000 ` 5,32,000 ` 6,54,000 ` 6,19,000
DIESEL PRICE
LDi VDi ZDi ` 5,80,000 ` 6,31,000 ` 7,09,000
All Prices are Ex-Showroom Delhi
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THE RENAULT PULSE
ne look at Renault pulse and you feel strangely familiar. Yes, Pulse is the Siamese twin of the Nissan Micra. Fortunately, it entered the market at the right time and with the right make-up. Being a quintessential fan of the classics where the “hero” could pass off as a totally different person by just removing his moustache, I feel Renault has done a better job of the touch up exterior wise. The front grill from the Micra is gone and has been replaced by a classic Renault grill that adds to the front in a rather prominent jutting out fashion. But many of the segments have been retained; for example the rear’s C segment. The hood has also seen some change as compared to the stylish V-curve, which arches onto the front in the Micra. This hood is more toned down and ends up looking more modest about what it houses within. The next subtle yet noticeable change is the tail and head lights. They seem to have been rearranged inside the lamp, but then again the whole car really does have a look that was designed specifically to target youth as a whole. Even the interiors are designed to look very similar to the Micra. The dashboard gives an eerie sense of déjà vu.
Although there are a few salient points of difference between the Micra and the Renault namely, a button ignition key, alloy wheels, an integrated music system and also auto folding door mirrors. These features do make this guy look a tad bit futuristic for the hatchback family.
The Purr, the Drone & the Drive Pulse comes with a 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine, which is the same for the Micra. I never let myself expect anything short of a purr from this one but then again it did catch me off guard with a drone, which could be confused with a rumble close to its peak power of 64PS at around 3800 rpm. The rated fuel efficiency of the car is around 23 kmpl. The car manages really well at the third gear in city traffic giving the driver peak performance for mileage. The cushioned plush interiors and the quick to react suspension system complement the ride. Over bumps and frequently occurring manholes in the city, the suspension is very rider friendly. The boot space leaves you in a state of mild surprise and Renault seems to have done their 12
CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED fair share of space saving in the boot.
The Verdict The ex-showroom price of this one varies from 5.5Lakhs to 6.5 Lakhs INR and is seemingly quite reachable for the upper middle class. What Renault was thinking by releasing this slightly tinkered
India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3 version of Nissan Micra is still an issue which strokes beards aplenty. But then again it is a wise choice for a quick ramp up for Renault’s promotion and to put a firm foot on the market. It still stands to be rated on of the top hatchbacks selling like hot cakes in the market!
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FORD ECO SPORT WELCOME TO THE FUTURE
n the mid 1990s, every mid-size car buyer had his eyes set on the Honda City which was, and still is the best car in that segment. These buyers were beginning to yearn for a change when the American company, Ford entered the market and rolled out ‘Escort’ on the Indian roads. Escort was low on space and features compared to the Honda but had a decent engine and offered a ride & handling package which thrilled many. Thence began Ford’s endeavor in India. Speaking of which, Endeavour is still the most successful and sought after SUV here.
The Eco Sport was first displayed at the Delhi Auto show and it was quite a looker. It is more of a crossover between a traditional SUV and a hatchback like the Aria.Luckily we happened to get a look at it while exhibited for a day at Express Avenue Mall, Chennai.
Ford has really thought through with the design of this car. They have broken the shackles and have come up with an innovative and futuristic design which is quite a bold decision to make as it might not appeal to the majority of the people. But from us at CARMA, we would give it a double thumbs up. The headlight stylWhile speaking of the class of cars that the Eco Sport ing makes it look like one of the Transformers from belongs to, the models that come to your mind are Cybertron. And overall the car looks streamlined and probably the Tata Aria or the Skoda Yeti or a more aerodynamically sound. conventional SUV,the Endeavour. Yeti and the Aria are on a cheaper range compared to the Endeavour Moving on to the heart of the vehicle, generally an SUV has a mighty engine attached to it. Even the Yeti which starts at about 18 lakhs INR. and the Aria have engines with a displacement more 15
CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED than 2.0L. Ford once again has tried to be different here. The Eco Sport is said to be fitted with a 1.0L Turbocharged Diesel Engine which they have termed as the ‘Eco Boost Engine’. It has a direct injection system with majority of the boost produced by the turbocharger. These engines are supposed to be smaller, lighter, more efficient and have better specific power rating. They are also more eco-friendly as they are said to produce 20% lesser carbon dioxide and consume 20% lesser fuel while producing the same power as a 1.6L engine. If the Eco Sport actually does that with a continuous power supply to the wheels, well we don’t see why it shouldn’t be a success.
India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3 There is no doubt about the Driving Dynamics of the vehicle as that is what Ford is best known for. And one can expect good fuel efficiency as well. However, these are not the points to be worried about. The last car Ford introduced in India was the new Fiesta and of it was a disaster,reflected in its sales. I still get texts informing me of the ‘Special Introductory Discount’ and what not.
The main criteria which runs the automotive industry in India and the only thing that every consumer is bothered about, well apart from mileage, is the price. If Ford is able to price this vehicle in the range of the Renault Duster which is around 9 lakhs for its top Next would be the interior quality. The old Fiesta had end model then they have really got it right and have and continues to have a superb interior with the right landed right into the middle of the battlefield with the kind of materials. The interiors of the new Fiesta are weapon that will probably be a game changer. abysmal to say at the best. Hyundai Eon and i10 have the same, if not better interior quality and one would Well all we can do now is wait and hope they get it think that the guy in charge of the interior job was right. To be honest with you we can’t wait to get bestoned out of his brains. Seriously, Ford you need to hind the wheel of this car and take it out for a spin. do something about it. We can only hope that this would at least match the quality of the Fiesta. The last thing to talk about would be the price. You can expect the Eco Sport to offer good interior space.
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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3 Ford Eco Sport
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Fiesta automatic.
Automotive exhibition
Ford is driving in the Fiesta’s Automatic transmission. Not that great a move, especially for a gasoline driven vehicle. Will it sell?
An automotive photo exhibition was held in Chennai on 28th February 2012 at Max Maeuler Bhavan to improve India – Germany auto related ties.
Nissan call
vehicle
re-
0 ll over 10,00 Nissan to reca g in ra for rectify units of it’s Mic he loose sensor. T issues over a le d wide vehic rl o w te le p m co as e same issue h recalling for th on units. touched 2 milli
photo
Automotive Expo
TATA NANO TO BECOM E MORE POW ERFUL Tata currentl y working on a more powerful 3 c ylinder versio n of the Tata Nano. It is said that we can soon see Die sel and Powe r Steering equipped versions
testing
An automotive testing expo is to be help in Chennai Trade Center, Chennai on March 6th – 18th. This is India’s one and only expo dealing with the testing and quality engineering.
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S TO LLY DECIDE A IN F O V L O V ESENCE FELT R P S IT E K A M
0 which ed the new S6 as le re e av h R. o Volv of 23.2 lakhs IN g ta ce ri p a h nder comes wit engine - 5 cyli 3 D a h it w s e It com L options. with 2 or 2.4 e in g n e l se feelDie Audi might be d an rc e M , W Now BM ing the heat.
INDIA AUTO NEWS
BMW starts leasing scheme . BMW is geare d up to start leasing out v ehicles in In dia. That’s d efinitely goo d news for th e BMW cult . Mercedes w as first in th e race to have initiated this scheme by le asing out ve hicles in majo r cities in India in early 2 011.
TAVERA NEO 3 LAUNCH ED Cheverolet’s famous peop le carrier Tavera gets a facelift. New headlamps, interior shades and engin e option. Now includes a 2000cc BS 4 engine at 105bhp. 6.7-10.72lakhs !
ICE HIKE
LSE PR RENAULT PU
For more news like our page in Facebook or follow us on twitter
ing the king at increas o lo e ar lt au a n Re 2 percent. Is it y b e ls u P e th price of looks dering the car si n co ve o m d goo have to icra? Well, we just like the M wait and see
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• GENEVA : Range Rover uncovers its Evoque Convertible concept at Geneva Motor show. The evoque’s convertible concept erases the complete spirit of SUVs. SUVs and fashion do not gel well together, as very clearly depicted! We hope that it doesn’t get into production. •
AUSTRALIA : ENTER MAHINDRA!
Mahindra is eyeing Australia for an international assembly plant for it’s electric vehicle Reva.
• THAILAND : HONDA SET TO RESUME PRODUCTION Honda’s all set and back in action after recovering from the Thai floods that almost drowned it’s plant. •
JAPAN : NISSAN TO RECALL OVER 2 MILLION VEHICLES
Auto major Nissan to recall over 2 million vehicles to rectify an issue caused by a loose sensor that could cause fuel leaks, in worst cases.
• USA : PRESIDENT OBAMA SAYS HE WILL USE THE CHEVY VOLT ONCE HIS TENURE AS POTUS IS OVER Barack Obama, a passenger in the heavily armored presidential limousine the last three years, is thinking about a very different kind of ride when he leaves the White House: the plug-in, electric Chevy Volt. 19
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NIGHT VIEW ASSIST ZOOMING IN THE DARK!! H
ave you ever felt scared to drive on the roads after dusk? Well, as a kid, and infact even now I am scared to drive on the highways. The unpredictable traffic, the speed with which those heavy vehicles lurch ahead, not to mention the headlight dazzle- Lets face it, it is a nightmare, quite literally. One has to be very cautious while driving at night. Mercedes Benz - The Pioneers in Automotive Innovation, that one company’s vehicle that we all dream of cruising in, has a solution for such a problem.
displays it as a grayscale image on the LCD. Though it seems simple in construction, this technology has prevented a lot of accidents. The range of the lights is around 150m, which is good enough for us at a nominal speed. After Mercedes Toyota, BMW and Audi came up with the similar ideas but by making some minor changes. So, the next time you grab the wheel at night, make sure the device is on for some mind-boggling albeit safe riding experience.
The Night View Assist of Mercedes Benz is the solution to our misery. This innovative technology employs infra red lamps along with headlights for better vision of the road at night. If you can’t look at the windshield and drive because of the retina tearing high beams from the vehicles in the opposite lane, their solution can save you. Their LCD display system installed on the dashboard gives you a better picture of the road. It also notifies you if a sudden pedestrian walks across you path. Once you look at the display and drive, you would feel like a gamer probably driving in a virtual world! The display is 8 inches long, and it is in line with the driver’s sight- so not much effort is required and neither is the driver distracted from seeing the actual road. A small IR-camera is present behind the mid-rearview mirror which processes the scene and 20
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DEEPLY DISMANTLED An insight into the technology IN automobiles
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THE ENGINE E
ver wondered where from the cars got their names? On looking upon how fuel is injected the following What does all that letters and numbers in the speci- technologies are more common: fication means? How am I suppose to decide which one is better??When manufacturers keep updating the • You see a lot of abbreviations like CRDi, CRDe, DICOR, DDIS, TDI – Basically, the same technoltechnologies, and are you like- stuck up at the start? ogy with some slight modifications. In all these cases there is only a single ‘pump’ which pumps Sounds like you? Here we are to help you with a sneakthe fuel. And most importantly, these are found peek into the world of Engines!! only in the case of diesel engine. An ‘engine’ is the core of an automobile. It gives the power to move the whole vehicle. The fuel is ‘pumped’ • In petrol engines MPFI is an intelligent system. It tells the fuel tank how much petrol is to be sent from the fuel tank, then compressed and burnt in the according to the needs of the vehicle. You may not ‘cylinder’. The fuel supply is through ‘inlet valve’ and be concerned about our environment, but defithe exhaust is sent out through the ‘exhaust valve’. The nitely your car is!! valve operation is monitored by the ‘camshaft’. And now, here are some useful tips to decode the geeky en• Also GDI(Gasoline Direct Injection) is being gine specifications: used, in which fuel supply is through a common path, called rail. • When you look in an engine specification, they give you the cc or litre value of an engine, its nothing but the volume of cylinder. When you buy a If you consider the spark produced which causes vehicle, the higher the cc value, the more prefer- the burning DTSi is common. The DIGITAL TWIN ence it gets. For a small car, anything close to 0.9 SPARK technology is very efficient. It should be noted that the number of valves in engine specifications are litres or 900cc is good. not of much importance to the buyer. • Secondly, there is a Maximum power and maximum torque value of the vehicle. The higher pow- The Camshaft technologies like SOHC and DOHC er it gives for the lower value of cc, the more it is mean Single OverHead Camshaft and Dual OverHead Camshaft. They denote the way the camshaft is better. located to control the valves. • ‘Turbocharged’, ‘Inter-cooled’, EGR and ‘Supercharged’ are the technologies used to minimise the VVT- Variable Valve Timing and VTEC- Variable exhaust and increase engine efficiency. In other Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control are technolwords to get some heat energy from the exhaust. ogies adopted in valves to make the vehicle efficient at low speeds. So, if you are eco-friendly, go for these cars!! • Also cooling methods are mentioned. Two wheelers are generally air cooled and four wheelers are water-cooled. And the words ‘inline’, ‘radial’ and ‘V’ denote the arrangement of cylinder. • The mounting of engine is mentioned by terms FME, RME, TME . It denotes the place where engine is present Front, rear or transverse(middle).
Finally it is a fact that more and more technologies are evolving day by day. This is just my humble attempt to let you know about the few common and basic ones. And save your head from spinning, when you look at the specifications the next time!!
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IS THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA REALLY DAS AUTO?
olkswagen India made their entry into the Indian market scene only in late 2007, with pocket-burners like the Passat and the Touareg. The Jetta, a blue-eyed vehicle from the VW plant in India, did wonders to their sales charts and gave them that well required attention. Priced at around INR 13 lakhs, it drove a chill down Honda’s spine as it came head on against their Civic. The Jetta was given a face lift in the middle of 2011 with some cosmetic modifications. Volkswagen ensures that its vehicles are given a special touch of elegance and maturity. Starting right from the Polo to the Passat, or even the Phaethon, all the vehicles come with a sense of respect and solid build.
Detailed Review Exterior The design of the Jetta has been very well thought about, while keeping in mind its target customers. From a professional’s point of view, the Jetta is a beauty, showing off her elegance and maturity in styling and, at the same time, being quite snobbish in character - a quality that works wonders with its target audience. It reflects a certain superior attitude and therefore, stands apart from the rest in the sedan category. The headlights give it a pious face, contrasting the 2 litre Volkswagen TDI engine under the hood. To maintain a certain maturity, the tail lights are not made to look sporty or eye catchy in any way. Filling in a segment which is right in between the mid segment and sedan classification, it comes only with wipers installed in the front, which are flawless and it was quite surprising to see the fluid sprayer actually spraying the fluid on the wind screen, instead of just coughing it out, like in many other vehicles.
The Jetta is not an easy car to understand. It is not exactly a happy car; it has a weird character. It responds to the demands of both luxury and simplicity. It is the simplest car to drive on the outset but has all these numerous features which make it more complicated. It is no surprise that this car kick-started Volkswagen’s sales in India. Rather than being a family car, it is more of a car which would turn heads if you drove it to work. The ground clearance is an issue I would like to focus CARMA. RATING 8/10 my concerns on. It is probably the same as that of the
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Civic when not loaded, but it does stoop down to kiss the tarmac when loaded. Even as we were testing it, we had to scrape over speed bumps giving a very, very unpleasant sound of metal mating with the tar.
The interior design is well planned and carefully spaced out. The uncluttered arrangement gives an illusion of space. Also, all the dials and knobs are easy to identify and use. Going towards the mammoth sized boot that is big enough to throw an elephant calf in, it can fit a whole family’s baggage. One major point What is in? that scores high in practicality is that the boot can be The Jetta is pretty wealthy when it comes to the fea- accessed from the interior through the rear armrest! tures it is equipped with. To list a few - 16 speaker built-in audio system with a 6 CD changer that can GOING TECHIE! also connect to your phone, LCD touch screen to display all your necessary details, telescopic steering ENGINE wheel with which one can easily adjust the steering position, dual air conditioning with automatic climate VW 2.0L 4 Cylinder Inline control system and seat heaters. The steering wheel has mounted audio controls. The car also has ABS, 8 FUEL ECONOMY Airbags and Rain and Theft sensors. It is quite a package if you ask us. 12kmpl The doors feel heavy and solid and open to an excepTRANSMISSION tionally crafted dash with dual tone interiors mixed in the right proportions. Being a German make, it was not very surprising to see the high standards of plastic 6 Gear A/M and leather quality that has contributed towards deTYRES sign. You can feel the pleasure of being in a Jetta only if you Stock 205/85 R16 . Uniformly worn are a passenger. The seats are very well cushioned. Volkswagen’s best-in-class air conditioner works ef- PERFORMANCE fortlessly in bringing the temperature down fast. Thanks to a completely solid build and finish, you feel 0-60 - 6.3 seconds like you are in a totally different world with the external noise fully filtered. The rear legroom is average and is almost on par with its mid segment partners. It ends up being a bit of a mood-kill while rest of the vehicle is a sure pleaser. The suspensions cushioned the vehicle well reflecting a good and stable condition with no possible oil leaks. The driving position is neither too high nor too low. Using the advantage of the telescopic steering, it helps you settle down on your own driving position. You also get an arm rest which is sometimes a necessity. Since this vehicle is an automatic, we really didn’t feel the arm rest mounting being an obstacle for shifting. It probably does irritate the driver in the manual transmission variant. The instrument cluster comes beautifully illuminated with two traditionally styled speedometers, the tachometer and a digital odometer. The exceptional power steering accompanying the driver does prove to be a huge confidence boost. 24
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ord always comes up with the drivers’ cars. These cars come with an unmatchable driving pleasure which, personally I have not experienced while driving any other vehicle. They simply understand you. Sit behind the wheel and there sparks a revolution of an understanding and trust between man and machine. They are very responsive and they do what you want them to do, when you want them to do. I’m really not sure if the makers know how they came up with such an assembly!
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THE FORD FIESTA HOW FORDY IS IT? drive. Take a look!
Detailed Review Exterior
Frankly speaking, the design is not something that is very inspiring or sporty. Ford’s brand recognition plan doesn’t work when viewed from a distance. But what I would appreciate from this Fiesta’s design is its very high potential for modification quotient. Similar to Setting the positives aside and getting the negatives the Swift, you can find a lot of customized Fiestas and some lime light, it comes without saying that Ford’s good looking ones at that too. Ford was a little ahead flaws reflect in every vehicle from its stable like a of Maruti in introducing the Sports version of the Figenetic disease killing the whole generation of the esta equipped with cosmetic changes including rear family. These flaws can definitely be avoided if Ford spoilers, side skirts and front splitters. takes a few more minutes from their busy assembly schedule and spend the same with their designers. The headlamp and tail lamp styling is satisfactory. This generation of the Fiesta we tested was sold in Ford could have definitely done more with the head the international market as a hatch back, but the lamps at least. The head lamp design, believe it or not, ones sold in India are mid segments. It’s pitched can make a huge impact on the customers’ decision. against the Maruti Suzuki SX4, the Honda City and The headlamp and tail lamps are not just a set of bulbs the Hyundai Verna. – they define the character of the vehicle and contribute a lot to brand recognition. We got a 3 year old diesel drinking Fiesta for a test 26
CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED Being a mid-segment and strictly following mid-segment tradition, it comes only with front wipers. Talking with respect to the vehicle we tested, we found the wipers and sprayers to work fine. The Fiesta just manages to survive with its moderate ground clearance. Throw in an overweight person and the suspensions cushion down to a bare minimum level. A little too soft for a mid-segment perhaps.
What’s in? Since it is built to steal the Honda City’s thunder, it comes with almost everything the City has. The only difference I can point out with respect to the power train is that Ford found the necessity to bring out a diesel option with the Fiesta. Honda is still trying to push the City, Civic and the Brio with its i-Vtec petrol engines while its diesel engine has seen only the 4 walls of the R&D department. The Fiesta’s features include Hydraulic power steering, electronically adjustable ORVMs, head light focus adjustment, rear de-fogger and a lot more. Step in and you will find the dash to have a decent plastic fiber with good finishing. I wouldn’t brand it as greatly
India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3 up market, but it strikes a balance somewhere. Being a Ford, comfort is a birth right. Be it with respect to the seats or the air-con. A special mention goes to the air-con for a very satisfying air blast to help bring the cabin temperature down at the earliest. The ride quality is exceptional. You almost forget that you are driving a diesel unless you need to hit the fuel station. The in-line 4 cylinder diesel engine is pretty silent under the hood. External noise is filtered well enough to help felicitate your international telephonic conferences. Suspensions and shocks cushion the vehicle well and save your butts in the process. There is no big difference in the driving position offered. The tilt-able and extend-able steering makes things easier for you and you can customize your comfortable steering level rather than get used to one. The mildly heavy steering has a positive impact on maneuverability. It is clever and very good around corners making it more city-practical. The rear leg room is a notch lesser than what you’d expect in a mid-segment. A slightly tall person is better off sitting in the front unless he is willing to sacrifice his knees.
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The interior design is where Ford’s genetic disease showcases its symptoms. Firstly, the indicator levers are on the left instead of the right. This is because Ford vehicles are left handed in every other part of the world and therefore use the same steering assemblies. Probably, that is something one can simply get used to. But there is also an issue with the bonnet release lever that is installed near the front left passenger door that is not in any way driver friendly. Getting to the boot, we have no complaints there. It is big and deep to push in around 4 bags comfortably.
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TYRES Stock tyres are R14 / 175. PERFORMANCE 0-60 - 8 seconds CARMA. RATING 8/10
GOING TECHIE! ENGINE & BATTERY 1.4 L in-line 4 cylinder diesel engine. Battery was replaced recently. TRANSMISSION 5 speed manual with easy shift.
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READER’S CORNER FILMS THAT RAN ON CARS WRITTEN BY R VIVEK SASTRA UNIVERSITY The fortune of any automobile is highly dependent on two factors- advertising and word of mouth. The one medium that integrates both these factors is movies. There is no greater advertisement for a car than its presence in one of the mainstream movies. While it is common in the west to exploit the medium through adrenaline inducing speed junkie movies like the ‘the fast and the furious’ series, in India there have been few such attempts and even fewer successful ones.
than 2 hours? Well this Tamil movie starring Karthi and tamannah promises nothing less. The storyline goes like this, the couple is in a car (LANCER) and they are chased by goons in two other LANCERS.
Well that is it if you are searching for more. Throughout the movie they drive at breakneck speeds trying to reach Mumbai and they pause only if the hero has no other option but to get down and beat up the goons following them. It provokes you to So this I guess is the time to look back at those In- ask why he has to run when he can fight so many dian (mainly hindi & tamil) movies that tried to bask of them with great ease without having them to in the glory of automobiles and analyze whether the chase about wasting petrol but well in their jusfilmmakers did justice to the brand that the automo- tice the filmmakers wanted a two hour movie!!! bile represented. It was a big hit anyway and boosted the sales of RA-ONE- FORGET MOVIE AND CAR LANCER like the way transporter did for BMW in Hollywood. A lot of expectations were riding on this movie from Shahrukh Khan after the success of ‘Enthiran’ in TaRACE- FINALLY GOOD THINGS mil because of similar genres but it failed to deliver in all aspects. While the movie was shoddy in terms of Race got released in 2008 and was a runaway hit storyline and screenplay, very less thought had been and became the fourth highest grossing film of that put into choosing a car for a superhero. In the end year. With a decent star cast consisting of Saif Ali it was a VOLKSWAGEN TOUREG that was spotted Khan, Anil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, and considering that SRK is the brand ambassador of and Katrina Kaif, it was a perfect action thriller with Hyundai, this was certainly unexpected and anyway enough twists and turns to keep you glued. both didn’t leave a mark. Very few people in india know about the cars used in Even though the movie didn’t click, SRK gifted a it for the climax. BMW 7 series car to all the co-stars and of course our Rajnikanth for their support. The yellow one was the ‘TOYOTA SUPRA BLUE’ and the blue one was ‘NISSAN SKYLINE’. The movie as PAIYA - A WORLD RECORD well as cars both got rave reviews and especially the cars were a hit in the modding(slang for modifying Have you ever watched a commercial spanning more hardware) market. 30
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ENTHIRAN AND SIVAJI- STYLE HAS A SYNONYM I included both these movies under one caption because both have something in common apart from Rajnikanth as the starcast. They both were directed by Shankar, an ace director known for his expensive style of filmmaking and in both the movies he bought really top end cars and had them smashed in one of the scenes. While in Sivaji , a modified AUDI is made to do wheelies and stoppies and is bashed by 20 odd other normal jeeps. I used the word normal because it didn’t have Rajnikanth in it but otherwise they were quite hefty. Well no points for guessing which car prevailed, the one with thalaivar (synonym for style and rajnikanth in this part of the world). In Enthiran, which was by far one of the costliest Indian movies ever made what we saw would bring tears of blood to any automotive fanatic’s eye. The MERCEDES BENZ CONVERTIBLE used in the movie doesn’t even exist as a real car. It was made from a MERCEDES C-CLASS SEDAN whose roof was cut. Later after doing all such things it was smashed around in the movie like any other ordinary car. Anyway if thalaivar does it then all is ok with the audience. End of the day the both movies were humongous hits and transformed those cars into everyone’s dream car. TARZAN- DISASTER HAS A NEW NAME ‘TARZAN-the wonder car’ was a bollywood movie released in 2004 solely based on a concept that a car tracks and eliminates the killers of the protagonist’s father. It had a relatively new cast and is famous for ruining the career of everyone (correction everything) associated with it. The unique thing about this movie is that it was not a movie which used a popular car’s name to boost its viewership but the other way around. The movie was launched to coincide with the
launch of a car of the same name but after seeing the response (I doubt if any) to the movie, they dropped their plans and the car was never launched. 31
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SURA- BAD PUBLICITY
SHAITAN- SPEED KILLS
It was tamil superstar ‘ilayathalapathy’ vijay’s 50th movie and was touted to lift his sagging career but well it bombed big time. Here the protagonist tries to fight for the cause of fishermen and wants to build good safe homes for all of them. Well, in the next scene he is seen zooming around in an AUDI beating up baddies. Yeah, you heard it right, it was an ‘AUDI’. Well blame me for asking if he could have sold that car and built those houses but no I really can’t make sense out of few of the tamil movies. In the end it turned out to be a bad publicity for AUDI which launched its showroom later that year.
This was an unexpected hit last year. It deals with the idea of directionless youth and their carefree way of life and the consequences involved. One of the protagonists in the movie owns a mean yellow HUMMER which they use to race a random car. Well, they had to win but end up trampling a couple in a scooter and then movie has its own twists and turns but this must have been the first Indian movie to use a hummer and well started a trend of rich kids wanting to own a hummer. So these were my handpicked movies which had a car playing pivotal role. Some were hits and the others missed the plot but as an auto enthusiast these are a must watch in terms of snazzy cars and appealing looks.
DON 2- A LESSON LEARNT The shooting of DON 2, especially the chase sequences were shot in Germany. You hear Germany and you expect to see Volkswagens, BMWs or AUDIs and considering SRK shot with VW in his previous venture RA-ONE it seemed quite obvious but here is where SRK displayed the ultimate act of loyalty towards one’s brand. He used a classic HYUNDAI SONATA and what more he gave the same to the cop chasing him. So basically VOLKSWAGENS booted out from a film in their own country and Germany saw a miraculous two cars of Hyundai in their own home which is dominated by their own brands. 32
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READER’S CORNER THE GREY MATTER WRITTEN BY Rao Sunil Rajaram
C
ar modification or tuning is a practice which has been followed since the early 1990s when drivers with little or no experience altered their vehicles to compete with the more impressive versions of racing vehicles, with mixed results. Tuning can be done for various components of the vehicles like audio & interiors, engine, suspension, body and tires.
plugs installed. His engine has also been ported. Vicky is now planning to install a turbo-charger. He believes that these modifications are definitely worth the expenditure as they have not only added a personal touch to his prized possession but have also improved the vehicle’s overall performance.
So if you feel that your car deserves more, do not hesiI happened to come across one such modified car be- tate to go for such modifications. They not only give longing to Vicky Rajkumar, whose name would be fa- you a wonderful driving experience but also an opmiliar for all the gamers in Chennai. Vicky’s team has portunity to showcase your creativity and uniqueness. won tournaments both at national and international levels. He is also an auto enthusiast and is pursuing mechanical engineering in a reputed college in Chennai. Vicky owns a Honda Civic Automatic (paddle shift variant) and he finds it cool and sporty. When asked on how he felt when he got the vehicle delivered, his face beamed as he recollected driving down the car to his college to show his friends. He had named his car “THE GREY MATTER” the same day. Being a music buff, Vicky believes that music is to be enjoyed in total peace without any disturbance; and hence he has upgraded to a music system worth Rs.1.5Lakhs. It took him two months to install the Kenwood Double Dim Touch screen head unit, Rockford Fosgate punch component & rear speakers and a Rockford Fosgate woofer. Supporting these components are two amplifiers, sound stream equalizers and a Boss farad capacitor. Apart from the music system he has a Magnaflow exhaust system, Piper Cross air filter and iridium spark 33
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THE SLEEP India’s First FreeDETECTOR Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3 STAY AWAKE WHILE YOU DRIVE
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CGZ CARMA. GADGET ZONE Gadget of the Month FEBRUARY 2012
T
he stats quote that a minimum of ten thousand accidents occur every year due to drivers falling asleep behind the wheel. For such reasons, even certified truck drivers are allowed to drive only 10 hours a day!
Also, this device comes with blue tooth functionality so that you can pair it with your phone. It runs on button cells that are inexpensive and don’t rely much on maintenance at all.
Some auto majors have tried to address this problem This simple device costs a little over INR 500, which statement by installing a network of complex sensors we would say is a very good bargain. A mere 500 that study the driver throughout the time he is behind bucks or life? You choose. the wheel. It is needless to say that this comes with a high pocket burning price tag thereby making it unavailable for every driver’s use and safety. Our device of the month is just a small, compact ear piece which looks very similar to that of your blue tooth headset! What is more? It is also very inexpensive and easy to operate. All that one is expected to do is, just fit it behind the ears and you can even forget that it is there! What this device does is, when switched on, its sensors detect the tilt in angle of the driver’s head continuously. When the driver is sleepy, he tends to nod off and his head starts to tilt. Once the angle of tilt crosses a 20 degree mark, this device starts emitting high pitched sounds that cannot go unnoticed. This sound wakes the driver up and gets him alert again.
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CARMA. QUIZ VOLUME 1 India’s First Free Automotive | Volume 1 Issue 3 1. Rollse-Magazine Royce
CARMA. QUIZ
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Bugatti Veyron Supersport Mahindra and Mahindra France Red Bull Racing Beetle NASCAR San Marino Grand Prix, Imola, 1994 9. Ferrari 360 Modena 10. Lamborghini’s Murciélago
? ? Compiled by R.S.Mukunth
The questions are in increasing order of difficulty.
?
1. Which company is currently the sole supplier of Formula One tyres? 2. What is Homai Vyarawalla’s claim to fame with respect to Indian Automotive sector? 3. Which car won the prestigious “Car of the Century” award, given to the most influential car of the 20th century? 4. Id the logo (on top of the page) of a popular automobile brand. 5. Which team does Valentino Rossi drive for, in the present season? 6. “Born to Perform” is the tagline of which luxury automobile brand? 7. Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement were founders of which popular Czech automobile brand? 8. Which popular company derived its name because its first successful product was car radio sets? 9. What is the colloquial term for American cars with large engines, modified for increased speed and acceleration? 10. Which track was nicknamed “The Green Hell” by Jackie Stewart, for being one of the most challenging purpose-built circuits in the world? The answers to these questions will be published in the next issue. Mail in your answers to editor@autocarma.in
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CADILLAC LA SALLE
-Special Thanks to Mr. Royce Rumsey for his contribution-
L
et me give you a small intro to this months Vintage car. Its very simple. If you were living in the 1950’s, a photo of this car along with Marilyn Monroe would have definitely adorned your wall. The Cadillac LaSalle: The car which possibly started everything for the American manufacturer. The 17ft Cadi’s which was driven by Elvis Presley wouldn’t have been possible without the LaSalle. In fact, among all American manufacturers, Cadillac would definitely be my most favorite. Its the least snobbish yet classy and this weird mix of characters is something I’ve loved.
Chevy to the intermediate Buick and the high end Cadi, every marque had to come out with a new model which would increase sales. The LaSalle was the result of this effort.
The car was made in a variety of wheelbases ranging from 3200mm to 3400mm and featured GM’s Ninety Degree V8 which made them very fast and very sporty. In the 1930’s !! It hade a 5.28lt V8 which produced 125bhp. The LaSalle could achieve the 100mph mark which is 160kmph approximately and that was outstanding. The car was used as a Grand Tourer The LaSalle was made from 1927 to 1942 and was even in those days thanks to its phenomenal drivdesigned by a certain Harley Earl. GM which owned ing characteristics. The design as you can see, is very Cadi even then, were looking for new models through contemporary. The front windscreen for example was which they could increase sales. From the cheapest
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CARMA. | CARS UNLIMITED partitioned and I somehow would prefer even if present day cars had this feature. Its lends a very classy look to the car. Based on the wheelbase and the way the car was designed, you can easily tell that Cadillac wanted this to be a Mercedes S-Class of sorts and it was. Sales of the car were as fast as the speed.
India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3 Cadillac had to phase out the LaSalle after one and half decades.
This did not stop here, No. The LaSalle was like a ghost if you may. During the 1970’s and 1980’s, Cadillac researchers found that the people wanted the name ‘LaSalle’ to be revived once again for one last hoorah. So all was going well then. No, not quite. America had Attempts were made also to design a car which had the Great Depression during this period and sales of the basic roots of the Salle. Unfortunately at this time automobiles naturally dropped, sales of expensive Ca- came along another small bout of recession and the dillacs were non existent. Cadillac announced a price plan was dropped all together. Cadillac instead made drop of 1000USD and even though sales picked up sedans for the family fan and convertibles for the pop it never reached the level it was prior to the depres- stars. Thus came the end of probably history’s finest sion. Meanwhile at this time, manufacturers such as example of a car since the Model T. Ford had come up and were going all out in promoting cheap and small cars; something Cadillac was However, there is going to be new car out soon from not known for. Thus began the paradigm shift in the Cadillac and it would be a present day interpretation American car buyer and it was evident that small of the 17ft long ‘Cadi’ which Presley drove. The name and cheap cars were the need of the hour. Slowly, has not been announced yet.
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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3
10 PARAMETERS TO CHECK BEFORE A ROAD TRIP
month to go for the holiday season and I guess most of you are already geared up with your tickets purchased. Given the current situation of the aviation industry with Kingfisher not even giving you the illusion of getting high, or the erratic train travel and all the more erratic timings and unexpected delays, one mode of transport seems to have seen stable business. Yes, we are talking about the tarmac.
3. SUSPENSIONS Make sure your suspensions and shock absorbers are intact and do not have oil leaks. Weak suspensions or shock absorbers can damage the chassis of the car as well, and you really don’t want to have a bumpy trip, do you?
4. WHEEL ALIGNMENT, BALANC-
To a petrol-head, a road trip is a close-to-perfection ING AND AIR PRESSURE way of adding some meaning to his holiday season. So, we dedicate this article to our fellow petrol heads Every tyre of a car will have a certain pressure of air/ so that they can have an absolutely safe season! Cheers nitrogen that it is to maintain. Check your tyre presguys! sure at any fuel station and fill air if required. Maintaining air pressures also leads to a small increase in A well planned road trip should certainly include an fuel economy. appointment with an authorized service station. Even if you feel your vehicle is completely alright, there is It is also necessary that your wheels are balanced and no harm in giving it to the technicians there to check aligned. Wheel balancing is done by adding small your ride out just in case. weights to your wheel disc so that it rotates uniformly. Wheel discs are prone to deformation due to road irHere is a list of 10 parameters that we strongly believe regularities. Wheel aligning is basically the alignment that you check before your rev into your season. of the front wheels relative to the rear wheels. If your wheels aren’t aligned, your wheels will wobble when 1. SEAT BELTS you go at high speeds thereby making you lose your driving satisfaction. Before leaving on a road trip, make sure that your seat belts are good with the appropriate tension numbers. 5. ENGINE LIQUIDS This can only be done at a service center. It comes without saying that you should ensure your passenEvery mechanical component and assembly needs gers always have their seat belts fastened. lubrication to function with high efficiency. Engines are no different. Engines need to lubed with special 2. BRAKES engine oils. Open your bonnet and you will find a pull-out stick-like plug next to your engine. You can To check your brake discs or drums, your ride needs check the oil levels by pulling it out. Give your car for to be given for service. There, the friction lining of a service to have them refilled. your brake discs/drums are checked for their minimum diameter or thickness. If any abnormality is re- You might also want to make sure that your engine ported to you, please make sure that you replace the is cooled well so that it doesn’t smoke out. Monitor components. It is good for a long term cause as well. the engine temperature gauge that comes in your instrument panel. If your car isn’t filled with enough
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coolant, your engine might smoke out and you will come with the air-con system- the temperature and have to wait till it cools back to operational tempera- the throw. If you think that the temperature in your car is still high even though you have set the temperatures. ture at the minimum level, you might want to give it for service. There might be issues with the condenser. 6. VEHICLE ELECTRONICS Throw is basically the reach of the effect of the air-con All your lights – head lights, dippers, high beams, rear system. It increases with your fan speed. If you think lights, brake lights, indicators, reverse and other bulbs your throw is relatively worsening, there might be too in your instrument panel should be working. Do not much dust in the air filter or blocks in your evaporastart your road trip without making this check. It is a tor. major safety issue that involves not just you, but everyone else on the road as well! It is a necessity to use 9. BATTERY your front wipers in case of rain. Driving on a high way during a pour down without your wipers is abso- Problems with your battery can result in late starting. lute madness. Make sure your wipers and your spray- You can get your battery’s gravity parameter checked while you give the vehicle for service. The first sympers function well. tom of a weak battery is a weak horn sound or probably no horn sound at all. Your lights and other car 7. FUEL HOSE LEAKS electronics may also fail. Make sure there are no fuel leaks in your fuel hose network system. Give your car for a thorough exami- 10. LOCKING nation in a service centre if you suspect any leaks. Fuel leaks can be checked by observing the fuel gauge from This is a major security factor and should not be igtime to time while you drive. If there are drastic drops, nored. Make sure the locks for all doors are firm and there surely is a leak. You might also get the smell of locking well. Also make sure the driver’s lock lever locks all the doors if your car is equipped with central fuel inside your car. locking.
8. AIR-CON Let’s face it. Everyone needs the air-con. Be it for heating or cooling. There are two parameters that
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F1 NEWS
Pirelli satisfied with tyres Au Revoir Trulli Jarno Trulli looks set to wrap up his F1 career after being ousted by Caterham in favour of Vitaly Petrov. Trulli, had an extremely successful karting career, after which a brief spell in Formula Three was enough to propel him into F1.He began karting in 1984 at the age of nine and quickly began collecting cups. It culminated in 1995 with wins in the Italian Kart Championship and World Kart Championship, along with his second triumph in the Ayrton Senna memorial cup. Trulli also started racing in the German Formula Three championship that year, joining the championship with the KMS team at the fifth round. He won the final two races of the season to place fourth in the championship behind Norberto Fontana, Ralf Schumacher (later to be Trulli’s team mate at Toyota) and Max Angelili. With six wins from 15 races he claimed the title the following year. Sadly, this means that for the first time since 1970 an Italian won’t figure on the F1 grid and the first time since 1997 Trulli’s name would not make it to the timesheets.
Pirelli has expressed satisfaction over the performance of its tyres after the teams tried out the full range of the Italian company’s 2012-spec rubber, with the hard, medium, soft and super-soft compounds all being used in last week’s Barcelona test. “The teams all completed the most amount of running that we have seen so far this year, 17,207 kilometres as opposed to 14,949 kilometres in Jerez. This allowed them to gather plenty of data on all four slick tyres that we can now analyse in order to come up with a few different scenarios for the first races related to strategy options and crossover points.As we expected, most teams chose to concentrate on the medium tyre, with the emphasis often on aerodynamic set-up work rather than tyre evaluation. However, we got plenty of work done and we’re satisfied with the levels of degradation and performance seen so far, as we head now into the final test again at Barcelona next week. It’s only then that we will see a more accurate picture of the relative performance of the teams, but from our point of view we are meeting our objectives.” said Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery. The only two sets that remain are Cinturato wet-weather tyres - the green intermediates and the blue full wets. 43
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Tata now partners with F1 Tata Communications announced that it would officially now work with Formula One Management. The agreement will see Tata delivering connectivity to all 20 Formula One race locations over its global network. It will also provide hosting and content delivery services to Formula1.com, the official website of the racing body. Tata Communications will also provide Formula1.com with a new Managed Security Suite and will apply an additional layer of managed security monitoring to ensure an increased level of protection to Formula One Management’s IT infrastructure. Also, Tata Communications and Formula One Management will also work in close collaboration on research and development around connectivity and the latest video technologies.
India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3 Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes unveiled their New MP4-27 at the Mclaren Technolgy centre, Woking, Surrey, ahead of the first winter test sessions at Jerez de la Frontera. The special feature about the car is it’s the only one in its category to have a gradual sloped nose instead of the conventional platypus nose. It houses a Mercedes Benz FO 108z 2.4L V8 engine that is naturally aspirated, 18000 RPM limited with kinetic energy recovery system and is mid mounted. With the second year of the fixed weight distribution and Pirelli tyres, little needed to be done to the car’s basic layout. Running much the same chassis, fuel tank size and gearbox, so the wheelbase is similar to the previous car. The front and rear suspension-Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod(pullrod for rear) and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement. Last year, the MP4-26 was faster than the Red Bull.It’d be interesting to see what strategy Mclaren employ after finishing second for the two seasons in a row.
TOM BLOMQVIST JOINS MCLAREN DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM McLaren have announced that the British teenager Tom Blomqvist, son of 1984 world rally champion Stig Blomqvist has joined their driver development program.
McLAREN MP4-27
The youngster had been a tremendous success in the single seater karting arena since 2009. In 2010 he won the Formula Renault UK Championship which won him the British Racing Drivers’ Club’s Henry Surtees Award for the most outstanding performance by a young driver. At the age of 16 he was the youngest driver to win the championship. In 2011 he continued his racing journey by being a tremendous success in Formula 3 Cup. He was shortlisted for the highly coveted McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. 44
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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3
SUPER SHOW IN MUM
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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3
RCAR WCASE N MBAI
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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3
SPECIAL TO KRI CHANDR HELPING WITH PICTU
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India’s First Free Automotive e-Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 3
THANKS ISHNAN RAN FOR G US OUT H THE URES
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