Tata Introduces High End Indigo CS

The Indigo CS is the smallest sedan on Indian roads and with an obviously short boot, it benefits hugely by attracting less duties, which means that you pay much less for it. This has led to a big boost in the sales.

Due to this increased demand, Tata has now introduced 3 new variants which are all positioned at the top end of the Indigo CS range. The Indigo CS LX TDi and LX DiCOR will be using diesel, while the Indigo CS GLX will be fueled by petrol.

That means all the three Indigo CS models get front and rear power windows, central locking, rear windscreen defogger, body coloured rub rails with chrome inserts, and body-colored outside rear view mirrors.

The interiors of the diesel versions are charcoal-black with beige being not even an option for the diesels.The petrol Indigo CS GLX gets the beige interior. But both the diesel duo and the petrol cars get an all-new center console. Add to that, you have better seat fabric and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Body coloured bumpers, air conditioning and heating, plus power steering comes standard on all three new Indigo variants.

The price of the Indigo CS LX TDi version is Rs. 4.63 lakhs, while the DiCOR version is priced at Rs. 5.10 lakhs ex showroom. The approximate on-road price would be different in different cities, but should not be more than Rs 50,000 above the ex-showroom prices.

The single petrol Indigo CS version - the GLX - is priced at Rs 4.08 lakh ex-showroom Delhi.

Hyundai i20 Interiors

Autobild checked out the i20 and has posted some pics of the upcoming supermini from Hyundai. The interiors of the i20 are really very good. They don't seem to be of a hatchback. Check out more pics of the i20 here.


The interior seems to be quite spacious for a hatch and the steering wheel seems to be from the Elantra. There is a integrated audio system which seems to be the order of the day for most cars.

2009 Toyota Corolla XRS

The Corolla sold in our country is aimed more at luxury then anything else. However in the U.S market there is a hot version of the Corolla known as the XRS which has a 2.4L engine (from the Camry, perhaps) and is tuned for performance and handling. Check out the video of the Corolla XRS by WebRidesTV after the jump.

New Mitsubishi Cedia

As the festive season approaches, car manufactures try their best to lure buyers by either launching a new model, giving discounts or by facelifting their existing car. Mitsubishi decided to facelift the Cedia with addition of some more features. The front grille now sports a horizontal chrome girlle which well looks bad to be honest. Check out the pictorial review of the facelifted Mitsubishi Cedia here.

Mystery Lamborghini Rear

Lamborghini has released a third image of the mystery supercar to be unveiled at the Paris motorshow. The new image shows the tail lamp of the rumored to be 4 door supercar and honestly it quite resembles the artist impression of the Panamera sedan.

A bit of cut copy pasting got us this puzzle which shows how the rear of this Lambo will look like, sans a few pieces.

Honda City India Complete Details

Honda Siel Cars India today launched the third generation model of its Sedan, City, priced between Rs 7.7 lakh and Rs 8.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). We have got all the details about the specs, features, pricing of the New Honda City courtesy of sidindica (Team-Bhp).

New Honda City Specifications:

• Engine: 1.5 liter, PGM-FI, I-VTEC
• Power: 118 PS @ 6000rpm
• Torque: 150Nm @ 4700rpm
• Transmission: 5 speed manual, 5 speed auto with paddle shifts
  
• Top Speed: 190kmph (estimated)
• 0-100kmph: sub 10 seconds (estimated)
• Fuel Consumption: 10-11 kmpl (City), 14-15 kmpl (highway) (estimated)
  
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 45 litres
• Fuel Type: Petrol Unleaded
• Tires: 175/65/15 Tubeless Radials
• Brakes: Front 14" Ventilated Discs, Rear Drums, ABS
• Wheels: 15 inch steel rims with full wheel cover
• Steering: Electric Power Assist
• Turning radius: 5.0 Meters
• Suspension: McPherson strut with coil spring (Front), Improved H shaped torsion beam (Rear)
• Safety: ABS, Dual SRS Front Airbags, Keyless Entry, Height adjustable front seat belts, Door ajar warning lamp, Driver side pinch guard

New Honda City Dimensions:

• Overall length x width x height: 4395mm X 1695mm X 1470mm
• Wheelbase: 2550mm
• Minimum ground clearance: 160mm

New Honda City Features:

• Front and rear fog lamps
• Keyless entry with answer back
• Front SRS Airbag (Driver and passenger)
• ABS
• Driver side pinch guard
• Height adjustable front seat belts
• Door ajar warning light
• Rear roof mounted antenna
• Grip type handles
• Body coloured bumpers, door handles and side view mirrors
• 3d multi-reflector headlamps
• 3-spoke sporty design (like civic) steering wheel
• 2-tone beige interior
• Rear headrest
• Rear center armrest with cup holders
• Driver seat height adjustment
• MP3/WMA compatible
• Integrated audio system with USB and iPOD auxiliary input jack
• 4 speakers
• Steering mounted audio controls
• Remote for Audio sytem
• A/C with heater
• Dust filter in A/C
• Power steering with tilt
• Central locking
• Power door mirrors
• Power windows
• Front wiper with variable intermittent
• Rear demister
  
• Under rear seat storage space
• Under tray storage space (accessory)
• Single Glovebox
• Fuel Consumption Meter

New Honda City Colours:

• Tafeta white
• Habanero red
• Polished metal
• Alabaster silver

New Honda City Variants:

• S M/T (All Features)
  
• S A/T (All Features)
• E M/T (To be launched in January 2009 without stereo system, beige interiors, fog lamps)
• The E Variant will have a combination of beige and grey interiors

Tata Nano Details

Tata is all set to launch the Nano next month in three petrol variants, standard, deluxe and luxury. According to industry sources, the diesel Nano, which will be launched next year, will also have three variants.

Dealer sources say that the top end luxury variant will have a range of features like HVAC, power window, central locking, tinted glasses, extended reflector, front and rear fog lamps, instrument cluster with trip metre, body colour bumper and door handles, door lock on the co driver side, slider with recliner, three spoke steering wheel and double stalk combiswitch. The deluxe version will have HVAC and tinted windows and the standard will have none of these.

In comparison, Maruti 800, the cheapest car on Indian roads, comes in three basic variants, LPG AC and standard and petrol AC and standard. At Rs 1.9 lacs ex-Delhi, MPI BSIII standard version is the cheapest car on Indian roads. The top-end AC limited edition version comes for Rs 2.19 lacs while the medium variant comes for Rs 2.11-2.13 lacs. All variants are available with immobilizer and in metallic and non-metallic color palettes.

Sources say only the base variant of Nano will cost Rs 1 lac. The deluxe and luxury variants will cost at least Rs 20,000-30,000 more. Much of what the Nano top-end version will offer is also available with the M800 AC version. That includes tinted glasses, outside rear view mirror, backdoor lock, reclining front seats and dual tone upholstery.

According to Tata Motors spokesperson, Nano has “a roomy passenger compartment with generous leg space and head room”. With a length of 3.1 meters, width of 1.5 meters and height of 1.6 meters, and adequate ground clearance, it can “effortlessly manoeuvre on busy roads in cities as well as in rural areas. Its mono-volume design, with wheels at the corners and the powertrain at the rear, enables it to uniquely combine both space and maneuverability,” he added.

Like M800, Nano will sport a multi-point fuel injection engine. “This is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine is being used in a car with single balancer shaft. The lean design strategy has helped minimise weight, which helps maximise performance per unit of energy consumed and delivers fuel efficiency of about 20 km to a litre. We withhold sharing any further details at this stage,” said the spokesman.

Yamaha FZ16 Ride Review

Bike tested: Yamaha FZ16

Price OTR Mumbai: 75,000/-

MotorBeam rating:

The Yamaha FZ16 has been a highly awaited bike and is a very important bike for Yamaha. We thought reviewing the FZ16 is as important as reviewing a new Maruti car, so we did not delay in getting our hands on the Yamaha FZ16.

You can read the complete review on the FZ16 and check out the pictures of the FZ16 here.

Mitsubishi Outlander Launch Soon

Mitsubishi's Indian partner Hindustan Motors Ltd would be launching the Outlander in the Indian market by the end of this year. It will be positioned between the Pajero and Montero and will be priced around 30 lacs. Thus Mitsubishi has ensured the Outlander will be a flop with the high pricing.


Mitsubishi has been very slow and incompetent in the Indian market thanks mainly to its partner HM. The Outlander was expected to be priced between 16-20 lacs. We are not sure what strategy HM is adopting but what ever the case be, we are not impressed.The Outlander will come with a 2.4 liter petrol engine which produces 170bhp @ 6000RPM. The SUV will come with a 6 speed CVT gearbox with paddle shifts on the steering wheel. It will be competing with the CRV but the lack of diesel won't really help matters. It also has limited off road capabilities, so those who want to go off roading, the Pajero is a better bet.

Maruti A-Star Pics

Check out more pics of the A-Star aka the new Alto elsewhere. The A-Star will be launched in our country by Diwali. It will come with a 1.0 liter K series engine (Maruti's next generation small car engines) producing around 65bhp. The car will be priced between 3.25 - 4.5 lacs.

Ferrari California

The first official images of Ferrari’s latest model, the all-new GT California convertible have finally been released after months of tantalizing spy shots and recent teasers. The new model will be available exclusively as a convertible and will feature several firsts for Ferrari including a new automatic folding hard-top, mid-front engine position and dual-clutch technology.

Both the chassis and bodywork are aluminum, and power is derived from a new 4.3L V8 unit with direct injection and a ‘flat’ crankshaft design. The new mill generates 460hp at 7,500rpm and allows the Ferrari California to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.0 seconds.


Drive is sent to the rear wheels via a brand new seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and is controlled with the same F1-Trac traction control system that debuted on the 599 GTB Fiorano. Brembo brakes featuring carbon-ceramic discs are fitted as standard.

The car will be officially unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show in October. However, over the coming weeks, new photographs and further details about it will also be published.

Source - MotorAuthority

Used Cars

Since quite sometime BMW has been a premium brand and has caught the eye on almost every occasion. Known for its build quality, performance and the stunning looks, its always been a car people have dreamt of. We have seen some amazing BMW car chases in hollywood with Tom Cruise, Michael Douglas and Sean Connery in box-office hits such as Wall Street, Mission Impossible and American Beauty.

Owning a premium car like this can be a bit hard on the wallet. However, nowadays there are options of purchasing certified pre owned bmw. Preowned cars cost much less and are much more affordable. Its is a daunting task to hunt down a good car and it may take ages before you are able to get one.

It is important that one considers are few points before finalizing on a preowned car. Firstly one must check if all the papers relating to the car and the owner are in order, secondly one must make sure that the car has not been involved in an accident and all parts are intact and original.

The above points are satisfied if one goes for a certified preowned car from a reputed company. A certified car is one which has been put through quality control tests and is certified to be free from accidents and is in good working condition. Besides the company also offers some warranty on its products and high quality customer care.

Therefore, it would be wise to go for a certified preowned car, which would offer complete peace of mind with customer support from the dealer. One such dealer I stumbled upon is chicago used cars who have a fantastic selection of cars and even do international shipping. One of the best ways to buy used cars chicago is to check out this dealer who provides high customer care and stocks a high number of Bimmers.

Hyundai’s New Diesel Engine

The Powertrain R&D Center of Hyundai Motor Company has completed development of a new, more fuel efficient and cleaner diesel engine for compact passenger vehicles (C-segment and below). Displacing 1,582-cc, the U2 is an inline four cylinder engine which utilizes second generation common rail diesel injection system.

“Our diesel engine development capabilities are truly world-class and the proof can be seen in the U2. It’s the leader of the class and it makes us proud,” said Dr. Hyun-Soon Lee, president of the Hyundai-Kia Corporate R&D Division.

The first car to have the U2 engine installed will be the successor model of the Getz, the all-new i20 sub–compact. The i20, due to be launched in Europe towards the end of 2008, will be produced at Hyundai Motor Co.’s Indian subsidiary in Chennai.

The U2 engine delivers a fuel economy rating of 4.7 L/100km (50 mpg), low CO2 emissions of 125g CO2 per km, the best Torque in its class: 26.5kg.m@1900~2750rpm, and is fully compliant with the latest Euro 4 emission standards.

Lamborghini’s New Mystery Super Car

A pre-release from Lamborghini states : -

“It’s not just a new Lamborghini. It’s a new world.”

The above photo accompanies it, showing only a center exit exhaust, some rear grillework, and a carbon fiber diffuser. And that’s it. Try guessing what this car will look like. Lambo’s letting the cat out of the bag on October 1st, and we’re very curious as everyone else right now. Will this use the W16 engine of the Veyron, probably not but it can be the RWD Murciélago Superleggera.

Van Insurance

Nowadays insurance for almost all the things seems important, whether your house, bike or car. The best car insurance can protect your car from any sort of inconvenience should a theft take place. But you should also be careful of what kind of car insurance you opt for. There are a lot of insurance providers out there but not all can give you that coverage that you might be looking for.

Finding a good auto insurance for your vehicle is not the easiest of things and at times can be a hectic task. Sometimes you may not be claiming insurance at all so paying high amounts for auto insurance seems absurb. There are many types of auto insurance ranging from cars, bikes, trucks, buses and vans. It might be relatively easier finding insurance for cars and bikes, but the same cant be said for van insurance. However the best way you can find some good insurance who provide cheap van insurance is to look online. There are useful tips available to help you look for a good van insurance policy that can help you keep your premium payments down to a minimum. In looking for good van insurance, you should also try to compare the van insurance from different insurance providers. You might even be able to avail discounts for van insurance policies purchased online. Do you know that a van can sometimes be more expensive to insure then a equivalently priced car. You can also try to limit your car’s mileage before you try to get an insurance quote for it. The lower the mileage, the lower the insurance quote. Try not to modify or customize your car too much as it might increase the insurance on your vehicle.

I stumbled upon this site for van insurance who provide all types of van insurance from all the possible insurance providers, but what got me the most interested is they don't just search direct van insurers but even brokers. The brokers might charge you a little but if you go to another broker you might pay more for the same insurance policy. You can compare the van insurance that suits you best and get the best price. The best thing is you can get the insurance your looking for hassle free with just a few clicks of your mouse. This is one of the best methods to get quality insurance cover in good speed.

Superb Lamborghini Gallardo

A Lamborghini Gallardo is a very special car and the Audi engineers have made it with utmost attention to detail. However just look at this Lamborghini Gallardo, it seems so much more special and who ever owns this Gallardo has really taken the attention to detail to the next level. Check out more pics of this Awesome Lamborghini Gallardo here.

The paint job looks fantastic (though i agree that the Camera is playing a role here) but just look at those wheels. They are yellow from the inside and look so freaking awesome.

Nissan X-Trail Facelift Under Test

Nissan has been testing the new X-Trail in Maharashtra. The X-Trail really doesn't sell much due to its high price and very little desirability. The high price can be attributed to the X-Trail being imported. We can't exactly pinpoint on the exterior changes except a few minor ones, but there are major changes to the car elsewhere.

The new X-Trail is 180mm longer and thus bigger, giving better legroom then its predecessor and now has a boot space capacity of 600 liters. The instrument panel has been shifted from the middle (Indica Vista like) to the place where it belongs, right in front of the driver. The new X-Trail uses a variant of Nissan-Renault’s C-platform, also the basis for the Qashqai soft-roader. Nissan wants the X-Trail to take the fight to the Chevrolet Captiva and Honda CR-V. The current X-Trail uses a superb 2.5 liter CTDi diesel engine and if Nissan price it well I don't see why it can't be the pick of the segment.

Pics Source - Hanmust (Team-Bhp), See more pics of the car under test here.

Repsol Yamaha R15

While bikers painting their Pulsars in all types of colours can be understood, painting a Yamaha bike in Repsol Honda colours seems insane.

Owners of Yamaha's R15 don't seem to be satisfied with the colours on offer and thus are trying their hands on any and all types of colours for this bike. What do you feel of this Repsol R15? A little uncalled for modification to such a good looking bike.

Want to see more pics of this not so cool bike, check it out here.

Toyota Corolla Altis Review

We thought since the Corolla Altis is the most awaited car in this segment, we should review the Toyota Corolla Altis without any delay. We feel the car looks amazing, inspired by its elder and much more expensive sibling , the Camry. However we are a bit disappointed with the rear. It looks a wee bit like the old Corolla and you can mistake the new Altis to be the old Corolla if you see the rear first. Check out the big photo gallery of the Corolla Altis here.


All the variants in the Altis range get high intensity discharge lamps. The rear tail lamps have LEDs. The car has some very interesting small touches. For instance when you open the mirror on the sun blinder, the light above it gets switched on automatically . There are puddle lamps on the front two doors, scuff plates and two glove boxes. The boot is decent enough. Alloys look good and like all Toyota's the built quality is fantastic. The gear lever feels good to hold and the wipers are somewhat like the Civic with flat blades. The Corolla Altis comes with 195/65/15 Bridgestone Turanza ER300 tubeless steel belted radials. On overall appeal it doesn't beat the Civic, but a test drive of the Corolla Altis will mostly make us think otherwise. Test Drive Review to come soon.

VW To Launch Minivans

VW is competing with German rival Mercedes-Benz in the van segment by planning to launch its minivan models, targeting the business class. Diesel variants of the Caravelle and Crafter will be launched by the end of the year. Currently Mercedes sells its Viano in the van segment.

The Caravelle is a 6-9 seater van which has a table inside for meetings. On the options list is internet connectivity, fax machine and a television. The Crafter will target small and medium enterprises with its multi utility. The 3.5 tonne variant can be used as a goods carrier from a 15 seater. The prices of the vans are expected to be high as VW plans to import them as CBUs.

Mercedes-Benz A Class

Fiat recently launched the 500 and BMW is planning to launch the Mini Cooper. Hence Mercedes Benz thought why not us, why should we stay behind? They (Mercedes India) say that they are evaluating a possibility for introducing the A Class range in India.

“We are evaluating the Indian market regarding price positioning and overall perception of the company as far as the A Class range is concerned. However, we have not taken any decision so far whether and when to introduce the A-Class car in India,” says someone from Mercedes Benz India.

Toyota Launches Corolla Altis

Toyota has finally launched the much awaited Corolla Altis in three different grades at a price between Rs 10.83 lakh and Rs 12.86 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The Altis uses Toyota's 1.8 liter VVTi petrol engine, which produces a decent power of 132bhp@6000RPM and torque of 17.3KGM@4200RPM and is available with a 5 speed manual and a 4 speed automatic gearbox. The Civic has similar engine specifications. The new Corolla is really impressive, atleast on paper. It looks like a Mini Camry and has features un talked of in this segment.


We are really very impressed with the pricing of the car and the features it offers. The car has features like 8 way powered driver seat, lumbar support, automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, multi information display, cruise control, audio controls and multi information switches on steering wheel, Hgh Intensity Discharge headlamps, headlamp washers, Electro Chromatic inside rear view mirror (auto dimming mirror) and all wheel disc brakes to name a few. It also has has flat rear floor, ABS, Dual SRS Airbags, Automatic Climate Control, ORVM Turn Signals, 195/65/R15 tires and Integrated Audio System like the Civic. There is no black colour yet. But at the price Toyota plans to sell the Altis, it seems extreme value for money. On paper it looks faster then the Civic with better brakes. Diesel is on the cards too. The Civic and the Jetta better run for cover. Stay tuned for a test drive report of the Corolla Altis.

P.S Looks like the timer on Toyota's site seems to be working overtime :) but you can check out the site here.

Yamaha FZ15 Coming Soon

Yamaha India plans to launch the much awaited FZ15 in the third week of this month. The FZ15 is inspired by the FZ1, just like the R15 is inspired by the R1. The FZ15 will come with a air cooled carb engine mated to a 5 speed gearbox and will be tuned for good low and middle end grunt.

The bike is being tested by Yamaha employees throughout the country and will be priced at Rs. 85,000 ex showroom. It does look muscular and more hunky then the hunk, but its costlier too. Speculations are rife that the motor in this bike is a 160cc unit and the bike will be called the FZ-16. Will it set the sales chart on fire? Your guess is as good as mine.

Toyota Camry Test Drive Review

Tomorrow is the launch of the new Toyota Corolla Altis which looks like a mini Camry and we thought its the best time to test drive the Toyota Camry and review it. When the Camry was initially launched it was a looker but as its aged off you can't say the same. But it still looks stylish, not head turning though and Toyota should give it a small face lift to spruce matters.


The interiors of the Camry don't give you the luxury car feel that you would expect. The front seats are plush, but the same can't be said about the rear seats . There is int enough legroom that you would expect from a car from this class and the Accord feels much more comfortable to sit in at the rear. On features its evenly matched with the Accord with six airbags, ABS, EBD, BAS, leather seats, integrated music system, lumbar support, 8 way adjustable power drivers seat, rear AC vent, flat blade wiper to boast of. The Camry has a few more features like cruise control, steering mounted controls, HID lights, headlamp cleaner, auto headlamps, auto wipers but that alone can't win the battle.

On the road the Camry is int as fast as the Accord, but it feels better to drive in day to day traffic. The 2.4L VVTi engine is reponsive and has good low end grunt. The gearing is short and precise. But once you start climb up higher in the revv range the motor starts to feel a bit strained. However the motor is good enough for reaching 100kmph in less then 10 seconds and nudging 200kmph with ease. Ride quality is excellent and the Camry feels very stable at high speeds. Braking is good but the Accord seems to be better when it comes to stopping and the Honda handles better as well. Not that the Camry is a bad handler. Both the Accord and Camry will return similar fuel efficiency figures of 8 in the City and 12 on the highway, the Camry being slighlty more fuel efficienct.

I must say i am a bit disappointed by this Toyota. Sure it does go about doing its job well and like all Toyota's will last long but that's not the point. When you buy a car which is priced around 25+ lacs, you expect much more and the Camry just doesn't deliver. While it rides like a carpet, it does not match up to the Accord which is much more value for money being 5.5 lacs cheaper to buy. Toyota import the Camry and that has inflated the price. The Accord is newer, bigger, plusher, more modern, looks better and cheaper to buy. It also comes with the option of paddle shift gearbox which can make you feel like Lewis Hamilton when you are behind the wheel. There are no two thoughts that Toyota's Camry just doesn't match up and the Accord trumps it to emerge as the pick of this segment.

Check out more pics of the Camry test drive here.

Toyota Corolla Altis Test Drive Review

Car tested: 2008 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8GL

Price OTR Mumbai: 14,09,000/-

MotorBeam rating:

We had reviewed the all new Toyota Corolla Altis a week back and now we got a chance to get behind the wheel (read test drive) of the new Corolla Altis. We had the top end manual model to our disposal. Check out the detailed picture gallery and the review here.

Chevrolet Tavera Neo-2

GM India has spurched up the Chevrolet Tavera and christened it the Neo-2. Nothing much worth talking about this new Chevy. It still uses its old work horse 2.5L Turbocharged DI engine and everything remains the same. But in typical GM fashion a few slices of chrome here and there along with some wood finish, 3 spoke steering, sporty (or is it) side decal, larger grille, bigger Chevy badge and velour upholstery (leather upholstery for top end SS) have been added.

And guess what they call it the new Tavera. I mean GM you were the No. 1 car manufacturer for endless number of years and launch a vehicle which has nothing much new about it. Honesltly all these modifications can be done by Ramu your back door garage guy and GM is hoping to make an impact on prospective buyers pricing it something around 9+ lacs. The only impact GM will ever make with this kind of strategy is a negative one. Who wouldn't prefer a Innova to this?

Indica Vista Test Drive Review

A test drive of the new Tata Indica Vista Quadrajet has really impressed us. Tata has come a long way and the new Vista is a major step in the right direction for Tata Motors.

Here are some important points about the New Indica Vista, the Quadrajet in particular (I have compared it to the Swift, since the Swift has set the benchmark in the diesel hatch segment) : -

* The car uses the famed 1.3L Fiat Multijet engine, tuned by Tata for driveability. The gearbox is Fiat too.
* The car looks good, and the new Indigo will be based on this Indica.
* Interiors are good again and the central mounted instrument cluster is not much of a distraction.
* Glove box is good enough to swallow a laptop. It even has slots for cards.
* There is a tray to keep stuff below the front passenger seat, like the Chevrolet Optra.
* Plastic Quality is still not great, but still much better then the previous Indica.
* Rear Seats Fold and can be folded 60:40, a first in the segment.
* Wheelbase has been increased and thus the rear legroom is the best in class, you don’t feel your siting in a hatch.
* 3 weeks waiting for the Diesel.
* Rs. 30,000/- difference between the base Aqua Diesel and Top End Aura Diesel making the Aura amazing value for money.
* Aqua has only front two power windows.
* No alloy wheels on any models as seen in the pictures.
* Car comes with 175 width tires which give a good balance of ride and handling.
* Rear Wiper and defogger in the Aura, another great feature missing in the Swift Diesel.
* Rear View Mirrors weren’t the easiest to adjust.
* AC is fantastic, cools instantly and chills, literally.
* Steering is a tad heavy.
* Ride is fantastic. Swift doesn’t come close.
* Handling has improved but not as good as the Swift.
* Braking is average and ABS could have helped matters.
* ABS, Airbag model will be launched later.
* Gearshift is smooth.
* The 1.3L Quadrajet is very drivable and tractable but does not give you the kick in the pants feel that the Swift offers.
* Quadrajet is slower to 100 then Swift, much slower, but you wouldn’t notice in day to day city driving.
* Quadrajet not as fuel efficient as the Swift.
* Built Quality is much better then the Swift, you don’t hear any rattling from the Indica Vista.

To sum up Tata has done a wonderful job on the Indica Vista and it does follow the tag line, they have taken a big leap from the previus car. The car has many features not seen in other cars in the segment and Tata has priced it very sanely, making it very much value for money and thus the pick in the segment by us.

Check out more pics of the Indica Vista Test Drive here.

Yamaha FZ16 Specifications

Yamaha’s 150cc challenger the FZ15, now named the FZ16 will be launched today at Goa. The bike has a 153cc carburetted engine with throttle position sensor and produces 14PS@7500RPM of power and 13.6NM@6000RPM of torque. Unlike the R15, this bike does not have 6 gears but 5 gears, 1 down, 4 up. Check out more pics of the FZ16 here.

The bike gets electric start, front disc, tubesless tires and mono suspension as standard. The front tire is 100/80/R17 whereas the rear is wide 140/60-R17. Yamaha will be launching the FZ16 in three colours, that is Midnight Black, Lava Red and Flaming Orange. The instrument panel does not look all that appealing to me but the bike looks awesome and is certainly one of the best looking bikes in our country. Pricing is speculative but we expect it to be around the 80k mark. Yamaha FZ16 site is here

Specifications

* Dimensions - 1975mm (length), 770mm (width), 1045mm (height)
* Wheelbase - 1335mm
* Engine - 153CC air-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder, SOHC, 2 valves
* Power - 14PS@7500RPM
* Torque - 13.6NM@6000RPM
* Gearbox: 5 Speed
* Fuel System: 26mm CV Carb
* Tyres(F/R): 100/80/R17, 140/60/R17
* Brakes(F/R): 267mm single cross-drilled ventilated rotor with 2-pot calipers / 130mm drum
* Suspension: Front: 41mm Telescopic Forks - Rear: Monocross type
* Headlight: 12V 35W Halogen with Multifocal Reflector
* Tank capacity : 12 litres

Auto Insurance

Nowadays auto insurance is absolutely mandatory. The best auto insurance can protect your vehicle from any inconvenience should a likely accident or theft occur. But you should also be careful of what kind of auto insurance you have. There are a lot of them available out there but not all can give you that coverage that you might be looking for.

You can also try to limit your car’s mileage before you try to get an insurance quote for it. The lower the mileage, the lower the insurance quote. Try not to modify or customize your car as it might affect your car insurance coverage. Finding a good auto insurance for your vehicle is not easy and can be a hectic task. Sometimes you may not be claiming insurance at all so paying high amounts for auto insurance doesn’t seem the best idea. Under auto insurance there are many types of insurance. Most offer medium cover but if you need Sr22 Insurance or High Risk Auto Insurance what would you do. High risk auto insurance is for high risk drivers who usually get alot of tickets and thus getting insurance is not easy. You can check out Car Insurance Quote California who give insurance to high risk drivers.

1000 Nanos From Pune Plant

Tata Motors is all set to manufacture 1,000 Nanos at its Pune plant. Tata plan to launch the Nano in October and the recent developments at Singur has already delayed production. If production does not start in Singur in a fortnight, Tata will have to make some arrangements to roll out the Nano from any of its other plants.

Incidentally, Tata Motors had informed its 55 odd vendors of Nano to supply components for 1,000 Nanos by September 8 to the Pune factory. This was also confirmed by a leading vendor, who had invested in the Singur vendor park, and will be supplying sheet metal for Nano chassis.

Incidentally, nearly 3,000 components are required to manufacture a Nano. However, the vendors also feel that the Pune plant will not be able to meet the volumes that Tatas are looking at for Nano in the next two to three years time. After tension escalated at Singur, Tata Motors had issued technical approvals to vendors which will enable them to supply components for Nano, if the car is produced at the company’s Pantnagar, Pune and Lucknow plants.

Maruti SX4 Men Are Back TVC

Have you seen the latest SX4 commercial? Maruti has positioned the SX4 as a premium car and hence they can’t emphasize on the mileage in their TVC. However they have made quite a good advert for the SX4.

Let us know what you think of the new SX4 Commercial.

Yamaha R15 Blazing Red

Yamaha India has launched a new colour for the superb R15. We had told you about it some time back. The new colour is Blazing Red and looks amazing with black plastic inserts. However the colour can't be best admired in the pics. You need to get a real look of the same. Check out more colours of the R15 here.

Maruti Splash

The upcoming Maruti Splash has been spotted quite a few times. Its been under test for some time now and Maruti plans to launch it next year. It will be priced similar to the Swift and will be targeted at the younger audience. The Splash is based on the Swift platform with 30mm excised from the wheelbase. The interior is little Swift like and gets a neat pod mounted rev counter.

The Splash is expected to come with two engine options, petrol 1.2 K Series engine and the famous Fiat Multijet engine which does duty in the Swift. The car under test above is the ZXi version with the same tires (185/70/14 JK Vectra) and alloys which the Swift ZXi comes with. The car is taller then the Swift and has a higher seating position then the Swift, giving a good view of the road. The Splash has the gear lever located near the center console just like the i10. The Splash may not look appealing to all but surely is a car which will help Maruti to take sales back from Hyundai.

Specifications

Engine - 1.2L K Series, 1.3L DDIS DOHC 16V

Power - 86bhp (1.2L Petrol), 75bhp (1.3L Diesel)

Price - 4-5.6 lacs

Features - ABS, Dual SRS Airbags, Audio System, Alloys, Climate Control.

Pics Source - Jaskirat (Team-Bhp), checkout more pics of the Splash here.