TUV300 tough and rugged

Mahindra's new SUV inspired by battle tank

There are many sports utility vehicles (SUV) on the Indian roads but auto enthusiasts often find that they are designed more on car-like looks with smooth and curvy edges. Mahindra & Mahindra's (M&M) new SUV, TUV300, however, is a welcome departure from this trend. To give a tough and rugged feel of the vehicle, the TUV300's design was inspired by battle tank, surely a head-turner wherever it goes. 

The TUV300 whose price starts at Rs 7.12 lakh (ex-showroom) is a 7-seater vehicle, with ample legrooms inside. Yet, it is a sub-4 metre vehicle that enjoys lower excise duty. TUV300, now available only in diesel version, is powered by a 1.5 litre mHawk 80 diesel engine, specially developed by M&M. With a two-stage turbocharger, the engine delivers 61.5 kW (84Bhp) of maximum power at 3750 rpm and a 230Nm torque at 1500-2250 rpm. 

Interestingly, the TUV300 is the first vehicle in this segment to come with a automated manual transmission (AMT) technology for the T6+ variant, making the drive effortless. This feature, which comes at a higher price, will make city drive comfortable as there is no gear to shift and no clutch to press. The TUV300 also comes with an 'Eco mode' option that helps bring down the fuel consumption by lowering the power output. The company claims that the SUV has a certified fuel efficiency figure of 18.49 kmpl under the ideal test conditions. 

   

With Zest Tata Motors gets serious in petrol car segment

Zest is first new car in four years.

Tata Motors, primarily known as diesel car maker, is now making a fresh foray into the petrol segment with the launch of its new compact sedan Zest. For the first time the Tatas are launching a new car with a superior petrol engine known as Revotron. And the timing is perfect as the price difference between petrol and diesel is narrowing down every month.

The Zest will come with the Revotron 1.2 litre, the first engine from the new family of gasoline engines from Tata Motors and will be India’s first Turbocharged Multi-point Fuel Injection (MPFi) Petrol engine, the company claimed.

The company claimed that the new refined engine is extremely silent. It has also introduced a segment-leading new technology: Multi-Drive Mode that enables switching between SPORT, ECO and CITY mode, along with a superior throttle response. 

The SPORT Mode gives the sharpest throttle response and quickest acceleration from the Zest. The140Nm of torque from the Revotron engine delivers a more dynamic drive, enabling the driver to exploit the full acceleration and driveability of the Zest. In the ECO Mode, performance and throttle response is reduced to maximize fuel economy but with a comfortable drive experience. It is ideal for Highway cruising. In the CITY Mode (the default) Zest balances between performance and economy. Power delivery is smooth and throttle response is linear leading to agile drivability to easily navigate city traffic conditions, the company claimed.

Of course, Zest also comes with a time-tested diesel engine, the 1.3 litre Quadrajet diesel engine coupled with the first-in-class F-Tronic technology-enabled, 5-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), with both Automatic and Sequential mode of gear-shifting, developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli, Italy. The advantage of AMT is no clutch and no gear shifting, a major boon in crowded city roads. The Zest Diesel AMT (available in two trims) has dual drive modes - City and Sport mode.

Performance:

Equipped with a high boost turbo-charger, the Revotron 1.2T petrol delivers power of 90PS @ 5000 RPM and a peak torque of 140 Nm @ 1750-3500 RPM. The Diesel 1.3L Quadrajet engine produces 90PS of power @ 4000 RPM and 200 Nm of torque @ 1750 -3000 RPM. The Eco modes give the car the ideal-condition fuel efficiency of 17.6 km/litre in petrol and 23 km in diesel. The ex-show room price of the petrol car starts at Rs 4.69 lakh, going up to Rs 6.06 lakh for the top most model. The price of the diesel trims vary from Rs 5.73 lakh to Rs 7.10 lakh.

In a major departure from the past, Zest comes with a  refreshingly new look in terms of styling. With a new forward pouncing stance and well-sculpted body, the design portrays a sense of power and agility. The company has worked closely with HARMAN to design and engineer an acoustic audio and infotainment system, with 5 inch touchscreen Infotainment System, Advance voice command recognition, SMS notification and read outs, Fully Automatic Temperature Controls on the touchscreen, etc.

The writer is a business journalist and a freelance writer writing test drive reports on cars / SUVs for the last 11 years. Can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com. Pictures by the writer. (Any unauthorised copy and reproduction of images and text are prohibited. Please write for permission.) 

A stylish 7-seater from Honda

Honda launches MPV Mobilio.

Getting more car in a car has caught the fancy of Indian consumers and car makers are more than eager to fulfill this need. As parents and inlaws are integrated part of Indian families, many want their personal vehicles to accommodate an extended family of seven (or even eight with small kids). Maruti Suzuki was the first car maker that captured this need and turned it into a good business opportunity with its Ertiga - a hot selling seven-seater car. Now, Honda Cars India has entered the segment with its stylish 7-seater car Mobilio.

Though the category is called MPV (multi purpose vehicle), vehicles in this segment are essentially extended cars with more seats and flexible boot capacities. Honda's Mobilio, built on its successful 'Brio' platform (it is third after the compact sedan Amaze), looks similar to Brio from the front. But Mobilio's contemporary grille design and headlamps along with sleek design at the rear gives it a sporty and classy look as oppose to the van-like look of its main competition.

Of course, being a seven seater, Mobilio has a lot space inside. It is a car that looks big from outside and also spacious inside thanks to new interior designs. The fact that the second row seats can be moved forward or backward and the backrest can be adjusted, gives a good amount of flexibility in managing the interior space. The backrest of third row seats, more suitable for children than adults, can also be adjusted for comfortable seating. The third row can be folded fully or partly to enhance the luggage space for a weekend trip with the family.

Mobilio is also more powerful than its competition with two engine options: 1.5 litre diesel and 1.5 litre petrol. The diesel engine delivers a maximum power of 100 ps@3600 rpm and maximum torque of 200 Nm@1750 rpm with a fuel economy of 24.2 km in ideal test conditions. The petrol engine delivers a maximum power of 119 ps@6600 rpm, maximum torque of 145Nm@4600 rpm and fuel efficiency of 17.3 km in ideal test conditions.

Good thing about Mobilio is that though bigger in size, it is as easy to drive and maneuver in city traffic conditions. It has good ground clearance of 189 mm and a turning radius of 5.2 metre. The ex-showroom starting price of Mobilio in Bangalore is Rs 6.83 for petrol and Rs 8.25 for diesel. (More on Mobilio after I take it for a test drive.)

The writer is a business journalist and a freelance writer writing test drive reports on cars / SUVs for the last 11 years. Can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com. Pictures by the writer. (Any unauthorised copy and reproduction of images are prohibited. Please write for permission.) 

Maruti brings Auto Gear Shift in small cars

Celerio makes auto-driving affordable

In a crowded car market these days the basic features like engine capacity, seating capacity and service offerings are more or less same for most cars in a category. The only thing that makes one buy a particular model of car against many others is largely the subjective perception of looks and the brand pull. So how does a car maker breaks out of the heard and stands out? By doing something totally different that becomes its USP (unique selling proposition). 

This is exactly what Maruti Suzuki, the car market leader, has done. The small car king Maruti has launched the industry’s first ‘auto gear shift technology’ in the small/ compact segment that accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the Indian car market. Named Celerio, the new car is an all petrol vehicle that also boasts of a new 3-cylinder all aluminium K-next engine. Celerio with auto gear shift is available in two variants LX and VXi at Rs 4.42 lakh and 4.72 lakh, ex-showroom Bangalore. The car is also available in manual transmission (3 variants) with a starting price of Rs 4.02 lakh.

To understand the auto gear shift technology and to experience driving it, I recently took a Celerio for a day-long drive on the congested city roads, on a highway and through the winding roads to a hillock. But before we talk about other features let us first concentrate on the most exciting new technology that will certainly stir-up the car market in a big way for the ease of driving, high fuel efficiency and affordable prices.

In the auto gear shift technology, Maruti also calls it automated manual transmission; there is no clutch pedal to press. This system is equipped with the Intelligent Shift Control Actuator, an electric-hydraulic actuator that automatically performs clutch and shift operations. Auto gear shift combines the actuator and controller and directly mounts them in the transmission in order to unify the working components. This permits synchronised control over the clutch, shifting, and engine for smoother gear changes. As well as bringing together the advantages of both manual and automatic transmissions, shifting time is shortened compared to conventional gear shifting.

‘D’ mode for ease

Now, look at the picture of the gear-shift console above and read on to understand how it works for you. To start the car the gear-shift lever must be in ‘N’ (neutral) position and the brake pedal depressed. Once the engine starts humming bring the lever to ‘D’ (drive) and press the accelerator, just smile and keep driving, no gear shift, no clutch. To slow down just press the brake and then press the accelerator again to drive on, just like in a fully auto-transmission cars. If attentive you can feel the gearshift happening. The ‘D’ mode is very useful while driving on congested roads, and according to the car dealers women like it the most as they are a bit unenthusiastic to shift gear. 

Of course, in this mode one got to be a bit patient as the transmission system is synchronised with speed to change gear automatically. The most appropriate gear is automatically selected by the auto gear shift system, based on the operation of the accelerator pedal and vehicle speed. With the increase in speed, the car moves up to a higher gear, the highest being the 5th gear. The LED display system also shows the gear in which the car is moving. To get the best mileage in this mode one should always lightly press the accelerator and let the car do the rest.

‘M’ mode for fun

But if you are in a hurry, or want to accelerate quickly on a highway or like the fun of gear driving, select ‘M’ (manual) mode after starting the engine. (One can also change between D and M modes while driving.) In ‘M’ mode the gear selection is manual in a sequential order, from 1 st to 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th and 5 th, or in the reverse order. The beauty of this clutch-less technology is that the gear shifts with a light push of fingers, push the lever backward (+) for moving up the gear or push forward (-) for down shift. While slowing down, the gear shifts down automatically and when speeding up the gear shifts with a push if the speed is near the correct range. The freedom to change gear in ‘M’ mode is a major plus point while quickly overtaking speeding vehicles on a highway or you need sudden power to negotiate a sharp and steep curve in the hills.

Small but powerful 

Celerio is the first car in Maruti’s stable to run on K-next engine, a small one litre (998cc, to be precise), 3-cylinder petrol engine that uses aluminium in its construction. Despite being small and three cylinders, the engine is remarkably quiet. In fact, I found the engine roar is so subdued that the need for gear shift was unnoticed at times, but for the speed. Maruti has done a good job in lowering the NVH levels. The K-Next engine produces 68PS of max power and 90Nm of max torque. Good enough for a small and light car (kerb weight 830 kg) to be zippy even with AC on. The flat torque allows steady pick up from slow speed even on the 5 th gear.  

The car has a certified fuel efficiency of 23.1 kmpl. On a combination of city, highway and hill roads driving I got an average of around 18 kmpl, which in itself is an excellent figure for a petrol car. The noteworthy point here is that Celerio with auto gear shift yields far superior mileage than a fully automatic small car that gives just around 12 kmpl and also cost about a Rs lakh more.

The design of Celerio is contemporary and aerodynamic. The interior has been designed to maximise space and comfort. The boot space is 235 litre and the 60:40 split flexibility of rear seat enhances luggage space. The dashboard displays very useful information such as real-time fuel efficiency, average fuel efficiency, distance to empty (range), gear position indicator etc. Used intelligently, these information help improve driving practices. 

The writer is a business journalist and a freelance writer writing test drive reports on cars / SUVs for the last 11 years. Can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com. Pictures by the writer. (Any unauthorised copy and reproduction of images are prohibited. Please write for permission.) 

A macho SUV from Isuzu

Isuzu launches premium SUV

Isuzu Motors India Private Limited, the Japanese automobile maker and global diesel engine expert, has launched its sports utility vehicle the Isuzu MU-7. The company recently showcased it in Bangalore. 

The first impression of the 7-seater Isuzu MU-7 is that it is massive, very masculine and with a length of 4955 mm it is perhaps the longest SUV in its category. Its sturdy body, heavy weight (kerb weight 1900 kg), wide tires (245/70R16), good ground clearance (210mm) and large wheelbase (3050mm) are expected to make the drive on Isuzu MU-7, fast, safe and comfortable on the highways. (More on driving experience after I do the test drive.) The company expects most buyers of Isuzu MU-7 to be driven by a driver and that is the reason why the second row seats have many comfort features: seats are wide, have good leg rooms, split AC with personal control and a small LED player. But with the power storehouse under the bonnet Isuzu MU-7 can become more exciting for the driving enthusiast if 4 wheel drive is added for comfortable off-roading. 

Isuzu India Deputy Managing Director Shigeru Wakabayashi (left) and Managing Director Takashi Kikuchi at the recent launch of Isuzu MU-7 SUV in Bangalore

Powerful engine

The Isuzu MU-7 has a 3-litre (2999cc to be precise) power packed diesel engine, which has four cylinders. The CRDi (common rail direct injection) engine is also fitted with an intercooled VGS (variable geometry system) turbocharger. The engine produces 163 PS of power @3600 rpm and has a maximum torque output of 360Nm between 1800–2800 rpm. The powerful engine should help in quick acceleration on the free roads and the wide torque range should make the driving easy on city roads without too much of gear shifting. Large size, heavy body and powerful engine will of course result in an expected trade off between fuel efficiency (the company claims 12.01 kmpl certified by ARAI under ideal conditions) and comfort.

On the exterior the Isuzu MU-7 has an aerodynamic body with a macho and rugged look. The front looks attractive with contemporary design of the grille and the headlamp consoles. The inside of the vehicle has many luxurious features. The seats are very comfortable and have premium leather upholstery, the front cabin has got a dual tone dashboard, and there are quite a few storage spaces as well such as a large glove box. Keeping the safety of the passengers in mind the company has added airbags for the driver and co-passenger in the front. It also comes with ABS (anti-lock braking system and EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution) – two important features to avoid skidding and collision in case of panic braking.

Isuzu has started the local production of its models in India. The Isuzu MU-7 SUV and D-Max pickup will be assembled at the Hindustan Motors manufacturing plant in Thiruvallur, Chennai, while the CKD kits will be sourced from Thailand. The Isuzu MU-7 starts at Rs 22.7 lakh (ex-showroom) in Bangalore and at this price point its nearest competitor is Toyota’s SUV Fortuner. Isuzu's own manufacturing facility at SriCity, Chitoor, Andhra Pradesh, with a capacity to produce 60,000 vehicles, will be operational by 2015-16.

The company claims Isuzu MU-7 also features a unique software ‘Isuzu Insight’, which analyses drive parameters & provide insights of an individual’s driving habits and style, thereby helping improve fuel efficiency and vehicle performance.

Major tech specs of MU-7

Exterior (length, breadth, height): mm	4955, 1800,1805
Wheelbase: mm	3050
Ground clearance: mm	210
Kerb weight: kg	1900
Engine type	4 cylinder VGS, CRDi diesel
Engine displacement: cc	2999
Max Power: kw (PS) @ rpm	120 (163) @ 3600
Max torque: Nm @RPM	360 @ 1800-2800
Transmission	5-speed manual
Drive train	4X2, rear wheel drive

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.) 

Making Vista more aspirational

New Vista Tech is loaded with modern features 

Vista, the popular hatchback from Tata Motors, is now available in a new version that comes loaded with many high-tech features. Dubbed as Vista VX Tech (it is available only in the top-end VX variant), the company claims that the car is a exciting, sporty vehicle, designed to add thrill to the driving experience. Vista VX Tech is offered only in 1.3 litre, Quadrajet 75PS diesel engine. It boasts of  the latest technological features like GPS Navigation system, steering wheel mounted controls & Blue 5 Technology. It comes with a new touchscreen multimedia and ‘Drive Pro’ console with rich dual tone interiors.

Thus, including the existing variants, Vista range will be available in 3 trims – LS, LX and VX Tech. The LS trim is available in 1.4 litre (71PS) TDI BSIII and in Quadrajet 1.3 litre (75PS) BSIV diesel engines. The LX trim is available only with the 1.4 litre TDI BSIII diesel engine while the top-end limited edition variant, the VX Tech is now offered in 1.3 litre, Quadrajet 75PS BSIV diesel engine only.

The Vista VX Tech’s 1.3 litre refined diesel engine produces maximum power of 75 PS @ 4000 rpm and maximum torque of 190Nn @ 1750-3000 rpm. The car has at its centre, a 6.5” TFT touchscreen based multimedia system designed for audio (radio and CD), video (DVD), USB, Blue5 (Bluetooth pairing with up to 5 different  mobile phones), AUX-IN and advanced GPS navigation system. The company is offering preloaded maps of 125 Indian cities for the GPS with a facility to update the maps.  

These elaborate multimedia features can be conveniently controlled by the driver from the illuminated steering wheel mounted controls. The Vista range also offers a Drive Pro Console and an advanced driver information system at the center console. This console, depending on the mode, gives instantaneous fuel economy and average fuel economy while driving.The Vista range range comes with front ‘Duo-Float’ suspension, which offers a better balance of ride comfort with dynamic handling. The new Vista range will be available in exterior colors – Blue Chill (New), Jet Silver, Cavern Grey, and Dew White. The car is priced at Rs 6.12 lakh, ex-showroom Bangalore. At this price Vista VX Tech is about Rs 20,000 more than the existing VX model. Considering the high-tech features and gadgets, the additional cost for Vista VX Tech is well justified.

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.) 

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.)