2015 Chrysler 300: First Drive Chrysler’s full-size, rear-wheel-drive 300 is America’s last true “dad car.” With its strong hood, broad ...
Showing posts with label Car. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Car. Show all posts
Road Test and Review: Tata Vista D90
Road Test and Review: Tata Vista D90 Indica has been an important car for Tata. Ever since its launch in 1998, the car has evol...
Googles driverless car
Google's self-driven cars will soon be appearing on Nevada roads after the state's Department of Motor Vehicles approved on Monday...
Flying car completes first flight
Terrafugia Inc. said April 2 that its prototype flying car has completed its first flight, bringing the company closer to its goal of sell...
Mercedes planning to launch Smart in India
Mercedes-Benz had recently conducted a feasibility study of introducing the Smart in the Indian market and rumour has it that Smart would ...
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Showing posts with label Car. Show all posts
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Sunday, 11 January 2015
Driving the 2015 Chrysler 300, where every day is Father's Day
2015 Chrysler 300: First Drive
Chrysler’s full-size, rear-wheel-drive 300 is America’s last true “dad car.” With its strong hood, broad shoulders and paternal gaze, the 300 sedan is bold, confident and unmistakably American. It’s been a successful car for Chrysler, too — sales are up 48% in the four years since its last redesign — and for its 2015 update, Chrysler seems bent on not messing with success when the updated 300 starts arriving in dealerships in the first quarter of 2015.
Compared to the massively reworked 2015 Dodge Charger (which, to continue the metaphor, would be your fun uncle's car), this is as safe as a refresh gets, involving only new front and rear bumpers, grilles, wheels, and all-LED taillamps. Sport-flavored 300S models also now get blackout window trim to go with darkened headlamp bezels and gorgeous new 20-inch Y-spoke wheels; if there’s a Hemi V-8 under the hood, the 300S also gets standard sill extensions and big lip spoiler. But at the end of the day, the 300 looks more or less the same.
Interior upgrades are just as subtle, which is fine, as dads are usually suspicious of anything that changes too quickly. The blue instrument cluster is the most obvious difference, with its chronograph-inspired gauges flanking an easy-to-use, seven-inch high-resolution driver information display. The gear selector has been replaced by a Jaguar-style rotary e-shifter, and a pair of USB ports have been added in back so that kids or, just as likely, livery customers can charge their devices without cluttering up the front half of the cabin. And as ever, an analog clock remains front and center on the dash, like a grandfather clock for the car.
The 300’s revised model lineup leaves no model underequipped, with even the base $32,390 Limited model boasting standard leather seats, Chrysler’s intuitive 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect system, keyless starting, heated 12-way power front seats, capless fuel filling, and more. Chrysler expects that about 45 percent of buyers will opt for the Limited, while 15 percent will choose the more luxurious $38,890 300C model with its standard dual-pane moonroof, Nappa leather, hand-sanded wood, polished wheels, rear window sunshade, and navigation. A select few (about five percent) will get the new-for-’15, fully loaded 300C Platinum model ($43,390) with its diamond-stitched hides, open pore wood, leather-wrapped dashboard, platinum silver trim, 20-inch wheels, and a 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system. The remaining 35 percent, Chrysler estimates, will come in 300S guise, which start at $35,890 and get everything in the Limited, plus piano black and “carbon hyrdographic” trim, a 552-watt Beats sound system and a slew of performance upgrades, which we’ll get to later.
All 300 trim levels come standard with Chrysler’s Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 and rear-wheel drive. Limited, 300C and Platinum grades get the 292-hp version of the V-6, while 300S models get a 300-horse version with a tweaked exhaust system. If that’s not enough, grunt, 300S, 300C and Platinum models are available with a 363-hp Hemi V-8, the only eight-pot in the class (save for the Charger, of coures), and for the first time, every 300s comes with Chrysler’s sweet, decisive eight-speed automatic.
We took Chrysler up on its offer to drive the 2015 300 on the beautiful Hill Country roads around Austin, Texas, spending some quality wheel-time in an all-wheel-drive 300 Limited, a rear-wheel-drive 300S, and a Hemi-powered 300C. Not surprisingly, we found that the V-6 models required some cajoling to get moving with any gusto, especially when sadled with all-wheel drive, which adds another 206 pounds to the 300’s two-ton weight. Efficiency remains impressive for a full-sizer, however, with 19/31 mpg for the rear-drive model and 18/27 for the all-wheel-drive version.
The V-8 models, on the other hand, handles any acceleration requests as effortlessly as dad opening a jar — Chrysler says that the eight-speed lobbed 0.2 seconds off the V-8’s 0-60 time, to under six seconds for the Hemi-powered 300S. The penalty? Like some dads we know, this one drinks a lot: just 16/25 mpg, an improvement of one mile per gallon on the highway, but still not great.
The 300C and every all-wheel-drive 300 ride on the same “Touring” suspension, which includes 19-inch wheels with all-season tires. Thus equipped, the 300 floats nicely over bumps and undulations but is nothing we’d characterize as fun — a feel familiar to 300 buyers after more than a decade of using the now-ancient Mercedes-based chassis. The 300S, on the other hand, receives a new-for-‘15 “Sport” suspension boasting stiffer springs front and back,
as well as unique shock tuning, a larger front stabilizer bar, and a unique electric power steering calibration. Steering effort and feel are increased considerably when the “Sport” button on the dash is pressed, which also puts the engine/transmission in a more excited state, quickening shifts. Thus equipped, the 300S becomes a far more gifted dance partner on country roads; finally there's a agile 300, albeit not quite at the level of the Cadillac CTS or a BMW 5-Series. If ever there was a car for “cool” dads, the 300S is the one.
So Chrysler chose not to change it too drastically even when it had the chance this time, but that’s just fine, as the 300 was already quite comfortable in its own skin. As a big, solid, rear-drive luxury sedan that come stacked with goodies for about the same price as the tiny Audi A3 or Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, it’s easy to see why.
Chrysler’s full-size, rear-wheel-drive 300 is America’s last true “dad car.” With its strong hood, broad shoulders and paternal gaze, the 300 sedan is bold, confident and unmistakably American. It’s been a successful car for Chrysler, too — sales are up 48% in the four years since its last redesign — and for its 2015 update, Chrysler seems bent on not messing with success when the updated 300 starts arriving in dealerships in the first quarter of 2015.
Compared to the massively reworked 2015 Dodge Charger (which, to continue the metaphor, would be your fun uncle's car), this is as safe as a refresh gets, involving only new front and rear bumpers, grilles, wheels, and all-LED taillamps. Sport-flavored 300S models also now get blackout window trim to go with darkened headlamp bezels and gorgeous new 20-inch Y-spoke wheels; if there’s a Hemi V-8 under the hood, the 300S also gets standard sill extensions and big lip spoiler. But at the end of the day, the 300 looks more or less the same.
Interior upgrades are just as subtle, which is fine, as dads are usually suspicious of anything that changes too quickly. The blue instrument cluster is the most obvious difference, with its chronograph-inspired gauges flanking an easy-to-use, seven-inch high-resolution driver information display. The gear selector has been replaced by a Jaguar-style rotary e-shifter, and a pair of USB ports have been added in back so that kids or, just as likely, livery customers can charge their devices without cluttering up the front half of the cabin. And as ever, an analog clock remains front and center on the dash, like a grandfather clock for the car.
The 300’s revised model lineup leaves no model underequipped, with even the base $32,390 Limited model boasting standard leather seats, Chrysler’s intuitive 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect system, keyless starting, heated 12-way power front seats, capless fuel filling, and more. Chrysler expects that about 45 percent of buyers will opt for the Limited, while 15 percent will choose the more luxurious $38,890 300C model with its standard dual-pane moonroof, Nappa leather, hand-sanded wood, polished wheels, rear window sunshade, and navigation. A select few (about five percent) will get the new-for-’15, fully loaded 300C Platinum model ($43,390) with its diamond-stitched hides, open pore wood, leather-wrapped dashboard, platinum silver trim, 20-inch wheels, and a 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system. The remaining 35 percent, Chrysler estimates, will come in 300S guise, which start at $35,890 and get everything in the Limited, plus piano black and “carbon hyrdographic” trim, a 552-watt Beats sound system and a slew of performance upgrades, which we’ll get to later.
All 300 trim levels come standard with Chrysler’s Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 and rear-wheel drive. Limited, 300C and Platinum grades get the 292-hp version of the V-6, while 300S models get a 300-horse version with a tweaked exhaust system. If that’s not enough, grunt, 300S, 300C and Platinum models are available with a 363-hp Hemi V-8, the only eight-pot in the class (save for the Charger, of coures), and for the first time, every 300s comes with Chrysler’s sweet, decisive eight-speed automatic.
We took Chrysler up on its offer to drive the 2015 300 on the beautiful Hill Country roads around Austin, Texas, spending some quality wheel-time in an all-wheel-drive 300 Limited, a rear-wheel-drive 300S, and a Hemi-powered 300C. Not surprisingly, we found that the V-6 models required some cajoling to get moving with any gusto, especially when sadled with all-wheel drive, which adds another 206 pounds to the 300’s two-ton weight. Efficiency remains impressive for a full-sizer, however, with 19/31 mpg for the rear-drive model and 18/27 for the all-wheel-drive version.
The V-8 models, on the other hand, handles any acceleration requests as effortlessly as dad opening a jar — Chrysler says that the eight-speed lobbed 0.2 seconds off the V-8’s 0-60 time, to under six seconds for the Hemi-powered 300S. The penalty? Like some dads we know, this one drinks a lot: just 16/25 mpg, an improvement of one mile per gallon on the highway, but still not great.
The 300C and every all-wheel-drive 300 ride on the same “Touring” suspension, which includes 19-inch wheels with all-season tires. Thus equipped, the 300 floats nicely over bumps and undulations but is nothing we’d characterize as fun — a feel familiar to 300 buyers after more than a decade of using the now-ancient Mercedes-based chassis. The 300S, on the other hand, receives a new-for-‘15 “Sport” suspension boasting stiffer springs front and back,
as well as unique shock tuning, a larger front stabilizer bar, and a unique electric power steering calibration. Steering effort and feel are increased considerably when the “Sport” button on the dash is pressed, which also puts the engine/transmission in a more excited state, quickening shifts. Thus equipped, the 300S becomes a far more gifted dance partner on country roads; finally there's a agile 300, albeit not quite at the level of the Cadillac CTS or a BMW 5-Series. If ever there was a car for “cool” dads, the 300S is the one.
So Chrysler chose not to change it too drastically even when it had the chance this time, but that’s just fine, as the 300 was already quite comfortable in its own skin. As a big, solid, rear-drive luxury sedan that come stacked with goodies for about the same price as the tiny Audi A3 or Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, it’s easy to see why.
Monday, 18 August 2014
Road Test and Review: Tata Vista D90
Road Test and Review: Tata Vista D90
Indica has been an important car for Tata. Ever since its launch in 1998, the car has evolved into a capable and practical hatchback that always stayed on top of sales charts. Now in its latest Vista D90 avatar, Indica has shifted the goal posts to another pitch. Powered by a specially tuned Quadrajet diesel engine, the new Indica is a completely different animal that delivers 90PS of raw power. However, does it live up to the hype? I recently spent two days behind the wheel of the D90 to find that out.
Tata has thrown in some new design elements that reflect the sportiness of the car. However, the new bumpers and an aerodynamic rear spoiler seen in the pictures are not part of the original D90, but a body kit that you may purchase from the dealership. What come as standard are just a contrasting roof and the D90 badge at the rear.
When it comes to the interiors, the D90 receives major changes. The Manza-inspired dashboard looks pretty neat and thankfully the centre-mounted instrument cluster is back to where it belongs. The quality of dials and other bits and bobs have drastically improved. The moonlit white illumination looks classy and creates a pleasant ambiance at night.
The centre console now houses a small digital screen that shows real-time and average fuel consumption, distance-to-empty, ambient temperature and a digital clock. You also get a large multicolour touchscreen console that combines the entertainment, navigation and communication functions.
Other convenience features include 2-way adjustable steering wheel with audio/Bluetooth controls, 6-way height adjustable driver seat with lumbar support, intelligent rear wiper, electrically adjusted ORVMs, rear charging point and follow-me- home headlamps
The overall interior quality has commendably improved and like the previous editions of Indica, the D90’s USP remains the cabin space- and a lot of it.
The Quadrajet diesel engine helped by a variable geometry turbocharger and tweaked ECU develops 89bhp of power and 200 Nm of torque. As the figures suggest, the motor snarls pleasantly under the whip. Low-end drivability is really good, which means you can scamper through urban traffic without much downshifting. Turbo spools in at around 2500rpm and dipping into the torque is delightful. The engine has a strong midrange, pulling eagerly till 4500rpm before the needle glows red at 5000rpm.
The D90 accelerates from 0-100kmph in 15.5 seconds and is absolutely stable at three digit speeds. Steering is on the heavier side and it gives you a confident drive, but it could be tiresome during long drives. The D90 is also equipped with a powerful air-conditioner that doesn't sap much engine power.
Suspension has been reworked to cope with the sportiness of the car and it has certainly taken its toll on ride comfort. Compared to Vista, the D90 offers a stiffer ride on rough patches but on the flipside, it handles well and has less bodyroll. Tata has engineered the D90 with a special NVH pack and it shows. Engine roar is well contained and road noise impressively low.
The D90 comes with enough safety and security features including dual front SRS airbags, crumple zones, side intrusion beams, engine immobilizer and ABS with EBD.
Tata claims a fuel economy of 21.12 kmpl and when driven sensibly, the D90 returned 19.8 kmpl on highway (with AC turned on). While exploiting the car’s full potential, however, the figure dropped to somewhere between 14 and 15 kmpl.
Having spent several hours driving the D90, I can attest that this car is a great package and is fun to drive. More remarkable is Tata’s undying effort to improve the quality of interiors. It may not be so refined as its direct competitors, but with a starting price of Rs. 5.99 lakhs (ex-showroom New Delhi), the Vista D90 gives you the best value for money.
Pagination
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Googles driverless car
Google's self-driven cars will soon be appearing on Nevada roads after the state's Department of Motor Vehicles approved on Monday the nation's first autonomous vehicle license. The move came after officials rode along on drives on highways, in Carson City neighborhoods and along the famous Las Vegas Strip, the Nevada DMV said in a statement. The Nevada legislature last year authorized self-driven cars for the state's roads, the first such law in the United States.
Handout photo courtesy of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles shows a Google self-driven car in Las Vegas, May 1, 2012. Google's self-driven cars will soon be appearing on Nevada roads after the state's Department of Motor Vehicles approved on Monday the nation's first autonomous vehicle license. The move came after officials rode along on drives on highways, in Carson City neighborhoods and along the famous Las Vegas Strip, the Nevada DMV said in a statement. The Nevada legislature last year authorized self-driven cars for the state's roads, the first such law in the United States. That law went into effect on March
Handout photo courtesy of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles shows what the Google self-driven car sees while navigating the road network in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 1, 2012. Google's self-driven cars will soon be appearing on Nevada roads after the state's Department of Motor Vehicles approved on Monday the nation's first autonomous vehicle license. The move came after officials rode along on drives on highways, in Carson City neighborhoods and along the famous Las Vegas Strip, the Nevada DMV said in a statement. The Nevada legislature last year authorized self-driven cars for the state's roads, the first such law in the United States. That law went into effect on March 1, 2012
Handout photo courtesy of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles shows a Google self-driven car in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 1, 2012. Google's self-driven cars will soon be appearing on Nevada roads after the state's Department of Motor Vehicles approved on Monday the nation's first autonomous vehicle license. The move came after officials rode along on drives on highways, in Carson City neighborhoods and along the famous Las Vegas Strip, the Nevada DMV said in a statement. The Nevada legislature last year authorized self-driven cars for the state's roads, the first such law in the United States. That law went into effect on
A Google logo is pictured on a Street View car in Riga August 26, 2011
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Flying car completes first flight
Terrafugia Inc. said April 2 that its prototype flying car has completed its first flight, bringing the company closer to its goal of selling the flying car within the next year
This March 23, 2012 photo provided by Terrafugia Inc. shows the company's prototype flying car, dubbed the Transition, during its first flight. The vehicle has two seats, four wheels and wings that fold up so it can be driven like a car, and flew at 1,400 feet for eight minutes during the test. Commercial jets fly at 35,000 feet.
In this undated photo provided by Terrafugia Inc., the company's prototype flying car, dubbed the Transition, travels down a street with its wings folded. The vehicle has two seats, four wheels and wings that fold up so it can be driven like a car, and flew at 1,400 feet for eight minutes during its test flight on March 23, 2012. Commercial jets fly at 35,000 feet.
This undated handout photo provided by Terrafugia, shows The Terrafugia Transition shortly after a takeoff.
In this 2008 photo, the Terrafugia Transition drives down a street during road testing in Westford, Mass.
Friday, 13 April 2012
Mercedes planning to launch Smart in India
Mercedes-Benz had recently conducted a feasibility study of introducing the Smart in the Indian market and rumour has it that Smart would make it to India in 2014. Meet the car It has ample room for two people and also has space behind for two smart ebikes, which can charge their batteries on the cargo area during the journey.It is small, agile and does not need any petrol thanks to its electric drive. Thanks to the state-of-the-art electric drive with a 55 kW magneto-electric motor the zero-emission smart for-us is agile and lively to drive.
It is a logical thought. I assume in the foreseeable future, we will come to that part of the world and discuss the possibility of rolling out Smart," said Dr Dieter Zetsche, chairman, Daimler AG, the parent company of Mercedes Benz.
Smart could be priced anywhere in the range of Rs 12-15 lakh.
Smart is turning the automotive world upside down once again and challenging ideas about what an urban pickup should look like.
In a tongue-in-cheek manner the for-us signals that this is the right car for the young and young-at-heart with active lives who attach importance to low emissions and taking up minimum road space
The smart for-us translates the practical loading concept of a pickup to the reality of 21st century urban traffic for the first time.
With its exterior dimensions (length/width/height: 3547/1506/1701 mm) it could almost go unnoticed on the loading area of a typical pickup, and it is also anything but ordinary under the body.
Thanks to the state-of-the-art electric drive with a55 kW magneto-electric motor the zero-emission smart for-us is agile and lively to drive.
The design: sassy and robust with extremely short overhangs
Compared with the series-produced fortwo the smart for-us makes a powerful statement and its appearance plays with the martial image of conventional mega-pickups. Nevertheless, it greets the viewer with a friendly yet assertive face. It features convex and sensuously shaped body surfaces
Compared with the series-produced fortwo the smart for-us makes a powerful statement and its appearance plays with the martial image of conventional mega-pickups. Nevertheless, it greets the viewer with a friendly yet assertive face. It features convex and sensuously shaped body surfaces
Thanks to the 55 kW magneto-electric motor the smart for-us is agile and lively to drive
With 130 Newton metres of torque it boasts powerful, lag-free acceleration and it can overtake other vehicles with the greatest of ease.
The seat shells, which are open in the middle, are covered with a soft yellow fabric throw giving them a hammock-like seating feel.
Electric drive: zero-local-emission driving fun The electric drive of the smart for-us is based on the innovative drive concept of the smart fortwo electric drive, which will be launched from the spring of 2012
The large brand emblem is proudly sported on the grille, and the front has a pronounced three-dimensional design with an underride guard finishing off the lower part of the front end.
The longer wheelbase (2480 mm/plus 613 mm) and the track that has been widened by 50 mm on each side also emphasise the robust look of the study. At the same time the extremely short overhangs at the front and rear make it exceedingly compact
The tailboard at the rear of the smart for-us is electrically driven. When it opens first of all the cargo floor including tailboard retracts by 280 mm, then the tailgate slides down in a parallel position
A picture is worth a thousand words
In place of a conventional rear-view mirror the smart for-us features a smartphone accommodated in a holder on top of the instrument panel support. The driver can see what is happening on the road behind with the help of an integrated video camera. Stylish, uncomplicated, highly functional and easy to individualise – the two seats in the concept car are typically smart
The cargo on the 900 mm cargo area is then extremely easy to access. Sleek, taut surfaces in mother-of-pearl white combined with precisely designed technical functional elements in brushed aluminium – the interior is characterised by contrasts. Like in the smart forvision, the whole cockpit boasts aerodynamic styling for interior ventilation
A picture is worth a thousand words
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