Toyota Etios is now more stylish

Enjoyed driving new Etios 
After being in India for nearly a decade, the Japanese car giant Toyota had introduced its first compact and small cars Etios and Liva around the end of 2010. Though Etios, available in diesel and in petrol, sold well since its launch (it is a big hit in the taxi segment), car buyers looking for some class were not very enthusiastic.  The interiors and features of Etios, an entry level sedan, did not quite excite many individual buyers, more so when a buyer was paying close to Rs 9 lakh (on road) for the diesel variant.

 To overcome these shortcomings Toyota has recently refreshed and re-launched both Liva and Etios with better interiors and exciting features. To check out  the changes in the new Etios, I recently took a diesel car for a six hours rigorous drive on the highway and interior roads towards Kolar, from Bangalore.

New Etios on Bangalore-Kolar Highway (All pictures by the writer)

Engine performance

Though the engine remains unchanged, I must share my experience of its performance. The D-4D (Toyota technology) diesel engine is a 1364 cc (1.36 litre) common rail direct injection engine which is also used in Corolla Altis (a premium sedan). 

On paper this engine produces only 68 PS of power at 3800 rpm, but driving the car I felt the power was under-rated. At lower gears the pickup of the car was very good, but on the 4th and 5th it felt a bit sluggish. As Toyota uses a fixed geometry turbocharger  in this engine, the pickup is on a smooth curve. The engine produces maximum torque of 170Nm @1800-2400 rpm. The engine performance, however, must be seen from the perspective of customers the Toyota is targeting. Being an entry level sedan, the profile of the buyer for Etios is value conscious city dwellers graduating from a small car to a sedan. Essentially, a Etios buyer will be looking for a car with good mileage (the company claims Etios gives 23.59 kmpl under ideal test conditions), comfortable to drive and fairly good handling in city driving. Etios will fulfil all these needs. The car’s good ground clearance of 174 mm makes it easy to go over the killer humps on the roads and the suspension is cushy enough to take the shocks from roads full of potholes.

Good pick up at a low gears helps move fast when the signal turns green and, the flat torque range makes it easy to drive on congested roads without having to change the gear frequently. Driving Etios on the highway is also fun as one can comfortably cruise at top gear between the speed of 50 and 120 without having to shift gears down. But never forget that while overtaking a speeding vehicle one must shift the gear down for extra power and quick acceleration. One cautioning to Etios buyers: the gear shift and the clutch pedals are a little too rigid, and the company explains that after driving 5000 km they become softer. The steering, however, is adequately easy for clumsy city driving and stiff enough for high-speed highway driving.  

A lot of space inside

The good thing about Etios is that it is a family car with a spacious cabin. Since Etios is as wide as e Camry, the rear seat can comfortably sit three with enough leg room. The 595 litre boot space is really huge and adequate enough for a family packing a lot of luggage while going on a long vacation. The air conditioner is powerful enough for quick cooling and the twin vents in the middle allows flow from the AC to both the driver and the co-passenger.   

To give the car a classy feeling, Toyota has vastly improved its interior. It has used two tone premium interiors, better plastics, stylishly textured dashboard and soft fabrics for upholstery. In the top end model, Etios comes with 2 Din audio with Bluetooth, USB, aux-in and remote control. The dashboard with speedometer and rev metre comes in the centre, may take a new user some time to get used to it.  A very useful new feature in the car is the height adjustable driver’s seat. The seat can be adjusted according the need of the driver (who could be short, average or tall, fat or slim) for the best driving posture. This, in turn, ensures extra confidence to the driver and makes driving a pleasure. The glove box in the car now has an AC vent for keeping water/ soft drinks cold.

From outside too Etios looks much more stylish and contemporary. The car has redesigned grille with chrome finish, rear combination lamps with a distinct fin pattern that gives it a sleek look and new indicators on side view mirrors. Etios also comes with a 1.5 litre petrol engine that produces maximum power of 90 PS @5600rpm and a maximum torque of 132 Nm @ 3000rpm.  For the safety conscious consumers Toyota also provides for airbags for the passengers in the front seats. It also has the provision for ABS (anti-lock braking system) that prevents the car from skidding in case of panic braking. But buyers will have to pay around Rs 50,000 more for these features. 

Etios is now available in the price range of Rs 5.45 lakh and Rs 7.09 lakh (the petrol

variants) and between Rs 6.71 lakh and Rs 8.16 lakh (the diesel variants), ex-showroom New Delhi.

 The fact box for Toyota Etios

Item	Specification
Engine options	Petrol and diesel
Engine capacity	1496 cc in Petrol and 1364 cc in diesel
Engine type	Electronic fuel injection in petrol and common rail direct injection in diesel
Power/ Petrol	90 PS@5600 rpm
Power/ Diesel	68 PS@3800 rpm
Length/ width/ height (mm)	4265/ 1695/ 1510
Wheelbase (mm)	2550
Ground clearance (mm)	174
Fuel tank	45 litres
Boot space	595 litres
Turning radius	4.9 metres

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 are by writer.

E-car from Mahindra

Mahindra Reva launches hi-tech electric car.

The automobile major Mahindra & Mahindra group, which took over Bangalore-based Reva Electric car company a couple of years ago and renamed it as Mahindra Reva, has launched an all-electric four-seater car ‘Mahindra e2o’ (electric 2 oxygens).

The Mahindra e2o has gone on sale from 18 March 2013 starting from Delhi. It will be made available in a phased manner at select Mahindra dealerships in the country. The car is priced at Rs.5.96 lakh (on road Delhi, after 29 per cent subsidy from the state in the form of exemptions from road tax and VAT). The company, however, did not declare the life span and the replacement cost of the battery. But unconfirmed reports said the battery will run for about three years and the new one will cost Rs1.5 lakh.  

Mahindra e2o, is powered by next generation lithium–ion batteries and a 3 phase induction electric motor. The car is fully automatic (no gear and clutch) and designed mainly for city driving. Shorter turning radius makes sharp turn easier and the hill-hold feature frees the driver of any anxiety when driving up inclines. The body is made of a special ABS (an auto grade plastic) that makes the car lighter and makes it dent and scratch resistant. It can accommodate four adults (earlier Reva car could take two adults and two kids) and has a driving range of 100 kms per charge. Should be enough for short range driving in a city.

Powering the car

Since the Mahindra e₂o can be changed from any 15A power socket available in any home, users can literally plug in the car like they would their cell phones, laptops or tablets. The company claims that the car gets fully charged in just five hours for a drive up to 100 km. In a rare event of running low on charge, one can use a smartphone app to remotely activate the reserve energy that can get the car going for some extra kilometres. The other features of the car include: a 15.5 cm touch screen, with factory fitted GPS navigation system, radio, DVD, Blue tooth and iPod connectivity. The regenerative braking feature in the Mahindra e₂o also pumps energy back into the car’s batteries and charges them every time one slows down or applies the brakes.

The writer is a car enthusiast. Can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com 

Luxury redefined by Jaguar

Most Luxurious Jag arrives in India.  

The Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover India announced that ‘Jaguar XJ Ultimate’ is now on sale in India giving Jaguar customers an unprecedented levels of luxury that focus on innovation and technology. The XJ Ultimate is loaded with luxurious, innovative XJ experience with heightened levels of opulence for rear-seat passengers. Of course, all these come at a price not meant for weak hearts. The Jaguar XJ Ultimate is now available in two engine derivatives as follows:  V8 5.0 S/C Ultimate LWB is priced at Rs 1.88 crore and 3.0L Diesel Ultimate LWB  priced at Rs 1.78 crore (both ex-Showroom Mumbai, pre octroi).

Based exclusively on the long-wheelbase XJ, the interior changes applied to the Ultimate focus on the rear accommodation, extending the car’s limousine remit to provide a fully-appointed luxury business class experience for the most discerning of global customers, the company claimed. The XJ Ultimate offers the appointments of a private jet in a package to suit a wide range of requirements.

Eye-popping features

A full-length, leather-trimmed centre console separates the two individually tailored rear seats which feature power adjustment, ventilation, massage and lumbar functions. A table, machined from solid aluminium with piano-black and chrome detailing, rises up from the centre console at the touch of a button to provide a working area, its role supplemented by the provision of two third-generation iPads with wireless keyboards that are housed in bespoke leather-trimmed docks in the rear of the front seats.

Switching the focus from business to pleasure is the bespoke champagne chiller mounted between the two rear seats. Two specially commissioned champagne flutes reside in a purpose made cabinet beneath the centre table. A full rear seat package with twin headrest screens and wireless headphones completes the experience in combination with a new 20-speaker surround sound in-car entertainment system developed by British audio experts Meridian.

To underline its purpose in ensuring that passengers remain cosseted at all times, the XJ Ultimate features revisions to the suspension to optimise rear ride comfort, with no compromise to the car’s breadth of dynamic ability.

 The exterior detailing of the XJ Ultimate offers discreet clues to the model’s figurehead status with sculpted lower air intakes chromed to match the grille, polished stainless steel oval exhaust pipe finishers, unique dual-surfaced alloy wheels and subtle ‘Ultimate’ badging.

The XJ Ultimate is available with Jaguar’s existing 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol engine and its powerful and efficient 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged diesel, all driving the rear wheels via an eight-speed transmission.

The writer is a car enthusiast writing car test drive reports for the last ten years. Can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com

Volkswagen adding zing in the hatchback segment

A sporty Polo from Volkswagen. 

The belly of the Indian car market, the hatchback segment where more than a dozen models vie for the share of car buyers’ wallet, is getting very active. Soon after Tata Motors launched an upgraded version of Tata Vista with a 90 PS power option, Volkswagen India has launched the Polo SR (Sports Racer), a sporty version of its popular car Polo.

The Polo SR comes equipped with the 1.2 litre MPI petrol engine (there is no diesel option for this variant).The car produces 75 PS of power and comes with manual transmission.

Equipped with Aero Sport package which includes front under skirting, side under skirting, rear roof spoiler, chrome exhaust with rear under skirtings, 15 inch alloy wheels, the Polo SR will be available to customers Rs. 6.27 lacs, ex showroom New Delhi.

Commenting on the introduction of the Sport Racer Arvind Saxena, Managing Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars said “The Polo is an important carline in the Indian portfolio and we would like to continuously keep it relevant and exciting for our customers. The Polo SR is a good choice for those looking to own a sporty hatchback.”

A distinctive sporty look from the rear 

The car is well loaded with new features as the Polo SR is equipped with steering wheel controls with provisions for tilt and telescopic adjustment, RCD 320 music system with USB connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, Climatronic AC, rear parking sensors, dual air bags, ABS, etc.

Some other features of Polo SR are: Fog lamps, front and rear, central locking with boot opener in company logo, electrically adjustable outside rear view  mirror, height-adjustable driver's seat, rear defogger and rear wiper, multi-function display includes open door warning light, rear parking sensors, etc. Good to see so much action in the popular car segment and I am sure there are more to come. 

The writer is a car enthusiast writing car test drive reports for the last ten years. Can be contacted on dilipmaitra@gmail.com

Interesting story on electric cars from NYT

Plugging In, Dutch Put Electric Cars to the Test

Elisabeth Rosenthal

Source: The New York Times

AMSTERDAM — When Patrick Langevoort’s company issued him an electric vehicle two years ago, the first months were filled with misadventure: he found himself far from Amsterdam, with only a 25 percent charge remaining, unable to find the charging point listed on a map. Though the car was supposed to travel 100 miles on a full battery, he discovered that cold weather and fast driving decreased that range.

                                                                                                                                              Image Source: New York Times

 But electric vehicles have improved, the network of charging stations in the Netherlands has expanded and drivers like Mr. Langevoort are getting used to the particularities of electric driving. “I used to be a real petrol head,” said Mr. Langevoort, who works for a company that manages electricity networks. “Now, I’ve sold my petrol car.”

Although a number of European countries and a few American states are aggressively promoting the use of electric vehicles to reduce planet-warming emissions and pollution, the Netherlands provides perhaps the ultimate feasibility test. If electric vehicles catch on anywhere, it should be here: a small country — about 100 miles east to west — with gas prices of about $8.50 a gallon and a long tradition of environmental activism.

To encourage electric driving, the country is developing a rapidly expanding national grid of charging stations in cities and along highways; and Amsterdam offers owners of electric vehicles free street parking and charging. With hefty tax breaks, promotional leases and cheaper operating costs, the vehicles offer driving costs no more than those of conventional cars, some analysts say.

The number of plug-in electric vehicles in the Netherlands soared eightfold to about 7,500 last year, and charging posts dot the sidewalks. “In a few countries you’re starting to see a number of E.V.’s on the road, especially in capital cities; they’re very visible,” said Peder Jensen, a transportation expert at the European Environment Agency.

And yet, experiments with the cars in the Netherlands and Denmark also underscore the challenges facing this new technology. Sales have been lower than politicians and automakers hoped, representing under 1 percent of new vehicles, even here. “It seems that the industry has not convinced consumers that they can do this,” Mr. Jensen said. “If they fail over the next few years, I think investors will pull out, and that will be a problem.”

Last year 120,000 plug-in electric vehicles were sold globally, according to a recent report by Pike Research, an industry analyst group, which predicts 40 percent annual growth between now and 2020. In 2012, 52,000 were sold in the United States, which now has 12,000 charging stations, according to the automotive consulting firm J. D. Power; but they are dispersed over a large area. Those statistics include pure electric cars and plug-in hybrids, which can run on gas or propane once the battery loses power.

Though many analysts had assigned electric vehicles to the second-car niche, a 2012 survey of Dutch drivers of the cars by the consulting firm Accenture found that most of them ended up being used as a family’s primary vehicle.

Drivers learned to figure out how far they could drive on a charge, overcoming what has been dubbed “range anxiety.” They started off cautiously driving straight from home to the office, knowing they could charge at one or both sites. Over time, they expanded their driving repertory, learning where to find charging points in garages and along highways — a smartphone app contains them all — much as people learn the locations of convenient A.T.M.’s. That task was made easier by the growing number of chain stores and restaurants offering parking spots with charging outlets, so that customers can refuel while they dine or shop.

Still, a layer of complexity limits acceptance. “There’s still some planning; it’s a bit like a puzzle,” said Maarten Noom, an Accenture consultant who drives an electric vehicle. “It’s not the same ease of mind as with a gas car.”

Mr. Noom, for example, charges at his office and overnight at home, but he switches to a gasoline car when his appointments are scattered around the Netherlands, since he sometimes drives hundreds of miles in a day. Charging at home uses low voltage and takes four to eight hours. New high-voltage rapid charging stations give an 80 percent charge in 20 to 30 minutes, but they are costly to install and still rare.

Mr. Langevoort, the electricity company manager, says he now leaves for work later because his Opel Ampera’s charge goes further as the day warms.

Some electric car leasing programs here provide free or discounted gas vehicles for those who want to take a weeklong driving vacation around Europe.

Many experts say the lack of a uniform business model in the fledgling market is also a hindrance. Contracts for charging are sometimes purchased along with the car and tied to a particular charging network, much as cellphones are linked to a certain carrier. What is more, the penetration of the various networks varies depending on the region, and technology is not always interchangeable.

In Europe, the charging network run by New Motion delivers electricity from pumplike devices. One rival, Better Place, offers swap stations where drivers get a fresh battery in addition to charging points. In the United States, SAE International, an organization of scientists and vehicle engineers, recently adopted a standard charging plug nationwide so that most electric vehicles can use any charging station. But some companies, like Tesla Motors, operate closed networks of high-performance “superchargers.”

“That type of uncertainty is also unsettling to customers,” said Mike Omotoso, a senior manager of forecasting at LMC Automotive, a market research firm. “There’s a Wild West feel, with a lot of companies jumping in. But ultimately there will be a shakeout and consolidation.”

In many European countries there is a good financial case for driving electric. In Denmark, taxes on new luxury cars can be 200 percent of the sticker price, whereas electric vehicles come tax-free. In the Netherlands, gas costs about five times as much as the electricity needed for a similar journey.

While there are some tax breaks for electric vehicle purchases in the United States, the Obama administration has relied more on exhortation to make electric vehicles “as affordable and convenient as gasoline-powered cars in the next 10 years.” Last month, the Energy Department announced its Workplace Charging Challenge, in which Google, Verizon, Eli Lilly, Nissan and other companies pledged to put charging infrastructure in at least one major office.

Mr. Jensen, of the European Environment Agency, said that a big infusion of money could be needed to improve infrastructure in those countries seeking to increase the use of electric vehicles.

When he looked into buying an electric car, the charging system would not fit in his garage, Mr. Jensen said, and few are willing to drive around Europe with a trunk full of adapters. “I think the companies who will win are not necessarily the ones that have the best technology, but the ones that form the best alliances,” he said. “It you have a mobile phone — and even more a car — the most important thing is that you can use it wherever you go.”

To read the original story go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/world/europe/dutch-put-electric-cars-to-the-test.html?ref=automobiles&_r=0

Dilip Maitra is a freelance writer keeping an eye on the car industry. Can be contacted on: dilipmaitra@gmail.com

Duster with a multimedia device

Touch and drive in Renault Duster. 

(Report based on news)

To make your drive more enjoyable Renault India has introduced a multimedia device in its popular SUV Duster. Building on its continuing good demand in the compact SUV space, Renault has introduced a new multimedia system, ‘Media NAV’, in ‘Renault Duster’.

The new touchscreen multimedia device in Duster

The Media NAV system includes an 18cm touch-sensitive display, radio, telephony, satellite navigation as well as multimedia connection functions and will be incorporated in the Duster’s dashboard. The Media NAV’s main menu permits easy access to essential functions such as radio, media, telephone, satellite navigation and settings.

The system’s Bluetooth technology also enables drivers to make hands-free telephone calls as well as synchronize their contact book and peruse their call history. Duster customers can also connect their iPod or smartphone through a USB or jack sockets located on the dash panel. 

Duster: on a test drive in Kerala

The Media NAV can be operated through either the touch-sensitive display or steering wheel-mounted controls, while the Media NAV’s intuitive navigation system operates with 2D, 3D as well as Bird view graphics.

The package is available as an option in the 85 PS RxL variant of Duster and in the 110 PS RxZ variants at price Rs 10,79,000 and Rs 11,99,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), respectively.

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.) 

GM to cruise on Sail Sedan

Chevrolet Sail now in sedan format.
(Based on news release from the company)

General Motors India has just driven into the ‘entry level sedan’ category with a new car which is also pitched against India’s largest selling sedan Maruti Suzuki’s Swift Dzire. General Motors (GM) has just launched Chevrolet Sail sedan, an extended version of its hatchback ‘Sail UVA’ launched a few months ago.

Sail Sedan comes in two engine variants, 1.2 litre petrol and 1.3 litre diesel (common rail direct injection) and the ex-showroom price of the car starts at Rs 4.99 lakh for petrol and Rs 6.29 lakh for diesel. Surely, the introductory prices are very attractive and are likely to go up after a few months.  

The Sail Sedan is built on a new global passenger car platform created mainly for the fast-growing emerging markets. Launched in some emerging markets earlier, including China, the Sail has been modified significantly to suit the Indian road conditions, the company officials claimed. The ground clearance, for example, has been enhanced to 168 mm for diesel and 174 mm for petrol to clear the killer humps on Indian roads.

Engine options

The 1.3-litre common rail diesel engine, the company calls it SDE Smartech, is a new small diesel engine developed by the GM Diesel Engine Technical Center in Turin, Italy, with the support of engineers in Pune and Bangalore. Both petrol and diesel engines are now manufactured at GM’s Talegaon (near Pune) plant. The four-cylinder diesel engine delivers power of 78 PS @ 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 205 Nm @ 1,750 rpm along with fuel economy of 22.1 km a litre, the company claimed. GM said that a fixed-geometry turbocharger with a vacuum-operated waste gate for smooth and efficient operation delivers superior torque from very low engine rpms. This feature helps in slow city-driving conditions without the need for frequent change of gear.

The 1.2-litre petrol engine, created by the GM Technical Center-India in cooperation with GM India’s Power train plant in Talegaon, Pune, delivers maximum power of 86ps@6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 113@5000 rpm.

GM also highlighted that the diesel engine comes with a premium F17 transmission, which is popular in Europe and other parts of the world. It features a high-efficiency two-shaft single housing gearbox with slick shifting for sporty and spirited performance.

 Sporty look

 The Sail’s exterior exudes Chevrolet’s sporty styling. It has an aggressive front end based on the dynamic sculpture design philosophy, enhanced by wide-angled jewel-effect tail-lamps and wrap-around headlamps.

The front view features a dual-port grille adorned with a gold bowtie that gives it a bold look. From the side, its unique waist-line accentuates the sedan’s dynamic stance. It has a long front and short rear, with a lower stance in front that moves upward in back.

“The eagerly anticipated Sail is an important addition to GM’s sedan line-up in India. It competes in one of the largest and fastest-growing segments,” said P Balendran, Vice President, GM India at the recent launch event in Bangalore. “The Sail embodies the bold pioneering spirit and ingenuity that have become the hallmark of Chevrolet.” 

Comfortable interior

The Sail’s interior combines comfort and ergonomic convenience. Its dual cockpit design incorporates well-supported seats and fold-away rear armrests. The “Rising Sun” instrument cluster complements a luxuriously blended two-tone interior with highlights in silver and chrome.

The spacious design ensures the space of a family car, giving the sedan room for up to five people in comfort siting. Interestingly, Sail’s fuel tank has been positioned below the front co-passenger’s seat creating large storage space under the rear seat. The 370 litre boot space is also one of the best in this category.

Safety

Sail comes with an extensive array of active and passive safety features. It includes safety cage body construction, which is supported by the extensive use of high-strength steel. The fuel tank is protected by steel beam-rolling ribs.

An engine immobilizer, central door locking, speed-sensitive automatic door locks and remote keyless entry enhance active safety. In addition, three of the four Sail variants come with air bags, while anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) are available in the top two variants. The car comes with a three-year/100,000-km (whichever comes first) standard warranty and a five-year/150,000-km (whichever comes first) engine and transmission warranty.

The ex-showroom Delhi prices for Sail Sedan are as follows: for petrol it ranges between Rs 4.99 lakh to Rs 6,41 lakh and for diesel it is between Rs 6.29 lakh and Rs 7.51 lakh.

The writer is a car enthusiast writing test drive reports for the last ten years.

Can be reached on: dilipmaitra@gmail.com