Williams pulls the wraps off the FW31

Another Formula One car which was unraveled at Portiamo along with the Renault car was the Williams-Toyota FW31. The team's test driver, Nico Hulkenberg, was the first person to get his hands on the car and put it through its paces at the Algrave circuit. The heavy downpour on the track meant Hulkenberg couldn't really push it hard to get a clear picture of the car's capabilities, but the differences between it and last year's car were clear right off the bat.

The Williams-Toyota FW31 is the first car designed all-new from the ground-up in almost 30 years, compelled by a dramatic change in Sporting and Technical Regulations. The changes in the aerodynamic regulations have led to the most significant visual changes in this year's car. The front wing end plate is redesigned and takes into account the interaction of the air flowing over slick tyres, which have been re-introduced into Formula One racing from this season on. The team has also had to squeeze in a small barge board in place of the large ones they had till last season. Even the engine cover has lost its traditional chimneys and louvers which were meant for cooling, and therefore the exhausts have had to have a higher and wider exit at the rear.

Williams hasn't disclosed any specifications about the engine they'll be running this year. But rest assured that with the rule to make the engines last for at least 3 races, they'll be adopting policies similar to the other teams like reducing the engine redline and opting for tougher construction materials. And like every other team, Williams too has opted for the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), which charges itself under braking and gives the driver close to an extra 80 horsepower boost at the press of a button. But unlike the other teams, Williams is the only team which chose to use a mechanical system which stores recovered braking energy using a flywheel instead of an electrical system which uses batteries for the same.

Williams test driver, Hulkenberg was rather pleased with the new car and confirmed that every on-board system was working as it was designed to. However, the current Williams drivers, Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima haven't yet got their hands on the car and will join Hulkenberg in actively testing the new car.

Chevrolet Captiva goes Automatic

GM India has just brought out the Automatic version of its popular Captiva SUV. The Captiva is priced at Rs 20,30000 (Ex Showroom, Delhi). Thanks to its handsome looks, grunty engine and versatile seating options. It comes with an intelligent automatic transmission system that changes gears automatically on the road and multimode fuzzy logic system that changes gears according to the inputs. Also its equipped with all wheel drive and descent control system. The new generation Variable geometry Turbo Common Rail Direct Injection Diesel Engine [VCDI] delivers 150 PS of power at 320 nm torque. Smooth turbine operation results in complete combustion with significantly reduced emission. Also the 5 speed transmission makes shifting the gears quite easy. Captiva can take anything on the road and in its cabin with the revolutionary self levelling suspension technology eqipped.

Suzuki Hayabusa

It has many names and even more titles - Busa, Falcon, drag king, fastest bike in the world - but what really matters is that it's here. Suzuki Hayabusa entered the Indiam market just a while ago and as anticipated has created ripples all over. Arguably the fastest, almost the most powerful and certainly one of the most iconic motorcycles of our times, with all its 197PS of power and 150 Nm of tyre destroying torque, the Busa is at its bubbliest, most rotund shape with its long, wide and raked out windscreen that ends in the triangular headlamp, flanked by the snouty ram-air intakes on the inside of the indicators. Hayabausa is not really a bike that will make you go weak in your knees with charm, neither one that will intimidate you with hooligan sneers. It is all quite warm and inviting, and the feeling continues even when you get on the bike. Seriously fast, a decade long repute of performance and a fabulous street-cred. Such strong credentials with very little competition - getting the Hayabusa would all be a no-brainer if not for a million-rupee question.

VOLVO B7R

Rear Engine - modern powerful and fuel-efficient

the engine in the Volvo B7R, the Volvo D7, is a modern 7-litre, six-cylinder diesel engine with a turbocharger and an intercooler.  The engine delivers 290 hp, with a maximum torque of 1200 Nm.  The engine meets Euro III Emission Standards.   

Hydraulic retarder

the hydraulic retarder provides a good complement to normal braking, which considerably reduces wear on the brake pads.  The hydraulic retarder, mounted on the gearbox output is a standard fitment on Volvo B7R.

Powerful disc brakes

Volvo B7R has highly efficient electronic braking system with EBS5added to compact design with ventilated discs for better cooling.  The braking system ensures high safety, immense durability and longer service life. ABS anti-locking brakes are available as an option to further enhance safety levels. Asbestos-free brake pads have long been fitted as standard on all Volvo buses.

High performance gearbox

Volvo B7R has a manual gearbox, the ZF 6S 1380BD, with 6 forward and 1 reverse speed, which are fully synchronized - ensuring easy operations.  Gearbox is lighter due to aluminium housing on Volvo B7R.

A well adapted power train

the rest of the power train is adapted to enable the engine to provide as much power as possible.

High degree of ride comfort

The Volvo B7R is fitted with air suspension, which effectively compensates for irregularities in the road surface and offers a high degree of ride comfort. Stabilizers are fitted as standard on both the front and rear, minimizing the tendency to roll over.  With a 5.94 m wheelbase, the B7R has a small turning radius of 9.25 meters. Tubeless tyres fitted on B7R ensure higher mileage, good road grip, wet-rolling resistance, better braking, stable driving and longer tyre life. 

Floor-based large luggage space

B7R has ample luggage space located on the floor level, it offers easy access to load and unload baggage of all the bus passengers.

Integral bus body design

Volvo B7R body is designed as per our global standards and profiled for Indian drive conditions to accomplish maximum comforts to the passenger which comprises of tubular structures; aerodynamic body shape with ergonomic and noiseless interiors; comfortable reclining seats. 

 

 

Hyundai Verna Automatic

Hyundai would be looking to capitalize on the wave it has started with the i10 and i20 hatchbacks to improve the standings of its other cars as well. First up amongst these is the Verna,which despite being a competitive car has not set the charts on fire. Attempting to widen the reach of the city sedan and have it compete with those in a higher segment, Hyundai is expected to announce a variant with an auto-box later this year. It will cost 9 - 11 lakhs.

Mahindra Launches XYLO

Mahindra has finally taken the wraps of the much awaited Xylo MPV. Needless to say, the Innova has done all the hard work in breaking new ground and creating a new-look statement in the Indian MPV segment, and the Xylo is now set to capitalize on this. Packed with an all new 2.5 litre engine that generates oodles of power and football field sized interiors, the Xylo is sure to find a solid fan following. The Xylo may be out to make life difficult for the likes of the Toyota Innova, Chevrolet Tavera and the Sumo Grande but in its bid to becoming the great Indian travelling machine, it is no doubt going to hit one of its stablemates Scorpio 2.6 CRDe - Mahindra's flagship SUV as well.

Model	Price
E2	Rs.6,24,500
E4	Rs.6,69,500
E6	Rs.7,32,500
E8	Rs.7,69,500

XYLO boasts a wide array of unique features such as Flat Bed front seats, Digital Drive Assist System (DDAS), Foldable flight trays, Surround cool dual ACs and captain seats.

Fiat Launches the Stylish All New Linea

Fiat India Automobiles Ltd today entered a new chapter in India with the launch of the Linea which is expected to raise the bar for sedans available in the country. The car will shortly grace the Indian roads and will be available in both Multi Jet diesel and Fire petrol engine versions. The car designed by the Fiat Style centre in Turin will go on to become Fiat’s flagship product in India. The car is expected to create a new sub-segment between the mid-sized cars and the luxury cars segment due to its unique design, comfort ability, performance and features. Linea is first in the line of three launches that Fiat will undertake this year, the other two being Bravo and Grande Punto. 

The FIRE (Fully Integrated Robotized Engine) will power the petrol version of the Linea, and the diesel version will be equipped with the Advanced New Generation MULTIJET engine. The new generation multijet engine also boasts of higher peak performance with unparalleled power and torque outputs. This enables a fine balance of performance, refinement & fuel economy. Both the variants will be further supported with two option packs, one each on petrol & diesel top end variants mainly comprising of Dual Front Airbags and Blue & Me feature as standard. Blue & Me is the voice interactive device developed by Fiat along with Microsoft that offers an additional voice interface for the on board music system and can be linked to a personal mobile for communicating through the car’s audio unit & speakers. 

The car will be manufactured at the Ranjangaon plant near Pune and is the first major launch after the company introduced the Palio Stile Multijet last year. The three basic versions would be known as Active, Dynamic & Emotion with similar set of features for both variants. The Linea will be available in 4 colors at the time of the launch, Flamenco Red, Minimal Grey, Perla Champagne and Hip Hop Black.

Bike of the year - Yamaha FZ16

Yamaha spent years in India doing what they never should have done in the first place - trying to make the perfect commuter bike for the masses. The Japanese firm finally woke up in 2008 and went the performance way with their big imports - the YZF-R1 and the MT-01. Then came what was a revolution in Indian biking - the awesome YZF-R15 that put back the public's faith in the tuning fork brand. Phase 2 of Yamaha's resurrection in the country was the FZ16 and quite frankly, this could prove even more rewarding for Yamaha than the R15.

Designed as a small-size clone to the original FZs from abroad, Yamaha's approach to the FZ16's styling was truly clever. By making the Indian bike look like the bigger international offering the FZ16 instantly gains brand value despite its 160cc displacement. Sculpted body panels complimented by a monoshock suspension system and the short, stubby silencer end can make the FZ the best looking naked bike on Indian roads today. Throw in that 140-section fat rear tyre and Yamaha have got a whole generation hooked on to the way this baby looks.

While power to the chunky rear wheel may not be coming from a 600cc or litre-class powerplant, the FZ16's 153cc unit is no less entertaining. The air-cooled motor manages enough power to make riding the bike fun and the highlight of the mill has to be its loads of torque that make riding around town a breeze. For the stunt-inclined, this also translates into effortless wheelies and the likes. Ergonomics are well sorted for short rides in the city and the wide matt-black finished handlebar raises comfort levels immensely. The suspension is well sorted out and both ride quality and handling are great.

Masterful Technology

Bugatti Veyron 16.4

With its 16-cylinder four-wheel drive, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 may well be the most sophisticated production vehicle of all times. Boasting a maximum speed of more than 400 km per hour, the Veyron is unmatched in the super sports category. It offers a total of 1,001 HP, and its ample power reserves even at high speeds are the fabric of dreams for luxury-class limousines: for a constant speed of 250 km/h, the Veyron only needs 270-280 HP. This means that the seven-gear clutch transmission works with a torque of up to 1,250 Newton meters. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) ensures the necessary flexibility and maneuverability at any speed. The Veyron reaches velocities that would literally lift the car off the ground – if it weren’t for its ingenious aerodynamics, which keeps it firmly on the road even at full speed. Adjusting the back spoiler, reducing ground clearance, opening and closing the lids – it all adds to the perfect balance between propulsion and downforce. Such a super sports car may not seem to be brought to a halt easily, but the Veyron’s ceramic brakes slow it down faster than it can accelerate. While it takes this exceptional car only 2.5 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h, it needs even less time – a mere 2.3 seconds – to come to a standstill from 100 (reference point). To reduce the risk of injuries in accidents, Bugatti had a Formula 1 safety concept adapted for the Veyron. All these technical details combine to make the Veyron a truly exceptional super sports car.

A super sports car like the Veyron 16.4 needs to be light in order to reach top speeds. From the initial concept to the design and the selection of materials, the Bugatti engineers tapped the full potential of their considerable expertise to ensure that this car is, indeed, a light weight. Titanium, carbon, magnesium, and aluminum – each part of the Veyron 16.4 is made of the material with the lowest weight and the highest level of functionality. The titanium piston rods save approx. 4 kg of weight, the titanium screws 3.5 kg, and the magnesium valve caps another 2 kg. By reducing the wheelbase, the original weight was reduced by about a third, and the titanium exhaust system – another Veyron 16.4 first – with its wafer-thin layer of titanium aluminite saves yet another 17 kg. These combined efforts capped the Veyron 16.4’s weight at a compact 1,888 kg. Add the car’s high-powered performance and unmatched speed, and you have a uniquely fast and nimble super sports car.

Optimum protection is guaranteed by the car’s carbon monocoque construction: weighing only 110 kg, the survival cell withstands enormous crash impact forces. This principle is comparable to that used in the Formula 1 world, where drivers usually emerge uninjured from their cars even after severe accidents. The maximum impact force reduction is mainly due to the frames integrated in the carbon monocoque. The front part of the monocoque is made of aluminum; the rear consists of a combination of carbon, stainless steel, and aluminum. The car’s safety concept, which includes two frontal airbags for the front-seat occupants, is so sophisticated that additional airbags would be redundant. Crash tests have shown the Veyron 16.4 to conform to all international safety standards – and to exceed them. As painful as it was for the engineers to watch their valuable prototypes hit the test wall, they were always glad to see that the Veyron survived these maneuvers almost unharmed.

With its luxurious length of 4.47 m, the Veyron is a perfectly balanced combination of high-powered performance and sleek, racy design. Even at complete standstill, the car’s enormous power is made visible by its impressive mid-engine, elevated majestically beneath the chassis. Simultaneously, the Veyron’s bold proportions, well-balanced surfaces, and clear line structures give an impression of pure, sleek elegance. With its classic look, the large radiator grill – adorned with the hand-enameled Bugatti emblem – represents the grandness of the Veyron. The sports car’s distinctive front is defined by the harmonious contrast of its broad headlights and majestic grill. The rear end, 1.99 m wide, features the formidable retractable spoiler and generously designed fenders. The Veyron perfectly fulfills the main design objective governing the development of the new Bugatti: an uncompromising combination of highest elegance and state-of-the-art technology.