AUTO SHOW GALLERY 2011: May 2010

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Monday, May 31, 2010

CAN AM SPYDER Raffi Ahmad

Engine

Manufacturer................................BRP-Rotax

Type.............................................. 990 V-Twin

Displacement...............................60.90 in3 (998cc)

Bore.............................................. 3.82 in (97 mm)

Stroke...........................................2 .68 in (68 mm)

Cylinder........................................2

Valves per cylinder.......................DOHC 4

Max output...................................106 hp @ 8500 rpm

(79 kW @ 8500 rpm)

Max torque...................................77 lb-ft @ 6250 rpm

(104.3 Nm @ 6250 rpm)

Compression ratio........................10.8:1

Ignition type.................................Electronic ignition with

dual output coil

Lubrication....................................5W4 0 BRP synthetic oil

Exhaust system.............................2-into-1 with catalytic converter

Cooling.........................................Li quid cooled

Injection........................................M ulti-point EFI with 57 mm

diameter throttle bodies

Drive Train

Gear box......................................Sequentia l Manual 5-Speed (SM5)

with transmission-based reverse

Optional gear box........................Sequential Electronic 5-Speed (SE5)

with transmission-based reverse

Final drive.....................................28/79 ratio final drive with

Carbon-reinforced drive belt

Clutch...........................................W et, multi-plate, manual or electronic

operation through a hydraulic piston

Electric Equipment

Magneto.......................................500 Watt

Starter........................................... Electric

Battery..........................................D ry Cell, 12V, 21 Amp

Geometry

Front suspension..........................Double A-Arm with anti-roll bar

Front suspension travel................5.67 in (144 mm) with adjustable cam

Rear suspension...........................Swing-arm with monoshock

Rear suspension travel.................5.71 in (145 mm) with adjustable cam

Chassis type.................................SST Spyder

(Surrounding Spar Technology)

Steering........................................DP S (Dynamic Power Steering)

Tires & Wheels

Front tire.......................................KR21 165/65R14

Front nominal pressure................13-17 psi (89-117 kPa)

Rear tire........................................KR21 225/50R15

Rear nominal pressure..................26-30 psi (179-207 kPa)

Wheel size, front...........................Aluminum 14x5 (355x127)

Wheel size, rear............................Aluminum 15x7 (381x178)

Brakes

Type..........................................Foot-actuated, fully integrated

hydraulic 3-wheel braking system

Front braking system................4 piston calipers with 10.2 in x 0.25 in

(260 mm x 6 mm) discs

Rear braking system.................Single-piston caliper with 10.2 in x 0.25 in

(260 mm x 6 mm) disc

EBD..........................................Elect ronic Brake Distribution

ABS...........................................Anti-lock Braking System

Parking brake...........................Mechanical, foot actuated to the

rear caliper

Safety & Security

VSS...........................................Vehi cle Stability System

ABS...........................................Anti-lock Braking System

TCS...........................................Trac tion Control System

SCS...........................................Stab ility Control System with

Roll-Over Mitigation

DPS...........................................Dyna mic Power Steering

DESS.........................................Digit ally Encoded Security System

Vehicle Dimensions & Weights

Dry vehicle weight....................697 lbs (316 kg)

Front storage capacity.............2,685 in3 (44 l)

Front max load capacity...........30 lbs (15.9 kg)

Total vehicle load allowed........440 lbs (200 kg)

Fuel capacity............................6.6 US gal (25 l)

Oil capacity..............................1.19 US gal (4.5 l)

Coolant capacity......................0.85 US gal (3.2 l)

GVWR.......................................1,188 lbs (540 kg)

Ground clearance.....................4.5 in (115 mm)

Vehicle overall height...............45.1 in (1,145 mm)

Vehicle overall length...............105 in (2,667 mm)

Vehicle overall width................59.3 in (1,506 mm)

Seat (top) height.......................29 in (737 mm)

Wheel base..............................68 in (1,727 mm)

Wheel track, front.....................51.5 in (1,308 mm)

Type of gas...............................Unleaded, 87 octane minimum

Features & Main Options

Color choices...........................Full Moon

Millennium Yellow

Roadster Red

Instrumentation........................Dual analog and LCD w/speedometer,

tachometer, electric fuel gauge,

daily trip (A & B) meters, engine

temperature, ambient temperature

and gear position indicator. Information

displayed in either metric or US Standards

Main options............................Fog lights, xenon lights,

mono seat cover, racing exhaust pipe,

travel bags, cargo liner, passenger

backrest, low and high windshields

width: 568px; height: 400px;"

2010 Acura MDX wallpaper

2010 Acura MDX

2010 Acura MDX side view

2010 Acura MDX rear view

2010 Acura MDX Interior

Maruti enters its name in the Guinness Book of Records

Maruti Suzuki India, a major car maker in the country, announced on Sunday that it has managed to enter its name in the Guinness Book of Records by organizing the largest-ever car parade of its most popular compact hatchback Maruti Swift in India. Maruti Suzuki has set a new Guinness Book of World Record by bringing together 342 Swift cars at a car parade in Gurgaon, company said in a statement. This world record is a testimony to the ever-growing popularity of the Swift. The new record is a victory for all the 4.5 lakh Swift owners, the statement added.

The sales figures of Maruti Swift has crossed the mark of 4.5 lakh units since its launch in India five years back. The company produces over 12,000 Swifts on a monthly basis at its facilities in Gurgaon and Manesar, still, the car is enjoying a high waiting period of 2 to 3 months.

In the initial year of its launch about 61,200 units of Swift were sold in India, which was much higher then the target company had aimed for it of 50,000 units. The Swift model is among one of the most sought-after models in not only India but also in many foreign markets including Japan, Europe. In the Denmark, Swift had topped the chart in year 2006, and is among top three since then.

In the list of largest vehicle parades ever held in the world, BMW has a unique record on its name, the company had organized the largest ever parade of gathering 1,450 units of Minis in London in year 2009, at the occasion of the 50th anniversary of this BMW-owned small car.

Source:- Maruti enters its name in the Guinness Book of Records - New Cars

GM mulling to compete Nano with a new small car

General Motors, a US based leading car maker, is mulling the option of launching a new small car in India, in competition with Tata Nano which is the cheapest car in India. The company may launch this car in association with its Chinese partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SIAC), which has a 50% stake in GM India. Company may use its Chinese associations to launch a rival for Tata Nano in India, a leading Indian business daily reported on Monday.

SIAC is among the top car-makers in the Chinese market and sells vehicles across all the segments. On the other hand GM is not new in the compact car segment as the company already has three popular small cars in its India portfolio. This includes Chevrolet Beat, Chevrolet Spark and Chevrolet Aveo, all of these three cars have been designed at GM owned Daewoo Motors in South Korea.

Since the launch of Chevrolet Beat in January this year, GM India has become a leading car maker of this segment with gathering more than 10,000 bookings in the starting 24 days of its launch in India. The Beat model has been launched with a competitive price tag of Rs 3,42,981 - Rs 4,03,415 (Delhi ex-showroom). Launching a small car in India will certainly help both GM and SIAC in strengthening their position in the Indian market.

Besides this, the GM India is also eying on launching a LCV (lightweight commercial vehicle) in the Indian market, in partnership with SIAC, a segment in which GM India is yet to make a mark.

Source:- GM mulling to compete Nano with a new small car - New Cars

High demand, the new growth phenomena for auto industry

auto-industry of India, which is one of the fastest growing auto market in the world, is witnessing a high demand scenario in every segment of cars including entry level sedan Maruti Swift Dzire and luxury SUV Toyota Fortuner. According to Mr Mayank Pareek, managing executive officer (marketing and sales), Maruti Suzuki, the demand has been overwhelming in the market, especially for the newer models that were keenly awaited. It has been more than what the company anticipated.

Toyota Fortuner, a luxury SUV which was launched in India in Oct last year, is not available for bookings since the month of January as company has stopped receiving bookings for this model in a bid to clear the existing long backlog. At the time when bookings were stopped the Fortuner model was available on a long waiting period of three to four months. According to Mr Sandeep Singh, deputy managing director (marketing), Toyota Kirloskar Motors, the company dosn't has enough production to match the demand that has been phenomenal and beyond its expectation. The bookings have been closed as the company dosn't want people to wait for delivery endlessly after paying hefty booking amounts.

On the other hand, Maruti Swift Dzire, India's best selling entry level sedan is going through a robust demand phase with waiting period reaching up to three months for some variants. The Dezire model, which was launched in India in March 2008, is enjoying the top position in its segment since then. In recently launched compact cars the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Figo are among the highly demanded cars in India, both of these cars are enjoying a waiting period of about 1 to 2 months.

However, car-makers in in India are working hard on their expansion plans to enhance their production capacity and catch-up with this rising demand. This includes GM, Toyota, Maruti, Ford and Volkswagen.

Source:- High demand, the new growth phenomena for auto industry - New Cars

Proton to launch a small car in India

The Malasyian car maker Proton is soon going to launch its first car in the Indian market. The car would be a small car and is expected to be based on the EMAS concept recently showcased at the Geneva Auto Show. There are speculations that the car is designed by Italdesign Giugiaro of Italy. The hatchback would offer comfortable seating for 4 adults and would measure 3,550-mm length.

The the EMAS concept displayed at the Geneva Auto show would be used by Proton to develop many small cars for small car markets like India and China, informed the company sources. The top officials from the company quoted that the key markets Proton is focusing on, these days are India, China, Asean and the Middle East.

The reason behind the focus on these markets is the sizeability and the potential for growth. The company has already been in touch with some of the original equipment manufacturers and contract-assembly service providers. The company also mentioned that it wishes to make the most of time and reach Indian markets as soon as possible.

Apart from the small car for the Indian market, another small car in the company's global portfolio is the Savvy. The engine of this car is sourced from Renault. The same is supposed to be extended for Indian markets as well that is, the engine for the upcoming car might me sourced from Renault.

Its been more than a decade now that the company has been looking forward to debut in the Indian market. Initially there were news that the company is in talks with Hindustan Motors to take up a joint venture which was later shelved due to some financial constraints.

Source:- Proton to launch a small car in India - New Cars

Yamaha to increase its rural market share

Major two-wheeler players of Indian auto market, India Yamaha Motor is planning to establish its strong position in the rural market. The company is targeting to increase its sales to double digit in rural market by the next 5 years. The fully owned Indian subsidiary of the Japanese giant Yamaha sold 2.2 lakh two-wheelers in the Indian auto market last year.

Now, the company is expecting to grow its total sales by up to 30 percent in the current calender year. Besides, India Yamaha Motor intends to open 1,000 new outlets in sub-urban and remote areas of the country by 2014. Pankaj Dubey, National Business Head of India Yamaha Motor said,"We will focus to strengthen our presence to continue growth in the rural market.

The company has seen till now a good sales in big cities of Urban areas. The rural two-wheeler market is not fully used and hence gives a large growth potential, he added. The company is also planning to introduce its new 125cc bike, Yamaha SZ soon in India. It will also suppose to increase its sales volume in the rural areas. On the other hand, world's major sports bike player, Ducati motor has launched its most popular Ducati Monster in the Indian auto market.

Source:- Yamaha to increase its rural market share - Bikes in India

Ford Mustang AV-X10 2010 Auto Gallery

Ford Mustang AV-X10 2010

Ford Mustang Warriors In Pink 2009 Car Pictures

Ford Mustang Warriors In Pink 2009

Car Market witnessing a flurry of buyers

The Indian automotive market is blooming like never before. Major car makers across all segments are busy redesigning their existing range or are involved in launching brand new cars in the Indian market. The purchasing power of the Indian buyers also seems to be on an all time high as the rush and blitz at various company showrooms is maddening.

With the demand increasing at a lightening speed, the car manufacturers are finding it difficult to meet the demands but are happy with such a positive response from the buyers. Most of the car models, whether they are the existing rulers are new entrants, are witnessing long waiting periods that on an average is around 2 months.

Maruti Swift has been the pride of the company since the time it was launched. Both Maruti Swift and Maruti Swift Dzire have waiting periods of upto two months. Joining the league is the Van-based model Maruti Eeco. Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo, Chevrolet Cruze and Chevrolet Beat are the latest entrants in the Indian market and have already become immensely popular amongst the buyers.

The buyers are seen lined up at the company showrooms carrying the booking amounts, to be amongst the early buyers and make efforts to shorten the waiting periods. These companies are forced to ramp up their production in order to meet the demands. Ford and Volkswagen have already started with the second round of manufacturing.

Ford India is also planning to recruit 700 new employees with a view to meet the demands and occupy the expanded manufacturing capacities. One model that needs a special mention in this regard is Toyota Fortuner, an SUV that has been immensely popular ever since it was launched. Toyota Motors had to indeed stop further bookings of the car as the demand was much more than the company had expected.

Source:- Car Market witnessing a flurry of buyers - New Cars

Malaysia's Proton to launch a new compact car in India

Proton, a Malaysia based car maker, is planning to make its debut in the Indian market with launching a small car with a competitive price tag. The new car will be based on the the EMAS concept to which company has presented at the Geneva Auto show last month. The new small car will be a five-door hatchback designed by an Italian firm Italdesign Giugiaro. The concept which was shown at the Geneva auto show was a four-seater model with a total length of 3,550-mm.

The company is aiming to sell this car in markets like India and China, which are one of the fastest growing auto-markets in the world. Besides this new small car, the company has another compact car 'Savvy' in its global portfolio. The Savvy model will be powered with a 1200cc engine which will be out-sourced from Renault. It is speculated that the company may look for possibilities of sourcing engines from Renault for its India bound compact car too, as Renault has invested heavily at its engine production facility in Chennai. However, there is no confirmation form either of the company on this regard.

Its about a decade since the company is planning to enter in the Indian market, but due to the financial problems the company had rescheduled its plans. Last year, the company was in talks with the Hero group for a joint venture in India but these talks couldn't reached to the fruition.

Source:- Malaysia's Proton to launch a new compact car in India - New Cars

Mahindra bids for S Korean SUV maker Ssangyong

Mahindra & Mahindra, country's largest SUV maker has made bids to buy Ssangyong Motor Corp, a South Korea’s bankrupt firm. Interestingly, Renault group, a France based leading car maker which has recently ended a 5 year old joint venture with Mahindra group, has also made bids for this Korean firm. The Mahindra and Renault had entered into a partnership in year 2005 when both of the companies started manufacturing Logan sedan in India. But due to the recently surfaced differences on the issues like pricing and designing the joint venture came to an end in April 2010.

The bidding value for Ssangyong Motor Corp, which has around 2% market share in the Korean market, is expected to be in the range of $300-$500 million. The company sales some of the popular SUV's in the Korean market including Rexton and Kyron which will definitely help Mahindra & Mahindra in enhancing its operations in markets like South-Korea if it gets succeed in buying this bankrupt firm.

Company's expertise lies in turning around sick companies and therein lies the primary synergy for its interest in the company. It has identified value in this company and therefore, has put in a bid for the same, said Mr Pawan Kumar Ruia, in a statement to a leading business daily.

Source:- Mahindra bids for S Korean SUV maker Ssangyong - New Cars

2010 New Lotus Sports Cars Exige S240

British performance sports car manufacturer Lotus has officially unveiled their 2010 Lotus Exige S240. While Lotus fans will recognize this as a very subtle update, the grille and rear wing facelift is a step forward for the mark. The exciting new 2010 Lotus Exige S240 enters the United States and Canadian markets in the fall of 2009 with new front styling, a new rear wing and the same rare combination of exceptional performance and high efficiency.

2010 New Lotus Sports Cars Exige S240

The Lotus Exige S240 features a roof integrated air intake scoop feeds air through the air-to-air intercooled and supercharged 1.8 liter Lotus-tuned and Toyota-sourced 2ZZ-GE engine with Intelligent Variable Valve Timing (VVT-i) to provide 240hp at 8,000 rpm and 170 ft.-lbs. of torque at 5,500.

The 2010 Lotus Exige S240 sprints to 60 mph in a blistering 4.1 seconds and the 100 mph barrier sails by in approximately 10 seconds with top speed is 150 mph. The Lotus Exige S240 is equipped with a 6-speed transaxle synchromesh transmission, traction control and launch control. New for 2010, the optional Track Package will include adjustable Ohlins dampers with threaded spring perches and remote oil reservoirs front and rear.

The Lotus Exige is a renowned high performance coupe that has a well earned reputation as the choice for drivers who demand uncompromised performance, both on the road and on the track. The 2010 Exige S240 introduces a few key enhancements to update the appearance and improve aerodynamic performance. A restyled front end and new larger, low drag rear wing, not only reduces drag, but also gives a more muscular stance enhancing the lightweight shrink-wrapped look of the whole car.

Passing along lessons learned on the track with the Exige GT3 racing program, Lotus Sport Cars has contributed another important technology – variable launch control combined with variable traction control. The launch control allows the driver to determine the number of revs they wish to use during a standing start. Having programmed that limit, the driver then holds their foot down fully on the throttle pedal and sidesteps the clutch pedal for a very quick departure from the line. The clutch damper cushions the severity of the clutch to transmission engagement to minimize the stresses to the drivetrain. The launch control also keeps wheel-spin at bay until 6 mph, after which the traction control assumes its duties.

Like all Lotus cars, the functional components of the car are also beautifully designed as Russell Carr, Chief of Lotus Design, explains, "For 2010 we have taken the already visually extreme Exige and given it even more visual drama. The changes we have integrated to the front and rear of the Exige signal an even clearer and purposeful intent. The functional rear wing is race-inspired, the new angular air intakes and full width splitter give a more hard-edged and aggressive look. Overall, the Exige appears more planted and gives the illusion that both the front and rear of the car are wider than they really are, yet without losing its agile and sleek character."

The new 2010 Lotus Exige S240 is scheduled to launch in the US and Canada in the Fall of 2009. This new 2010 Lotus Exige S240 goes on sale this fall with a starting price of $65,690 and will be available in an upgraded track package with added performance benefits. The 2010 Lotus Exige S240 will hit U.S. and Canadian markets this Autumn.