AUTOMOTIVE CRAZE: 2012-07-22

Saturday, July 28, 2012

WOMEN'S CAR OF THE YEAR 2012

Range Rover Evoque wins Women’s World Car of the Year 2012

If you think SUVs are the cars only for men, it is the right time to change the opinion. The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque has won the Women’s World Car of the Year title this year.

The Women's World Car of the Year awards are more important than ever, with the fairer sex being the fastest-growing consumer segment in the world.

The judging panel comprised female motoring writers from 12 different countries, awarding points for safety, value for money, looks, storage space, child friendliness, ease of driving, sex appeal and environmental footprint

The Evoque took the crown of supreme winner this year, scoring highly with the female judges.

As per media reports, the Land Rover Evoque will be getting the trophy or the same at an official function to be organized during the upcoming Paris Motor Show scheduled in September this year. It is reportedly known that the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque has till now received over 111 awards for its overall design, top class engineering that has helped the car to perform exceedingly well even in acutest of the terrain. In India, the Range Rover Evoque is available in both petrol and diesel options as well as in coupe body styling. In India the Evoque Convertible is expected to be launched by the end of this year.

Toyota Aqua Prius C World’s Most Fuel Efficient Hybrid Launched

Toyota recently launched in Japan its latest compact car which is being said to be the world’s most fuel efficient mass produced hybrid vehicle (excluding plug-in hybrid vehicles). The new car is being touted as a small successor to Toyota’s revolutionary Prius and is called Aqua in home market and Prius C in other countries. With addition of Prius C hatchback, Toyota now has 4 Prius-badged hybrid models that includes the regular Prius, the new plug-in Prius PHEV and the Prius V minivan.

According to Toyota’s Press Release, “the Aqua incorporates 17 years of Toyota expertise and technology in the development of mass-produced hybrid vehicles, and boasts a small, light and efficient hybrid system that achieves a world-leading fuel efficiency”. On the Japanese JC08 test cycle (a new method of finding fuel efficiency), the Aqua gave an incredible fuel economy of 35.4 km/L (83.3 mpg) and 40.0 km/L (94 mpg) under the MLIT 10-15 test cycle (the original Japanese method of calculating efficiency numbers).

Aqua, which means water in Latin, is powered by a 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine producing 74 hp, and mated to a 45 kW electric motor. Combined output of 100 hp is enough to push it to 100 km/h (62mph) in 10.7 seconds in combination with its CVT gearbox. Aqua has a length of 3.9 meters as compared to 4.48 meters Prius and costs around 22% lesser. The car’s base model is priced at 1,690,000 yen in Japan which is about Rs 11,42,973. But if Toyota decides to launch Aqua in India in near future with 1.2L engine under the hood then we can hope for a much lower pricing.

Toyota Aqua/Prius C Technology Highlights:

    A cooled Exhaust-Gas Recirculation (EGR) system improves efficiency in the high-expansion-ratio Atkinson cycle engine.
    Also contributing to increased engine efficiency is a battery-powered water pump, a friction-reducing beltless design and precise coolant-water-flow volume control.
    A selectable electric-vehicle mode (EV Mode) enables driving with only the electric motor.
    The hybrid battery has been sized for placement under the rear seat, resulting in a spacious cargo area of 305 liters.
    The Hybrid System Indicator offers easy-to-understand information concerning eco-driving, such as effective accelerator use. Also part of the information system is Eco Judge ranks eco-driving on a 100-point scale, and Eco Wallet shows money saved as compared with other levels of fuel efficiency.
    Automatic air conditioning is equipped with an electric inverter compressor run by the electric motor, enabling a comfortably air-conditioned interior even when the engine is off.

CHEVROLET SPIN

Chevrolet has launched an MPV version of the sedan called the Spin. The model is destined to hit the South American and Asian markets this month.

Friday, July 27, 2012

MAHINDRA VERITO NEW FACELIFT MODEL

Mahindra has launched the all new look VERITO.The all new Look Verito sedan comes with 23 changes and new features which makes the car a lot more aesthetically appealing. The Verito is powered by the same efficient Renault 1.5 LDCi diesel engine and Renault 1.4 L MPFi petrol engine. In terms of variants the car is available in 2 petrol (G2 and G4) variants and 3 variants in Diesel (D2, D4 and D6).

Key highlights of the New Look Verito are –

Stylish new look exteriors

Premium new interiors

Better and more convenient ergonomics

Stylish New Look Exteriors

All new front fascia with new headlamps, front bumper, front grille, bonnet & new fog lamps
Sports a completely new rear design with new clear lens tail lamps, new deck lid, new chrome appliqué , & sleek rear bumper
The top end version D6 also comes with new alloy wheels & blackened pillars

Premium New Interiors:

2 tone instrument panel
2 DIN music system with CD / MP3 / USB / Aux-in / Tuner
Redesigned Centre console
Elegant new upholstery
Contemporary grey interior colour theme

Better, More Convenient Ergonomics:

Convenient door mounted power window switches
Redesigned Grab handles
Electric ORVM control
New Ergonomic AC controls

Mahindra Verito prices

Petrol variants (in lakhs)

G2 – 5.27
G4 – 5.49

Diesel variants (in lakhs)

D2 – 6.26
D4 – 6.48
D6 – 7.14

Toyota Innova & Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Comparison

Maruti Suzuki has entered the multi-purpose vehicle market with the launch of its Ertiga MPV at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. The new Ertiga kick starts a new compact premium UV (utility vehicle) segment in India and will soon be joined by Chevrolet, Mahindra and others. So before the new players join the party let’s compare the pioneer of the mini MPV class, Ertiga with the ruling boss of this segment, the new Toyota Innova 2012 .

Pitching the new Ertiga (which means three rows in Indonesian language) against the recently facelifted Toyota Innova seems odd since they don’t belong to the same segment and are targeted at a different set of customer base. But going by the lack of options for MPV buyers in our automobile market the Ertiga vs Innova duel won’t feel out of place. The Utility Vehicle (UV= MPV + SUV) segment accounts for around 14 per cent of the total sale of vehicles in India and a 66 per cent of these are Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPV), the segment where Ertiga is positioned.

Innova has been ruling Indian hearts for many years due to its proven reliability and workhorse powerplant. Maruti Suzuki’s Ertiga is new but coming from the stable of India’s largest automobile manufacture gives it a certain halo of trust in the eyes of masses. Though an MPV, the Ertiga has a very car-like styling and stance. The front resembles a buffed up Ritz hatchback while the peeled-back headlights are reminiscent of the new Swift which along with the pronounced wheel arches and a strong rising shoulder line gives it a bold stance. The rear has a distinct design with Honda Jazz like tail light. But it can still be easily identified from behind as a Maruti product with its trademark centrally located stop lamp at the bottom of the bumper.

With the launch of its Ertiga, Maruti not only intends to attract a new class of customers into its fold but also expects to take away many of the Toyota buyers who used to shop in the ‘Innova market’. Now that’s easier said than done. Ertiga does not make a style statement like say the Fluidic Hyundai but its appeal lies in the neutral ‘please all’ design and that’s what is going to help it be the choice of the whole family. So let’s try to decipher the new Ertiga while not forgetting what Innova has to offer.