“Harmony between rider and machine.” YAMAHA’s Human Technology involves studying the form of the motorcycle actually in motion with the rider on it. The R series is the embodiment of 1) a wide frontal space that protects the rider, 2) an easy to ride seating area that gives riders the freedom of movement and allows them to steer effectively, 3) the glamorous tail treatment that takes into account the management of airflow behind the rider, and 4) a sensual racing form that brings all 3 of these elements together in a harmonious package. These characteristics have been splendidly reproduced in the YZF-R15.

Design & Styling

The “R” Design: This characteristic of motorcycles designed by Yamaha as represented by the R series reflects the philosophy running through these models — expressing performance visually.

For example, YZF-R6 shows a strong body line that springs up in a single line from the rear axle to the pivot and then to the head pipe. This is a visual expression of the straight shape of the Deltabox frame. These elements are a visual expression of “frame rigidity.” Viewed from the side, the shape created by the side panel and the upper surface of the tank creates an impression of the center of gravity shifting to the front tire.

Reviews

Some people say that it has narow tyres, they were specially made for R15, having soft rubber and different raddi, complete tubeless providing 3 times better grip that Pulsar and about 2 times better that Karizma in my view. Before riding this I loved Karizma, coz it was better than Pulsar, but those two feel to be pieces of srap of primitive machines when comapred to R15. Dont check the speed and pickup. Ride it above 120 km/hr you will forget about the price and comparisons.

While the chassis and suspension are brilliantly sorted out, what took the cake for us, owing to their Indian connection, were the superb 80/90-17 inch front and 100/80-17 inch rear MRF Zapper FY and Zapper S tyres. Yamaha have developed these tyres exclusively with MRF, based on the testing data they acquired at the Sugo circuit in Japan. Yamaha didn’t want to compromise on grip and they didn’t want to use meaty tyres either, as it would have eaten into the performance of the bike. So they custom built these new soft compound tyres in association with MRF to equip the bike with superior traction, without making the acceleration and top speed suffer. Even under hard braking, the skinny looking front rubber defies is diminutive width by providing loads of grip and assurance.

The 150cc liquid cooled Yamaha R15 would likely support a price tag of Rs. 1 Lakh and even though the full specifications haven’t been made public, it is expected to be the next performance king in India (barring its more powerful imported siblings). Here is a teaser of the Yamaha R15 that Yamaha has release to build up excitement prior to the much awaited launch.

Since its complete redesign in 2006, the Hyundai Sonata is able to directly compete with the Audi A6, Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry. The 2007 Hyundai Sonata is an exceptional car. Made in Alabama, the vehicle is available in three trims, has a MSRP ranging from $17,195 – $22,995, and averages 24/34 mpg. If you are contemplating adding the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, or the Chevy Malibu to your repertoire we suggest taking the 2007 Sonata for a spin. Logo aside, in a blindfold test you will be hard pressed to tell the difference between the new Sonata and its more expensive Japanese/European counterparts. One of the main attractions of the 2007 Sonata is the anti-branding of not having a badge linked to your identity.

All Hyundai cars are delivered with an extensive warranty and competitive prices, which are only pluses when looking at the Sonata’s advantages in terms of interior quality, space, features, capable engines and exterior design.

The V6 is fun to drive and more responsive than the four-cylinder, which in itself performs well, is quiet, and fuel economic. The Sonata’s ride is comfortable and feels refined, especially when cruising on the highways, while the handling suits everyday driving.

Reviews

The 2007 Hyundai Sonata is a stylish new vehicle. While the old version reminded many car patrons of a Jaguar in terms of style, the 2007 version looks even better, with a front lamp that resembles an Audi and a backside that looks like an Accord. The thin roof pillars and the driver’s upright position also contribute to its esthetic value.

Aside from its impressive styling, the 2007 Sonata is a smooth ride. It’s interiors are spacious and comfortable. The driving position it excellent. Passengers will appreciate the ample head and leg room at the back, even for large adults. The wide door openings and expansive footwells make it easy to enter or exit the car. The seats themselves are very comfortable although some have suggested putting in firmer padding for those long-distance drives.

For a hybrid car, its performances are really great. You will have almost the same performance like a normal car fueled with petrol but you will surely feel the difference when it comes to fuel usage. This lovely Hyundai Sonata is one of the most economical cars ever created and even though it will be a bit expensive, it will be worth every penny when you think in a longer perspective. This car was one of the best hybrid cars created but technology evolves quickly and we will see better cars in the future.

Tata Indigo XL is equipped with improved interior upholstery, hi-end music system, latest communication technology, 06 way powered front seat with built-in LCD screen. This offering from Tata Motors Ltd. is teamed with advanced 1.4 litre engines - the refined 16 valve Twin Cam petrol version delivering 101 PS, and the silent, high torque 70 PS DICOR (common rail) diesel version.

The biggest change is in the front end. Tata has gone for a bigger look, so both front and rear bumpers are fuller, better integrated and smarter-looking. There have been no sheet metal changes due to the higher costs involved, but Tata has made the most of a grille that is an extension of the plastic bumper. Read that as cheap to redesign. The headlamps too are new and in effect larger than the old units. They now look sharper with the twin circular elements and the turn indicators moved above the main lighting unit. These changes have made the front look effectively new. It is still instantly recognisable as an Indigo, but the face-lift has given the car a mature look.

Tata Motors company of India has launched Tata Indigo as a large car in India. Tata Indigo is a premium, luxury and multi purpose vehicle. Tata Indigo car is produced in India. This car is offered by us with air conditioning as well as without air conditioning. The seating capacity of this car is of 5 persons including driver with comfortable and spacious seats. You can rent this car for traveling anywhere in India by Indo Vacations.

The new Indica is longer and wider than the V2. The new Indica would be powered by a 1.3 liter quadra jet common rail diesel engine and a 1.2 liter VVT petrol engine which would be manufactured at the Fiat-Tata plant at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra. The new Indica would have larger 14 inch wheels with 175/65 spec tubeless tyres and finally the tyres fill up the wheelarch unlike the current Indica.

Reviews

Purchased tata indigo diesel in 2006 and sold it in 2007.First the engine.Struggles in first gear even as a new car making noise cant climb steep roads.Read reviews that build quality was poor.Only on buying I realised what reviewers meant.One gets tired after travelling for an hour due to vibrations.Starter motor fails on several occassions starting problem is fear one has to live with.tata spends huge amounts on misleading advts which can be better spent on improving the car before selling it.

With output of 70bhp, the 1.4 litre turbo charged Dicor engine of 140 NM torque makes Sedan technically efficient. With low friction mechanisms and pressure injections, its environment friendly nature will certainly add popularity to it. The range of Rs. 5.25 lacs onwards earns Sedan the reputation of being one of the cheapest diesel options in the segment, which might increase its preferences over earlier diesel launch of Rs. 6.15 lacs rupees.

Safari 2.2 VTT

The brand new Safari Dicor 2.2 VTT is a complete blend of great power and style. It has been stuffed with excellent interior and exterior features like DVD / MP3 System with LCD Screen, Puddle Lamp that can illuminate the area near your safari at night and analog clock. Besides these, it consists of various other features like side foot step, power steering, rear wiper, 4 wheel drive and so on. Safety has been paid a proper attention while designing this car. It has all the safety features like Dual Air Bags, Crash Worthiness, Tiltable & Collapsible Steering Column and Demister On Rear Windscreen.

Engine

The new Tata Safari Dicor is fitted with the new generation 2.2 L Dicor (Direct injection common rail) engine that is operated by a 32-bit electronic control unit and incorporates state-of-the-art technology. While lowering emission and fuel consumption by a few notches, the new engine delivers an incredible peak power of 140 PS and a maximum torque of 320 Nm. It is equipped with a specially designed turbocharger using Variable Turbine Technology (VTT). It provides exceptional flexibility in controlling engine air requirements over extremely broad speed range & load range. This not only boosts power and torque but also lowers fuel consumption and emission under all operating conditions.

The new Safari EX comes with features such as dual-zone air conditioning with an additional roof mounted blower for faster cooling. It also has an acoustically engineered, high-end music system (Blaupunkt ‘Palm Beach’ head unit) with a front staged, five component speaker system sporting two six and a half inch woofers on the front doors and two axially aligned tweeters. These are complemented by the dual voice coil, eight inch woofer at the rear.

Reviews

Fell in love with it and bought it four years ago…have done 1.3 lakh kms…find it a fantastic SUV and still in love with it ! This car is made for highways….just sits on it like a hulk, but moves like silk.  Hey bad roads are an Indian reality;  this one is made to take them on.  The recent JD Power rating recently has placed Tata Safari as No 2 in 38 cars in India.

The Safari is a break from TELCO’s past and a quantum leap forward in manufacturing world class passenger cars. The Safari is made with modern manufacturing techniques & design processes to ensure quality. The design is very contemporary and fresh and seems to have been designed to please everyone. This machine has an imposing street presence. The Tata Safari uses the same engine that powers the Sierra Turbo SUV, the 1948cc 483DL motor. The engine is exceptionally silent and smooth, thanks to comprehensive sound deadning and further refinement of this powerplant.

Mahindra & Mahindra has joined hands with French major auto brand, Renault, to launch Mahindra Renault Logan in India. The sedan boasts of fine tuned mechanical &  technological upgradations such as three engine options in the form of 1.4, 1.6 petrol & 1.5 diesel. Each has varied speed limit as per their engine capacity which are even coordinated with a five-speed manual gearbox. The petrol engines can deliver an average of 10-13 km per litre while diesel engines can produce 16 to 19 km per litre.

Interior Looks

The important thing that will surprise you is the spaciousness of this car. As Mahindra advertises, Logan is the the most roomy car on Indian roads. Thanks to Renault’s space optimization design. There is plenty of leg, shoulder and head room and that will make you feel you are travelling in a very big car. The back seat can comfortably accommodate three persons. In fact Logan has 3 head rests for the back seat. That will give you an idea of the airy interiors in Logan. Coupled with contemporary interiors, you feel the best comfort you can get from an Indian sedan.

Mahindra Logan is available in petrol and diesel both variants and is powered by latest Common Rail Engine (CRD) based on Direct Fuel Injection. The Logan is a very wide body car in its segment and a good performer as well that offers comfortable seating for three persons in the rear seat with three separate headrests. The interiors of the car are also very good looking. The single-piece, square-shaped dashboard, nicely crafted steering wheel with the chrome Renault logo, wide instrument panel and well designed and finished gear lever are truly gracious and adds life to the interiors.

Reviews

Mahindra renault logan is an unassuming car which has the looks of a car that have been designed 10 years ago but dont let that make your judgement cos it has the sophistication of renault and the reliability of mahindra and that my friends says a lot!! This car is built to last. Once you get upclose and personal you immediately get the impression that it indestructable.

Mahindra Renault’s Logan has received more than 3,000 bookings in three weeks since its debut on April 3. The car that is launched in 11 cities initially had 25,000 inquiries so far; this is very significant considering the Logan has been launched in only 40 per cent of the markets, said Mr Rajesh Jejurikar, Managing Director, Mahindra Renault Pvt Ltd. More than 11,000 test drives were given to customers, 3,000 of which were converted to bookings. “This is a healthy ratio of over 30 per cent conversion from test drives to bookings,” said Mr Jejurikar.

Mahindra Scorpio is fitted with SZ 2600 plus DI diesel engine that gives 109 bhp of power with a great torque of 26 kgm. The 0-60 speed could be reached within 9 seconds. The petrol version of the vehicle has 116 bhp engines from Renault that reaches 0-60 in just under 8 seconds.

Design and interiors

The scorpio has shape characteristic of SUVs, its big, its chunky and has loads of road presence. This design has been an eye-catcher among SUVs and has bagged many an award for its styling. There have been no changes done to the shape of the Scorpio. Mahindra though, wanted to bring some distinction between their previous models and this new one. Hence, this new scorp now has an air intake on its hood! No, its not the same types that you will find on those big supercharged American muscle cars, sorry; this one is sealed shut and meant for just looks.

Hi-tech suspension used in Scorpio is the proves the advanced engineering perfection of Mahindra. Earlier Scorpio had leaf spring suspension which was not best fitting to the car but teaming up with world leaders lotus UK Mahindra have finally fitted the Scorpio with much needed coil spring suspension. Riding a Scorpio on its new set of coil springs and anti roll bars is an excellent experience. The new suspension has also helped improve the overall handling. It definitely is built for the Indian road conditions.

Reviews

You could end up in a serious accident and feel absolutely helpless.  if you have bought scorpio in 2002, 2003 and you have a timing belt in the engine, please pray every second you are in the car that your timing belt doesnt break.  Breaks will totally fail instantly and the steering wheel will Jam.  Imagine that happening to you while you are driving at speed over 40-50 kms/hr with your family and kids.  We need to force Mahindra and Mahindra to recall all the vehicles and make them safe for driving.    if anybody else has experienced this problem, lets come together and take it up jointly.  I paid a bill of Rs20,000 to get the fault rectified and keep the engine of death running on the road.

The wraparound, multi-reflector, clear lens type headlamp, the aggressive grille, curvaceous, impact-absorbing side cladding, fire resistant interiors, the stepped roof design to allow more headroom for passengers in the rear and the minimalist, but user-friendly dashboard have set a benchmark for the others to follow.

Audi A4 is equipped with state-of-the art safety features. These include: anti-lock brake system with vacuum power assist, electronic brake-pressure distribution (EBD), hydraulic brake assist, tire-pressure monitoring system, and head protection airbags for front and rear occupants.

This model of the Audi car is well equipped with the comfort features like ergonomic seats, three spoke leather steering wheel (optional), cruise control, concert radio, flat and two-part tail lights etc. All the safety features that ensure the reliability of the car are active had restraints, front side airbags, smooth multi tronic automatic transmission, formula1 gearshift feeling of the 6-speed tiptronic, electronic stabilization program ESP8, single frame grille, flat two section rear lights etc.

The Audi A4 is being will be available initially with a choice of two refined, powerful engines: the refined 2.0 TDI multitronic with a power-output range of 105 kW (143 bhp) and the 3.2 FSI tiptronic quattro with 195 kW (265 bhp). Both variants use the direct fuel injection principle: FSI technology for the petrol engine and the common-rail system for the TDI unit.

This is one car you may want to beg, borrow, or steal a chance, if not buy, to sit in the driver’s seat. With all its classic looks comes the clincher. At a time when fuel prices are on the rise, Audi A4, launched yesterday, drives 17 km to a litre of diesel and 12 km to a litre of petrol.

Reviews

As a part of its strategy to increase sales, the company will have 12 dealers in place by year-end, from the present seven. The company is opening five exclusive showrooms by the end of the current year in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata and Ludhiana. At present, it has showrooms in Delhi, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Pune and Chandigarh. The company plans to increase its dealer-network to 18 by next year.

It is towards the end of this year that the Audi Company will begin manufacturing the new Audi A4 from its Aurangabad facility in Maharashtra. Though the company already has five dealerships in India, it will open five more within the next six months in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kochi, Calcutta and Ludhiana to market its newly launched luxury car. Labeled as the the sportiest luxury sedan, the A4 has an overall length of 4.70 metres.

The new Honda Accord is an ideal family sedan with appealing interiors made of fine materials, superior handling, excellent performance, and a host of good safety features. This splendid car with a completely redesigned exterior and interior comes with a larger wheelbase and is highly competent for Indian roads. The cabin is very spacious and packs a lot of upscale luxury features. It comes in 3 variants - 2.4, 2.4 Elegance, and 2.4 Inspire. The engine is a 2.4-litre i-VTEC that delivers an impressive 178 bhp output. The engine is available with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic. The roomy and plush interior comes with beige leather upholstery, a dual tone dashboard, dual zone air conditioning, paddle shifters (only with AT), and an in-dash 6-CD changer with rear seat controls.

Performance

The new Honda Accord has been completely redesigned, with a larger wheel-base and Advanced & Powerful new exterior styling. The car has spacious interiors, with upscale luxury features. The overall length and width of the car has increased by 80 mm and 25 mm respectively, making its dimensions best in the class. Although the size of car becomes bigger, there has been no compromise on driving pleasure and fuel economy.

Safety features of Honda Accord

* ABS and vehicle stability assist (VSA) for great control on tough terrains.
* Omni- directional collision shielding and dual SRS (safety restrain system) airbags prevents severe injury.
* One of its kind G-Force control technology to maintain the integrity of the structure.
* Seat belt pre tensioners.
* Door and trunk lid ajar warning system.

The Honda Accord is the only car in its segment to be equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission and manual transmission with a unique ‘paddle shift’ option which could be operated using F1-racing inspired paddle switches. The chassis and body of the car have been renewed by introduction of the latest Honda technology to achieve best in class handling. Together with variable gear ratio steering the new Accord becomes quicker and more agile despite its big size.

Just as one might not be too kicked about the exterior, the interior is all new and superbly redone. Starting out with a completely new floor pan with a 2740.6mm wheelbase (up from the previous car’s 2715mm), the new Accord is not only slightly longer (4813mm as against 4810mm) but also wider (1816.1mm a against 1785mm). This has helped the packaging engineers to make for a roomier cabin with which they have now gone further forward in terms of luxurious fittings and ergonomics.

Replacing it is this, the new Zen Estilo. Adding that Estilo tag to the hallowed Zen brandname might have just saved Maruti Suzuki’s skin. I can imagine hordes of Zen lovers banging on the gates of MUL’s Gurgaon plant demanding that the Zen tag be removed from the new car - How can you call this the new Zen - it’s just a funky Wagon R!

Justifying its name ’style’, Zen Estilo wears an aerodynamic body in unique bean shape with stunning body line complimented nicely with sizzling color options. The interiors of Estilo boasts a rich fabric upholstery, ergonomically designed seats that adds up to the comfy driving pleasure for all occupants. Just step inside Zen Estilo which is soft-plush from inside and sleek-dynamic from outside, would shape your world in new dimension of comfort, style and performance.

Fresh interiors

Despite the ground clearance being similar to the Wagon-R and high shoulder line, the new Zen has a lot of glass area all around giving the interiors a well-lit, airy feel. The Maruti R&D and Suzuki engineers have collaborated to effect the design changes and the new material used for the Zen Estilo. Some of the biggest changes have been done to the interiors.

Big on the inside but small on the outside cliché works well with this car. However, you are really left wondering what to do because there isn’t much excitement inside – atleast visually apart from the well-designed and comfortable seats. The onus is on functionality. Plastics feel and look like those on any Maruti small car and that adds to the ‘Wagon R- feel’. The higher end VXi version gets all the creature comforts like power windows all round and space for a two-DIN music system. New for this segment is the electronically adjustable side mirrors - but hold on, you gotta open or close it manually. Which, ain’t that bad.

Reviews

Zen Estilo comes with premium, good-looking interiors. It’s two-tone colour theme and redesigned seats provide better support and sport fresh new upholstery to match the dual tone colour theme of the interior. The rear seats are comfortable and under thigh support is also decent but it is nowhere near the cars in the same class like the Indica, Palio or even the Santro. Zen Estilo has a 5 speed manual transmission, fed to a 1061cc 4-cylinder in-line engine. The engine is capable of providing 64bhp of power at 6200rpm and a torque of 8.56kgm at 3500rpm. With a fuel tank of 30 liters, the Estilo is perfect for a long day on the highway.

Maruti Zen Estilo Vxi has come with great features but the manufacturer had forgot to implement the basic requirements with the build quality, fit and finish. Gear shift and the quality is not upto the standard. It gives great value to the money on the road when compared with the santro or palio. Slightly it is passive when it runs with ac but compared with its variants it is the best. The back side of the car can be designed to some extend. Interios gives a modern look but it can be well designed. It is a tiny Innova.

The S320 we tested a couple of years ago was no slouch and the 350 is even quicker but marginally so. Zero to 100kph is despatched in an impressive (remember the 1.8-ton kerb weight) 9.56 seconds with 150 attained in 19.64 seconds. Also, notice that the 350 will motor you from 100 to 150kph in a scant 10.08 seconds. Floor the long travel accelerator and the big S-class feels like a 747-400 with all four Pratt & Whitneys on full shove - smooth, strong, sustained acceleration that doesn’t peter out even after you’ve crossed the 200kph mark.

The Mercedes-Benz S600 is a carryover from 2007. For the performance oriented driver, Mercedes offers two models; the S63 AMG and the S65 AMG. The S63 AMG features a 518 horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 engine. For the ultimate performance S-Class, the S65 AMG provides a 604 horsepower, twin-turbo 6.0-liter V-12 engine. Both enhance their sporting aspirations with features such as 20″ performance tires and AMG-specific bucket seats. Specially tuned computer-controlled ABC active suspension system with AMG shock absorbers delivers decidedly sharper handling characteristics.

Tomorrow’s technology in today’s car

When it comes to innovative safety technology, the S-Class has always played a pioneering role. With the launch of PRE-SAFE – the S-Class has set trends which the rest of the car industry has followed. The S-Class once again lives up to its reputation as an innovative car.

Luxury feature highlights include a navigation system, hands-free cell phone communication, a Harman Kardon audio system and of course, rich leather and wood trim. The AMG versions add 20-inch alloy wheels, an active suspension, larger brakes, sport seats and specific interior and exterior styling tweaks. Optional features for the V8 models, such as a keyless entry and start system, adaptive cruise control and an infrared night vision system, are almost all standard on the V12 models.

Reviews

It sees at night, prevents accidents, and leaves most sports cars in the dust: The ninth-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class is more than a simple luxury upgrade. Its Brake Assist Plus system uses long- and short-range radar to anticipate and avoid collisions–or, at the very least, lessen the severity of a crash–by automatically braking with full force if you don’t stomp on the brake hard enough to stop in time.

Available features on S-Class include ventilated and massaging front seats, heated/ventilated rear seat, and keyless access and starting. Also offered is a rearview camera. Mercedes’ optional Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control now operates in stop-and-go traffic as well as at higher speed. Newly optional is Mercedes’ infrared Night View Assist, which projects onto an instrument panel screen a black-and-white image of objects beyond headlight range.