Saturday, October 25, 2008
Auto Business
The Auto components industry is predominantly divided into five segments:
1. Engine parts
2. Drive Transmission & Steering Parts
3. Suspension & Brake Parts
4. Electrical Parts
5. Body and chassis
According to the ACMA (Auto Components Manufacturers Association of India), the sector is set to grow at a CAGR of 15 per cent till fiscal 2012. This sector is now working towards an open market. A large number of joint ventures with leading global manufacturers have already been set up in the auto-components sector. And with India estimated to have the potential to become one of the top five auto component economies by 2025, the pace is expected to pick up even further.
Moreover the automotive components industry is perceived as a lucrative sector with tremendous potential for foreign direct investments. The year 2006-07 saw the auto components sector soar with exports touching the US$ 3 billion mark and investments continuing unabated. The ACMA estimates the global sourcing of components from the country to double from US$ 2.95 billion to US$ 5.9 billion in 2008-09, and touch US$ 20 billion in seven years owing to the huge and growing markets both within India, and overseas.
Destination India: - The ACMA-McKinsey Vision 2015 document forecasts the potential for the Indian auto component industry to be US$ 40-45 billion by 2015. Investments and exports in this segment are witnessing continuous growth. Global automobile manufactures see India as a manufacturing hub for auto components and are rapidly ramping up the value of components they source from India due to:
1. The cost competitiveness in terms of labor and raw material
2. Its established manufacturing base
3. Fine quality of components manufactured in India (used as original components for vehicles made by General Motors, Mercedes, IVECO and Daewoo among others).
As a result Japanese and British component manufacturers are seeking joint-ventures in India. Delphi, the auto component division of General Motors is planning to set up plants in India. Robert Bosch, auto parts maker of Germany has relocated manufacture of certain products to MICO, India. Crosslink International Wheels, Malaysia's leading automobile security provider has set up its manufacturing unit at Baddi to make India the export hub for the SAARC region.
Foreign auto makers, including Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Honda Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., DaimlerChrysler AG and Hyundai Motor Co., are all looking to increase their presence in India and use it as an export hub.
TOP TEN LINKS OF AUTO MAGAZINES
AUTO MAGAZINES: -
1. Auto Bharti / Scooter Times - serving, automobiles trade & Industry since 1970, autobharti is enjoying readership among leading autoparts dealers, distributors, garagists, fleetowners, recognised exports houses and auto parts dealers associations....
2. Car And Driver - the ten best cars, the ten best roads, racing schools, road tests
, multimedia presentations, buyer's guide, technological glossary...
3. Road And Track - a magazine that features more of travel related news, not surprising, considering its name. Includes topics like road trip, open road...
4. Auto Week - among the best auto magazines on the web. Covers news from the world of automobiles, the latest cars etc. Also has features like cartoons, lifestyles, what's hot and media kit.
5. Automobile Magazine- buyer's guide, bookstores, news, features, auto shows
and events, roadtrips and a brand new layman's manual
6. New Car Test Drive- a magazine for car reviews. Features reviews from 1994 to the current year. Also sneak previews of upcoming models.
7. Road Running - "facts, rumours, myths and opinions for those whose heart have overhead valves ". Includes feature write-ups, driving impressions, an exclusive quote of the moment...
8. Sports Car Market Magazine - covers topics like road test and buyer's guide, blast from the past, affordable collector cars...
9. Car Collector - features sections like columns, hotwire and shopper which contain subsections like classifieds, shot of the month...
10. Motor Trend - gives exhaustive information on different vehicles, new car products, car care, auto shows...
User Manual
Auto Consumables
What are the constituents that keep your vehicle moving? Is it the wheels, the axle, the engine, what? Of course they do. But what keeps them running? It is actually the fuel that keeps it running. And a long list of consumables. These include fuel, engine oil, and various other lubricants that are responsible to keep a vehicle 'alive'. It won't be an exaggeration to term these as the lifeblood of your favorite automobile.This is why today consumers in all vehicle segments have grown cautious about the quality of fuel and lubricants that they use. Unbranded lubricants and fuel from unauthorized sources is a complete no-no, while big brands are spending extensively on positioning their products as 'guards for your engine'. The environment factor is the latest to hit the market and has forced manufacturers and consumers alike to make and use environment friendly consumables. Same is the case with the other products like battery, tyres etc. which account for the running expense of any vehicle. We present a list of such and other consumables that will aid you in looking after your vehicle.
Auto Components
Any automobile is the assembly of several auto parts with each part contributing to its machinery and polishing its quality. Lack or failure of just one part can breakdown the entire system so every component plays its part. We have provided the detailed list of all the components of any vehicle. This list would enable the user to gain complete knowledge about various auto parts. It would allow the user to access the importance and uses of various integral parts of automobile.
Chassis: -
Chassis Brackets
Front Bumper Bracket
Rear Bumper Bracket
Wheel Tubs
Frame : -
Bonnet
Hood
Subframes
Suspension Springs: -
Air Springs
Leaf Spring Clamps
Leaf Spring Hangers
Leaf Spring Shackles
Leaf Springs
Lift Springs
Lowering Springs
Racing Springs
Rubber Springs
Spring Mounting Kits
Fuel Supply System: -
Diesel Engine Fuel Pump
Electric In-Tank Fuel Pumps
Electrical Fuel Pump
Fuel Pressure Regulators
Fuel Pressure Safety Switches
Fuel Pump Assembly
Fuel Pump Bolts
Fuel Pump Filter
Fuel Pump Kits
Fuel Pump Mounting Plates
Mechanical Fuel Pump
Oil Pressure Safety Switches
Automobile Filters : -
Air Cleaner
Air Filter
Air Filter Assemblies
Bypass Filter
Fuel Filter Seal
Fuel Filters
Fuel Guard
Fuel Screen
Inline Filter
Carburetor : -
Carburetor O-Ring
Choke Cables
Carburetor Components
Carburetor Gaskets
Carburetor Kits
Horns : -
Air horns
Electric horns
Multi sound horns
Musical horns
Novelty horns
Replacement horns
Siren horns
Horn accessories
Headlights : -
Halogen Headlights
Headlight Accessories
Headlight Covers
Headlight Plug Wiring Harnesses
Headlight Trim
Headlight Wiring Harnesses
Heat Protection Products : -
Exhaust Wrap
Heat Shields
Heat Sleeving
Heat Tape
Hose Heat Protection
Insulator Mats
Thermal Barrier Coating
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Auto Maintenance
Engine Oil: To prevent engine deterioration, it is imperative that the engine maintains the amount of oil it is programmed to receive. Negligence in this aspect will lead to a deteriorating engine performance, resulting in falling mileage.
Fuses: Most Indian cars are made with an integrated circuitry system that use fuses. Knowledge of the system would help when you are stranded due to a blown fuse.
Lights: It is important for the lights to be properly focused, for your own and for the oncoming vehicle's safety. Travel on low beam so that it does not obstruct your view instead of helping you along.
Tyre Pressure: The required amount of air pressure needs to be strictly maintained if your car is to get the right mileage and pick-up.
Water: If your engine uses water for cooling, take care to ensure that it is regularly changed. Water can also be used for cleaning the windshield.
Some other tips...
1. Get your vehicle serviced only at authorized service stations
2. Check the engine oil level once every two weeks. Also check the levels of coolant and water in the radiator and battery.
3. Always use genuine spare parts.
4. Give your vehicle anti-rust coating before the monsoons.
5. Avoid accelerating and braking abruptly.
6. Shut up the engine whenever you expect to wait.
7. Drive at a moderate speed of 45-55 km/h to maximize fuel efficiency.
8. Use air-conditioning only when necessary.
9. Avoid riding on the clutch pedal, and release the clutch pedal fully while driving.
10. Maintain optimum air pressure in your tyre to improve mileage.
Car Maintenance: -The best and most efficient method of knowing about your car and keeping track of it is through the owner's manual which provides complete information on how to go about it. You can inspect your car every time you enter it, or on a daily or weekly basis or at intervals specified in the manual. In this section, we deal with those facts that are not mentioned in the manual.A few while driving tips.At times, strange smells may emanate from inside your car. The possible causes may be: -
1. Musty odours indicate the existence of some trapped water, usually under the carpet. This will ruin the carpet and also speed up corrosion. The proper solution would be to remove the carpets and dry up both the carpet and the floor.
2. Smoky smells are of various kinds. Electrical smoky smells are the most dangerous and it is advisable to shut down, open the bonnet, disconnect the batteries and seek professional help. Other smoky smells may occur when the sound or heat proof lining inside the engine space burns. Trace the cause.
3. Fuel smells occurs either when the fuel tank venting gets choked or if there has been an overflow.
4. Sometimes, oil or exhaust smells from the engine occur. This maybe caused either due to too much engine oil, or if the engine oil has grown old and is burning, or if it has been overheated.
Improve your Engine Performance: - Increase displacement - More displacement means more power because you can burn more gas during each revolution of the engine. You can increase displacement by making the cylinders bigger or by adding more cylinders. 12 cylinders seems to be the practical limit.
Increase the compression ratio - Higher compression ratios produce more power, up to a point. The more you compress the air/fuel mixture, however, the more likely it is to spontaneously burst into flame (prior to the spark plug igniting it). Higher octane gasolines prevent this sort of early combustion. That is why high-performance cars generally need high octane gasoline - their engines are using higher compression ratios to get more power.
Let air come in more easily - As a piston moves down in the intake stroke, air resistance can rob power from the engine. Air resistance can be lessened dramatically by putting two intake valves in each cylinder. Some newer cars are also using polished intake manifolds to eliminate air resistance there. Bigger air filters can also improve air flow.
Let exhaust exit more easily - If air resistance makes it hard for exhaust to exit a cylinder, it robs the engine of power. Air resistance can be lessened by adding a second exhaust valve to each cylinder (a car with 2 intake and 2 exhaust values has 4 valves per cylinder, which improves performance - when you hear a car ad tell you the car has 4 cylinders and 16 valves, what the ad is saying is that the engine has four valves per cylinder). If the exhaust pipe is too small or the muffler has a lot of air resistance then this can cause back-pressure which has the same effect. High-performance exhaust systems use headers, big tail pipes and free-flowing mufflers to eliminate back-pressure in the exhaust system. When you hear that a car has "Dual Exhaust", the goal is to improve the flow of exhaust by having two exhaust pipes instead of one.
TO KNOW ANY THING ABOUT AUTO MAINTENANCE LOG ON TO http://auto.indiamart.com/auto-maintenance/
Auto Technology
Chassis: - The chassis forms the main structure of the modern automobile. A large number of designs in pressed-steel frame form a skeleton on which the engine, wheels, axle assemblies, transmission, steering mechanism, brakes, and suspension members are mounted. During the manufacturing process the body is flexibly bolted to the chasis. This combination of the body and frame performs a variety of functions. It absorbs the reactions from the movements of the engine and axle, receives the reaction forces of the wheels in acceleration and braking, absorbs aerodynamic wind forces and road shocks through the suspension, and absorbs the major energy of impact in the event of an accident.
Engine: - Automotive production down the ages has required a wide range of energy-conversion systems. These include electric, steam, solar, turbine, rotary, and different types of piston-type internal combustion engines. The reciprocating-piston internal -combustion system, operating on a four-stroke cycle, has been the most successful for automobiles, while diesel engines are widely used for trucks and buses.The gasoline engine was originally selected for the automobile due to its flexibility over a wide range of speeds. Also, the power developed for a given weight engine was reasonable; it could be produced by economical mass-production methods; and it used a readily available, moderately priced fuel--gasoline. Reliability, compact size, and range of operation later became important factors.In today’s world, there has been a growing emphasis on the pollution producing features of automotive power systems. This has created new interest in alternate power sources and internal-combustion engine refinements that were not economically feasible in prior years. Although a few limited-production battery-powered electric vehicles have appeared from time to time, they have not proved to be competitive owing to costs and operating characteristics. However, the gasoline engine, with its new emission-control devices to improve emission performance, has not yet been challenged significantly.
Internal -Combustion Engine: - Fuel combustion takes place in a confined space, and produces expanding gases that are used to provide mechanical power. The four-stroke reciprocating engine that is used in automobiles is the most common internal-combustion engine. In this mechanism, mechanical power is supplied by a piston that is fitted inside a cylinder. On a downstroke of the piston, the first stroke, fuel that has been mixed with air (by fuel injection or using a carburetor) enters the cylinder through an intake valve; the piston moves up to compress the mixture at the second stroke. At ignition, the third stroke, a spark from a spark plug ignites the mixture, forcing the piston down; in the exhaust stroke, an exhaust valve opens to vent the burned gas as the piston moves up. The piston is connected to a crankshaft by means of a rod. The reciprocating (up and down) movements of the piston rotate the crankshaft, which is connected by gearing to the drive wheels of the automobile. The ignition spark is provided by an electrical system whose power comes from a battery. This also supplies power to the starting system, which is a small electric motor that turns the crankshaft until the engine takes over. Water circulating around the cylinders cool the engine, and lubrication occurs motor oil that is driven around the moving engine parts by an oil pump. Small vehicles like lawn mowers and motorcycles use the two-stroke engine, which combines intake and compression in the first stroke and power and exhaust in the second.
Fuel Injection: - In an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system is that which delivers fuel or a fuel-air mixture to the cylinders by means of pressure from a pump. It was originally used in diesel engines because of diesel fuel's greater viscosity and the need to overcome the high pressure of the compressed air in the cylinders. A diesel fuel injector sprays an intermittent, timed, metered quantity of fuel into a cylinder, distributing the fuel throughout the air within. Fuel injection is also now used in gasoline engines in place of a carburetor. In gasoline engines the fuel is first mixed with air, and the resulting mixture is delivered to the cylinder. Computers are used in modern fuel injection systems to regulate the process. The positive effects of fuel injection are that there is more efficient fuel combustion, better fuel economy and engine performance and reduced polluting exhaust emissions.
Carburetor: - This is a device in a gasoline engine. It vaporizes the gas and mixes it with a regulated amount of air that aids in efficient combustion in the engine cylinders. Land vehicles, boats, and light aircraft have a float carburetor, in which a float regulates the fuel level in a reservoir from which the fuel is continuously sucked into the intake manifold at a restriction called a venturi. The carburetor has been replaced by the fuel injection system in many modern vehicles.
Headlights: - Night driving has long been dangerous due to the glare of headlights that blind drivers approaching from the opposite direction. Therefore, headlights that satisfactorily illuminate the highway ahead of the automobile for night driving without temporarily blinding approaching drivers have long been sought. To correct this problem resistance-type dimming circuits, which decreased the brightness of the headlights when meeting another car, were first introduced. This gave way to mechanical tilting reflectors and later to double-filament bulbs with a high and a low beam, called sealed-beam units.There was only one filament at the focal point of the reflector in the double-filament headlight unit of necessity. Greater illumination required for high-speed driving with the high beam, consequently, the lower beam filament was placed off center, with a resulting decrease in lighting effectiveness. From the 1950s, manufacturers equipped their models with four headlights to improve illumination.In some cars, dimming is automatically achieved. This happens by means of a photocell-controlled switch in the lamp circuit that is triggered by the lights of an oncoming car. Larger double-filament lamps and halogen-filled lamp bulbs with improved photometrics permitted a return to two-headlight systems on some cars. At many places the law limits the total intensity of forward lighting systems to 75,000 candlepower (800,000 lux).
Cooling System: - Liquid cooling systems are employed by most engines today. A typical automotive cooling system comprises: -
(1) a series of channels cast into the engine block and cylinder head, surrounding the combustion chambers with circulating water or other coolant to carry away excessive heat
(2) a radiator, consisting of many small tubes equipped with a honeycomb of fins to radiate heat rapidly, that receives and cools hot liquid from the engine
(3) a centrifugal-type water pump with which to circulate coolant
(4) a thermostat, which maintains constant temperature by automatically varying the amount of coolant passing into the radiator
(5) a fan, which draws fresh air through the radiator.
FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT AUTOMOBILES TECHNOLOGY LOG ON TO http://auto.indiamart.com/auto-technology/
Safety of Motor Vehicle
Seat Belts: - Car crashes are a leading cause of death. Aside from always following traffic signs and obeying the rules of the road, buckling up your safety belt may be the single most dramatic move you can make to reduce your health risks. The deaths and injuries that occur every year due to car accidents could be reduced by about half if both drivers and passengers used their safety belts. Make sure that everyone in your vehicle is strapped in, and that small children are secured in safety seats before you take off. It can save your life, and it's the law!
Surveys and Research in automobiles
A lot of interesting surveys and researches are conducted in the field of automobiles. The emergence of global automobile biggies to India has made the government to take notice and sit up so as to drive more investments into this sector. The ministry of heavy industries has recently announced a 10-year mission plan (Automotive Mission Plan 2016) to make India a global hub for automotive industry.
India is the 4th largest car market in Asia, after Japan, Korea and China. For commercial vehicles, the country holds 5th position in the world and it holds the second largest market, after China for 2-wheelers. The Tractor segment is also making steady progress in India. On 29th Januacry 2007, the Prime Minister released Automobile Plan 2006 -2016 to give a road map to Indian Automobile Industry.
According to McKinsey Report, “ Auto Components Industry: Vision 2015,” the Indian Auto Components Industry is expected to grow to US$ 33-40 Billion, by 2015 from around US$ 7 Billion, at present. By 2016, the Automotive sector is expected to contribute 10% of the country’s GDP and 30-35% of the Industry
Indian automotive market is also flooded with lots of foreign cars. According to the JD Power Asia Pacific 2008 India Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study released on 20th Aug, 08, Skoda topped the rankings in overall sales and customer satisfaction for a second consecutive year. JD Power is a global marketing information firm that conducts independent and unbiased surveys of product quality, customer satisfaction, and buyer behavior.
A.T. KEARNEY Consultants (A.T. Kearney is a global management consulting firm with offices in major business centers across 34 countries) conducted an interesting survey in 2004, asking US auto manufacturers for their preference for off shoring jobs. India was the most preferred country over China- Mexico- Brazil, on the basis of Competitive Cost and Quality Commitment.
According to KPMG’s India Automotive Study 2007 (KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services), India’s automotive industry is booming and expectations are ofcourse rising. The automotive industry currently contributes about U.S. $34 billion to the Indian economy, producing over 11 million vehicles a year, and employing more than three million people. In that report, KPMG in India interviewed 40 senior executives from various sectors of the industry to find out whether the industry can translate this success into a significant global presence. They are all optimistic considering India'a several years of domestic growth combined with a growing level of internationalization of the manufacturing economy. Passenger car sales in India have grown at about 15% CAGR over the last five years and small cars are expected to dominate the market. New car registrations have increased from 625,000 in 2001 to over 1.3 million in 2006.
According to a survey by the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the market share of passenger cars in India in the year 2006-07 is given below:
- Maruti 47.3%
- Hyundai 25.5%
- Tata Motors 12.7%
- Honda Siel 4.2%
- GM 3.2%
- Ford 2.4%
- Maruti Mahindra Renault
- Maruti Others
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Luxury Car Models in India
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
New Cars
Bravo: -Fiat India Pvt. Ltd. is an Industrial Joint Venture, incorporated on January 02, 1997, between Fiat Group Automobiles and Tata Motors Limited originally. This joint venture resulted in the formation of Fiat Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. which has manufacturing locations in 60 countries. It was hoped that this new venture would produce cars which give good performance, are beautiful and which would be suitable for Indian conditions. Fiat holds a 50% stack in the company. It owns and controls five Internationally renowned brands like Lancia Automobiles, Fiat Automobiles, Alfa Romeo Automobiles, Abarth and Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles. The Makers of renowned cars such as the Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Lancia besides the Fiat branded cars. The other partner of this joint venture, TATA MOTORS, is the largest automobile company in India, with revenues of Rs. 32,426 crores (USD 7.2 billion) in 2006-07. It is a leader in every segments with winning products in the compact, mid-size and Sports Utility Vehicles. The state-of-art infrastructure of Fiat India Pvt. Ltd. have an installed capacity to produce over 100,000 cars and 200,000 engines besides aggregates and components. The Strategy of FIAT car world is to build family vehicles on the platform as conceinved for emerging market. This is better known as 178 projects and allows an array of body shapes to serve to the various requirements of the market around the world. The five body styles include a three and five-door hatchback (Palio), a station wagon (Palio Weekend), a three-box saloon (Sienna), a van and a pick-up.
Minis: - Established on March 7, 1916, BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH) has now became one of the major automobile manufacturers in the International market. The company is a world wide manufacturer of high performance premium automobiles and motorcycles. It is the present current company of both the MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands. On the commencement of the year 2007, BMW is supposed to start manufacturing and selling cars in India. In addition to its sales subdiary in Delhi region, it will start operating an assembly plant for BMW 5 and 3 series in Chennai. Just after establishing its plants in the various cities of India, the company wish to capture the entire market of metropolitan cities.The total world production of BMW Motors in the year 2006 was 1,366,838 vehicles produced in the five locations of different countries. BMW has been engaged in motor sports activities since the dawn of the first BMW motorcycle. They also manufacture Formula cars, Touring cars and Sports cars.
Audi AG: - AUDI AG is a German based company with its production units in five major countries viz. China, Hungary, Belgium, Italy and Germany itself. Audi is a manufacturer of exquisite cars which are attractive, sophisticated and technically perfect in every aspects. The success of Audi AG stems from creativity, commitment and enthusiasm. The company has scattered its wings of success in the field of automobile industry for its technical expertise and creativity. In the year 2007, Audi has given a total production of 980,880 cars and 1,915,633 engines which shows a growth of 5.9% and 1.4% respectively. This company has a total sale of 1,200, 701 cars in the same year which was again a growth of 5.7%. Audi is looking tactfully towards the future and investing its wealth on India. The luxury car market has tripled during last five years. With the excellent set-up of a dealer network in India, Audi has already started sketching its footprint in this country from July 2004. Audi has launched its bigger models A6 and A8 in this rat racing market. This is aimed towards the massively popular Mercedes Benz C Class. Both these cars are good competitors in the automobile markets around the globe.
Car Accessories
Material: PP PAPER
Packing: BLISTER CARD
Description: PRINTING METHOD:OFFSET
Name: STEERING WHEEL COVER
Specification: S:350-370MMM
:370-390MML
:380-400MM
Material: PU+REFLECTIVE TAPE
Packing: COLOR CARD OR PLASTIC CARD (ADD $0.05)
Description: SPECIAL MANUFACTURING TECHNICDURABLE AND GOOD LOOKINGNON-SLIPNO STITCH ON SURFACE
Name: MASSAGE CUSHION WITH HEATING
Specification: 115*55CM
Material: BLACK POLYESTER
Packing: 1PCS/COLOR BOX (57*13*53CM)4 COLOR BOX/CTN (59*54*55CM)
Description: 5 MOTORS
Name: WINDSHIELD SUN SHADE
Specification: 142*67CM & 150*70CM
Material: 190T NYLON FABRIC
Packing: PACKING:NYLON POUCH
Description: PRINTING METHOD:SILKSCREEN
Saturday, October 4, 2008
New Bikes
Sun-Red Solar-Powered Bike: -I can see the point behind this motorcycle from Catalonian company Sun-Red (very responsible and all that, clap clap clap) but, fug-o-rama design aside, I worry for this eco-friendly concept bike, which got a special mention for innovation when they were handing out prizes at a Barcelona car fair recently.Once charged, it will take you a perfunctory 13 miles at 30mph. Yes, that's thirteen miles.The bike's solar panels emerge when it is stationary (does that mean you risk decapitation if you stop to admire the view?) Keeping with most electric bikes, its brushless motor is stored in the front wheel, saving on transmission components.
Born To Be Wild: TomTom Rider: -Sat-nav outfit, TomTom knows a thing or two about helping people find their way around or, as some nay-sayers would claim, get hopelessly lost.
The new Tom Tom Rider is, according to the company, “designed for bikers by bikers”. There are two versions – Rider Europe (£400) and Rider Regional (£300) for the UK & Ireland.
It’s waterproof, naturally, and comes with a new RAM mount that is easy to fit and fits on most motorbikes. The touchscreen boasts large icons for use with gloves and there’s new Bluetooth headset that fits in open and closed helmets. The headset offers noise cancellation so that you can hear directions or take phone calls clearly.
They start shipping at the end of next month. Read more here.-Martin Lynch
New T-800CDI_4: - Considering how little fossil fuel most bikes guzzle compared to even the smallest car, I can understand why there has been little rush to come up with a diesel powered motorbike.
There have been some one-offs and small production run units but Dutch-group E.V.A. Products are claiming to have built the first commercially available diesel-fuelled two-wheeler. The Trackstar T-800CDI – looking like something brutal and industrial from Mad Max 2 (which is a good thing) - uses an 800cc Daimler Chrysler engine used in some military vehicles. Even better, it can also be run on plant oil, like sunflower oil. Just 2.5L will get you 100km.
Still, this green machine is going to cost you. According to the Web site you’ll be stumping up almost £12,000 from early next year.
Schwinn Tailwind eBike: - The new Schwinn Tailwind eBike is not going to win any fab style points with us but its claim that it can transport you 25-30 miles on a single 30-minute charge really is special.
Unveiled at the big Interbike International Bicycle Expo, the eBike's rapid charging is down to the use of Toshiba's Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) technology, making it around 8 times faster than most other electric bikes.
New Victory Bike: - Think US motorbikes and you think hogs, choppers and any number of metal beasts that scare children and make mothers want to lock up their daughters. The Asian and European approach is a little more streamlined – lighter, faster bikes that mirror their racing counterparts, but with very little soul or personality. In design terms they are worlds apart. But one US firm is hoping to modernise things radically. Victory Motorcycles has created the Vision 800 Concept which, for US bikes, is a real departure. An 800cc engine, long-wheelbase, 4-stroke, liquid cooled and aluminium frame but, just look at how they put it together. Batman eat your heart out. If the brutal looking tank from Batman Begins has a two-wheeled cousin then this is it. Via Gizmag.
Hero Honda Hunk: - Hero Honda recently launched their not much awaited bike Hero Honda Hunk. Already talks about it and specially its name, Hero Honda could have used some better name. Well, Hunk is still, if you look into dictionary then it is a very manly word. This machine has almost similar power and torque to CBZ xtreme, ie. 14.2bhp at 8500 rpm and 12.8 nm at 6500 rpm. Then engine displacement is 149.2 cc . And the engine is set to have tumble flow ( I can't comment over it as do not have enough information about it).
Lets talk about other things of the HUNK, ie. its look and fairing and its styling. First thing you will note that it has gas charged, adjustable rear shok absorber, it is I think first in Hero Honda Bike. One thing I loved about CBZ from beginning was its saddle position, it just made you sit so sporty that you feel like GOD on road. .. here in Hero Honda Hunk, saddle position is nice so it feels so sporty while sitting on Bike. Front Disc brake is fine, I wished if they could have increased its size as TVS did in Apache RTR 160, it looks so nice and somohow makes feel bike more powerful (physcologically). Looking over design, the bike has over all a big look as we had with CBZ xtreme. This time grab rail is single piece ie not like CBZ xtreme which as splitted one looked really cool. One thing I noticed here that they wanted to bike to look shorter and sporty and hence you can see on back that they have kept seat little shorter though ideally should stretch a bit more, anyhow it is looking unique. What I think that there was something missing in CBZ xtreme and Hero Honda thinks that to compete with Apache RTR and new pulsar, they should work around and hence we have "Hunk".
Fuel consumption is said to same as CBZ but with little improvement. And bike comes in two version, a kick start costing Rs. 55000 ex showroom Delhi and Rs. 57000 for Electric start ex-showroom Delhi. Price is all standard. Anyways, Going to most little more about the bike after riding it for a while.
Hero Honda CBZ X-Treme: - From the time the tricolour bike was shown at the Auto Expo to the time when it finally breathed its last, the Hero Honda CBZ was an icon. Not only did it polarise opinion, it (re-)introduced us to what a bigger capacity commuter with sporty intent could be like. And now, the CBZ name is back, in X-Treme guise.The talking point, undoubtedly, is going to be the looks. Hero Honda (and by extension Honda) have finally got alloys on a 150, which could mean the beginning of the end of spoked wheels on their line-ups (hey, one can hope, right?). The CBZX gets 18-inch Karizma alloys in black as well as identical tyres. But while the blacked out bottom looks contemporary, the styling package is a formal tux, in pink. The CBZX, unlike its predecessor, looks a bit awkward, especially front-on. It is substantial, mind you and feels it, but you do have to get past the bulging front indicators and the disproportionate pilot lamp. The seat is a cross between a motocrosser’s up to the filler cap type and a sportsbike’s stepped unit, but looks aside, it felt firm and comfortable. Leading from the rear are the LED tail lamps, which Hero Honda claims are an India first. Not. The Pulsar 180 was on sale first, fair and square. However, it has successfully beaten Bajaj to the split grab rail.
Strengthens Presence and Focus on the Premium Segment: -
- 150cc, 14.2 BHP powerful engine
- Highest acceleration in the segment: 0 – 60 kmph in 5 seconds
- New model comes with a 3-year / 40,000 kms warranty
- CBZ X-treme to enhance Hero Honda’s image as ayouthful and technology-driven company
CBZ X-treme is an X-treme style machine with several first of its kind features:-
- LED Tail Light – first time ever on any two-wheeler in the country (Bajaj has already launched Pulsar 180 with LEDs so ur second Munjal Honda)
- Split Rear Grip, again a first-time feature in motorcycles in India
- Black Alloy Wheels
- Front Disc brakes
- Aircraft type Fuel Tank Lid
- Wide 100/90 low aspect ratio rear tyre for additional road grip and safety
- Dark grey colour engine
Tata Nano Car
Ratan Tata's dream, the affordable rupees one-lakh people's car 'Nano' is finally here. The cheapest car in the world will conform to Bharat 3 and Euro 4 norms and its deluxe version will have air- conditioning. A feat, every Indian can be proud of..
‘INNOVATION AND Evolution’ were the words echoing at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi as Ratan Tata dramatically unveiled the much-awaited people’s car Nano at the 9th Auto Expo. ‘A quest to conquer, a conquest for leadership and a conquest for achieving new avenues’ were amongst his speech.
The features of the car are:-
- A four-door car that can seat four-five passengers.
- As compared to Maruti 800, it is eight per cent smaller on the outside but on the inside it provides 21 per cent more leg space than the Maruti 800.
- It conforms to all the emission standards as well as the Offset and Side Crash norms followed internationally.
- It is also compliant with the Bharat 3 norm and the Euro 4 norm with respect to keeping pollution at bay.
- A 33-bhp car with a 624 cc engine.
- It will provide a mileage of 23 km/litre.
- The Nano Car will have two variants - a Standard and two Deluxe (Air Conditioned) versions.
- There is no power steering in the car.
- The Standard Variant of the Car has a dealer price of rupees one lakh (US $2500) and is the cheapest car in the world. (Transport costs and Value-Added Taxes exclusive).
This car would revolutionalise manufacturing. The ‘Dream Car’ can boast of being the cheapest car in the world. The biggies worldwide have a long way to go and will have to re-look their cost structures now. As Ratan Tata said, “Pachauri need not have any nightmares.” The car conforms to all emission norms. Tongue-in-cheek Ratan Tata also made a comment on Mamta Banerjee when he said that the car was to be named the Mamta car or the Despite Mamta car. Tata’s will have one hundred thousand cars coming out of their Singur Plant every year for the next five years.
Tata said that most of the problems have solutions. Despite all odds, despite all criticism the rupees one lakh people’s car is finally here and will usher in a new revolution in car manufacturing worldwide. Here is an Indian feat, we all can be proud of!.