Archive for the ‘Automotive’ Category
« Previous EntriesBajaj Pulsar 250 cc
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009Bajaj is a big brand among the lovers of bikes. It keeps dishing out new fares year after year to meet the requirements of riders located both rurally and urbanely.
The roads, especially in metros, very frequently mirror the tarmacs and the zealous drivers itch to have the high performance wheels posed between their legs, among other things.
Yamaha has been the leader in this group, but the lead has been steadily curtailed by the climbing Bajaj. The 180 cc, and 220 cc Bajaj pulsar bikes took the cities by storm owing to monopolized exhaust technique, fuel injection and DTSi or the Digital Twin Spark ignition. These features are also a part o the current 250 cc bike, a real hunk to have.
With the DTSi technique ensuring full and proper use of the burning petrol, solid pick up and the zing factor, the 250 cc Bajaj Pulsar bike is on the list of buys for many enthusiasts. Though the looks and the tires are almost a take off from their earlier high performers, the bike still has features which one sees in the foreign two-wheelers.
The shock absorbers leave a lot to be desire and the sitting posture is sure to pose trouble for the compulsory drivers. But then, Bajaj is known to be generous with renovations and has a strict policy regarding displacement of parts either free or at pretty nominal costs.
The bike is an enigma of sorts; with most confusing it with the earlier version 220 cc.
How to Book Tata Nano
Friday, February 13th, 2009Tata Nano Booking likely to cost Rs 70,000
Tata Nano car is all ready to kiss Indian roads. The wait seems finally over and the most awaited car, Tata Nano is almost here. If you are contemplating on buying the Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car, the news is that the bookings are expected to start by second week of April. Tata Nano will be rolled out on 23rd March 2009. Before the mother plant is set up in Gujarat (whose construction is underway), initially, Tata Nano cars will roll out from its Pantnagar plant. But this is what you should be knowing to book this 1 lakh car, Tata Nano.
Tata Nano Booking Information
According to ‘Economic Times’ booking is done by paying 70% price of the car; which comes to Rs. 70,000.
Booking can be done either with a Tata Motors Nano dealer or through State Bank of India branches (a 100 branches are designated as of now and Tatas are planning to increase the number to 150 based on response and going by the response already in all likelihood it will be increased). SBI also will finance the car for those buyers who don’t have ready cash to pay for it.
Since the demand for Tata Nano car is so high and the production not so much meeting the demand, its only through a lucky draw that the allotment is done. This also means there will be some kind of a black marketing selling the Nano for high price at least during the initial days.
In case you wanted to know anything else about the Tata Nano car, feel most free to post them here, and I will gladly answer them.
Nano to hit the road in May, booking starts in April
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGZUdCeHGds
Tata Motors to launch ‘Nano’ on March 23
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y3txmvnpHA
TATA’s Nano to hit the road in May, booking starts in April
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrCrpmwDaWo
New Skoda Superb 2009
Sunday, January 25th, 2009
Czech manufacturers Skoda Auto look to pour in their heart and soul into making cars. It is here that the New Skoda Superb becomes another hot entity worth checking. The elite class can take note of the hatchback and try to measure it in the Geneva Motor Show due in February. This would mark its official unveiling.
The vehicle aims to get one up on Ford Mondeo. It will be up for grabs in the month of September in UK and the price is most likely to range between 15000 pounds and 23000 pounds. The sale for the car is looking to near some 60000 units per year.
The car will have plenty of new additions. The electronic air-conditioning system and automatic parking assistance are two of the boosts. Apart from this, there is the look-around-corner headlamp which is a neat addition. The new modification of Skoda will have new tail lamps, Skoda will have nine airbags. As for the engine, the transmission apparatus will be linked to both the manual and automatic gear.
A touch-screen infotainment system marks this face lifted vehicles. It is replete with SD Memory cards and hard drive. This perhaps means death knells for in the car iPods.
Skoda Auto Technical Department is taking entire workload of making the vehicle possible. Testing has been on in various geographical regions including California and Scandinavia. Here is hoping that this real up market thing proves to be the right one-up on celebrated Mondeo.
Reva Launched Reva L-ion
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009
Reva has launched its new lithium-ion battery charging stations to make car charging more expeditious. This is not an “in the wind” project. It has taken more than two years of rigorous testing to have made a machine that can give 120 kilometers per charge with a top velocity of 80 kilometers per hour. Now that’s some speed for a battery-operated car.
The all new vanguard charge station can charge 9/10th of the battery within an hour. This would imply taking a break per 120 kilometers for as a less as an hour and starting again. Reva are virtually the pioneers of this avant garde system and they have always kept such innovative edges to themselves.
We have discussed the acceleration quotient and minimized time lags. To add, Reva L-ion also offers an enhanced range to its many already won over customers as we see. These are the three cornerstones of a great battery car and Reva gets flying numbers in all the departments. If 120 kilometer dismays you, let’s tell you that statistically more than 90 percent journeys fall within this number.
Reva has also shielded the battery against weather reverses. This can take care of its only anomaly in the past day; poor cold-weather performance. This fast charging station car from India has made the right waves in Europe and more and more people are seeing it as an option in the face of intensifying gasoline prices. Before using lithium-ion battery, Reva was employing lead-acid battery to power the car.
Tata Nano Launch – March 2009
Thursday, January 8th, 2009Tata Nano – People’s Car with a Difference
Tata Nano, dubbed as the people’s car is set to launched this March after much delay. The booking also which would open around second week of February is a source of great enthusiasm for all those who were anticipating the cheapest car in the history (taking inflation into account) with bated breath. Tata had earlier talked about a first quarter release. But then, we always thought the Uttarkhand plant was hardly up for shuttling out Nano in the first month.
With Nano, India’s automotive giant can take the international masters face-on at the home turf. This was made difficult for the Indian manufacturer’s as there was a virtual onslaught of international brands.
Tata Nano is a small car which seats four and works with a rear engine. Tata is looking to propose the car at 100000 INR that is tantamount to 2000 USD. Tata Nano heralds the present day thesis of the world. Smaller, cheaper more portable things are looking to shine in the market and this is just one such thing.
It uses just the perfect technical angle. Can you believe in a modern day car without welded joints and adhesives? Compared to Maruti, it has 21% higher interior space. It’s made in a way that it can exude comfort even with limitations of experimentation. The car will have three versions; one small and two deluxe ones.
And yes, all those who though that the car might just be an upgraded version of an auto rickshaw with four wheels. Lo and behold! It’s a properly designed car that looks as good as the low-segment niche models.
Tata Nano Price
Ex showroom price of Nano at delhi will be Rs. 1,00,000 only !
Tata Nano specifications
624cc petrol engine
33BHP
4 door, 5-seater
Rear engine, front boot which is quite unique
expected milage : 20km/litre mileage, upto 26km/litre on highway
30 liter fuel tank capacity
4 door, 5-seater
front disc brakes and drums in the rear
Euro 4 compliant
4 speed manual gear box
Top speed 90km/h
Nano Booking
Bookings for the Rs 1 lakh Nano will begin by February-end. The booking amount for the same would be around Rs 70,000 which is about 70% of the car’s total cost. Waiting period would be quite long considering the demand & the hype it has got.
State Bank of India which has a tie up with Tata motors for all financial transactions w.r.t Nano is another smart move my the Tata’s in the auto industry. All dealers of Tata Motors and branches of State Bank of India (SBI) will accept bookings simultaneously across the country in the next three weeks.
Initial bookings of over one lakh cars is expected & the company hopes to collect around Rs 700 crore in just a few weeks. Allotment will be made through a draw & few may even buy it in black market to become proud oweners of the Nano. Nano would be launched in March 2009 with cars rolling out from the Pantnagar plant in Uttranchal.
Nano’s launch had been scheduled for 2008 but plans got derailed when Tatas were forced out of Singur in West Bengal.
New Mahindra XYLO 2009
Saturday, January 3rd, 2009You must have heard of those smart multi-purpose vehicles. Renowned brand Mahindra is taking its first potshot at manufacturing the MPV’s. Built much on the lines of Sports utility vehicles, the MPV from Mahindra’s yard will give Toyota’s Innova few sleepless nights. The name is Mahindra XYLO and it will be up for grabs this January 13th, 2009.
Establishing a Xylophone rhythm on Indian roads
The XYLO will nearly replicate a Scorpio in terms of engine. Its 2.6 CRDe and 2.3 M-Hawk are almost equal to its illustrious predecessor.
All those who have been in the know would remember about the Mahindra Ingenio. Yes, that exact vehicle is being christened as the XYLO. Now you know what we are talking about. XYLO is the result of hard-drawn labor of nearly 160 masters. This is likely to let it stand up to the hype it has generated. The vehicle is believed to be a true mix of functionality and appearance.
With turbo diesel and 2200cc of displacement, the vehicle looks like being perfect for the Indian roads.
Frothing out from the Nasik plant, XYLO will be first to come out in a volume of 25000. This will be reconsidered depending on how its sale takes on from there.
Few are already upping the ante in terms of plagiarism. Some say it has the Scorpio-Bolero grill, others say it has a body just like Innova. Whichever way it may stand, the truth of the matter is that it’s Mahindra’s nicest attempt in some time and the vehicle we are asked to pronounce as Zy-Lo should rock.
Mahindra XYLO Price
The Price of Mahindra Xylo variants are shown below. The prices are subject to change;
Variant Ex Showroom
E2 – Rs.6,24,500
E4 – Rs.6,69,500
E6 – Rs.7,32,500
E8 – Rs.7,69,500
Mahindra XYLO Teaser Video
httpv://in.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi29BWuv82U
Bajaj 2009 Bikes
Friday, January 2nd, 2009Bajaj buzzes again. Bajaj has had a tough time of late. Sale slump in the realm of 37 percent
is not a mean thing. To reverse its impaled fortune, Bajaj is launching 6 bikes in as many months starting January 2009. Well! It is not very easy to get a head start with the sales as the inventory pile-up is quite a bit and dealers are already a little scared of taking fresh deliveries.
To tide against the issue, Bajaj is offering frugal finance plans. Such plans will endear customers to the Bajaj bikes again; expect a large section of bajaj-ites. The company is stretching its warm embrace through an extended warranty. If a customer goes for a 36 months loan, he will have a warranty of 36 months, now this is some new wave thinking on part of the bajaj family. Pay your monthly installment on time and Bajaj is there to take care of your vehicle maintenance.
Those bikes which will be brought forth to a large cross-section of crowd are Pulsar 220cc, new Pulsar 200 FI, XCD sprint and Blade scooter. Bajaj is also looking forward to launching Steel. Now the last one would be a low-end vehicle for those willing to plunge over the scooty idea.
Bajaj has already indicated how it plans to keep the capital expenditure exactly equal to the last fiscal. Plans for introducing a four-wheeler is also in the pipeline. This would most certainly be Bajaj’s solo venture without any tie—up with Nissan-Renault.
New Toyota Innova
Sunday, December 7th, 2008
Toyota Innova when launched in 2005, that replaced the popular Qualis, wasn’t sure that it would taste success with its radical design. Now its the only MUV that has been able to survive in the Indian auto Industry. 
With its car like comfort in all aspects, It was well accepted all over across different segments. Now with almost three years gone, Its all set for a face lift to keep it fresh in the industry. Some of the changes made in this face lift version are the front new grille, with chrome slats for a richer look & the headlamps have been given more angular look which gets the clear-lens treatment. The front bumper is all-new, with an angular ridge on either side of the two-piece grille. The fog lamps are new as well. Innova gets a LED treatment at the tail-lamps which adds a smart fresh look at the rear. But when we peep into its interiors, Innova has ensured that it would capture the D-Segment customers as well. Some of the key features added are the climate control, in-dash CD changer and audio controls on the steering wheel. Toyota hasn’t made any changes to its technical features but the features added for this face lifted new Innova is enough for it to stay ahead of the competition. Tata’s Indicruz and the Mahindra Ingenio would be its new rivals to compete with.
New Innova would be here around December end or early 2009. So its really a car to watch out for.
New Bajaj XCD Sprint Bike
Friday, December 5th, 2008Bajaj is constantly extending the tether as far as performance and displacement are concerned. The jumbo manufacturer has recently launched XCD Sprint and it seems to be doing the company proud.
XCD has a muscular look and is full of sporting attributes. The bike uses a 4 valve technology aiming to go one up on the 3 valve TVS flame. The front disc brake for greater composure and the rear Nitrox shock absorber for higher buffer add to the unforgettable driving experience.
The engine works on the DTSi technology which is exactly what is used for the bigger versions like Pulsar
and Discover. Maximum power output of 12.5 ps is something that the biking industry in general would be looking at with bated breath. This output for the 125 cc machine should be a revelation.
The 125 cc segment is supposed to get many notches higher with this particular invention.
Cosmetically speaking, the bike has been upgraded a lot from its earlier version. It has an attractive tail lamp, split grab rails and chrome strips on the tank shroud and so on. These are purely for the looks but the cut exhaust pipe and console instrument panels have dual purpose of appearance and function. Except for the tank, the entire bodywork is redefined. All those who were lobbying for a lower handle in order to get a trendy riding position; the XCD sprint gives the perfect opportunity to show off.
Yamaha’s Gladiator and TVS’s flame certainly have stiff competition here.
Cheap Car Insurance Tips
Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008Car insurance is something that any car owner cannot avoid. With a car insurance policy, you are protected if you are involved in an accident or if your car gets stolen or vandalized. However, to many people car insurance can be rather expensive but by following these tips your car insurance maybe available at cheaper rates.
Tips for Getting Cheap Car Insurance
The basis of acquiring cheap car insurance is not to jumping at the first car insurance policy you happen to come across. Instead, you have to conduct a thorough research on the various car insurance options open to you and this is best done via the internet.
A simple search will provide lists of various car insurance companies offering different car insurance policies. It is always better to approach the more established companies as these normally have more “trust” attached to them.
There are many companies that unfortunately scam people by collecting money from them for the perceived insurance policy, and then disappear when or if the time comes to make a claim. You will either find that the company has been “closed down”, or will be given funny reasons for not having your claim paid.
Compare various Car Insurance Companies
When you approach a car insurance company, you have to first make comparisons between the policy it offers and those offered by different companies. The first thing to compare is the deductible amount, which is the amount you have to pay initially, when making a claim. The deductible amount is basically dependant on the amount of your insurance policy.
Essentially, the higher is the deductible, the cheaper your car insurance policy. However, it’s best to only choose this option if you are a good driver with an excellent driving record and above all are able to pay the amount in case of an accident or theft.
The type of car you drive also has an effect on the cost of your car insurance policy. Cars such as the sports variety or luxury cars can have high car insurance rates because of the increased possibility of them being stolen.
Even cars which have parts that are difficult to obtain have a more expensive car insurance policy because these parts are usually expensive because of the difficulty in finding them.
Careful driving means a Cheap Car Insurance Policy
Driving carefully is also important for obtaining a cheap car insurance policy. The lower the number of speeding tickets and accidents you have on record, the cheaper is the car insurance policy. In fact, many insurance companies also offer safe driver discounts that you can take advantage of while seeking out a policy.
You can easily get a cheaper car insurance policy if you have safety and anti theft devices fitted in your car. This is because such cars face a lower risk of getting involved in an accident or getting stolen. This proves to be cheaper for the insurance company and that’s why they can afford to offer a cheap car insurance policy. However, if these safety and anti theft devices were installed by you after the car was purchased, be sure to inform the car insurance company about the additions.
Opt for a Multiple-Discount Policy
It is surprising to learn that your home address plays a part in getting cheap car insurance policies. This is because if you live in an accident prone or high theft area, you face an increased risk of having your car stolen or having an accident.
There are many companies offering multi-vehicle discounts which you can use to get a cheap car insurance policy. This policy is obviously offered if you two or more cars. Instead of getting individual polices for the different cars, it’s better and cheaper to get one policy covering all the cars. You can also get a discounted policy if you have a single policy as cover for your cars and your home. However this discount is available only if you buy insurance for all your cars and house from the same insurance company.
Your profession has an effect on your car insurance policy. Scientists and teachers can easily get cheap car insurance policies, for example, because statistics show that their orientation and lifestyle is a much safer and responsible one when compared to those from other professions such as business people, doctors who have to rush to the hospitals and lorry drivers.
Older and more mature drivers as well as women get cheap car insurance because they are deemed more careful in their driving than say, a student or teenage drivers. This is the reason many couples opt to obtain a cheaper car insurance policy by getting it put on the wife’s name.
Compare various Car Insurance Quotes
Once you have considered all these factors for obtaining a cheap car insurance policy, you just have to use the online insurance quote feature offered by the many car insurance companies on their website.
Remember, different car insurance companies have different rates of discount for their car insurance policies. So obtain as many quotes as possible from as many companies as you can, in order to compare the quotes and choose the company giving you the lowest car insurance quote.
On receiving your car insurance policy, it is your duty to ensure that it never expires by being prompt in your payments. Once your policy lapses, you end up with more expensive rates. This can sometimes occur when changing insurers and can be avoided by ensuring that the new policy is operational before you terminate the old policy.
With so many tips to consider, all you have to do is remember all these points the next time you go looking for a car insurance policy, and you will be well on your way to getting a cheap car insurance policy.
