Alfa Romeo is one of the most stylish and fast Italian luxury cars. Fiat Alfa Romeo 159 was launched in the year 2005 although Alfa Romeo has been a part of Fiat group since 1986.The car was introduced to have aeronautical design integrated to luxury cars.

Fiat Alfa Romeo was showcased in Delhi at the 9th Auto Expo on Jan 2008. Alfa Romeo was launched in India with 2.5-litre V6 diesel engine that generated a power of 188 bhp and another 1.9-litre multi-jet petrol engine gives a power of 150 bhp. Alfa 159 will have the engines that has the 2.2L JTS and it delivers a power of 185bhp.The two diesel versions deliver power of 150bhp from 1.9L and 200bhp from 2.4L.

Looks of Fiat Alfa Romeo

Fiat Alfa Romeo is considered to be one of the best looking cars. It has a V-shaped grille and bonnet and head light clusters are cylindrical. The waistline is broad upto the C pillar and interior of the car is amazing. High quality material has been used for the seats and instruments are angled towards the driver. The steering wheel is comfortably placed and it allows the driver to have an easy drive in crowded roads.

Fiat Alfa Romeo is a compact executive car with 4-doors and from grille to tail pipe the car measures 4.6 meters. Alfa 159 combines sport ness, technology and elegance in a its design.

Technology and Engine

Fiat Alfa Romeo uses Fiat Powertrain Technologies in the 1.9 JTD engine and it is integrated to Twin Stage Turbo technology that raises power to 140 kW and maximum torque goes to 400 NM from just 1.9 liters of petrol.

The 1.9 LTD engines uses FTP four cylinder diesel engine and it gives a power like a six cylinder vehicle. Fiat Alfa Romeo has low fuel consumption and it delivers a high power and torque.

The new engine of Fiat Alfa Romeo has been integrated to two versions of the motor and as compared to the previous 1.9 liter JTD engines, torque has been improved by almost 50% .The high performance of the car is attributed to the advanced turbo charging technology that works on the Two stage Turbo charging principle and the thermo- structural resistance of the motors has also been increased that allows increased cylinder pressure to 180 abr. The exhaust temperature can go to 800C.

The Two stage turbo charging enables the motor to combine small turbocharger’s response at low speed and it eliminates the Turbo lag and the second stage turbo charging is for deep breathing and it prevents breathlessness in engines.

Security and Comfort

Fiat Alfa Romeo has the TST technology that allows improved gas circulation and reduces fuel consumption. NOX emission is low. The engine has been passed for the Euro 5 emission standards. The compression ratio is lowered from 17.5 to 16.5.An improved EGR cooler has been attached. It has been awarded five-star safety rating by the Euro NCAP.

Features of Fiat Alfa Romeo

• Engine allows front-wheel drive
• JTS – Jet Thrust Stoichiometric the term used for Direct Injection Engine
• 5 – Speed manual Transmission
• Wheelbase: 2700 / 2703 mm (106.3/106.4 in.)
• Length: 4660/4661 mm (183.4/183.5 in.)
• Width: 1828/1830 mm (71.9/72.0 in.)
• Height : 417-1422 mm (55.7-55.9 in.)
• Curb weight: 1,430–1,680 kg
• Fuel capacity: 69 L – 70 L
• Torque = 400 NM from just 1.9 litres of petrol
• Power = 188 bhp

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• High fuel efficiency
• Integrated with latest technologies
• Comfortable to drive
• Stylish and elegant Italian design

Cons

• The luxury car Fiat Alfa Romeo is not very comfortable like a Mercedes
• The looks are not like a dynamic sportscar
• The technologies integrated to the vehicle are not improved over Audi
• Its price is high for average Indian buyer.

Cost:

The car has been launched to compete with BMW -3, Mercedes C –class and the Audi –A4 and the car is priced at minimum Rs 25 Lakhs in an Ex-showroom in Delhi.

Fiat Linea is a small family car manufactured by Italian automakers and it is a famous car in Eastern Europe, Middle East and Latin America. In January 2009 the car was launched in India although it was scheduled to be launched in the country in November 2008 but the launch delayed because of the Mumbai Terror Attacks.

Engine and Power

Fiat Lines has been launched with three engines1 .4L FIRE, 1.4L 16 V T- Jet and 1.3L 16v Multijet. The maximum power delivered by the vehicle is 78 PS @ 6000 rpm and highest torque is 115 Nm @ 3000 rpm. The car goes from 0 to 100 km / h in just 14.6 seconds and the maximum speed is 220 km / hour.

Looks and Design

The company launched it as a replacement for Marea. Fiat Linea sedan has been launched in color types Tecno Grey, Jazz Blue, Flamenco Red, Fox-Trot Azure, Minimal Grey, Lullaby Blue, Rockabilly Black, Ambient White, Breakdance Green and Indie Ivory. The car is designed by Fiat Style Centre and it is based on Fiat Grande Punto platform. The car has a size to accommodate a family (5 -seats) and it can be compared to saloon cars such as Opel Astra or Renault Mégane. Fiat Linea has a wheelbase of 2,603 mm that is longer than other Fiat models .Its length is 4,560 mm.

Fiat Linea is a perfect stylish car that has a powerful engine and is comfortable to drive on city roads. Some latest technologies like the Blue & Me hands-free system, Mobile system with voice, speech recognition, read SMS aloud and audio controls are integrated to the car and you can even listen to music from a Pen drive in Mp3 or WMA formats that you can connect to the USB port.

Drive and comfort

Fiat Linea is easy to drive and handle. Advanced suspension system has been integrated to Fiat Linea that has an improved shock absorber and it absorbs jerks of the uneven roads. It is comfortable to drive a Fiat Linea because of the steering wheel and the safety features.

The advanced safety features include ABS system (Antilock Braking System) and the EBD system (Electronic Brake force Distribution), roof air bags, driver’s air bags, seat belts and FPS (Fire Protection System) system.

Some of the attractive features are projector like headlights, clear bodylines, muscular grille, clear lens fog lamps and a clear tail lamp. Five passengers can be comfortably seated in the car and interiors of the car are impressive like the exteriors. The interior room is comfortably designed and high class material has been used to design the interiors. The instrument cluster is a well organized segment with a clear dashboard and headrests are present on the rear seats to make it comfortable.

Features of Fiat Linea

• Engine: 1.4L Petrol/1.3, 1.4L Diesel, 4 –cylinders, 5 –speed manual transmission
• Displacement 1368 cc
• Maximum Power: 77 PS @ 6000 rpm
• Maximum Torque: 115 Nm @ 3000 rpm
• Wheelbase: 2603 mm
• Ground Clearance: 160 mm
• Fuel Capacity: 45 litres
• Length: 4560 mm, Width: 1730 mm, Height: 1494 mm
• Min. Turning Radius = 5.4m
• Kerb Weight: 1185 kg
• Suspension: Front McPherson independent suspension: Rear Half torsion beam trailing arm axle with rotator
• Brakes: Front Ventilated Disc, Rear Drum Brake
• Steering Type: Rack and Pinion, power assisted
• Tyre: 185/65 R 15

Pros and Cons of Fiat Linea

Pros:

• Fuel Efficiency is high.
• Linea has great looks, music system, digital display and attractive interiors.
• Steering control is good.
• Suspension is improved technologically that makes the vehicle move easily on rugged roads.
• Low speed drive is comfortable
• Fuel efficiency is high

Cons:

Rear seats are not very comfortable (for above 6 ft.)
Cost is high as compared to other models in market.

Cost of Fiat Linea

The car Fiat Linea has been launched in India in the price range of Rs.7 to Rs 8 Lakhs.

Mahindra & Mahindra‘s Bolero model is an advanced multi utility vehicle equipped with the Common Rail Diesel engine (CRDe) technology. It has been launched in colors red, Diamond white and Java Brown and special models have been launched in colors mist silver and golden Sahara beige.

Bolero has been launched in models SLX, SLE, XL, XLS, LX, MDI, DI and VLX CRDe .The previous models of Bolero have been renamed and all the models are equipped with the latest technology. The new CED technology has been incorporated to Bolero that comes with a minimal operating cost and it increases fuel efficiency. CED technology has been introduced in 2-Wheel Drive and in 4-Wheel Drive in Bolero.

Looks of Mahindra Bolero

The looks of Mahindra Bolero have been improved to make it stylish and its leather wrapped steering wheel is changed. Even the new instrument cluster is improved. The new Bolero VLX has the integrated electronic computer-controlled engine management system.

New Mahindra Bolero has been equipped with standard equipments and the looks of the vehicle has been improved from the previous models. Mahindra Bolero comes with aggressive grills, clear lens headlamps and a stand out wheels that adds to its style although it is not categorized into stylish car segment and is termed “a forest car.”

The features of new Mahindra Bolero are the new dash panel, electronic shift transfer case and attractive seats that match the interiors. The vehicle has been made available in Metallic colors. The design makes it look muscular and its high ground clearance helps it to move easily on broken uneven roads.

Seats are provided for seven passengers in the vehicle and the cabin is exclusive in looks. Extended wheelbase and increased legroom helps the travelers to have a comfortable long distance drive, even on rugged roads. The roof is raised and an Aluminum footstep on the rear and sides helps the passengers to have an easy entry into the vehicle. The vehicle has provisions for modular seating arrangements (for a large family).

Drive and Comfort of Mahindra Bolero

It is very comfortable to drive a Mahindra Bolero because the injection pressure is not related by engine speed. The driver’s seat is properly placed and there is plenty of space for placing magazines, bottles, a large glove box is present and a mobile holder and a 12V charging point is also present. Bolero is known to be a safe vehicle and the anti roll bars hold the vehicle on tough bends. Brakes are strong and a seat belt and door open warning system is also present.

Fuel efficiency is high that normally ranges from 9.5 on city roads to 13.2 km/l on highways. The performance of the vehicle is good and shifting ears is easy.

Engine and Power

Mahindra Bolero engine is 2.5L I-4 Diesel, 2.5L Inline 4 (Turbo) XD3PU and 2.5L I-4 97bhp.The engine is equipped with technology CRDe and transmission system is 5-speed Manual Transmission.

The Bolero SLX and DI model comes with the Four Wheel Drive option and the engine is 2.5L (Turbo) diesel engine offers 5-speed manual transmission. Power generated is 63-68 bhp and it gives a torque of 180 Nm. Bolero VLX CRDe gives a flat torque in various speed ranges and it has advanced dampers to reduce jerks when you shift gears. The 2.49 liter engine of Bolero VLX produces a power of 97 Hp.

Transmission of the vehicle is NGT 530R and it has been introduced with low NVH levels (noise, vibrations and harshness). Mahindra Bolero has a VAS system that is the sophisticated Voice Assist System that gives warning in case the seat belts is not fastened or the left door is open.

Bolero has been cleared with BS III emission norms and a maintenance cost of Bolero is also low. The models of Bolero have independent front suspension that has a coil spring suspension and leaf spring in the rear. MDI and DI versions have lead springs in the front. Power steering has the SLX and SLE standards.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mahindra Bolero

Advantage:

• Bolero can be easily driven even on rough roads.
• For long distance travel, it is an ideal choice.
• Off roads drive is extremely comfortable and the vehicle has ample space for a big family
• Fuel efficiency is ok.
• Interiors are good.
• Ground clearance is high.
• Bolero is comfortable to drive on Indian roads.
• It is a strong vehicle.
• Service Centers are available in various parts of the country.

Disadvantages

• Looks of Mahindra Bolero be improved.
• Performance and comfort can be improved.
• It is a kind of forest vehicle, good on highways but not easy to drive in metro – city crowds.

Cost of Mahindra Bolero

Mahindra Bolero VLX CRDe is priced at Rs 6.49 in an ex-showroom and the general price of the vehicle is Rs 6.90 lakh.

Maruti Swift Dzire is the sedan version of Maruti Swift and it has been launched in six versions, 3 versions are petrol and 3 are in diesel. The car was launched in March 2008 and the new swift is a mid size vehicle and it is also called the 3- box version of Maruti Swift. Dzire has been introduced in the market in two versions 1.3 liters petrol engine version and 1.3 liters DDiS multijet diesel engine. The car attracts family customers and it performs better on India roads.

Maruti Swift Dzire comes with features such as automatic climatic control and five seater capacity. The new car also has safety airbags and collapsible steering. Maruti Suzuki has planned to produce the car in Indian units only.

New Looks and Comfort:

Swift Dzire has 5 doors and seating capacity for five passengers. A new grille, a new tail lights having horizontal turn indicators and a fog lamp insert are the attraction of the car. The interiors of the car are improved over Swift and wheelbase is same as you find in previous car. Shoulder room of the car has been raised and head room at the rear is also increased.

Dzire has got better looks and more space as compared to Swift and some luxury features such as Auto Temperature Control, 6 spoke alloy wheel and new integrated DIN stereo is also present in the car. Maruti Swift audio controls are also present on the steering wheel and the height of the steering wheel can be adjusted.The car has most of the security features such as the ABS and the security twin bags.

Engine and Power of Dzire :

The petrol engine of Dzire has improved torque and a 32 bit ECM on board is integrated.3L 1248 cc diesel version has got a direct ignition system and it delivers a power of 75 bhp at 4000 rpm and maximum power delivered by petrol version is 87@6000 Bhp@rpm .The vehicle gives a maximum torque of 113@4500 Nm@rpm in Petrol version and for diesel version the maximum torque is 190@2000. The engine is equipped with an intercooler and a turbocharger that helps it to reduce noise and vibration and clear exhaust.

Maruti Swift Dsire has been incorporated with the 5 step multi injection technology to reduce noise level and efficiency is increased for the presence of Double Overhead DOHC Camshaft. The engine type is MPI petrol – in-line – SOHC in petrol version and for diesel version the engine is made on the technology of Multijet – Ddis –DOHC. There are four cylinders and the compression ratio is 9.0:1(Petrol) and 17.6:1 (Diesel).

Safety and Drive:

Swift Dzire has been tested for BS III emission levels and the interiors of the car is equipped with almost all kinds of luxury features .There are audio controls on the steering wheel, climatic control, tilt posture and multi display functions. The exteriors are impressive and you find powerful lamps in the front for night visibility .Headlamp leveling adjustment is also provided in the car and you can even find a high mounted stop lamp and fog lamps in the rear bumper and in the front.

All – around power windows is present in the car and sound absorbing features has also been added for the driver to have a smooth noiseless drive. Driver’s seat can be adjusted in various ways and on collision airbags are provided as safety of the driver. The steering wheel is collapsible to reduce collision impact on driver and seatbelts have additional features to reduce impact effect.

The brakes of the car have EBD technology, that distributes braking to all the four wheels and ventilated disc brakes with boosters are also present. Other features include the cup holder, child safety locks and tubeless tyres. Automatic climatic controls help clear mist and rear defogger is provided to have a clear rear view.

Front suspension of the vehicle is McPherson strut and coil spring type and rear suspension is Torsion beam and coil spring type. Rear brakes are drum brakes and front brakes are ventilated disc.

Other features of Swift Dzire:

• Displacement: 1298 cc
• Bore: 74 mm
• Stroke: 75.5 mm
• Cylinder Configuration: 4-inline
• Valve Gear Operation: SOHC
• No. Of Valves 16
• Maximum power: 87@6000 (Petrol) Nm@rpm, 75@4000 (diesel) Nm@rpm
• Maximum Torque: 113@4500 (Petrol) Nm@rpm, 190@2000 (diesel) Nm@rpm
• Transmission Type is 5 –speed manual and a reverse 5 speed manual is also present.
• Wheel Base: 2390mm
• Length = 4160 mm
• Ground Clearance: 170 mm
• Turning radius: 4.7
• Wheel type: Steel wheels in Lxi, Vxi, Ldi, Vdi and Alloy wheels in Zxi, Zdi
• Wheel size: 14″
• Tyre type: Tubeless
• Tyre Size: 165/80 R 14 (Lxi, Vxi, Ldi, Vdi) and 185/70 R 14 (Zxi, Zdi)
• Fuel tank: 43 L
• City Mileage 11 kmpl
• Steering Type: Rack and pinion, Pinion type electronic power assisted

Cost: The car has been launched for Rs 4.7 lakh for the base model and for extra additional features cost can go upto Rs 6 lakh. Ex-showroom price of Maruti Swift Dzire ranges from Rs 461,556 – Rs 673,327.

Yamaha introduced the FZ 16 bikes that have been named “the lord of Streets” by Yamaha and it is also called the ‘naked street bike’ for its amazing looks. The company claimed the bike offers a high mileage and uninterrupted high speeds. FZ 16 is equipped with mono cross rear suspension, stubby silencer, self start, alloy wheels and in low speeds and on uneven roads, the bike is completely in control because of the heady grip. FZ 16 has been launched by the company for a cost of around Rs 65,000.

Looks and Style

The main attraction of FZ 16 is its appearance. FZ 16 is powerful outwardly and the advantage of the bike is the central mass restriction, the front forks makes it appear strong, the chassis has the beefy exteriors, the wide tyres add to the macho effect and the uneven non conventional shape is unique.

Most of the riders are fascinated to the looks of the bike. The bike has got a blue colored headlamp to resemble the bike’s overall exteriors. The aggressive looking FZ 16 also has an irregular shaped exhaust and the instrument panel is highly colorful. You can trace the speedometer, tachometer, trip meter and fuel gauge in the panel. The bike provides signal as the engine starts and it is a well-located addition. The rev counter is 9000 rpm. The trendy Full LDC display can be spotted on the bike.

Yamaha FZ 16 has engrossed the youngsters for its global looks. The bike is stylish and powerful. It comes with a big fuel tank and the bike is designed in a way to give extra confidence to rider at lower speeds and riding position has been made comfortable.

Power and Engine

FZ 16 has the 153 cc SOHC, air-cooled 14 bhp engine that delivers a maximum torque of 14Nm @ 6000rpm and a maximum output of 13.8bhp / 7500 rpm. Engine has two valves and the bike has got five gears and not six. The rear suspension provides a 129 mm of wheel travel and damping valve is to ensure better performance. The yellow color rear shock absorber and the tyres are made in a way to provide the riders a jerk free drive on irregular roads.

The petrol tank and silencer are wisely designed to enhance performance. Torque of Yamaha FZ16 is more than 160 Apache RTR .The fuel tank has a cover of plastic resin to make the bike look sporty. FZ 16 has a flared fuel tank with a knee recess. The exhaust pipe has two layers to reduce the heat effect and the muffler is irregular in shape. The tyres are wide measuring 140/60 R17 at rear and 100/80 R17 upfront. The complete brawny outlook is accredited to the big size and the big tyres.

Comfort and Drive

The mono cross rear suspension is mono shock and it provides a wheel travel of 120mm.The bike can be comfortable on craters. FZ 16 has the disc-drum combination where the disc is of 267mm-diameter in the front and it can be operated through a twin pot caliper. The bike has digital speedometer and fuel indicator and the riding position is extremely comfortable. You don’t feel vibrations in high speed above 120 km / hr. In low speed the comfortable design offers better grip.

The bike comes with mini fazer technique to get high throttle response and fuel efficiency. The dimension of FZ 16 is 1,975mm × 770mm × 1,045mm and it has got 790mm of seat height and curb weight is 137 kg. Fuel tank stores 12 liters of fuel.

Some features of Yamaha FZ 16 are:

• Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve
• Displacement: – 153.0cm3
• Maximum output: 13.8bhp / 7500 rpm: Maximum torque: 14 Nm / 6000 rpm
• Electric starter
• Wet sump for lubrication
• Constant mesh wet multiplate clutch
• CDI Ignition
• Suspension: Telescopic (front) / Monocross (rear)
• Hydraulic single disc (front brake) / drum (rear brake)
• Tyres Front: 100/80-17: Rear: 140/60-R17
• Wheelbase – 1,335mm
• Minimum ground clearance – 160mm

Advantages and disadvantages of Yamaha FZ 16 are:

Advantages of Yamaha FZ 16:

• Electric starter, CDI Ignition
• Wet sump for lubrication
• Powerful look, comfortable drive, marvelous grip ,digital display, self start
• Constant mesh wet multiplate clutch
• Alloy wheel, wide rear tyres
• No vibration or noise in high speed and low speeds- In 8 seconds the speed goes above 90
• The chassis has the stylish exterior, wide tyres add to the macho effect and the shape is exclusive.

Disadvantages of Yamaha FZ 16 are:

• Mileage gets around 45km/l or less, bike is low on fuel efficiency.
• Sometimes problem in self start
• Seat is small
• Bikers report back seat problem
• Highway drive is not comfortable like city drive
• Tyres need to be inflated frequently
• Instrument cluster is not the best in looks

Cost:

The bike is priced at Rs 65,000 but the costs on road are around RS 73,000 in metro city.

Bajaj XCD 135 DTS-Si

Bajaj Auto will roll out at least six models in the year and at least three models will be designed to attract middle level customers. The XCD 135 DTS-Si bike launched by Bajaj has been introduced for the commuters opting for 125 cc bikes as the new bike is more powerful and stylish in looks. The three models of the bike has been introduced include the kick start, drum breaks and disc brake versions. Bajaj XCD 135 DTS-Si has launched the bike in five colors.

Looks of the bike: Bajaj XCD 135 DTS-Si has to compete with the companies that are introducing super bikes into market and many bikers are waiting for the excellent looking Sprint but they have to wait some more for the sporty bike. Bajaj is mostly dependent on the middle level commuters for its market. Hence it introduced a low cost bike with some enhanced features as compared to 125 cc.

Some styling has been added by the bike manufacturers to make the bike look stronger. The bike has the distinctly styled twin pilot headlamp, sharp indicators and the poor looking tail lamp cluster. 135 cc has been upgraded to look better than 100 cc bikes. Some special graphics have been added to petrol tank and the back rail has been made to look slimmer. Front looks have been improved and a different kind of back light has been attached to the bike.

Engine: Bajaj XCD 135 DTS-Si is powered with a 4 Stroke, air cooled, DTS-Si, 135cc engine that delivers 10.2 ps of maximum power @ 7500 rpm and 11.58 nm of torque @ 5000 rpm. The bike is more powerful that 125 cc but you shouldn’t expect much from the new launch. The engine revs is 8000 rpm and even in low speed in fifth gear, you can drive without getting the bumps. In fourth gear also you don’t get the bumps in lower speeds.

The bike picks up fast and in fifth gear it can go to speed of 80 kmph in some 10 second but it takes time to go to 100 kmph and in speeds higher than 100 kmph, the bike vibrates. The bike delivers a mileage of around 62 kmpl.

Ride and comfort : The stability of bike in high and in low speed is better than 125 cc. Handling of 135 DTS-Si is easier because of the long wheelbase of 1275mm. XCD 135 has 5 speed gear box and the ExhausTEC system has been integrated to the machine to lower the noise. The bike comes with auto choke, disc brakes and gas-filled Nitrox shock absorbers that help the bike to be in control.

The 135cc DTS-Si machine is equipped with the digital speedometer and DU bush front suspension adds to the style feature of the bike. The digital speedometer and the analog tachometer are comprehensible but the indicators don’t turn off automatically in bright light.

Some of the features of XCD 135 DTS-Si
• Electric start
• Low-friction front suspension
• Twin pilot headlamps
• Suspension at the rear: 105mm Rear wheel travel, bigger nitrox(gas filled shock absorbers )
• Suspension at the front: 130mm telescopic forks
• Lowered handle bar to improve control
• Front disc brake :200mm disc and 130mm brake at the rear
• LED tail lamps
• Tyres are bigger (100/90*17″ tyres)
• Black matt alloy wheels
• Dimensions are similar to 125cc XCD.
• Chassis is box type diamond
• Ground clearance: 165.00 mm

Advantages and Disadvantage of the bike:
Advantages of the bike
• Broad tyre than 125 cc
• Control is better than 125 cc
• Engine performance increased
• Nitrox shocks
• Improved tail light.
• Design improved
• Low cost bike with enhanced features and good mileage.

Disadvantage of the bike

• All those waiting to get the Sprint should lower their expectations from the new bike.
• There is not much difference in features between 135 cc and 125 cc.
• The style of the bike has not been improved to the expected levels.
• Even the performance of the bike that shows engine 10.2 ps of maximum power @ 7500 rpm ,is not that is expected from the increased CC bike.

Cost:
The buyers have been waiting for the launch of new bike XCD 135 DTS-Si that comes in three models:

• Kick start model = Rs. 43,000 (ex-showroom in New Delhi).
• Electric start with drum brakes model = Rs. 45,000 (ex-showroom in New Delhi)
• Disc brake model =Rs. 47,000 (ex-showroom in New Delhi).

Maruti Suzuki’s A-star is the fifth model from Suzuki and the attractively designed small car has been designed by Japanese engineers to suit the European taste. The car is expected to replace Alto in European markets but in India Alto will not be removed from the market. Its features are the elliptically designed shape, oversized headlamps and A in the name stands for Aerodynamics that is a fast car with high fuel efficiency.

Maruti A- star comes in nine colors and three new colors are – Desert Brown, Paradise Blue and Healing green. A – Star is produced by the company at Manesar and the model comes with five door hatchback. A-star will be exported in names Suzuki Alto and Suzuki Celerio.

Look of A-star

The car is designed in a way top have large wheel arches and bold outlook. The interiors of the A-Star make it look small as the rear passengers get small windows that is designed like a wing. Those who have been driving Hyundai’s i10 will not be happy about the space in the car. The rear space is small for a person above 6 feet but for the driver the car is comfortable as the instrument cluster is spacious and meters are clear to read. The tachometer comes with a dash and it is placed outside the instrument panel. The dashboard is small in height that makes it difficult for tall drivers.

Engine, Power, Torque

A-Star has a new generation three cylinder light weight aluminum K10B KB-Series 998cc engine that is Euro -5 compliant for emissions and it generates a power of 67ps @ 6200 rpm and torque of 90nm @ 3500 rpm. The engine comes with five speed auto box and flat torque of the engine makes it idea for city traffic. The engine is a three cylinder one that makes noise if the speed is increased at low fuel. In normal driving conditions the engine gives a 14kmpl

Comfort and Safety

A-star comes in 3 variant Lxi, Vxi and Zxi. Vxi has music system with two speakers and Zxi comes with air bags, ABS, security system, keyless entry and music system with four speakers. A –star has a compact dimension of -3.5m *1.6m*1.49m that makes it comfortable to drive on city’s crowded roads and turning radius of the car is 4.5 meters. The steering is easy to handle but the wheels takes some efforts to move.

A-star comes with MacPherson bar up in front and torsion beam at the rear and tyres are l55/80 R13 that offer a fine grip on roads even in high speed.

The switches are reachable and the sitting position is comfortably designed but for short height people there is not option for seat adjustment (not present in Zxi).The space for glove box, door pockets and boot space is not much.The seats are comfortably made of fabric and look is impressive but for people above six leg room and knee room is not much in rear.

For safety the car comes with the ABS with EBD is standards in Vxi and Zxi and the Zxi variety also contains two airbags and integrated CD player is also expected to come with the car. The Lxi and Vxi variant of the car are equipped with a sunroof.

Engineering and Style

A-star has been designed to look sporty and stylish and the car will also match European market requirements although the styling looks similar to Hyundai i10.A-star’s slippery drag co-efficient is 0.30 and for Hyundai i10 Cd is 0.33.The performance and fuel efficiency of the car is improved. The shock absorbers are large and road noise in low but in lower speed the noise can be heard.

Special features

• Suspension: F: MacPherson Strut R: Isolated Trailing-link
• Power windows, Power Steering, Remote central locking
• Power:67 Bhp @ 6200 rpm, Torque:90 Nm @ 3500 rpm
• Length:3500 mm, Width:1600 mm, Height:1490 mm
• Driver & Passenger Airbag
• Anti Lock Braking System (ABS) that are Front Ventilated, Rear Disk
• Kerb Weight: 860.00 kgs
• Fuel Tank: 35.00
• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• CD player with 4 Speakers
• Dash-Mounted Tachometer
• Turning Circle: 4.50 meters
• Remote Boot & Remote Fuel Filler (Boot Space 129 ltrs)
• Rear Defogger with Rear Wiper/Washer
• Fog Lamps are present
• Ground Clearance:170.00 mm
• Tyre Size:155/80 R13

Positive and negative specification of the car:

Positive specifications of the car

• Stylish small look
• Power Windows
• Keyless entry
• New attachments like CD player, Sunroof
• Fuel efficiency, high mileage
• High security system
• K-Series engine is powerful, gear shifting is easy, pickup is good, tyres are comfortably broad.
• Car is comfortable to drive even for high speeds.

Negative Specifications of the car

• A-star is not better than Hyundai’s i10 in interiors looks and the tail lamp cluster is unimpressive.
• Makes noise in low speeds, low fuel.
• Price of the car is high in small car range as the market of small cars is coming with low prices.
• For drivers and passengers above height 6, it’s small.
• Mileage is less than the claimed by the company of 19 kmpl.

Cost of A-star

A- Star comes in price range of Rs 3, 46,775 to Rs 4, 11,775. The starting prices for the three variants on roads is
LXI: Rs 390000/-
VXI: Rs 425000/-
ZXI: Rs 470000/-

Thunderbird Twinspark

Thunderbird Twinspark is a stylish bike from Royal Enfield revolutionary Unit Construction Engine and is known for pleasurable riding experience. Thunderbird Twinspark is priced Rs1, 03,000 in (Ex-showroom) and was launched in 2008 in Chennai. The bike comes with the Twinspark feature and has a UCE engine that offer high power, torque, fast brakes and fuel efficiency.

The company Royal Enfield initially launched the Thunderbird model in 2001 and it expecting to sell around 5,000 units of the new bike. These high priced bikes are known for technological advancement and are environmental friendly, as they comply with stricter emission norms.

Look of the Thunderbird Twinspark

Thunderbird Twinspark bike has been launched in three monotone colors silver, red and black .The twin pod instrument cluster is placed with speedometer, RPM meter, odometer, fuel gauge, trip meter and the instrument panel is blue black in color that enables it to be clear even in sunlight and view mirrors shows the passing rider instead of vehicle at the rear.

Thunderbird Twinspark has the electric motor starter placed on the inner side of the engine and it helps the bike to have low wear and tear in mechanical parts and to reduce problems of sprag clutch. There are six clutch plates to reduce effort required for controlling clutches and riding is easy. Even kicking has been comforted by the auto de-compressor fitted with the engine of the bike.

Thunderbird Twinspark has the UCE features that enables it to pump oil at high pressures and have proper cooling, that increases fuel efficiency. The bike offers a mileage of 42kmpl on city roads and is easy to drive. You don’t feel vibrations at high speeds and even hard breaking from a high speeds makes the bike stable without vibration and stops the bike in seconds. The bike vibrates when you try to change gear in crowded area.

Engine and Power

Thunderbird Twinspark has a 350 cc UCE engine having twin spark feature. The engine produces 19.8 bhp @ 5250 rpm maximum power and 28 Nm @ 4000 rpm maximum torque. The twin spark badges can be seen on the side flanks and twinspark decal is found at the rear of the bike. The new engine of Thunderbird Twinspark is featured for efficient combustion that uses the hydraulic tappet and it helps the bike to have zero clearance of pushrod that helps it to have optimal valve timings.

The bike is equipped with an auto de – compressor that gets activated at 250rpm and helps the rider to start the engine without much effort.

Riding and Confort

The design of the bike is very attractive that has ergonomically designed high density foam seats. It is very comfortable to ride on the bike, in long distances in high speeds and the brakes are very quick and easy. The 19 inches tyre and gas charged suspension that are designed in away to offer lowest vibrations in the bike even in high speeds.

Although the kick lever is placed uncomfortably and if you hit clutch regularly in crowded areas it becomes bumpy. An oil window is also provided to check oil levels. A halogen lamp is provided in the bike that has a better life than the regular lamps and bike has foldable foot rest for easy parking in crowds. The bike is heavy 168kg machine and rear brake cable and chain is moved to right side of the bike. The bike has heat shield on silencer and a large CV carburetor BS-29.

Features of Thunderbird Twinspark

• 350 cc UCE engine with Twin spark
• Engine: Single cylinder, 4 Stroke, OHV, Dual spark ignition engine, air – cooled
• Power: 19.8 bhp @ 5250 rpm and Torque: 28 Nm @ 4000 rpm
• 280mm disc-front brake and 150mm drum-rear brake for instant stop
• Heat shield on silencer
• Rear gas filled shock absorber
• Fuel tank capacity: 15.5Liters and Fuel Efficiency: between 45 and 50kmpl

Positive and negative specifications of Thunderbird Twinspark

Attractions of the Thunderbird Twinspark

• Twin sparks engine that offers high power and speed
• Bike has internal gear and clutches
• Hydrolic tappet adjustment system is present
• Low vibrations in high speed
• Bike has quick powerful brakes
• Stylish looking comfortable bike for long distance traveling
• Electric motor starter is present and an electronic flasher is present it the bike
• Bike has multi focal reflector for easy tracking
• This is a high power fast bike that gives top speed of 102kmh and mileage of 42 kmpl

Problems found in Thunderbird Twinspark

• The bike is heavy and costly
• Bike is equipped with 6 plate clutches and engine pickup is sometimes not very smooth.
• In low speed and in crowds, on hitting clutches, it gets less comfortable to drive.
• Mirrors do not show the rear vehicle.
• Handle position is differently made.
• Bike can be equipped with long route accessories and have more choices for colors.
• Technology is dominating too much in this bike.
• Bike needs extreme care and kick lever is placed differently.
• You can even get low fuel efficiency and leakage kind of regular problems in this bike.

Cost:

The new Thunderbird Twinspark will be available for around Rs.105940/- on road.

Hero Honda Splendor NXG

Hero Honda’s Splendor has been improved by the company to Splendor NXG and NXG means next generation splendor bike. The bike has been brought into the market in two models that differ for the wheel types, one of the models has the 5-spoked aluminum alloy type wheels and other has cast wheels. A few new features have been added to the bike which includes the new engine and a new design. The splendor family of Hero Honda already contains the bikes splendor, splendor plus and 125cc super splendor.

Look of Hero Honda splendor NXG

Splendor NXG has been launched in five colors black having three stripe color variations, candy blazing red, force silver, vibrant blue and classy maroon. Hero Honda splendor NXG comes with powerful trapezoidal multi -reflector head -lamps that are accompanied with a high power battery that reflects DC high beam and the intensity of the head lamp doesn’t vary on engine rpm and the feature helps the lamps to burn, even at low speed. The variation in rpm doesn’t change the intensity of the lamp that has a circuitry to support low beam.

The bike is equipped with a new visor and a front look. The fuel tank has been placed comfortably with a chrome lid on the top. The body panels and graphics to the bike are new and instrument panel has a trip meter that is placed in the speedometer. A stylish tail lamp and a die –cast alloy grab rail is also added to the bike.

Engine and Power of Hero Honda splendor NXG

The bike is powered with 97.2 cc a air- cooled single cylinder 4 stroke OHC engine that offers maximum power of 7.7 PS at 7500 rpm ,that is five % more than Splendor plus ,that delivers a power 7.4PS at 8,000 rpm. The bike offers high torque of 7.6 N-m @ 6000 RPM. Splendor NXG has a 4 speed gearbox. The bike is convenient to drive in low speed and in 7.8 seconds it gains a speed of 60kph.The highest speed offered is 90kph.The bike has telescopic hydraulic fork front suspension and a hydraulic spring loaded type with both side action rear suspension.

Driving and comfort

Hero Honda’s Splendor NXG has a low Kerb weight of 100.3kg when it is compared to the previous bikes of Honda. The bike has a drum brake and has got a kick start option. The ground clearance of the bike is about 1 mm more than Hero Honda Splendor plus that is a ground clearance of 160 mm. The wheelbase is 1230 mm and the bike doesn’t make irritating noise even in low speed, in fourth gear.

In crowded areas and roads having curves, the bike delivers an average mileage of 77kpl.The fuel tank has a capacity of 10.3 liters and the reserve limit is 1.8 liter for fuel.

Features:

• Height: 1040 mm and Length: 1950 mm
• Wheelbase: 1230 mm
• Wheels : 5-spoked aluminum alloy type
• Ground Clearance: 159 mm
• Kerb weight: 100.3kg
• Fuel Tank Capacity:10.3 liters
• Engine: 4 – Stroke, air cooled 1 cylinder
• Displacement: 97.2 cc
• No. of Gears: 4
• Maximum Power: 7.1bhp/8500rpm
• Kick start type
• Brakes: Internal Expanding Shoe Type 130 mm (Front) 110mm (Back)
• Tyres: Front: 2.75 X 18-4 PR / Rear: 2.75 X 18-6 PR
• Ground clearance :160mm

Positive and Negative specifications of the bike:

Positive specifications:

• Although the bike resembles Hero Honda’s Ambition it has improved design to attract young bikers
• High Fuel efficiency, reliability and low cost
• Total weight of the bike is less than other Hero Honda models.
• Added pilot lamps feature
• Smooth city riding.

Negative specifications

• Complaints of poor wheel grip and skidding have been made.
• The electric start is a drawback
• You don’t have more cylinder bikes in Honda
• The bike is also not equipped with disc brakes
• The fuel efficiency is not as expected.
• Many complaints of vibrations at high speed

Cost:

Hero Honda Splendor NXG (97.2 cc) has been priced at Rs. 40,990/- and Rs. 41,990/- ex showroom Delhi.

TVS Star City 110cc

TVS Motors Company have unveiled seven models at a time and with an aggressive marketing the company sale numbers are high .The bikes launched are 125cc Flame, a 110cc Star City, Scooty Teenz and a Apache RTR 160.At the same time the company released three wheelers in petrol, CNG and LPG versions. The TVS bikes are known for easy handling and smooth rides and TVS expects to sell 75,000 bikes in a month.

TVS Star City bikes are low cost two wheelers that are coming with new features like improved shape, graphics, sporty silencer and RCF technology. The new 110 cc CVTI Engine bike is based on the principal of Swirl and Tumble. The new Star City has the electric start features and the looks have the new set of graphics.

Look of TVS Star City 110cc

TVS Star City is a good looking bike that is present in dual tone appearance. Previously the bikes were coming in chrome metal colors but the latest machines have modern plastic colors. The bike comes in four colors flaming red, black, purple and greenish grey.

The rectangular section swing arm is similar to the previous launched TVS star bikes and the rider can make adjustment in the rear shock absorber with some tools that are basically two ways adjustable and the speedometer assembly has got a blue backlit display. Instrumentation is simple; the speedometer has the econometer that has the “R” label attached to the fuel gauge.

Engine and Power of TVS Star City 110cc

The engine of the bike is called Charge Motion Variable Timing Intelligent engine CVTI Engine.
The air –fuel combustion is complete when the bike has turbulence that is created in the engine by the air –fuel mixture horizontally. The same features can be found in Bajaj XCD DTS-Si. The fuel mixing also helps in reduced emission.

These bikes are unique for having electric start features in its class and the alloy wheels increase the appeal of the vehicle that is equipped with adjustable two-way suspension. The vehicle Star city’s 110cc CVTi uses the Charge motion Variable Timing intelligence and it produce a power of 6.1 KW (8.1 Bhp) at 7500 RPM and torque of 8.1 Nm at 5000 RPM. The engine CVTi helps the vehicle have better combustion and high fuel efficiency.

TVS Star City 110cc is not better than TVS Star sports that has a better position and look of the silencer and a tail lamp .The TVS Star sport looks more elegant .The fuel tank is also sleeker and has the double – toned side panel. The sports bike also has the 5- spooked alloy wheels and the bike comes in three colors Silver, Black and Blue.

Comfort and Ride of TVS Star City 110cc

The bike comes with easy to use switches that have a pass light switch and a push to cancel indicators. The switches come with pass light and a push to cancel indicator. The other attachments of the bike like the mirrors, rubber parts and control levers are similar to the traditional TVS types. The bike has a weight kerb 108 kg and it has the keihin carburetor. The seating position in the bike is comfortable and suitable for average height riders.

The cable controlled clutch helps to control progression and control for rider and the motor helps the rider move easily from low gears to high gear high speed.

TVS Star City Specifications:

• Engine: 4-stroke, air-cooled OHC
• Engine Displacement (cc): 109.7cc
• Power (maximum) = 6.1 kW @ 7500 rpm
• Torque (maximum) = 8.1 Nm @ 5000 rpm
• Front Brake = 110mm / 130mm Drum ,Rear Brake = 110mm / 130mm Drum
• Front Tyre = 2.75 X18 tyre (1.6X18 rim) , Rear Tyre = 3.00 X18 tyre (1.6X18 rim)
• Fuel Tank = 16 litres, Reserve 2.5 litres
• Length = 2005mm, Wheel Base = 1250mm
• Ground Clearance = 165mm

Positive and Negative Specifications:

Positive specifications:

• The bikes come with electric start, alloy wheel and two way suspensions.
• It has 110cc CVTi engine with VTi technology
• Refreshing graphics and colors
• Handling on corners is easy and conformable.
• Light bike and above 60 average mileage.

Disadvantages of the bike:

• The bike had complaints of bad service after delivery.
• A few complaints of low mileage that never goes above 55 have also been made.
• Service after sale is not very satisfying.
• Difficulties with self start sometimes in the bike.
• On steep mountains it gets difficult to ride the bike uphill.

Cost:

TVS Star City bikes come with warranties that can be extended by paying extra bugs. The cost of TVS Star City 110cc is Rs 38,000 – 44, 875 in metro-cities.