India's Car Market Shift: Hyundai Acquires Talegaon Plant from General Motors

General Motors, a big car company from America, has left India after not selling cars there for six years. They sold their car-making place, called the Talegaon plant, to Hyundai Motor India.

Electric Wheels in Overdrive: Industry Giants Prepare to Launch 20 Innovative E-Bike Models

In the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainable transportation, the gears are shifting as industry giants rev up their efforts to introduce a wave of innovation. "Electric Wheels in Overdrive: Industry Giants Prepare to Launch 20 Innovative E-Bike Models" captures the exciting momentum in the world of electric mobility.

Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept 2014

The infiniti Q50 has been designed to take on the BMW 3 Series - but infiniti is trying to attract a more youthful set of customers and efficient diesel and hybrid saloons aren't exactly going to gain any favour with the young crowd.

Enter the 2014 infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept debuting at this year's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. This thing has been designed to take on the mighty BMW M3 and could well have the weaponry to succeed. That level of power and torque eclipses the 431hp, 40lb ft 2014 BMW M3, which will sprint from 0 to 62mph (approx 100kmh) in 4.1 seconds.

Makers reckon the BMW will be lighter than a production version of the Eau Rouge through, so even with that mammoth intended power output, don't expect a hot Q50 to destroy the M3 over the same benchmark test.

As part of the transformation from family saloon to performance car, infiniti has given the regular Q50 a pretty heavy makeover, endowing the Eau Rouge concept with a more sporting look.

Infiniti has not yet announced if the Q50 Eau Rouge concept will get the green light of production, but when it does get confirmed, expect to be able to buy one in late 2015 or early 2016, priced from $90,000 (Rs. 56.5 Lakhs).

When the Q50 Eau Rouge concept was revealed in Detroit, Johan de Nysschen hinted that if a production version ever happened it would have around 500 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of toruque, which is a significant hike over the current Q50. Infiniti hasn't announced any details of the engine that is going to debut in Geneva, but it's expected that it will be a turbocharged six-cylinder.

Tata Motors Reveals the Bolt Hatchback

Tata Motors finally revealed to the public, the hatchback they had condenamed as the Falcon 4. Bolt, as it will now be called, made eyes turn in the sparking blue colour that it sported. It shared the limelight with the Tata compact sedan, codenamed Falcon 5, now christened as the Tata Zest.

This next-generation Global car from Tata Motors showcases the new DNA of the company and boasts of newness in terms of design (DesigNext), drivablity (DriveNext) speed and represents, accroding to the company, a winner's attitude. it comes with several segment first features and employs a new design language for the interiors as well as the exteriors.

The Bolt Hatchback is built on an updated version of the Tata Vista's X1 platform but is completely independent of the car's features. The Bolt features aggressive frontal styling, new grille and sleeker, sharper headlights. The rear has some changes as well.

The tail in the Bolt comes in a more wing-shaped design and the car also does not sport the vertically stacked tail lights of the Indica. The hatchback, however, does not have daytime running lights in front. It will be powered by the company's newly announced 1.2 litre turbochanged petrol Revotron engine that develops 85bhp.

PARTNER and MiTR LCVs by Ashok Leyland

Ashok Leyland, flagship of the Hinduja Group, launched two new Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) - PARTNER truck, India's first airconditioned LCV goods vehicle and MiTR bus, a LCV bus with bes-in-class comfort. After the commercially sucessful Dost and the recently launched STiLE, now PARTNER and MiTR are the latest offerings from the Ashok Leyland - Nissan Joint Venture.

PARTNER, brings to the India customer, the latest LCV from Europe and Japan. This next-generation truck focuses on driver comfort and sports a modern Euro cab with spacious car-like interiors and offers global levels of performance and efficiency. With a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) capacity of 6.6T, the PARTNER will address various applications like parcel goods, durables, perishables and FMCG products among others.

MiTR is a 26+1+1 seater bus, ergonomically designed to offer superior comfort and utility to passengers and drivers. MiTR has a parabolic suspension in the front and the rear - an industry - first and offers class-leading comfort. MiTR also has a school bus variant that adheres to school bus body code guidelines of all state governments.

Both PARTNER and MiTR are powered by an advanced ZD30 Common Rail Diesel Engine, that ensures superior fuel-efficiency and better turnaround time.

Dual Front Airbags : Volkswagen

Volkswagen announces airbags as standard for Polo, will increase prices by 2.7% on Polo and Vento.

Volkswagen, Europe's largest carmaker, announces a significant enhancement in driver safety, with the introduction of dual front airbags as standard fitment on variants of the Polo. In keeping with its ethos of offering best-in-class build quality, technology and safety, Volkswagen is now the first automobile manufacturer in the country to offer dual fron airbags as standard equipment in the premium hatchback segment. Building further on enhancing the safety aspect of its cars. Volkswagen is now also offering anti-lock brakes (ABS) as standard fitment on the Comfortline version of the Polo.

In a move to partially offset increased inputs costs and changes in the exchange rate, Volkswagen has announced a 2.7% price hike on all variants of the Polo and Vento. This price hike will be of up to Rs. 22,700 for the Polo and up to Rs 26,800 for the Vento.

Zest Sedan from Tata Motors

In what can be only described as an aggressive launch strategy, Tata Motors has unveiled not one but two all-new cars; the dynamically desinged Bolt Hatchback and the equally striking looking Zest compact sedan.

Talking about the Bolt Hatchback, the Zest gets a new design language. It is a result of the collaborative design inputs from the three Tata Motors design studios in Pune, Coventry (UK) and Turin (Italy). The car reportedly comes with several segment-first features such as projector headlamps, LED tail lamps and all-new HARMAN infotainment system.

Perfectly designed and developed to please the market and on an enhanced X1 platform, the Zest is an important model for Tata as it marks a strategic shift for Tata towards a global portfolio of cars designed to offer high performance and connectivity.

Leasing a car : 5 hidden costs to consider

Leasing is back as a popular way to drive new wheels. A lower monthly payment may  not represent all the real and potential costs of a lease. Other factors can influence just how good a lease deal is.

1. Disposition Fee/Purchase Option Fee:

Dropping off a car at lease end without leasing a new one may require a disposition fee. on the other hand, deciding to buy the car at lease end may require a purchase option fee that also can run into thousands of extra rupees.

2. Down Payment or Open End Balloon Payment:

Leasing is simply paying for the value of a car the leasing company predicts you will consume druing the term of the lease. But to make an advertised lease payment more attractive, lenders often require a down payment. A larger down payment equals a lower monthly payment. Furthermore, if the car is stolen or tataled two months into the lease, that down payment will just be lost.

Stay away of any lease hased on paying the difference between the lender's projection and the car's actual market value at lease end. This is called an open-end lease, and it can stick you with a final balloon payment of thousands or even lakhs of rupees. A low monthly payment doesn't mean much when you have to stroke out a big check when returning the car.

3. Excess Mileage Fee:

Every lease conract includes a mileage limit, over which the lender will charge by the mile.

4. Insurance:

Leasing a car requires more insurance than conventional financing. Higher coverage amounts and deductibles demanded by leasing companies drive up the insurance costs - sometimes by thousands of rupees.

Before signing a lease, establish the coverage required and check with your insurance agent to determine any extra costs. Divide those extra costs by the number of months in your lease.

5. Termination Fee:

Returning a car before the lease expires almost always prompts a penalty. Ensure any lease you sign allows transferring the car to a qualified party.

Leasing always costs more than the advertised monthly payment. How much more depends on the lease. Always check the small print.

Games that gives you pleasure

Yeah! It is true that “Life is more fun if you play games.” When you talk about games how one can forget the platform that is well known by the name plagam.com? Yes! Here plagam.com is the platform to play the free games. In fact it is extremely interesting designed and created by some of the most talented graphics creators in the world. The storyline of the games are not only interesting but have been kept very simple and engaging so that the player, while staying engaged in this game can understand how cool games to play actually work.

The plagam.com website also has one other extremely important advantage and that is that they do not require any kind of high-speed internet to load their games. If you are able to invest some of the free time into the different categories of online games, you will soon appreciate the wide-ranging advantages here. Playing games online can be fun and enjoyable for gamers of all ages, from the toddlers to adults. Here are some of the major quality games for investing your pleasure time like Jasmine Dress Up, Weather News Reporter Alloy Arena, Jeanette Biedermann Makeover, Spring Bike, Figure Skater, Wedding Cakes, etc.

All in all, if you want to enjoy the wide range of advantages of playing the many online games, you will certainly find that there is a comprehensive choice of games to play at plagam.com to match the interests and passions of all gaming enthusiasts.

CNG Versions of Indigo, Indica Launched

Tata Motors launched CNG versions of mid-sized sedan Tata Indigo and compact car Tata Indica under its emax series priced up to Rs. 5.27 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). 

The new Tata Indigo emax price starts at Rs. 4.99 lakh and goes upto Rs. 5.27 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), while the new Tata Indica emax is priced between Rs. 3.99 lakh and Rs. 4.26 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the company said in a statement.

The new emax range has CNG and Petrol bi-fuel system options, it added.

The introduction of the new variants comes as an essential step that underlines the company's commitment to be a sustainable automotive player.

The two new variants have been introduced in six markets across India and will now be available in Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura, the company said.

Tata Motors had showcased its emax range at the "Horizonext' event, held in Pune, in June 2013, with a commitment to launch its CNG range in a phased manner in FY 14. The Nano emax was the first in the range.

Crazy about Beautified and Glorified SUV "THE RENAULT DUSTER"

The reliable, robust and easy to drive SUV, Renault Duster is already ruling million hearts. This powerful drive has become a prime choice for all those enthusiasts who love driving a vehicle with off-road capabilities. It's compact dimensions, short overhangs, big clearance angles, high ground clearance and reinforced underbody that is apt for all terrain use. All these features just make you fall in love with this exalted SUV.

And now Nissan has come up with Terrano, which is again a compact SUV or you can say, a beautified and glorified version of Renault Duster. Yeah! I am crazy about SUV Renault Duster.

The new Duster gets a major facelift up front, which includes a new stylish grille, a new air intake and headlamps with daytime running lights. Although the side profile looks unchanged, 16-inch Dark Metal alloy wheels look good. The rear gets new tail-lamps and lots of chrome.

Minor changes to interiors such as steering mounted controls, infotainment system, reshuffled buttons etc. are evident in the photographs. Although mechanically it remains the same, rumour has it that the 1.6-litre petrol engine will be replaced by a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

System that prevents Drunk Driving

In today's modern times, underage drunk driving is one of the major problems in our society. It's really shocking that today's teenagers are out of control when it comes to alcohol intake and even drugs. Kids nowadays really abuse themselves beyond limitation. With a combination of influence coming from their peers and friends, it's so easy for them to lose track of their values and this is becoming an evident issue of today's generation of youth. In India you can be arrested under Drunk Driving Law of India.

Drunk driving is a serious problem for our nations youth. It's hard to believe but more and more peoples are using and abusing alcohol and/or drugs than ever before. Combine that with the intense peer pressure that peoples go through and we have a serious problem called drunk driving.

Yeah! It is Muthu Kumar Ramachandran (born on September 25, 1982) of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, designed a device named "Hi-Tech Drink and Drive Preventive System for Automobiles" Which once installed in the dashboard of any vehicle can avoid drink and dreive accidents by not allowing the vehicle to start if the driver is drunk and also stops within 30 seconds in case the pulse sensor in the device detects that the pulse rate of the driver is abnormal.

Article Source : Preventive system for drunk driving

New Nissan Terrano SUV

By now, most of us are familiar with the word badge engineering, thanks to the Renault-Nissan Alliance. The alliance has already brought us two great rebadged cars – Scala and Pulse. The third car born out of the partnership, the Nissan Terrano, is a rebadged Duster and this review will endeavor to find out how far the Terrano has departed from the Duster.

Design

The New Nissan Terrano SUV has thrown in some stand-out styling cues into the Terrano that clearly differentiate it from the Duster. From the front, the Terrano can easily be identified by the signature Nissan grille that is reminiscent of the Pathfinder. It's certainly the most effective element of the Terrano’s look, because it translates well into a big SUV shape. The bold lines on the V-shaped bonnet that blends seamlessly into the grille make it unmistakably a Nissan. The angular headlamps and bumper are new as well.

In profile, changes are more subtle, with curvier door panels and blacked out B and C pillars being the only difference. Alloy wheels are new as well. Save for the new tail lamps, the rear looks similar to the Duster. Looks may be subjective, but Terrano certainly scores over Duster in exterior design.

The Terrano’s interiors look similar to Duster’s and I was surprised to see the ‘French ergonomics’ carried forward into a Japanese car. Quirky controls, such as the ORVM switch under the handbrake, remain unchanged. Steering wheel has a smarter design but lacks grip. The centre console looks tad better than the Duster, owing to rectangular AC vents, storage space with a lid and piano-black finish for the audio system. Top variants come with rear AC vents but as we saw on the Duster, it is more of an inconvenience because it eats into rear legroom and the flaps cannot be adjusted. Overall, the interiors have improved, but not by a ton.

Performance

The Nissan Terrano is available with three engines – 85PS and 110PS diesels and 104PS petrol. While 110PS diesel comes with 6-speed manual, the other two get 5-speed manual. Automatic transmission is not even in the pipeline.

Since the engines, transmissions and other mechanicals remain unchanged, the Terrano drives similar to Duster. Overall performance of the petrol and 85PS diesel motors is smooth and more than adequate, especially in light of the impressive fuel economy figures. However, both the engines feel a bit strained when revved hard. The 110 PS diesel delivering 248 Nm of torque @ 2250 rpm is certainly a fun-to-drive car and remains my favourite.

Both diesel engines suffer from the inevitable turbo lag and response to the accelerator pedal is less than immediate. You need to keep the needle above the 1,200rpm mark and keep moving else the lag is felt easily.

Ride and Handling

Although Nissan is tight-lipped about any possible changes under the skin, I strongly felt a huge improvement in Terrano’s noise insulation. The cabin is significantly quieter than the Duster and offers a smoother ride. However, the diesel engines are clattery at idle and loud above 3000rpm.

Terrano handles easily and fluently and the steering feels suitably light around town, yet weighting up enough as the speed builds. Yet, the steering is very sensitive, just like the Duster, to potholes and undulations on the road and that translates into some frustrating steering feedback.

Safety

When Nissan introduced Micra in India, safety was taken to new heights as the company offered airbags across all variants. Continuing the commendable trend, Nissan Terrano comes with driver airbags even on the base variant - a great advantage over Duster. Mid and top variants have ABS with EBD on offer, too.

Mileage

Nissan claims a mileage of 13.2 kmpl for the Terrano petrol, while the 110 PS diesel returns 19.01 kmpl and the 85PS delivers 20.45 kmpl.

Conclusion

In short, the Nissan Terrano comes with all virtues of the Duster, plus a little more. Prices range from Rs. 9.59 lakh for the base variant to Rs. 12.44 lakh for the top trim. That makes the Terrano up to Rs. 70000 (approximate) more expensive than the Duster across variants. No doubt, the Terrano looks more mature and modern, but is it worth paying the extra just for better appearance and enhanced safety? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Is it really new Nissan Terrano SUV cheaper than Renault DUSTER? Just get Variant-wise comparison : Nissan Terrano vs. Renault Duster here and make up your mind to buy your favorite SUV. 

New BMW 5 Series arrives in India

The New BMW 5 Series has been launched in three exclusive design schemes - The Luxury Line, the Modern Line and the M Sport. The Luxury Line embodies the ultimate in elegance and exlusivity, the Modern Line makes for an appearance that is particularly in tune with a contemporary lifestyle. M Sport celebrates the future-oriented sporty desing of the new BMW 5 Series. The new Series is available in diesel varioants and the all India ex-showroom prices are as follows - BMW 520d Modern at Rs. 46,90,000, BMW 520d Luxur at Rs. 46,90,000, BMW 525d Luxury Plus at Rs. 51,90,000.

Toyota i-ROAD concept

Automakers increasingly are turning to electric vehicles to offer buyers zero-emissions mobility, but four-wheeled EVs can be heavy and expensive, and they can’t slice through urban centers any better than regular cars. Toyota thinks it has a solution, and it’s called the i-ROAD. The small, three-wheeled electric-powered concept is something of a cross between a car, a motorcycle, and a fancy golf cart, and Toyota refers to it as a personal mobility vehicle.

i-ROAD Is i-Clever

On paper, the i-ROAD might not seem as cool as conventionally powered three-wheelers such as Morgan’s 3-Wheeler, but it’s actually quite innovative. The i-ROAD seats two passengers in tandem to keep the body as narrow as possible; it measures just 33.5 inches wide, 56.9 inches high, and 92.5 inches long. That’s just a bit more than half the width of a Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, and Toyota claims that the i-ROAD is no wider than a two-wheeler. Toyota must be referring to some of the beefier bikes, but either way, the concept is skinny.

Besides offering hypothetical urban customers a tight, motorcycle-like footprint, the i-ROAD also gives them protection from the elements. Featuring a fully enclosed body—bettering BMW’s odd C1 scooter, which had only a roof panel—the i-ROAD makes a far better foul-weather proposition than a regular motorcycle or even the Morgan or Can-Am Spyder. Toyota says that because the i-ROAD’s passenger cell is fully enclosed, no helmet is necessary—a critical point for the hair-style sensitive. The closed body also means the driver cannot stick his or her foot out to steady the i-ROAD when at rest, so Toyota gave the concept a trick front-wheel setup that keeps it upright without human help.

Toyota calls the i-ROAD’s self-righting front-wheel gadgetry Active Lean technology, and it consists of a geared actuator affixed to each front wheel’s suspension arm. A computer manages the degree of lean of each front wheel—as the angle of lean of one wheel increases, the other lowers by the same amount—using steering angle, a gyroscope, and vehicle speed to induce lean in corners or keep the i-ROAD steady at low speeds. The system also can filter out potentially balance-upsetting road imperfections when traveling in a straight line. The i-ROAD is steered using a squircle-shaped steering wheel rather than a set of handlebars.

i-ROAD, Therefore i-Zero Emissions

If you thought the i-ROAD’s front-wheel setup couldn’t get any more involving or interesting—from a technical standpoint, at least—prepare to be further wowed. The i-ROAD is actually front-wheel drive, and no power goes to the rear wheel. Each front wheel features a 2.7-hp in- hub electric motor powered by a shared lithium-ion battery that offers a claimed driving range of 30 miles. Toyota says battery top-offs take just three hours when fed by a “conventional domestic power supply,” but doesn’t indicate which domestic power standard—Japanese, European, or U.S.—is being cited.

There aren’t many exciting electric cars out there right now—excepting Tesla’s quick and attractive Model S—but we’re genuinely tickled by this Toyota concept. It looks cool, and we’re inclined to believe Toyota’s press-release hyperbole regarding the i-ROAD’s “unique driving experience.” We foresee the i-ROAD having far more success in Europe and Japan than here, though, if it ever were to go into production, thanks to the variously tight parking conditions, congested urban centers, and strict emissions regulations. Too bad. Because while the i-ROAD has one less wheel than a Prius, it’s at least three times more interesting.

Article source : Revealed: Toyota i-Road concept

Concept Cars : Citroen Survolt Concept, Pininfarina Sintesi, Bugatti Aerolithe and Cadillac Sixteen Concept Car

01. Citroen Survolt Concept

What began as an exploration of extraordinary electric vehicles with the Revolte Concept Car now continues through the Citroen Survolt Concept. The perfect mélange of glamour, extravagance and motor-racing spice, it transcends norms and protocol to deliver passion in an all-new revolutionary way.

02. Pininfarina Sintesi

The Pininfarina Sintesi was designed by Pininfarina and developed using an interesting and innovative approach. It introduces the novel concepts of 'Liquid Packaging' and 'Transparent Mobility'. Liquid packaging is the concept of adding the fuel cells and motors in each wheel, while Transparent Mobility refers to futuristic communication systems where such a car may exchange information with other vehicles on the road through wireless technology. Indeed, a car with progressive thought behind a mean looking exterior!

03.Bugatti Aerolithe

The Bugatti Aerolithe Concept reeks of exclusivity. Intended to be a design study of a futuristic 2025 sports model, this concept has been inspired by the legendary1935 Bugatti Electron Aerolithe prototype, and designed by Douglas Hogg.

04. Cadillac Sixteen Concept Car

The Cadillac Sixteen Concept car is all about power, and a surprising gentle grace. In fact, the name derives from its 16-cylinder and 1000-horsepower engine. This concept makes its presence felt in a literally huge, bold and unparalleled way, and boasting equally meticulous interiors. The design exudes drama and its aura is breathtakingly striking.

Concept Cars : Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Concept, Bertone Mantide Concept Car and Chanel Fiole Concept Car

01. Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Concept

This concept has been nicknamed the WTF, and quite rightly so, since it literally takes your breath away! Designed by Lorus Kulesus for the 100th anniversary of Cadillac, the car uses extremely high quality materials that will resist even 100 years of usage without maintenance. It has 24 wheels placed in groups of 6, which however, need adjusting every 5 years.

02. Bertone Mantide Concept Car

Combine dizzying speeds, sheer beauty and stunning sensuality, and what you get is the Bertone Mantide Concept. Its designdraws inspiration from both, the world of Formula One and from modern aerospace. The machine boasts cutting edge aerodynamic performance, greater efficiency and lower fuel consumption, the ultimate icing on the cake!

03.Chanel Fiole Concept Car

The Chanel Fiole presents the best of black and white, and in keeping with classis Coco Chanel offerings, fit for the runway. A car designer at the Hong-jk University, Jinyoung Jo, designed this simple, yet fabulous creation.

Concept Cars : Audi Calamaro, BMW ZX-6 and BMW GINA

If you have ever wondered what cars might look like in the future, this might just be it! We all love a good-looking, mean machine allowing us that sheer thrill of speed! Concept cars are a mélange of everything you've hoped to see in a car, and much, much more! Defying convention, defying imagination and even defying gravity, we bring you the top 10 concept cars for you to gaze at, dream about and drool over!

01. Audi Calamaro

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's a super car!

Somewhat of a cross between a car and a plane, designer Tibor developed the Audi Calamaro Concept Car for a design competition organized by Porsche Hungary. The bone of a cuttlefish inspired this interesting shape, he says. Of course, we eagerly wait to see what could possibly power this machine, seeing it does lack tires, or propellers or thrusters of any sort.

02. BMW ZX-6

'Unbelievable' is the word that comes to mind, but we'll just have to wait and watch!

Designed by the 3rd year students of Transportation Design School at Turin Based Istituto Europeo di Design for their final project on Transportation Design in partnership with BMW, this concept focuses on individualistic tastes and modern requirements.

03. BMW GINA

BMW GINA could be the next rebel in automobile history. It challenges existing principles and conventional processes and looks wildly awesome, all at the same time!

A team led by Chris Bangle, BMW's head of design, designed this fabric-skinned shape-shifting sports car, which inspires nothing short of awe. GINA is an acronym for ' Geometry and functions In 'N' Adaptations'.