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Monday, February 27, 2012

2012 Hyundai SONATA Review

Appreciation of car brands depends on where you live. Hyundai has been consistently successful in India but only recently garnered a good reputation in Europe and the United States. In those long-established markets Korean cars had been seen as upstarts with indifferent design, lacking in new technology, and saleable only at the lowest prices.

Hyundai never lacked ambition but it took some time to understand the standards by which Europeans and Americans judge cars. The first signs that it had got the message came when Hyundai and its companion brand Kia launched their first models designed and built in Europe. The Hyundai i30 and Kia Cee’d were a quantum leap from their previous contenders in the hotly-contested C-sector; the Cee’d even made the short list for the 2008 Car of the Year in Europe.

These better cars, plus the downturn in European and US economies that put an emphasis on value-for-money, consolidated Hyundai’s position as a major player in the car business. In 2009 Hyundai-Kia overtook Ford to take fourth place in the world sales league.

All of the smaller cars in the Hyundai range have been replaced since then. The i10 and i20 were well received and there is a waiting list in the UK for the i35 compact crossover SUV. Now comes the i40. In terms of positioning, it is probably the most important car yet.

The i40 is a replacement for the Sonata. In Europe, it lines up against the Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat and Opel Insignia; in America, where it is still called Sonata, it competes with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the country’s biggest selling passenger cars. The European i40 range started out with the Tourer sportswagon and is only now including the saloon that is sold in the US.





Renault PULSE Diesel First Drive

The Renault Pulse managed to assuage some of my apprehensions by proving to be an absolute delight to drive in the city. This is no surprise considering the Pulse is heavily based on the Nissan Micra. Revisions to the exterior account for the bulk of the changes. The changes are subjective; some may like the larger gaping grille and refreshed headlights up front but I lean towards the cute jelly bean shaped Micra. Renault has tried to pump up the aggression quotient but I’m not entirely sold.

Mechanically, the car is nearly untouched. Which means you get the same Renault developed 1461cc K9K turbo diesel that’s served in the Logan and Micra before this. This proven workhorse has a strong torque curve and the car pulls forward smoothly almost from idle while power comes in above 1500rpm. Ride quality, like the Micra is plush yet on the slightly stiff side. There’s no crashiness but the firm setup does communicate large undulations in the road. That and the pleasantly light steering, compact dimensions make the Pulse a ridiculously easy and almost stress free to drive through the worst Mumbai has to offer.

It’s the familiar circular grey plastics from the Micra inside as well. Though not classy the spunky interiors have plenty of space which is a big plus point. The top of the line RxZ we drove had a couple of nice touches like keyless start and electric folding mirrors. A driver airbag is standard and the passenger bag is optional however ABS is unfortunately not even an option.
The Pulse is old wine in a newish bottle but it tastes good nevertheless. It has been launched only in diesel option with two variants at the 2012 Auto Expo and prices start from Rs 5.7lakh. The RxZ which we drove costs Rs 6.25lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi, Rs 70,000 lower than the equivalent Nissan Micra diesel.








Sunday, February 26, 2012

JAGUAR XK SERIES

The Jaguar XK series (XK, XK8 and XKR) is a series of grand tourer cars produced by British car maker Jaguar since 1996. 

The XK combines Jaguar's legendary performance with advanced technologies and sporting luxury to create a grand tourer with the heart & soul of a sports car. Available in coupe or convertible body styles, the XK is available with a choice of two performance engines.