Brio vs Swift : Japanese Duel In Indian Ring

The Honda Brio is up against the Maruti Suzuki Swift, whose previous generation ruled the Indian market. We find out if the new entrant has the potential to dethrone the reigning king.

The Maruti Suzuki Swift has been one of the most favourite hatchbacks in the Indian market for some years now. It succeeded in casting a spell on the customers with its sporty styling, good performance, decent handling and its highly fuel-efficient engine. There is no denying that the new Swift carries forward the genes from its previous generation with improved styling, a little more space and a few additional gizmos in the cabin.

Just when we thought that the good Swift had got better, Honda brought in the Brio to compete against the best in this highly competitive market, which is growing by leaps and bounds. In a situation where survival is determined mainly by the value-for-money factor, there is no doubt that a huge task confronts the Brio - to prove its potential while being extremely cost-effective.

To see how the Brio fares against the best in the segment, we put it against the Swift through a number of tests, the results of which were rather surprising!

New Launch: The Hyundai Eon...

It may notch up the numbers, but competition is going to be fierce, says Veeresh Mallik

The launch of the Hyundai Eon was supposed to be the game-changer again in the small-car market in India. But, after the price was announced, it appears to be one more in the list of ‘will-also-run’ in the rapidly growing list of small cars aiming for the Indian market. Proving once again that, after the initial song & dance is over, Indians choose to apply numbers over sentiments. For a car that reminds one more of the Tata Nano than the older and slightly more expensive Hyundai Santro, it is clear that dealers, financiers and perception-builders have their work cut out, if the Hyundai Eon is proposed to ride as a volume-builder.

 If, however, the Hyundai Eon is aiming at becoming a specialty car, towards a largely urbane market which needs more spark and an alternative, then at a shade under Rs3 lakh for the slightly-loaded version, it may not appeal even to specific groups. However, the grapevine doubts Maruti Suzuki’s ability to compete in this segment. This may just provide the Hyundai Eon with the impetus needed to notch up numbers. The truth is that automobile success and failure in India is now increasingly decided by the views of those who finance vehicles, and those who understand bottom-lines—especially residual values and cost of ownership.

 And, in that numerically-quantifiable aspect, the resale value of some Hyundai small cars appears to be steadier than that of other brands—and almost as good as what people have come to expect from Maruti Suzuki over the decades. Will this be a factor in helping sales of the Hyundai Eon? A potential surprise in the form of a small turbocharged diesel engine, from both manufacturers, may be the real game-changer. And this may be launched soon. While the base edition of the Hyundai Eon has been set at about Rs2.70 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the valid market estimate of a good price for it would be in the region of Rs2 lakh through Rs2.10 lakh, is what is being said. Who knows, Hyundai is not unknown for offering discounts and sweeteners.

Safety: Don't get carried away

Go easy on turbocharged engines

While talking about turbocharged engines, the spate of accidents involving high-end luxury cars in and around the capital recently as well as elsewhere in the country has brought out the fact, once again, that tampering with the engines and the control units therein, as well as ‘flashing’ the whole apparatus put together, called ‘high-power cars’ in the name of upgrading for increased power, as well as removing speed limiters, is fraught with danger. Up in the mountains, last weekend, in a slightly old ‘luxury car’, which had been re-jigged for increased performance, taught me lessons which I had forgotten.

 The golden rule in the mountains, especially with the onset of the cold season, is to always drive 200% safe. You never know when a drunk holidaymaker careens out of which corner, or where the dry & steady road with good grip suddenly becomes wet & slippery with dew or frost. As the saying goes, there are bold mountain drivers and there are old mountain drivers, but there are very few—if any—bold and old mountain drivers. But then this car, picked up for all of about Rs4 lakh and rebuilt, was capable of so much more. And long white hair whipping through open windows in the fresh air has its own seduction. While we do follow a strict ‘zero-alcohol’ policy while driving in the mountains, or long-distance anywhere for that matter, we were keen to see how much more we could get out of the old bomber—where some interesting multiple turbocharger reconfigurations meant that keeping the car in low gear while going uphill provided fantastic acceleration and all that goes with it.

Till something else totally unrelated, in the suspension, which had also been ‘adjusted’, simply gave way under the tremendous power and torque being unleashed beneath the roaring horses and pushed us almost over the edge of a drop a few hundred metres deep. With the front hanging over a deep gully, we stepped out and arranged for a local Jeep to drag the car back and on the road, and drove very, very carefully for the rest of the journey.

The importance of one simple fact—that an automobile is a very delicate combination of a variety of super-specialised parts and sub-assemblies, can never be lost when upgrading or reworking a motor vehicle to get better ‘performance’. At a simple level, it is like this—you cannot upgrade the motor of an old Jeep to one that was intended for a Pajero and then expect that everything will function as in a Pajero. For that matter, you cannot even safely upgrade an old SUV’s (sports utility vehicle) engine, and hope that all is good.

No claims: tough policy

Its time IRDA visited the norms

A few weeks ago, I had written on how no-claim bonus (NCB) for motor vehicle insurance covers could be carried forward from one vehicle to another, as long as the owner was the same, and also on the benefits therein to the owner of the vehicle. This used to be a fairly standard procedure as long as insurance companies were comfortable with the concept and there was an element of mutual benefit as well as a service ethic.

 But probably as a result of increased competition and some other aspects like commission on premium paid for new policies versus lower commissions on carried-forward policies, there appears to be a change in the way things are actually carried forward on the ground, and it appears to be increasingly difficult for the average insured person to carry forward

his NCB.

To start with, the insurance company insists on a ‘survey’ of the outgoing vehicle which, obviously, is no longer in the possession of the person who has sold it. There is also a survey cost involved here, and the complete effort, coordination as well as problems that arise for every small scratch and dent on the outgoing vehicle, even if there is

no claim.

Next, a similar survey is insisted upon for the incoming vehicle, which is understandable. But the manipulations of the surveyor or his representative kick in—minor scratches are shown as dents and the report is made to appear as though the vehicle is a big liability. However, the surveyor’s representative drops enough hints that if one talks to his ‘office’ the matter can be resolved. Finally, at

all stages, the insurance company will keep trying to shove a new policy down your throat. For obvious reasons.

I have a 65% NCB on one of my outgoing cars, and it has now been almost three weeks since I have been trying to transfer it to another car; the saga continues. A lesser human being would have given up, but I can see an article in this experience, as well as make some suggestions to IRDA (the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority). Even if it means a repeat regulatory survey on NCB. But then, that will work only if IRDA chooses to be consumer- and insured-friendly, and that, as they say, is another story..

Skoda Favorit 136LX Has No Guts...

Q. Hi there, I have a Skoda Favorit 136LX with an original Pierburg 2E3 carburetor. The problem with this engine is that it hesitates to gain speed when starting from dead stop. That is, for instance, when I stop at the traffic light post. When lights turn back to green, I have to press the throttle pedal all the way down, and the car just merely move!

A. It will take about 10 seconds (still holding the throttle full pressed) for the car to reach the desired speed. When the engine is kept on the neutral gear (we call it on the "free gear" over here), the engine revs okay. That is, the engines responds to the throttle pedal. Apparently, the problem is less evident when I am running on a speed greater than 35 Km/hr.

At that speed the engine response is okay. But when I am running at slow speed, or from dead stop, the engine will require about 10 seconds to reach the required speed, even though the throttle pedal is pressed all the way down!!

If, for example, there is a 30° slope, and there was no room to reach the 35km/hr, the car will move slower than a tortoise for the whole length of the slope. On the other hand if the speed before hitting the slope was greater than 30 km/hr, the engine will respond well, and I could also give more throttle if required.

The carburetor was cleaned twice, the clutch is not slipping, I have no engine overheating nor backfire. Someone mentioned that even though there are no back fires, the problem could well be related to the ignition coil and/or distributor. How could this be possible?

What is you judgment, please? Many thanks in advance, and really would appreciate your help.

Best regards,
Chris

A. That carburetor has an accelerator pump inside it. The purpose of this accelerator pump is to give the engine an extra shot of fuel to get the engine going under a load.

The accelerator pump is a piston with a rubber cup on the end It sits inside a chamber and is connected to the throttle linkage. This rubber cup wears out and doesn't give the engine that extra shot it needs.

I have one Pierburg carburetor kit here and it doesn't have an accelerator pump in it. So I would have to guess that the whole carburetor would have to be replaced.

But, before doing that, replace the fuel filter. A clogged fuel filter would give the same symptoms.

18 - Typical Accelerator Pump Assembly

1994 Skoda Favorit

The 2011 Volvo XC60

What's New for 2011

For 2011, the Volvo XC60 adds a new trim level: the 3.2 R-Design. The XC60 also gets a bit more horsepower, 5 hp more for the 3.2-liter inline-6 and 19 hp more for the turbocharged inline-6. Note that the XC60 also gets a new infotainment system for 2011.5; models produced after November 2010 feature the same system seen in the Volvo S60.

Introduction

Volvo used to be known solely for building vehicles that were ahead of the curve in the area of safety. These days, the manufacturer's lineup stands out not just for safety features but also for distinctive good looks and appealing performance. A perfect example is the 2011 Volvo XC60.

Thanks to distinctive exterior styling and a very modern cabin, the XC60 is one of the most stylish luxury crossovers on the market. Of course, utility is a must for crossover SUV shoppers, too, and the XC60 meets this need with its impressive cargo capacity. We've found there's also ample room for passengers, and those in back get to enjoy one of the most comfortable rear seats in the segment. There's even the option of built-in child boosters.

Standard equipment is another XC60 advantage, with even base models coming equipped with Bluetooth, dual climate control and satellite radio. Naturally the XC60 also expresses Volvo's emphasis on safety. For example, the XC's list of standard equipment includes City Safety, a system that engages at low speeds and can detect stopped or slowed vehicles immediately ahead and automatically apply the XC's brakes to minimize or avoid a collision.

Of course, there's no shortage of worthy luxury compact crossovers to consider. For sportier handling, you could check out the Audi Q5, the newly redesigned BMW X3 and the Infiniti EX35. The Mercedes-Benz GLK350, meanwhile, will likely woo you with its universal, Germanic competence. Still, we're quite fond of the 2011 Volvo XC60 -- it even came out on top in a recent Edmunds comparison test. If you're shopping for a luxury crossover, the XC60 should be high on your list.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2011 Volvo XC60 small luxury crossover is available in four trim levels: 3.2, 3.2 R-Design, T6 and T6 R-Design.

Standard equipment on the base 3.2 includes 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, a power driver seat with memory functions, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, cruise control, Bluetooth, steering-wheel audio controls and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, HD radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface. The XC60 T6 adds a turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive, 18-inch wheels, power passenger seat and leather upholstery.

The R-Design variants add 20-inch wheels, adaptive xenon headlights, sport-tuned suspension and steering, a panoramic sunroof, privacy glass and special styling elements inside and out.

A host of option packages are available. The Premium package (3.2 only) adds the panoramic sunroof, privacy glass and leather upholstery. The Multimedia package adds a 12-speaker Dynaudio surround-sound audio system, a navigation system and a back-up camera. Selecting the Climate package gets you heated front and rear outboard seats (not available with the integrated booster-seat option), heated washer nozzles, headlamp washers, rain-sensing wipers and an interior air quality system. The Convenience package adds a power tailgate and parking sensors. Finally, the Technology package adds adaptive cruise control, a driver attention alert system, a collision warning system and a lane-departure warning system.

Stand-alone options include 18-inch alloy wheels (3.2 only), adaptive xenon headlights, keyless ignition/entry, blind-spot warning system, wood inlay for the center stack, a dual-screen rear entertainment system and dual integrated rear booster seats.

Powertrains and Performance

XC60 3.2 and 3.2 R-Design models are powered by a 3.2-liter inline-6 that generates 240 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Volvo also offers a version of this engine that meets squeaky-clean PZEV emissions certification; it's rated at 230 hp. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional.

The all-wheel-drive T6 and T6 R-Design models receive a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine rated at 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. All XC60s feature a six-speed automatic with manual shift control. In Edmunds testing, an XC60 equipped with last year's less powerful T6 engine sprinted from zero to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, which is a good number for this segment. EPA fuel economy estimates are a solid 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined for the XC60 3.2 FWD, while the T6 model drops to a less-impressive 17/22/19.

Safety

Stability control, antilock brakes with brake assist, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and whiplash-reducing front seats are all standard on the 2011 Volvo XC60. Also standard is City Safety, which can mitigate or avoid a low-speed frontal impact by applying the vehicle's brakes without driver intervention. Hill-descent control is standard on all-wheel-drive models. Other safety options include a lane-departure warning system, a blind-spot warning system, a driver alert system, a heartbeat monitor that can detect intruders inside the vehicle and a collision warning/braking system.

In crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the XC60 was awarded the best rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset, side and roof strength categories.

Interior Design and Special Features

Volvo has been making an effort in recent years to give its vehicles some interior flair, and the five-passenger XC60 is the brand's best result yet. The thin-panel center stack -- which comes with metallic trim as standard and real oak wood trim as an option -- combines with the optional two-tone upholstery to make the XC60's cabin look upscale and inviting.

Halfway through the model year, the XC60 got a new infotainment system that brought with it updated navigation and audio interfaces; the new infotainment system is the same one seen in the Volvo S60. It's easy to find your way around the audio system, though the array of small audio buttons is starting to look dated. The new DVD-based navigation system thankfully does away with the complicated back-of-the-steering-wheel controls seen on previous XC60s and adopts a more conventional dial-type controller. In practice, this interface works fine, though Volvo's navigation software still feels a few years behind the times.

The rear seat is particularly roomy as small crossovers go, with a high seat cushion, above-average headroom and decent legroom for adults. The available integrated child booster seat is a great feature. To accommodate cargo, the versatile 40/20/40-split rear seat can be folded in a number of different ways and maximum cargo space is a useful 67 cubic feet.

Driving Impressions

The 2011 Volvo XC60's impressive blend of performance and comfort should satisfy the majority of shoppers looking for a small luxury crossover. The T6's turbocharged engine lacks the aural excitement one might expect of an inline-6, but its smooth and energetic power delivery make it the preferred XC60 engine. Models with the base 3.2-liter engine are noticeably slower.

On the highway, the XC60 is quiet and stable. When driven aggressively around corners, there's a general sense that this softly sprung chassis doesn't want to be pushed, even though it can be. The payoff, not surprisingly, is a comfortable ride. One consequence of so many safety systems is the frequent beep or warning that indicates one system or another is working.

Volkswagen Up Coming in review 2012

Volkswagen Up.................

Expected in 2012.

Estimated price: Rs 3.5lakh.

The Volkswagen up! is perhaps the company's most ambitious project to invade the small car market worldwide. The production version of the same was unveiled at the recent Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany. 

However, the one taking centre stage was the two door variant which will be limited to the Eurpoean market. 

India will get the 4-door version of the up!, an iteration of which was also displayed at the show called the Cross up!. The Indian up! will also benefit from a longer wheelbase which will improve space inside, Being a budget offering, the quality of plastics inside is not as good as other VW cars, however they sure are acceptable at the under Rs 4 lakh price tag which VW is targeting.

The boot too is not cavernous but decent enough to gobble medium sized luggage. Powering the up! is a 1.0-litre petrol engine and it is this engine which will also be offered in India. 

While the engine bay does have more space to shoehorn the larger 1.2-litre engine, VW is yet to announce anything about this upgrade.

Toyota Fortuner SUV Car Review 2012

Toyota is now excited with the new car is the Toyota Fortuner 2012, this car go ahead and introduce the epic bear market of Asia pickup, Toyota Fortuner in Thailand is very famous, because of his bright-eyed brother SUV, seven – Fortuner passengers.

     Toyota Fortuner sports the same styling revisions over their European colleagues, including burying an unknown future point out the chrome, razor grill limit, the choice of the unknown compounds turn, the improvement becomes more like a panel interior trim faith agent redesigned and feature updates. Fortuner SUV offered duck two diesel engines, 3. 0 – Units and 2 interesting liter 163HP. 5 – liter gives 144 – the horse, and 2. 7 – liter gasoline unit is rated at 160 – pain

Ferrari

More Ferrari Wallpapers

New Audi A6 comes with both diesel and petrol engine

New Audi A6 comes with both diesel and petrol engine. It has four variants viz. New Audi A6 2.8 FSI, New Audi A6 3.0 TFSI, New Audi A6 2.0 TDI and New Audi A6 3.0 TDI Quattro. Audi A6 2.8 FSI that is a petrol variant generates a power of 201 BHP @ 6500 RPM and a maximum torque of 280 Nm @ 3000-5000 RPM. Audi A6 3.0 TFSI which is another petrol variant churns out a power of 295 BHP @ 6500 RPM and a maximum Torque 440 Nm @ 2900-4500 RPM.

The diesel variant new Audi A6 2.0 TDI on the other hand generates a power of 174 BHP @ 4200 RPM and a maximum torque of 380 Nm @ 1750-2500 RPM. The New Audi A6 3.0 TDI Quattro has a maximum power of 241 BHP @ 4500 RPM and a maximum torque of 500 Nm @ 1400-3250 RPM.

            The exterior features of the sedan include driver and passenger air bags, side, rear air bags, 4-Wheel ABS, light-sensing headlights, traction Control, Electronic Stability Control, Brake Assist, Auto Climate Control Air Conditioning, Dual Zone Front Air Conditioning, Front Air Conditioning, Front, rear 3-point seat belts, Passenger convertible locking retractors, ISOFIX & upper tether child seat provisions, Keyless Entry, Power Locks, Heated Mirrors, Power Driver Mirror, LATCH system for outboard rear seating positions, Double-pull to unlock doors from interior handles, Safety unlock feature (doors unlock & interior lights turn on w/airbag deployment), Power Passenger Mirror, Leather Seats, Driver Lumbar, Power Driver Seat, Power Passenger Seat, First aid kit in rear center armrest, Front Bucket Seats, Steering Wheel Audio Controls, Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel, AM/FM Stereo, CD Changer / CD Player / MP3 Player, BOSE 5.1 Channel Surround sound Infotainment system, Heated Exterior Driver Mirror, Power Tilt/Sliding Sunroof and Intermittent rain sensing Wipers.

Toyota Launch New Compact Car "iQ"

Katsuaki Watanabe, president of Toyota Motor Corporation stands in front of the company's newly launched compact car "iQ" during an event at Makuhari Messe on October 15, 2008 in Chiba, Japan.

The 2,985mm long ultra compact vehicle is equipped with the 1.0-liter engine of 23.0km/l fuel efficiency. The car will be on sale on November 20 in Japan and early 2009 in Europe.