Carz Stuffs and Th!ngs

Maruti Suzuki has recalled 103,311 units of the Swift hatchback, Dzire compact sedan and the Ertiga MPV in India. The recall is the second such one is as many years. Last year, the Swift, Dzire and Ertiga were recalled, albeit in limited numbers, for a steering column replacement. This time around, the recall is much larger, what with Maruti Suzuki calling in 47,237 units of the Swift, 42,481 units of the Dzire and 13,593 units of the Ertiga to replace a faulty fuel filler neck. The recall affects Swifts, Dzire and Ertigas sold after 12th November, 2013, and will be carried out at no cost to the customer. Maruti Suzuki has begun stockpiling the fuel filler neck at dealerships, in order to carry out the recall effectively. Swift, Dzire and Ertiga owners who have bought their cars after the 12th of November, 2013, are advised to contact their nearest Maruti Suzuki dealerships for information on whether their car is affected by the recall. Also, they can choose to log on to...

Datsun’s re-introduction to the world took place right here in India with the legendary Japanese brand showcasing a no-nonsense hatchback, the Go. A few months ago, the Go+ MPV broke cover to high praise over a simple design and phenomenal packaging and space. Now,  Datsun  is back with its third strike, the all-new  Datsun  on-Do sedan. Launched in Russia, the  Datsun  on-Do will give Russia’s booming lower middle classes a chance to own a modern car with bulletproof Japanese reliability. Co-incidentally, Datsun, in Russia for the first time ever is also celebrating its 100 th  anniversary this year. Launching the  Datsun  brand in Russia is also an important milestone as it will be the first market with Datsun,  Nissan  and Infinity all present together. The  Datsun  on-Do is a conventional five seater, four door, family sedan that uses Datsun’s new design philosophy to the T. The distin...

Thank You guyss.....!!!!!! for your support... Keep following my blog...!! :)

Automatic Transmission An automatic gearbox is primarily aimed at making car driving easier. Women have traditionally gravitated towards automatic gearbox equipped cars for the comfort and ease of driving such cars offer. India is seeing more and more cars being equipped with automatic gearboxes, and this is true even in the price conscious budget segments. The Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) is an emerging trend in the automatic gearbox equipped car segment, and one that is likely to become quite common in cars sold here. Bluetooth Having a Bluetooth equipped stereo system helps one not only stream music from smartphones but also allows one to talk over the phone hands free. Talking on the phone through a Bluetooth system is much safer than balancing the phone between the neck and shoulder. Women outdo men in voting for this feature that is soon becoming commonplace even on budget cars. Why, even the Tata Nano’s top end variants now offer Bluetooth connectivity a...

However, researchers at  Michigan State University  have built a prototype gasoline engine that requires no transmission, crankshaft, pistons, valves, fuel compression, cooling systems or fluids. Their so-called Wave Disk Generator could greatly improve the efficiency of gas-electric hybrid automobiles and potentially decrease auto emissions up to 90 percent when compared with conventional combustion engines. The engine has a rotor that's equipped with wave-like channels that trap and mix oxygen and fuel as the rotor spins. These central inlets are blocked off, building pressure within the chamber, causing a shock wave that ignites the compressed air and fuel to transmit energy. The Wave Disk Generator uses 60 percent of its fuel for propulsion; standard car engines use just 15 percent. As a result, the generator is 3.5 times more fuel efficient than typical combustion engines. Researchers estimate the new model could shave almost 1,000 pounds off a car's weight curr...

We had revealed earlier that luxury carmaker  BMW  has plans to expand their manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, US, to build their new X7 SUV.  BMW  has now officially confirmed the same. This announcement was made by Norbert Reithofer, CEO,  BMW  AG at Spartanburg plant's 20 years celebration event. The X7 will be the biggest SUV manufactured by BMW, and the production of the same will begin in 2016.  BMW hasn’t revealed much about the model, but we expect it to be a seven-seater SUV. The X7 will be based on the extended platform of the X5 and X6 SUVs. Unlike the X5, which is also available with four-cylinder engines and in rear-wheel-drive configuration, the X7 is expected to be offered exclusively with six- and eight-cylinder engines and in all-wheel-drive only. Plug-in hybrid technology will also feature in some variants. BMW plans to boost the annual production at the Spartanburg plant by 50 per cent, thus increasing the number...

Renault’s first product for the Indian car market as an independent entity (not counting the Logan which was built in association with Mahindra) was the Fluence sedan. First launched during 2011 in India, the Fluence sedan with a mid life facelift just went on sale in the country days go. Renault Fluence Facelift D-Segment Sedan used as an illustration The Fluence was launched with petrol and turbo diesel engine options initially but is now available only in diesel power. Renault India has discontinued the petrol variants of the Fluence sedan on account of poor sales. The car used to feature a 2 liter petrol engine (135 Bhp-190 Nm) mated to a CVT automatic gearbox. Poor fuel efficiency was a major bane of the petrol powered Fluence. This low fuel efficiency of the petrol sedan was further exacerbated by the excellent fuel efficiency that the 1.5 liter K9K turbo diesel engined variants delivered, aided to good measure by the more efficient 6 speed manual gearbox, compa...

Shell has formally opened its first lubricant and oil research facility in Shanghai, China. The Shanghai research centre becomes the company’s third facility which will focus on lubricants product development and its application for China and other countries such as India, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. The Shanghai centre will become a part of Shell’s network of lubricants laboratories, working closely with the other two centres, each located in Hamburg, Germany and Houston, USA respectively. These are part of a wider 10-centre strong global network of Shell R&D centres. The research centre sprawls a good 92,500 sq ft and will cover a wide range of product applications which include passenger car motor oils (PCMOs), motorcycle oils (MCOs), heavy duty engine oils (HDEOs), transmission fluids, as well as industrial and speciality oils and greases. The research work will also cover oils for the shipping centre. The Shanghai facility will also provide techni...

In what seems like a bolt out of the blue, Mahindra has launched a Special Edition version of the hugely popular Bolero MUV. The Bolero Special Edition gets a mild decal job on its flanks while a couple of new features have been added. Mahindra claims that only 500 units of the Special Edition Bolero will be built, in keeping with the MUVs “special edition” status. The price of the Bolero Special Edition is yet to be revealed. Mahindra Bolero Special Edition MUV Here’s a list of what’s new on the Bolero Special Edition: Pearl white paint job with decals on the flanks Bluetooth and USB connectivity for the factory fitted stereo system European leather seats “Rear ABS”, perhaps a reference to a load sensing and proportioning valve (LSPV) equipped rear brakes Of the new features, the rear ABS feature arouses curiosity given the fact that the Bolero is equipped with disc brakes on its front wheels. With drum brakes at the rear, the “Rear ABS” feature is likely ...

 In the land of the “Kitna Deti Hai”, diesel hatchbacks continue to rule the hustings, especially in the B+ segment space. CarToq rounds up India’s most fuel efficient diesel hatchbacks in an updated 2014 list. So, if you’re in the market for a diesel hatchback with an emphasis on fuel efficiency, you must stop by and go through this list. All fuel efficiency figures in this list are ARAI certified. Oh, and there’s a surprise in store. India’s best selling B+ Segment hatchback isn’t in this list. Whoever said Indians care only for mileage. Chevrolet Beat – 25.44 Kmpl Despite being the most fuel efficient hatchback in the country, the Chevrolet Beat doesn’t even sell half as much as the best selling B+ segment hatchback. The Beat Diesel manages 25.44 Kmpl, mainly due to its 936 cc – 3 cylinder turbo diesel engine that is a downsized version of the 1.3 liter Multijet diesel motor that Fiat and General Motors jointly developed. Although the engine is super frugal, the loss...

Tata Motors’ big launches for this year are the Bolt B+ segment hatchback and the Zest compact sedan. Both cars will be launched in the second half of the year, and have already been revealed in the run up to the 2014 Indian Auto Expo. The Zest is likely to be launched first with the Bolt to follow soon after. Websites of the  Bolt  and the  Zest  are already up and running even as Tata Motors is trying to build some buzz around these cars before their official launches. The Bolt and the Zest are based on a modified version of the X1 platform, one that has underpinned a wide range of Tata hatchbacks and sedans, from the Indica to the Vista, to the Indigo and the Manza. The platform is likely to see some refinement for the Bolt and the Zest. The cars will be offered with turbo petrol and turbo diesel engine options, along with manual and automated manual transmissions. The 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet turbo diesel engine –  Quadrajet in Tatatongue  – ...

The last couple of years have been tough for the Indian car industry as a whole. Yet, most car makers are taking a long term view of the market in India and are keeping the car launch blitz intact. Although 2014 has been slow year in terms of the launches of all-new cars, a few big impact launches have already been ushered in even before the third month of the year has bowed out. Five major car launches of 2014. Honda City The first major car launch of the year, the 2014 City sedan has been a runaway success for Honda, mainly led by the 1.5 liter i-DTEC turbo diesel (100 PS-200 Nm) engined option. Although Honda has begun selling the City with a 1.5 liter i-VTEC petrol (118 PS-146 Nm_ as well, the lion’s share of sales still comes from the diesel engined model. The 2014 City, based on the new Jazz platform, is larger than the outgoing model and comes with a larger set of features too. However, the car is still priced competitively thanks to Honda aggressively localizing...

German automaker Volkswagen wants to become the biggest car maker in the world and the company’s current crop of car brands seem inadequate for it to achieve this outcome. What Volkswagen is currently missing in its vast portfolio of brands is a big-volume, low cost car brand.  Something on the lines of Renault’s Dacia or Nissan’s Datsun is what Volkswagen has been working towards for a while now and according to a German magazine  Manager Magazin ,  a breakthrough on this front could come as early as a few weeks from now .  The new brand could get the green light in the next few weeks and the first cars under the new low cost brand are likely to roll out in late 2016 or early 2017.  However, a top Volkswagen group official, Mr Heinz-Jakob Neusser, speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded Geneva Motor Show, said that the automaker was finding it difficult to achieve cost targets for the low cost brand without diluting the traditional trait...

Nissan India is doing quite a bit to make the Go hatchback appeal to a wide segment of car buyers. While the sharp pricing along with 4 different variants, D1, D, A and T will do their bit to drive buyers to Nissan showrooms, the Japanese car maker has also added five interesting accessory packs to the mix. These pre-configured accessory packs offer a good level of customization, making the Go hatchback more attractive. Also, the accessory packs help tie up loose ends by bolstering the equipment offered on the Datsun Go. The accessories available for the Go are priced between 4.84 and 7,920 rupees. 

Hyundai India has just launched the Xcent compact sedan here, just a month after its unveiled the car in the run up to the 2014 Indian Auto Expo. The latest entrant to the compact sedan brigade, the Xcent measures just under 4 meters in length, and this puts the car in a lower excise bracket. The lower excise bracket has translated into price tags that are stunners to say the least. The Xcent starts at a price of 4.66 lakh rupees for the petrol version and at 5.56 lakh rupees for the diesel engined model, with both prices reflecting ex-showroom Delhi figures. These prices undercut those of the Dzire and the Amaze comprehensively. Bookings officially start today with deliveries to begin by the month end. The Xcent is available in a total of 12 variants, three (Base, S, S Option, SX and SX Option) in petrol and diesel, and two in petrol automatic (S and SX). The SX variant rides on 15 inch alloy wheels while the Base and S variants make do with 14 inchers. All variants of the car a...

In the automotive industry, constant innovations are the order of the day as car makers seek to keep pace with the changing times and offer something that their competitors don’t. In a similar bid to stay ahead of the competition, Nissan showcased the world’s first digital LCD rear-view mirror at the Geneva Motor Show 2014. It was showcased on the Nissan X-Trail SUV and the new rear view mirror aims to remove blind spots that would otherwise exist on conventional rear view mirrors. With car design aimed at bettering looks, the rearward visibility is usually the victim. High back deck covers and substantial rear pillars are major culprits that hinder visibility. The computerized mirror can additionally adjust for messy back windows, the glare of immediate daylight and the headlamps of car following.  The innovation from Nissan is also expected to give car designers greater freedom. 

India was due for a BS5 emission norms transition in 2015 and BS6 in 2017, but these timelines seem like a far-fetched dream now. Having different norms for different places in the country accounts for a logistical problem for vehicle manufacturers. To streamline the existing state of affairs, the BS4+ transition will be for the entire country, This move will help manufacturers produce uniform vehicles instead of the splitting vehicles (BS3 and BS4) to cater to different markets in India. A salient feature of the new BS4+ emission norms concern the sulphur levels. While BS3 norms allow for a sulphur level of 350 PPM (parts per million) whereas the BS4+ norms will result in a drop in sulphur levels to 40 PPM with BS5 ushering in a further drop to 10 PPM. While vehicle manufacturers would be ready for the new emission norms in the country as they already have the technology to produce cleaner vehicles,the BS5 norms could prove to be a big roadblock for petroleum companies. The oil co...

The Corolla Altis will be sold with petrol and turbo diesel engine options, with the engines from the outgoing model being retained. The petrol powered 2014 Corolla Altis will be powered by a 1.8 liter engine that outputs 138 Bhp-173 Nm. A 6 speed manual and a CVT automatic gearbox with 7 stepped shifts are the two transmissions offered with this engine. The diesel motor is a 1.4 liter D-4D turbocharged unit that outputs 88 Bhp-205 Nm. This diesel engine – a variable geometry equipped version that is similar to the ones outfitted on the Liva and Etios – makes do with a 6 speed manual gearbox. The petrol engine is likely to feature better fuel efficiency given the new, fine tuned CVT automatic gearbox. The Altis will take on the likes of the Chevrolet Cruze and the Volkswagen Jetta. The all-new Corolla Altis comes with a new design, replete with LED headlamps and tail lamps. The revised design ditches curves for an approach that adds more straight lines. The result is a more E...

The Indian GP has completed three races out of the five-race contract ever since its launch in 2011; however, it now seems that India will not be witnessing the 300 km/hr action anytime soon at the Buddh International Circuit. Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone confirmed that the motorsport event will not come back to the country in 2015, while India was off the F1 calendar this year as well. The problems cited for F1 to shy away from the country are the taxation issues and the bureaucracy that have left the teams and the F1 management in bitter taste. Considering that Formula One is classified as entertainment rather than a sport in India, it leads to different taxation norms. Moreover, the considerable bureaucracy involved governing the import equipment has also been an obstacle for hosting F1 motorsport event. Organizers Jaypee Sports International Limited’s (JPSI) financial issues have also been a hindrance in the overall development of F1 in India. JPSI has to pay a race h...