New R8 GT Launched

The new R8 GT is launched which is a menace and a creation of rocket science. The Germans sent the car for a diet and it resulted lose of 100kgs. The new R8 GT has better features and is surely fast on those straights. Claiming a top whack of 320kmph the car throttles to three digit mark in 3.6seconds. All they have done is installed the same V10 FSI engine in the new R8 GT which is hyper tuned. Carbon fiber has played a major role in designing the new R8 GT.

Most of the components are fitted with use of carbon fiber. It has a rear spoiler which is stationery unlike the Lambo’s. If you need to buy it ensure there are no 332 men in the list. Only 333 Audi R8 GT will be manufactured so you need to be the lucky one. The cost of the R8 GT is 193,000 Euros. The car itself is a creation of destruction but if you wish to include a U-235 nuclear type arms the R8 GT has a additional race pack available which can be installed in the car.

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Hero Honda Karizma ZMR Vs Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi

A shot comparison will help your mind in selecting the best bike available in the Indian auto industry. The Bajaj Pulsar 220 is one of the cheapest bikes which have looks, power and economy. On the other hand there is the Hero Honda Karizma ZMR which has power and features. Well if compared top performance wise then both of them have equal powers which are top notch at the moment. The Pulsar does 145kmph and the ZMR does 135kmph or 140kmph if power shifting. But if cost is present in between then the situation goes out of control.

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Chevrolet Beat VS Fiat Grande Punto

You might think why is this comparison done, the Beat and the Punto are two opposites in terms of luxury and power. Well let’s put the paper aside and see the reality. Lots of them think it’s a Fiat and has more power and output. When you pin the accelerator pedal for power shifts the Beat boosts ahead of the Punto. The economy is superb with a hint of speed. The interiors are well garnished for luxury and power.

The Punto on the other hand is a hyped machine which can do wonders only if you are ready to listen to the car. It has superb handling and needs the hand of an expert to drive it around in style. The Beat on the other hand is easy to drive, free to abuse the accelerator anytime you wish. The need of a hatchback can arise when you need to take your family out or just push off the highway for a drive. Safety wise the Beat lacks behind but the top model is available which is at the cost of the basic Punto.

	Scooty Pep	Honda Activa
Engine Type	In-Line Engine	Petrol
Engine Description	1.2L 80bhp S-TEC II engine	1.2L, 1172cc, FIRE Petrol engine producing 68PS of max power with 96Nm of max torque
Engine Displacement (cc)	1199	1172
No. of Cylinders	4	4
Maximum Power	80 @ 6200 rpm	68PS @ 6000rpm
Maximum Torque	108 @ 4400 rpm	96Nm @ 2500rpm
Valves Per Cylinder	4	4
Valve Configuration	DOHC	NA
Fuel Supply System	MPFI	NA
Turbo Charger	No	No
Super Charger	No	No

Chevrolet Beat LS		Fiat Grande Punto 1.2 Dynamic
Transmission
Transmission Type	Manual	Manual
Gear box	5 Speed	Five Speed Manual Transmission Gearbox
Suspension System
Front Suspension	McPherson Strut-Type with Anti-Roll Bar	Independent Wheels Suspension with McPherson Struts, Helical Springs
Rear Suspension	Compound Link Type	Torsion Beam, Helical Springs, Double Acting Telescopic Dampers and Stabilizer Bar
Shock Absorbers Type	Gas Filled	NA
Steering
Steering Type	Power	Power
Steering Column	Tilt	Power assisted rack & pinion
Brake System
Front Brake Type	Disc	Ventilated Discs
Rear Brake Type	Drum	Drum
Fuel
Mileage-City (kmpl)	14.5	12.0
Mileage-Highway (kmpl)	18.6	16.2
Fuel Type	Petrol	Petrol
Fuel Tank Capacity (liters)	50	45
Tires
Tire Size	155/70 R14	165/80 R14
Tire Type	Tubeless Radial Tyro	Radial/Tubeless
Wheel Size	14 inches	NA
Other Specifications
Seating Capacity	5	5 Persons
No of Doors	5	5
General Car Details
Country of Assembly	India	India
Country of Manufacture	India	India
Discontinuation Date	2025-01-01	2025-01-01
Introduction Date	2010-01-04	2010-03-15
Warranty Time	3 years	NA
Warranty Distance	100000 km.	NA
Price ex-showroom
Mumbai	Rs 3, 80, 094	Rs 4, 72, 784
Delhi	Rs 3, 62,353	Rs 4, 57, 167

Interiors and looks
Both of them have the same interiors space. They have the capacity to accommodate 5 adults with ease. Interiors of the Beat are bit less in the basic model. You might not find all that jazzy stuff in it which is seen in the Punto. The Punto on the other hand has all that you need to make it a future car. Both interiors are spacious and provide access to 5 adults with ease.

Handling quality
In this section the Punto goes ahead as it is superb to handle. Cornering on the Punto is like gliding over butter with a hot spoon. It will melt in any direction you head out with your spoon. The Beat has grunt in handling over corners. The reason for this is the height of the vehicle. The Beat is superb in straights and bit wobbly in turns compared to Punto.

Engine and feel
The engine of Punto is designed for luxury. You might not feel to leave the car anytime of the day. The engine from Fiat is simply perfect. 5 speed gear box ensures you to have a remote control carexperience. The Beat engine is also superb, since both of them have 1.2 liter power house inside the bonnet they churn out lot of power.

Time to go to the ATM
This is a tough choice which can be solved with money and choice. Well if you have the moneyand think the name can pull off your profile the Punto is the best option. If you don’t wish to spend anything on the car for the next 3 years (Servicing cost included) then the Beat is the best option. It’s economical to run the Beat than spending all the time for Punto.

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Hyundai i20 Vs Fiat Punto

The i20 is famous for its power and comfort. On the other hand the Punto is all favored car for its red Ferrari color, power, looks and style. No one can pull out the look of a hatchback apart from the Punto. Well if you want some Both of them have the capacity to accommodate 5 adults.

What lacks behind is power, though they are hatchback, oversized weight has reduced power. Well if you are looking for a mid size car which can squeeze through traffic and deliver topnotch performance at affordable price, you are at the right place. Well this comparison will tell you all the details which you look in an investment which has wheels.

Hyundai i20		Fiat Punto
Engine Type	In-Line Engine	Petrol
Engine Description	1.2L 79bhp, Aluminum 4-cyl.	1.2L, 1172cc, FIRE Petrol engine producing 68PS of max power with 96Nm of max torque
Engine Displacement (cc)	1197	1172
No. of Cylinders	4	4
Maximum Power	80 Bhp @ 5200 rpm	68PS @ 6000rpm
Maximum Torque	11.4 @ 4,000 (kgm@rpm)	96Nm @ 2500rpm
Valves Per Cylinder	4	4
Valve Configuration	DOHC	NA
Fuel Supply System	MPFI	NA

Hyundai i20 Era Petrol		Fiat Grande Punto 1.2 Dynamic
Transmission
Transmission Type	Manual
Gear box	5 Speed	5 Speed
Suspension System
Front Suspension	McPherson struts with coil spring	Independent Wheels Suspension with McPherson Struts, Helical Springs
Rear Suspension	Coupled torsion beam axle with coil spring	Torsion Beam, Helical Springs, Double Acting Telescopic Dampers, Stabilizer Bar
Shock Absorbers Type	Gas Filled	NA
Steering
Steering Type	Power	Power
Steering	Column Tilt & Telescopic	Power assisted rack & pinion
Turning Radius (wheel base)	5.20 m	5.4m
Brake System
Front Brake Type	Disk	Ventilated Discs
Rear Brake Type	Drum	Drum
Fuel
Mileage-City (kmpl)	11.5	12.0
Mileage-Highway (kmpl)	15.0	16.2
Fuel Type	Petrol	Petrol
Fuel Tank Capacity (liters)	45	45
Tires
Tire Size	175/70 R14	165/80 R14
Tire Type	Tubeless Radial Tire	Radial/Tubeless
Wheel Size	14 in.	NA
Other Specifications
Seating Capacity	5	5
No of Doors	5	5

Interiors and looks
The Punto is spacious and has ample space. It has features and gadgets which are designed for human comfort. Too many gadgets surround the cabin which is really not required. It has increased the cost of the vehicle which is just a waste. On the other hand the interiors of the i20 are carved with perfection. You might feel at home while driving this wonderful machine. Gadgets are present in this car too but they are not going to divert your attention from driving.

Engine and feel
The Italians have installed a lot of power inside the Punto. Well driving the Punto is simply superb. You can feel the car being designed especially for you. The Hyundai i20 on the other side is subtle when it comes to speed. You might feel slow at first but then suddenly a lonely warrior steps in the picture when you are redlining the car. Both of them are simply superb and deliver top notch speed. The Punto has a sort of grunt in it which is unleashed when the car is doing red line gear change. The i20 on the other hand as said is subtle and has enough power for being laid back and turned into a power house.

Handling quality
The Punto is crystal clear and handles like butter. God knows what the Italians have done to the car. It handles perfect, you feel like having it more, more and more. You never feel like going home and resting as the Punto is your home. The i20 feels large and yes it is bigger than the Punto. Handling the heavier i20 is bit difficult on turns. Well if you are cornering the vehicle then the best option would be the Punto. It handles like a bike on turns.

Time to go to ATM
Well this is a tough question since both of them are perfect. If cost is in your mind and you need a car which can last longer than the usual machine, the best option is the i20. But wait a second, what about the Fiat. It is a superb piece of engineering. A little bit of more cash and you have an all-rounder. The Punto is the best option which is available in the market which can head on the i20. Cost of the Punto is bit high but it surely is worth the value.

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Harley Davidson Starts Thumping

The long awaited journey ends here as Harley Davidson starts its booking. Gurgaon is the official head quarters for Harley Davidson India operations. The showroom was inaugurated by U.S Ambassador to India operations Timothy J. Roemer.

The inauguration was done by revving the 2010 version of the Fatboy engine. MR Anoop Prakash, Managing Director of Harley Davidson India had invited various industry leaders and enthusiasts for the grand opening. Location of the head quarters is situated in the heart of Gurgaon, Time Tower, Main MG Road.

Interiors of the showroom are designed according to the tradition of Harley Davidson. Fully operational workshop is also present which will take care of those beauties which will be sold in India. Showrooms and workshops are present in other cities too. The List starts from Chandigarh, Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Hyderabad. Buy your priced possessions from these places.

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2010 BMW 5-Series: First Drive

Long, low, wide and bursting with techno, the latest 5-series might not be a style diva but it has enough under its skin to keep the adrenalin rush going. It is also quicker, cleaner, more efficient, stunningly stable and safe as we found out in our first drive Let's not get muddled about the sixth Five here. In what has to be the second biggest sales earner for the Munich-based car maker (after the 3-series), the latest, sixth generation 5-series has come out fighting for BMW. Not that BMW had much to worry about given that the previous generation 5 had done itself loads of good in the executive saloon segment all over the world. The Chris Bangle effect might have made many sit up and take notice but once behind the wheel it was evident that the somewhat perceived visual shock wave translated into one of sheer dynamic pleasure.The latest 5-series, which I got to experience over a day driving across some great roads around the Portuguese seaside town of Cascais with a few fast laps thrown in for good measure at the Estoril race track, is different from the all-out 'handling over-all-else' dynamic approach which has made BMW the first word in affordable driving excitement in the automotive world. As the very same baby boomers who adopted it in the first place now reckoning with the mid-life, the new 5-series has also evolved. It is very difficult to balance handling with ride quality, that quintessential waft-ability that many luxury sedans do, and have to, encompass but in the new 5-series this has happened, in a big way, without compromising on the fun-to-drive approach which has always been a BMW-hallmark.

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Toyota says they solved the issue that caused a worldwide recall

Toyota says it has solved the issue that forced the worldwide recall of about 2.5 million vehicles.

The problem has been accelerator pedals that can stick. Toyota says it has presented its remedy to federal regulators, and will update its employees Friday.

The recall involves eight different models. Nearly half of the affected vehicles are the Camry and Corolla/Matrix, which were two of the top four selling vehicles in the United States last year.

Toyota has already suspended the sale of those eight models, and it is not clear yet when the corrections will be made.

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TATA MOTOR PLANNING NANO HYBRID: RATAN

One of India’s largest passenger car maker Tata Motors is planning hybrid versions of its Nano, the world’s cheapest car, Ratan Tata, Chairman Tata Motors said in an interview to a South Korean newspaper.

The Maeil Business Newspaper on Monday quoted Ratan Tata as saying in Mumbai that low priced goods would create stronger demand than high end products in India and the so-called low-price revolution would continue across the world.

Tata Motors sees the car industry’s future lying in economic friendly models the newspaper said.

source: autonews

Ratan Tata also said that Tata Motors were cosidering exporting the Ace light truck to the South Koren market or even assembling or manufacturing at their South African plant.

The report also mentioned that Tata group was evaluating investments in automobiles, software, hotel business and bio-fuel in South American markets like Brazil and Argentina.

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ROLLS ROYCE PREVIEWS ‘GHOST’ IN INDIA

This is one for the Forbes listers! Buoyed by the ever increasing billionaire population in India, Rolls Royce has previewed its yet to be launched ‘Ghost’ or ‘baby roller’ as it is affectionately called, in India.

To cost Rs 2.5 crore when launched in India, this is the most economical car from Rolls Royce, oxymoron… you bet! The smallest Rolls Royce is both longer and wider than Mercedes S Class and BMW 7 Series and comes with a huge 6.6 Litre twin turbocharged V12 engine with a peak power of 563 bhp @ 5250 rpm which is mated to an 8-Speed automatic gearbox… no less! The nuclear reactor of an engine propels the car from 0-100 kph in just 4.9 seconds!

The Rolls Royce Ghost will be built on order and hence offers huge customization options. The Rs 2.5 Crore price tag is for the basic car and the customizations will be extra and wont be cheap. The company has started taking bookings from the customers while the deliveries will begin in the first quarter of 2010. The company sold 15 units of the Phantom, its most expensive model coming it at more than Rs 3.5 Crore in the Indian market.

Jump over for the detailed coverage of the Ghost.

Speaking at the occasion, Colin Kelly, Rolls Royce Motor Cars’ regional director for Asia-Pacific region said

“India is one of the fastest wealth growing nations in the world; and we expect to see an over 300% jump in sales in India next year after the launch of Ghost in the second quarter of 2010.”

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SOON YOURS FOR 2 LAKHS… KAWASAKI NINJA 250R

At 2008 Autoexpo, Bajaj Auto’s pavilion was buzzing with activity as Bajaj Auto decided to display motorcycles from not only its own stable, but also from Kawasaki and KTM. One bike in particular which caught almost every one’s attention was the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, adoringly called, Baby Ninja.

As Kawasaki announces the arrival of 2009 Ninja 250R in US, we are left wondering, when will biking enthusiasts in India get to ride one of these?

The lightweight baby Ninja has Supersport styling, rider-friendly engine, real world performance and an amiable chassis. Perfect recipe for a fun motorcycle which can be used daily, doesn’t burn a large hole in the pocket (comparatively speaking) and yet has enough power to put every motorcycle in India (barring Yamaha R1 and MT01) to shame.

With an expected price tag of 2-3 lakh rupees, it might just have been the performance motorcycle Indian motorcycling enthusiasts were yearning for. And it would have been perfectly positioned between the gap that exists between Indian made motorcycles and imports (1.10L – 11L).

Yet, 10 months after the Autoexpo 2008 got over, we are left wondering, when will Bajaj Auto launch the baby ninja in India. All we can do for now is to pray that it does get launched soon with an attractive price tag and look longingly at its photographs.

2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R specifications:

Engine: Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, parallel twin
Displacement: 249cc
Bore x stroke: 62.0 x 41.2mm
Compression ratio: 11.6:1
Maximum torque: 22 Nm {2.24 kgf/m} 16.2 lb-ft / 9,500 rpm
Cooling: Liquid
Carburetion: Keihin CVK30 x 2
Ignition: Digital
Transmission: Six-speed
Final drive: O-ring chain
Frame: Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Wheelbase: 55.1 in.
Rake / trail: 26 degrees / 3.2 in.
Front suspension / wheel travel: 37mm hydraulic telescopic fork / 4.7 in.
Rear suspension / wheel travel: Bottom-Link Uni-Trak® with 5-way adjustable preload / 5.1 in.
Front tire: 110/70-17
Rear tire: 130/70-17
Front brake: Single 290mm hydraulic petal disc with two-piston caliper
Rear brake: Single 220mm petal disc with two-piston caliper
Overall length: 82.1 in.
Overall width: 28.1 in.
Overall height: 43.7 in.
Seat height: 30.5 in.
Curb weight: 374.9 lbs.
Fuel capacity: 4.8 gal.
Color choices: Metallic Diablo Black, Sunbeam Red, Candy Thunder Blue, Special Edition Lime Green / Metallic Diablo Black

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