BS Motoring awards 2008

BS Motoring awards 2008, the oldest automotive awards in the country were recently declared and following are the winners:-
Hyundai i10 won the Business Standard Motoring Car of the Year 2008 award. It had a stiff competition from Mahindra Renault Logan, Chevrolet Spark, Maruti Suzuki’s SX4, the BMW 3 and 5 Series and the Volkswagen Passat.

Hyundai earlier won the COTY awards for the Santro in 1998 and the Getz in 2005.

The recently launched i10 has set a new bench mark in the small car segment with its build quality, ride, handling, driveability, comfort, safety features, fuel efficiency and yet a very competitive price.

The Bajaj XCD redefined the entry level bike segment in the country. Offering the best of technology and features at an extremely affordable price impressed the juries and won the Bike of the year award for the XCD. The XCD faced competition from TVS Apache RTR160, the Pulsar 200 & Pulsar 220.

Winner in the other categories were as follows:
Chevrolet Spark: Business Standard Motoring Best Value Award 2008.
Mahindra Renault Logan: Business Standard Motoring Jury Award 2008.
BMW 325i: Business Standard Motoring Performance Car of the Year 2008.
Volkswagen Passat: Business Standard Motoring Premium Car of the Year 2008.
TVS Apache RTR 160: Business Standard Motoring Performance Bike of the year 2008.
Kinetic-Sym Flyte: Business Standard Motoring Scooter of the Year 2008.

Update1:- Created a poll for Car of the Year and Bike of the Year (Right hand side panel)
So please kindly select the Car and Bike you think are winner, also leave comments as to why you think they deserve to win. We will have our winners just before the Auto Expo where most of the awards are likely to be announced.

Update2:- Poll now closed. Here are the results:-Click

Earlier poll:- Most preffered bike in 150cc segment.

Triumph ROCKET III CLASSIC and The Albrex Rocket III Turbo

The Rocket III Classic is a real cruising motorcycle with a firm focus on rider and pillion comfort. It’s aimed squarely at those who prefer a more laid back approach to motorcycling and features a relaxed riding position with forward set footboards, pull-back handlebars and a supremely comfortable, stitched touring seat as standard. The 2.3 liter three-cylinder engine offers incredible levels of flexibility, for effortless riding whether two-up, fully loaded with luggage or solo, while the sophisticated fuel injection feeds in power seamlessly, with controlled acceleration on tap at the twist of a throttle.

Pictures of Triumph ROCKET III CLASSIC

Techincal specifications of the Triumph ROCKET III

Engine

Type Liquid-cooled, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder

Capacity 2294cc

Bore/Stroke 101.6 x 94.3mm

Compression Ratio 8.7:1

Fuel System Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection

Transmission

Final Drive Shaft

Clutch Wet, multi-plate

Gearbox 5-speed

Cycle Parts

Frame Tubular steel, twin spine

Swingarm Twin-sided, steel

Front Wheel Alloy 5-spoke, 17 x 3.5in

Rear Wheel Alloy 5-spoke, 16 x 7.5in

Front Tyre Front 150/80 R 17

Rear Tyre 240/50 R 16

Front Suspension 43mm upside down forks

Rear Suspension Chromed spring twin shocks with adjustable preload

Front Brakes Twin 320mm floating discs, 4 piston calipers

Rear Brakes Single 316mm disc, 2 piston caliper

Dimensions

Length 98.4in

Width (Handlebars) 38.2in

Height 45.9in

Seat Height 29.1in

Wheelbase 66.7in

Rake/Trail 32°/152mm

Weight (Dry) 704lbs

Fuel Tank Capacity 6.3 gal

Performance (Measured at crankshaft to DIN 70020)

Maximum Power 140bhp at 6,000 rpm

Maximum Torque 147ft.lbf at 2,500 rpm

Colours

Cherry Red/New England White, Pacific Blue/Aluminum

Price

$15,699

If you are of the kind "More is Never Enough", you should check out the Albrex Rocket III Turbo.

Pictures of The Albrex Rocket III Turbo courtesy webbikeworld

Triumph Rocket 3 Turbo - Technical Specifications

• Description: Albrex engine tuning with one KKK turbocharger in special Albrex configuration and integrated boost control and symmetrical Albrex intercooler system. Albrex high-performance exhaust system with special manifold and three tailpipes. Auxiliary Albrex ECU for ignition and injection including special mapping for turbo engine.

• Engine: Water-cooled three-cylinder four-valve in-line engine with Albrex turbocharging system.

• Displacement: 2,294 cc

• Bore: 101.6 mm

• Stroke: 94.3 mm

• Max. Power: 220 hp / 161.9 kW at 5,000 rpm

• Max. Torque: 360 Nm at 2,900 rpm

• Compression Ratio: 8.7:1

• Max. Boost: 84 PSI (0.58 bar)

• Transmission: Five-speed gearbox with reinforced multi-disc clutch, shaft drive

• Performance: 0 - 100 km/h in about 3.1 s; 0 - 200 km/h in about 10.5 s

• Conversion Price: 11,000 Euros

• Manufacturer: Conrad Gruber, Albrex Hochleistungsmotorentechnologie, Thierbach 236, A-6311 Wildschönau, Austria, Tel: +43 / (0) 53 39 / 86 94, Telefax: +43 / (0) 53 39 / 86 87

Other Links:-
New 2009 Yamaha V-max: Pictures, specifications, features
Boss Hoss: World's most powerful production motorcycle
2008 Triumph Tiger 1050
Yamaha YZF R1 and MT01 launched in India
2008 Yamaha Raider 1854cc V-twin
2008 Honda CBR1000
2008 Kawasaki Ninja250R
Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport
2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa
Triumph ROCKET III CLASSIC and The Albrex Rocket III Turbo

If you want to boost your knowledge about How Turbochargers Work check here.

2008 Triumph Tiger 1050

Tiger
It commutes. It tours. It scratches.Pictures of 2008 Triumph Tiger 1050
I spotted the 2007 Tiger 1050 in Mumbai at Mechanic, managed to click few really bad pics from my cell phone camera. Check here for pictures

The Tiger, with its mile-munching ability and sheer dependability, has won a legion of fans the world over. It lives in a genuinely different space to other bikes in its class, excelling in three distinct areas – it scratches; it tours and it commutes. While its sharp lines and performance spec make the Tiger’s sporting credentials clear from a glance, its stunning looks hide a practical streak. Two-up, you’ve got a bike that comfortably devours miles of tarmac thanks to the relaxed riding position, spacious seat, supple suspension and tractable torquey engine. Back in the city the commanding view really comes into its own, while the wide bars make tight manoeuvres child’s play.

At the new Tiger’s heart is the amazing 1050cc, fuel-injected, three-cylinder engine. This motor, known for its addictive character, has plenty of torque and impressive amounts of horsepower, with ample reserves of both for those two-up fully laden tours. Peak power of 114bhp is delivered at 9400rpm, with 74ft.lbf torque at 6250rpm.

It has all the all-round practicality and comfort of the old Tiger – a broad, supportive seat for rider and pillion, relaxed ergonomics and efficient half fairing and screen – but also a composure and sporting ability that few, if any, will be able to match.

The twin-spar aluminum frame housing the 1050cc engine is new as is the braced aluminum swingarm. New too are the cast aluminum wheels, both are now 17in allowing a wider choice of tires; the front tire’s a 120/70 ZR17, the rear a 180/55 ZR17. The 43mm upside down fully adjustable forks and remote spring preload and rebound damping adjustable rear shock provide an almost magic carpet-like ride over the most varied of surfaces, from the roughest Tarmac to the smoothest blacktop asphalt. Twin four-piston radial calipers bite 320mm front discs, the rear 255mm disc uses a single twin-piston caliper. The Tiger’s seat height is a manageable 835mm (32.9in), matched to a dry weight of 416lbs. Fuel capacity is 5.2 gal, giving an excellent touring range.

Supremely comfortable, two-up tourer; sporty solo funster or sleek, stylish city bike: There are very few genuine all-round motorcycles in existence – the Tiger is most certainly one of them.

An ABS version of the Tiger is also available.

Techinical Specification of the 2008 Triumph Tiger 1050:-

Engine

Type Liquid-cooled, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder

Capacity 1050cc

Bore/Stroke 79 x 71.4mm

Compression Ratio 12.0:1

Fuel System Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection

Transmission

Final Drive X ring chain

Clutch Wet, multi-plate

Gearbox 6-speed

Cycle Parts

Frame Aluminum beam perimeter

Swingarm Braced, twin-sided, aluminum alloy

Front Wheel Cast, multi spoke, 17 x 3.5in

Rear Wheel Cast, multi spoke, 17 x 5.5in

Front Tyre 120/70 ZR 17

Rear Tyre 180/55 ZR 17

Front Suspension 43mm upside down forks with adjustable preload, rebound and compression damping

Rear Suspension Monoshock with adjustable preload and rebound damping

Front Brakes Twin 320mm floating discs,4 piston radial calipers

Rear Brakes Single 255mm disc, 2 piston caliper

Dimensions

Length 83.1in

Width (Handlebars) 33.1in

Height 52.0in

Seat Height 32.8in

Wheelbase 59.4in

Rake/Trail 23.2 degree/87.7mm

Weight (Dry) 436lbs

Fuel Tank Capacity 5.2 gal

Performance (Measured at crankshaft to DIN 70020)

Maximum Power 114bhp at 9,400 rpm

Maximum Torque 74ft.lbf at 6,250 rpm

Colours Jet Black, Caspian Blue, Blazing Orange, Fusion White

Price Standard - $10,999 / ABS Model - $11,799

Features:-
The 2008 Triumph Tiger Engine:-
The Tiger’s engine delivers power and ear to ear grins. Nothing sounds like a triple so there’s no confusing a Tiger with the whine of an anonymous four. The amazing 1050cc, fuel-injected, three cylinder engine, known for its addictive character, has plenty of torque and impressive amounts of horsepower, with ample reserves of both for those two-up fully laden tours. Peak power of 114bhp is delivered at 9400rpm, with 74ft.lbf torque at 6250rpm.
The 2008 Triumph Tiger Seat:-
The comfortable, spacious seat and relaxed rider and passenger ergonomics mean you’ll arrive fresh even at the end of the longest day.
The 2008 Triumph Tiger Handlebars:-
High, wide bars give a comfortable riding position and excellent control at all speeds, from urban manoeuvring to motorway cruising.
The 2008 Triumph Tiger suspensions:-

The 43mm upside down fully adjustable forks and remote spring preload and rebound damping adjustable rear shock keeps the ride comfortable on the worst of roads and gives excellent control when the pace picks up.
The 2008 Triumph Tiger ABS:-
Triumph’s Antilock Braking System has been carefully designed to boost control under hard braking, working on both wheels independently. This unobtrusive system retains all the sensations of riding, operating at 100 calculations per second to sense the precise moment the wheel is about to lock up, then preventing it from doing so. The system has been specifically tailored to the Tiger, with painstaking calibration over many months to ensure optimum braking performance.

Other Links:-
2008 Triumph Tiger 1050
Yamaha YZF R1 and MT01 launched in India
2008 Yamaha Raider 1854cc V-twin
2008 Honda CBR1000
2008 Kawasaki Ninja250R
Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport
2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa
Triumph ROCKET III CLASSIC and The Albrex Rocket III Turbo

Website:- Triumph Tiger 1050

Spotted the Tiger in Mumbai

Today I spotted the Tiger 1050 in Mumbai at Mechanic, managed to click few really bad pics from my cell phone camera.

Bajaj Auto to resurrect two stroke Bikes

Bajaj Auto is all set to resurrect the 2 stroke motorcycles in the country. Riding them was great fun especially the rx100 and Suzuki shogun. The two-stroke engines were very successful in the past due to its higher torque and faster pickup but eventually were put on a hold for being unable to meet the pollution norms.

After the recent success of the gasoline direct injection (GDi) technology in its three-wheelers the company is likely to introduce the GDi technology for its two-wheeler products in 100 - 125cc range in the next few months. The Gdi technology used in its 3 wheelers by Bajaj, has emissions lower than the one which run on CNG and also provide upto 33% better fuel efficiency. News reports also say that Bajaj is working on combining The GDi with Dtsi technology for the two wheelers.

What is gasoline direct injection (GDi)?
Gasoline Direct injection or GDi is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two- and four- stroke petrol engines. The gasoline is highly pressurised, and injected via a common rail fuel line directly into the combustion chamber of each cylinder, as opposed to conventional multi-point fuel injection that happens in the intake tract, or cylinder port. GDi enables stratified charge (ultra lean burn) combustion for improved fuel efficiency and emission levels at low load.

The Man, the Machine. . . . Street Hawk

The Man, the Machine. . . . Street Hawk. Ever heard that before?

Intro video of StreetHawk. Thanks to my friends Vishal who recently added this video in his Orkut Favourites.

I guess I was 6 yr old kid who used to stay glued to the TV set to watch my childhood super hero, A bike named Street Hawk. Watching this intro video, brought back quite a few memories of the TV show. The sound track sounded so much familiar even after all these years.
The show was about Jesse Mach an ex-cop who is recruited for a top secret government mission to ride the Street Hawk, an all terrain combat motorcycle designed to fight crime. The Street Hawk was capable of 300mph and had immense fire power.

You can check this site for more picture and and videos. The SteertHawk online.

Tvs 180 cc & 200 cc with ABS expected soon.

icture or RTR Efi 160

According to what i have read recently Tvs would be unveiling 2 performance upgrades of its current offering Apache RTR in 180 cc and 200 cc version. I don't have any picture or exact technical specification of the new bikes as of now. But after the Apache RTR e-Fi, it can be anybody's guess that the bikes would be very aggressively styled and extremely sporty, with all the latest features and technological advancements like fuel injection etc. All i hope for is that the bikes to be a bit more bigger and muscular as compared to the Apache 160 RTR which a bit shortish and not very comfortable for tall guys like me.

Suzuki, Yamaha , Honda are all expected to unveil their new range of premium bikes at the Auto Expo in January. So it makes perfect sense for Tvs to have a premium products, as the market volumes in these segmets have been steadily growing and are more profitable as compared to the price sensitive entry level segment.

The bikes that are currently dominating the performance bike segment are Pulsar 180, Pulsar 200, Pulsar 220 and the Karizma. I expect this segment to be the next to witness all the action in the coming years as we are currently seeing in the 150 cc segment, which will be even more exciting with additions from Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki.

Update:-
The Economic Times reports that TVS is all set to ABS (Anti Lock Braking System) on the new 200cc bike, a first of its kind for two wheelers in the country. The ET quotes the company executive saying:-

“ABS is part of the 30 different technologies we are developing for our two -wheeler range. The ABS will help in avoiding skidding of two-wheelers and allow sure stopping on wet and slippery roads and help in reducing fatalities on two wheelers,”

The ABS system is expected to increase the price by about 6% to 7%, but its definitely a welcome feature increasing the overall safety of the motorcycle. ABS recently has found immense popularity amount the four wheelers in the country. ABS on two wheeler has been around for quite a while now, The Triumph TIGER being one of them.

The news reports also says that TVS has has applied for the patent of the technology. Looks like a learning they got from Bajaj after the TVS FLame dispute.

Other links:-
1) Hero Honda Hunk 150 cc
2) TVS Flame 125
3) Bajaj XCD 125
4) Pictures of the new TVS RTR 160 e-FI
5) Tvs Flame launched at 45,000 ex-showroom Chennai

Tvs Flame launched at 45,000 ex-showroom Chennai

Update:-
TVS Flame 125cc to be relaunched with single spark plug engine

As expected TVS Motor Company launched its 125cc ‘Flame’ on 14 dec, in Chennai with an ex- showrrom price of 45,000 and comes with disc brakes as an option.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Venu Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director, TVS Motor, said, “This is the highest technology product in the country. A three-valve bike has been rolled out earlier, but this is the first time that a mass market roll-out is happening.” The company claims that the bike would deliver a mileage of 82 km a litre. Please note the the fuel economy / average claimed is under Indian driving condition and not Ideal driving condition.

The 125cc Flame would be launched all over the country in January and would compete with 125 cc Bajaj XCD, Yamaha Gladiator, Hero Honda Glamor and Honda Shine. Flame, along with a new Star Sport would cater to the entry level and executive segment.

Tvs Flame had earlier run into patent infringement issues as claimed by Bajaj Auto mobiles to its much acclaimed DTSi technology although the company claims the Flame is based on a technology patented by AVL in Austria and the rest of the world.

TV advertisement for Tvs Flame:-

Technical specifications of The TVSS Flame 125 :-

Technical Specifications:

Engine Displacement 124.8 cc
Engine technology CC-VTi, 4 Stroke
Max. Power (Kw@rpm) 7.7kw @ 8250 ( 10.5bhp @ 8250 )
Max. Torque (Nm@rpm) 10 Nm @ 6250
Gear Box 4 Gear constant mesh
Clutch Multi-Plate Wet Type
Bore x stroke (mm) 54.5 x 53.5
Compression Ratio 10:1
Carburettor Type VM Type - UCAL
Clutch Wet, Multi Plate

Wheels ,Tyres & Brakes
Tyres - Front 90 x 90 x 17, Rear 90 x 90 x 18
Brakes - Front Drum 130 dia / Disc 240 dia, Brake - Rear Drum 130 dia

Suspension
Front Telescopic Hydraulic fork, Rear Twin tube 5 step adjustable Gas filled.

Electricals
Head lamp 12V 35/35 W - Halogen
Tail lamp 12V 21W / 5W
Turnsignal lamp 12V 16W
Battery type & capacity 12 V - 5 Ah
Ignition system High Energy IDI System

Dimensions:
Height 1070 mm
Length 2030 mm
Width 760 mm
Wheelbase 1320 mm
Ground Clearance 165 mm
Kerb weight 121 kgs
Fuel Tank Capacity 8.0 Litre
Fuel reserve 2.0 Litre

Performance :
Max. speed 95 kmph

Mileage :
80 kms per litre

Price :
Ex-Showroom price is 45,000/- (Chennai)

Other links:-
1) Hero Honda Hunk 150 cc
2) TVS Flame 125
3) Bajaj XCD 125
4) Pictures of the new TVS RTR 160 e-FI
5)Tvs Apache 180 cc and 200 cc expected soon.

Cars to be costlier next year, Is it true?

Well as I reported earlier here: Indian Automobile updates December 07
Car makers like Maruti, GM, Hyundai, Skoda are all likely to increase the prices of all their models.
Hyundai cars are expected to get costlier by about Rs. 6,000 where as the prices for Maruti cars are expected to go up by Rs. 12,000 and also heard that Skoda cars would be dearer by Rs 20,000. The reason for this price hike is told to be the rise in input costs and freight charges.

Well at the same time if you have noticed, All the manufacturers are giving great discounts, gifts, additional accessories, free insurance etc., in the range of Rs 20,000 to as high as 60,000 that too on A and B segment cars. And all the offers are valid only till Dec 31.

So whats the catch? Great offers till 31st Dec and Price hike in Jan, does that sound fishy?
Okay one more clue: What would a second had car buyer ask you when you would sell your car? Well the question would be "Which Year ?".

Honestly i have been watching this for past couple of years and you will find history repeats its self. Car manufacturers and dealers are eager to clear all their stocks before year end as there is a natural slow down in auto sales in december as most of the car buyers prefer to wait for a month for buying a new car rather than adding an extra year in the life of their car. This is in spite of absolutely no changes expected in the models next year. Hence the dealers offer discounts, spread the word about price hike following next year (which is not found to be true in most of the cases) etc.

In my opinion this is the best time to buy a car. The prices may or may not increase but the discounts, benefits that are on offer right now wont be there for sure.

Copy cats for my blogs

Hello Friends, i recently found out that few posts on the blog were copied word to word by few loosers on their own blog and claiming them to be their own.

I request you to flag all such blogs when you find that the content on my blog has been copied on their blog.

Here are The copy cats:-
http://harish07.blogspot.com/2007/12/bajaj-pulsar-300cc-dts-fi-pictures-and.html
copied my post:-
http://kedarparikh.blogspot.com/2007/11/bajaj-pulsar-300-dtsi.html

http://x-trememachine.blogspot.com/2007/11/pictures-of-new-tvs-apache-rtr-efi-160.html
copied:-
Pictures of the new TVS RTR 160 e-FI

http://sportssyndrome.blogspot.com/2007/10/volkswagen-passout-in-india.html
coppied:-Volkswagen Passat now in India

I am sure there are many such losers out there, so please co-operate and flag them as objectionable content.

Maruti scores hattrick in 2007 J.D. Power APEAL

After topping the charts in customer satisfaction for the 8th consecutive year, Maruti has scored a hat trick with its three models leading their respective segments in India New-Vehicle Design and Performance.

SINGAPORE: 12 December 2007 — Three Maruti models, as well as models from Mahindra-Renault, Chevrolet, Toyota and Honda rank highest in their respective segments in new-vehicle design and performance in India, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 India Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout StudySM (APEAL) released today.

The study now examines nearly 100 attributes covering 10 vehicle factors: vehicle exterior; vehicle interior; storage and space; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); driving dynamics; engine/transmission; visibility and driving safety; and fuel economy.

The Mahindra-Renault Logan (entry midsize), Chevrolet Optra (premium midsize), Toyota Innova (MUV/MPV) and Honda CR-V (SUV) each rank highest in their respective segments. The Mahindra-Renault Logan is a new model in 2007, while the Honda CR-V has been redesigned.

The new Maruti Zen Estilo ranks highest in the compact segment with a score of 814 on a 1,000-point scale, and performs particularly well in seven of the 10 factors, including vehicle exterior; vehicle interior; seats; HVAC; engine/transmission; visibility and driving safety; and fuel economy. The Maruti Swift leads the premium compact segment with a score of 787, while the Maruti SX4 ranks highest in the midsize segment with a score of 835.

Earlier:-
For an eighth consecutive year, Maruti Suzuki ranks highest in customer satisfaction with authorized dealership service, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 India Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) StudySM released today.


Even in Initial quality Study Maruti models were second to only Chevrolet.
So clearly Maruti deserves its market share of 55% and i guess it would remain the leader for quite some time. Now a thing i would like to mention here is i have found AUTOCAR India to especially biased towards Hyundai in their opinions and reviews conducted in the magazine and also in Hindustan Times Bike&Car section on Wednesdays.

AutoCar India has repeatedly rated Maruti model to lack quality, refinement and resale value especially in their Santro vs Wagon R vs Estilo comparisons. I found it to be completely ridiculous, that Hyundai Santro has a better resale value as compared to Wagon R. Any one who has tried to buy a second hand car would agree that getting a Wagon R is really tough as compared to a Santro. For every Wagon R you would find 7 to 8 Santro which are all priced about 70% to that of a Wagon R in a second had car market.

Related :-
Chevrolet scores in J.D Power Asia Pacific 2007 In Initial Quality Study
Pictures and details of Maruti Suzuki's new World car A-Star
Maruti Suzuki Splash to replace Wagon R in 2008

Read it from J.D. Power here & here

Pictures and details of Maruti Suzuki's new World car A-Star

Earlier posts:-
Maruti Suzuki Splash to replace Wagon R in 2008
Maruti Suzuki to show case new concept A star at AutoExpo

Pictures of the A-Star

Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) will add two new compact cars, The Splash and all new Concept car A-Star to its current range of offerings in 2008. The A-Star which is world car will be launched in India in October next year. The A-Star will also be exported to Europe and will be showcased for the first time at the Auto Expo in January.

It will sport a 1 litre, Euro V-compatible, aluminum engine. The manual transmission for the car will be manufactured by Suzuki Powertrain India, a Suzuki subsidiary.

Apart from the A-Star, the company is also planning to introduce another global model Splash to India. The Splash will be powered by a 1.2 litre petrol and 1.3 litre diesel engine and might replace Wagon R and would compete with the Hyundai i10 - Getz.

You may also find these interesting:-
1) New cars expected on Indian Roads.
2) Honda Jazz
3) Hyndai Pa
4) Volkswagen Passat now in India
5) Skoda India launches new Laura Ambiente
6) Hyundai i30
7) i10 gets excellent reviews
8) Maruti all geared up to launch Swift sedan

What is DTS-i ,DTS-Si and DTS-Fi?

What is exactly DTS-i ,DTS-Si and DTS-Fi? Is it a real technological break through or just some techno-jargon used for marketing?

Lets first take a look at how a 4 stroke engine works.

Conventional 4 stroke Engine- intake/induction stroke compression stroke power stroke exhaust stroke The cycle begins when the piston is furthest away from the crankshaft. On the first stroke (intake/induction) of the piston, as the piston descends it reduces the pressure in the cylinder, a mixture of fuel and air is forced, by at least atmospheric pressure, into the cylinder through the intake port. The intake valve then closes and the following stroke (compression) compresses the fuel-air mixture. The air-fuel mixture is then ignited, by a spark plug, at approximately the top of the compression stroke. The resulting expansion of burning gases pushes the piston downward for the third stroke (power) and in the fourth stroke (exhaust) the piston pushes the products of combustion from the cylinder through an exhaust valve or valves.DTS-i Engine - DIGITAL TWIN SPARK ignition engine has two Spark plugs located at opposite ends of the combustion chamber and hence fast and efficient combustion is obtained. The benefits of this efficient combustion process can be felt in terms of better fuel efficiency and lower emissions. DTS-i Engine can be further tuned to deliver exhilarating performance as in DTS-FI or exceptional mileage like in DTS-SI as claimed by Bajaj. The use of twin spark plugs has been around for decades mostly in the engine of Alfa Romeo, Honda and on large capacity Ducati engine etc. Bajaj however have patented the technology for small capacity engines. DTS-Si Engine - Like DTS-i the engine has 2 spark plugs, but, instead of conventionally positioned straight ports, the offset positioning of the ports generate high swirl and turbulence of the air fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. This results in highly efficient combustion that further results in exceptional mileage. Like the mother DTS-i technology, the DTS-Si technology is a patented technology developed by Bajaj Auto R&D. This technology is used by Bajaj in its recently launched 125 cc Bajaj XCD. Recently, Bajaj Auto was in the news for accusing TVS Motors, long-standing rivals of patent infringement on the DTSi technology. TVS countered by threatening to sue Bajaj Auto for libel. DTS-Fi- DTS-Fi stands for "Digital Twin Spark Fuel Injection", a ‘Bajaj Patented Technology’. In fuel injection the conventional carburettor has been replaced by injector which injects fuel in to the engine in a spray form based on the instructions of the Engine Control Unit (ECU) which is a part of the Engine Management System EMS. The Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is microprocessor based and is the brain of the fuel injection system. It processes information sent by various sensors and instantly determines optimum fueling and spark timing for various engine operating conditions. The ECU contains detailed information of the engine's characteristics from which it picks the necessary data for commanding both fueling & spark timing. The main advantages of Fuel Injection are: a. Increased power output for same cc. b. Better low end torque. c. Lower fuel delivery & optimisation of spark timing. d. Improved cold start, quick warm-up and excellent response to sudden acceleration. e. Lower emission levels. f. Self detection and communication of fuel system malfunctioning if any. ExhausTEC ExhausTEC stands for Exhaust Torque Expansion Chamber, a Bajaj Auto trademark. The technology involves use of a small chamber connected to the exhaust pipe of the engine to modify the back-pressure and the swirl characteristics, with an aim to improve the low-end performance of the bikes. This was attempted in response to the issue of a reported lack of low-end response in Bajaj's single-cylinder four-stroke engines. The ExhausTEC technology is claimed to be highly effective in improving the overall engine response, especially the low-end torque characteristics. This enhanced performance is claimed to come at no loss of top-end performance or engine smoothness.

Source Bajaj Auto
Motorcycle engine wikipedia

Indian Automobile updates December 07

1)India's first-ever four-door electric car:-
No i am not talking about Reva, the two-door fibre-bodied battery car introduced a few years back in the country.
Chennai based Bavina Industries is working on four-seater steel-bodied hatch-back resembling Hyundai Santro and Daewoo Matiz. The fully-loaded version of the car costs around Rs.2.5 lakh and boasts of facilities, including AC, power window and centralized locking, like any other small, premium hatch-back. Once fully-charged car would run for 110 km with AC switched on and another 20 kms without AC. It could give a maximum speed of 55 kmph.
The company would be importing the parts like electric motor, body shell, battery and charger from China.

2) Cars to get costlier from next year:-
Maruti likely to raise the price of all its cars by Rs. 12000 from next month to offset the rise in input costs and freight charges. A similar hike is also expected from Hyundai, Ford and General Motors.

3) CNG version of Toyota Innova and Corolla:-

Toyota will launch CNG fuel variants of its premium sedan Corolla and multi-utility vehicle Innova shortly. The company is currently testing the CNG variants supplied by Minda Auto Gas, which is also the original equipment supplier to Hyundai for its flagship car Santro and Maruti Suzuki for its LPG based WagonR Duo.

CNG vehicles deliver high mileage and offer low cost of operation making it ideal for tour operators and fleet owners.

Source Economic times.

GM planning Hybrids and Electric vehicles for India

What is a Hybrid Car? Check here.

General Motors is currently working on hybrid and electric cars for India. The cars are likely to be launched in India within the next five years. This seems to bve a very logical step for all the car manufacturers to reduce emissions and help environmental conservation. The hybrids have many advantages apart from being environment friendly. In many countries they get many incentives and subsidies, tax exemptions and they are fuel efficient too, i.e more miles per gallon.

The company will be showcasing its hydrogen car GM Sequel at the Auto Expo in New Delhi, to study the market and understand the audience response.

The real challenge for the company is to keep the cost down. GM has tied up with IIT Kharagpur for a join research in the areas and has commited more than $1 million.

Source Economic Times

Related :-

• Tata teams up with ISRO to produce Hydrogen power...
• Tata Indica Electric and Hybrid
• Hybrids and Hybrid cars in India
• Honda Civic Hybrid to hit Indian roads soon
• Chevrolet scores in J.D Power Asia Pacific 2007 India Initial Quality Study(IQS)
  

Yamaha YZF R1 and MT01 launched in India

Yes the Yamaha R1 and MT01 are finally launched in India. Both are six-gear road machines and share the same ex-showroom price at Rs10.5 lakh each. The bikes are available in New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad initially.

“We are also planning to market these bikes in Mumbai, Pune and Chandigarh in the near future. In fact, we plan to sell these bikes in 10 cities within six months. We have a network plan to distribute these bikes through 50 outlets across the country by 2010”

said P. Sam, Yamaha Group head, marketing & sales. on the sidelines of the launch. The company has annual target of selling 400 to 500 units of the newly launched machines.

Both bikes are amongst the best Yamaha has to offer. The R1 is all about power and speed, while the MT01 has loads of torque.

Specs:-
Model name YZF-R1
Dimension＆Weight
Overall length 2060mm
Overall width 720mm
Overall height 1110mm
Seat height 835mm
Wheelbase 1415mm
Minimum ground clearance 135mm
Dry(without oil and fuel) 177kg
Wet(with oil and a full fuel tank) 200kg

Performance

Top speed 285km/h
Minimum turning radius 3.4m

Engine Performance

Engine type Liquid cooled 4-stroke DOHC4-valve
Cylinder arrangement Forward-inclined parallel 4-cylinder
Displacement 998cm3
Bore & stroke 77 0 X 53.6mm
Compression ratio 12 7 : 1
Maximum horse power 132.4kW(12500r/min)
Maximum torque 112.7N･m(10000r/min)
Starting system type Electric starter
Lubrication system Wet sump
Radiator capacity(including all routes) 2.51L
Engine oil capacity 3.83L

Fuel

Air filter type Paper
Fuel tank capacity 18L

Electrical

Ignition system type T C I
Spark plug model CR9EK
Battery voltage/capacity 12V, 8.6AH(10H)

Transmission

Primary reduction ratio 65/43 1.512
Secondary reduction system Chain drive
Secondary reduction ratio 45/17 2.647
Clutch type Wet,multiple-disc coil spring

Gear ratio

Transmission type Constant mesh 6-speed
Gear ratio-1st gear 38/15 2.533
Gear ratio-2nd gear 33/16 2.063
Gear ratio-3rd gear 37/21 1.762
Gear ratio-4th gear 35/23 1.522
Gear ratio-5th gear 30/22 1.364
Gear ratio-6th gear 33/26 1.269

Chassis

Frame type Diamond
Tire size(Front) 120/70ZR17MC(58W)
Tire size(Rear) 190/50ZR17MC(73W)

Brake

Disc effective diameter(Front) 283mm
Disc effective diameter(Rear) 186mm

Suspension

Suspension type(Front) Telescopic fork
Suspension type(Rear) Swingarm

Shock absorber

Shock absorber assembly type(Front) Coil spring/oil damper
Shock absorber assembly type(Rear) Coil spring/gas-oil damper
Wheel travel(Front) 120mm
Wheel travel(Rear) 130mm

Bulbs(voltage/wattagex quantity)

Headlight bulb type Halogen bulb
Headlight 12V, 55W ×4
Auxiliary light 12V, W5W ×2
Brake/tail light LED, 12V 2.3W／0 2W
Turn signal light(Front) 12V, R10W ×2
Turn signal light(Rear) 12V, R10W ×2

Meter

Speedometer LCD Digital
Tachometer Analog
Odometer LCD Digital
Trip meter LCD Digital
Water temperature meter LCD Digital
Clock LCD Digital

Model name MT 01
Dimension＆Weight

Overall length 2185mm
Overall width 800mm
Overall height 1105mm
Seat height 825mm
Wheelbase 1525mm
Minimum ground clearance 145mm
Dry(without oil and fuel) 243kg
Wet(with oil and a full fuel tank) 262kg

Performance

Maximum speed (crouched) 210km/h
Minimum turning radius 3.2m

Engine Performance

Engine type Air cooled 4-stroke,OHV
Cylinder arrangement V-type 2-cylinder
Displacement 1670cm3
Bore & stroke 97 X 113mm
Compression ratio 8.4 : 1
Maximum horse power 66.3kW(4750min-1)
Maximum torque 150.3N･m(3750min-1)
Starting system type Electric starter
Lubrication system Dry sump
Engine oil capacity 5.0L

Fuel

Air filter type Oil-coated paper element
Fuel tank capacity 15.0L

Electrical

Ignition system type TCI
Spark plug model DPR7EA9/X22EPR-U9
Battery voltage/capacity 12V, 12AH

Transmission

Primary reduction system Gear
Primary reduction ratio 71/48 1.479
Secondary reduction system Chain
Secondary reduction ratio 39/17 2.294
Clutch type Wet,multiple-disc

Gear ratio

Transmission type Constant mesh 5-speed
Gear ratio-1st gear 38/16 2.375
Gear ratio-2nd gear 30/19 1.579
Gear ratio-3rd gear 29/25 1.160
Gear ratio-4th gear 24/25 0.960
Gear ratio-5th gear 24/30 0.800

Chassis

Frame type Double Cradle
Tire size(Front) 120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W)
Tire size(Rear) 190/50 ZR17 M/C (73W)

Brake

Effective radius of disc(Front) 283.0mm
Effective radius of disc(Rear) 238.0mm

Suspension

Suspension type(Front) Telescopic fork
Suspension type(Rear) Swingarm(link-suspension)

Shock absorber

Shock absorber assembly type(Front) Coil spring/oil damper
Shock absorber assembly type(Rear) Coil spring/gas-oil damper

Bulbs(voltage/wattagex quantity)

Headlight bulb type Halogen bulb
Headlight 12V, Lo;51W ×1 / Hi;55W ×1
Auxiliary light 12V, 5W ×3
Brake/tail light 12V 2.0／0.2W LED
Turn signal light(Front) 12V, 10W ×2
Turn signal light(Rear) 12V, 10W ×2

Meter

Speedometer Digital
Tachometer Analog
Odometer Digital
Trip meter Digital
Clock Liquid crystal Digital


Details, specifications, dealer info now on Yamaha Website.

Earlier posts:-
Yamaha R1 - we are still waiting!
Yamaha to launch YZF R1 and MT01

Other related posts:-
Yamaha YZF R15 and FZ unveiled at Auto Expo
New 2009 Yamaha V-max: Pictures, specifications, features
1)2008 Yamaha Raider 1854cc V-twin
2) 2008 Honda CBR1000
3) 2008 Kawasaki Ninja250R
5) Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport
6)2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa

2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa

The legend lives on:The new 2008 Hayabusa is hotter than ever. The new Hayabusa's engine is thoroughly updated for more power and an improved power-to-weight ratio, which you'll experience as an even greater rush of acceleration. Its refined chassis and suspension help provide crisper handling. And its striking new fairing offers sleeker aerodynamics. The original Hayabusa was the best. With the 2008 Hayabusa, you're looking at better than the best.

History:-
The fastest production motorcycle ever built.
The name Hayabusa translates directly from the Japanese for Peregrine Falcon, the bird capable of achieving speeds over 200 mph – and predator of (perhaps not coincidently) the common blackbird. When introduced in 1999, it overtook the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird as the fastest production motorcycle. The first generation of the Hayabusa was called the GSX1300R and was powered by a 1299 cc inline-4 liquid-cooled engine. It remained relatively unchanged up through the 2007 model year.

2008 Hayabusa :-
Suzuki have dropped the GSX1300R designation in some counties and simply called the motorcycle the Hayabusa. The engine size was increased to 1340 cc with the compression ratio increasing to 12.5:1. A 3% increase in displacement has 12% increase in power at 200bhp thanks to lots of other tweaks here and there. Fuel is now fed through a pair of new 44 mm Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) throttle bodies. The Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS), a technology introduced on the GSX-R line of motorcycles, provides three options of power delivery for a range of touring to wide open high performance. The 32 bit microprocessor is twice as compared to the old one. Some of the more notable features include a new 4-2-1-2 exhaust system meets Euro 3 and Tier 2 emission regulations, a slipper clutch, and all new aggressive aerodynamic fairing design with low drag coefficient. Design changes include a wider fairing to cover the rider's body and a taller windscreen so that the wind flows above and around the rider's helmet. The tail signals have been moved below the hump.

Pictures of 2008 Hayabusa GSX 1300R

Suzuki Hayabusa 2008 video:-

Technical specifications of 2008 Hayabusa GSX 1300R

Specs
Engine:	1340cc, 4-stroke, four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve, TSCC
Bore Stroke:	81.0 x 65.0mm
Compression Ratio:	12.5:1
Fuel System:	Fuel Injection
Lubrication:	Wet sump
Ignition:	Digital/Transistorized
Transmission:	6-speed, constant mesh
Final Drive:	#530 chain
Overall Length:	2195mm (86.6 in.)
Overall Width:	740mm (29.1 in.)
Overall Height:	1170mm (46.1 in.)
Seat Height:	805mm (31.7 in.)
Ground Clearance:	120mm (4.7 in.)
Wheelbase:	1485mm (58.5 in.)
Dry Weight:	220 kg (485 lbs)
Suspension Front:	Inverted telescopic, coil spring, fully adjustable spring preload, adjustable rebound damping and adjustable compression damping
Suspension Rear:	Link-type, gas/oil damped, fully adjustable spring preload, adjustable compression & rebound damping
Brakes Front:	Dual hydraulic disc
Brakes Rear:	Single hydraulic disc
Tires Front:	120/70-ZR-17
Tires Rear:	190/50-ZR-17
Fuel Tank Capacity:	21 liter (5.5 gal.) 20.0 liter (5.3 gal.) CA. model
Color:	Orange/Black, Black/Gray, Blue/Black

Price: $11,999.00

Website: Hayabusa
Images: 2008 Hayabusa

Related links:-
1) 2008 Honda CBR1000
2) 2008 Kawasaki Ninja250R
3) Yamaha YZF-R125 VS Honda CBR125 VS Kymco KR Sport