Loaded with new features

Maruti Stingray is a feature-rich sporty car

It was probably not the best looking car (perceptions are subjective), but it did rule the Indian roads for more than one-and-half decades. The small, original ‘Tallboy’design car, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R has now been rechristened as ‘Stingray’. Though Stingray has recently replaced Wagon R, it is a vast improvement in all respects. To check out the new car I recently drove Stingray on the outskirts of Bangalore for half-a-day.

The first thing one cannot miss is the fact that the basic design of the Stingray is similar to that of the Wagon R. But there are major differences between the two models: the bold and aggressive front fascia, sporty side skirting, B-pillar black-out strip and stylish rear spoiler add a new character to the Stingray. The gunmetal grey coloured alloy-wheels, chrome plated tail lamps and chrome back-door garnish with Stingray have further enriched the styling of the car. The front of the car gets refreshed bumpers with large air damps and new fog lamp housings that give it an aggressive look. Also part of the standard features lists is the sleek headlamp cluster, along with the projector unit (first in segment).

But to add more value for the customers, Maruti has loaded Stingray with many new features in the interior, normally seen in the higher-priced cars. All-black ambiance with premium upholstery lends richness and sophistication to the interiors. The designers have played with the piano black finish to add alight reflecting glassy premiumness. Smart use of chrome on door handles and AC louvers adds a dash of luxury to the interiors.The Stingray blue themed instrument cluster is all new with multi information display that shows Instant and Average fuel economy, distance to empty etc.

New features in Stingray:

First in the class: Expressive projector headlamps and Stylish reflector grille

Aggressive Exteriors: Gunmetal grey coloured alloy wheels, Stylish rear spoiler, Sporty side skirts, Chrome garnished rear combination lamp and Chrome back door garnish with “Stingray” embossing

Premium interiors: Premium black upholstery with Stingray themed seats Leather wrapped steering with audio controls (Vxi optional), Chrome accentuated interiors, Blue themed instrument cluster

Feature loaded: Multi information display - Distance to empty, Instant & Average fuel economy, Audio system (USB & AUX support) with backlit buttons, Front & Rear Power window with front auto down (Drive Side), Tilt adjustable steering, Electrically adjustable outside rear view mirror, Driver airbag and ABS ( VXi Option) and Rear wiper and De-fogger (VXi)

Smooth driving

The new car has been powered with Suzuki’s much acclaimed K-10 petrol engine. The 998cc three-cylinder K-series engine delivers a power of 68PS @ 6200rpm and a high torque of 90Nm @ 3500 rpm. From my driving experience it was clear that the car has a lot of punch in the lower gears, but pickup become sluggish on higher gears. But for a small and compact car that is ideal for the city driving, one cannot expect too much of power from a 1 litre engine. Besides, when delivering the most optimum fuel efficiency is the primary objective of Stingray, the speedy acceleration cannot be the priority. The company claims a ARAI approved fuel efficiency of 20.5 km, under the ideal driving conditions. Stingray’s powertrain also offers much improved gearshift which is a major plus point for the stop-and-go city driving.

Stingray will cost about Rs 20,000 more than the outgoing Wagon R, but considering the new features, it will not be a bad deal for the customers. The ex-showroom prices (Delhi) are as follows: Lxi: Rs 4.10 lakh, Vxi: Rs 4.38 lakh and Vxi (Opt): Rs 4.67 lakh. The VXi (opt) comes equipped with ABS-EBD and driver-side airbag.

The writer is a business journalist and a freelance writer writing test drive reports on cars / SUVs for the last 10 years. Can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com. (Any unauthorised copy and reproduction of images are prohibited. Please write for permission.) 

New Micra is attractively designed

Nissan launches premium Micra

Micra is now available with premium features, including automatic transmission. There is also an economy model: Micra Active.

Though the name continues  to be the same it is like launch of a new car. Nissan Motor India has just launched a new Micra, so much different from the outgoing Micra that it could easily be called by some other name. Instead of one, Nissan now will have two categories of Micra – one for the entry level, value for money car buyers and the other a premium hatchback loaded with lots of new technology. Let’s first take a look at the premium Micra which Nissan simply calls New Micra.

This car is based on Micra’s fourth generation city car (Micra globally is a 30 year old brand) with major redesigned exteriors, refreshed premium interiors and a list of advanced user friendly features. This new model was recently launched in the UK and in Thailand.

New look

The first thing that strikes you is the complete departure in the exterior design from the old Micra’s bulging eyes look. New Micra makes an aggressive statement with the redesigned front and rear. The overall length of the car has increased by 45mm to 3825mm. The car now gets a sculpted bonnet and front bumper with V-shaped chrome grille. Front fog lamps with a thick chrome finish add to the premium appeal. The rear too gets a redesigned bumper with a bright LED tail lamps as well as high mounted LED stop lamp. The high-end variants also have diamond shape 8-spoke alloy wheels. On the whole, New MIcra looks classy and yet sporty.

 The upgrades continue to the interiors, which gets an all-new centre console with piano black finish and silver accents for a premium feel. The cabin is more spacious cabin with better legroom and headroom to comfortably accommodate five adults. The driver’s seat is a six-way manually adjustable and all seats have premium upholstery. The other features include 2-din music system with USB and AUX capability, steering mounted controls, rear view camera and Bluetooth connectivity.

Engine options with new technology

Under the hood, new Micra comes with two engine variants 1.2 litre petrol and 1.5 litre diesel. The petrol engine has a maximum power of 76 PS @ 6000 rpm and a max torque of 104Nm @ 4000 rpm. Micra now also boasts of a automatic transmission, not a very common offering in compact hatchback. The car comes with a segment leading Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) gearbox for better fuel efficiency and smooth city driving experience, the company claimed.

The key benefits CVT is smooth acceleration and no shift shock unlike conventional automatic transmissions. It also comes with a button (sports mode) that can be pressed for more power and quick acceleration, a very useful option in overtaking speeding vehicles on the highway. The company claims that thanks to CVT technology this automatic variant has a high fuel efficiency of 19.34 kmpl as per ARAI rated, higher than manual and conventional automatic gearbox equipped cars.

The company claimed that under the ideal test conditions the fuel efficiency of the 1.2-litre petrol engine has improved to 18.44kmpl (ARAI certified) due to performance tuning. The fuel efficiency of 1.5 litre diesel variant is 23.08 kmpl (ARAI certified). The diesel engine, it is the same used in phased out Micra, is slightly underpowered at 64 PS of max power @ 4000 rpm but having a good torque of 160 Nm at 2000 rpm. The company has kept the option open for a 90 PS diesel engine in future.

The starting prices (ex-showroom Delhi) of new Micra are as follows: Petrol Rs 4.88 lakh, Petrol with CVT: Rs 6.50 lakh and Diesel: Rs 6.10 lakh.

Micra Active

While the premium Micra will certainly appeal to feature-loving, tech-savvy buyers, for the ‘value for money’ segment Nissan has ‘Micra Active’ in petrol whose price starts at Rs 3.56 lakh (ex-showroom). The company claims it is a hatchback for customers seeking an economical car without compromising on quality, fuel efficiency, styling and spacious interiors. Micra Active too has slightly sporty exterior design and roomy interiors. Micra Active is powered by the 1.2-litre petrol engine developing 68PS power at 5000rpm and 104Nm torque at 4000rpm. The company has reduced the overall weight by 30 kg compared to earlier Micra and the weight reduction contributed for better fuel efficiency of 19.49 kmpl, it was claimed. 

The writer is a freelance auto writer writing test drive reports on cars and SUVs for the last 11 years. He can be reached on dilipmaitra@gmail.com

A sporty car from Ford

EcoSport: an urban SUV with a new-tech engine.

Driving Ford India's new car EcoSport from Goa to Bangalore was a grand experience. 

The ideal road conditions for test driving a car or a SUV is a combination of narrow, winding hilly roads sprinkled with bumps and potholes of different sizes, and wide highways with airport runway like surface. A 600 km drive from Goa to Bangalore via Hubli offers this ideal condition in plenty. When Ford India offered me its new vehicle EcoSport to drive from Goa to Bangalore, I just grabbed the opportunity as I knew it would be a thrilling drive through the hilly terrain and jungles (more so because of the incessant rains and mist) from Goa to Hubli (186 km) and then on the fantastic super-smooth highway from Hubli to Bangalore (415 km).  

As Indian car buyers are getting more enthusiastic on cross-country driving and increasingly taking fancy in vehicles that are a crossover between a car and a sports utility vehicle (SUV), more car companies are launching such cars. Ford's EcoSport (the company calls it a urban utility vehicle) has thus joined a growing list of Renault's Duster, Maruti's Ertiga, GM's Enjoy, Honda's CRV, Toyota's Innova, etc. The EcoSport comes with three engine options: 1.5 litre diesel, 1.5 litre petrol and 1 litre Ecoboost petrol engine. I drove the last one, a technological sensation for a SUV fitted with a small one litre engine.

With EcoSport Ford has brought its globally acclaimed EcoBoost technology to India. This three-cylinder, 1 litre small engine (Ford claims it is so small that it can be stowed in the overhead baggage space in a jet plane) delivers power and performance of a traditional 1.6-litre engine but with an improvement in fuel economy by up to 20 percent. The EcoBoost engine produces 125 PS of power and peak torque of 170 Nm from 1,400 to 4,500 rpm and the company claims superior 18.9 km/L mileage under the ideal road conditions. But I got an average 16km/L mileage from my Goa Bangalore drive which included almost 200 km of hill drive on bad roads where the average dropped significantly.

Engine technology
The beauty of this EcoBoost engine is that it is a one litre engine (same capacity as 1 litre K10 engine in Maruti Alto) that produces power of a 1.6 litre engine. This direct injection EcoBoost engine is fitted with a responsive turbocharger that delivers extra power quickly when the throttle is open from low rpm. Unlike in diesel engines where a turbocharger kicks in at around 1700 rpm, in this EcoBoost engine the turbocharger gets activated at a slightly higher speed and higher rpm. Though the engine’s peak torque is 170 Nm it is available over a wide range of 1,400-4,500 rpm which is more than enough for drivers to pull away and overtake.

In simple language this means that though the engine is small it provides extra power through a turbocharger and to get the best power output and mileage one should accelerate slowly and should not expect a sudden thrust of power like a sports car. Ford’s engineers have also used unique cast iron block that warms up the engine quicker than a conventional aluminium block, cutting the amount of “warm-up” energy required by 50 percent and increasing fuel economy.

Positioning of the car
Priced at Rs 7.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) the EcoSport -  EcoBoost will not be cheap. Ford has positioned it as an urban sport utility vehicle that has the seating capacity of a car (2+3), combines the agility, affordability and fuel efficiency of a compact car with the driving versatility of an SUV. The car is aimed at young male professional having an active lifestyle that has him driving in all types of city roads and frequent out-of-town breaks. Ford expects the EcoSport being modern (it is technologically feature rich), premium and sporty, it will certainly appeal to urban buyers with modern lifestyle. The car being compact, it is sub four metre, and with a small turning radius (5.3 metre), is easy to manoeuvre in city. 

While its ruggedness in handling bad roads, wide tyres and electronic power steering with pull drift compensation technology makes it suitable for high-speed highway driving. But from my driving experience on the hill roads I must caution that one should not do sharp cornering at high speed as the suspensions are a bit stiff (for extracting longer life on bad Indian roads) and the car has a tendency to drift sideways, specially on wet surface. Good news is that EcoSport’s high ground clearance of 200 mm also means users  won’t have to go dead slow over high speed bumps and potholes. The company claims the car can wade through 550 mm of water, so drivers can confidently drive through large pools of water, especially during the monsoon season.

More engine options
The Ford EcoSport is also be available with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (price starts at Rs 5.69 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi), which delivers peak power of 112 PS at 6,300 rpm and peak torque of 140 Nm at 4,400 rpm. This petrol engine features the twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) technology, which allows extremely precise, variable control of “valve overlap” – the window of time in which both the intake and exhaust vanes in an engine are open at the same time. By adjusting overlap continuously, the engine can operate at optimum settings for peak fuel economy or power output as conditions demand. Ford claims this engine offers 15.8 km mileage under ideal test conditions.

Another benefit of this technology is a broadened torque curve. The Ti-VCT strategy allows the intake valve to be advanced, so instant power is delivered when the customer demands it at low speeds. At high speeds, the intake cam is retarded and higher airflows are available. For the driver, this means improved low-speed torque and increased fuel economy.

For Indian customers who prefer diesel cars as the fuel is much cheaper than petrol, Ford has brought the 1.5-litre TDCi intercooled and turbocharged diesel engine in EcoSport (price starts at Rs: 6.69 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi). With power rated at 91 PS at 3,750 rpm, the engine also delivers a high 204 Nm of torque from 2,000 rpm to 2,750 rpm. The result is strong acceleration from standstill together with the flexibility that can reduce the need for gearshifts. But the turbo charger being fixed-geometry, it flattens out at higher rpm. The engine uses Bosch’s high pressure fuel-injection system (common rail direct injection) to give the car a superior performance, higher fuel economy, lower emissions and low noise and vibration. The company claimed a fuel economy of 22.7km for this option. There is an automatic transmission option also available in petrol.

Feature rich
The EcoBoost model of EcoSport is also loaded with many intelligent driver-assist features. The blue LED display tells you the average mileage on a real time basis to help improve driving habits. It also gives information on average speed of driving over a journey, average mileage and distance to empty (indicating the distance one can cover before filling up).  

It also has voice-activated in-car connectivity system co-developed with Microsoft, enabling drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel while choosing their favourite music and making phone calls using voice commands. The cabin also has 20 practical storage spaces, including a glove box that can keep up to six beverage cans cool. Its boot space is 346 litre, enough for a small family outing and the rear seats can be reclined in select models for greater comfort or easily folded down for additional cargo space. When the rear seats are folded the boot space increases to 705 litres. The rear seats can be split 60:40 to transport long objects. The car has Smart Keyless Entry, customers no longer need their key to start the engine.

Safety and driver assistance
The car also has been designed to provide high levels of protection and driver support through a range of advanced features. About half of the urban SUV’s body structure is made up of high-strength steel and ultra-high-strength steel. The SUV’s array of airbags provides additional safety. It also comes with an array of driver-assist systems. Hill Launch Assist helps drivers make a perfect hill start whether it’s uphill or downhill, by holding the SUV for up to three seconds. This prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards or forwards while moving off from the slope. The car also has anti-lock braking system and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) available in the higher-priced models.

Technical specifications of EcoSport

Length (mm)	3999
Width (mm)	1765
Height (mm)	1708
Wheel base (mm)	2520
Ground clearance (mm)	200
Turning radius (m)	5.3
Fuel Tank (L)	52
Engine: (1.5 L/ Diesel)	Power: 91PS, Torque: 204Nm
Engine(1.0 L/ Petrol-EcoBoost)	Power: 125PS, Toeque: 170Nm
Engine: (1.5 L/Petrol)	Power: 112PS, Torque 140NM

 

The writer is a business journalist and a freelance writer writing test drive reports on cars / SUVs for the last 10 years. Can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com. (Any unauthorised copy and reproduction of images are prohibited. Please write for permission.) 

Changes on the horizon

Upgraded Tata cars are more exciting now.

Tata Motors has unveiled a customer-focused strategy for passenger vehicles business, has launched 8 new upgraded vehicles across 5 brands.

When business becomes tough, one needs to take extraordinary measures. Being in a market where sales are gradually slowing down, Tata Motors, one of the top four car makers in the country, was one of the worst affected companies. Faced with a higher than expected drop in sales, the company has now unveiled a new aggressive and customer-centric initiative named ‘Horizonext’ for its passenger vehicles business (cars and SUVs). The ‘Horizonext’ plan is a four-pronged customer-focused strategy standing on four main pillars: intense product focus, focus on world-class manufacturing practices, enriched customer purchase experience and consistent quality of service.

As a part of this initiative, the company has unveiled 8 newly upgraded and enhanced products, across 5 brands. These include new enhanced versions of the Tata Indigo eCS, the Tata Sumo Gold, the Tata Nano and the Tata Indica, with the additions of new colours and graphic designs, enhanced exteriors, improved high-quality suspension to offer a better ride, great multimedia entertainment options and the introduction of the Feather-shift gearbox (F-shift gearbox).

The company has also launched the new CNG range – Tata Indica CNG, Tata Indigo CNG and Tata Nano CNG -- and the Explorer Edition of the Tata Safari Storme. Select variants will be phased in the next 90 days. 

A new range

As a part of the new product line, Tata Motors has introduced new Tata Indigo eCS (compact sedan) with significant changes in its exteriors and interiors. It has added a new powertrain that smoothens performance. A refined CR4 diesel engine cranks out a max torque of 140 Nm at 1800-3000 rpm, 70 PS of power and delivers mileage of 25 kmpl (ARAI certified). While an advanced F-Shift Gear box (TA65 gear box with cable shift mechanism)  makes driving through city traffic easy. The new Duo Float Suspension enhances load distribution along the constituent elements for a comfortable and smooth drive. In this system wheel loads travel via two distinct paths of the car body, through tuning of the spring and dampers, along these two paths independently. This results in better ride without compromising handling.  The new NVH package that reduces external noise from intruding into the cabin, leading to a refined and quiet drive, the company claimed.

The company also launched new Tata Indica that comes with posh looking dual tone interiors, new transmission and new exteriors to create a whole new experience. The new transmission with Smart-shift gear technology (New TA65 gear transmission) is mated to a refined and powerful diesel engine. This results in effortless and smooth gear shifts and a class leading fuel efficiency of 25 kmpl (for the BS4 variant), the company claimed. It is also complemented by new Dual Path Suspension (as in Indigo eCS) that ensures better ride, handling and driveability on all kinds of terrains.

Also will be available the new Tata Sumo Gold. The CR4 engine along with top-notch features is aimed at bringing more style and comfort than before. The Dual AC cooling and Bluetooth/USB connectivity it offers is a first-in-class feature, the company claimed. This powerful SUV comes with 5 metre turning radius and high performance clutch that gives you 1lac kms of tension free driving experience. The vehicle is expected to give fuel economy of 15.3 kmpl.

Tatas have made the small car Tata Nano even more exciting with the introduction of an array of new features, including remote keyless entry, twin glove boxes, and a four-speaker AmphiStream music system with Bluetooth USB and Aux-in connectivity. New additions are the fresh and stylish Nano Personalization Kits, enabling owners to customize their Nano with one of four unique identities: Jet,  Alpha,  Remix, and Peach. The car will be available in dealerships by July 2013. 

In the recently introduced Safari Storme, the company has added a new variant: the Explorer Edition that further builds on to the utility, ruggedness and off-roading characteristics. The range of accessories in the Explore Edition include BLAUPUNKT – Touchscreen Double DIN Infotainment system, stylish nudge guard, door  visors, explorer decals and adventure gears like camping kits, backpack etc. These accessories will initially be available in select Tata Motors outlets.

The eco range

Tata Motors, for some years, is actively developing a range of low carbon vehicle technologies ranging across the spectrum, from passenger cars to trucks. These vehicles are green and run on alternate fuels, including CNG, bio-fuels, electric and hybrid, for both personal and commercial transportation.

In the passenger vehicle segment, the company just unveiled its emax range of green vehicles. The emax range is powered by fuel efficient engines, which run on eco-friendly alternate fuels, with the lowest carbon footprint in their respective segments. The company unveiled 3 CNG powered vehicles – new Tata Nano emax (CNG), new Tata Indigo emax (CNG) and new Tata Indigo eCS emax (CNG).

A CNG-and-petrol bi-drive system supplements the standard petrol engine, with range-extending capabilities of compressed natural gas. CNG technology stretches the vehicles range by approximately 200 kilometres. Switching between CNG and petrol driving modes on-the-fly is effortless, thanks to a push-button fuel type selector, the company said.

Besides, the new emax – CNG range comes with best-in-class air conditioning, turning radius, passenger space and comfort, stylishly appointed interiors, with a warranty of upto 75,000 km or 4 years (whichever is earlier), on the new Tata Indigo and Tata Indica emax – CNG and upto 60,000 or 4 years (whichever is earlier), on the new Tata Nano emax – CNG.

Tatas claimed that the new Tata Nano emax – CNG is India’s most fuel efficient car. The sequential gas injection system, of the Tata Nano emax – CNG, has been thoroughly calibrated with an intelligent EMS system, for smart switching between CNG and gasoline fuel systems.

With CNG, Nano comes with a touring range of more than 150 km (in CNG), in addition to the existing touring range of 375 km (in petrol), best-in-class fuel economy, improved emissions with low CO2, resulting in low running cost, it was claimed.

The new Indigo eCS emax – CNG makes the car more fuel-efficient sedan. The vehicle’s Petrol-CNG engine, churns out upto 65 HP@5000 rpm, returning a fuel efficiency figure range of upto an additional 230 kilometres (in CNG) over 650 km (in petrol).

The new Tata Indica emax – CNG is another green and fuel efficient vehicle that delivers better torque and a good fuel efficient returning an additional 230 kilometres (in CNG) over 600 km (in petrol), the company claimed. In Indigo eCS and Indica the owners, however, will have to sacrifice most of the boot space for the CNG tanks. In case of Nano, the 5 kg CNG tank has been fitted under the driver's seat. These vehicles will be introduced in the next 90 days.

The writer is a freelance auto journalist, writing test drive reports for the last 11 years. He can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com

A stylish electric car

Mahindra e2o is a superior city car. 

For several years for now car manufacturers world wide are working on electric car technology and many have introduced such cars with varied degree of success. Since an e-car runs on batteries and does not depend on fossil fuels like petrol, diesel or gas, it is considered a clean and operationally cheaper alternative. In India too the journey of electric car began several years ago when in 2001 the Bangalore-based Reva Electric launched Reva cars.

But Reva failed to make an impact in the market as the car was too small (it could accommodate two adults and two kids), had lower battery range and the look never excited buyers. Three years ago Reva Electric was taken over by the Mumbai-based automobile giant Mahindra & Mahindra and the new company, named Mahindra Reva, recently reintroduced the electric car with a completely new configuration. 

The new car named Mahindra e2o (energy from sun to oxygen) is a two-door four seater (it can seat four adults) fully automatic car with dent and scratch proof fibre body. To get a good feel of Mahindra e2o, I drove the car on Bangalore roads and in its outskirts for three days.

The drive

Positioned mainly as a city car, Mahindra e2o has a mileage of 100 km on a full charge of the battery that takes around 4-5 hours. In case of urgency it can be charged for one hour for a 20 km driving range. The vehicle has a maximum speed of 81 km but on congested city roads reaching that speed will be very rare. Ideally, to be on the safer side, one should plan to return to the charging point within a 80 km drive as the range drops by 20 per cent when the AC is used. The AC system, however, is very effective and will suffice in hot summer days.  Mahindra e2o is a small car (length 3280mm, width 1514 mm, height 1560 mm), it is slightly smaller than Maruti Alto but marginally bigger than Tata Nano, it is ideal for city driving. It can be manoeuvred easily in city traffic and with shorter turning radius (3.9m) it can take sharp turns.

The pick up of the car is good enough for city driving even with 4 adults inside. Since the AC draws power from the battery, it is never a drag on the pulling power of the engine. The best part of driving the car is the auto transmission. With No gear shift or clutch pressing, just shift the transmission lever to ‘F’ (it stands for forward) and drive. One needs to use only one foot for driving shifting between the accelerator and brake pedals.The ‘Hill Hold’ feature, which keeps the car stationary and prevents roll back for a few seconds after the foot is taken off from the brake pedal, makes  it is hassle free to drive up a flyover in congested traffic or roll up a steep gradient. The rear seat can comfortably accommodate two adults or three young children but the side glasses are fixed and cannot be rolled down.

The car, however, needs several improvements to create superior customer delight. The absence of power steering makes steering the car stiff, especially while parking or turning at a slow speed the job is tough. It is expected that the company will soon add power steering  to its car. The soundproofing of the cabin needs to be improved to make it quieter. The shock absorbers also need to be softer as most potholes on Bangalore roads were making their presence felt to  passengers inside Mahindra e2o. And, above all, the car’s movement is limited by the battery charge. To make things easier, the company is in the process of setting up 100 charging points in Bangalore where the  a electric car can be charged for a small fee. 

Not for the masses   

Be sure, Mahindra e2o is not a car for the mass market. Positioned mainly as a second car for the upper middle class and rich families, Mahindra e2o is suitable mainly for city driving. Most buyers will compare it  with small petrol or diesel cars only to find that Mahindra e2o is much more expensive, in some cases more than double,  than small cars like Maruti Alto, Hyundai Eon, GM Spark, etc. Priced at Rs 6.49 lakh (ex showroom) in Bangalore, the company claims it compares well with small petrol-driven compact automatic cars that also cost around the same. The company said it has entered into an arrangement with State Bank of India for a 7 year loan facility, down payment of Rs 1.5 lakh and EMI payment of Rs 9275 per month.  But despite the ‘expensive’ price tag, be sure Mahindra’s car is far cheaper than electric cars abroad where the price starts at around Rs 16 lakh. Mahindra e2o is expected to be cheaper in future as the central government’s policy on electric mobility is expected to announce a subsidy of around Rs 1.5 lakh per car. Currently it gets varied amount of subsidy and sales tax exemptions in various states and this is the reason why in Delhi it costs much cheaper at Rs 5.96. Price in Karnataka also include big discounts in taxes from the state. 

The operational cost of the electric car will be much lower. The running cost on account of consumption of electricity will be just about Rs 600 per month for an average daily use of 40 km. This means an average cost of 50 paisa per km compared to around Rs 5 per km for petrol cars. Even after adding the replacement cost of the battery after four years, the cost per km will work out to around Rs 3.10 per km. Mahindra e2o owners will also save money as the car’s maintenance cost is almost zero compared to service cost of around around Rs 6,000 per annum for small petrol/ diesel cars.

Charging the car using solar panels

The technology

At the heart of Mahindra e2o is the modern electric vehicle technology, powered by the new generation 48 volt lithium-ion batteries and a 3 phase induction electric motor. Charge the battery for 5 hours for a full charge from a standard 15A power point and the car is ready for a driving range of 100 km, enough for driving in most cities. If one can set up a solar panel charging facility at home at a cost of Rs 1 lakh, the charging will be totally free.

The transmission is fully automatic with a ‘Boost’ mode for quick acceleration. The regenerative technology also charges the battery whenever the car slows down or brake is applied. If running low on battery one can remotely activate the reserve energy from the battery by using an app on the smartphone. But don’t depend on it too much as the driving can get extended only by 7-8 km.

The maintenance free battery has a life of 60,000 km (the company claims the actual life is longer). This means that at an average daily driving of 40 km a day, the battery will need replacement after around four years and the cost for the same is likely to be around Rs 1.50 lakh.

The dashboard and the multimedia display tell the user efficiency of driving, the charge remaining and the distance to empty on a real time basis. With 10 on board computers, the car also provides real time feedback of all the vehicle’s functions does a daily heart beat check of the vital systems and sends alerts if anything has to be fixed.

The Mahindra e2o comes with a 15.5 cm touch screen, with factory fitted GPS navigation system, radio, DVD, Blue tooth and I-pod connectivity. The full digital cluster, electrically operated wing mirrors, keyless entry & start/stop button, projector headlamps, LED tail lamps, reverse camera, 4JBL speakers & 2 tweeters makes the features of the Mahindra e2o comparable to most highend cars. The car is available in six colours.

The writer is a Business Journalist and car enthusiast writing test drive reports for the last ten years. Pictures by the writer. He can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com 

Tata's new Vista D90 has a re-tuned, more responsive engine.

Vista D90 is a hightech hatchback with more power.
My last week’s drive on the Bangalore-Honnavar national highway to Shimoga and Bhadravati reservoir from Bangalore was a pleasurable experience though the temperature shot up to 37 degrees during the day. What made the 650 km drive memorable were the nicely maintained roads and the cool comfort of Tata Vista D90, the new Vista from the Tata Motors’ stable. The hatchback added new excitement in the compact segment as it came with a powerful 90 PS diesel engine and a host of new features.

Of course, one of the reasons for adding Vista D90 was to regain share in the market which recently saw many new launches in the compact segment. Despite the hatchback segment being extremely price sensitive, the new Vista D90 boasts of high-tech features like navigation system, automatic climate control, touchscreen multimedia etc, which we normally see in the expensive sedan cars. By adding a sporty look in Vista D90, Tatas are also trying to attract young customers who prefer power, technology and contemporary look. The ex-showroom price of Vista D90 VX is Rs 6.09 lakh and for ZX+ is Rs 6.91 lakh.

The raw power

The most important change in the new Vista is under the hood as the old 1.25 litre Quadrajet (common rail direct injection) engine has been majorly re-tuned to deliver 90 PS of maximum power @4000rpm and 200Nm of torque @ 1750-3000rpm. (Tatas will continue to sell the earlier version of Vista that has 75 PS of max power and 190Nm of torque.)

Vista D90 is also the second diesel hatchback (the other one is Punto 90) to have a Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) technology, which makes the engine very peppy. The benefit of VGT as against fixed turbocharger we see in most small cars, is that the engine has a fairly good pick up even at 4^th and 5^th gears. This feature is a big advantage while driving on the highway and overtaking speeding vehicles. The only issue I faced is more-than-normal noise levels when the engine is revved up at low gears for quick acceleration. But, considering the lower price of a hatchback, one need not complain of inadequate sound proofing of the cabin. Higher torque also helps in the congested city driving condition as it allows driving without gear shift on a wide range of speed.

The company claimed an ARAI certified fuel economy of 21.12 kmpl. But I found that in a combination of city, highway and hilly terrain driving I got close to 18 kmpl of mileage, not bad considering the fact I did 120 on several stretches. The car’s ability to do 0-100 km in 15.5 seconds was also testimony of the raw power of the engine, though in actual driving one would rarely be in such a hurry. The D90 engine is also mated well to a Euro-tech 2 gearbox, for smooth and comfortable gearshifts. The power assisted steering though slightly stiffer than electronic steering, it is best suited for high speed highway driving.

High-tech edge

Tatas claim that Vista D90’s many high-tech features are firsts in the hatchback segment.  It has a touchscreen multimedia, with a multi-colour TFT interface and an inbuilt GPS system that combines the entertainment, navigation and communication needs. The touchscreen offers GPS navigation features like adjustable day & night mode, saved destination database, voice instruction guidance and optimal route mode. It also comes with a multimedia DVD player and Blue5 technology that can pair up to 5 mobile phones through Bluetooth connectivity.

The Fully Automatic Climate Control (the airconditioning system) provides 3 modes -- Normal, Auto and Economy mode. The Normal mode ensures that AC temperature in the car is as per the temperature set. The Auto mode senses the outside temperature and with the help of its sensors, automatically conditions the car below the outside temperature. The Economy mode saves fuel and increases mileage, automatically changing the AC compressor cycle to run in economy mode.

Another very useful new technology in Vista D90 is the Advanced Driver Information System and Fuel Computer. A small digital screen on the dashboard provides an instant update on mileage, average fuel consumption, distance-to-empty, ambient temperature and a digital clock. The mileage data on a realtime basis is extremely useful for drivers to get the maximum number of kilometres from every litre of petrol.     

Driver’s comfort

Since hatchbacks are mostly self-driven, the D90 has taken care to make it comfortable for the driver. It has aligned instrument cluster just behind the steering and has mounted audio controls on the steering. The 6-way height adjustable driver seat with lumbar support, intelligent rear wiper, electrically adjusted outside mirrors and all 4 power windows provide a comfortable driving experience in Vista D90. The car has good cabin space for comfortable seating for 5 persons but the boot space is just good enough for luggage for a short family vacation. 

The Tata Vista D90 has been designed for the young and trendy customer. It’s new sporty front and rear bumpers, lavish chrome pack, aerodynamic spoiler, triple barrel headlamps, infinity contrast roof and 2-tone alloy wheels, add vigour to the exteriors, making the Tata Vista D90 a sporty and stylish hatch.

Sporty look

Vista D90 has been designed keeping in mind the young and trendy customers. It’s new sporty front and rear bumpers, lavish chrome pack, aerodynamic spoiler, triple barrel headlamps and 2-tone alloy wheels, add dynamism to the exteriors.

It has also added many safety features in the top-end variant. It has a high strength steel frame for extra strength and protection. The VX and ZX+ variants have safety & security features like dual front SRS airbags, engine immobilizer and central locking system. The car comes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) technology as a standard fitment. This anti-skidding feature allows steering of the car in case of panic braking.

All pictures by the writer.

The writer is a business journalist writing test drive reports for the last 10 years. 

He can contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com

Honda joins diesel party with Amaze.

Launch of Honda’s first entry-level sedan also marks the company’s entry into diesel segment. The test drive experience shows Amaze will be a hit if priced aggressively.

 

Like most countries in the world, historically petrol cars for obvious reasons dominated the car industry in India. Compared to diesel, petrol was a cleaner fuel, petrol engines were much quieter, smoother and were less polluting. But this practice changed, or rather began to change, from the beginning of 2007 when industry leader Maruti Suzuki introduced the new generation diesel engine technology, the common rail direct injection (CRDi) for the first time in Indian cars. The rest is history. Year after year the share of diesel engine went up as today nearly 75 per cent of all cars sold in India feeds on diesel. Two things changed the game: much superior fuel efficiency from diesel due common rail technology (resulting in much lower NVH -noise, vibration and harshness- factor) and much lower price of diesel compared to petrol.

Though the diesel frenzy became a din in India, the Japanese car giant Honda Motors was only watching it from the side line. Now, at last, it has decided to jump in and join the party. Around the middle of April Honda is launching its first diesel car in India Amaze, a entry-level sedan based on its hatchback Brio. The car will also be available in petrol version with a 1.12 litre i-Vtec engine currently being used in Brio.

To give a first-hand experience of its performance, Honda recently organised a two-day test drive in Goa for the media where this writer tried out both petrol and diesel versions over a six-hours driving session. Amaze has been priced aggressively, as the starting price is at 5.09 lakh, ex-showroom in Bangalore. For various variants under petrol and diesel engines, pricing is competitive with models like Swift Dzire, Chevy Sail, Tata Indigo CS, etc. The drive started in the morning and I drove off in a diesel car, to begin with.

Peppy response

The first thing that struck a car enthusiast like me in Amaze diesel is the peppy engine. Honda officials told us that the 1.5litre i-DTEC engine (common rail diesel engine) has been developed exclusively for India considering Indian driving conditions and is based on the Honda’s latest ‘Earth Dreams Technology’. To reduce the weight and improve mileage, Honda has mostly used aluminium for the diesel engine. But, as a result, one may find the engine a little less quiet when revving up in low gears.

The engine has been tuned to produce more power along with strong torque at low rpm. The car offers a class-leading maximum power output of 100PS@3600rpm and 200 Nm of torque @1750 rpm. This, in turn, the company claimed, gives the highest fuel economy in the Indian passenger car segment of 25.8 km to a litre as per the data in ideal test conditions. (Be sure, the actual mileage on road will be lower and vary according to the driving habits and driving conditions.)

To explain in simple terms, Amaze diesel produces a lot of power in low gears and zooms when you fully press the accelerator pedal. But the pick-up flattens once the engine reaches 3600 rpm. The fixed turbo charger is tuned in such a way that car creates a balance between delivering power up to a limit without guzzling too much of fuel. One will enjoy the quick acceleration in city driving on an empty road ahead and on the highway while overtaking a speeding vehicle.

The other important feature of the diesel engine is the powerful torque of 200 at low rpm of 1750. On congested city roads this feature will come handy as one can drive without down-shifting the gear even at a lower than the normal speed. For higher efficiency of this engine Honda has developed an ultra-low viscosity diesel engine oil and it assured that there will no premium pricing for the special oil.  

The petrol option, though less powerful than diesel, was also good to drive. The 1.2litre i-VTEC petrol engine delivers maximum output of 88 PS @ 6000 rpm and torque of 109 Nm@ 4500 rpm. Under ideal test conditions, the fuel economy is 18 km per litre. Amaze is available in 5 speed manual transmission and the drivers will find gear shift is short and smooth, a typical Honda finesse in its cars.

For the comfortable driving position Amaze has added a seat height adjuster to the driver’s seat which allows adjustment of seat height position up to 50 mm. The speed sensitive electronic power steering makes driving easier and safer as at low speed it is soft and at high speed a little tighter. Amaze will also be available in automatic transmission only in petrol option. Though men normally prefer manual transmission, these days many women drivers prefer automatic option despite the price being higher and mileage lower.  

Interior feels good 

Though developed from Brio platform (it is an extended version of the small car with a boot space), Honda engineers have worked hard to give Amaze a different look from all angles. Despite the similarity with Brio, the front view of the car is sleek with distinctive character lines. The front grille design concept and aerodynamic body colour bumper gives Amaze a sporty image. The headlights too have contemporary design and the rear of the car has large sedan-like headlights with resembling the new City.  

To create more legroom inside the cabin, Honda has extended the wheel base by 60mm compared to Brio to 2405mm. The Amaze’s total length is 3,990mm, width is 1,680mm and overall height is 1,505mm. The increased dimensions have improved the space inside the cabin making ample space for three persons’ comfortable seating. There is enough knee-room at the back even for a moderately tall person. Honda has created a lot of storage space inside and used good quality plastics and upholstery inside. The 400 litre boot space is big enough for a family vacation. Amaze will offer airbags and ABS (anti-lock braking system) at higher end.

Honda Amaze: Technical Specifications
	Petrol	Diesel
Engine (cc)	1198	1498
Power (ps @ rpm)	88 @ 6000	100 @ 3600
Torque (Nm @ rpm)	109 @ 4500	200 @ 1750
Overall Length (mm)	3990	3990
Overall Width (mm)	1680	1680
Overall Height (mm)	1505	1505
Wheelbase (mm)	2405	2405
Ground Clearance (mm)	165	165
Kerb Weight MT (kg)	950 - 965	1060 - 1075
Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres)	35	35
Boot Space (Litres)	400 ltr	400 ltr

The writer is a business journalist and a freelance writer writing test drive reports on cars / SUVs for the last 10 years. Can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com. (Any unauthorised copy and reproduction of images are prohibited. Please write for permission.) 

All pictures by the writer.