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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
A U T O |
L U X U R Y
Geneva 2011 From the show to the showroom Page 8
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WHAT’S HOT this week
Best of both worlds
Team Smartbuy Editorial Anushya Mamtora
Nokia X3-02
anushya@thehindu.co.in
Ketaki Bhojnagarwala ketaki@thehindu.co.in
This phone from Nokia features a 2.4-inch resistive touch screen as well as alphanumeric keypad, making it easy to navigate. Support for HSPA network, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and a 3.5mm headphone jack makes it extremely connectible. Entertainment options include a music player, FM radio and a 5-meg camera with 4x zoom. Based on the S40 UI, the phone has 16GB expandable memory. Rs 8,839
Mahananda Bohidar mahananda@thehindu.co.in
S. Muralidhar muraliswami@thehindu.co.in
Design Bryan Gaughan aqua@thehindu.co.in
Balakrishnan designkbala@thehindu.co.in
Advertising Contact R. Diwakar ramdiwakar@thehindu.co.in
Web Advertising Contact N. Amarnath amarnath@thehindu.co.in
www.blsmartbuy.com Become a fan of our Facebook page: BL Smartbuy Follow us on Twitter
Cover photo: S. Muralidhar
In two minds? LG P520
24/7 connectivity Belkin Hi-Speed USB Hub This stylish USB hub from Belkin in a ‘Drumstick’ design features 7 USB ports – perfect for connecting your hard drive, printer, phone, camera, etc. Its slim design doesn’t take up much space on your desk, and the ports come with a transfer speed of 480 Mbps, along with a USB 2.0 cable and power adapter. Rs 1,359
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This fun touch screen phone from LG is dual-SIM enabled. It features a dedicated SNS client to keep you connected to multiple social networking sites, as well as built-in MSN Messenger. The home screen can be personalised with widgets of your choice, while the Opera 5 browser enables highspeed surfing. The phone also features a 2-meg camera. Rs 7,399
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Frames in focus Sony á33 This DSLR from Sony is equipped with Translucent Mirror Technology, which enables continuous AF of up to seven frames per second. The technology also enables continuous phase AF when recording Full HD AVCHD movies. This 14.2-megger features a 15-point AF detection system, as well as ISO up to 12,800. A full Auto mode and 3D Sweep Panorama are some of the other features. Rs 37,990
XOOM-ing in! Motorola XOOM This multi-functional tablet from Motorola features a 1GHz dual-core processor and a 10.1-inch widescreen HD display. Video chat to your heart’s content with the frontfacing 2-meg camera, or get snapping with the 5-megger rear camera which also records 720p HD video. Android 3.0 Honeycomb gives you an improved OS. The XOOM also fully supports tabbed browsing and Adobe Flash Player. Rs 35,000 (pre-order price)
Top of the pack Samsung GALAXY Ace This Android 2.2 smartphone from Samsung will wow you with its sleek design and curved edges. It features a 3.5-inch HVGA TFT display, and an 800 Mhz processor. The Social Hub gives you access to your favourite SNS sites, and the ThinkFree office allows you to create and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents. The camera is a 5-megger with flash, and memory is expandable up to 32GB via Micro SD card. Rs 18,290
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NETBOOK review
More than just arm candy? Ketaki Bhojnagarwala awaiian Blue, Lavender Purple, Lime Green and Candy Pink - if colours like these are in this season, why should you limit your fashion sense to your wardrobe? The latest in Acer’s Aspire One series of netbooks is the ‘Happy’ range. When we unpacked our little blue baby from the package, it was love at first sight. But will its performance match up to its looks?
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ports, a VGA display port, Kensington lock slot, Ethernet port and multi-functional SD card reader. It also comes with a headphone and microphone slot and a 1.3-meg webcam. The netbook comes packaged with a foam sleeve, which we advise using because the lid tends to get scratched easily.
Starting up First bite The Happy series from Acer isn’t meant to be a powerhorse. Lightweight, trendy and multi-functional – it’s meant to be flaunted. Sony’s VAIO series made a statement with its bold colours, and more recently, HP introduced snap-on laptop lids in a variety of colours. The colour scheme Acer has chosen will appeal more to the ladies, and at just 1.25 kg, it’s light enough to be slipped into a large tote and function as an ultraportable computer. Our unit had a glossy blue lid with silver lettering. Everything else on the netbook is white, except for a matching thick, blue strip that runs below the length of the keypad which holds the touchpad and hand rest. Acer has opted for an island style keyboard, which is comfortable for long hours of typing and gives good tactile feedback. The screen is a 10.1-inch TFT Active Matrix LCD. The small touchpad supports multi-touch such as pinch to zoom, but we found scrolling difficult because of its size. The left and right click buttons are encased in a single, narrow, plastic strip which made them difficult to use. The netbook offers the regular line-up of ports – 3 USB
The netbook is pre-loaded with Windows 7 Starter, which is the most basic of Windows 7 editions. While you get access to most features of the OS, simple things like changing the desktop background with your own picture isn’t possible. The netbook is powered by an Intel Atom 450 processor, with a speed of 1.66 GHz – which other Aspire One and ASUS Eee PC netbooks also feature. It features 1GB DDR2 SDRAM, and offers 320GB of internal storage – which is plenty for all your media usage. An interesting feature of the netbook is that it comes with Android boot-up as well. This is convenient if you want to quick-start your computer for basic functions like browsing – but not for playing media as the Android edition only has 4GB of storage. Also Android doesn’t support .avi files, and you don’t have access to the Market. While we like the idea of dual boot-up options, using a mobile phone OS on a netbook doesn’t really seem to work. We got stuck with navigating, because there’s no Android ‘Back’ button and it took us a while to figure out that we had to press the Esc key for that. An Android OS would have worked best for a netbook with a touch screen,
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we feel. When the netbook boots to Android, it gives you a 10 second gap, during which time if you don’t move the cursor or click on any key, it boots to Windows. You can also switch from Android to Windows at any time using the arrow located at the top left, but not vice-versa.
Media The standard definition 1024x768 screen isn’t ideal for watching movies, but we played ‘The Butterfly Effect’ and ‘Transformers’ to test the screen quality. There was no stagger between frames, neither was their any visible blurring. The same can’t be said for the speakers, the output of which was barely audible. We’d advise using a pair of headphones if you plan to watch a film or listen to music. The netbook also comes pre-loaded with the Acer GameZone Console, which features demo games like ‘Cake Mania’, ‘Galapago’ and ‘Big Kahuna Reef’ too. There are also various others you can choose to download from the GameZone. These games don’t take up much graphics usage. Considering the fact that it only comes with an Intel GMA GPU, we didn’t bother to venture trying out more graphics-heavy games on it. The netbook comes with Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth, for easy file-sharing.
Performance While Acer has gone all out on looks, this isn’t really a netbook that’s loaded with all the goodies. The single-core Intel Atom N450 processor is increasingly being used for
tablets, with most netbooks now shifting to the more powerful dual-core N550. The limitation of this is seen in the netbook’s performance. Startup took about 1 minute 30 seconds. And while simple tasks like web-browsing with multiple tabs worked fine, when it came to commands like right-click, the netbook took a few seconds to bring up the menu. It was also slowed down when it came to operations as simple as My Computer or Control Panel. When we had multiple programs open, like Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer and GameZone, the lag was even more intensified. Battery life is estimated at 8 hours, and we got close to 6, with a couple of hours of videos, games and browsing.
Our Verdict The Acer Aspire One Happy netbook won us over with its chic looks, but failed to impress us when it came to performance. However, it’s unfair to expect any better for the price you pay. This is a netbook that would appeal to users who want it largely for internet usage and storing media. Love: Colourful exterior, comfortable keyboard Hate: Ships with Windows 7 Starter, slow processor Rs 17,999
Photos: S.S. Kumar
ketaki@thehindu.co.in
Lap it up! Minute by minute updates, racer profiles and exclusive games – get all the F1 action on your mobile phone! Here’s a list of the hottest F1 apps out there APPLE
ANDROID
OVI STORE
Mobile Formula1.com This official F1 app gives you access to premium services like Live Timing, Video, Downloads and Ringtones. Price: Free F1 2011 Premium This application gives you xclusive live commentary, top stories, results, schedule and standings. Price: $1.99 Formula 1 Trivia Quiz It’s time to test your F1 knowledge with this quiz app, which features 250 multiple choice questions. Available in single and multiplayer modes. $0.99 F1 Circuits Get satellite images of all Grand Prix venues from 1950. Also, all the information you need about F1 circuit history, lap records and more, courtesy of Wikipedia. Price: $ 0.99
Livesports 24 F1 Racing This app brings you live commentary, lap-by-lap race positions, live coverage of qualification sessions, realtime leaderboards, circuit guides and plenty more. Price: Free F1 Calendar FREE Never miss a race again with this lightweight app. It uses your active data connection to give you a F1 calendar based on your local time. Price: Free F1 This gives you the latest news, results, current standings and schedule. Price: Free Formula 1 Buzz View conversations between experts about the drivers, get prognoses on races, and find out all the latest news. Price: Free
F1 Latest News All the latest F1 news about races, drivers and the circuits - delivered as it happens to your mobile phone. Price: Rs 25 Motor Sport Magazine Install this app for up-to-date information on the latest F1 news and prototype racing around the world. Price: Rs 25 James Allen on F1 James Allen is a leading F1 commentator, who now blogs about Formula One racing. This app gives you a live feed of his blog right on your phone. Price: Free Ferrari World Championship2009 If you want to be a part of racing action, why not try this Formula One game? Be a part of Ferrari’s F1 team and race your way to victory. Price: Rs 75
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SNEAK preview
Specifications Processor - ARM Cortex-A9 core GPU - SGX543MP4+ Touch Pads - Rear, multi-touch, capacitive Cameras - Front and rear Sound - Built-in stereo speakers and microphone Sensors - Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer), three-axis electronic compass Conectivity - GPS, Wi-Fi-based location support, 3G, Wi-fi, Bluetooth
The next step in portable gaming:
Sony NGP
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t’s a common joke that the collective consciousness of the internet has a better idea of what’s going on at Sony than its own employees. We’ve had leaks for everything from the PS3 Slim to the Xperia Play. The absolute motherload however was the PSP2. Yes, it was expected, given that the PlayStation Portable sold over 50 million units. In fact it was overdue, what with execs and developers talking it up at various events prior to an official announcement. And it finally did happen at Sony’s PlayStation Meeting event at the World Mobile Congress, rechristened as NGP for now. Short for Next-Generation Portable, this handheld sports just what you’d expect from Sony’s top-end hardware. Modern trappings such as 3G (on specific models), OLED capacitive touchscreen, quad core processor and dual cameras all make an appearance. It’s encased in a stunning form factor dubbed by the
boffins at Sony as ‘super oval’, which we’re sure translates for the rest of us as ‘similar to the PSP’. Never a bad thing, really. There’s dual analog sticks too, making controlling games like Resistance, Killzone and Metal Gear twice as much fun to play. Similar to Moto’s quirky Charm, there’s a touch pad on the rear which could result in interesting control schemes for new games. Changes aren’t restricted to just specs, gone is the all too familiar XrossMediaBar which we’ve come to know and love across Sony devices. It was great for accessing your content when negotiating with buttons. In a post-iDevice world, however, the interface has been rebuilt ground up for something more touchscreen friendly. Dubbed as LiveArea, it integrates games, music, movies and of course, the all-important social networking features into one neat screen. For all practical purposes, it is the hub of the action.
The biggest difference though is in the form of media. Unlike the PSPgo that had you saying goodbye to all your UMDs (Sony’s proprietary format for PSPs), the NGP will support both physical and digital media. While the latter would be available from the PlayStation Network, you’d still be bidding farewell to your collection of PSP discs, as this time around there’s flash-based cards to deal with, oddly acronymed as NVG. No, we don’t know what it stands for. Mysterious short-forms aside, flash media will allow for faster access times. A much needed change from the notorious loading times on the disc-based PSPs. Also, it comes with some interesting anti-piracy tech ensuring that you won’t be up to ‘no good’ anytime soon. Given that the NGP will debut in winter, expect a price point closer to launch. Till then there’s more than enough screenshots to keep drooling at. We know we all are already.
This material is translated or reproduced from T3 magazine and is the copyright of or licensed to Future Publishing Limited, a Future plc group company, UK 2011. Used under license. All rights reserved
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SOUND
bytes
When size no longer matters: Bose Lifestyle 235 Mahananda Bohidar n the age of small cars and condos, the age-old adage ‘bigger is better’ has taken a backseat. At a time when everything is getting compact and space-efficient, few of us would want a home theatre system that takes up as much space as a king-sized bed! Petit is in and for those of us who want a not-so-elaborate setup without having to compromise on the home theatre experience, there are a couple of options in the market. The Lifestyle 235, 2.1 channel system Home theatre system from Bose seems to fit the bill rather nicely. We hooked it up for a long-term review and here’s what we have to tell you.
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Unboxing The Bose Lifestyle 235 comes with the Media Console, an Acoustimass module that performs the role of a sub-woofer in the system, two Gemstone ES speaker arrays (with rubber feet in case you want them mounted on the wall), an ADAPTiQ headset and an iPod dock.
‘Unify’ing it Once you wire up the system and switch the main console on you’ll be guided through a couple of steps by Bose’s Unify intelligent integration system that helps you with the initial set-up. After this, you’ll find yourself meandering through a ‘Connection Setup’ guide which lets you hook up various audio-video sources to the Lifestyle 235. The list of devices you have the option to connect with the home theatre system is quite exhaustive – Blu-ray Disc player, DVD player, Cable box, Set top box, gaming system, Apple TV – to name a few.You can also choose to run through ADAPTiQ, an audio calibration system that takes about 10 minutes to analyse your room dimensions and acoustic characteristics to maximise the audio effects of the Lifestyle 235 accordingly.
With the ‘Source’ button on the Bose remote you can shuffle through all the devices that have been hooked up with the Lifestyle 235. We had our iPod Nano (and later an iPod Touch) docked with the system and tried out a couple of songs after we had gone through most of the ‘Unify’ steps.
Grooving to the beats We tried out the percussion-heavy Sufi track ‘Man Yeh Baawra’ (from Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi) with some bold and complex vocals which played back quite well on the Lifestyle 235. We went on to try the mellow Hallelujah (the Jeff Buckley cover) and with minimal music and a strong focus on vocals much like ‘Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off’, the duet by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, and both the tracks were a treat to listen to in the Lifestyle 235. While we were listening to music, apart from adjusting the Bass and treble levels on the system we also had the option to choose between two audio compression presets – ‘Smart Volume’ and ‘Enhance Dialogue’. This feature is not something that brings about a marked difference in the sound quality when you are listening to music; you’d be better off toying with the two options while watching ‘Independence Day’ or ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. The system is ‘Made for iPod/ iPhone’ and works with all Apple products featuring a click wheel. Apart from music, the system also lets you playback videos that you might have stored in your iPod. The exception, of course, was a range of old generation iPods that do not support video playback.We tried out some music videos and podcasts that we had stored on the iPod Touch and both played back decently on the HD telly and the sound quality was as good as the music playback earlier.
Benchmarks The Gemstone ES speakers that the Lifestyle 235 comes
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with delivered decent detail while audio played back almost as efficiently as the higher-end Jewel Cubes, although compared to the latter the Lifestyle 235 did lose out on the depth and overall loudness during playback. The patented Gemstone ES speakers deliver superior sound from within a compact 2.1-channel system unlike the nautilus-shaped port and Direct/Reflecting speaker technology of the premium Jewel Cubes. Also, the Lifestyle 235 is a definite improvement upon a similar 2.1-channel setup from Bose, the 3.2.1 GS Home Entertainment System. While certain features like highdef video playback, Videostage 5 decoding and the Acoustimass Module remain the same, the Lifestyle 235 ups the audiophile quotient a notch by using a revamped version of Gemstone speaker (Gemstone ES arrays) which have three drivers in each speaker and create a wider soundstage than the original ones. Other additions include a bunch of multimedia input/output sources which include four HDMI connections (three in, one out) and two HD audio connections.
One last word One niggle for households with older-generation displays could be the fact that the only option you are given for a video-out source is an HDMI one. There are two USB slots (front and rear), however, you can only view JPEG files from external storage USB plug-ins. All the software updates on your system will be done via the USB ports. However, as a system that’s ultra-compact, pretty easy to setup, with just two speakers and yet capable of reproducing rich detail, the Lifestyle 235 is an ideal system for a nuclear family. Rs 1.63 lakh Love – Typical Bose sound quality from small speakers Hate –Restricted USB playback, clunky remote control mahananda@thehindu.co.in
AUTO focus
Audi A3 Concept
Porsche Panamera Hybrid
Charged up Geneva! S.Muralidhar hough it is not the first motor show of the year and only recurs every March, the Geneva Motor Show often sets the trend for the rest of the year’s shows. It is also a good barometer of the automobile industry’s current state. This year’s edition of the Geneva Show was exactly that. There was a lot of evidence that the recession story and the slowdown that came after maybe a thing of the past. The premieres and unveilings that were made raised hopes and actually stirred up a lot of excitement. Of course, there was also a fair share of concepts, a unique feature often at Geneva – concepts that point towards the future path of the industry. This year’s edition was again loaded with electric concepts and a further popularisation of hybrids. Are they being developed for just meeting legislation that is getting more stringent by the year? Not really. The future for hybrids is very bright and it is very possible that most cars within a decade will be plug-ins or at least some form of hybrid technology too. Geneva 2011 had both really quirky and really promising hybrids and all-electrics. Take the Volkswagen Bulli concept for example. Volkswagen has reinterpreted the compact form of its automotive legend called Bulli or Microbus, and has given it a futuristic touch in the form of a concept vehicle for a new generation.
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Bentley SuperSports ISR
VW Bulli Looking very much like its iconic microbus of the 1950s, the new Bulli concept is powered by an electric motor and fitted with six seats and infotainment control via an Apple iPad. Its electric motor outputs 85 kW of power and an impressive 270 Newton metres of torque. The silent motor is supplied with energy from a lithium-ion battery with a maximum storage capacity of 40 kWh. This electrifying combination enables driving ranges of up to 300 km – a high value for an electric car. The new Bulli accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 11.5 seconds, and its top speed is 140 kmph (electronically limited). In terms of dimensions, it’s also only as long as the VW Polo. Apparently, it stands a good chance of going into production.
Electric Rolls? The other most talked about electric car concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Show was the Rolls-Royce 102EX. It is the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultraluxury segment and continues a tradition of experimental cars running through the model generations. The 102EX bears the famous hallmarks of the RollsRoyce Phantom on which it is based, such as hand craftsmanship, fine detailing and iconic design cues like the pantheon grille and the Spirit of Ecstasy (though in frosted
Aston Martin Cygnet
glass) which celebrates its centenary in 2011. However, at the core of its design is the essence of an experimental vehicle, establishing this car’s status as a test bed, while subtly alluding to its electric power plant. It is thought to have the largest passenger car battery in the world. Peak current is 850A, delivered at 338V DC. Overall capacity is 71kWh. An electric Rolls-Royce Phantom…unbelievable? Believe it. Who knows it might go into production in a couple of years.
Land Rover Range_e Land Rover’s first fully capable 4WD, Plug-in Diesel is based on the Range Rover Sport and is equipped with an advanced plug-in hybrid diesel-electric powertrain that Land Rover expects to make available in future production models, following the scheduled launch of its diesel-electric hybrid in 2013. Range_e uses the current 245 PS 3.0-litre TDV6 diesel engine, working with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and a 69kW electric motor. Using a parallel hybrid system, with a 14.2kW/h lithium-ion battery that can be recharged from an external 240V power source, the Range_e can be driven on electric power alone for more than 20 miles (32km), with zero harmful tailpipe emissions. Apart from these there were many other electrics and hybrids including concepts such as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-CELL, the Nissan ESFLOW sport concept,
Nissan ES Flow
the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid 4 and the Porsche Panamera Hybrid. Despite all that focus on electricity, this year’s Geneva Motor Show also rekindled hopes that performance motoring still has a bright future, with at least two fantastic new super luxury, super performance cars being displayed. More details about the Ferrari FF are given in the next page. The other one of course was the Lamborghini Aventador.
Range Rover Plug-in Hybrid
Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 This new Lambo flagship replaces the Murcielago and boasts an innovative concept, entirely new technology package, unique and powerful functional design language and innovative carbon-fibre monocoque. A new twelvecylinder with 6.5 litres displacement, produces a mindblowing 515 kW / 700 bhp of peak power and brings together the ultimate in high-revving pleasure with astonishing low-end torque.
New VW Tiguan
Lamborghini Aventador
Volkswagen Bulli Concept
Thanks to a dry weight of only 1,575 kilograms (3,472 lb), which is extremely low for this class of vehicle, the weight-to-power ratio stands at only 2.25 kilograms per hp. Even the 0-100 kmph acceleration figure of just 2.9 seconds and the top speed of 350 kmph do not fully describe the Aventador’s extreme performance. And yet, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are down by around 20 per cent compared with its predecessor, despite the considerable increase in power (up 8 per cent).
Rolls Royce 102 EX
Ferrari Family to make India debut
Photo: S. Muralidhar
Team Smartbuy ne…oh, make that two…of the most exciting news announcements were made during the last few weeks for Ferrari fans at home. First was the unveiling of the Ferrari FF and the official introduction at the Geneva Motor Show 2011. And then came the announcement that Ferrari has finally appointed an Indian franchisee and dealership. First, a bit about the FF. Ferrari says that its new FF will be a revolution, though many purist fans of the brand will be very upset. What will they be sore about, you ask? The FF will be first Ferrari to offer four-wheel drive! While the purists fret about brand attributes dilution and about how this Ferrari can’t possibly offer them the edgy joy of the two rear-wheel drive standard from the brand, the rest of us can rejoice that the FF is finally one of the most practical, yet, surely, will be one of the most fun to drive cars that has ever rolled out of the gates of the famous House of Maranello. It would seem that this new model from Ferrari is also targeted at buyers in the emerging Asian markets, where its practicality and easier drivability maybe appreciated more. The FF is an acronym for Ferrari Four and refers to the four seats and four-wheel drive. This all-new grand tourer, which also sports Ferrari’s first shooting-brake design, is meant to be a replacement for the 612 Scaglietti. The FF’s front draws a lot of obvious inspiration from the 458 Italia. Ferrari says that the FF offers a completely new take on
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the sporting Grand Tourer theme. It is a model that hails a major break with the past for Ferrari, effortlessly melding extreme sports car performance with the versatility and usability of a genuine GT. The FF brims with innovation, not least in its engine, the first GDI V12 to be coupled with the seven-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox. The V12 unleashes a massive 660 CV at 8,000 rpm, and maximum torque of 683 Nm at 6,000 rpm with 500 Nm already available at just 1,000 rpm. This ensures the performance figures of an extreme sports car, with the 0-100 kmph sprint being covered in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 335 kmph. Efficiency has been significantly boosted too, with fuel consumption now standing at just 15.4 litres per 100 kms, and CO2 emissions at 360 g/km, a 25 per cent reduction compared to the previous V12s, thanks in part to the HELE (High Emotions- Low Emissions) System which incorporates Stop&Start technology. The FF also guarantees this exceptional performance on terrain with very low grip coefficients, thanks to Ferrari’s own patented 4RM four-wheel drive system. Torque is still delivered by the rear wheels, but the PTU (Power Transfer Unit) ensures that as much as is required is also transferred to the front wheels when necessary on low grip surfaces. The FF intelligently distributes torque to each of the four wheels individually, thanks to the fact that all of the dynamic vehicle controls (E-Diff, F1-Trac and PTU) have been integrated into a single CPU. Despite seeming like a fourseater hatchback or estate with a large luggage area (450 litres of it with the rear seats up), exceptional sporty driving is also guaranteed by the FF’s transaxle architec-
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ture (mid-front engine with gearbox over the rear axle) and the positioning of 53 per cent of weight to the rear of the car. Meticulous attention has been taken in lightening the engine (new castings), bodyshell (new aluminium alloys and production processes) and a host of other components. The interior has also been optimised through the use of high-tech materials such as magnesium for the seats. Third generation Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes are now lighter and longer-lasting, with virtually negligible wear during normal use on the road. All of these innovations have combined to produce an absolutely exceptional weight-power ratio of 2.7 kg/CV, a new benchmark for this kind of car. Styled by Pininfarina, the FF’s lines effortlessly reflect its signature uncompromising balance of sportiness and versatility. It can comfortably accommodate four in its bodyhugging seats and spacious cabin, says Ferrari. For Ferrari fans in India, the wait won’t be for very long to lay their hands on the 458 Italia or the Ferrari California, though we do hear that the FF’s first production run might have already been sold out. Ferrari has appointed the Shreyans Group as the official importer for Ferrari in India. The first Ferrari dealership will open its doors in New Delhi soon, and a second one is scheduled to open in Mumbai in the second half of 2011. The Shreyans Group will also setup an independent Ferrari India office with Ferrari experienced professionals to manage the upcoming dealer network
Photos: S. Muralidhar
Pixel-elated! S.Muralidhar ver since the Nano was first unveiled, Tata Motors and its premieres have had a huge following at the Geneva Motor Show. The Tata Nano Europa, the European version of the ultra low-cost car was unveiled at the 2009 edition of the show and this year too Tata designers and engineers had come up with an exciting new concept to keep the interest going for the Nano. The new Pixel is Tata Motors’ interpretation of the city car of the future. This concept is based on the Nano platform and despite its smooth, almost cartoonish design the Pixel’s genetic background is all too easy to see. From a distance, it looks like a toy you might be tempted to string onto a key chain, a futuristic concept that maybe put to use in a movie directed by John Lasseter. Tata Motors says that the Pixel is a new city car concept particularly meant for Europe. And though it is based on the Tata Nano, the Pixel is smaller – at just over three metres in length. Yet, it is claimed to be the most package efficient four-seater in the world, and capable of comfortably accommodating four adults, unlike a typical European city car which is either a two-seater or can accommodate two adults and two children only.
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The Pixel has been designed and conceptualised by Tata Motors’ European Technical Centre. Though the design is more jelly-bean like and rounded, the Pixel’s overall construction is very similar to the Nano with wheels pushed out to the extreme and the same swooping roofline. The big difference between the Nano and the Pixel is the elimination of the B-pillar in the latter. The Pixel is still a concept so there is not much information on the possibility of the current construction being viable, but the absence of the B-pillar does seem to open up the possibilities of enhancing space inside the passenger cabin. Most other structural features will also be similar including locating the engine at the rear and just below the rear passenger seat. Possibilities include a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine, positioned at the rear of the Tata Pixel, though it does seem like it will be a task to package the mill in that small a space. The engine is said to be a low-friction design, featuring variable coolant and oil pump and rapid warm-up technologies. With optimised aerodynamic drag, low rolling-resistance tyres, stop-start technology, and intelligent battery charging, the Tata Pixel returns European combined cycle (NEDC) fuel econo-
my of 3.4 litres/100 kms and CO2 emissions of just 89gms / km, according to an official Tata Motors statement. To take the concept of it being a European city car further, Tata engineers have also added some nimble features to the Pixel. One of them is its unbelievable ability to park in the tightest of slots in typical crowded city conditions. In addition to its small footprint, the Tata Pixel’s ability to manoeuvre and park is made possible by its Zero Turn toroidal traction-drive Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT), which assists rotation of the outer rear wheel forwards and the inner rear wheel backwards, while the front wheels turn at acute angles. The result is a turning circle radius of just 2.6 metres. Adding to the novelty factor and assisting in its tight parking ability are the ‘scissor’ doors, which rotate upwards from the front to allow passengers to effortlessly enter or exit the Tata Pixel. Another unique aspect of the Pixel concept is the demonstration of ‘My Tata Connect’ - the first integrated human-machine interface (HMI) concept from Tata Motors. The system is designed to provide a high level of connectivity for the Pixel user by just connecting and integrating controls for the key functions in the driver’s smart phone! By connecting the tablet or smartphone (Samsung Galaxy Tab in the demo unit) and the running HMI, the user can access key functions and check necessary data by just touching the screen of the handset. In addition to doing its job as a phone, the tablet or smartphone also serves as the infotainment display allowing changes to temperature, ventilation and aircon settings. The steering wheel and related controls in the Pixel are also very simple and focus on ease-of-use. In the concept, the smart steering wheel, with the cut-away bottom section, sports ‘+ / –’ controls on the thumb holds, possibly to allow manual gear selection (a variation over the paddle gear shifters in current day cars). The controls could also be for controlling the volume of the infotainment system. The Pixel concept displayed also featured a very funky automatic gear selection knob, which was simply positioned on an appendage sticking out of the driver’s seat. With the clutch pedal being absent, the throttle and brake pedals were again just marked with large ‘+’ and ‘–’ signs to represent their functions.
KITCHEN trends
Fight the Flab Already given up on your New Year gym promises? Take a more subtle ascent to health by changing what you eat and drink. There are a host of gadgets that can reduce fat, retain vitamins and turn vegetables into tempting delights as opposed to foul mush. We’ve placed them in this gorgeous Rational Cult kitchen
1. RATIONAL CULT RANGE Primarily in dark oak veneer, the wall units also include glass. This not only creates a lighter feel but enhances the horizontal lines. L-shaped doors in the bass unit open out to provide 45- degree shelf access. Rs 9 lakh onwards 2. PHILIPS AIRFRYER Chips cooked in this have 80 per cent less fat than those done in conventional fryers. Bring in the fries! Rs 12,000
EXTRAS
3. CUISINART SOUP MAKER Soup is a cheap and nutritious dish but a bit tedious to cook. This 1.4-litre gizmo solves that. It’s a 500W blender with integrated heater that stirs and cooks soup for you. Rs 10,500
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4. WARING PROFESSIONAL JUICE MAKER The easiest, tastiest way to get your ‘five-a-day’ quota of fruits and veggies. This juicer’s induction motor and stainless steel blade will marmalise your fruit and vegetables in seconds. Rs 21,000 5. TEFAL VITA CUISINE COMPACT Tefal’s 1800W steamer has three tiers so you can simultaneously cook three elements of a meal. Steaming retains more vitamins without mixing flavours. There’s a digital timer and LCD, along with auto shut-off and keep-warm functions. Rs 7,500 6. LE CREUSET SQUARE GRILLIT This cast-iron grill pan’s grooves usher fat away from your food, and sear meat to delicious effect. Suitable for gas, electric and induction hobs. Rs 4,000
Steaming addition CUISINART COOK AND STEAM This versatile device combines a rice cooker with a steamer, cooking rice in 20 minutes and vegetables, meat or fish simultaneously using the integrated stainless steel steam tray. A ‘hold’ function keeps food warm and the pot is non-stick for convenient cleaning. Rs 4,000
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On the go smoothie KENWOOD SMOOTHIE 2GO For those who can’t go without their morning fruit fix but are pressed for time, this smoothie maker’s jug doubles as a travel mug. Just whip it off the motor part, which has high, low and pulse settings, remove the blade assembly and plonk on the drink-through, resealable lid. Rs 2,500
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This material is translated or reproduced from T3 magazine and is the copyright of or licensed to Future Publishing Limited, a Future plc group company, UK 2011. Used under license. All rights reserved * Approximate prices for all products
Barbeque made easy TEFAL JAMIE OLIVER GRILL This 1700W electric health grill has dual drip trays to catch fat and opens out 180 degrees for some indoor BBQ action. The grill is compact and easy to store, while removable, dishwashersafe plates mean keeping it clean is as quick and easy as one of Jamie’s 30minute recipes isn’t. Rs 4,500
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Hydrate in style BRITA ELEMARIS Drinking water is good for you: doctors say so. This 1.6-litre water jug expunges impurities, improving taste and preventing limescale build-up in your kettle. Built-in probes measure hardness, volume filtered and time while the built-in LCD shows how much longer the filter cartridge will last. Rs 1,500
March 16, 2011
MELANGE luxury redefined
Blush with Brush
Jewelled writings Opulence at its best, Goenka Diamond and Jewels has crafted gorgeous diamond studded pens, in rose gold and yellow gold. Be dazzled at Ravissant, Mumbai. Rs 4 lakh to Rs 8 lakh
Your vanity case has some new friends. The Body Shop and London College of Fashion’s ‘Brush with Fashion’, limited edition make-up has a stylish range of face base, cheek tints, mascara, brush kits and more. Available at its stores across India. Rs 495 to Rs 1,995
Bold and behold Sleek designs in innovative materials for ‘him’ and chic frames, gradient lens and bright and bold prints for ‘her’ – Fossil’s sunglasses collection will fancy your eyes. Available across Lifestyle and Shoppers Stop stores. Rs 2,795 to Rs 4,795
Pocket this William Penn’s latest is a wide variety of wallets from Chamois, made of high-quality leather, in different designs and available in neat range of colours at its stores. Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000
For the Greek Gods Giving handsome hunks some beauty indulgence, L’Occitane has launched its Verdon range, which includes a face moisturiser, shower gel, shave gel and face splash. Head to its stores in New Delhi and Shoppers Stop stores in Bengaluru and Kolkata. Rs 850 to Rs 2,100
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BLING corner
Eternal love Symbolised by the mystic Celtic knot, Poonam Soni’s platinum pendant has been accentuated with tanzanite and diamonds. Available: Check out her boutiques in Mumbai for more.
Seeing Red!
A tempting offer
Luscious tear-drop rubies and diamonds grace Goenka Diamonds and Jeweller’s chandelier earring from Ceres. Available: Its store Ceres, Mumbai and Ravissant, Mumbai
‘Entice’ing you with large diamonds, coloured stones and all things precious, KGK group’s newly launched brand has some exquisite pieces. Available: Entice, New Delhi
A thing for lace Freshwater pearl drops, pink-hued pearl string and diamonds in this Victorian lace motif – inspired jewellery by Mirari. Available: Mirari, Emporio Mall, New Delhi
Jewelled Jadau The Rajasthani craft takes the shape of Jaipur Gem’s neckpieces with uncut diamonds, rubies and emerald beads. Available: Jaipur Gems – Mumbai, Chennai, Coim.batore
Price on request for all products
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Photo: S. Muralidhar