The Tata Nano is no longer the world’s cheapest car! Jostling along with Tata Nano, this July, will be Tara Tiny and Tara Titu. These are zero emission, electric cars and cost only Rs 99,000! And they come from the Tara International stable.
Tara S Ganguly, the company’s chairman and chief executive officer, had a big dream. And he set about realising it ‘in a small way.’ Tara International has teamed up with China’s Aucma, a leading player in the electrical vehicles and appliances segment, to manufacture these cars.
At the moment, four variants of electric cars are ready at the Tara International factory at Palta, a few kilometers from Kolkata. These are Tara Tiny, Tara Titu (two-seater and four-seater, respectively), Tara Shuttle, and Tara Carrier. While Tara Tiny and Tara Titu are priced at Rs 99,000 (approximately), Tara Shuttle and Tara Carrier are priced at Rs 500,000 (approximately).
Each of the cars can be recharged daily at 220 volts through 15 amp sockets, whereas the bikes can be recharged through 5 amp sockets.
A daily 6-hour charge enables bikes to travel 80 to 100 km, whereas the cars (all variants) need 8 hours of charging to cover the same distance.
Some of the cars that are available at the moment at the company’s factory are left-hand drives as they are meant for the markets in the United States and China. Those meant for the Indian market are being reassembled at the workshops.
Apart from West Bengal, the company’s other production centres are located in Pondicherry and Lucknow.
Electric cars perform certain jobs much better than any other alternative gasohol (a fuel mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline), biodiesel, compressed natural gas and liquid petroleum gas.
They are simple, because the number of moving parts are fewer in number; just 35, compared to over 2,500 for gasoline-powered vehicles. Fewer parts mean less maintenance and simpler service. Also, electric cars do not need oil, filters and coolants.
The do battery operated cars have any disadvantage?
The answer is, the only disadvantage lies in their speed. These cars cannot run faster than 50 km/h. But then that is supposed to be the sane speed for confined and populated areas.
Tara International has teamed up with China’s Aucma, a leading player in the electrical vehicles and appliances segment, to manufacture these cars.
The company has introduced ‘distributed manufacturing on contract system,’ informed the company vice president Biswajit Das.
It means, the company is training a group of units at various parts of India to assemble the car and bike parts, repair and maintain them. The company plans to set up 50 such units across the country, out of which five are ready as of now.
Tara International has so far tied up with a few Indian companies to set up charging units at shopping malls across the country.
Till date, the company has received an order of 100 Tara series cars from a London-based company.
In this age of global warming and increased pollution, the future lies in green cars.
Crude oil was $10 per barrel in 1994. But now that it has crossed $100 per barrel. People are driving fuel cars at an average of Rs 6 per km. One can drive these cars at 40 paise per km..!!
Specifications of Tara Tiny are as follows:
Tara Tiny needs 8 hours of charging to travel 80 kms.
Source:Rediff.com
R!D3R
Here are some of the meanest street-legal machines. Hope you like this article.
1.) Porsche 959 (1986)
This was the first car to touch the 300+ km speed (317 km/h)
2.) Ferrari F40 (1987)
its not possible that a Ferrari doesn’t get mentioned. Second car to cross the 300 km/h mark. With a top speed of 324 km/h.
3.) Lamborghini Diablo (1990)
The third car to touch the 300+ km speed with a top speed of 325 km/h.
4.) Bugatti EB110 (1992)
The fourth car to touch the 300+ km speed with a top speed of 349 km/h.
5.) Jaguar XJ220 (1993)
The fifth car to touch the 300+ km speed with a top speed of 350 km/h.
6.) McLaren F1 (1994-98)
This is one of the most popular sports cars. Also the sixth car to touch the 300+ km speed with a top speed of 386.7 km/h.
7) Koenigsegg CCR (2005)
The seventh car to touch the 300+ km speed with a top speed of 387.87 km/h.
8.) Bugatti Veyron (2005)
Another very popular car. My personal favourite supercar. Looks that can kill and perfomance and speed unmatched. The first car to touch the 400+ km/h speed and the eight car to touch the 300+ km speed with a top speed of 407 km/h.
9.) SSC Ultimate Aero (2007)
No one thought that reaching 400+ km/h mark was possible but Bugatti proved everyone wrong. And people really applauded Bugatti after the launch of Veyron. But is it possible to beat the Veyron?? Yes it is now. On October 9 th , 2007 Bugatti Veyron’s speed record was eclipsed by this super car. The SSC Ultimate Aero. (SSC -> Shelby Super Cars)
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I had written an article on the Captiva and also one on CR-V. That was a diesel CR-V i had written about. Currently in this segment only Captiva is a diesel SUV and it has the potential to take on CR-V head on. So here is a comparison between the the Captiva and the 2-Litre Honda CR-V.
Looks and Design
The Honda is the modern machine here. One may not like the twin-beaked nose job, but it looks smashing in most colours and the the curved stance is becoming the norm rather than the exception. Sure, compared to the last generation CR-V, the new one cannot be termed as an honest design exercise. The CR-V looks big and brilliant in premium pearl white with matt black plastic bits adding to the show. The Captiva on the other hand looks big in any colour. It is more in-your-face. A classic case of brawn over suave. Yet there is something extremely likable about the car, and it looks capable. The indented bonnet with its edges lifted off to blend with the wings looks nice.
In short the Honda looks more like a luxury piece of kit while the Captiva plays the rugged role. I would give the following rating:
CR-V : 4/5
Captiva : 4/5
Interior and Comfort
Quality of almost everything that goes into the CR-V is excellent. The switchgear, lights, plastic surfaces, leather seats, electric motors, the CR-V oozes quality. The dual climate aircon and the console mounted gear shifter get special mention here. It makes you feel good and it is difficult to make anyone feel good afetr doling out close to Rs 20 lakh for a car. Front seats are very comfortable and thus nice driving pleasure. The rear bench backrest is a bit too upright for comfort though but there is more legroom than one would expect, plus the seats slide a little back too.
The Captiva is loaded with plastic. Vast amounts of the stuff. Interiors in every car of Chevrolet are the best in their class. And so is the case with Captiva. Just that the instrumentation fails to inspire you the way the CR-V interior does. Everything is solidly bolted on and meant to go with the rugged exterior theme. The faux wood looks great. Captiva also scores big time in the fact that it is a genuine seven seater, with a proper third row of seats. Sure, knee-space is premium on the third row and only children won’t complain. If a vehicle of this class cannot carry two small families to the nearby hill station, it will be considered a terrible waste. So, where Captiva loses out on to the CR-V in finesse, it recaptures by being more practical.
CR-V : 4/5
Captiva : 4.5/5
Engine and Perfomance
Aha! Diesel vs Petrol. Turning force vs sheer performance. Common Rail vs i-VTEC. Why the comparison then? Because they are competing on the price front and the refinement of the petrol power-train is not important for those who toss the keys to their chauffeur.
The CR-V motor is refinement personified. It displaces 357cc less than the 2.4L model and develops only 141.5bhp. CR-V behaves impeccably and delivers performance on demand despite the bulk it has to move. There is no automatic gearbox available for the 2L model but the six-speed manual is more than adequate to transfer power to the front wheels. Gearshifts are very smooth. One can get exemplary economy on highways in the sixth gear cruise mode. The fuel efficiency is somewhat around 9.55 kpl.
The VCDi 16-valve diesel that powers the Captiva benefits, as the name indicates, from a variable geometry turbo and develops close to 150 bhp at a low rpm. Its torque figure is quite impressive as compared to that of the CR-V and here the Chevy trumps. The power-train may seem a bit small as far as diesel SUV power-trains go, but remeber, the Captiva is not your average body-on-chasis and also the fact is that modern diesel engines can produce more power despite smaller displacement numbers.
As far as driveability in traffic goes, it is the CR-V that is better suited. The light-as-a-feather clutch is easy to operate and the car is really never out of power range. It is amazing how Honda has mastered the art of refined engines.
The Capitva clutch needs time to get softer and there is not much power below the 1500 rpm mark despite the variable turbo. But once you cross the 1500 threshold there is no stopping the cascading torque wave that the VCDi motor produces. Power delivery is seamless and the car is phenomenal highway cruiser.
One would expect the petrol power of CR-V to make it quicker than the Captiva and it is-mostly. But when it comes to the crucial 0-60 run, the Captiva turns on those turbos early enough to pip the CR-V and post a 5.91 sec time against 6.05 sec of the CR-V. But the i-VTEC won the honours with almost a second to spare in the sprint to 100kph. The Captiva diesel is stunning when it comes to the usable mid-range. It is quicker than the petrol motor over 80-120 kph and 100-140 kph runs with the difference being a life saving 3-4 secs ! Absolutely critical when one is on the Indian Highways and trying to overtake lumbering trucks. Also the fuel economy is better and is around 11.25 kpl.
It is tough to compare petrol engines to diesel ones but I am forced to do the same thanks to the leapfrogging technology-especially when it comes to diesels. The Chevy motor exhibits more character and can match the petrol powered competition in key areas. Obviously, diesel is the cheaper fuel and tilts the equation in favor of the Captiva.
CR-V : 4/5
Captiva : 4.5/5
Ride and Handling
The CR-V is based on the new Civic platform and no wonder it rides like one. That does not mean you can charge into tightening corners at three digit speeds- a heavy dose of under-steer and dive of the cliff to sign things off would be the end result. But if you drive the vehicle the way a heavy SUV is meant to be driven then the experience can be rewarding. The suspension understands what comfort is all about and you will emerge fresh even after a very long drive. An all wheel drive option could have made it a better all-weather car indeed.
The Captiva rides better than the CR-V on all conditions and even without the help from four-wheel drive it handles the rough better . On highways and expressways, as the speed builds up, the Captiva matches the CR-V when it comes to manners.
90% of the owners of these cars would not do off roading with two wheel-drive systems that these cars have. The CR-V loves loose gravel and has enough ground clearance to handle rough roads. But if your idea of rough roads is the one connecting Gramphoo and Tabo in the Spiti valley, then the Captiva is a much better option. One would have a better ride in a Captiva in such a mess. The Captiva benefits from automatic ‘level ride control’, which uses a regulatory pump to keep the the ride level same irrespective of the road conditions and the load inside. The exceptional all-road ability swings the momentum in favor of the Captiva.
CR-V : 3/5
Captiva : 4.5/5
VERDICT
If all that you are looking for is the SUV image and don’t want to lose out on any of the comforts of a sedan, then this entry level CR-V makes perfect sense. But the advantage of diesel economy, the third row seat, the plush interiors and the ability to go anywhere makes the CAPTIVA the WINNER and the better overall buy.
R!D3R
Three decades ago James Bond (then enacted by British star Roger Moore) wowed the world with a car that could ‘fly’ under water in the movie The Spy Who Loved Me. Only, it was animation and not an actual scene.
But Frank M Rinderknecht, the 52-year-old automobile visionary and boss of Swiss automaker Rinspeed, has turned a dream into reality with his ’sQuba.’
Rinspeed sQuba is the most exciting thing at this year’s Geneva Motor Show and is creating many a ripple.
sQuba is the world’s first real submersible car that can ‘move like a fish underwater’.
It can dive up to 32.8 feet (10 mt) below the surface of the water and can move at a sedate 1.8 miles per hour.
The sQuba has an open cockpit for ’safety reasons’ (so that people can get out easily anytime in case of an emergency). The occupants of the car have to breathe compressed air through built-in scuba masks.
sQuba is an electric car that uses rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and 3 electric motors for propulsion. It is a zero-emission car as documented by the rotating license plate in the rear. It produces no exhaust emissions.
The ’sQuba’s’ filling station is the water reservoir.? It is no surprise that the vehicle features powerful yet energy-saving LED lighting technology.
The first car that could drive underwater was Quandt’s Amphibicar, built in 1968. Only 3,878 were produced but many are still being driven on roads.
Then Gibbs Technologies came up with Gibbs Aquada in 2004 which Virgin boss Richard Branson used to break the speed record for crossing the English Channel.
However, the sQuba seems to be the most exciting of them all.
To drive on the roads, the sQuba ‘relies on a stainless coil-over suspension from KW automotive and large Pirelli tires mounted on custom-made forged light-weight wheels from AEZ with 17- and 18-inch diameters.’
Technical data
Measurements
Length —– 3,785 mm
Width —– 1,940 mm
Height —– 1,117 mm
Wheelbase —– 2,300 mm
Track front —– 1,470 mm
Track rear —– 1,520 mm
Ground clearance —– 130 mm
Empty weight —– approx. 920kg
Performance
Top speed —– > 120 km/h
Acceleration 0-80 km/h —– 7.1 sec
Water speed —– > 6 km/h
Under water speed —– > 3 km/h
Dive depth —– 10 m
Engine
Street —– Electric
Power output —– max. 54 kW at 4′500 /min
Torque —– 160 NM at 1′500 /min
Water - Stern propellers —– Electric
Power output —– 2 x 800 W
Diving - bow jet drives —– Electric
Power output —– 2 x 3.6 kW Rotinor
Batteries —– Lithium-Ionen
Voltage —– 6 x 48 Volt
Propulsion
Power train —– Rear wheel drive
Gearbox —– R - N - F
Suspension
Chassis —– Steel
Body panels —– Carbon Nano Tubes
Seating capacity —– 2
Front suspension —– Double wishbone
Rear suspension —– Double wishbone
Dampers/springs —– KW automotive
Steering —– Rack & pinion
Tyres
Front tyres —– Pirelli P Zero 205/40 R17
Front wheels —– AEZ 7.5 x 17"
Rear tyres —– Pirelli P Zero 225/40 R18
Rear wheels —– AEZ 8 x 18"
Miscellaneous
Air supply —– 1 x 15 liter + 1 x 18 liter ScubaPro
Laser scanner —– Ibeo
Lubricants —– Motorex
Ankit Khare
AMBIROD
Guess which was the only car that wrested the limelight on the day Tata’s Rs 1-lakh car was pulling all the crowd, flashbulbs and TV cameras?
A Ferrari? A Porsche? A Rolls Royce? No. It was an Amby!
But let not the car mislead you. This Amby costs a neat Rs 4 crore ($ 1 million).
Design don Dilip Chhabria unveiled his super luxury concept car ‘Ambierod’, the most expensive designer car showcased at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi.
The leader of the Bollywood brat-pack Sanajay Dutt did the honours as he pulled the covers off the stunner. Chhabria said the Ambassador reminds us of everything that was good and bad about India. He said the Amberoid is an attempt to evolve a legend and that he wants it to connect with India’s future.
The ace designer’s nod to the good old Amby comes with a sleek instrument panel backed by a satellite navigation system, rear vision camera, three LCD televisions, Internet and videoconferencing-enabled flat bed and multi-coloured mood lighting.
Caparo T1
Developed by engineers that helped deliver the iconic McLaren F1, the Caparo T1 is a new sports car that sets new boundaries in performance and driver experience.
Caparo T1 is a two-seater sports car, which uses aerospace and high formula composite racing technologies while providing race-bred safety.
The car was built by Caparo Vehicle Technologies founded by design director Ben Scott-Geddes and engineering director Graham Halstead.
The car is likely to cost around Rs 2 crore ($480,000).
QarmaQ
Positioned as a crossover Coupe/CUV, the QarmaQ derives its name from traditional Inuit dwellings, constructed from earth, whalebone and animal skins.
Like them, QarmaQ challenges conventional ideas on construction methods and materials. Also in common with the original structures, it boasts unusual strength, resilience and protection.
QarmaQ soulfully blends the driving experience of a Coupe with the ability to manage multi-terrain driving of a CUV.
Hyundai Motor Co and GE Plastics presented QarmaQ, a first in the Crossover Coupe segment. QarmaQ is Hyundai’s Advanced Technology Demonstration Vehicle. QarmaQ is specifically designed to carry four people.
Chevy T2X
The Chevy T2X concept car is based on the architecture of the Chevrolet S3X show car.
The four-door, which has an overall length of 4,320 mm and an overall width of 1,856 mm, lacks conventional B-pillars and features rear hinged backdoors. Combined with its overall height of 1,666 mm, this allows easy access for both people and cargo. Completing the exterior design is a removable glass roof panel.
The dramatic coupe-style upper body and strong, functional lower exterior theme carry through to the interior of the T2X.
With a wheelbase of 2,707 mm, sporty, front-wheel arches and 20-inch wheels that are situated outside the vehicle’s body, the T2X has a very athletic stance.
Honda Jazz
It’s time Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Getz and Chevrolet Aveo UVA geared up for some competition.
Honda Jazz, which made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September is packed with technical innovation, including a revolutionary new power train.
The new Jazz is expected to roll out of Honda Siel Cars’ new Rajasthan plant.
Hyundai Veloster
The Hyundai Veloster (velocity + roadster) evokes the sporty characteristics of a classic two-plus-two.
Veloster has potential Gen-Y shoppers in its sights. The trapezoidal grille opening reminds one of the new Mitsubishi Lancer / Evo X.
The roof is mostly glass, with a metal, bodywork-colored mo-hawk running through the middle.
The triangular, shoulder-mounted taillamps and single, center exhaust outlet add some flair to the car’s posterior.
Its interior features an iPod dock and an engine start button on the top of the shift knob.
Source: Rediff India
R!D3R
It’s been quite some time now since the launch of the Captiva. Many felt that GM did wrong by not bringing in an Automatic 4 wheel drive variant of the Captiva. Now, according to reports, General Motors India is gearing up to launch its Captiva SUV with an automatic transmission.The Captiva has been well received, and presently is the only diesel soft-roader in its class.
Last month, the Captiva managed to sell nearly 200 units, second only to the Honda CR-V. It is giving the CR-V a tough competition. However, the lack of an automatic transmission option has turned away some customers, and it is these potential buyers that GM is targeting.
The car was initially launched only with manual transmission and front-wheel drive, but the automatic version will come with four-wheel drive as standard. The auto box has five forward ratios and is geared to provide similar levels of performance and fuel economy.
An important factor will be cost; the auto box and the four-wheel-drive system will add to the cost of the car, and GM would be keeping an eye on this.
As of now there is no clear indication as to when the car will be introduced in the market.
Source : AUTOCAR INDIA
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Honda has always stuck to its non diesel cars policy for the Indian market. And why not, all its cars are best sellers in their respective categories. However, in India diesel power is fast gaining ground thanks to mileage conscious customers. So Honda cannot ignore this diesel category any more. Also the launch of Captiva (which is diesel SUV) has given another reason to Honda to consider launching of this diesel CR-V.
Except the Captiva, there will be other diesel SUVs also like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Fortuner which will be launched soon. So Honda thinks this could hurt the sales of CR-V.
The CR-V will get an i-CTDi badging. The i-CTDi is the first diesel from Honda’s range world-wide, and debuted in Accord. The key issue for Honda will be the price; the CR-V is imported and atracts a very heavy import duty. Also the cost of motor diesel itself is higher as compared to a petrol one. So if Honda goes for cost cutting it will have to remove the leather upholstery, automatic transmission, CD changer and probably the sunroof also. This would help Honda price it right and somewhere same as that of the fully-loaded 2.4L petrol CR-V. And in future we could get to see a fully loaded diesel version if the Honda thinks it is necessary.
According to reports, the car is currently undergoing testing. The i-CTDi unit produces 138bhp of power, but this is expected to be cut down for Indian fuel. This means it would have 10bhp less than the Captiva. The key factor would be the fuel efficiency. The diesel CR-V has the potential to gain firm hold in its segment.
Specifications:
Engine : 2204cc
Power : 138bhp
Gearbox : 6-speed manual
Price : Rs 21-22 lakh(est)
Source-Autocar India
R!D3R
Indian car market is growing day by day. There may be a global slowdown in the Luxury Car market around the world but not in India I think. Many global car makers are setting up their manufacturing facilities in India and gearing up for new launches. The small car market in India also has a lot of competition thanks to the launch of Tata Nano and also Fiat bringing in the Fiat 500 and Volkswagen bringing in Beetle. So why would the World’s No. 1 car maker, General Motors, stay back.
GM has said that it plans to bring in 8 to 9 new models in India over the next 3 years. The company recently celebrated its 5th Anniversary in India car market. The company portfolio in India currently offers passenger cars in the price range of Rs 2.89-17.74 lakh.
While GM will look to enter new segments, it will also introduce more models in segments it currently operates in. The company is considering launching another small car to strengthen offering in hatchback category, which contributes over 50% of total sales in India. GM had showcased its Cadillac and Hummer brand in the recent Auto Expo held in Delhi. We might get to see these models being launched in India if GM targets the super luxury segment of both the Sedan and SUV type cars.
Other models hinted by GM could be in the super hatch category. Their current offering in the sports hatch or super hatch category is the SRV which has not done too well. Also an entry level luxury segment car could be on the cards. GM also plans to introduce LPG variants of Chevy Spark and the Aveo UVA by the end of this year.
The company currently operates a 85,000 units per annum plant at Halol in Gujarat, but is now waiting to commence production at its second plant in Talegaon, in Maharashtra.
R!D3R
Maruti brings about sensation in the country whenever it launches a car. It did the same with the launch of the Swift Dzire, with Dr. Palash Sen being roped in to specially compose and sing a song for their Dzire brand to Live Webcasts. Maruti did everything to promote their new car launch.
Maruti wanted to bring a replacement for one of their most reliable brand, the Esteem. Yes the replacement was definitely needed as it had been 14 years since the launch of Esteem. The most obvious choice of was to attach a boot to their hot selling Hatch, the Swift. The Dzire has everything as the Swift but the huge boot. The Dzire is sure to give Maruti a crucial presence in the lower mid-size segment.
Dzire comes in 6 variants 3 each of diesel(LDi, VDi and ZDi) and petrol(LXi, VXi and ZXi). Under the hood you will find the good old 1.3L petrol and diesel DDIS engine. It is the same as that of the Swift and gives a very good mileage, pick-up, torque and the same driving pleasure. The top end variant(Zxi) gets dual airbags and ABS. These features are a plus point to Maruti as they are best in their class when compared to Logan, Indigo and Accent. Also an engine immobilizer is a standard feature in all models. Its nice to see Maruti introducing safety features in all its new cars.
Well coming to its exterior looks. Personally i do not like the way this car looks. I feel it might beat the City to get the un-pretty car award. The Dzire’s look are just like the Swift but when viewed from a distance, the rear is out of sync with the front. Though the peeled-back lights at the rear, another Swift like styling, look good, the stubby boot and complex rear-door shut lines simply add to the fussy styling. The boot is very spacious for a small mid-sizer with 440 litres of luggage space.
The interiors are well designed. Same as that of the Swift with smooth and well finished dashboard and an identical instrument cluster. Equipment levels are slightly superior though, and on the range topping ZXi you get steering mounted audio controls(borrowed from the SX4). There is a well integrated audio system which looks extremely neat and also the climate control system. In short the interior layout is also same as that of the Swift. But one drawback, which one can find in almost every Maruti car, is the quality of plastics used. Not quite good. The front seats are quite large with lots of under-thigh support but alas the rear seats feel quite cramped. The idea was to improve the head room but in the bargain the comfort has been compromised.
The Dzire drives better than Swift but simply cannot match the ride comfort with the Aveo and the Fiesta. The biggest factor that works for Dzire is its diesel engine and its pricing. Maruti has always been aggressive in pricing its cars which gives it an edge over its competitors. The petrol variant is priced at 4.7 to 6.1 lakhs(ex-showroom Delhi) and the diesel variant at 5.6 to 6.9 Lakhs(ex-showroom Delhi).
The car is really for those who need a large boot space, otherwise the Swift makes a perfect sense as a stylish city caddy as the Dzire does not give you a big car feel.
Its specifications are as follows:
6 Variants in all.
Engine - 4 cyls, 1298CC petrol/diesel.
Power - 87bhp for petrol and 75bhp for diesel.
Gearbox - 5-speed manual.
Fuel Tank - 43 litres.
Boot Size - 440 litres.
R!D3R
This is an article I had written on one of my friend’s website. I had tried to cover all the positive and negative aspects of this merger. Here is a link to that post.
Tata-JLR Merger - Is it good or bad for Tata?
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