If there weren’t enough images on the internet already of Renault Duster’s being tested, IAB reader Deepu Antony spotted a convoy of Duster’s being tested in Chennai!
Source: http://indianautosblog.com/2012/04/renault-duster-spied-testing-in-chennai
Yearly Archives: 2012
Everybody knows that Valentino Rossi’s travails at Ducati. Ever since he joined the Italian factory he has looked as if most of his arch rivals can defeat him on Moto2 machines. But credit it to the man; he did not change his demeanour through out last year, always looking and saying hopeful and positive things and getting Ducati to iterate various chassis settings and even chassis changes some of which have involved changed materials from carbon fibre to aluminium and finally building a twin spar aluminium chassis; something that Ducati never did before. Despite all that Rossi has not improved and more worryingly his teammate Nicky Hayden has started going faster than him.
So when in the Qatar race Rossi could finish no better than 10th he finally lost his composure and said that the Ducati is one bike that he cannot ride. He complained that Ducati were not listening to him and converting his input into proper engineering and this led to an avalanche of speculation about Rossi and Ducati splitting ways and crystal ball gazing about the future options of Rossi. However, in a couple of days both rider and factory started making conciliatory noises which have now culminated in an in your face PR exercise. Ahead of the GP at Jerez Rossi has started saying things like “we have a good base setting here from our previous test”, “we can go faster and better here than we did at Losail” and the final one which we think is the best is when Rossi has interviewed his father Graziano Rossi about Valentino Rossi at Ducati. In this interview the father says that the son is very happy at Ducati and that Filippo Preziosi is a great engineer who has created a great engine and a wonderful motorcycle whose front feel has to be improved a little and that he and his son are confident of victories on the Ducati and maybe a World Championship as well. Whew!!!! Some PR exercise that. We hope that all those who saw this interview on Italian TV are laughing their heads off. We certainly are.
Without a doubt Casey Stoner is one of the most gifted riders in the MotoGP paddock and after last year’s success everyone has been expecting Stoner to be the runaway success this year. Stoner did not disappoint in pre-season tests but when it came to the first GP of the season at Losail in Qatar, Stoner could manage only 3rd position. His not winning the race was attributed to an arm pump problem which hindered his riding at full throttle.
Stoner’s arm pump problem has suddenly resurfaced after a couple of years and that itself has now prompted motorsport journalists to advance various theories about the man. One of the theories that is circulating is the one started by the rider himself. He has been complaining about rear wheel chatter on the new Honda RC213V and has said that the strain of controlling the chatter is telling on his arm. Then there are the usual Stoner detractors most of whom are Italian, who believe that Stoner is unable to handle the heavier and more powerful 1000cc Honda simply because of the fact that he follows no training regimen of any sorts. His off season activity is hunting animals with a bow and arrow and fishing. They are quick to point out that he has struggled in races even at Ducati with fitness problems because of his indifference to training. You would expect the Italians to say that, right? What they are overlooking is that despite Valentino Rossi having a great training regimen for the second straight year he is going nowhere on the Ducati.
Irrespective of all these theories and despite Stoner’s assertions that he has found a way to get around the arm pump problems, one would still say that the subject is of concern especially since the race coming up this weekend is at Jerez, a circuit at which Stoner has never won and one on which his arch rivals Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo go pretty well. We are not talking Rossi because inspite of his substantial achievements in the past at Jerez you can rest assured that he will finish no better than 6th or 7th, unless of course all the other top riders fall off or if God has finally designed a Ducati which Rossi can ride with confidence.
If the extensive palette of paint, leather and trim finishes as well as a wide range of options aren’t just enough for you, Aston Martin has an answer. Aston Martin’s ultimate personalisation design service, Q by Aston Martin allows customers to finish their car in a way that reflects his/her taste, lifestyle and personality. Working with an expert from the ‘Q by Aston Martin’ team you can specify the design, craft and hand‑finishing of your car to your precise requirements.
Q by Aston Martin design team have created a range of unique exterior paint, interior leather and thread colour collections. You can also have your own unique exterior paint colour, or leather finish. This is just the tip of the iceberg. In addition Q by Aston Martin allows you to create a personalised interior finish by adding your unique embroidery, this can even be replicated on bespoke luggage.
With all this talent in place, why deny the customer the opportunity to have his one off special? The diverse Q by Aston Martin team can meet with you to help design, engineer and manufacture your one off commissioned car.
Dragon 88 is reserved for Aston Martin’s most powerful, elegant and prestigious models, the DBS, Virage and V8 Vantage S. Each “Year of the Dragon 88 Limited Edition” incorporates exclusive colour and trim combinations, with unique hand-crafted detailing inspired by traditional Chinese dragon imagery. Each of the 88 cars will feature details and designs that celebrate and reference the mystical qualities of the all powerful dragon symbol.
Land Rover’s biggest modern-day overland expedition, the Journey of Discovery, has reached the finish line with the one millionth Discovery arriving in perfect time to appear at the Beijing Motor Show. Four vehicles travelled more than 8,000 miles from Birmingham to Beijing, aiming to raise £1 Million (GBP) for the company’s Global Humanitarian Partner, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Entering China
The end of the Journey of Discovery at Beijing.
Watch the entire journey here. The playlist does not currently include the videos from China, which is why we have embedded them right above.
It began on February 29, at the Solihull manufacturing plant where the one millionth Discovery was built, and since its ceremonial send-off at the Geneva Motor Show it has passed through 13 countries over challenging terrain ranging from snow in the Alps to sun-baked sand dunes in the Taklimakan Desert.
John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director said: “This has been an epic journey between two of the biggest events on the automotive calendar and, as we expected, it has demonstrated virtually every condition a Land Rover is designed to cope with. “This has been a very relevant journey for Land Rover, taking such a landmark vehicle from its birthplace to one of our fastest growing markets and showcasing it in all terrains. “We are delighted to see the Journey reach its physical target in Beijing and we are equally delighted with the response to the fundraising cause. We will be continuing the push to reach or exceed our target right up to the end of May.”
The Journey of Discovery has been a fantastic series to follow on YouTube. It joined the Aosta Valley avalanche team in Italy; visited the Chernobyl reactor and drove through a secret Soviet submarine base in the Ukraine; visited exclusive inner parts of the Kremlin, tested some classic Soviet vehicles and took a tour of Moscow with a Bolshoi ballet dancer in Russia.
It went into the wild in the Kazakhstan desert; met a group of fishermen in the near-dry Aral Sea in Uzbekistan; and travelled along the spice and silk routes into China, where the final leg included sand dune driving, a visit to the Great Wall and a trip on a sheepskin raft.
Appearing in Beijing in an unwashed state after a Journey that took over 50 days, the one millionth Discovery will be returning to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (Heritage Museum at Gaydon) following the expedition.
More than half the intended amount has been raised, you can help Land Rover achieve the target by donating here.
Jaguar XJ Ultimate
A rear business table, machined from solid aluminium with piano black trim, powers into position at the touch of a button. A pair of bespoke champagne flutes resides in a dedicated storage area beneath the powered table. A champagne chiller between the rear seats cools the bottle to the perfect temperature and automatically presents it when the cabinet is opened. Each rear-seat passenger is provided with an iPad and keyboard, housed and charged in dedicated leather-trimmed docks in the rear of the front seats. A 15-channel, 20-speaker surround sound system from Meridian takes care of the audiophile’s needs. Rear-seat entertainment package includes twin headrest-mounted screens and wireless headphones. Exclusive interior finishes including Herringbone veneer, machined aluminium and bespoke LED lighting. Revised suspension to optimise rear ride compliance.
While the first 20 XJ Ultimate models will be finished in Celestial Black, customers can choose to have their car colour-matched to any shade of their choice. Discreet external detailing and badging differentiates the Ultimate from other XJ variants. Unique 20-inch ‘Maroa’ forged alloy wheels feature both technical grey and highly polished finishes. The XJ Ultimate is the first Jaguar to be announced that will be available with a new 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol engine (340PS). The XJ Ultimate can also be specified with Jaguar’s existing 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol engine, and its 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged diesel. All powertrains drive through eight-speed transmissions.
New Powertrains to be added to the existing lineup
Jaguar is introducing two additional forced-induction petrol engines to its range for 2013; the new 3.0-litre V6 Supercharged Petrol, which makes its debut in the XJ Ultimate and the four-cylinder 2.0-litre I4 Turbocharged Petrol. Their introduction will enhance customer choice in key global markets, like China.
The 3.0-litre V6 Supercharged Petrol (3.0 V6 S/C) draws on key technology used in Jaguar’s award-winning 5.0-litre V8, and has significantly higher specific performance than the naturally-aspirated version of that engine. The 3.0 V6 S/C will be available in two states of tune: 380PS/460Nm and 340PS/450Nm. The 3.0 V6 S/C will be available with Jaguar’s Intelligent Stop-Start system.
In 380PS form, the 3.0 V6 S/C produces almost 127PS per litre – the highest specific output of any Jaguar engine. The 3.0 V6 S/C 380 will only be available in Jaguar’s forthcoming new sports car, the F-TYPE, the 340PS version will also be offered in XF and XJ models.
The 2.0-litre I4 Ti 240 produces 240PS and 340Nm, offering greater performance than Jaguar’s existing naturally-aspirated AJ-V6 engine, but with four-cylinder economy. The 2.0-litre I4 Ti 240 will replace the 3.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol AJ-V6 in XF and XJ saloons. Both engines deliver their power through smooth shifting eight-speed automatic transmissions.
F-TYPE
The 3.0-litre V6 S/C will also be available in 380PS form exclusively in the forthcoming F-TYPE sports car which was recently announced in New York. Shown in Beijing was the C-X16, the concept which led to the acceleration of the F-TYPE programme. The F-TYPE will join Jaguar’s existing range of cars – the XF saloon and Sportbrake, XJ saloon and XK coupe/convertible. Full F-TYPE technical and range details will be announced later in 2012. It will go on sale in mid 2013.
HY-KERS concept, couples hybrid technology with mid-rear architecture to cut fuel consumption and reduces CO2 emissions on the combined cycle by 40 per cent while also boosting performance. The powertrain on display was a 12-cylinder engine and dual-clutch gearbox coupled to an electric motor. A second electric motor is dedicated to the auxiliary systems and is located in front of the V12. The two electric motors are connected to the batteries which can be positioned in the car in line with the available space and final configuration.
The aim was to ensure a target of 1 KW per kg of extra weight added by the hybrid system, and Ferrari says new, smaller and lighter electronic components used come close to achieving the target.
The HY-KERS’ electric motor delivers power using one of the gearbox’s two clutches and is mated to one of the two main shafts. The result is instantaneous, continuous power delivery between the electric motor and petrol engine. During braking, the electric motor acts as a generator, using the kinetic energy from the negative torque to recharge the batteries. This crucial task is managed by a dedicated ECU, also F1-derived, which not only controls the electric motor, but also governs the power to the auxiliary systems (power steering, brake servo, air conditioning, onboard systems).
Work on the system has now reached the end of the experimental phase and the development phase will commence in the coming months. While the HY-KERS system in the Ferrari 599 HY-KERS on display at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show had a CO2 reduction of 30% compared to an ICE engine making the same power, the HY-KERS system for the mid engined V12 configuration will enable Ferrari to reduce emissions by 40 per cent over the combined cycle.
Ford’s Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program was launched in 2009 in India, after a successful stint in the USA since 2003 and other parts of the world. More than 4500 drivers have been trained in DSFL since 2009 and 50,000 across Asia Pacific and Africa. The program is based on 3 aspects of driving: Safe, Economic and Eco-friendly. The program is customized to suit the region based on the driving culture.
In 2012, Ford India will take the program to various other cities : Ajmer, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Jaipur and Mehsana and will continue to conduct the programs in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. Dealerships are also encouraged to conduct DSFL programs and this requires their personnel to be trained by current DSFL trainers. The ‘Train the Trainers’ workshop, one of which was held over the last week in Chennai, will help provide Ford India with an additional pool qualified trainers to help bring in more dealerships into the DSFL program, this year.
“We have always considered it our responsibility not just to produce safer cars, but also to ensure more responsible driving on the roads,” said Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India. “India has one of the highest motor vehicle injury and fatality rate in the world and we believe driver education and refreshment through program such as DFSL can help improve the situation.”
“Involving our employees is an important step for taking the DSFL to greater heights,” said Tom Chackalackal, Ford India’s executive director for Manufacturing. “By training all these new trainers, we will be able to create more DSFL ambassadors to foster stronger relations with our customers, build a stronger understanding of cars among them and more importantly promote driving skills that make our roads safer”.
At a media event held on the 19th of April 2012, Tom Chackalackal and Minnie Menon, a long time Ford loyalist and DSFL evangelist took the pledge to drive safe. The ‘I Pledge to Drive Safe’ campaign is available on Ford India Facebook page where you can take a number of pledges and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
The Chennai TTT workshop was attended by 15 additional Ford representatives who will share the learning with other participants. The participants were trained by Regional Training Partners from South Africa, Derek Kirkby and Nicholas whose interviews you can read here.
Ford India also launched its car buyer guide ‘First Gear’ an in depth coverage of which is available here.
“This is a great initiative by Ford India,” said Ms. Menon. ” I have been associated with DSFL for a year now and I find the program to be informative and aimed at reaching the right people with the right message to help increase responsible driving. Today’s book launch and pledge program only emphasize Ford’s commitment. “
Urban Crossover Concept is Peugeot’s answer to commuters of the future, who would be living in urban environment where the size of a vehicle matters, as well as would take to the open roads once a while. The Crossover Concept was designed with the following requirements
· the height and the robustness of a modern SUV, concerned to be light and aerodynamic
· the finesse, the elegance and the dynamism of the new Peugeot saloons
· versatile yet compact
Peugeot describes the Urban Crossover Concept as
Elegant and cheeky, refined and charismatic, sporty and seductive, with Urban Crossover Concept, Peugeot offers a new vision of a compact Crossover that is modern and relaxed, dynamic and seductive.
The boomerang type rear tail lamps, with ‘3 floating claws’ using LED technology make their presence known in the concept. The headlamp has a feline design to it. the aluminium spoiler and roof double bubble are reminiscent of the sporty and elegant aspect of the RCZ.
Ford EcoSport anyone?
In future, the designation eDrive will identify the drive technology for all electric and plug-in hybrid cars from BMW i. The BMW i8 Concept Spyder to premiered at the Auto China 2012 in Beijing proudly displays the eDrive emblem on rear-end of the car.
BMW eDrive comprises the components of the electric drivetrain: the electric motor developed in-house by BMW, the lithium-ion battery, and the intelligent motor management system. BMW explains that eDrive offers a unique experience where electromobility is concerned. The full torque of the electric motor is available from a standing start and the acceleration unfolds continuously in thoroughbred electric vehicles until the top speed is attained. Vehicles with BMW eDrive technology are therefore extremely agile and offer enormous driving pleasure. The lithium-ion battery cells and the intelligent motor management system also offer a substantial increase in range and power for the vehicle.
The future will see BMW eDrive technology empowering all electric drives – electric and plug-in vehicles from BMW i – giving them the capability for being particularly dynamic and smart.
