Issue9 by AutoLife (Nepal)

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

Think-Do-Go Green

‘WASTING FUEL ISN’T SEXY’ Let us all admit, we are a little too dependent on our gas guzzling vehicles. From the very day we get a driving license, walking turns into an obsolete form of transportation. And if you did ever own a bicycle, it’s probably collecting dust or being ridden by your milkman. Some of us would probably drive just to take a dump, if toilets had the space to park. But all jokes apart, it’s high time we realize that we are draining the earth’s limited resources and polluting the environment at a shocking rate which should be worrying all of us. There is really no Planet B and it is the only earth we have. So if we keep going at this rate and don’t find a proper alternate technology for our vehicles, the day will come when we will be donning our designer suits and riding a cycle to an important meeting. The bitter truth is that, if we do not act now there will be no more Ferraris and Lamborghinis to dream of. But fear not motor heads, the way out is under development around the world. Alternative resources are the answer and that is being tapped into with developments of electric, hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell, etc vehicles. Hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight are already here and electric cars like the Reva-i and Electra are also available in the market. We reviewed all four of these and the only disappointing thing was the treatment of our government towards these eco-friendly vehicles. It’s about time the government modified its decades old taxation policy and opened doors to this new age of cleaner and greener vehicles. It’s now or never! In this issue, we did our best to conserve some fuel and went on an amazing road trip around the rim of the valley on mountain bikes. Keeping all this in mind, we have laid out possibly everything that you need to know about the green world of automobiles in this ‘Green Issue’. We hope you have an eco-friendly blast going through this exclusive and special issue. The AutoLife Team dedicates this issue to Mother Nature, and the endangered Polar Bears whom we really don’t want to only remember as seeing them last on Discovery Channel and not in the Arctic Circle.

The Editorial Team

vol 1 Issue 9 august 2012 Softrock Media Pvt Ltd Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 977-01-4415746 Regd. 84553/068/069

Founder / Managing Editor Ajay Dhoj Thapa Executive Director Shraddha Rajbhandari Editorial Ankit Shakya Ayush Dhaubanjar Niren Tuladhar Kushal Goyal Saurav Nepal Design Creative Head: Ajay Designers: Sushil Dhungana Niren Tuladhar Photography Ankit Shakya Ayush Dhaubanjar Kushal Goyal Sanat Dangol BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Yunus Joshi Piyush Neupane CTP & PROCESS ScanPrint Pulchowk T: 01-5010801 Distribution Kasthmandap Distributors T: 01-4247241 General enquiries hello@autolife.com.np Editorial enquiries: editorial@autolife.com.np Ads and marketing enquiries marketing@autolife.com.np Autolife is an automotive magazine (DAO Regd 213/067/068), published 12 times a year by Softrock Media. All rights reserved in respect of all articles, illustration, photographs, etc published in Autolife Magazine. The content of this publication may not be reproduced on whole or in any part in any electronics or print form, in any language, without the written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, who cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Autolife has a dedicated review team for all test drives and rides. We research, study, plan and execute our tests and publish our real experience without any influences. We have our loyalty towards our readership and are not biased or inclined towards any specific brands or services. All advertisement insertions are a part of our marketing campaign, due to their relevance with the magazines content; and published only after authorization from clients or their respective media agencies.

contents

EXCLUSIVE tests

vol 1 Issue 9 august 2012

REVA-i

The anti-pollution REVAlution

Honda Insight

Insight into the Future

Toyota Prius

The ECO Crusader

NTL Electra

the anti pollution revalution

Captain Electra

Pedal Power

features Green Techs 101

26 All technologies explained

Eco-friendly Vehicles in Nepal

36 The Past, The Present, The Future

Meet Mr. Funnel 50 The solution for fuel-powered machines Timeline 52 The Green Evolution Top Hybrid Myths 60 Hybrid Myths Clarified Our Say 62 On stuffs from the green world of auto Feeling Good 80 Follow up on Laxmi Caresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Initiative

interactive Mailbox & Photos

Insight into the future

Readers Letters & Pictures

Quiz

Play the quiz and win QFX Tickets

Nature Calling 74 Playlist of the month

contents vol 1 Issue 9 august 2012

Nirakar Yakthumba

the eco crusader Regulars News Updates

18 News & Scoops from the Auto Industry

24 40

Readers Write

Prasanna KC

AL Wishlist

Tesla

Fuel Consumption Tips 76 Read through these effective measures AL Personality 82 Nirakar Yakthumbaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Autolife Complete Buying Guide 58 Listing of cars & bikes available in Nepal

event Coverages

captain electra

78 Highway Ride with Honda 84 Kathmandu Bike Festival

autolife

interactive

mail box

>>get in touch

hello@autolife.com.np

SEND US IMAGES OF YOUR AUTOLIFE at HELLO@AUTOLIFE.COM.NP AND SEE IT HERE

Autolife needs you.... to email us. Now. Send your words and pictures to editorial@autolife.com.np www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

autolife

news updates

Audi reveals R8 facelift

>> Audi has unveiled the 2013 R8 facelift. The entry-level R8 will come up with the same 424bhp making 4.2-litre V8 engine while the V10 plus gets a 518bhp making 5.2-litre engine. Both the V8 and the V10 versions are powered by the same engine as its predecessors. The 2013 model has the same measurement as its predecessor. Similarly, Audi has also added a 7-speed Stronic dual clutch transmission in the 2013 models that will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 22 grams/km. The revamped model features a revamped fascia with new LED headlamps (standard on all versions), a six-point single-frame grille with horizontal chrome inserts, a redesigned bumper, a restyled diffuser made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP ), a new set of LED taillights, a different ‘R8’ logo, air outlets with three slats on each corner and two new oval exhaust pipes on all models.

Audi considers a luxury scooter

>> German automaker Audi is planning to develop a luxury urban scooter. This came after the recent acquisition of Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati by the German brand. With rival BMW mulling prototypes of urban mobility, it is now Audi’s turn to incorporate electric and hybrid systems to its fleet. Ducati’s expertise will be used in the development of a future Audi scooter that will be based on ‘future mobility solutions’ for urban travellers.

Husqvarna unveils McLaren MP4-12C Spyder two new models launched >> Husqvarna Motorcycles, a BMW group company has unveiled two new models - the TR650 Strada and TR650 Terra.Both these bikes will be powered by a single-cylinder 652 cc tuned engine from BMW G650GS.The power output is 60 bhp. The TR650 Strada will get ABS while the Terra will have ABS as option.Other features that will be optional in these bikes are hand protectors, low seat, alarm system, topcase, side pannier and windshield.

Lamborghini makes milestone

>> Lamborghini has rolled out the 1000th Aventador from its Sant’Agata Bolognese plant. Lamborghini reached this significant history only in just 15 months. The 1000th Aventador painted in Argos Orange was bought by a German architect who also owns a Diablo. Murcielago’s 1000 units took three years to get sold while Aventador’s same units got sold only in just 15 months.Remarkably,the company also has enough orders for the next 18 months. The Aventador is powered by a 700-hp, 6.5-liter V-12 engine mated to a seven-speed automated manual transmission.Similarly, the capacity of its Sant’ Agata Bolognese plant has been increased up to 4.5 Aventadors per day from the current three.

August 2012

>> McLaren Automotive has launched the McLaren MP4-12C Spider. It is the company’s second model after the MP412C and has the performance similar to it. The new model is powered by a twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8 capable of producing a whooping 616 bhp of power. It takes 3.1 sec from zero to 100 kph and can attain a top speed of 315 kph.The chassis gets McLaren’s ProActive Chassis Control— the electronically controlled hydraulic dampers and is based on a hard carbon fibre MonoCell.It is fitted with a two-piece retractable hard-top made from fibreglass-reinforced plastic material. The MP4-12C Spider is available in three colour options: Volcano red, volcano orange and volcano yellow.

www.autolife.com.np

l autolife

news updates

2013 Nissan 370Z launched

>> Nissan has announced the launch and pricing of its 2013 370Z Roadster, 370Z Coupe and the Nismo 370Z models. The new models get several upgrades including a refreshed front fascia, an all new 18 inch wheels, vertical daytime running LED lights except on the Nismo 370Z and two new colours – Magma Red and Midnight Blue. The roadster and coupe models get a 3.7 litre

V6 producing 336 hp of power while the Nismo gets a 6-speed manual transmission 355 hp 3. Litre V6.The Nismo also gets strut tower and sports brakes tuned with special springs and stabilizer bars. The 2013 Nissan 370Z Roadster starts from $42,250 while the coupe and nismo models are priced at $33,900 and $43,800 respectively.

Nissan launches the NOTE

>> Nissan Motors Co.Ltd has unveiled their new global hatchback car, the Note. The

INTERNATIONAL

Note is Nissan’s dynamic new hatchback with a classleading economy, advanced

engine technology and improved aerodynamics. The exterior features the ‘Squash Line’ which according to Nissan gives the car an aerodynamic body shape. It will be powered by a new 3-cylinder direct injection supercharged HR12DDR (DIG-S) and the HR12DE engines. The hatchback also gets Nissan’s Around View Monitor (AVM) system which is fitted in a compact

car for the first time. This system will help the driver in reverse and parallel parking. Nissan claims a class-leading economy of 25.2kmpl on Japanese driving cycle tests. The Japanese-market Note will be manufactured at Nissan’s plant in Kyushu, Japan while the European models will be manufactured at Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the United Kingdom.

BMW-Toyota to build sports car >> Toyota and BMW have agreed to work together on the development of a sustainable high-performance car. The joint venture product will either be a hybrid or fully electric power. Toyota’s strength in environment-friendly hybrids, fuel cells and BMW’s strength in chassis architecture mainly the lightweight carbon fibre

www.autolife.com.np

materials will be combined to develop an eco-friendly high performance sports car. BMW have also agreed to provide diesel engines for Toyota from 2014 onwards as an agreement under the linkup as Toyota looks to increase sales in Europe since demand for lower-emission diesel vehicles are expected to grow.

August 2012

autolife

news updates

BMW launches the new 3-series Hero Motocorp launches Ignitor

>> BMW has launched the new 3 series in India.BMW is offering the new series in both petrol and diesel variants.The 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine produces 245 hp of power while the same 2.0 litre diesel engine churns out hp of power. BMW claims an economical mileage of 14.79 kmpl for the petrol and 18.88kmpl for the diesel engines respectively. The base diesel 320D will cost Rs 28.9 lakh (ex-showroom Indian Currency ) while the petrol variant will cost Rs 37.90 lakhs (ex-showroom Indian Currency ).The new series will be available in two exclusive designs – Sport line and Luxury line. The new 3-series looks much inspired from the current 5-series. Similarly, it is also mated with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, currently available with the 5-Series. Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar, Indian Cricketing legend has been appointed as the brand ambassador of BMW brand for India.

>> Hero Motocorp, world’s largest 2-wheeler maker has launched the Ignitor in India. The Honda Stunner look-alike model is a 124.7 cc,single-cylinder,4-stroke engine capable of producing 11 bhp of power and a peak torque of 1.11 kgm.It is fitted with a digitalanalog instrument panel, dual-tone mirrors and split seat which is equally identical with the Honda’s Stunner. The new motorcycle will be available in four colors – white, red, blue and black. The motorcycle is priced at Rs 55,900 (exshowroom, Delhi) for the drum brake variant while the front disc brake variant will cost Rs 57,900 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

BMW Motorrad and TVS to join hands

>> BMW Motorrad is in talks with TVS for a possible agreement that would help facilitate the German brand entry into India’s high volume two- wheeler market. BMW

August 2012

Motorrad can help TVS in sourcing technological knowhow for developing high-end motorcycles in India.

Erik Buell Racing Llc. (EBR) for engines, this agreement with BMW can help TVS to battle its rivals.

Since, Bajaj Auto has a 47% stake in Austrian bike maker KTM and Hero MotoCorp has a technology tie-up with USbased motorcycling company,

Currently, TVS does not have the technology to manufacture motorcycles with engine displacement of more than 180cc so, this match can

help the Chennai-based firm to manufacture high-end motorcycles. As for BMW, TVS understanding of the two-wheelers market can help BMW to make presence among other global brands like Harley-Davidson and Triumph which are already present in the country.

www.autolife.com.np

Mahindra launches refreshed Verito >> Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has launched the face lifted version of its Verito sedan. The sedan gets both the interiors and exteriors refreshed.

The number plate is now at the centre of the boot lid. The sedan gets a new dash and instrumentation panels with a new centre console. The sedan will be available with a 1.4-litre, 76 bhp petrol and a 1.5-litre, 65 bhp diesel engines. However, the Verito’s power trains and power outputs remain unchanged. Prices start at Rs. Rs 5.27 lakh for petrol and Rs. 6.26 lakh for the diesel variants respectively. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.

The new Verito comes with Skoda look alike front grille which includes a new headlamp and chrome combo. The new front bumper also houses angular headlamps and fog lamps. The back is made less boxy with a new boot lid surrounded by new clear lenses tail lamps.

NEW TATA MPV’s IN TOWN >> Tata Motors are now concentrating to compile its vehicles into separate brands in order to avoid the clash among them. As a result, the Tata Sumo Grande will now be called as Tata Grande DICOR. As the Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) hasn’t arrived with any major changes apart from the visible facelift and basic exterior changes, the Grande

www.autolife.com.np

didn’t see any official roll out. The Tata Grande exteriors in the front consists of a chromed grille along with side finishers, ORVM with inbuilt turn indicators, rub-rails of chrome, door handles with chrome finish and lastly the graphics. Coming to the interior part the usual comfy and cozy seats remain intact, with two-captain seats, a 3-seater bench format and

2-seater in the rear available in 7-seater and 8-seater arrangements. For the second and third line, rear AC vents are provided which leads to a very delightful experience in the Grande. In the engine compartment the services are contributed by the tested 2.2L DICOR common rail turbo diesel engine, capable to generate a top power of 120 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. The new Sumo Gold also gets a

slightly updated look and new powertrains. Styling tweaks include a mildly tweaked front grille, headlamps and foglamps while the interior gets a leather wrapped steering wheel and updated switches for HVAC and power windows. The price range of the Sumo Gold ranges from NRS.24.9 lakhs to NRS.28.9 lakhs while the Grande Dicor GX has been priced at NRS. 35.95 lakhs.

August 2012

autolife

news updates

2012 TVS APACHE SERIES IN NEPAL >> TVS Motor Company today announced the launch of its new 2012 Apache Series RTR with an all new beast themed styling. The new design, with all excesses eliminated and all curves chiselled to perfection, combines seamlessly with a high performance power train to look dynamic, even when stationary. The new design and styling has been incorporated in all TVS Apache models namely TVS Apache RTR 160 and TVS Apache RTR 180. The new breed of TVS Apache RTRs shoulders unique LED pilot lamps that are activated on ignition, night or day, which gives the motorcycle a beast like character in design. Chiselled and sharp tank shrouds constitute an innovative new aerodynamic package which helps reduce engine heat helping

NEW A-STAR IN TOWN

in enhancing durability. Leaner race designed new aggressively angled seat cowls along with a muscled engine cowl echoing an aerodynamic design, brings the new design full-circle, giving the RTR a racier feel. Edgy graphics in dual colour scheme complement 15 bhp of raw power of the TVS Apache RTR 160 which can be pushed to speeds up to 118 kmph. The TVS Apache RTR 180 however churns out 17 bhp and can reach speeds of up to 124 kmph. The new TVS Apache Series RTR is immediately available in TVS dealerships. While the new TVS Apache RTR 160 cost Rs. 2,09,900, the TVS Apache RTR 180 has been priced at Rs. 2,23,900.

>> CG|Automobiles, the automobile division of Chaudhary Group and the sole distributor of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, has launched the new A-Star in Nepal. The new car is powered by a one litre KB10 series engine which delivers a maximum power of 68 bhp @6200 rpm and maximum torque of 90 Nm @3500 rpm. It is well known for its driving comfort in congested urban traffic. Besides the peppy look and performance, it also gives an excellent fuel efficiency of 19 km per litre under test conditions. The modification made in the compact hatchback A-Star are in line

with customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feedback and seek to enhance the overall look, feel and comfort of the buyers said the statement. The new version A-star is equipped with beige interiors, two- tone dash board, new design alloy wheels, rear spoiler, more front leg room, scooped front seat back, larger rear seat, 50:50 Split, rear door bottle holder, Music system with USB port. The A-Star is available in paradise blue, Arctic white, Silky silver, Pearl caffeine brown and Glistering grey colours. The introductory price of A-Star VXi is Rs 20,33,000/- and A-Star ZXi is Rs 21,33,000/- respectively.

autolife

readers write

save the environment?

No, thank you.

By: Prasanna KC

hen communism in Berlin fell down with ‘The Wall’ (read: the wall literally and not the Pink Floyd album) our parents breathed a sigh of relief little knowing that there would always be those that are hell bent on suppressing free thoughts, democracy and more importantly, accountability. The sad truth is that idealists will never go away; they’ll just surface again with a new corporate identity although not necessarily as barbaric or foolhardy. In my country, I feel some of these idealists exist under the ‘environmentalist’ banner. And this time, in their quest to bring down commercialism and be environmentally friendly, they seem to have hit my nerve. An environmentalist I met recently told me - “If the world carries on like this oblivious to the harm that each person’s daily activity is causing the planet, we will not have a planet for our children to live in”. Bull shit! On the contrary, I think because we don’t think about future generations, they will never forget us. I have firm reasons to believe that most of the ‘environmentalists’ aren’t bothered about the environment at all; the ‘cause’ is just an effective weapon which will get their pictures published, earn enough air time in the media to support their fund raising campaigns. Let me fill you in on a few facts. I recently read somewhere that the London Marathon generates more carbon dioxide than every grand prix in the whole Formula One calendar. So what, right? We still cheer the skinny Moroccan marathon runners on television 24

August 2012

said that, it’s highly likely that your grandchildren will find it incredible or even sinful that you burned up a litre of petrol to fetch a pack of cigarettes back in the days; but if your grandchildren end up being smokers just like you, trust me, they’ll understand. when they are near the finishing line, don’t we? Thus, I wish to reiterate that cars do not cause asthma. But the eco-tuktuks tell us to leave our cars at home and instead go electric when I can finally afford a car. If they had their way, they would have us all living up in ‘environmentally friendly’ tree houses not washing our hair to ‘save’ water. We need to understand that the environmentalists must do so because their views are so completely at odds with what’s realistic. For example, ever wondered why solar cars haven’t taken off after all these years? Simply put, it’s because the oil industry does not own the sun. This phenomenon is called reality. Always keep in mind that God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages. It is no secret then that some things in life are pre-defined and simpler to decipher. When I suffer from coughing fits, I take a combination of T. Ebast, T. Montair and Codophos once a day for 10 days to cure the problem. When I’m cold, I put the heater on. When I’m cold and there is no electricity, I put on my down jacket and curse the weather. When I go out, I take the car. When I’m hungry in the middle of the night, I order a large tuna sandwich with extra cheese and eggs at Sandwich Point. And when I have a terrible cold, I’ll switch to whiskey despite my

profound loyalty However, there’s to beer. These hope still. Our things make life fun and It is no secret children may yet save us if they easy. They then that some are taught to provide jobs, things in life are care properly generate pre-defined and for the planet wealth. They simpler to starting now; keep society decipher. but if not, we moving down may have to go its chosen path. back to the age Take them away, and where we’ll be confined we’d have to think again. to watching stars in the night Why do people give each other sky instead of the television. flowers? How do killing living Plucking and eating fruits from creatures to celebrate various the trees instead of driving to important occasions justify Bhatbhateni Supermarket on anything? Hell, why restrict it to Saturday mornings. Letting plants only? the hair grow all over the face instead of carefully plucking See what I mean? In them and applying an expensive order to practice what the aftershave afterwards. Drinking environmentalists preach, homemade chyyang instead we’d have to invent a system of buying alcohol in a bottle where money played no part, labelled with a ridiculous tax so that there was nothing bracket. Walking around and to be gained from making hunting for a living instead of something which may damage driving to the office and staying the environment. Come to think cooped up in front of a computer of it, if the environmentalists in a cubicle for 8 hours a day. ever realize their dreams, you can kiss goodbye to free No more traffic jams, no more thoughts and wave hello to the drugs, no nuclear weapons, no Gestapo or the KGB or whatever more politicians and no threats to they decide to call their secret existence or free minds. Come to police. In fact, I strongly believe think of it, that might not be such environmentalism is every bit as dangerous as totalitarianism a bad idea after all. or absolute communism that Prasanna KC, is a banker by discourages the people from profession, a guest lecturer by speaking out against issues they hobby and a humour columnist at heart. He aspires to be a don’t believe in. But we need ‘successful’ farmer someday. not worry. Extremism has been and will always be defeated Prasanna KC blogs at prasannajournal.wordpress.com by common sense. Having www.autolife.com.np

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

autolife

INFO

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

autolife

reva

test drive

COVER STORY

the anti pollution revalution

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: AL REVIEW TEAM 30

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

EXTERIORS

hink about electric cars and the first one which comes to your mind will probably be the Reva. There is ofcourse a reason to that. First launched back in 2001, Reva is not only the world’s first mass produced electric car, but also the most popular one, being driven in more than 26 countries. Reva cars are built in India by the Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Pvt Ltd, and currently imported and sold in Nepal by Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd. It’s a frequent sighting on our roads too, being the usual choice among our environment conscious expatriate community and a few locals.

At the first glance, the Reva-i immediately makes you want to question as to why eco-friendly cars can’t be made good to look at. However, it is strangely fascinating due to its unique look. The round headlamp, though old fashioned, does compliment its small size to give it a cute look. The two door hatchback has a tall stance, sliding side windows, small wheelbase, full glass rear boot lid and body-coloured bumpers. The body panels are made of tough Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene fibre panels that are bolted onto a strong yet lightweight tubular space frame. The company claims that the exterior panels are scratch resistant and dent proof. On the move, its extremely tiny stature does make for an amusing sight on the road. At every stop, it’s either those usual bunch of people who question you about this small contraption or the kid who aggressively tugs at his mom to have a look at this strange looking car. Most importantly there’s no tailpipe, making it a zero emissions vehicle on the road.

Sure the latest Reva-i too, like most electric cars in the world, do not qualify for that list of most appealing cars in the world. But it promises to keep our earth green and is a proper alternative to save the world from the dangers of global warming. So we squeezed ourselves into one to save the world for a day.

But at every stop, it’s either those usual bunch of people who question you about this small contraption or the kid who aggressively tugs at his mom to have a look at this strange looking car. www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

INTERIORS Practically the car will easily seat two adults and only two extremely small children at the rear. The rear seats can also be folded completely flat to make a larger luggage area in the back.

August 2012

The simple cabin gets a swoopy dashboard laden with nicely styled steering wheel, chunky switches and hard plastics. The blue display console houses an analog speedometer, digital odometer, battery level indicator and some tell-tale warning lamps. The gear knob is placed beside the console

and includes selections for front, neutral, reverse and boost. The Reva-i also comes with a music system, an air-conditioner and remote locking. Though the adjustable driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat is flat and gives out a chair like feel, I found it particularly comfortable and liked the high driving position. With the seats pushed backwards, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than plenty of legroom and headroom would be an issue only for the extremely tall people. Practically, the car will easily seat two adults and only two extremely small children at the rear. The rear seats can also be folded completely flat to make a larger luggage area in the back. The metalframe chassis claims to be sturdy enough to protect the occupants inside and the spare wheel in the front can give some absorption in frontal accidents. There is also an anti-roll hill assist feature that stops the car from rolling backwards when it stops. www.autolife.com.np

PERFORMANCE

The driving performance turned out to be a real surprise. Driving the Reva-i is extremely simple. It has no gear levers and no clutch. Push down the primitive handbrake, switch the gear knob to forward and you are on the move. The car immediately gathers momentum as the silent electric motor produces its maximum torque from 0 rpm itself. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a different story once you get past, because the performance drops as the speed builds up. You can then switch the gear knob to Boost mode, which draws more energy from the batteries and trades faster acceleration, for a reduced driving range. Turning

on the air-con too has no impact on the performance of the car as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operated by a different motor. But since the air-con and the music system do discharge the batteries, you might want to be more careful. The tiny size of the car makes it extremely hassle free when navigating through dense traffic. The width of the car is so small that you can boldly go into those rickshaw dominated alleys, where no car has gone before. There is no power steering but you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss that since the Reva is a rear wheel drive. Its small turning radius also makes it easy to park just anywhere and

The tiny size of the car makes it extremely hassle free when navigating through dense traffic.

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

at places you could even afford to do perpendicular parking where other cars have done parallel parking. The ground clearance is good enough to never scrape the bottom on our forsaken roads, but the drive is bumpy due to the firm suspensions. The heavy battery pack under the seat gives it a low centre of gravity and encourages you to corner the Reva without the feeling that it would flip over. But when you need sudden braking, make sure that you press down fully. Since it works under a regenerative braking system for recharging the battery, only the motor does the braking when under light pressure. The Reva-i claims 80kms of driving range on a full charge, which takes roughly eight hours from a normal household electric socket. So at the end of the day, charging this hatchback is as easy as charging your laptop. 34

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

VERDICT

The Reva-i is a really good initiative to be encouraged and an effort in the right direction. This quirky-looking little commuter, with its environment friendly technology is also bloody cheap to run with a company claimed cost summing up to less than Rs.1 per km. But its limited driving range makes it better as your alternative car for a tension free city driving, and in that role it works extremely well. The Earth loves you, and as a driver the Reva-i is your way to love it back...

SPECIFICATIONS Engine Type High Torque AC Induction Motor Controller 350 Amp Microprocessor w/ Regenerative Braking Charger 220 V | 2.2 kW, High Frequency Switch Mode Power Pack 48 V | 200 Amp-hr | EV Lead Acid Batteries Charge time 80% charge in 2.5 hrs | 100% charge in 8 hrs Fuel Type Electric Maximum Power 18 Bhp Maximum Torque 52 Nm Transmissio Automatic

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Length 2638 mm Width 1324 mm Height 1510 mm Wheelbase 1710 mm Ground Clearance 150 mm Tyre Size 145/70 R13 Suspension Front Independent MacPherson Strut Suspension Rear A-arm with Panhard Rod & Coil-Over Shock Absorbers Brakes Front Discs Brakes Rear Drums Curb Weight 700 kg PRICE 14,95,000/COLOURS

www.autolife.com.np

Angel White, Cherry Red, Passion Yellow, Silver Arrow, Blue Envy, Midnight Black

August 2012

autolife

FEATURE

ECO-FRIENDLY VEHICLES IN NEPAL PAST | PRESENT | FUTURE WORDS : Saurav Nepal

he history of eco friendly transportation in Nepal dates back to the early 1960’s with the establishment of the Hetauda-Kathmandu Ropeway system. The Ropeway system was established with the US government’s assistance to transport goods. Then years later in 1975, the Chinese government introduced the 13-km long Trolley Bus system between Tripureshwor and Suryabinayak with a fleet of nearly 30 buses. It was a big success and was generating good revenue, but with time it started facing unwanted hurdles as a result of political interference, corrupted bureaucracies and mismanagement. That ultimately led to its closure on 18 December, 2001. The government did explore other possibilities for its revival, mainly the public private partnership, in operating and managing the trolley bus system but it all went in vain. Back in 1989 too when the Indian Government imposed trade embargo over Nepal resulting fuel crisis, a 36

August 2012

group of engineers in order to find an alternative for the crisis converted an old car into an EV. This group, named the Electric Vehicle Development Group (EVDG) successfully converted an old car into an EV in 1992. Then in 1993, the Global Resources Institute (GRI) under the Electric Transportation Program for Kathmandu Valley with assistance from USAID, converted 7 diesel operated three-wheelers (Bikram Tempo) into EV’s (Safa Tempo) and began developing EV’s as a profitable transportation industry. After the end of the GRI project, an enthusiastic group of Nepali entrepreneurs bought the 7 EV’s and soon started getting acquainted with the technical know-how regarding the EV’s that resulted in the establishment of the first EV Company of Nepal called Nepal Electrical Vehicle Industry (NEVI). After this the EV movement finally took off. Electric Vehicle Company (EVCO) and Green Electrical Vehicle Private Limited (GREV) started producing Safa Tempo’s in Kathmandu valley. By 1999, Green Valley Electrical Vehicle (GVEV) and Bagmati Electrical Vehicle Company (BEVC) also

Policymakers around the world have begun to recognize electric vehicles as an influential component of environmental policies. started manufacturing the vehicles. The Finance Act of 1996/1997 also helped in promoting the EV manufacturers by exercising low import duties on the electric vehicles components and parts. But as per various reports, due to the high costs of maintenance and expensive electricity tariff, these EV entrepreneurs are currently facing hardships. At present, the size of EV market of Nepal is more than Rs. 500 million. More than 700 Safa Tempos ply along the roads of Kathmandu Valley along 17 public transportation routes daily. Many automobile dealers are launching EVs and hybrid vehicles in the market. Electric cycles and motorbikes can be seen frequently in the streets of Kathmandu. Apparently, more and more people are adapting to the EV culture daily due to its sustainable benefits and as a solution to our never ending petroleum crisis. Similarly, one cannot miss out the Manakamana cable car while talking about electric transportation in Nepal. The Manakamana cable car is the only cable car service in the country and has been profitably operating since 14 years providing facilities to millions of religious devotees. Now, policymakers around the world have begun to recognize electric vehicles as an influential component of environmental policies. Developed countries like USA, www.autolife.com.np

Japan, France and Denmark are already encouraging the Electric Vehicle Mobility and Manufacturing program. In USA, the government provides tax benefits for the buyers of EVs and hybrid vehicles. The Japanese government provides an ammount that is 50% of the difference in cost between EVs and gasoline automobiles. Similarly, the French government provides a subsidy of $8000 for the purchase of electric vehicles and another subsidy of $4000 for charging the vehicles. In Denmark, the government eliminates the fuel consumption tax on EVs and it also provides tons of other facilities like free parking and free charging of EVs. Also, in our neighbouring country India, the government has planned on introducing subsidy schemes and implementing policies to convert the public vehicles into either CNG or battery operated vehicles. Well only if our government too could introduce something similar soon and provide subsidies for eco friendly vehicles. Though an under-developed country, we possess many beneficial characteristics that favour the EV mobility program. Unlike

coal powered electricity plants in other countries, energy generated from our hydro-power plants has no air pollutants. Nepal can theoretically generate 83,000 Megawatts of hydro-electricity. So if even little of this is tapped into, then electricity can be easily provided for the battery operated vehicles. The dependence on fuel will be decreased and lots of national income and outflow of foreign exchange can be saved on fuel imports. And if in the future EVs are locally manufactured, it will also result in employment generation and will help in raising the standard of living of people. EVs are cheaper to own, operate and maintain than a gasoline vehicle. EVs will also help in maintaining a good air quality level unlike the gasoline vehicles. Also, with no pollution and a healthy environment, it will bring astronomical benefits on the health of the people and prove to be a catalyst in increasing tourism in the country.

Well many may still insist that eco friendly cars are more for environmentalists and boring people. But think back to all the benefits that they provide and consider the fact that you will save lot of your hardearned earnings on gasoline. Eco-friendly automobiles are also being reinvented and changing from ugly and boring to beautiful and exciting. Cars in the future will evolve to run cleaner and faster than ever before. While more mainstream technologies like hybrid cars and hydrogen fuel cells continue to push the edges of today’s car technology, more new innovations will be introduced in the future. The cars of tomorrow will be smart in ways we’re only now beginning to envision and develop. The technology is already there and it now remains in the hands of our government to play the cards rights. We must act now else in the future, the cost of filling up a vehicle will become unsustainable!

In the meanwhile, we caught up with Mr. Saurabh Jyoti, President of Nepal Automobile Dealers Association, who has been constantly lobbying the government through the organization to implement encouraging policies for the new generations of eco friendly vehicles. Here’s what he had to express on the future of the automotive industry: to those fuel guzzling public buses. But today, technology is just not limited to just electrics and it has developed into hybrids and fuel cells too. So it’s disappointing that our government policy is still limited to only electric vehicles and has closed doors to this new age of more eco friendly and greener alternative vehicle technologies.

Saurabh Jyoti President, Nepal Automobile Dealers Association ‘’As we all know, we already had electric Trolley Buses operating on the roads of Kathmandu three decades ago. But sadly those electric lines no more hover over our city roads and the efficient and emission free Trolley Buses have been left to rust in one of our government backyards. So you can clearly see that rather than moving forward, Nepal turned back and returned www.autolife.com.np

Take for instance the Hybrids. It’s a very practical vehicle for Nepal as these consume half the fuel that normal petrol engines do and leave a much smaller carbon footprint. But our taxation policy is such that even these hybrid vehicles have to cough up the same 240% taxation rate that is applied to fuel driven vehicles. If only the government could lower the taxation structure for these eco friendly vehicles, then hybrids could be a reasonable buy for every car owner. First of all, buyers will be able to avail the eco friendly hybrid cars at a much

cheaper rate than gasoline cars. This will boost and encourage purchase of these cars as it also reduces operating costs. And when most of the people in the country begin to drive a fuel saving car like a hybrid, our yearly import of nearly Rs. 85 billion (aprox) worth of fuel will be substantially minimized. Now this doesn’t end here. These eco-friendly cars emit much less carbon dioxide and will help clean up our polluted environment. This will then benefit our tourism industry too with the new and cleaner atmosphere. Also Nepal will be applauded around the globe and serve as a model country for its environment concerned government policy.” So you see it’s a win-win situation for just everybody and the only logical way forward so that we can preserve our environment for future generations. It’s now up to the government to consider the developments. August 2012

autolife

wishlist

WORDS : Ayush Dhaubanjar

TESLA

THE ELECTRIC SUPERCAR

AutoLife Wishlist is a feature content where we focus on automobile brands or specific products, which we wish to see running in the roads of Nepal. Definitely, taxes are sky high in the country, but on a lighter note, it definitely does not kill anybody to make a suggestion.

you think go-green cars are boring and lifeless? Think again! Well, it’s not entirely your fault if you still cannot recollect an eco-friendly car that’s actually cool and crazy. Frankly, over the years, majority of those production cars that have been kinder to the environment have failed to create a lasting impression apart from their emission free technologies. Also, with exotic manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Jaguar, Bentley, Aston Martin, etc setting the standards for every automobile enthusiasts’ wet dream, it doesn’t help either. TESLA ROADSTER

August 2012

So meet Tesla Motors! Read through and I swear you will never hate electric cars ever again. Tesla Motors was founded back in 2003 by a group of daring Silicon Valley engineers who set out to change the odds and prove that electric vehicles too could be awesome. Tesla Motors was named after electrical engineer and physicist Nikola Tesla. Critics said it couldn’t be done, but they took nothing for granted. Fast forward today, Tesla sells the best electric cars and electric power train components in the world.

Tesla Motors was named after electrical engineer and physicist Nikola Tesla. Tesla’s electric drive train promises to offer a radically different experience by connecting the driver, the car, and the environment in ways they’ve never before. Tesla’s

approach to vehicle technology calls into question anyone who thinks you must sacrifice premium performance to reduce your carbon footprint. It not only offers the exhilarat-

The Tesla Roadster hit the streets in early 2008, and today over 2,300 Roadsters now drive emissions-free in more than 37 countries. The Tesla Roadster is an all-electric sports car that provides exhilarating electric miles with technology more efficient than any other sports car and equal performance. The car claims a range of 394 km per charge on average according to the testing done by Tesla. The Roadster Sport is faster and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/hr) in 3.7 seconds, compared with 3.9 seconds for the standard Roadster. The base price of the standard Roadster was $1,09,000 when it was launched and the Roadster Sport’s starting price was quoted at $1,28,500. With its world-class acceleration, handling, and design, the Roadster ranks amongst the world’s most coveted sports cars. www.autolife.com.np

ing experience of beating an equivalent gas-guzzling sports car off the line, but makes you grin bigger by using much less energy to do so. Tesla vehicles offer performance, handling, and comfort with no tailpipe emissions. They use energy efficiently, don’t pollute, and

help eliminate dependence on petroleum which will not last forever. Owners can simply drive their Tesla all day long to work or on joy rides, and at the end of the day, they simply return home and plug in. Plug in before you go to bed and wake up with more than 300kms of driving range. The charger is

Owners can simply drive their Tesla all day long to work or on joy rides, and at the end of the day, they simply return home and plug in. TESLA models s

on board the car, which means no special permanently installed equipment is needed to plug in. Any outlet can be used to charge the car. Plus, a Tesla can also be charged with electricity created from 100% renewable energy. So, Tesla owners can also reduce their carbon footprint a step further by installing residential solar systems and charge it completely off the grid.

to electric mobility with a full range of increasingly affordable electric cars. Thus Tesla technology offers the most efficient path to a sustainable energy future. No hybrids. No hydrogen. No hype. It’s just more than simply electric. Here’s a breakdown on these cool set of wheels from Tesla that we wish for to be present on our roads.

Tesla’s ultimate goal is to accelerate the world’s transition TESLA models X

The Tesla Model X was unveiled at the company’s design studios in Hawthorne in Southern California on February 9, 2012. The Model X is designed from the ground up to blend the best of an SUV and to provide unfettered performance and brilliant functionality. The Model X Performance will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, outperforming the fastest SUVs and many sports cars. Production of Model X in expected to begin in late 2013 with deliveries starting from early 2014. Model X will be priced comparable to a similarly equipped Model S.

Tesla unveiled the Tesla Model S all-electric sedan on March 26, 2009. Retail deliveries of the Model S in the U.S. began on June 22, 2012, at a special event held at the Tesla Factory in California with a starting price tag of roughly $50,000. The Model S was designed as an alternative to cars such as the BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6, and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It comfortably seats five adults and has a 0–60 mph (0–97 km/hr) time of 5.6 seconds. The Model S Performance version does it in 4.4 seconds. The Model S features a 17-inch customizable touch screen with wireless Internet access and remote-programming abilities. www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

autolife

test drive

nepal exclusive

INSIGHT INTO THE FUTURE WORDS: Ayush Dhaubanjar | PHOTOs: AL REVIEW TEAM

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

honda insight

I drive down the road towards Bhaisepati and floor the throttle on an empty stretch, the display console changes its colour from green to blue and the number of leaves that had earlier grown on the screen begins to wilt. And when I back off on the throttle and continue on an easy drive, some leaves begin to grow and the colour of the screen turns to green. Confused, right? Well I am onboard the Honda Insight and its eco guidance function is actually telling me how economically I am driving by changing the background colour of the speedometer and rewarding leaves on the go. Green meant good efficiency and blue meant I was consuming extra fuel. And the display rewards up to five green leaves considering how economically you are driving. It even accumulates data on driving patterns and enables one to analyze their history to improve driving strategies. Now how cool is that! You could actually forget Angry Birds playing this game on the move. After all, not every day comes by when you get to enjoy driving with the guilt free feeling of probably having killed one or two lesser plants than you normally would have. The Honda Insight is another granddaddy of hybrid cars which has the environment high on its agenda and promises to offer you that sensation every time you floor the accelerator.

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

FROM THE OUTSIDE With its smooth sloping front and a high tail, the Insight has a similar shape that currently defines hybrid vehicles. The front fascia includes a thin three layer grille design that extends toward the attractive headlamp casings with blue light surrounds. The Insight has a nice grille design with stylish front and rear bumpers which has been designed with diffusers to smoothen airflow. Up front, the Insight could be mistaken for a modified Honda City, though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slightly more softly sculpted. The styling of the Insight has its own unique touches with the chiselled low nose, swept-back windshield, gently arched roof and short hatch like styling at the rear. Out back, you also get a nice twin-glass look from the boot and sharp triangular LED lights. All these designs not only give the Insight a fresh sporty design, but also help improve aerodynamics for better fuel economy.

ON THE INSIDE The cabin looks high-tech with its assortment of futuristic shapes. Standard equipment inside includes keyless entry, full power accessories, automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, driver-seat height adjustment, steering wheel audio controls, Aux-in and USB enabled six-speaker audio interface and automatic headlights. The Insightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s controls are also quite simple to use. Behind the steering wheel are two display consoles; one below for the fuel/battery gauges, rev counter and trip meter, and above it for the digital speedo. The visual eco guidance aids offered to help encourage fuel-efficient driving are a nice touch. The entire ergonomics are top notch, and the blue interior lights scheme in the dark make it much better. Front seat occupants sit in a low-slung position and a little back from the dash44

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

board. The manual height adjustable seats offer a fine driving position. At the back, passengers can enjoy a wide seat with a near-flat floor and a huge flat boot can be created with the fold-down split rear seats. So space isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too bad on the inside. Overall, the Insight feels spacious, airy, and somewhat futuristic with its plenty of space and a clean multi-level dash.

SAFETY WISE Much like other Honda offerings, the Insight has impressive crash-test results, thanks in part to Hondaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) structure, and standard features including passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution, traction control and brake

The entire ergonomics are top notch, and the blue interior lights scheme in the dark make it much better.

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

assist. The front fascia is also designed to minimize pedestrian injuries. Driver and passenger have active front head restraints, dual-stage, multi threshold front and front side airbags. Outboard passengers have side curtain airbags.

OUT ON THE ROADS The Honda Insight’s hybrid system consists of a 1.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor paired to a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The gas engine produces 88 horsepower and 121 Nm of torque, while the electric motor chips in 14 bhp and 78 nm. Power flows to the front wheels through an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT). But the Insight’s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system is a little different than that on the Prius. The Insight’s engine doesn’t have a dedicated electric-only mode and there is no transition between electric and gasoline modes, as the electric motor works exclusively only to assist the gas engine at namely low-speed driving rather than working in tandem with it.

Since this car was built more for efficiency rather than performance, there’s an ECON mode that enhances fuel economy further by accelerating the car more slowly and backing off the gas engine.

August 2012

After a silent start it easily gets along in traffic, as the electric motor lends a hand at low revs. But the Insight feels laboured when accelerating rapidly or overtaking as the engine is pretty vocal, and not in a pleasant way. It feels as if the engine is kept spinning at high revs and the CVT transmission is taking time to up shift. In this case the Insight doesn’t feel properly refined. But it offers a fun and engaging driving experience. Its steering is responsive and the sporty suspension tuning makes the Insight fun to drive around. But ride quality suffers over rough surfaces and road imperfections are transmitted to the cabin. The brakes do their job well and the Insight has regenerative brakes, which capture the energy produced during braking to recharge the battery. Since this car was built more for efficiency rather than performance, there’s an ECON mode that enhances fuel economy further by accelerating the car more slowly and backing off the gas engine. There’s almost the automatic stop-start system which saves fuel on traffic stops. www.autolife.com.np

] THEIR SAY ] DR. RITA PRADHAN Oracare Periodontal Clinic Currently Drives: VW Tiguan

FINAL VERDICT

Though the hybrid limelight is well hogged by rival Toyota, the Honda Insight also has some things in its favour. Although its technology might not be as groundbreaking as the current Prius, the Insight boasts a simpler approach to hybrid technology and most importantly at a much lower price. Honda’s real achievement here is that it has priced it within a much nearer reach of the Nepalese buyers and is currently the cheapest hybrid in the country. It’s also proper and futuristic looking car both on the inside and outside as well. And getting one of these, you’ll definitely be doing something very positive for the environment. So if you have been wishing to do your bit for global warming but in style, then this is it!

SPECIFICATIONS Gasoline Engine Type: Displacement: Electric Motor:

Fuel Type: Maximum Power:

Maximum Torque:

Transmission:

SOHC In-Line 4 Cylinder i-VTEC 1339 cc Permanent magnet AC synchronous motor Petrol/Electric 88 Bhp @ 5800 rpm (Petrol) 14 Bhp @ 1500 (Electric) 121 Nm @ 4500 rpm (Petrol) 78 Nm @ 1000 (Electric) Automatic CVT

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Length: Width: Height: Wheelbase: Ground Clearance: Tyre Size: Suspension Front: Suspension Rear: Brakes Front: Brakes Rear: Curb Weight: Fuel Tank:

4395 mm 1695 mm 1425 mm 2550 mm 135mm 185/55 R16 MacPherson Strut Torsion Beam Ventilated Discs Drums 1215kg 40L

PRICE:

75,00,000/-

ALTERNATIVE CHOICES:

Toyota Prius

www.autolife.com.np

Its exterior body design is chic and looks good with its hatchback like styling. The interior quality is fabulous. The digital 3D like dashboard which turns green in economy mode and blue in fuel consumption mode, is amazing. Especially with its automatic transmission it seems easy to drive in traffic. Even at traffic stops it helps to conserve fuel with its start/stop function. I have been in the car a couple of times and I must say it’s really smooth and addictive. The Honda Insight definitely meets the criteria for an ideal vehicle. It looks good, feels good, and is environment friendly and technically sound! The current cost is the only downside here, but with the ever increasing oil price, it may actually be economical in the long run. The use of hybrids in Nepal should be encouraged for two obvious reasons. First, it will be a relief from the kind of fuel crisis that we face every now and then. Second, Kathmandu is one of the most polluted cities in the world owing to the vehicular emissions from poorly maintained vehicles in congested roads. So it will be great to see more of these hybrid cars on the road. We won’t have to wait for the bandhs then to breathe some clean air in the city!

SIDDHARTHA PANDEY Entrepreneur Currently Drives: Mazda 3 The exterior body design looks appealing especially from the front and it could have been better from the rear. The ergonomics of the interior is indeed very futuristic. It has a modern electric feel and it gets better when the dash board is lit during the dark. The interior quality is great. Unfortunately I haven’t had the time to take it out for a proper drive. But as I have read about its presence elsewhere in the world, it should definitely be a good car to drive. It is definitely a very good vehicle and more of a specialized eco friendly vehicle. So I cannot comment much about the performance. Also reliability on our roads is questionable for now. But hey it is a HONDA! Sadly our government policy on custom duty for vehicles is absolutely beyond imagination and the same is applied to hybrids too. It is just too high! A revision on lowering the duty is a must from the government for promoting hybrids in Nepal. Since we do not have a reliable and good public transportation, personal vehicles are our basic necessity and it should be made more affordable. This is the duty of the government. August 2012

autolife

FEATURE

MEET

mr. funnel

Words: Al Team

n Nepal, getting hold of clean uncontaminated fuel for your precious vehicle is a major issue. Even fuel pumps don’t sell the purest of fuels. In fact, getting some fuel is usually a problem. So we usually need to stock fuel in containers at home, to avoid the brunt of frequent shortages. But storage containers are not always stored in the cleanest areas and stored fuel accumulates condensation and dirt over time. Frequent mix of these harmful contaminants of water and dirt can ultimately lead your engine to a loss of efficiency from plugged fuel systems, or even system failure. So meet Mr. Funnel! It’s a perfect solution for your gasoline powered machines like generators, motorcycles and cars. It’s basically a simple funnel which makes sure that you filter out any dirt sediments and water when fuelling your vehicle. The funnel provides you a first line of defence with its

vertical Teflon coated filter screen which has openings of five thousandths of an inch, so fine that it stops the water and crud while allowing free flow of Gasoline, Kerosene or Diesel. Mr. Funnel also does not require any maintenance or replacement parts. Nothing sticks to the permanent Teflon coated filter and you can just rinse it out with water after usage.

It’s a perfect solution for your gasoline powered machines like generators, motorcycles and cars. It’s basically a simple funnel which makes sure that you filter out any dirt sediments and water when fuelling your vehicle.

August 2012

In fact to keep our doubts at bay, we were even sent a funnel over for testing. The first thing we did was fill it with water and surprisingly it just didn’t pass through. Then we did another test where we mixed a certain quantity of water with petrol and when we filtered the fuel through the funnel, there was the same amount of water remaining in the fuel. The curious minds that we were, we even checked to see if it separated water from alcohol too, but that experiment too didn’t turn out to be successful. Jokes apart, it definitely makes much sense to get one, especially if you own an expensive vehicle, as it will keep your engines running smoother with lesser wear/tear on the motor. You could also get a better fuel efficiency with frequent usage of the funnel’s filtration. Mr. Funnel is manufactured in the USA and is imported in Nepal by Tuff Stuff Nepal Pvt. Ltd and is available for sale through Turbo Motors Trading Pvt. Ltd from the Ducati Showroom at Naxal. It is available in Nepal in two models which differ mainly on their flow rate. The F3C can filter approximately 8 litres per minute and is effective for fuelling motorcycles or generators. It costs Rs.3600 only. While the F8C which costs Rs.4850, can filter nearly 19 litres per minute and is best for fuelling fourwheelers as well. Get your Mr. Funnel Fuel Filter today, and keep your engine running smooth! For further info contact sales@tuffstuffnepal.com

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

autolife

INFO

Automobiles have transformed dramatically since the first mass-produced Ford Model T car hit the consumer market about 104 years ago. But the evolution still continues, with gas-guzzling vehicles slowly turning into energy-efficient roadsters. Complied by: niren Tuladhar American Thomas Davenport builds the first practical electric vehicle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a small locomotive.

The Woods Motor Vehicle Company of Chicago builds the Woods Dual Power, a full. The electric engine could propel the car up to 20 mph. Together with the gas engine; it could get up to 35 mph. Once the car got up to 20 mph, the gas engine could be engaged, allowing the electric motor and gas motor to work together.

August 2012

William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa builds the first successful electric automobile in the United States.

The first successful hybridelectric car is designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

The first electric taxis hit the streets of New York early in the year. The Pope Manufacturing Company of Connecticut becomes the first large-scale American electric automobile manufacturer.

Thomas Alva Edison begins his mission to create a long-lasting, powerful battery for commercial automobiles. Though his research yields some improvements to the alkaline battery, he ultimately abandons his quest a decade later.

www.autolife.com.np

Nissan unveils its new electric car, called the LEAF (Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family Car). The LEAF, capable of a top speed of 90 mph, can travel 100 miles on a full charge and has a battery that can be recharged to 80% of its capacity in 30 minutes.

Peugeot Sport unveils the Peugeot 908 HY, a hybrid electric car that features kinetic energy recovery systems braking. This brings the EV component of brakes that recover and store energy to the world of high performance racing. Victor Wouk, the ‘Godfather of the Hybrid’ builds the first fullpowered, full-size hybrid vehicle out of a 1972 Buick Skylark provided by General Motors for the 1970 Federal Clean Car Incentive Program.

www.autolife.com.np

The Chevy Volt is released to customers with a price tag of $41,000 excluding taxes. It wins numerous awards like the 2011 Green Car of the Year, 2011 North American Car of the Year, 2011 World Green Car and 2012 European Car of the Year.

Tesla Motors publicly unveils the ultra sporty Tesla Roadster at the San Francisco International Auto Show in November. The first production Roadsters will be sold in 2008 with a base price listing of $98,950. Vanguard-Sebring’s Citicar has a top speed of 30 mph and a range of 40 miles. By 1975, the company becomes the sixth largest automaker in the U.S. but unfortunately, dissolves only a few years later.

Tesla S, a full-sized electric sedan produced by Tesla Motors is released in June, 2012 in the U.S. This luxury model is equipped with a 85 kWh lithiumion battery pack capable of travelling 265 miles (426 km) in a single charge.

Toyota unveils the Prius-the world’s first commercially mass-produced and marketed hybrid car in Japan. Nearly 18,000 units are sold during the first production year.

General Motor releases the EV1, the first mass produced and purpose designed electric vehicle of the modern era from a major automaker.

August 2012

autolife

test drive

Toyota Prius

nepal exclusive

the eco crusader WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: AL REVIEW TEAM

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman and Tom Hanks all have one each, while Titanic superstar Leonardo DiCaprio owns five of them. Joining the bandwagon are another nearly four million people around the globe who have bought this hybrid car in its 15 years of existence. Today it is without doubt the most iconic eco-friendly car on earth. No prizes for guessing! Yes, we are talking about the most famous hybrid car in the world - The Toyota Prius. Prius is a Latin word meaning ‘before’ and the naming seems perfect as it was launched way before environmental awareness had become a mainstream social issue. The Prius is now a name synonymous with hybrids and is already in its third generation avatar when most of the other hybrid developments are still in its nascent stage. With the introduction of the Toyota Prius in Nepal, it’s a milestone leap for our auto industry. Not being the ones to give anything amiss, we at the AutoLife Team had a go in the first hybrid car of our life.

THE INTERIORS The cabin architecture is futuristic with a sweeping centre console that extends from the dashboard and divides the front row. The tilt/telescopic adjustable steering wheel come with mounted controls for managing audio, phone calls, climate and multi-information display. The digital speedometer and everything you need to know about the Hybrid Synergy Drive’s activities is displayed in the elongated green-backlit centre console. On the display there’s an energy flow diagram which shows what is being charged or being driven by what. You can also select bar graphs showing fuel consumption and energy regenerated. Positioned just below the display is the multimedia system comprised of a radio tuner, Bluetooth, aux-in and CD changer. A slender space between the two houses the air vents. Then there are the AC system controls, the three buttons to select Eco, Power and EV modes and a tiny gear selector.

www.autolife.com.np

To their right are buttons for the head-up display which interestingly shows your travelling speed on the windscreen. But the quality of the plastics and dashboard elements could have been better for the expensive price tag here in Nepal. The driver has got more than enough headroom and legroom. The front seats are very comfortable, but it lacks electric movement apart for the lumbar adjustment. Front setbacks are slim to provide good knee room area for rear passengers as well. The boot offers a generous space and the 60/40 foldable rear seats and can be used to extend load capacity. A good storage space is given up front too in the form of an upper box and glove box, under the central console and inside the slide-able centre armrest. Overall the Prius is roomy on the inside with optimum comfort space from the driver’s seat to the rear boot and is well-equipped as well.

August 2012

The digital speedometer and everything you need to know about the Hybrid Synergy Driveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities is displayed in the elongated green-backlit centre console. THE EXTERIORS From the front bumper to the rear spoiler, every bit on the Prius has been crafted to optimize airflow all around the car. The car is aerodynamically designed with a very low drag co-efficient to easily slip through the air and thus save on the amount of fuel used. The arched roof line complements the low slung bonnet line, and the stylish headlight and fog light design are eye-catching. At the back, there are clear glass vertical tail-lights

August 2012

with fashionable chrome fins and detailing inside. A separate, slim rear window sits under the stylish rear spoiler. Though its aesthetic appeal is subjective, with its perfect blend of a compact hatchback and a sloping coupe like styling, it nearly looks like some performance car especially from the rear angle.

SAFETY Standard safety features include traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist and brake override. The seatbelts provided in the Toyota Prius come with pre-tensioners and force limiters, and a warning light shines if the seatbelt isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t being used. Also all three rear seats in the Toyota Prius have three-pointer seatbelts and there are child-proof locks as well. Other safety features of the Toyota Prius include front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger. The Prius is also equipped with front and rear curtain airbags, an energy absorbing retracting steering column and a head impact protection structure. The car comes with an engine immobiliser, a remote control alarm. The keyless entry is another safety/security feature. www.autolife.com.np

THE DRIVE QUALITY A 1.8 litre four-cylinder engine produces 98 bhp and the battery pack makes another additional 36 bhp for a combined total output of 134 horsepower. Starting the Prius doesn’t require one to insert the key as its remote comes with a proximity sensor. So you simply press the power button, the display screen comes to life and a ‘Ready’ light appears. Then put the gear selector in Drive, release the weird and tricky foot operated hand brake, press the accelerator and off you go. Silently. The engine expectedly is extremely silent and the motor delivers an easy drive. When in ECO mode, the Prius runs in electric-only

mode up to 50kmph and after that the petrol engine seamlessly joins in. For a more enthusiastic driving experience, you can switch to Power mode which makes the throttle less restrictive and it becomes much easier to overtake in our roads. The Prius swaps smoothly and effortlessly between petrol and electric power. There is also the electric motor only EV mode, but for this you need to have a certain level of charge available in your batteries. Otherwise the car automatically reverts to normal mode once the battery becomes exhausted. Apart from neutral and reverse, the easy transmission selector also has a ‘B’ (Braking) mode that increases the amount of regenerative braking for charging the batteries.

the suspension is soft. On normal roads, the Prius is well balanced and the car grips the road properly on turns. The brakes perform well, and are capable of stopping the car with ease. Even though it’s the motor that first does the braking under light pressure, the transition from regenerative braking to using the discs is undetectable at the pedal.

The lack of clutch and the light steering makes it a child’s play to drive around Kathmandu. But one needs to be careful when backing the car as rear visibility is a bit poor. The steering was precise but its lightness did lead to some lack of feel on the windy highway towards Dhulikhel. The ride can also be unsettled on our bumpy roads as www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

THE FINAL SAY

Starting the Prius doesn’t require one to insert the key as its remote comes with a proximity sensor.

August 2012

The Prius is a car that treats the environment with respect and only when you understand its environment friendly and frugal motives, it is easy to pardon its modest performance. If you are looking for something engaging to drive, then this isn’t the car for you as the Toyota Prius isn’t your fastest car. The point is that it will easily do commuting around town or cruising on the highways at possibly the lowest cost of travel and offers a very visible route to greenness with its excellent fuel economy and emission ratings. After all it isn’t for nothing that many Hollywood celebrities and millions love it. But at the current price tag of over a crore, it just doesn’t make a sensible purchase, even in the long run. You could actually afford to pay for the long term operation of a much cheaper similar spec gasoline car, and spend the rest of the money on other more effective environment conservation efforts. Ofcourse it’s not the car at fault here; but our absurd government taxation policy. So until the government gives hybrids a sort of reasonable tax break, the Prius will sadly remain only within the reach of those who are really willing to pay the current price for its eco friendly objectives. But wouldn’t people with so much money to spare, spend it on other more exotic vehicles? Well, unless you wish to be seen driving the same car as the stunning Natalie Portman and charming Leonardo DiCaprio or insist that driving a Prius is a way to be seen as being concerned about the environment. www.autolife.com.np

] THEIR SAY ]

ANIL KESHARI SHAH CEO at Mega Bank Currently Drives: Range Rover Vogue Having just driven the Prius, let me start by the looks. When you look at the vehicle, you feel like now you are going to experience something like never before. It gives you the right feel even before you get into it. And of course once you open the door and get in, the fact that it can be started without inserting the key puts you in a mood of what you are about to experience. Now, the moment I drove the car, the Nepali in me felt that we should get as many of these fuel saving vehicle into the city as possible. That is because

Nepal spends most of its hard earned money into buying fuel. Looking at how the hybrid works amazed me. The auto mode decides on choosing the battery mode and petrol mode as per the conditions. The driver also has the choice to override this function for more power but in Kathmandu the available power should be more than enough. What I was worried about was the fact that with hours of load shedding, when would one charge the car to drive it? But the beauty of the matter is that it charges itself. So it’s self-contained! But the current price is really steep. I would strongly suggest that the government give some sort of an incentive to hybrid vehicles. If the government would put one step forward, I’m sure the consumers would be more than willing to do their part.

SPECIFICATIONS

SUMAN JOSHI CEO at Laxmi Bank Currently Drives: 2011 Mercedes C-Class At the first glance, the overall exterior body design looks good though it could have been a little more aerodynamic. On the road the car turns a lot of heads with its unique styling. Inside the car it’s very spacious and there is plenty of legroom. I especially liked the extended side windows which improves outer vision. Upholstery and dashboard quality though is a bit of a disappointment for such a technologically advanced Japanese car. It feels good to drive it around knowing that you are saving up on fuel and not contributing to environmental degradation with its low emission levels. The trade off here obviously is in the lack of power and you realize that every time you try to overtake other less environment friendly sedans. Of course, it’s not that you get to overtake very often on the roads of Kathmandu. But the driving thrill is an important aspect of a good car. The driving position offers good outer visibility and the car is easily maneuverable as most Japanese cars are. Overall it’s a neat package, but only until you hear the price. So it’s very important that the government lower the import duties on hybrids and encourage its use by having it priced more reasonably. Wide scale use of hybrids in the country will not only help sort our challenges in managing fuel supply but also mean much less pollution. So for now, the Prius is a must have in your stable if you have a bottomless cash pit. www.autolife.com.np

Gasoline Engine Type: Aluminium InLine 4, DOHC 16-Valve with VVT –i Displacement: 1798 cc Electric Motor: Permanent magnet AC synchronous motor Fuel Type: Petrol/Electric Maximum Power: 98 Bhp @ 5200 rpm (Petrol) | 36 Bhp (Electric) Maximum Torque: 142 Nm @ 4000 rpm Transmission: Automatic CVT

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Length: 4480 mm Width: 1745 mm Height: 1490 mm Wheelbase: 2700 mm Ground Clearance: 135mm Tyre Size: 195/65R15 Suspension Front: Independent MacPherson Strut w/ Stabilizer Bar Suspension Rear: Torsion Beam Brakes Front: Ventilated Discs Brakes Rear: Solid Discs Curb Weight: 1365kg Fuel Tank: 45L PRICE: 1,20,00,000/-

August 2012

FEATURE

TOP HYBRID

autolife

Compiled by: Saurav Nepal

You need to plug in a hybrid car Most people think that hybrid cars need to be plugged in wall sockets for charging and they can’t run much with a single charge. But they don’t know that today’s car manufacturers have developed a technology called ‘regenerative braking’. Regenerative braking is a process by which energy lost while braking in hybrid vehicles is recovered and transferred to the batteries. When the brake is applied, the regenerative braking circuits reverse the electric motor which turns the motor into an electric generator. The energy produced by the generator is directed towards the car’s high voltage batteries. Today there is a new range of Plug-In Hybrids too though, which can be plugged in to charge too as per your requirements. Hybrids are a new technology The history of hybrid vehicles dates back to the early 19th century. In 1900, Ferdinand Porsche added an internal combustion engine in the Lohner-Porsche Elektromobil making it the first hybrid gas-electric vehicle. Then soon in 1905, American engineer H. Piper filed the first patent for a gas-electric hybrid prototype. Similarly in 1989 Audi demonstrated the Audi Duo. The Audi Dio combined a 12-horsepower electric motor with a 139-horsepower internal combustion engine. Several other developments happened in between. But the year 1997 proved to be the most defining year in the history of hybrid vehicles as Toyota launched the Prius in Japanese market. The hybrid vehicles market started growing after that. It then became a common phenomenon with the major automakers introducing hybrid models of the successful variants in the market slowly. Hybrids are expensive Well, this is another popular myth surrounding hybrid vehicles. Hybrid vehicles are only slightly expensive than gasoline ones but are currently available in various models starting from $21,000 to $104,000. There are several hybrid vehicles to choose from, sedans to SUV’s in various size and performance categories. The most popular and efficient models like the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius and Chevrolet Malibu all start below $30,000. Similarly, there are tax benefits for some advanced hybrid and electric vehicles

August 2012

like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. Similarly, other top manufacturers are also increasing the production of hybrid vehicles as a tool for cost-reduction and competitive pricing. Hybrids are underpowered Many think hybrids are underpowered vehicles but on the contrary, the electric motors present in these vehicles provide the manufacturers more possible ways in increasing fuel efficiency or speed. The Lexus GS 450h, a rear wheeldrive hybrid sedan produces 339 horsepower and goes from 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds. It is the fastest mass-produced hybrid car on the planet. Similarly, GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade hybrid, Volkswagen Touareg hybrid, Fisker Karma (the electric luxury car) and the Tesla Model S all churn out excessive horsepower. Hybrids will solve our energy and environmental problems The hybrid vehicles market is heating up with more and more people opting for them rather than the normal gasoline vehicles. However the world is oil dependent and it will take a significant amount of time for the auto industry, general public and the government to fully embrace the hybrid technology. According to experts, hybrid cars will take around another 10 to 20 years to get fully commercialized. Electric and hydrogen powered cars along with the other hybrids will provide consumers a range of options to choose from but will take a high amount of time to replace our energy and environmental problems. Hybrid batteries need to be replaced Worries about an expensive replacement of a hybrid car’s batteries continue to nag many potential buyers. Those worries are unfounded. By keeping the charge between 40 percent and 60 percent - never fully charged, yet never fully drained carmakers have greatly extended the longevity of nickel metal hydride batteries. The standard warranty on hybrid batteries and other components is between 125000 - 160000 kms, depending on the manufacturer and your location. But that doesn’t mean the batteries will die at 160000 kms. A taxi driver in Vancouver drove his Toyota Prius more than 320000 kms in 25 months, and even after that time and mileage the batteries remained strong. www.autolife.com.np

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

autolife

FEATURE

OUR SAY ON STUFFS

FROM THE GREEN WORLD OF AUTO Today every major auto show brings forward the unveiling of numerous environment-friendly go green vehicles using hybrids, alternative fuels or electric technology. With the unveiling of every another green racer, the appeal for these eco friendly vehicles to mainstream enthusiasts have been growing a little stronger. Sure some of these cars either still exist only in the imaginations of the designers or are out of the realm of practicality, but then again, that does not keep us from admiring or hating them. While some electrifying concepts have been put into production, most of them have yet to see the light of the day. And then there’s the other lot which are nothing more than an eyesore and a total disgust. The last thing you would wish for is to be caught driving/riding in these. Of course some of these weird and just plain ugly vehicles still made it to production courtesy of their stubborn and unrelenting makers. In this case, there’s nothing we can do here other than hope that it will never happen in the near future. Ahead, we look at some of these FANTASTIC, ELECTRIFYING, GROUND-BREAKING or UGLY green vehicles in the market. So here is a list of some of these cars that we came across in our research in the internet and our verdict on each. Enjoy!

words : AL TEAM AUDI E-TRON CONCEPT

The Audi e-tron family is a series of electric and hybrid concept cars shown by Audi from 2009 onwards. Audi has shown us various possibilities for its upcoming e-tron line: the gorgeous R8-like e-tron, the punchy A1 e-tron, e-tron Spyder, A3 e-tron and our favourite, the Detroit e-tron. Far smaller but somewhat more robust-looking than the leggy first e-tron, the Detroit e-tron shows us how sexy a small car can be. It also promises to be a blast to drive with its 201 bhp motor propelling the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in 5.9 seconds.

OUR SAY CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID

The Chevrolet Tahoe its hybrid electric debut in fall 2007. The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid uses a combination of its dual displacement 3.0/6.0L V8 engine and two 80 bhp electric motors that charge a 300v nickel-metal hydride battery. The vehicle can run on either gasoline, electricity or a mixture of the two using automatic Two-Mode Hybrid system. The battery is charged either directly by generating electricity through driving one or both electric motors using the gasoline engine or by regenerative braking. It is the most fuel efficient. It is the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class.

OUR SAY

DRAYSON B12/69EV

August 2012

FANTASTIC. This hybrid SUV will not only take you be it through the city or off the beaten path, but you’ll as well have a peace of mind knowing that you’ve chosen the most fuel-efficient full-size SUV.

A British racing team called Drayson Racing - don’t worry if you’ve never heard about them as we hadn’t either - managed to create an all-electric Le Mans Prototype that became the fastest electric car at the 2012 Goodwood Festival using the two years of experience the company has had at the Le Mans series. Called the B12/69EV, this electric prototype was built on a Lola racing chassis and is powered by a pair of electric motors that develop an impressive 850 bhp. With this amount of power, the car can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 3 seconds up to a top speed of 320 kmph.

OUR SAY 62

FANTASTIC. If Audi can pull this hot little shocker out of its hat, we are sure every tree-slaughtering internalcombustion die-hards will get on board too.

GROUND-BREAKING. Period.

www.autolife.com.np

FISHER KARMA

The Fisker Karma is a pure series hybrid, driven by a pair of 160 bhp electric motors that get their power from a 20 kWh lithium ion battery. Once the battery is depleted, the front-mounted 260 bhp 2.0-liter Ecotec gasoline engine switches on to power a generator that sends electricity directly to the drive motors. It will do 0-100 kmph in 5.8 seconds in ‘Sport Mode’ with a top speed of 200 kmph. In the more economical ‘Stealth Mode’ it will hit 100 kmph only after 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 160 kmph. But this Fisker isn’t meant for everybody. Only if you did the right things in your previous life and have a good “Karma”, you may afford this $115,000 top variant exotic purchase.

OUR SAY

FM-4 HUMAN CAR

The lovechild of a railroad handcar and a rowing machine, the FM-4 Human Car is the inspired creation of Seattle-based hot-rodder engineer Charles Greenwood. The open-air FM-4 features a steel-tube chassis that’s strong enough to carry 450 kgs, and it’s rated to a top speed of 160 kmph. A bi-motion transmission converts the human rowing action into rotational motion, turning the wheels fast enough to allow the Human Car and a determined crew to keep up with urban traffic. To steer, the occupants’ lean left or right motorcycle-style, and this actuates the steering mechanism and turns the front wheels. Greenwood plans to price it somewhere between $5,000 and $17,000.

OUR SAY

HONDA FCX CLARITY

GROUND-BREAKING. As this definitely could be the future of cars since Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and we will never run out of it.

Jaguar C-X75 is a plug-in hybrid concept car named in honour of Jaguar’s 75th anniversary. The C stands for concept and the X for experimental. In May 2011, Jaguar announced plans to build a limited production of the Jaguar C-X75, with a downsized, boosted petrol engine instead of the micro gas turbines in the concept, from 2013 until 2015. The C-X75 production version is expected to deliver a sub three second 0-100 kmph time and a top speed in excess of 320 kmph. A maximum of 250 cars will be built in partnership with Formula One team Williams F1.

OUR SAY www.autolife.com.np

GROUND-BREAKING. Sure this is nearly Flintstone era technology, but it is the perfect alternative when the world runs out of every driving resource. Power to the people!

The Honda FCX Clarity is a hydrogen fuel cell automobile in which compressed hydrogen is combined with oxygen in a hydrogen fuel cell motor to drive the vehicle forward. And as in any electric vehicle, waste energy from braking and deceleration is captured by the motor/generator and stored in a battery. It is emissions free as it burns with emissions of only water vapour and heat in an electro-mechanical fuel cell. The FCX Clarity is currently only available for lease in the U.S, Japan and Europe where “fast-fill” hydrogen stations are available. Honda believes it could start mass producing vehicles based on the FCX Clarity by 2018.

OUR SAY

JAGUAR C-X75

ELECTRIFYING. The vehicle looks great and is a scorcher as well with excellent mpg for its class. Better start working on your good karma now!

ELECTRIFYING. This should be an ideal model to influence future design and technology. August 2012

KTM FREERIDE E

It’s time for more motorcycle freedom. With the revolutionary Freeride E, KTM introduces a lightweight, noise-free and agile off-road motorcycle to the enduro riding scene. With 42 Nm of torque, up to 30 bhp peak power and uninterrupted acceleration, it’s just as sporty as other KTM bikes. Only it needs recharging rather than refuelling. All the electric motor, power electronics and the battery are completely dust and waterproof. The Freeride E is therefore well prepared for the toughest off-road trips. No clutch. No shifting. Simply twist the grip, ride off and have fun!

OUR SAY

LAWLESS ELECTRIC ROCKET BIKE

The 355 volt Lawless Electric Rocket Bike was built by Lawless Industries and Orange County Choppers. Rider Larry “Spiderman” McBride hit a top speed of 322.19 kmph in just 6.94 seconds on this incredible bike. Not only is that an amazing feat for an electric vehicle, but just think about the acceleration there - 0 to 320 in under 7 seconds! That’s face-peelingoff speed. Check out the video in YouTube for Larry’s record run. What’s really cool is not just how fast he goes, but just how quiet the bike is going from a dead stop to over 200mph.

OUR SAY

GROUND-BREAKING. Though not really applicable for real road riding, this is pretty much a testament to how much is actually achievable from an electric motorcycle.

This revolutionary Sora features the best design elements of Bobber and Cafe Racer bikes, combined in one zero-compromise electric superbike. The Sora features the world’s first electric seat on a motorcycle, allowing the rider to completely change the driving dynamics of the bike at the simple push of a button. Ride for up to 300 km on a single charge thanks to the top-of-the-line high-density battery and experience the power of going 0-200 km/h without a clutch and phenomenal torque that makes you feel like you’re flying on the road. Designed with state-of-the-art technology and the highest quality parts, the Sora is a feat of motorbike engineering.

LITO SORA

OUR SAY

MISSION MOTORS MISSION-R

August 2012

FANTASTIC. If this is the future of motorcycling, then bring it on!

This machine uses 14-kWh lithium-ion batteries paired with a 120-kilowatt motor that has around 161 bhp on hand. Mission says this combination can get rider and machine to 0-100 kmph in around three seconds while scooting to a top speed of 260 kmph. The riders get a range of 130-160 kms depending on how frisky they are with the throttle. Sadly the Mission R is not currently available for purchase as Mission is pursuing it as a race bike for the challenges the platform presents.

OUR SAY

FANTASTIC. Since this comes from a mainstream manufacturer, this is the kind of thing we’ll probably see more of in the years to come.

GROUND-BREAKING. This is the future of motorcycle racing.

www.autolife.com.np

NAMIR HYBRID

Another famous addition to the green super car club is the Namir Concept, a striking new hybrid supercar developed jointly by Italdesign Giugiaro and Fraser-Nash Research. This exotic vehicle boasts output of 362 bhp, a top-speed of 315 kmph, and fuel economy as high as 45 kmpl. The secret is a hybrid system that utilizes a gas-powered endothermic rotary engine, a 400-volt lithium polymer battery pack, and four electric motors. And perhaps most importantly, the chassis weighs only 115 kgs. By the way, Namir means ‘tiger’ in Arabic. Very fitting!

OUR SAY

NISSAN LEAF LIMO

Well this is the world’s first road legal electric Nissan Leaf Limo! The Embassy Suites Hotel in Nashville needed a new way to shuttle guests committed to its “going green” policy, and they contracted a company to create the Leaf limo. Most of the Nissan Leaf’s essential parts have been kept intact. They added about 180 kgs in the centre of the car to make room for up to eight passengers. And the interiors have plush leather and cedar panelling, synonymous with luxury limos. The LEAF primarily serves as a VIP car for their guests to get around in the area.

OUR SAY

NISSAN PIVO 3 CONCEPT

GROUND-BREAKING technology. But by the looks of it, if takes this ugly bubble car to save the planet, then let the rainforests suffer.

The Piaggio MP3 Hybrid is a slightly odd looking beast but with some impressive credentials. The scooter is the first plug-in hybrid of its kind, featuring both gasoline and electric motors. This is unique so far in the world of motorcycling. The MP3 Hybrid also boasts regenerative braking, an impressive 70 kms range on battery power alone and a 300cc gasoline engine to boost your range once you exhaust your batteries. The MP3 300ie is expensive costing around $10000 but it is no doubt just the start for hybrid motorcycles.

OUR SAY

www.autolife.com.np

UGLY. If this is the future of limos, then please let it be the last?

The Nissan Pivo concept car is essentially a 360 degree rotating three-seater cabin on a chassis of 4 wheels that eliminates the need for reversing and makes parking easier. The Pivo is powered by a lithium-ion battery. The updated Pivo 3 concept featured Nissan’s Automated Valet Parking, which allows the car to park and recharge itself while parked at specially-equipped parking lots. Also the system can find a parking space, physically park the car or remember where they parked their car. It can also be remotely manoeuvred with a Smartphone.

OUR SAY

PIAGGIO MP3 HYBRID 300IE

ELECTRIFYING. This is pretty much the stuff dreams are made of.

GROUND-BREAKING but dead UGLY. We’d rather prefer if this tech came on a much better looking motorcycle.

August 2012

PORSCHE 918 SPYDER CONCEPT

Promising to be quick with strong green credentials is Porsche’s sexy and spectacularly fast 918 Spyder Concept, a plug-in hybrid. Wrapped within the scrumptious exotic styling are a race-bred 580 bhp 3.4-liter V8 and three electric motors, which team up for an extra 218 bhp. Weight has been kept to a miraculously low 1500 kgs, allowing the swoopy two-seater to hit 0-100 kmph in a scant 3.2 seconds. Best of all, the 918 Spyder might not remain simply a concept, as Porsche has never shown a concept it hasn’t produced.

OUR SAY

SEBRING-VANGUARD CITICAR

This nightmare was produced between 1974 and 1977. Inspired by Club Car’s golf cart design and partly in response to the 1970s fuel crisis, Sebring-Vanguard produced this electric CitiCar. This odd looking box could hit a top speed of 65kmph and was one of the few electric cars in America during its days. This small wedge-shaped electric vehicle with offered no extra features on it early versions and could be considered an experiment in minimalist automotive design. It was as basic as a people mover that could be bought at the time. Thankfully electric cars have improved substantially since then!

OUR SAY

SHELBY ULTIMATE AERO EV

August 2012

GROUND-BREAKING. Period.

If you have so far associated electric cars with ridiculous humming boxes on wheels, hang on. Meet the fully electric version of the legendary gullwing SLS. If all goes according to plan, the SLS E-Cell will be available for sale by late 2012 or early 2013. The SLS AMG E-Cell will use all-electric powertrain components and include four electric motors with combined ratings of 525 bhp of power and 880 nm of torque. With this performance, the SLS AMG E-Cell will accelerate from 0-100kmph at 4 seconds flat. There is no word yet on pricing, but figure on a premium of $50,000 to $100,000 over the regular SLS. Just having the money won’t be enough to get you an E-Cell though, as customers will be handpicked.

OUR SAY 66

FUGLY! (The kind of ugly that desperately makes you wanna say F**k). It’s not hard to figure out why it didn’t catch on with consumers en masse.

Shelby Supercars, the firm that manufactured the world’s fastest production car, has planned their next hyper car to be an all-electric vehicle! Naught-to-hundred in 2.5 seconds. 1000 Horsepower. That’s the Shelby Ultimate Aero EV for you. It will powered by a twin motor system, producing a staggering 1000 bhp of power and 1085 nm of torque. The regular Ultimate Aero accelerates from 0 to 60 in 2.78 seconds and the EV should be in the same ballpark, if not faster. The manufacturer expects to roll out pre-production versions of the vehicle and then plans to use its technology to produce small and more practical electric cars.

OUR SAY

SLS AMG E-CELL

FANTASTIC. So Porsche’s next flagship supercar should definitely be electrifying.

ELECTRIFYING. This is the car that will send a tight slap across those faces who still insist that electric cars suck. www.autolife.com.np

TANGO

Yes, these do exist! We didn’t believe either. But it turns out that George Clooney already has one. Commuter Cars, the manufacturer of this vehicle, however claims in all seriousness that this is the ‘world’s fastest urban car’. Statistically speaking, it can manage a 0-100 kmph run in 4 seconds and a top speed of 190 kmph. You can also park 3-4 of them side by side in a regular parking spot. But we are not sure how this thing would bank sharp turns, though the company website claims that its NASCAR roll cage has been designed for up to 320 kmph crashes. It’s almost hard to believe this car was made in the twenty first century.

OUR SAY

THE WIND EXPLORER

The Wind Explorer is a vehicle that seems to come from the future. It is a wind powered car that can travel up to 400 kms from the power of the wind and a portable windmill generator. The open-topped vehicle uses an aluminium frame surrounded by a carbon fibre and structural foam body to keep weight down to 200 kg. The three wheels are sourced from a bicycle. It can either be recharged by a portable wind turbine whenever wind conditions permit or via the conventional power network. The Wind Explorer can also be driven by kites and can reach speeds of around 80 kmph. It had completed an almost 5,000km journey across Australia with total electricity costs of around $15 only.

OUR SAY

VENTURI FETISH

ELECTRIFING. This is definitely automobile enthusiasts’ wet dream for the electric future.

Inspired by NASA’s Lunar Rover, this loony buggy does look like some golf-cart-on-steroids. But taking a spin in an electric vehicle that’s selfsustained through its solar-panel roof and plug-in wind turbine is, frankly, pretty amazing. It uses a single 22 horsepower electric motor to drive the rear wheels. A petite, roof-mounted wind turbine and photovoltaic cells that line the sunroof team up to charge the batteries. For calm and cloudy days it can also be plugged into a standard household outlet. The Eclectic is speed-governed to just 50 km/h and its modest 50kmph range will keep road trips on the short side. It’s on sale in France at about $33,000 and they are making only 200 of these.

OUR SAY

www.autolife.com.np

GROUND-BREAKING. How many cars can really claim to be driven by kites?

The Fetish was first introduced in concept form at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show. Finally, it’s out but only made to order and does not aim to be a mass-produced vehicle. The waiting time for the Fetish is currently 12 months and it is reserved only for an exclusive and avant-garde clientele who can afford to shell out a hefty sum of $400,000 excluding VAT. Its production is limited to 10 cars per year and estimates say that Venturi has so far shipped 35 of these to their customers. The car’s acceleration is comparable to a normal internal combustion engined sports car, producing approximately 300 bhp and a torque of 380 Nm, with a 0-100 kmph time of 4 seconds and a top speed of 200 kmph.

OUR SAY

VENTURI ECLECTIC

UGLY. Buy it only if you wish to claim that, parked in your garage is the electric car that George Clooney too owns.

UGLY. The tech involved is innovative but you can easily see that they’ve completely skipped the part where you are required to make a car aerodynamic. August 2012

autolife

test drive

Ntl electra

nepal exclusive

CAPTAIN ELECTRA WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: AL REVIEW TEAM

hile the well-learned men will recall Electra as one of the princess in Greek mythology, most of the men who indulge in late night ‘productive’ works on the internet will instantly remember the controversial glamour model Carmen Electra. But behold, as this Electra is neither Greek nor busty. The Electra here in question is actually a Chinese five door electric hatchback car that has been made with environment friendly intentions like Captain Planet. Though the NTL Electra is a new car in town, some of us might find it familiar. That’s because the Hafei Lobo car on which it has been based on, also serves as the base car for the Naza Sutera which currently runs on the roads of Kathmandu. Interestingly it turns out that the Hafei Lobo Chinese car was originally styled by Pininfarina

of Ferrari fame. But we suspect if final design alterations were done by Hafei themselves as the design is nowhere near to the exceptional stuffs that comes out from the Pininfarina creative booth. The exterior styling however features a stylish tear shaped headlamps, sporty front bumper, chrome door handles, triangular rear lamps and unique A-pillar mounted indicators which gives the car a distinct appearance. The Electra rides on six spoke alloys and the exteriors overall look very acceptable. On the inside, the initial impression too is quite positive though it’s a basic set up. The cabin colour scheme is done mostly in light cream colours with a mix of black and orange in the door and seat trims. The instrumentation is centrally mounted and includes smartly styled dials for speed and engine revs. But the music system is a real disappointment. You get a basic radio tuner with an aux-in port and it looks completely out

Interestingly it turns out that the Hafei Lobo Chinese car was originally styled by Pininfarina of Ferrari fame.

of place on such a modern car. There are only two speakers and the reason behind these pre historic offerings could be to save the battery life. Other standard equipment includes air-conditioning, central locking, front electric windows and power steering. But the quality and finish of the materials used leaves much to be desired. The Electra boasts of good legroom and headroom for its segment. But rear boot space is limited as it has been occupied by the batteries and electric component. The single-piece rear seat though can be folded down though for some extra utility space. The seats are a bit on the hard side and finding the right driving position is a bit tricky. You are either too close to the highly placed pedals or too far from the gearlever.

tor you can hear a relatively loud whirring sound. The gearbox is an interesting bit as it’s a mix of automatic and manual. There is a five speed manual gearbox with a clutch for changing gears only. The surprising bit is that you don’t need to use the clutch when braking and there’s no such thing as half clutch. So just like on an automatic you don’t need to rely on the clutch in peak traffic conditions and just use the

Starting the Electra up is a little different than on other electric cars. You need to actually turn the ignition on like in a normal car. But it doesn’t generate any start up sound and only when you press on the accelera70

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

brake and accelerator. Then when you hit the highways, you have the thrill of shifting through the familiar and fun manual gearbox. Its quick enough to move off the line and it gets going with the pace equivalent to any normal hatchback. The brakes have the right bite for the speeds that the Electra manages and the steering is responsive. It’s a quick enough car for the city and handles well inside the city. Out on the highway too, you get nearly close to the 100kmph mark on quite a many occasions. This sure isn’t breathtaking but considering it’s electrically driven that’s an acceptable performance. But there’s

www.autolife.com.np

exciting and then there is frightening. The suspension isn’t really the best choice for handling the extra weight of the batteries. Every time you go through even a small bump, there’s a scary thud sound coming from the tiny wheels as if you broke something. Even when speeding through corners the driver can feel the heavy weight of the ten batteries affecting the handling. The electric technology too does need quite a lot of refinement. The electric motor isn’t really the quietest and every time you brake excessively there’s that loud buzzing sound of the brake boost filling up. To sum it up, inspite of the few drawbacks the NTL Electra has got the appreciable looks and the performance is satisfactory for its category. Also the convenience of going out in the car knowing that you will save the pollution and will never have to line up at a fuel station is liberating indeed! But its limited 100km driving range sadly justifies its use only as a second car for commuting nearby. And the problem with being a second car it’s a bit overpriced, even considering that you might save up on fuel. Only if our government would put on a Captain Planet cape and lower the tax on environment friendly cars, the Electra would be a much sensible purchase.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine Type: AC Brushless Motor Controller: 120V Charger: 120V 25A DC Output, 220V 59Hz AC Input Power Pack: 12 V | 100 Amp-hr | 10 PCS Gel Batteries Charge time: 8-10 hrs Fuel Type: Electric Maximum Power: 11.5 Bhp Transmission: 5 Speed Manual DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Length: 3618 mm Width: 1563 mm Height: 1533 mm Wheelbase: 2335 mm

Ground Clearance: 160 mm Tyre Size: 155/65 R13 Suspension Front: MacPherson Strut Suspension Rear: MacPherson Strut Brakes Front: Discs Brakes Rear: Drums Curb Weight: 1200 kg PRICE: 19,50,000/COLOURS: Red, Yellow, Silver, Green, Blue, Tangerine ALTERNATIVE CHOICES: Reva i

August 2012

autolife

interactive

quiz

Hints: This is an Open Book Quiz Contest. So all answers can be found inside this issue itself.

What is the name of this month’s issue? a. The Captain Planet Issue b. Green Issue c. THE PINK ISSUE d. The Nokia Issue

Who is the AutoLife Personality in this issue?

3 www.qfxcinemas.com

attempt all the questions choose the correct answer

win QFX cinemas tickets

a. Al Gore b. Captain Planet c. NIrakar Yakthumba d. Mangal Pandey

Which mode of transportation was used for this issue’s Road Trip? a. Mountain Bike b. Captain Planet c. Wild Ox d. Porsche Carrera

4 Who/what is Mr. Funnel? a. Captain Planet’s alter ego b. A fuel filter funnel c. Ajay Dhoj Thapa’s pet Chihuahua D. A weapon of mass

destruction

What does an electric vehicle operate on? a. Cow Dung b. Real Juice c. ElecTricity d. Dalle Khursani

Last issue’s winners prakash joshi pratyush kuinkel divyajyoti ranjit Congratulations!!

Terms & Conditions 1) All quiz responses should reach Autolife Magazine by 31th August 2012. 2) Three lucky winners shall be selected through a random drawing system. Winners will be notified by email. 3) Each winner will receive 2 Gold tickets to QFX Cinemas. Tickets are valid for use at QFX Jai Nepal and QFX Kumari for Weekday (Monday - Thursday) shows only. 4) The tickets cannot be exchanged for cash, credit or any other items and cannot be transferred to other persons.

Send your answers to hello@autolife.com.np

3 winners will receive 2 tickets each from QFX Cinemas 72

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

Nature calling autolife

interactive

playlist

KUSHAL GOYAL TEAM AUTOLIFE

THE MONTH

August 2012

Going green or promoting green is just about that bit you can contribute to the nature. We celebrate that spirit in this issue. We have built a playlist for you to take along and listen while you have the ‘eco-mode’ on in yourself. From the utopian world Lenon talks about in ‘Imagine’ or MJ asking you about your world in ‘Earth’. These compositions will make you ponder about all we have done to this beautiful world and may actually be encouraging to fuel your way into contributing your bit. Think Green, Live Green. Imagine John Lenon Death of Mother Nature Suite Kansas Big Yellow Taxi Joni Mitchell Earth Michael Jackson Kyoto Now! Bad Religion For What It’s Worth Buffalo Springfield Earth Blues Jimi Hendrix Fresh-Garbage Spirit Whose Garden Was This Tom Paxton The Lone Rhinoceros Adrian Belew Don’t Go Near The Water The Beach Boys Bad Moon Rising CCR

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

autolife

TIPS

FUEL CONSUMPTION REDUCTION TIPS Fuel consumption is a matter of high concern for us and has major influence on the vehicles we choose to buy and run. It does differ from makes to models on how much mileage you can expect out of it but that is on standard road conditions, meaning long straight roads, less gear shifts, less turns and twists. But in a city like Kathmandu where every possible driving hazard exists, better riding/driving is actually the key to maximum fuel consumption. Here are some of the key pointers that should notch up the mileage count and bring the best out of your vehicle:

ACCELERATE HARD TO SAVE FUEL This may sound very counter-intuitive but it is a fact that putting your foot down hard on the accelerator can actually be more fuel-efficient than riding/driving more conservatively. The key to saving fuel is to accelerate hard only until the engine reaches up to 4000rpm; move up a gear, then put your foot down until you reach 4000rpm again. It’s all to do with internal friction. Above 4000rpm the benefits diminish and you start using more fuel, not less.

ACCELERATE GENTLY TO SAVE FUEL GOOD MAINTENANCE Following the correct service intervals will keep your vehicle running efficiently. New air filters will allow the free flow of air necessary for efficient fuel combustion. Clean fuel filters provide a steady stream of petrol to the cylinders, and shiny new spark plugs will provide the spark needed to set the whole thing off. The key here is the efficient burn of the fuel air mix, which will allow more power to be extracted from a set volume of fuel. A new air filter alone could reduce your fuel consumption by up to 10%.

TYRES Under-inflated tyres need more energy to roll. Keeping the pressures at the correct level can increase economy by up to 3.5%. Properly inflated tyres are also the key to providing optimum levels of grip, so it’s worth checking periodically. However do keep in mind, stuffing the wheels with more air to extend the timely checks is not helpful and will rather decrease the driving pleasure.

GEARS Using higher gears won’t give you lightning acceleration but will save fuel. Keeping your revs low (but not so low that your engine starts to struggle) is a good habit to get into when cruising. Selecting the right gear at the right time is almost an art that should be mastered for better driving/riding experience and more importantly for keeping your car healthy and running for a longer period. 76

August 2012

Although there may be evidence that accelerating hard could save you fuel, accelerating to the red line in every gear will certainly not. In general, try to keep a constant speed where possible, by judging potential reasons to slow down in the road ahead and react to them, avoiding rapid changes in momentum. If you’re slowing down and accelerating the whole time, fuel bills will go through the roof.

SPEED The faster you go, the harder it is to push your vehicle through the air. This means that a small decrease in cruising speed could provide fuel economy benefits. This is however more of logic than an actual finding. However, if technicality is looked into and evaluated then the speed is definitely linked with the mileage that you get. www.autolife.com.np

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

autolife

events update

E D I R Y A HIGHW ONDA WITH H

Words: Ankit Shakya

an attempt to unite the Honda riders and owners around the country and as well promote the movie Highway as well, Moto Himalaya had organized an exciting one-day road trip to Sukute beach located beyond Dolalghat on the banks of Bhote Koshi River on 21st July, 2012, in association with Syakar Company Ltd. The road trip was exclusive for Honda riders only and around 90 people participated with more than 50 78

August 2012

Honda motorcycles. We at AutoLife were glad to be invited as we were raring to go. All the Honda bikers first gathered at the Syakar Safety Riding Centre at 7.00am in the morning. After all the paper work and registrations were done, the bikes were checked by Honda technicians. Event organizer Mr. Rabi Thapa gave a small pre-ride briefing about the event and Mr. Saurabh Jyotiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Chairman of Syakar Co. Ltd, also enlightened the participants with some road safety aspects and the event. Just before the ride as an initiative from Honda Riders Club, funds were collected for Bal Bhojan, an organization

that feeds and educates street children. A total of Rs.6000 was collected and the company added a matching contribution. Finally, everyone donned their complimentary Honda T-shirts and embarked on the journey ahead. Luckily, the weather was supportive and the sun shone bright as a stream of red shirts passed in tandem through the highway tarmac. The first pit stop was at Dhulikhel where the participants were treated to a much needed breakfast. The second stop was to be Dolalghat. But en route we encountered a flat tire and luckily found a workshop nearby and joined the convoy waiting for us at Dolalghat. The riders then headed towards Sukute Beach Resort which was some 10 km away from Dolalghat. Music and DJ sessions were all set at the venue and everyone dispersed to attend to their own likings. The table tennis board and pool table were packed while the remaining stripped off to get into the pool. Later on, we even indulged in some tug-of-war and volleyball competitions at the beach. The aura of the resort was pleasant and it pretty much felt like a relaxing vacation. Participants were also given a hearty lunch which was gobbled down by the famished riders. The 80km trip had taken a toll on everyone, but the lively music and atmosphere reenergized the participants. A few hours at the beach and it was time to return. On the way back, we did happen to encounter a little downpour but it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t dampen our spirits as the day was exciting none the less. All in all, it was one hell of a trip for the weekend. www.autolife.com.np

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

autolife

FEATURE

Feeling Good BY: Prasanna KC

successfully installed at the Bagmati Bridge, Thapathali.

he consensus of all the squawkers on television shows, radio and all over the internet is that the country is going to lurk into a long, slow, uninspiring recovery that will parallel the grim political scenario we’ve been suffering for the last few years. However, as Nepal is entering a period of irrational apathy, there are sanguine signs from the private sector that recovery is still possible. Last year, during a Laxmi Cares’ (an NGO formed and run by the employees of Laxmi Bank) meeting, an immediate need for renewed optimism and constructive activities was outlined, and that would create a sense of resurgence. A couple of months later, as part of the campaign aptly named “Ujjyalo Abhiyan”, Laxmi Cares’ pledged to light up one public space each year. That year, Laxmi Cares raised funds to light up Patan Durbar Square, a World Heritage site, the Three Star

August 2012

Yogeshwar Amatya, a prized performer and a friend of Laxmi Cares, says, ‘We live in a culture that prizes the appearance of accomplishment over actual accomplishment – with big spending on unconstructive projects and other forms of social blathering rather than combining the energies and talents on hand to create hope. But again, these are reasons to feel bad. Projects such as ‘Ujjyalo Abhiyan” demonstrates the perks of working together to recreate a model of society we are all proud of. This is the time to feel good’.

Club Office and the Mangal Bazaar Police Station with solar lights. This year in April, some 300 cyclists pedalled from Patan Durbar Square to Saint Xavier’s Godavari, a distance of 14 kms, to raise

money to install solar street lights at Bagmati Bridge, Thapathali and to power the school office of Saint Xavier’s School, Godavari with solar energy. By end of May, 14 solar street lights were

‘Ujjyalo Abhiyan” demonstrates the perks of working together to recreate a model of society we are all proud of. This is the time to feel good’.

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

autolife

AL PERSONALITY

my autolife

INTERVIEW BY: ankit shakya Some of us grew up listening to his music and most of us have rocked out at his bar Moksh. Nirakar Yakthumba, popularly known as the bassist of 1974 A.D, is a man who definitely needs no introduction. Also one of the most influential celebrity cyclists in the country, Nirakar Yakthumba spills the beans about his AutoLife with Ankit Shakya. AL: So tell us what’s parked in your garage at the moment, including your cycles? NK: I am not much of a motorhead. I have my Toyota Hilux, which is very basic. But I do go for frequent off-roading on it. However, mountain bikes are my passion and I do have quite a few. I have a Commencal Meta 6 All Mountain bike, a limited edition Commencal VIP Absolut bike which was actually made for the French Commencal Team, a Giant Glory downhill bike and of course my Chain bikes. I treasure the VIP Absolut the most as it brings me back to the rugged core of mountain biking. It is sort of a teacher to me. AL: Now that’s an amazing line up any bicycle 82

August 2012

enthusiast would envy. So which one do you ride the most? NK: I ride my Commencal Meta 6 the most. It’s a little heavy, but a lovely bike for downhill cycling. In Nepal, mountain biking is great but city riding is terrible. So to travel around town and long distances, I prefer my Hilux pick up. It’s huge and no one tries to bully you in it. AL: What do you prefer more? Bikes, Cars or Cycles? Why? NK: I prefer cycles for my entertainment and I love my pickup as well. Only if the roads were better in Nepal, I’d probably love driving a car, but the roads are terrible! AL: Among cars what is

I ride my Commencal Meta 6 the most. It’s a little heavy but a lovely bike for downhill cycling your choice? Hatchbacks, Sedans or SUVs? NK: Definitely an SUV. AL: How did you first learn to ride/drive and which is the first car/bike you had a go on? NK: My dad had left me an old British car called Hillman and I learned to drive in it. It was a really nice car, strong and heavy, but used to guzzle a little

too much petrol. AL: Is there a driver usually behind the wheels of your car or is it you who takes charge? NK: When we want to go biking, I have to have a driver. He drops us off some place and we ride our bikes and the driver comes to pick us up somewhere else. Also, since I run Moksh too, I have to drink www.autolife.com.np

frequently with my guests. It’s part of my job! And I can’t go around drinking and driving. So there is usually a driver. But I prefer driving the pickup myself out on the open and rugged highways. I find it really soothing. AL: Till date, on which car or bike you have had the best ever riding/driving experience? NK: Mountain biking, there was one super ride I did at Lupra valley. It was a 2 hour uphill push from Muktinath. It was like a huge massive singing bowl in a semi desert like area. You get up to the drop, and just let go and hope for the best. You go at full speed, no roads and there is no better adrenaline rush than that. However, you do need a little technique to make sure you don’t fall flat on your face. AL: One wicked or crazy thing that you have done on wheels? NK: Back in the days, when

I was in college, the streets in Kathmandu were really nice and free. I used to own a Honda CD on which I used to thunder around town with my buddies. I’m not too proud of it, but we did our share of bullying the less powerful riders. We used to stop at red lights, look at other riders, rip on the throttle and challenge any worthy adversary. I used to be pretty crazy, until one day, I ran into the Toyota car belonging to an Indian Foreign Minister who was visiting Nepal. This happened in front of Singha Durbar. I collided head on to the car and was thrown over it. Luckily the minister wasn’t inside the car; if he was it would not have ended well for me. Especially since this happened during the strict Panchayat rule. Now, I enjoy riding scooters. AL: Is there an ultimate dream car/bike/cycle that you’d like to have parked in your garage? NK: At the moment, I

am targeting the new Commencal Meta AM and SX series that will be coming to Nepal by the end of August. I’ve already booked one. In terms of cars, I’ve always wanted to have a Land Rover. I used to have a really old model, but now I want a brand new one. AL: Where do you think is the best destination to cycle in Nepal? NK: Depends. If you want really good downhill riding, then the best would be the Mustang area. In my opinion, it’s one of the top 5 places for downhill riding in the world. AL: In your opinion, what is the worst thing about cycling in Nepal and what is the best? NK: The worst thing has to be the lack of medical support for extreme cycling in the mountains. That can be dangerous. The good thing is, unlike the paved roads abroad that are set for cycling, we get to cycle in unchartered territories.

Mountain bikes are my passion and I do have quite a few.

www.autolife.com.np

AL: If you were given complete control of the country, what changes would you bring about in the automotive scene of Nepal? NK: Firstly, I would improve the public transport exponentially. Then tax the import of cars like crazy! HAHA! Our country doesn’t need as many cars. The cars in the city are just too many. It’s a small place and getting from one place to another isn’t all that hard. If we had proper public transportation, then everyone wouldn’t have to own their own personal cars to travel. I would urge people to walk and be healthy. Go green! AL: On an ending note, why do you think it is high time Nepalese start taking cycling seriously? What could be further done to encourage cycling culture here in the country? NK: It just makes more sense for people in Nepal to take cycling more seriously. There is a huge difference in the average income of a Nepali commoner and that of the average Joe in America. But as fuel prices are almost similar, we have to spend almost the same on petrol. So how does that make sense? Since most of us just cover 10-20kms in a day, it can be easily cover that in a bicycle. You’ll save so much money and cut down on the pollution as well. Furthermore, Nepal is not really a fast paced city. One can afford to be a little laid back. So if you cut down on just one tea break for the day, you can make it to anywhere on time. August 2012

autolife

events update

WORDS: Ankit Shakya | Photos: prakesh shrestha & Sanat Dangol |

y parents never bought me a bicycle. It seems like their main concern was that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be crushed over by a truck and they would then have to identify me by the remains of my teeth. How absurd is that, right? But, it seems like this was the last of the concerns for the young lads who performed at the first ever Kathmandu Bike Festival, that was hosted at the Gyanodaya Residential School. With the dependency of people on gasoline driven machines accelerating day by day, it is high time we realize the importance of conserving these fuels. And what better way than to strengthen these values right from the very roots by educating the young and spreading awareness amongst them? Exactly with this thought in mind, Epic Mountain Bike and Chain Bikes 84

August 2012

With the dependency of people on gasoline driven machines accelerating day by day, it is high time we realize the importance of conserving these fuels. www.autolife.com.np

organized the Kathmandu Bike Festival. Presented by The Himalayan Times with support from Gyanodaya International Residential School along with Lalitpur Cycling Association and sponsored by international brands like ‘Kali Protectives’, ‘WD-40’ and ‘K-LAB’, they pioneered into this new concept. Kathmandu Bike Festival 2012 was held on the 7th of July 2012 at Gyanodaya

www.autolife.com.np

Residential School, Khokana, Bungamati, Lalitpur, Nepal. The main events were the WD-40 Inter School XC championship, Kali Dirt Jump Competition and the K-Lab F1 race. The show started off with the WD-40 Inter School XC championship. Hosted by the culturally colourful city of Khokana, the cross country was a success. In the boy’s category for the event, Samuel Ghising from Nirmal School clinched first place with a time of 20mins 59secs while Ashish Gurung from Nirmal School (24mins 06secs) and Shashankar Yakthumba (24mins, 32secs) from St. Augustine School were first runner up and second runner up respectively. The girls were sweating it out for glory at the cross country as well. Prathna Shrestha from Gyanodaya Int’l Residential School grabbed gold with a time of 34mins 17secs followed closely by Asmina Kakshapati (47mins 27secs) form Ideal Model School and Alina Shrestha (48mins 23secs) From Little Angles School.

first position with a total of 36 points, Rohit Dhungana clinched second position with 28 points and Nitesh Khadka with 25 points came in third. The crowd certainly loved this event the most. It was a pleasure to see the youngsters competing head to head at the various cycling events that were hosted during the festival. The event is again going to be held on March 2013 with an even bigger bang. Only if it could have happened during my younger cycling days too and I would have probably shown my parents how to use a truck as an obstacle to jump over…

The next event was the exhilarating Kali Dirt Jump Competition. Highly agile in the air, those youngsters laid it all on the line. Although a few spills were inevitable, the aerial tricks were a treat for the crowd. The high flying antics of 17 year old Sandeep Ale form Ideal Model School secured him

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

autolife

road trip

the pedal powered trip

WORDS: Ankit Shakya | Photos Niren tuladhar

taying true to the spirit of doing and I still had no idea of its gearing our part to save the environsystem. In fact the thought of shifting ment, the road trip for this gears with fingers baffled me, as over issue had to be carried out on the years I had been changing gears mountain bikes. Although a noble effort on the motorcycle with only my foot. to suck up fuel to Mother Nature for all Needless to say, we were also not the fossil fuel we burn every issue, I was completely assured that our stamina slightly sceptical for our first ever road would withstand what the journey trip on wheels without an engine. First would throw at us. off, hardly a hand went up in the air at the Nevertheless, with ample enthuoffice when I asked for participants and siasm we reached the Dawn Till Dusk one Ayush Dhaubanjar actually walked office sharp at 8am on D-day. Dawn out before I could say â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mountain bikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. So Till Dusk is a company, located in the since I had been recently stressing way heart of Thamel, which organizes and too much regarding shedding off some conducts biking tours and expeditions weight, everybody unanimously decided within Kathmandu as well as other that I would be the right candidate to parts of the country and also to Tibet/ represent the team. Gladly I found Ladakh, Bhutan, Sikkim and India. a partner (or should I say bakra) by They were kind enough to provide desperately coaxing Niren Tuladhar, us with the proper mountain our new junior designer at bikes, helmets, a suitable the office. Turned out that route and one Mangal Niren had actually done Dai who would guide a trip on a mountain In fact the thought us throughout the bike till Chobhar once of shifting gears with fingers baffled me, as journey. With our before, while it was over the years I had been changing gears lunches, couple of going to be a brand on the motorcycle Snickers bars and new experience for with only my foot. water packed, we me. The best I had mounted the 9 speed done on a mountain Trek mountain bike bike was a few laps on provided to us and began the lakeside of Pokhara 88

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

our journey a little before 9:00am. Our plan was to take the route that passes through Swayambhu to Bhimdunga to Deurali to Chilaune Gaun, through the jungles of Rani Ban, to Mudkhu and back to Thamel via Balaju. beauty of Mother Nature was undeniably great, and so Truth be told, things did were the pain in our legs. not seem too promising Pedalling uphill, I was from the start itself. Pedalling uphill, I was certainly certainly missing the Before we even reached missing the presence of a presence of a burning Swayambhu, both of us burning engine engine between were struggling to keep between my legs. my legs. Finally, we up with Mangal Dai. A reached Bhimdunga. Me short while away from and Niren rejoiced, but our Swayambhu, the inclination jubilation came to an abrupt increased and we were already halt when Mangal Dai told us that we regretting. It was just 45 minutes into were not even halfway to the end our the trip but we had to make a rest stop for journey. Actually, we were barely halfrefreshments. We were then not even half way to the actual midpoint our journey way to our first pit stop at Bhimdunga. As at Deurali. My legs were trembling by we sipped on the fresh tea with a packet then and I’m pretty sure Niren’s skinny of Parle-G, doughnuts and a plate of chana legs weren’t doing any better. Mangal each, we talked with the friendly owner Dai however, hadn’t broken a sweat. The of the tea shop and inquired about our changing hue of the colour of my t-shirt next spot. She then gave us a vague story spoke the opposite for me as I was about how the place got its name when drenched in sweat. Bhim had parked his boat (dunga) atop the hill back when the Kathmandu valley But things took a turn for the better was still a lake. Not the most detailed as we then approached a downhill story, but we accepted and moved on. stretch. Though exponentially riskier than cycling uphill, the decline meant Civilization became sparser as we that we did not have to pedal as hard, ascended and the beauty of Mother or at all anymore. At that moment, even Nature stood out all the more. The www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

falling flat on our faces seemed worth for not having to pedal. The moment I rode downhill, I fell in love with mountain biking. Adrenaline took over, and despite never having gone down a rocky hill before, I was racing down the hill behind Mangal Dai with Niren tailing me. I may not have been in complete control, but the feeling of manoeuvring the bike on such rocky treacherous paths was completely different from anything I had ever felt before. Reaching speeds of nearly up to 40kmph, we were standing on the pedals, leaning back and speeding our way to Deurali.

Once we reached Deurali, we soaked in the beautiful scenery of the hills and terrace farms that we could see from there. Best of all, we were now halfway through. Surprisingly, my legs did not feel like jelly anymore and both of us were pretty much reenergized. But that would again change a little while later. After a short water break, we made our way to the next rest stop at Chilaune Gaun. The path sure could have used a few more downhill stretches. The uphill climbs were 90

August 2012

becoming more and more difficult. The only thing that kept us going was the desire of the ultimate elation of having finished the journey. On the way to Chilaune Gaun, Mangal Dai encountered a flat tyre. He was well prepared and he made changing tubes look so easy and we were back on track before we knew it. Now, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just my legs that were screaming with pain. One of the hazards of cycling through rocky hills is the lack of a comfortable seat. The less than fluffy seat was doing a number on the area between the twin boys downstairs and the garbage exit chute of the human body. In fact I am still finding it difficult to sit as I write these very words.

Finally, we reached Chilaune Gaun and to our utter surprise we were in a totally different district, Dhading. Something I instantly bragged about One of the hazards of to my girlfriend over the cycling through phone right then and rocky hills is the lack of a there. We considered it an comfortable accomplishment for novice seat. riders like us, especially with the unprepared physical

condition we both were in. We parked our rides and sat at a small shop for lunch that we had brought with us. Ham and Cheese Sandwich for Mangal Dai and me; Cheese and vegetable sandwich for our vegan friend Niren. We also ordered a simple Wai-Wai broth which we could barely slurp down due to its extreme spiciness. Sadly, it would www.autolife.com.np

have just as much fire making its way out as it had making its way in. Post lunch, things got tougher. We struggled uphill, almost 3kms of rocky ascent. Niren and I had to make frequent rest stops and travel some of the uphill stretch on foot. My legs hated me at that moment and I had to use a lot of self-control to stop myself from kicking my own butt. After what seemed like an eternity, we reached the apex of the hill at Swano Gaun. Some cold drinks at a lone standing shop there and we pedalled past the army checkpoint located there. Now, we were making our way through the lusciously green Rani Ban. The forest path was shaded by trees that branched out over us and was laid with only moderately difficult slight uphill stretches. A gnarly downhill path led us out of the forest and we www.autolife.com.np

ended up in Mudkhu. A few seconds later, it began raining cats and dogs. We took shelter beneath a patio that extended over a local shop and waited for the downfall to peter out. A few minutes and refreshments later, we left the shop as jollier men, into the simmering rain. The pitched road to Balaju seemed much easier to ride on than the mud and rocks of the hills we had just departed from. We were soon surrounded by the same crowd of vehicles and people as we made our way back to Dawn Till Dusk, ultimately reaching there a little after 4 in the evening. Although both of us knew very well that we would be residing in wheelchairs the next day, we felt that it was worth the experience. It felt amazing to have experienced this trip and we were glad to have opted to go on it (sorry for the profanities in the SMSs Ayush Dai). Cycling is a great way of transportation and may be an answer to many issues regarding the deteriorating environmental status. And it proved its worth by going places and roads most other vehicles couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even think of going. We would sure live in a far cleaner world if more of us started riding bicyclesâ&#x20AC;Ś August 2012

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

TECHNICAL

Sunroof

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

Leather Seats

Steering Adjust

Climate Control

Remote Locking

ABS

Airbags

Top Speed (KMPH)

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Cubic Capacity (CC)

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRs)

NEW CAR BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Updated July 2012

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY Bama Motors Pvt. Ltd, Thapathali, KTM Tel: 4226655 | 4223022

Chery Models A1 1.3L

17,99,000 1297 5M 82 114 155 N Y N N Y N Y N N

QQ3 Full Option

15,45,000

Tiggo 2.0 A/T

34,00,000 1971 A 123 168 160 Y Y Y N Y N Y N Y

812

130

Vijay Motors Pvt. Ltd, Naxal, KTM Tel: 4414158

chevrolet Models Optra 1.6 LT

32,50,000 1991 5M 119 314 190 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Aveo 1.4 LT W/O ABS

28,80,000

Beat 1.2 LT

23,50,000 1199 5M 80 108 150 Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

Spark 1.0 LT

19,50,000

Captiva 2.0 Automatic LTZ

65,00,000 1991 5A 148 320 175 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Aveo UVA1.2 LT

24,70,000

Cruze 2.0 LTZ VCDI

61,90,000 1991 5A 148 327 200 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Tavera LT L8 8 SEATER

38,20,000

1399

995

1150

2499

127

110

186

165

145

160

125

Hansraj Hulaschand & Co Pvt. Ltd, Maitighar Tel: 4239641 | 4231985

Daihatsu Models Terios Super DLX

53,00,000 1495 5M 103 140 NA Y N Y N Y N Y N N BATAS Brothers Pvt. Ltd, Gairidhara Tel: 4004644 | 4004645

fIAT Models Linea 1.4 Emotion

36,62,000 1368 5M 90 115 168 N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Punto 1.2 Emotion

27,33,000 1172 5M 67 96 175 N Y Y Y Y Y Y N N Go Automobiles Pvt. Ltd, Thapathali, KTM Tel: 4244254 | 4257001

FORD Models Everest

69,99,000 to 2953 5A 153 380 165 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 75,00,000

All New Fiesta (Petrol)

34,00,000 to 1499 5M 107 140 NA Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y N 38,99,000

Fiesta Classic (Petrol)

24,50,000 to 1596 5M 99 146 175 Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N 29,90,000

Figo Petrol

Ranger Diesel All New Fiesta (AT) Petrol

18,49,000 to 22,99,000

1399

160

150

39,99,000

2499

266

38,99,000 to 41,50,000

Geely

1499 5M 107 140 NA Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y N Saakha and Universal Automobiles, Kupondole Tel: 5011500

Models MK1.6

19,75,000 1587 5M 105 137 165 Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N

LC Panda

16,75,000 1342 5M 85 110 NA Y Y Y N Y N N N N

LC Cross 1.3

1342 5M 85 110 165 Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

Sunroof

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

Leather Seats

Steering Adjust

Climate Control

Remote Locking

ABS

Airbags

Top Speed (KMPH)

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Cubic Capacity (CC)

TECHNICAL

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY Himchuli Auto International, Kupundole Tel: 5521730

GREAT WALL Models Florid 1.5L VVT

19,95,000 1497 5M 103 138 160 Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

Wingle 5 2.5TCI SLX

27,50,000 2499 5M 107 300 140 Y N Y N Y Y Y N N

Hover SLX

36,90,000 2400 5M 135 200 N/A Y Y Y N Y N Y N Y

NEW CAR BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRs)

Updated July 2012

Syakar Company, Kantipath Tel: 5549741 | 2383223

HONDA Models Accord 2.4 MT

78,50,000 2354 5M 180 222 225 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

City SMT

38,50,000 1497 5M 118 146 175 Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

Civic 1.8 SMT

58,00,000

CR-V RVI

76,00,000 1997 6M 167 218 180 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Jazz Select

32,50,000 1198 5M 89 110 175 Y Y Y Y Y N Y N Y

Brio VMT

26,69,000 1198 5M 88 109 N/A Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

1799

130

172

205

HUMMER

Saakha and Universal Automobiles, Tinkune

Models H3

3699 5M 242 328 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y Laxmi Intercontinental, Thapathali Tel: 4101556 | 4101557

HYUNDAI Models Accent GL

29,96,000 1399 5M 94 124 170 N N N N Y N Y N N

i10 Magna

19,96,000 1086 5M 66 99 140 N N Y N N N Y N N

i20 Sportz

25,96,000 1197 6A 90 220 160 Y Y Y Y Y N Y N Y

Santa Fe GL Diesel

70,96,000

Santro GL+

17,96,000 1086 5M 62 96 NA N N N N Y N Y N N

Sonata GL

51,96,000 1998 6M 165 198 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Tucson GL

53,96,000 1998 6M 177 382 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Elantra GLS

46,96,000 1591 6M 130 157 NA Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N

Eon Era+

16,26,000 814 5M 56 NA NA Y N Y N N N Y N N

2199

194

420

210

Pradeep Jain, M: 9849632938 Kuleshwor, Kathmandu,Tel: 01-4279496

TECHNICAL

Sunroof

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

Leather Seats

Steering Adjust

Climate Control

Remote Locking

ABS

Airbags

Top Speed (KMPH)

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Cubic Capacity (CC)

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRs)

NEW CAR BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Updated July 2012

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY Choice Motors, Lazimpat Tel: 4441080 | 4441081

JONWAY Models UFO

28,25,000 1584 5M 100 135 150 Y Y Y N Y N Y N Y Continental Associates Pvt. Ltd, Tinkune Tel: 2054003 | 2054004

KIA Models Cerato 1.6L

38,50,000 1591 5M 123 156 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N

Picanto 1.2 EX

22,50,000

Rio Notchback

26,50,000 1399 5M 94 125 NA Y N Y N Y Y N N N

Sorento 2.2L Diesel

72,50,000 2199 6M 197 421 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Soul 1.6L

39,00,000 1591 5M 124 156 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Sportage 2.0 EX Diesel M/T

58,50,000 1998 6M 177 392 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

1086

Agni Incorporated Pvt. Ltd, Uttar Dhoka Tel: 4414626 | 4414628

MAHINDRA Models Bolero LX MDi 4WD

27,95,000

2523

180

Scorpio VLX 4WD

51,50,000

2179

120

290

150

XYLO E8

40,15,000

2498 5M 112 240 135 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Thar

29,60,000

2498 5M 112 235 140 N N N N N N N N N CG Automobiles, Jhamsikhel Tel: 5547165 | 5547166

MARUTI SUZUKI Models Alto Lxi

14,09,505

796 5M 46 62 140 N N N Y Y N N N N

Alto K10 Vxi

16,89,350

796

A-Star Zxi

21,18,750

998 5M 67 90 160 Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

Eeco STD 7Seater

17,19,010

Grand Vitara MT

70,00,000 1995 5M 164 225 175 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Ritz VXI

22,28,360 1248 5M 75 190 NA N Y Y N Y Y Y N N

Swift VDi

25,97,870 1248 5M 75 190 160 N Y Y N Y Y Y N N

Swift Dzire ZDi

30,49,870 1248 5M 75 190 160 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

SX4 Zxi

33,19,940 1586 5M 102 145 175 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Kuleshwor, Global Bank Building Kathmandu, Nepal Phone August 2012 96 : 00977-1-4289051

1196

101

145

www.autolife.com.np

WORLD’S BEST AMERICAN TYRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

RIDE-ON BENEFITS:

Prevents puncture & extends tyre life by up to 25% or more Seals punctures from objects up to 1/4 “ in diameter Helps maintain proper tyre inflation Helps tyre run cooler Helps eliminate porosity leaks One application lasts for the legal life of the tyre At proper dosage, will not affect wheel balance Helps eliminate slow leaks Is non-hazardous, non-explosive & non-flammable

www.autolife.com.np

TUR

UNC OR P

RIVIN

SD E-LES

T US P C A I T CON ALERSH DE FOR QUIRES EN

G.P.O. Box: 8975, EPC 4025 Basundhara, Ringroad Kathmandu, Nepal. Tel: +977-1-4355452, 4353295 Email: info@elitenepal.com Web: www.elitenepal.com August 2012 97

TECHNICAL

Sunroof

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

Leather Seats

Steering Adjust

Climate Control

Remote Locking

ABS

Airbags

Top Speed (KMPH)

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Cubic Capacity (CC)

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRs)

NEW CAR BUYER’S GUIDE

Updated July 2012

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY

Wagon R Vxi

19,21,000 1061 5M 64 84 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N

Zen Estilo Vxi

18,95,010

998 5M 64 84 150 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

800 Std

10,67,850

796 4M 37 59 NA N N N N Y N N N N Padma Shree Pvt. Ltd, Gyaneshwor Tel: 4435688 | 4435631

Mazda Models

B T - 5 0 H i g h g r a d e 51,75,000 2499 5M 140 330 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Mazda 3 SGrade

N/A

1598 5M 103 145 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

M a z d a 2 V G r a d e 46,00,000 1498 5M 102 135 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N

Mazda 6 V+

78,00,000 2489 6M 170 226 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

CX-7

82,00,000 2488 5M 161 218 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Leon Motors Pvt. Ltd, Shantinagar Tel: 4622074 | 4622485

MITSUBISHI Models ASX 4WD GLX

79,00,000 1998 6CVT 150 197 190 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Lancer EX GLX

66,00,000 1998 6CVT 150 197 200 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

L200 Sportero 4WD 48,00,000 2477 NA 135 NA 175 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Double Cab L300 Minibus L

38,00,000

2477 5M 75 150 120 N Y NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Outlander

84,00,000

2360 6CVT 170 226 190 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Pajero GLS 3.0 V6

Pajero Sport GLX

1,30,00,000

2972 5M 185 267 175 Y NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

85,00,000 2477 5M 175 400 N/A Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Dugar Automobiles Pvt. Ltd, Balaju Tel: 4362992 | 4350912

NISSAN Models Navara LE

2488 6M 175 403 170 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Sunny 1.6EX

1597 5M 110 148 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N

Tiida Sedan M

1598

X-Trail LE

1995 6A 150 320 185 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

110

153

170

Nemlink Int’l Traders Pvt. Ltd, Panipokhari Tel: 4006528 | 4410323

PERODUA Models MYVI SX

24,95,000 1298 5M 86 116 NA N N Y N Y N Y N N

Viva 850

17,95,000

847 5M 53 76 NA Y N N N Y N Y N N Constant Business Group Pvt. Ltd, Naxal Tel: 2297455

PROTON Models

Savvy

20,75,000 1149 5M 74 NA NA N N Y N N N Y N N

Persona 1.6

30,75,000 1597 5M 110 148 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N

Gen 2 - 1.6

30,50,000

August 2012

1597

125

150

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

TECHNICAL

Sunroof

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

Leather Seats

Steering Adjust

Climate Control

Remote Locking

ABS

Airbags

Top Speed (KMPH)

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Cubic Capacity (CC)

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRs)

NEW CAR BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Updated July 2012

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY Skoda M.A.W, Thapathali Tel: 4216835 | 4268788

SKODA

Models Superb 2.0 TDi

71,90,000 1968 6A 140 320 206 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Fabia Elegance

26,95,000

Laura 1.8 TSI

53,49,000 1798 7A 118 250 225 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Yeti 2.0 TDi

59,90,000 1968 6M 140 320 210 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

1200 5M 75 110 NA Y Y Y N Y N N N N

Constant Business Group Pvt. Ltd, Naxal Tel: 2297455

SSANGYONG Models Korando Active AWD

50,75,000 1998 5M 175 360 180 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Rexton

59,75,000 2696 5M 160 340 180 Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y

Actyon Sports

34,75,000 1998 5M 140 310 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y Vijay Motors Pvt. Ltd, Naxal, KTM Tel: 4414158

Subaru Models Forester

90,00,000 2498 5M 230 320 NA Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N Sipradi Trading Pvt Ltd, Teku Tel: 4250610 | 4250612

TATA Models Aria Prestige

53,85,000 2179 5M 138 320 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Indica V2 Xeta GLS

15,95,000 1193 5M 64 100 145 N N N N N N N N N

Indica Vista Quadrajet ZX

26,95,000 1248 5M 75 190 160 Y Y Y N Y N Y Y N

Indigo CS LX TDI

23,95,000

1396

Indigo Manza Quadrajet Elan

31,45,000

1248 5M 90 200 NA Y Y Y N Y N Y Y N

Nano LX

11,88,000

624 4M 35 48 105 N N N N N N Y N N

Safari Dicor VX 4WD

46,95,000

2179

138

320

Sumo Grande MK II

34,85,000

2179

120

250

140

Sumo Gold

28,90,000

2956 5M 70 223 175 N N N N Y N Y N N

Xenon XT 4WD

30,30,000

2183 5M 138 320 160 N N N N Y N Y N N

135

165

United Traders Syndicate, Sinamangal Tel: 4478301-5

TOYOTA Models Avanza

39,95,000

1298 5M 90 120 150 Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N

Corolla

76,70,000

1598 5M 104 145 170 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N

Fortuner

89,90,000

2928 5M 160 343 170 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Land Cruiser Prado 1,54,60,000 2982 5M 129 343 170 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Dual AC

100

Land Cruiser GX

21,906,000 4461 5M 214 430 190 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

Rav 4 Auto

97,95,000

August 2012

2362 5M/4A 167 224 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y

www.autolife.com.np

Yaris Hatchback

Yaris Sedan

Sunroof

Bluetooth

Fog Lamps

Leather Seats

Steering Adjust

Climate Control

Remote Locking

ABS

Airbags

Top Speed (KMPH)

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Gearbox

Price (NRs)

TECHNICAL

Updated July 2012

EXTRA FEATURES AND SAFETY

1298 5M 86 120 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N

54,50,000

1298 5M 86 120 NA Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N Pooja International Pvt. Ltd, Panipokhari Tel: 4006605 | 4006606

VOLKSWAGEN Models

NEW CAR BUYER’S GUIDE

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Cubic Capacity (CC)

Updated April 2012

Passat CC

82,50,000 1798 6A 158 250 223 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Golf

44,50,000

Passat A/T

66,25,000 1798 6A 158 250 220 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Polo 1.6 Highline

28,45,000

1595 5M 103 148 120 Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N

1598 5M 103 153 185 Y Y Y N Y N Y N N

Tiguan TDI Diesel A/T 81,25,000 1964 6A 138 320 NA Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y (Full Option) Touareg 3.0D A/T (Full Option) Vento 1.6 Highline

1,22,00,000 2967 8A 241 550 220 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

36,95,000

1598 5M 103 153 185 Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N

Constant Business Group Pvt. Ltd, Naxal Tel: 2297455

ZOTYE Models Zotye Nomad II 1.5L 24,75,000

1500 5M 105 135 145 N Y N N N N Y N N

Fuel Tank (Litre)

Mileage (kmpl)

Dry Weight (KG)

Ground Clearance (MM)

Wheelbase (MM)

Height (MM)

Length (MM)

Top Speed (KMPH)

Gears

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Cubic Capacity (CC)

Models

ktm duke

Hansraj Hulaschand & Co. Ltd Naxal, Tel: 4415462 200 DUKE

3,49,900 199.5 25/1000 19.2/800 6 135 N/A 810 1350 165 126

Anna Lifan

COOL BOY

DUE

N/A

Annapurna Lifan Company Pvt. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4241521

1,55,900 149.4 13.5/8500 8.5/7500 5 95 N/A 830 1680 250 120 10.5 50 99,900

97 5.5/7500 6.6/5000 4 N/A N/A 750 1208 140 95

4 70

Royal

1,09,900 97.2 6/8000 6/6000 4 80 N/A 760 1320 160 110KG 12 70

Desire

1,06,900 107 6.6/8500 7.5/5000 4 N/A N/A 750 1255 140 90 4.5 65

apollo

NEW BIKE BUYER’S GUIDE

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRS)

Updated June 2012

Universal Super Impex Jyatha Tole, Tel: 4227337 Models Orion RX 250T

3,16,000 249.4 17.5/7500 18/5500 5 105 N/A 930 1420 280 118 8 35

Orion RX 250M

3,16,000 249.4 17.5/7500 18/5500 5 105 N/A 880 1420 280 118 8 35

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

101

Fuel Tank (Litre)

Mileage (kmpl)

Ground Clearance (MM)

Wheelbase (MM)

Dry Weight (KG)

Bajaj

Height (MM)

Length (MM)

Top Speed (KMPH)

Gears

Torque (NM)

Power (BHP)

Cubic Capacity (CC)

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRS)

NEW BIKE BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Updated July 2012

140

Hansraj Hulaschand & Co. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4220094 | 4261200 Models

Avenger

2,43,900

219.89 19/8400 17.5/7000 5

120 N/A 710 1475

169

Discover 100 DTS-Si

1,42,900 94.38 7.5/7500 7.85/5000 5 90 N/A 800 1305 165 108 8

Discover 125 DTS-Si

1,60,900 (Disk) 124.6 11/8000 10.8/5500 5 N/A N/A 800 1305 165

110

Discover 150 DTS-Si

1,69,900

144.8

13/7500

12.75/5500

110

N/A

800

1305

115

Platina 100

1,19,900

99.27

8/7500

8/5500

N/A

805

1275

160

100

Platina 1,38,900 125 DTS-Si

124.58

9.5/7000

11/5000

100

N/A

785

1275

160

100

BOXER 150

1,39,900

144.8

12/7500

12/5000

100

N/A

803

1285

N/A

122

Pulsar 150 DTSi

2,06,900

149.01

15.06/9000

12.5/6500

115

N/A

785

1320

160

120

Pulsar 180 DTSi

2,23,900

178.60

17/8500

14/6000

120

N/A

785

1345

165

130

Pulsar 220F DTS-I

2,47,900

220

21/8500

19/7000

135

N/A

795

1350

165

140

Pulsar 220S DTS-I

2,34,900

220

21/8500

19/7000

135

N/A

795

1350

165

140

DAELIM

165

80 N/A

AKU Nepal Enterprises Kalimati, Tel: 4288339 | 4286018 Models Roadwin 150R

2,88,500

150 15/10600 12.5/8400 5

5,00,000

249 23/9000 19/8000 5 140 N/A 780 1380 150 160

Roadwin R250 FI

120 N/A 780 1380

Demak

150

135

N/A

15 N/A

Agni Incorporated Pvt. Ltd Uttar Dhoka, Tel: 4420964 Models Cougar 250

3,95,000

249 19/7500 N/A 5 N/A N/A 760 1480 140 140 14 40

2,38,000

150 13/8500 10/7500 5 N/A N/A 840 1380 270 120 8.5 50

DMX-R

DUCATI

Turbo Motors Trading Naxal,Tel: 4435720 Models Hypermotard 796

18,50,000

803 81/8000 74/6250 6 200 N/A 825 1455 N/A 155 12.5 N/A

Monster 696

16,80,000

696 80/9000 69/7750 6 N/A N/A 770 1450 N/A 160

N/A

Monster 796

18,50,000

803 87/8250 79/6250 6 220 N/A 800 1450 N/A 167

N/A

848 EVO

N/A

849.4 140/10500 98/9750 6 N/A N/A 830 1430 N/A

168

15.5 N/A

1198

N/A

1198.4 170/9750 131/8000 6 N/A N/A 820 1430 N/A

171

15.5 N/A

Multistrada 1200 S

N/A

1198.4

150 / 9250

118 / 7500

N/A

850

1530

N/A

192

N/A

SportsClassic GT1000

N/A

992

92 / 8000

90 / 6000

N/A

810

1425

N/A

185

N/A

GLOBAL

Jai Shambu Automotives Pvt. Ltd Ravi Bhawan, Tel: 4289933 | 4277049

Models

102

G-100

1,21,000

7.2/8000

6.5/6000

N/A

1280

150

100

N/A

UFO 150

1,56,500

149.6

8.5/7500

9.2/6000

Auto

N/A

1275

135

100

N/A

Xpression+

1,48,994

124

10.5/8500

8.4/7500

N/A

1280

140

100

N/A

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

Dry Weight (KG)

Fuel Tank (Litre)

Ground Clearance (MM)

Wheelbase (MM)

103

N/A

860

1375

280

115

VR 200H

3,49,000

197

19/7500

15/6000

105

N/A

860

1375

290

130

Hartford

Height (MM)

Length (MM)

12.5/7500

Gears

13.5/8500

Torque (NM)

149

Power (BHP)

2,99,000

Cubic Capacity (CC)

VR 150H

Price (NRS)

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

International Motor Pvt. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4265336 | 4265337

Models

Hero

Syakar Company Ltd Kantipath, Tel: 4225377 Models CBZ X-TREME 2,03,900 (DD) 149.2 14.2/8500 12.8/6500 5 110 N/A 800 1325 145 135 15 60.25 CD Deluxe

97.2

7.2/8000

7.5/5000

N/A

790

1230

165

100

10.5

Glamour 1,70,900(DSS FI)

124.8

9/7000

10.35/4000

N/A

775

1265

150

115

Hunk 2,01,900(DD)

149.2

14.2/8500

12.8/6500

110

N/A

795

1325

145

135

12.5

2,36,900

223

16.5/7000

18.3/6000

125

N/A

1355

150

135

2,91,900

223

17.5/7000

18.3/6000

130

N/A

1350

160

145

1.24,900 (Self)

Karizma R

Karizma ZMR

795 795

NEW BIKE BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Top Speed (KMPH)

Updated July 2012

Pleasure 1,38,900 102 7/7000 7.8/5000 Auto 80 N/A 750 1240 125 95 5.5 50

Splendor NXG

1,42,900

97.2

Splendor +

1,38,900

97.2 7.4/8000 7.2/5000 4

85 N/A 775 1230 160

110 10.5

Splendor Pro

1,42,900

97.2

Super Splendor

1,54,900

124.7 9.13/7000 10.35/4000 4

7.7/7500

7.6/7500

7.6/6000

8.04/4500

100

N/A

100 N/A

Honda

785

1230

160

100

775

1230

160

100

775

1235

150

110

Syakar Company Ltd Kantipath, Tel: 4163501 | 4104517 Models

Activa

1,50,900

109

8/7500

8.8/5500

Auto

N/A

765

1238

145

100

5.3

Aviator 1,55,900 109 8/8000 8.82/5500 Auto 85 N/A 790 1256 145 95 6 52

CB Shine 1,71,900(Disk)

124.6

10.3/7500

10.9/5500

100

N/A

790

1265

175

110

CB Twister

1,63,900(Disk)

109

9/8000

9/6500

N/A

800

1262

180

100

CB Unicorn

2,02,900

149.1

13.2/8000

12.8/5500

115

N/A

790

1340

180

135

CB Unicorn Dazzler

2,09,900

149.1

14/8500

12.8/6500

120

N/A

780

1328

162

125

CBF Stunner

1,78,900

124.7

11/8000

11/6500

100

N/A

790

1271

173

120

Dio

1,49,900

102

7/7000

N/A

762

1235

145

100

CBR 250R

5,14,900(C-ABS)

249

25.3/8500

23 7000

155

N/A

780

1370

145

150

CBR 600RR

20,50,000

599

118/13500

66/11250

240

N/A

820

1369

135

156

CB 600F Hornet

16,99,900

599

102/12000

63.510500

210

N/A

800

1435

135

CB 1000R

CBR1000RR

NXR150 BROS

183

22,00,000 999 125/10000 100/8000 6 240 N/A 825 1445 130 213 17 15

26,00,000

5,25,000

XR250 Tornado 6,25,000

www.autolife.com.np

7.8/5500 Auto

999 175/12000 112/8500 6

N/A N/A 820 1410 N/A 200

149.2 14/8000 13.6/6000 5 N/A N/A 830 1353 245

249 23.3/7500 23.7/6000 6

140 N/A 880 1427 281

17.7

N/A

135 11.5

N/A

120

August 2012

103

Fuel Tank (Litre)

Mileage (kmpl)

160

N/A

647 72/9000 61/7250 6 190 N/A 790 1435 185 200

N/A

11,10,900

647

72/9000

61/7250

200

N/A

830

1435

165

200

N/A

RT 125D

4,68,900

124.5

13.5/10000

11/8000

N/A

790

1350

230

135

N/A

GV250

6,49,900

249 27/10500 22/7500 5 N/A N/A 710 1508 150 167

N/A

GV650P

13,50,000

249 80/9000 67/7250 5 N/A N/A 705 1700 160 220

N/A

160

100

Power (BHP)

Hyosung

Height (MM)

155

Length (MM)

Dry Weight (KG)

Ground Clearance (MM)

Wheelbase (MM)

Top Speed (KMPH)

N/A

Gears

Torque (NM)

160

Cubic Capacity (CC)

175

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRS)

NEW BIKE BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

Updated July 2012

Batas Motors Pvt. Ltd Naxal, Tel: 4004626 | 4004627

Models

GT250N

6,20,900

249

GT250R

7,05,900

249 26.35/9000 21/6750 5

GT650N

10,65,900

GT650R

26.5/9000

21/6750

150

N/A

830

1435

150 N/A 830 1435

Kawasaki

Hansraj Hulaschand & Co. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4220094 | 4261200

Models

Ninja 250R

7,49,900

249 32/11000 22/8200 6 160 N/A 790 1400 135

Mahindra 2 Wheelers

SG Global Pvt. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4251202

Models

Duro Rodeo

N/A

124.6

N/A

124.6 8/7000 9/5500 Auto 85 N/A 760 1245 155 106 4.5 45

PIAGGIO

8/7500

9/5500

Auto

N/A

PIAGGIO

770

1290

155

Anna Automobile Pvt. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4229855

Models

BYQ125

1,48,000

126.3

9.7/8500

8.6/7000

N/A

1295

180

115

Citypard 150

1,55,000

149

11.7/8000

11/6000

N/A

870

1400

150

115

1,49,000

6.5

iShine 100

96.21

N/A 6.81/6000 Auto N/A N/A N/A 1340 130

Rieju

Tunche Trans Himalayan Trading Concern Bhrikuti Mandap, Tel: 4268169 Models Marathon 185

3,88,000

125

115

Marathon 185 Pro

4,67,000

125

120 N/A 870 1395 n/a 115

6.5 N/a

Marathon 450

11,00,000

449

N/A

N/A N/A 900 1485 N/A

8.5

4,70,000 230 N/A

Tango 250

N/A

870

1395

N/A

115

6.5

N/a

N/A

N/A 5 N/A N/A 840 N/A N/A 100 5.5 N/A

Royal Enfield

Dugar Brothers & Sons Pvt. Ltd Balaju, Tel: 4362992

Models Classic 350

4,11,000

346

20/5250

28/4000

N/A

800

1370

140

170

13.5

N/a

CLASSIC CHROME Classic 500 desert storm

5,35,000 4,95,000 5,15,000

499

27/5250

41.3/4000

130

N/A

800

1370

140

170

13.5

N/a

Electra Twin Spark

3,95,000

346

20/5250

28/4000

115

N/A

800

1370

140

170

13.5

N/a

3,35,000

346

18/5000

32/3000

100

N/A

760

1370

140

150

14.5

4,11,000

346

20/5250

28/4000

115

N/A

770

1370

140

170

15.5

STD350 UCE

Thunderbird Twin Spark

Suzuki

Ganesh Enterprises Kamalpokhari, Tel: 4422818 | 4423444 Models Access 125

104

August 2012

1,59,888

124

8.5/7000

9.8/5000

Auto n/a

N/A

780

1250

160

110

www.autolife.com.np

N/a

Power (BHP)

Torque (NM)

Gears

Top Speed (KMPH)

Length (MM)

Height (MM)

Wheelbase (MM)

Ground Clearance (MM)

Dry Weight (KG)

Fuel Tank (Litre)

Mileage (kmpl)

Cubic Capacity (CC)

10/8000

10/7500

Auto

N/A

745

1255

120

110

7.8

N/a

Models

AN 125HK

GN125H GS150R

n/a

124

n/a

124 12/8000 10/7500 5 110 N/A 735 1280 175 107 10.3 35

2,07,888 149.5 13.8/8500 13.4/6000 6 110 N/A 790 1340 160 135 15.5 60

slingshot

1,65,888 (disk)

124

8.5/8500

10/6000

100

N/A

790

1265

160

115

B-King

25,00,000

1340

181/9500

146/7200

240

N/A

805

1525

120

235

16.5

N/A

Burgman 400

16,50,000 400 34/7300 36.3/5800 Auto 150 N/A 710 1585 125 210 13.5 N/A

GZ250

6,25,000

249

20/8000

18.7/7000

N/A

680

1450

125

140

N/A

DR200SE

6,00,000

199

15/8500

17.7/7000

N/A

810

1405

260

115

Hayabusa

N/A

1340

197/9800

154/10200

296

N/A

805

1480

120

220

GSR600 16,00,000 (ABS)

599

93/12000

65/9600

215

N/A

785

1440

130

185

16.5

GSX650F

16,50,000

656

85/10500

62/8900

240

N/A

770

1470

125

220

GSX-R600

22,00,000

599

125/13500

68/11500

265

N/A

810

1400

130

180

TVS

NEW BIKE BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

All prices are subject to change with the market scenario. Please confirm with the showroom for accuracy.

Price (NRS)

Updated July 2012

AIT Pvt. Ltd Teku, Tel: 4253661 | 4261330 Models Apache RTR 160

2,05,886

159.7

15.2/8500

13.1/6000

120

N/A

790

1300

180

120

Apache RTR 180

2,18,881

177.4

17/8500

15.5/6500

125

N/A

790

1326

180

120

Scooty Pep+

1,26,390

87.8

5/6500

5.8/4000 Auto

N/A

740

1230

135

Scooty Streak

1,34,922

87.8

5/6500

5.8/4000

Auto

N/A

740

1230

135

4.7

Star City 110

1,41,928

109.7

8.2/7500

8.1/5000

N/A

790

1240

165

Jive

1,52,889

109.7

8.4/7500

8.3/5500 Auto

N/A

780

1260

165

Wego

1,53,906

109.7

8/7500

N/A

770

1275

150

100

8/5500

Auto

Yamaha

Morang Auto Works Teku, Tel: 4261160 | 4268252 Models

Enticer DLX

1,78,900

123.7

11/8000

10.4/6500

4 n/a

N/A

710

1375

140

105

13.5

N/a

Fazer

2,21,900

153

14/7500

14/6000

115

N/A

790

1335

160

130

13.5

FZ-16

1,99,900

153

14/7500

14/6000

115

N/A

790

1335

160

125

FZ-S

2,15,900

153 14/7500 14/6000 5 115 N/A 790 1335 160 125

SS 125

1,72,900

123

11/7500

10.4/6500

110

N/A

795

1295

155

110

SZ-R 1,86,900 (disk)

153

12/7500

12.8/4500

105

N/A

802

1320

165

120

SZ-X

1,74,900

153

12/7500

12.8/4500

105

N/A

802

1320

165

120

YBR 110

1,41,900

106

7.5/7500

7.8/6000

100

N/A

795

1290

173

115

YBR 125 DX

1,58,900

123

10.8/7500

10.4/6500

105

N/A

795

1300

180

115

13.5

YZF R15 V2

3,19,900

149.8

17/8500

15/7500

135

N/A

790

1290

160

120

YZF-R6

20,46,900

599

122/14500 65.7/10500

6 n/a

N/A

850

1375

130

175

XJ6

15,17,900

600

78/10000

N/A

785

1440

140

190

17.3

www.autolife.com.np

60/6100

N/A

August 2012

105

106

August 2012

www.autolife.com.np

August 2012

107

108

August 2012