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.

Maruti making SX4 more attaractive

Maruti Suzuki gives a face lift to SX4.

(Report based on press release)

Strengthening its presence in the mid-size sedan segment, car market leader Maruti Suzuki has unveiled the SX4 in an all new form including fresh look exteriors and interiors, enhanced performance, and more convenience. The company claimed that the new SX4 delivers an improved fuel efficiency of 6 per cent @ 16.51kmpl in petrol. The new super turbo diesel engine delivers 21.79kmpl and the CNG option returns a fuel efficiency of 22.1 km/kg, company claimed. (All mileage figures are under ideal test conditions. Actual figures will be lower and will vary according to the driving habits.)

Though there is no change in the engines, fuel efficiencies have been improved slightly with small re-tuning of engines and by using better lubricant. The SX4 is powered by a 1.6-litre VVT petrol engine that delivers a maximum power of 104.7 PS at 5600 rpm and a peak torque of 145NM at 4100 rpm. The 1.3 litre DDiS diesel engine returns power of 90PS @ 4000 rpm and a peak torque of 200NM @ 1750 rpm.

Besides contemporary looks, the new SX4 offers high-end optional features such as touch screen audio navigation. An array of changes in interior and exteriors make the new SX4 look premium, refined and feature-rich. There is no change in the prices of the new SX4. 

The car is 10 mm longer, sports a new chrome front grille, a muscular bumper with a dual tone finish and wide stable stance. The new front grille has horizontal lines that make the new SX4 appear broader. Inside the cabin, the new SX4 sports superior black and beige dual tone shades. The dashboard has elegant black finish and beige rich fabric upholstery. The new interiors have a refreshing black and marble finish prints, wooden finish armrests, chrome AC side louvers and chrome finish side handles.

The new SX4 also has many new optional features like touch-screen audio with integrated navigation with Bluetooth. This enables features like GPS, Music and messaging to be integrated on the screen. 

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

Can be contacted on: dilipmaitra@gmail.com

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