Reva

The title may lookalike a roadmap but its actually a new electric vehicle which is all set to rock the French auto market. Bangalore based Indian electric maker Reva and contract manufacturer Argentum has manufactured an electric vehicle which was showcaused at paris auto show. Both Reva and Argentum will make components and the CKD kits will be exported to France and assembled there. Christened as ‘pondicherry’ to mark the French association with their once colonial state (French ruled Pondicherry till 1949) this 3.5 metre golf cart-type vehicle is a neighbourhood runabout, a small supply vehicle for shops around the corner. Reva - Heuliez (read Argentum) also plans a larger vehicle and four seater electric car for France. Reva is already enjoying good market share with its G-Wiz in european electric vehcile market

Formula 1 2008 Seasonal Review

I cannot thnk of any thirty seconds of motor racing than the final corners of the Brazilian Grand Prix. I was in Australia and woke up at 2am just to watch the race .It was nerve-wracking, it was dramatic, it was motor racing at its very best. The result was disapointing to me and to all Ferrari and Masa fans. I couldnt belive what i saw. Masa won the race but on the very last lap he lost the championship by a single pt. Cruel for Masa but what a last lap which was full of dramas.

Last year, Ferrari won the World Championship by a single point in Sao Paolo. This year they lost it by a single point, regained by Hamilton on the run to the chequered flag. It was the cruelest of endings for Massa, who had driven a perfect race in the toughest of conditions.

Felipe had soaked up the pressure of a nation gone crazy with Formula One fever. I doubt that there was a living room or bar in the whole of Brazil that did not have their TV tuned to the race, with both the set and its audience, at full volume.

Massa handled the expectations of his home crowd as admirably as he handled the Ferrari in the wet. I have gone on record a few times this year rating Massa above Hamilton as more of the purists racing driver.

He’s more of a throwback to an earlier era. He drives with his heart and he’s breathtaking to watch in his best moments such as his magical pole position laps in Singapore and in Sao Paolo.

Massa has always been fast, he’s also sometimes been erratic, but he has grown up hugely this season. His performance in the last few races has shown he is a very much different, tougher and better, driver than even at the start of the season.

His resilience was shown in Japan. After his penalty for clashing with Hamilton on the second lap, his charge back through the field showed a new steel in his driving. I’m sure he was proud to hear it described as Schumacher-esqe.

As for Hamilton, he too has run the full roller-coaster of emotions in the past few days. Not least in the closing stages of the race, when he knew that his McLaren, with a deliberately low-downforce setup to prevent others from challenging him at the end of the straights, was going to be hopeless when the rain came.

He was right. He could do nothing about the pace of the Ferraris, or Alonso’s Renault and ultimately Sebastien Vettel’s Toro Rosso. Even then it was a wildcard strategy from Toyota and Timo Glock that so nearly ended Hamilton’s hopes.

As the rain shower turned into a proper tropical storm, Glock, who had last stopped at half-distance, was skating around the track on a set of worn-out dry-weather tyres. Had the rain held off for one more lap, he’d have claimed fourth place and Massa would have been champion.

As it was, he finished sixth, Vettel grabbed fourth and Hamilton fifth, and with it Lewis fulfilled what he sees as ‘his destiny’. The big question for me is now, can Hamilton be a popular champion?

While he is an awesome racing driver and a smooth PR professional, he is perceived by some as being just a little too slick. A little too smart. Dare I say arrogant?

While in London the British newspapers are all frothing about his success in becoming the ninth Briton to take the title, there isn’t the massive groundswell of popular support behind Hamilton that we saw when Nigel Mansell or Damon Hill took the world title. In a way, I suspect that it is because he is so much a part of the ‘McLaren machine’.

They are seen as slick, smart, efficient and in many eyes too arrogant. It is sad because anyone that gets inside the silver walls of ‘Castle Dennis’ knows that this is a team that is just as passionate as Ferrari. It is just that they can’t seem to show it.

The biggest feeling though, that Sao Paolo’s stunning finale has given me is a sense of anticipation already for next year. Come March, we can look forward to the Hamilton and Massa being renewed.
A hungry Raikkonen awakening from his hibernation this year? Alonso in an on-form Renault perhaps? Vettel battling Webber at Red Bull and possibly, another major championship contender in Robert Kubica and BMW.

Roll on next year, I can’t wait!

Formula 1 2008 season review

I cannot think of any more dramatic thirty seconds of motor racing than the final corners of the Brazilian Grand Prix. I was in Austrlia and woke up at 2am just to watch the race .It was nerve-wracking, it was dramatic, it was motor racing at its very best. The result was disapointing to me and to all Ferrari and Masa fans. I couldnt belive what i saw. Masa won the race but on the very last lap he lost the championship by a single pt. Cruel for Masa but what a last lap which was full of dramas.

Last year, Ferrari won the World Championship by a single point in Sao Paolo. This year they lost it by a single point, regained by Hamilton on the run to the chequered flag. It was the cruelest of endings for Massa, who had driven a perfect race in the toughest of conditions.

Felipe had soaked up the pressure of a nation gone crazy with Formula One fever. I doubt that there was a living room or bar in the whole of Brazil that did not have their TV tuned to the race, with both the set and its audience, at full volume.

Massa handled the expectations of his home crowd as admirably as he handled the Ferrari in the wet. I have gone on record a few times this year rating Massa above Hamilton as more of the purists racing driver.

He’s more of a throwback to an earlier era. He drives with his heart and he’s breathtaking to watch in his best moments such as his magical pole position laps in Singapore and in Sao Paolo.

Massa has always been fast, he’s also sometimes been erratic, but he has grown up hugely this season. His performance in the last few races has shown he is a very much different, tougher and better, driver than even at the start of the season.

His resilience was shown in Japan. After his penalty for clashing with Hamilton on the second lap, his charge back through the field showed a new steel in his driving. I’m sure he was proud to hear it described as Schumacher-esqe.

As for Hamilton, he too has run the full roller-coaster of emotions in the past few days. Not least in the closing stages of the race, when he knew that his McLaren, with a deliberately low-downforce setup to prevent others from challenging him at the end of the straights, was going to be hopeless when the rain came.

He was right. He could do nothing about the pace of the Ferraris, or Alonso’s Renault and ultimately Sebastien Vettel’s Toro Rosso. Even then it was a wildcard strategy from Toyota and Timo Glock that so nearly ended Hamilton’s hopes.

As the rain shower turned into a proper tropical storm, Glock, who had last stopped at half-distance, was skating around the track on a set of worn-out dry-weather tyres. Had the rain held off for one more lap, he’d have claimed fourth place and Massa would have been champion.

As it was, he finished sixth, Vettel grabbed fourth and Hamilton fifth, and with it Lewis fulfilled what he sees as ‘his destiny’. The big question for me is now, can Hamilton be a popular champion?

While he is an awesome racing driver and a smooth PR professional, he is perceived by some as being just a little too slick. A little too smart. Dare I say arrogant?

While in London the British newspapers are all frothing about his success in becoming the ninth Briton to take the title, there isn’t the massive groundswell of popular support behind Hamilton that we saw when Nigel Mansell or Damon Hill took the world title. In a way, I suspect that it is because he is so much a part of the ‘McLaren machine’.

They are seen as slick, smart, efficient and in many eyes too arrogant. It is sad because anyone that gets inside the silver walls of ‘Castle Dennis’ knows that this is a team that is just as passionate as Ferrari. It is just that they can’t seem to show it.

The biggest feeling though, that Sao Paolo’s stunning finale has given me is a sense of anticipation already for next year. Come March, we can look forward to the Hamilton and Massa being renewed.
A hungry Raikkonen awakening from his hibernation this year? Alonso in an on-form Renault perhaps? Vettel battling Webber at Red Bull and possibly, another major championship contender in Robert Kubica and BMW.

Roll on next year, I can’t wait!

Hyundai's answer to Honda CIVIC

Honda Civic is the largest seller in the lower D segment and is the ‘Car of the Year 2006’. The style and the features it offers makes civic invincible and even once the best seller - Toyota Corolla is selling in meagre numbers now. Whether it’s Toyota or Mitsubishi or General Motors, the manufacturers have to revamp their strategy and have to roll out new models to compete civic. The same is the case for India’s second largest car manufacturer – Hyundai. Hyundai’s existing Elantra fails to match the much stylish Honda Civic. To stay in this hot segment, Hyundai has to bring India a worthy competitor – Hyundai has launched the new Elantra in western markets and the right hand version of new Elantra is already offered in countries like Australia. So, we can expect Hyundai new Elantra soon in India too. Will Hyundai’s new Elantra match Honda Civic? Let’s see

Generation by generation, a car usually evolves slowly as the technology under the nameplate gradually improves. But in a single stroke, the new Hyundai Elantra has leapt ahead, and now it’s right in the mix with sedans such as the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla

2008 Hyundai Elantra SE Specs
Performance Overview
- 1,975 cc 2.0 liters in-line 4 front engine with 82.0 mm bore, 93.5 mm stroke, 10.1 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
- Unleaded fuel 87
- Multi-point injection fuel system
- 14.0 gallon main unleaded fuel tank 11.7
- Power: 103 kW , 138 HP SAE @ 6,000 rpm; 136 ft lb , 184 Nm @ 4,600 rpm

2008 Civic Performance, Engine & Power Specs
• 1,799 cc 1.8 liters in-line 4 front engine with 81.0 mm bore, 87.3 mm stroke, 10.5 compression ratio, overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
• Unleaded fuel 87
• Multi-point injection fuel system
• 13.2 gallon main unleaded fuel tank 11.0
• Power: 104 kW , 140 HP SAE @ 6,300 rpm; 128 ft lb , 174 Nm @ 4,300 rp m

Yamaha Fz16, the best 150 CC bike in India

Billed as a ’street’ tool FZ16 is presumably designed largely for posing around town on. FZ16 looks so mean and purposeful and the potential owners will doubtless be hoping some of that rubs off on them.

Styled by iconic designers of GK Dynamics, this new bike also takes the credit of being the second bike after R15 to use wind tunnel for better aerodynamics. Take a close look at the headlamp, front fender and strip over the engine there are plenty of angular curves and cuts to redirects the air to the engine. In addition these distinct shapes increases the aesthetic sense of the bike. The designers have efficiently used the steel bolts all over the frontal part to give a rugged look which the potential owners would like.

Features

The large 12 litre fuel tank is cleverly sculpted with shrouds on both sides. The tank pretends to be large but actually it is not. - metallic tank is enclosed by a plastic tank. Be careful while riding, if you bump the bike then ready to shell out more. The aircraft type tank lid and black stripe on the tank increases the FZ16’s style quotient. But take a closer look, apache flashes in your mind. Elongated neck and large head tank design is already popular feature of its rival the TVS apache. The tail lamp is purposefully mounted on the rear fender rather on the rear cowl. Bull the horn like grab rail with rubber mouldings would deter the followers

Engine and other specifications

Engine is neither fuel injected nor oil cooled. Similar to any other machine available in the market, this 153cc mill produces peak power of 14PS. But remember the spec sheet doesn’t say all. Vroom the engine you would feel the difference, the enormous torque (13.6Nm) which pulls you from the word ‘go’ and will make you nostalgic. Yes, you are right, legendary RX100 comes to our mind. The engine is responsive till it touches the 9000rpm (redline). The low end and mid range performance of FZ16 speaks for itself. FZ16 zooms past 60kmph in just 6 seconds and the roll on time between 30-70 is pretty low. However the top whack is just under 120kmph.

But the one thing FZ16 owner cannot boast about is its mileage or fuel efficiency figure. Fattest rear tyre and torque tuned engine is taking toll on FZ16’s fuel economy figure. FZ16 returns just 36kmpl under testing conditions.Yamaha adapts internationally proven technologies like

MidShip muffler to dig out the best. While the expansion box beneath the mono cross ensures excellent exhaust efficiency, concentration of mass, and aerodynamic characteristics, the two layer expansion muffler emits an attractive exhaust note

The clocks are clear enough. The yellow back lit LCD console houses digital speedometer, odometer and an analogue tacho. Trip meter, fuel gauge and other indicators. are laid out legibly around it. A special engine starting signal is a nice touch. The switchgear quality are on par with its peers.

You would find a strange center stand for this bike. there is no kick starter. But again you would occasionally foul the center and side stand with the bike’s toe only gear shift knob

Ridding and Handling

Whatever the kind of wheelie you wish, you can try in this bike. The 41mm rebounding front forks and 140/60-R17 at the rear makes the perfect menu for all wheelies. Similar to the Honda’s Unicorn, FZ16 sports a mono-cross suspension The suspension allows 120mm of wheel travel to comfort you on potholes. But the ride turns bumpy when you hit rough roads and it lose feedback and control on bumpy roads The pillion seat is so small that even an average size adult could find it tough. For the fair sex it’s strict no-no.

However the FZ16 is a street fighter and it offers comfortable upright riding position. Good ergonomics is because of wide handle bars, low set foot pegs and flat seats. FZ16 is hard to fault, though it appears to be massive, it flicks with ease, the rakish steering angle takes the credit

Conclusion

The fz16 has come up with an affordable yet powerful bike. Though its not it also takes for being the is the first bike in India to feature Radial and fattest rear tyre. Also the most difference between the siblings is the price. Its a true 150cc bike that means it is priced on par with its competitors. The peers of FZ16 are not karizma’s and pulsar 220cc’s. It has pull away the pulsar,unicorn,Hunks and apachians. FZ16’s trendy styling and responsive engine will do that. Truly, FZ16 has raised the standards of 150cc bike yet it is priced very sensibly. You won’t get this much for Rs65000. Having said FZ16 still leaves room for other players to challenge the crown. I am sure we all would love to see a better bike with much better driving dynamics and mileage. Till then FZ16 rulesssssss

Car Modification & Styling

You can learn how to customize and modify all parts of your car for looks, performance and handling. Under each category you will discover the options we have suggested for your car to help guide you in the decision of which products are most suitable for you and your modified car.

Engine Modifications
Learn what engine modifications are appropriate for your car, and what you can do to your car to generate extra performance.

Turbos Performance Chips
Get a big turbo if you want more horsepower.Raise boost levels and remove of speed and rev limits with a performance chip.

Camshafts Superchargers
Make a difference to your engine at different speeds. Similar to a turbo but with no lag. Nos - Nitrous Oxide Systems Ecu Get more bhp with a nos kit. Upgrade to the right computer for your car. AIR

Filters and fuel pumps
Increase the air flow into your engine with one of these. A good fuel pump will stop that fuel cut. Clutches Engine Internals If you have lots of bhp you will need a good clutch to get you off the mark. Make your internals tough.

Interior Modifications
Redesign your interior to suit your lifestyle. Find the best brands and system setups from our categories below. Car Seats Car Audio and Visuals Stay comfortable and don't fall out your window with some nice bucket seats. Get your "ice" just right so you can enjoy your tunes. Custom Dashes Gauges Make your dashboards look like you want it to. Keep your eyes on the road with a big gauge. Pedals Car Floor Mats Keep the pedal to the metal with some racing pedals. Put your feet on some custom car floor mats.

Exterior Modifications
Improve the look of your car with exterior modifications. Help your car's aerodynamics so it sticks to the road better with a body kit. Body Kits Lights Make your car look like its on steroids with a great looking body kit. Get some lights, to see or be seen. Graphics Lambo Doors Put some stickers on your car. Make your doors look like a Lamborghini.





Wheels and Tires
Roll in style with some new wheels for your car. Custom Wheels Tires Wheels, rims, whatever you want to call them, you need them if you want your car to look good. Increase handling and traction with high performance tires. read more Spinners Dubs Get your rims spinning. A dub is a wheel or rim that is 20" in size. Wheel Nut Locks Chrome Wheels Keep your wheels secure with some wheel nut locks. Get more attention with some chrome. Find Your Stud Pattern Get the right size wheels for your car.


Exhaust modifications
The role of the exhaust system is to take the spent gases away from the engine and allow for the next amount of the fuel air mixture to be drawn into the cylinders and go thru the ignition, burn, power and exhaust cycle. If the exhaust system is constricted then the burnt mixture is not all exhausted from the cylinders and hence there is less room to "get more in". Less in, equals less power and huge inefficiencies in the operation of the engine.

To remedy this issue and provide easier breathing for the engine, a larger exhaust can be fitted. Exhaust sizes up to 2.5 or 3 inches (67mm to 75 mm) will improve the flow of exhaust gases from your engine however a common mistake is to retain the existing muffler.

Exhaust size increase only, will give a small increase in engine power however, combined with a free flowing muffler will deliver considerably more increase in power. It is also better to opt for a "mandrel" bent exhaust. This means that all of the bends in the exhaust are of the same diameter as the pipe itself. Under normal circumstances exhaust pipes are bent and the pipe deforms slightly in the area of the bend, the tighter the bends the more the pipe deforms and the smaller the diameter of the pipe at the bend. This means your huge 3" exhaust is maybe 2.75" on some bends introducing restrictions to the exhaust gases, eddy currents in the gas and overall reducing the effectiveness of the exhaust system.

Mandrel bent exhausts avoid this and maintain the diameter of the exhaust for the entire length of the system. Manifolds Extractors Help your car breathe properly. Extract that air. Flexi Joints Hi Flow Cats Get the angle you want with a flexi joint. Let the air flow freely through your exhaust. Mufflers Pipe and Tips Get the right exhaust note with a muffler. Tips and pipes make a difference.


Suspension modification
Suspension is the best way to improve handling. Get the right setup for your car and you will be driving on rails . Springs Lowering Kits Get the right springs for your car. Kits may already be available for your car. Hydraulic Suspension Air Bag Suspension Get some bounce with hydraulics. Up, down, side to side any way you want it. Strut Braces Adjustable Coil Overs Stop the flex and keep your car flat on the road. Get your setting just right with some adjustable coil overs.


Brake modifications
Stopping is just as important as going, so take some time to find the right brake setup for you car. Brake Pads Brake Rotors Good brake pads are a start. Take it to the next level with some new brake rotors, slotted or drilled? Brake Lines Brake Calipers Brake lines and fluids will help more than you might think. These will hold your brakes in place. Brake Discs Brake Fluid The bigger the better, when it comes to brakes. Fluids are cheap and will make all the difference.




Transmission modifications
A great transmission setup will help you shift gears on time Transmission Shift Kits Sequential Gearbox There are already many transmission kits available for most cars. Most race cars use sequential gearboxes. Brand Name Transmissions Transmission Fluid Brand name transmissions you can trust. Keep your transmission in shape with fluids. Gear Knobs Rebuilt Transmission Get a good grip with a nice gear knob. Get more information on rebuilt transmissions. Manual Transmission Stick Shift Gearbox 5 speed, 6 speed, whatever your preference. Get a strong gearbox.

Car Accessories
Find out what accessories are available on the market for your car. Car Covers Car Battery Charger Cover up to protect your car. This will get your car back up and running. Car Seat Covers Car Alarm Systems For looks or just to keep your seats clean. Keep your car safe and sound with a security system. Steering Wheels Radar Detectors Get a grip on your car with a great steering wheel. keep the law at bay with one of these. Customized License Plate Frames Personalized License Plate Get a custom frame. Get personal with your cars plate. Car Wax Teflon car wax works a charm.

Formula 1 Sponsorship, Merchandise a big business

Sponsorship

Sponsorship is the most obvious source of revenue for a Formula One team. We are constantly forced to see Vodafone, Shell, Petronas, and Red Bull to name but a few.

It's obvious that sponsorship costs more depending on how well the team does. Ferrari costs much more to sponsor than Force India for example. These cars often get more exposure, have bigger fan bases, resulting in more merchandise sales with sponsor logos emblazoned across them.

Sponsorship of sports teams began with Formula One in 1968 when Team Lotus F1 took to the circuit in the colours of Imperial Tobacco’s Gold Leaf brand, instead of the usual livery which usually related to the team or driver's nationality. Today, sponsorship of F1 is no different to a car having four wheels. They go hand-in-hand.

An average Formula One team has about 25 sponsors who fit into various categories. The Title sponsor is most likely the most predominant, and will pay the highest sponsor fee. Example in the case of McLaren Mercedes, you have Vodafone. This sponsor deal was estimated to be worth £40 million a year. This fee accounts for almost 20 percent of McLaren Mercedes annual budget.

There are a few teams who are privately owned, and do not have title sponsors such as Red Bull, Torro Rosso, Honda and Force India. These four teams still rely on sponsorship money to fund their teams, but the owners of the teams, are also the owners of the companies which are their title sponsors. Honda is the only exception. Honda is 100 percent funded by the Honda car manufacturer, and therefore doesn't make a penny.

Next is the Technology partners who will supply a team with various components, such as Bridgestone (tyre supplier), Mobil 1 (oil supplier) and Sap (software provider). These companies don’t often pay to have their logos on a car; however, they do supply the team with goods which cuts costs for the team.

Corporate partners supply a team with goods which are used within the team and at team events, such as product launches, charitable events and parties. McLaren have seven corporate partners, ranging from Johnnie Walker, Santander, Boss and TAG Heur.

I'm sure we have all seen Lewis clicking his TAG watch into place before he climbs the podium. This is a condition in his contract, that he must be seen with a TAG watch at any public event. These sponsorship deals are worth between £10 million to £15 million per season.

Finally, we have minor sponsors, who get small logo positioning on the car, usually around the sides of the spoiler or nosecone. These can cost between £1 million-£3 million. McLaren have 16 minor sponsors, ranging from Nescafe to FedEx.

All this adds up. So far Vodafone have paid £40 million, Johnnie Walker, Santander, Hugo Boss, TAG, Aigo, Schuco, and Hilton have all paid in the region of £12 million, then minor sponsors have paid around £2 million each which equals about £160 million from sponsorship alone. This is 75 percent of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes annual budget made up from sponsorship deals.

Merchandise

Merchandise is another huge revenue stream. There are no official figures released on merchandise sales; however, Ferrari were speculated to have made around the £8 million mark in 2006. This is much lower than estimates from the Schumacher era, when sales were hugely boosted in Germany due to his popularity.

All of the teams sell merchandise through online stores and promotional tents at races. These can be important revenue streams for small teams. However, these smaller teams have fewer fans, which accounts for less sales

Formula One Administration

The Formula One Administration, raise over £1 billion through track fees, and Driver Super-licenses, then a further £1 billion is raised through commercial TV rights, which cost broadcasters huge amounts.

The BBC have paid £240 million for a three-year contract. This is multiplied all over the globe, in over 200 countries, and 40 individual broadcasters.

The FIA reward teams with a Prize Fund. Almost 50 percent of the £2 billion raised through various sources is shared between the teams, depending on Qualifying, Race WDC and WCC results

Conclusion

Due to the nature of F1, an exact figure can’t be published, but looking at all revenue sources, a team like Ferrari and McLaren will raise £160 million through sponsorship, £10 million through merchandise, and £90 million through FIA-distributed profits. This totals an estimated £260 million. So after all, it looks as though a front-running Formula One team does make a profit, with mid-field teams breaking even

Suzuki Esteem (War Horse)

Maruti Udyog Limited, the largest automotive manufacturer of India was established in February 1981 though the production started only in 1983. The company started as a 50-50 JV between Suzuki of Japan and Maruti. The government of India held 18.28% stake untill recently. This holding stake was sold off to the financial institutions in May, 2007. Suzuki has gradually increased its holding percentage to 54.2. The first offering from Maruti, the 800, was the bestseller for a long time till its sibling, the Alto, took over. Selling over 5,00,000 cars annually in the domestic market, Maruti exports close to 30,000 units to several countries. Of late, the Indian giant was facing stiff competition from various manufacturers and Maruti did well by launching the Swift which is a modern and exudes a lifestyle image. The trend continued with the SX4. The large portfoilio takes care of the options available to the customer.
The Suzuki Esteem is an export nameplate for the Suzuki Cultus Crescent -- also marketed in Europe and many Asian countries as the Suzuki Baleno — manufactured by Suzuki Motor Corporation. In India, it was manufactured by Maruti Suzuki and sold as the Maruti Baleno.

The Esteem was introduced in the global market in 1995 as Suzuki's first attempt in the compact segment, at the time dominated by European cars such as the Volkswagen Bora/Jetta and Opel Astra, and Japanese models such as the Nissan Sunny/Sentra and Toyota Corolla. As a North American replacement for the Suzuki Swift sedan (the 3-door hatchback remained after it was redesigned in 1995), it was built on a slightly stretched Suzuki Cultus platform for improved cabin room, but otherwise sharing most of internal components with the smaller model — and marketed as a distinct model.
1996 Suzuki Esteem sedan (North America)The Esteem/Baleno was initially available as a 3-door hatchback and 4-door sedan, with 1.3 L (hatch only) and 1.6 L engines, with power ranging between 85 PS (63 kW) and 99 PS (73 kW/97 hp). In 1996, the lineup was extended with the Esteem Wagon (Baleno Break in most European markets and Baleno Altutra in India), Suzuki's first station wagon, also with the same 1.6 L, which also received optional 4WD in the two larger body variants.
Suzuki restyled the Esteem/Baleno in 1999. The car was given a new frontend, with a rounder grille and new headlights, and the engine lineup was expanded. Mazda supplied the 1.8 L BP engine, that was fitted to the sedan and wagon. In North America, the Esteem 1.8 Station Wagon completely replaced the Esteem 1.6, but in most markets the 1.8 sedan became the sports model. In some European markets, the 1.8L I4 was installed in the hatchback and sold as the limited edition Baleno GTi. Europe also gained a Diesel version, with a 75 PS (55 kW) XUD engine supplied by Peugeot.

2001-02 Suzuki Esteem sedan (US)The Esteem/Baleno was replaced in most markets by the new Aerio/Liana. It was pulled from the market in Europe and North American in 2002, after one year of overlapping. The car remained available in many developing countries, including India and Southeast Asia, where it was sold until 2007, when production stopped at the Maruti factory, with the assembly line giving way to the SX4 Sedan.

Dimensions & Weight
Overall length(mm): 4090
Overall width(mm): 1575
Overall height(mm): 1395
Wheel base(mm): 2365
Fuel Tank Capacity(ltr): 40
Engine Displacement(cc): 1298
Type/Configuration: 4 stroke cycle, all-aluminium
No. Of Cylinders: 4
Clutch Transmission
Transmission type: Automatic & Manual
Number of Speeds: 3 Speed (AT),5 Speed (MT)
Brakes
Front: Booster assisted drum
Rear: Booster assisted drum
Suspension
Front: McPherson strut and coil sprin
Rear: Coil spring
Performance
Max. Horsepower (ps/rpm): 85 bhp at 6000 rpm
Max. Torque (kg m/rpm): 110 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Steering
Min. Turning Radius (m): 4.8
Type: Rack & pinion
The looks of the present Esteem model is far superior than the older ones. It comes with a modified rear looks, and to make it more sleek and sporty ,the VXi has a spoiler with serial braking lights. Esteem models comes with new colour variants you can choose from(I chose Pearl Silver). The interiors of the VXi look classy, compared to the older versions of esteem . Seats are furnished with high quality fabric matching the body colour. The VXi comes with power steering and power windows. It also comes with an Kenwood MP3 player with FM/AM. And the A/C is very effective.
Coming to the performance of the car, esteem has a very good pickup, but with the A/C ON the engine struggles a bit. Nevertheless,that would really not be a major concern. Esteem with the A/C ON gives a mileage of 10.5-11KMPL driving in the chaotic traffic of Bangalore:-). The car is an absolute sweetheart while driving on the highway,it gives an average of 14.5-16KMPL.
Now coming to the cons of the vehicle, the Esteem’s body is made of very thin metal. It surely is an area of concern, and you need to be careful and watchful while driving in the trafiic,as a small bump may turn out to be drastic on the body. Another concern is, that of getting into the car requires a good stretch of the body muscles:-) . Other than this, everything else in the car is fine and a good value for money for a car in the mid-size segment.

And then comes the service perspective, I’m very happy with the service offered by Vitesse. They call you promptly when its service time for your car, and also they have an option of pickup and deliver back at your doorstep after the service. They are very professional when it comes to service, no wonder there nobody to beat Maruti in this aspect.
Altogether, if you are looking for a family car in the mid-size segment with all the luxury features and a consistent performance with a moderate price,then Esteem VXi/Lxi the car to look out for.

The all New Ford Endeavour

Introduction

I am a big lover of SUV’s and a very big fan of the the Tata Safari( the only SUV developed and manufactured entirely in India). In my earlier post I had analyzed the Tata Safari right from its early days. However it gives me a great pleasure to write about one of my favorite SUV’s on the Indian roads i.e. the all new Ford Endeavour

Ford Endeavour is the only true SUV available in the market; the SUVs are not meant for city or highway driving but truly make its sense in off-road.

Endeavour is the India’s Hummer or land Rover. Thank you ford for retaining the masculine and intimidating look in the new Endeavour/Everest too. When other manufacturers embrace modern technologies Ford nicely blends old and the new. Except for the square shoulder look (that too is necessary) everything is new

Engine and Powertrain

The new Ford Endeavour is even more powerful and now it sports 16-valve DOHC 3 litre turbo-diesel common-rail injection (TDCi) engine offering a torque of 380 Nm at 2,500rpm. The maximum power churned out by the beast is at 156 PS at 3,200 rpm. It is third the third version of Ford Endeavour in India. Also, new 3L engine of Ford Endeavour is better than 2.5L engine variant launched earlier in terms of mileage / fuel efficiency too. Earlier,every one used to talk about Turbo lag which in the Endeavour but now it comes with Variable Geometry Turbocharger that cuts the turbo lag.

New Endeavour gets a new 5 speed automatic transmission system though manual is also offered. The new five-speed automatic transmission system features an innovative Transmission Control Module (TCM) that can automatically detect and quickly adjust to the changing engine speed and driving condition. It keeps the transmission system always at its peak power band, thus making the vehicle more responsive. The new Endeavour’s 4WD transmission system is equipped with the world renowned Borg Warner transfer system and electronic Active Shift-on-the-Fly, allowing a driver to shift the driving mode from 2WD to 4WD at high driving speeds of up to 100 km/h. Ford claims the new transmission system will make the new Endeavour perfect for both urban and highway driving as well as off road while providing the best possible fuel economy (22% more than the existing Endeavour)

Ride and Handling

New Endeavour uses ventilated disc at the front and drum at the rear to brake assisted by ABS with EBD. Gear ratios have been changed to increase the performance. Double wishbone with anti roll bar and two stage leaf spring at the rear suspends this 1894kg SUV. Endeavour’s same 265/70 tubeless tyres may replace 245/70 offered in Thailand. Re-circulating ball and nut type power assisted steering might bring you the good straight line stability but the absence of any traction control or ESP (Electronic Stability Program) in new Endeavour will deter you in corners.

Safety and Security

The body construction has been strengthened with door intrusion beams and reinforced A, B and C-pillars to manage crash forces away from the driver and passengers while still maintaining the shape and integrity of the passenger safety cell. Driver and Co-driver airbags will be standard in new Endeavour too.

Braking is assisted by ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), load sensing proportioning valve (LSPV) and a G-sensor to ensure optimum stopping capabilities on all surfaces. Headlamps have been improved with a greater light distribution while upgraded tail lamps, side indicators and a new center high-mounted stop lamp in the roof spoiler improves visibility of both driver and fellow drivers. For security, the Endeavour is equipped with anti theft alarm and Engine Immoblizer

Interiors and Styling
On the interiors the new Endeavour (know as Everest in some countries) has a camel tone full leather interiors, all new entertainment system with interior roof-mounted DVD player and innovative storage solutions for all passengers. It comes with Dual front airbags, ABS, engine immobilizer, anti theft alarm, fog lamps, collapsible steering column and few other safety features. It also has new headlamps, new bumper and a new lockable 16" wheel cover.