When AUDi first launched the A4 last year, it immediately caught the fancy of anybody who was looking for an alternative to the Merceded-Benz C-Class and the BMW 3 Series. But the problem was, you could only choose from the hyper 3.2 V6 Quattro, and a rather dull 2.0-litre diesel. Since then, however, Audi have introduced three more engines. A 1.8 turbo petrol with about 160 bhp (same as the Skoda Superb), the 2.0 TFSI from the Q5 with 178 bhp and the 3.0 TDI torque monster with 240 bhp. With this, the A4 offers the widest variety of engine choices in its segment, and with a price tag starting from Rs. 26.67 lakh to 36.4 lakh, it straddles several segments. Ride and handling are its forte, while features and space also receive a plus rating. It’s a worthy alternative to even some of the Japanese competition in the D-segment. As a complete all-round package, the a4 is hard to beat.

VARIANTS – 1.8 TFSI/2.0 TFSI/ 3.2 quattro/ 2.0 TDI/ 3.0 TDI quattro

ENGINE – 1798cc, 1-4/1984cc, 1-4/3189cc, V6/ 1969cc, 1-4, TDI/2967cc, V6, TDI

TRANSMISSION – 6-speed auto

POWER (bhp@rpm) – 160@4500/178@4000/262@6500/141.5@1750-2500/233@4000

TORQUE (kgm@rpm)

25.4@1500/32.6@1500/
33.6@3000-5000/32.5@1750-2500/
45.8@1400-3250

DIMENSIONS

LxWxH (mm): 4703×1826x1427
Wheelbase: 2808 mm

WHATS HOT – Wide engine choice, dynamics

WHAT’S NOT – Low ground clearance

ALTERNATIVES – Usual? BMW 3 series and Merceded C-Class. The unusual? Nissan Teana

Kawasaki Ninja -250R

The much awaited fancy motorbike Kawasaki Ninja 250-R has hit the Indian market at last. Already Bike fans were attracted by the nickname Sexy Baby and were raring to ride on “her” (can a bike be considered female?). Well – folks the Kawasaki Ninja 250-R does not disappoint and has all the plusses to go whirrrrooooom!

As for appearance, the bike is very cute with its colors (only green and black have been released for the time being) painted from the pillion seat, fuel tank, front mudguard, front full fairing, and mask, body shape – chassis tube diamond, steel, and overall dimensions – Length: 2085 mm; Height: 1,115 mm; Width 715 mm; Clearance: 135 mm; Saddle Height 790 mm with a total weight of 374 Kgs.

The vehicle has electronic start (digital ignition transistorized) and on road you will have good road grip what with a 1400 mm wheel base (Tyre size 110/70 R17; 130/70 R17) with great stability. It has 6 speed transmissions, which is a rare phenomenon not found in many bikes. With this you can take the bike for racing and styling.

Kawasaki Ninja 250-R has great breaking system (290 mm hydraulic brake in the front and 220 mm dual-piston disc brake at the rear) with largest disc brake on both ends and all you have to do is push the brake gently to halt the machine. For providing optimum comfort while riding, it has 37 mm telescopic shock absorbers in the front side and Uni-Trak shock absorbers in the rear (adjustable 5 times for various preloads).

The Engine of Kawasaki Ninja 250-R bike is Four Stroke, DOHC, with parallel twin cylinders (Maximum power 32Bhp@ 11000 RPM; Maximum Torque 22 NM @8200 RPM; Displacement 249 cc; Compression Ratio 11.3:1) and the engine has new generation liquid cooling.

With a Petrol tank capacity of 18.2 litres you can go on and on, riding the bike with a fuel efficiency of 42 kmpl.

Though the BMW’s and the Audis has arrived, the tryst of the Indian man with the Mercedes-Benz still goes on. And Now to make sure that the Merc effect stays on, they’ve launched a special edition C-Class, styled exclusively for the Indian market. This special creation will be available in two models, the C 200 Kompressor and the C 220 CDI.

Designed to meet the young Indian customer’s need for sporty driving dynamics, aggressive looks and state-of-the-art gadgetry, this special edition with just 60 pieces will surely be a hit amongst those craving exclusively.

Price: Rs 31.30 lakh (C 220 CDI);
Rs 28.46 lakh (C200 Kompressor)

We were quite tired of choosing between great looks and performance when it came to sports utility vehicles and since we heard about a certain SUV with both these qualities, we had our peepers peeled for its launch. And at long last, Toyota did the honours and unveiled the Fortuner, which just might prove to be one up on many four-wheeled machines out there. Powering this all-time 4WD machines offers a max power of 171 ps and a torque of 343 nm. Seems like a leader in making!

Price: Rs 18.45 lakh

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL) introduced to the car market in India, their latest model “Ritz” belonging to the Super hatch variety on Friday. This is their second offering after “Swift” in the same segment, which enjoys a market share of 75% and competes with this new model in their sales.

The salient features of “Ritz” are it has both diesel and petrol versions. The first is priced at Rs.4.65 to Rs.4.99 lakhs and the latter is fixed at Rs.3.9 to Rs.4.8 lakhs, when they hit the road.  The new car model has identical 1.3 litres multijet diesel engine as that of “Swift” and the petrol engine will be powered by a newly-developed K-series engine of 1.2 litre capacity. This innovation will save the buyers somewhere around Rs.10,000 – since sub-1.2 litre engine will be levied with lower excise duty, compared to “Swift”.

Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director of Maruti Suzuki India explained that the company wants to expand the product portfolio to meet with different customer needs, not to miss any one of them. He also hoped that both Swift and Ritz, irrespective of marginal differences will expand their market, as was the case with Zen and Wagon R from their own product-line.

A lot more activity in the super hatch segment cars is on the anvil, what with Honda readying their product Jazz and Fiat with their Grande Punto to be released next month. Also other manufacturers like Nissan, Volkswagen and Toyota are in the final stages of their products in the same segment.  The super hatch segment currently is overflowing with Chevrolet’s Aveo and U-Va; Hyundai’s Getz and i20 as also Skoda Fabia.

Swift has met with success in the indigenous market, ever since it was launched in 2005 and so the Company is elusive in its expectations about the same success of Ritz, as it has been priced rather aggressively.

Managing Executive Officer (Engineering and R&D), MSIL, I.V. Rao, said that in the prevailing market conditions they have a flexible target for this year and was sure to meet any demand generated with their capacity utilisation. He contended that the similarity of features in both Swift and Ritz enabled them to keep the manufacturing costs low. The new model Ritz has 95% indigenous contents.

Ford India has already registered the name “Ritz” in India and so it can not be used by Maruti Suzuki, who are going to float their “Ritz” in the name “Splash” in the overseas countries.

Via

Barack Obama, the first African-American to take oath as the 44th President of the U.S. Nation is going on the dais on 20th January.  Of all the comments and considerations so far aired about him, the latest is the President-Elect will be taking his oath of office in the same Bible that the late Abraham Lincoln used.  A snap online survey conducted on this point received a majority of favorable comments from the Americans – 57% supporting that they like the idea.

Many of the comments reason out that but for Abraham Lincoln’s efforts the life of blacks in America would have been miserable.  The late President Lincoln ended slavery and brought about the freedom of African-Americans and people vividly remember the “Emancipation Proclamation”.  It would be befitting for Obama to take Oath of Office on the same Bible used by Abraham Lincoln, to be a footnote in the American history for reviving the thoughts of Lincoln.

In the same breath mention should be made about gossip mongers spreading the news of an email circulating (What a democracy US has!!!) that Obama insisted upon taking Oath on a Koran, secretly suggesting that he is being bent upon Muslim rituals.

It is expected that over 2 million people would gather to see the first Black American President taking oath of office as – Barack Hussein Obama.  Crowds filled from Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol to be at the National Mall to have a glimpse of the proceedings hours before the event.

This impossible quest from an Illinois Senator belonging to the minority community ended after two years of untiring campaign and Obama has won the battle to enter the Oval Office as the nation’s fourth youngest President at 47 years of age.

The Nation expects more from the new President, the world expects more from the US President in the bleak world economic situations and we have to wait and see what this revolutionary man of American history is going to do.

Via

Honda has reached with its latest CITY model in Indian market with boom. Undoubtedly like other models this Honda City Model looks smashing hot and trendy. Honda Company hopes for its successful sales. This one is third generation model which looks like updation of Honda Accord.

This latest Honda City is priced between 7.7 to 8.9 Lakh in INR. This model will available in both updation automatic and manual transmission model.

Finally I find a killer combo of just the right power, amazing performance and great looks. Volkswagen’s Jetta may seem like a smaller version of the Passat. But, mind you it has a lot in it to stand up and create a fan base of its own

HOT ROD, HOT BOD!

As with most cars from the German automobile giant, the Jetta’s look doesn’t need to scream to make its presence felt. Its subtle yet makes awesome impact. So if you’re bored of the limelight and want to lie low – but in style – you better get a Jetta!

DRIVE PLEASURE
Try not to be fooled by its demure looks though, for under that neat hood lies a 1.9 litre diesel heart, with the power to unleash a demon of a blitzkrieg on the road. With a max power output of 105 bhp, this is one machine that’s got its power, thrust and weight ratio to the T.

COMFORT CALL

At first, you may feel that the driver’s seat is a bit cramped but, within seconds, the cushion will mould itself to your contours. You can also adjust both the front seats electronically for both height and length. With ample leg room and head space, the Jetta can easily fit in five 6” giants like me. And it also has some very useful modular cavities and storage spaces all over.

PERFORMANCE PERKS

Now, the real deal. I drove the Jetta for 200-odd km, on a mix of city, highway and kutcha, cattle-ridden roads. I went up to a max of 170 kph and, once on the highway, averaged 140 kph. What amazed me more than anything else was the mileage-hovering at a neat 16.2 kpl! With that engine size, those speeds and road conditions, this mileage is ‘Simple Amazing’!

Detractors may say that Mercs are losing out to the Beemers and Benders of the world. Yet there’s something about this tri-starred machine that draws you back… Again and Again!

As the four globular lights flanking its radiator stare at you, you feel they want to strike up a conversation. Perhaps they are too tired. Tired of shouldering a legacy for over a decade. Tired of staying put in the arclights day in, day out. Guess its time to end their agony and bestow the Merc E class with a new look. Let them rest and usher in the new era that Daimler brought in with the C class. A facelift, that’s the need of the hour. But then, the E220 still holds on and has it in it to sway your senses, with its sheer good looks. One last time… The last ever?

Styling

Apart from the headlamps, which belong to a bygone era, every inch screams newness. Glossy finish, swank interiors, droolicious lines… It has the zing of the c(z)ar of luxe! The colours could have been a bit more eye catching in the interiors though. With its intricately designed dash and an easy-to-figure-put keypad, there is nothing really that one needs a manual for.

Drive Pleasure

Now, this is something you just don’t need to get worked up about. Be it A gentle trot at a speed of 40 kph or a mighty lug and tug at an awe inspiring pace of 180 kph, you’ll feel as snug as a bug in a rug! Call-it the push or the pull of its 2.2 litre engine… It surely does know how to make you move. Not once will you feel as if you are handling a heavy beast; just a few deft touches and vroom!

All in all, if a car that’s an huge as this can take up to speeds in excess of 18o kph and still return you a fuel efficiency of a neat 10 kpl, you’ll say, “Pretty neat, dude!”

WAR OF THE SPECS!

Lovely car of Russia called the Kazamat will soon be found I the market with latest designs and it will be manufactured by the Japanese motoring marque. This fabulous crossover project was unveiled at the famous Moscow International Motor Show last week. This grand show will feature a huge amount of audience which is approximate to touch half-million. Though it was quite unexpected but it is assumed that this show will bring profit to this Russian car-owning company.

With a very booming economy, political constancy and along with new-age consumer of Russia have started spending big time on various luxury items like cars and such other amenities of modern-day life. This brand new car is made upon the NAGARE design and the architecture of this car is extremely eye-catching and the Mazda style is already a hit. The new one will be bit larger than the present Mazda3 and this car is exclusively designed keeping in mind the Russian buyers. Weel arches that are very distinctly flared are made to accommodate the big 22-inch wheels that give an awesome and athletic flavor to the car. So readers, don’t forget to chick this out.