Showing posts with label Nissan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nissan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nissan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nissan. Show all posts

Friday, 30 October 2015

Toyota Auto Body Alphard Hercule Concept

Toyota Auto Body Alphard Hercule Concept

If vans have a reputation for being land yachts, why not make one into a literal rolling boat for the wealthy? The Alphard Hercule from Toyota Auto Body (a Toyota subsidiary) offers a yacht-rock take on the family hauler. From the cowcatcher grille to the folding canvas roof to the wraparound bench seats and crystal champagne flutes, the Hercule comes off as a minivan for Lex Luthor’s kids.
Toyota Auto Body Alphard Hercule Concept

Two years ago, Honda showed off the “Omni Traction Drive,” a wheel with special bands that could allow a vehicle to move sideways. The Honda Wander Stand envisions how Honda could put such an idea to use in the cramped alleys of Tokyo, with a two-seat self-driving vehicle that can scamper diagonally and park itself in tiny corners.
Honda Wander Stand

Several new cars have vanes that open or close at speed to improve aerodynamics, but what if a car could change its entire shape? Hence the Flesby, a project by Toyota satellite supplier Toyota Gosei that features several green air bags in place of bodywork. Depending on the driving situation, the bags change shape to look sportier or sleeker, like a Transformer made of Play-Doh.
Toyota Gosei Flesby

A quarter of Japan’s population is 65 or older, and the Tokyo show had a whole section devoted to personal scooters and powered wheelchairs. The Daihatsu Norioriwas designed to haul all those mobility solutions around, thanks to huge side doors, a sliding ramp, minimal ground clearance and self-driving features.
Daihatsu Noriori

“Noriori” is Japanese for “getting on and off.” Inside the van-let, the seats fold away so that wheelchairs can be parked in place.
Daihatsu Noriori side view

No automaker has ever recaptured the magic of the original Volkswagen bus, but the Suzuki Air Triser comes close. With a two-tone paint and airy cabin that can be reconfigured, the Air Triser was one of the few concepts that had some grounding in reality.
Suzuki Air Triser

When parked, the seats of the Air Triser can be folded several ways, like this near-camper effect. 
Suzuki Air Triser seats

All of the autonomous driving vehicles unveiled by automakers in Tokyo lacked two things: menace, and a robot body. Into that gap rushed Yamaha, which revealed the Motobot, a robot it says it’s developing to ride any given sport bike up to 124 mph on a racetrack. No word on when automakers would give their self-driving car systems the power to feel jealous.
Yamaha Motobot

Every auto show has a few obsessive answers to the question of “how do we get today’s tech-obsessed youth interested in cars?” Nissan’s exploration was called the Teatro For Dayz, and imagines a world where “share natives” expect to post every moment to social media
Nissan Teatro For Dayz

The Teatro For Dayz uses several projectors to cover the interior of the vehicle in video, patterns and incoming Snapchats. Of course, all of this overwhelms the actual act of driving, which the car takes care of on its own. Given today’s trends, Nissan may have a point.
Nissan Teatro For Dayz Interior

Of all the concepts at the Tokyo show, the Kikai was the sole representative of the spirit of hot-rodding. In some angles it looked like a moon buggy, in others there were hints of Ford hi-boy roadsters. While other concepts overflowed with tech, the Kikai doesn’t even have a radio
Toyota Kikai front view

Toyota said the Kikai was designed to show off the engineering usually hidden by bodywork. It seats three with the driver in the center—a move that was especially refreshing at this Tokyo show. The next Tokyo show two years from now will have even more robotic, high-tech creations; one only hopes there’s still room for the machines meant to make driving exciting.
Toyota Kikai Rear View

Monday, 4 August 2014

Road Test and Review: Nissan Terrano

Road Test and Review: Nissan Terrano



By now, most of us are familiar with the word badge engineering, thanks to the Renault-Nissan Alliance. The alliance has already brought us two great rebadged cars – Scala and Pulse. The third car born out of the partnership, the Nissan Terrano, is a rebadged Duster and this review will endeavor to find out how far the Terrano has departed from the Duster.
Nissan has thrown in some stand-out styling cues into the Terrano that clearly differentiate it from the Duster. From the front, the Terrano can easily be identified by the signature Nissan grille that is reminiscent of the Pathfinder. It's certainly the most effective element of the Terrano’s look, because it translates well into a big SUV shape. The bold lines on the V-shaped bonnet that blends seamlessly into the grille make it unmistakably a Nissan. The angular headlamps and bumper are new as well.

In profile, changes are more subtle, with curvier door panels and blacked out B and C pillars being the only difference. Alloy wheels are new as well. Save for the new tail lamps, the rear looks similar to the Duster. Looks may be subjective, but Terrano certainly scores over Duster in exterior design.
The Terrano’s interiors look similar to Duster’s and I was surprised to see the ‘French ergonomics’ carried forward into a Japanese car. Quirky controls, such as the ORVM switch under the handbrake, remain unchanged. Steering wheel has a smarter design but lacks grip. The centre console looks tad better than the Duster, owing to rectangular AC vents, storage space with a lid and piano-black finish for the audio system. Top variants come with rear AC vents but as we saw on the Duster, it is more of an inconvenience because it eats into rear legroom and the flaps cannot be adjusted. Overall, the interiors have improved, but not by a ton.
Performance
The Nissan Terrano is available with three engines – 85PS and 110PS diesels and 104PS petrol. While 110PS diesel comes with 6-speed manual, the other two get 5-speed manual. Automatic transmission is not even in the pipeline.
Since the engines, transmissions and other mechanicals remain unchanged, the Terrano drives similar to Duster. Overall performance of the petrol and 85PS diesel motors is smooth and more than adequate, especially in light of the impressive fuel economy figures. However, both the engines feel a bit strained when revved hard. The 110 PS diesel delivering 248 Nm of torque @ 2250 rpm is certainly a fun-to-drive car and remains my favourite.
Both diesel engines suffer from the inevitable turbo lag and response to the accelerator pedal is less than immediate. You need to keep the needle above the 1,200rpm mark and keep moving else the lag is felt easily.
Ride and Handling
Although Nissan is tight-lipped about any possible changes under the skin, I strongly felt a huge improvement in Terrano’s noise insulation. The cabin is significantly quieter than the Duster and offers a smoother ride. However, the diesel engines are clattery at idle and loud above 3000rpm.
Terrano handles easily and fluently and the steering feels suitably light around town, yet weighting up enough as the speed builds. Yet, the steering is very sensitive, just like the Duster, to potholes and undulations on the road and that translates into some frustrating steering feedback.

Safety
When Nissan introduced Micra in India, safety was taken to new heights as the company offered airbags across all variants. Continuing the commendable trend, Terrano comes with driver airbags even on the base variant - a great advantage over Duster. Mid and top variants have ABS with EBD on offer, too.
Nissan claims a mileage of 13.2 kmpl for the Terrano petrol, while the 110 PS diesel returns 19.01 kmpl and the 85PS delivers 20.45 kmpl.
Conclusion
In short, the Nissan Terrano comes with all virtues of the Duster, plus a little more. Prices range fromRs. 9.59 lakh for the base variant to Rs. 12.44 lakh for the top trim. That makes the Terrano up to Rs. 70000 (approximate) more expensive than the Duster across variants. No doubt, the Terrano looks more mature and modern, but is it worth paying the extra just for better appearance and enhanced safety? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Monday, 26 May 2014

Road Test and Review:

Road Test and Review: Renault Fluence



By all means, Fluence was the perfect car to mark Renault’s entry into Indian market. Even though it didn’t sell in huge numbers, Fluence left an impression with its massive road presence and impeccable driving dynamics. As Fluence gets a second chance, the French marque’s roots have grown deep enough to make the car a comeback kid. Lets find out what’s new in the new Fluence. 

Design

Always a graceful car, the Fluence now gets a new front-end treatment with the Renault family face integrated into it. New glossy black grille now houses a large Renault badge and headlamps get projectors and shiny black mask with chrome eyelashes. All-new front bumper is complete with daytime running lights, fog lamps and new air intakes. Body-coloured side cladding and new alloy wheels are a welcome change in profile. 


There are minor yet noticeable changes on the interior, too. A silver insert across the dual-tone dashboard looks elegant and upmarket. There are silver touches on the steering wheel, around the gear knob housing and speedometer. Ah, the fantastic deign of the speedometer is gonna sweep you away, especially during night driving. 

The Renault Fluence scores over its competitors in terms of space, however, rear headroom is inadequate for tall passengers.  At 530 litres, the Fluence boasts of the second biggest boot in its segment. Top variant comes with dual zone climate control and leather upholstery while rear A/C vents, sunblinds and 8-speaker music system come as standard.


Performance

The new Fluence is available only in diesel – a 1.5-litre dCi delivering 110PS and 240Nm. It may be the least-powerful engine in the segment, but it isn’t as bad as the figures suggest. Turbolag under 2000rpm is annoying, especially in the city. There’s a sudden surge in power past 2000rpm, but you need to keep the engine on the boil to keep you entertained. It might not be as much fun to drive as many competitors, but on the flipside you get an impressive fuel economy of 20.4kmpl (ARAI tested).



Ride and Handling

I admire this car for its handling prowess. Hurl it around corners and the Fluence remains composed and planted to the ground. Steering precision and high-speed stability are equally impressive. Ride quality and overall refinement are completely acceptable, with the engine and road noise remarkably isolated.

Safety

Safety is top priority as Fluence gets two front and two side airbag, rain sensing wipers, dusk sensing headlamps, ESP, Traction Control, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist. Fluence also gets an anti-rust warranty of 5 years / 1 lakh km and best in class warranty of 4 years / 80,000km.

Bottom-line

When Fluence was first introduced, Renault had just 14 dealerships, and now, they’ll have up to 175 by the end of the year. The grand success of Duster helped the company build a stronger presence in the industry, too. In this better environment, the Fluence is sure to garner success it always deserved.

The new Fluence is priced at Rs 13.99 lakh for the base E2 variant and Rs 15.49 lakh for the top-end E4 variant.

Saturday, 1 February 2014

Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The 12th edition of the Auto Expo is all set to begin on 7th February. With as many as 70 new cars expected to break cover during the event, the 2014 Auto Expo will be the biggest India has ever witnessed. As we are gearing up for the comprehensive coverage, here’s a look at the 10 hottest launches to watch out for.


Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Celerio will introduce Auto Gear Shift, which will have the flexibility of both manual mode and auto drive mode in the same car, with a simple shift of gear lever. Maruti claims a mileage figure of 23.1kmpl
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Hyundai Grand i10 was one of the most popular launches of 2013. Hot on the heels of this grand success, Hyundai will unveil a sedan version of the Grand
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Expected to be launched in February 2014, the Grand sedan will be priced aggressively to take on Honda Amaze and Maruti Dzire
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Nissan has re-launched the Datsun brand after 32 years. Datsun will launch its first car early this year called the Datsun GO. The Datsun GO will be priced under Rs. 4 lakhs in India and will be powered by a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder engine, paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The same engine does duty on the Nissan Micra Active, producing 68 PS and 104 Nm. However in the Datsun GO, the company might detune the engine in the interest of boosting fuel economy
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Honda will re-launch the revised Jazz in 2014. Although the first generation Jazz had a much-loved design, poor pricing resulted in bad sales
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The 2014 Jazz will certainly be aggressively priced and will also have the advantage of a diesel powertrain and a futuristic design
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

VW's Taigun is likely to be the first car on the Up platform (codename: PQ12) to come to India. The Taigun concept, based on a stretched version of the VW Up's NSF (New Small Family) platform, made its debut at the Sao Paolo International Motor Show in October last year and previews VW's future SUV face
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

With its bold, clean styling, the Taigun is sure to appeal to the Indian psyche. It looks a lot less radical than the Ford EcoSport and its less controversial lines are designed to appeal to everyone and offend no one. As for the interiors, VW designed it to resemble the simplicity of the latest smartphones. Its clean, minimalist look aims at being visually clear and simple to use
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Mobilio, the third car to be built on the Brio platform, marks Honda’s entry into the MPV segment in India. The Mobilio will be available with the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol and 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel options
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Both engines will be mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The production version of the Mobilio is expected to be unveiled at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Audi is all set to unveil its A3 sedan at the Auto Expo. It is Audi’s first compact sedan in the luxury segment to come into the Indian market
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Along with the A3, Audi will also showcase special editions of Q3, Q5, the sportier SQ5, Q7 and its recently launched sports car Audi RS 7 Sportback
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The BMW 3 Series GT will be one of the most important launches by the Bavarian carmaker at the Delhi Auto Expo
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The GT model is 200mm longer, 50mm taller and 17mm wider than the regular 3 Series model. The GT 3 Series comes with a 2-liter diesel engine producing 184bhp, while the petrol variant gets 2.0-liter motor developing 245bhp of power output
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Mercedes-Benz India will unveil the dynamically styled Concept GLA and CLA45 AMG at the 12th edition of the Auto Expo. Focusing on the company’s ‘Year of Excellence’ strategy, Mercedes-Benz will also launch its first SUV Guard 
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The AMG 2.0-liter turbo engine, with a maximum output of 265 kW (360 hp) and up to 450 Newton meters of torque, is the most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine in series production in the world
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

Hyundai will launch the new Santa Fe in India at the Auto Expo. The full-sized SUV is expected to undercut Toyota Fortuner in terms of pricing when it is launched. To achieve this Hyundai will assemble the Santa Fe at its Chennai plant
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for

The new Santa Fe will have a more appealing presence, derived from Hyundai’s fluidic design philosophy
Auto Expo 2014: 10 launches to watch out for







Wednesday, 28 November 2012

50 new cars expected in 2013

The Maruti Suzuki A-Star will get a minor facelift and is expected to be launched in March 2013. Prices might be revised downwards to boost sales.
50 new cars

GM's hot seller in India will get cosmetic updates. The 2013 Beat will be launched in April and looks sharper than before.
50 new cars

The Toyota Etios Liva Sport will draw power from Etios sedan's 1.5-litre 89 BHP petrol engine. It is expected to hit showrooms in April 2013.
50 new cars

Volkswagen will launch quite a few variants of the Polo in 2013 including more powerful engines - 1.2 TSI petrol and 1.6 TDI diesel.
50 new cars

Fiat will launch the upgraded Punto Evo by June 2013. It has changes to both the exteriors and interiors but mechanicals are expected to remain the same
50 new cars

The stunning A-Class is already a success in Europe. The vehicle will be launched in May 2013 and will become the entry-level Mercedes vehicle in India.
50 new cars

The new Volkswagen Beetle was showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo. It features various changes and will be brought in as a CBU model
50 new cars

The next generation Hyundai i10 will be bigger than the current one. It will be launched by the end of 2013 and could feature a 1.1-litre diesel engine
50 new cars

The Cross Polo is Volkswagen's temporary answer to compact SUVs till the Taigun arrives in India. This vehicle will be priced around Rs. 10 lakhs.
50 new cars

The 1-Series will become the entry-level BMW in India, when it is launched late next year. It will be locally assembled at BMW's Chennai facility.
50 new cars

Tata Motors will launch the diesel Nano by the end of 2013. The Nano diesel will be priced around Rs. 2.5 lakhs and will easily be the most frugal car in the country.
50 new cars

BMW will give its MINI, diesel power next year. This will make the MINI Cooper more desirable, with increased mileage and lower running costs.
50launches

Honda's first diesel car in India, the Amaze is a sub 4-metre sedan which will take on Maruti Suzuki's Swift DZire.
50launches

Tata Motors will fill the gap between the Indigo CS and Manza by launching a sub 4-metre Manza by September 2013. It will be powered by a 1.3-litre diesel engine
50launches

GM will launch the sedan version of the Sail early next year. This Chevy will be powered by petrol and diesel engines and will be priced between Rs. 6.5 - 8 lakhs.
50launches

The Nissan Sunny will get a CVT automatic gearbox. It will be powered by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine which does duty in the current Sunny.
50 new cars

Skoda will give minor styling changes to the Superb. The vehicle will continue to use the same set of engines as it does currently.
50 new cars

Renault will give the Scala an automatic gearbox as well. This will be the same CVT unit which will first debut on the Sunny AT.
50launches

After the launch of the S4, Audi plans to launch the S6 in India, which is a performance version of the A6.
50 new cars

Mercedes-Benz will launch a minor facelift of the E-Class by mid-2013. Changes are mainly cosmetic
50launches

The new Honda Accord will be launched in India by May 2013. It will still not get a diesel engine.
50 new cars

The facelifted BMW 7-Series will be launched in India next year. It will also become the most expensive car to be locally assembled in India.
50 new cars

Fiat will launch the Linea facelift in the last quarter of 2013. The vehicle will get minor changes to the exteriors.
50 new cars

Jaguar will launch the XJ Ultimate early next year. This vehicle will cost in excess of Rs. 1.2 crore and will be even more luxurious.
50 new cars

The Ford Fiesta received a facelift recently, which will go on sale in India by November 2013. The front is inspired from Aston Martin cars
50 new cars

Honda's popular City will finally get a 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine by the end of next year. This engine will boost sales of the City drastically
50 new cars

Mahindra's sub 4-metre Verito will benefit from lower excise duties. It will be launched early next year and will be powered by a 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine
50 new cars

Jaguar will give the XF a new 4-cylinder 2.2-litre diesel engine, which will help it to compete with the German trio on pricing.
50 new cars

The first Skoda to be built on VW's new MQB platform, the Octavia III will be bigger than the current Laura, which it replaces
50 new cars

Renault will give the Duster 4-wheel drive by the end of next year. This will be offered on the top of the line 110 BHP diesel variant.
50 new cars

BMW will launch the X1 facelift early next year. The vehicle gets a new 8-speed automatic gearbox
50launches

The new Honda CR-V will be launched with a petrol engine only. It features improvements in many areas but no diesel for India yet
50launches

The most awaited car in India, the Ford EcoSport will be launched with both petrol and diesel engines in 2013. It will be priced aggressively.
50launches

Audi will launch the facelifted Q5 next year. The vehicle gets minor cosmetic updates along with slight revisions to the interiors.
50 new cars

The sharp looking Santa Fe gets the Fluidic treatment. Hyundai will offer very powerful engines on this SUV
50 new cars

The Volvo V40 Cross Country will rival the BMW X1. It will be priced around Rs. 28 lakhs and will be launched early next year.
50launches

Force Motors will launch the new Gurkha Trax. This vehicle measure less than 4-metres in length and will be powered by a Mercedes engine
50launches

Land Rover will launch the mildly updated Freelander 2 by May 2013. It will feature many changes to the interiors.
50launches

It is Nissan's time to re-badge Renault cars. The company will launch the Duster based SUV, which will share most of its parts with Renault's Duster
50 new cars

Mahindra will launch a thoroughly improved Thar, which will get better interiors along with a new diesel engine.
50 new cars

The new Ford Endeavour will get more powerful diesel engines along with all round improvements to the SUV.
50launches

Chrysler's entry into India will be through the Jeep brand. The first Jeep to be launched will be the Grand Cherokee, which comes via the CBU route
50launches

Maruti Suzuki will launch the production version of the XA Alpha by the end of next year. It will share underpinnings with the Swift
50launches

GM will launch the Enjoy MPV early next year. This SAIC product will be aggressively priced to take on the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
50launches

Ashok Leyland will launch the re-badged Evalia, calling it the Stile. It will be more appealing than the Nissan version of the NV200.
50launches

Force Motors will launch their own version of the Viano MPV. This vehicle will be priced around Rs. 15 lakhs and will feature Mercedes powertrain.
50launches

Hyundai will enter the MPV space with the launch of the production version of the Hexa Space, which was showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo
50launches

Audi will launch the 2013 R8 which was recently unveiled. This supercar gets minor updates to boost all round appeal even further
50launches

Jaguar's Paris showstopper, the F-Type will go on sale in the Indian market by June 2013. It will offer splendid performance and style
50launches

Lamborghini's hottest car ever, the Aventador Roadster will hit showrooms by December 2013. It will be priced above Rs. 4 crore
50launches