Hyundai i20

During our Hyundai i20 CRDi Road Test earlier last year, we fell in love with the performance of the i20 Diesel and we called it  the Diesel Go-Kart. Hyundai recently tweaked its CRDi engine to meet the emission norms set by the government for BS-IV compliance and has now added another gear to its i20 CRDi making it a six-speed manual transmission, a first-in class.

The i20 gets a minor facelift and the new front grille resembles the i10’s grille and centres around a family look. On the inside, the red backlight has been replaced with- a cool blue which is easy on the eyes, and the speedometer has white backlighting along with the blue. The other new feature on the i20 is the gear-shift indicator, (indicated on the instrument cluster next to the odometer), where the ECU takes various parameters such as engine speed, tyre speed and the altitude and suggests the correct gear to shift into. This feature was first seen in this segment in the VW Polo.

The i20 CRDi is still a great hatchback for city driving with its peppy engine through most of the rev range. The engine is very torquey at 220 Nm and you realize this especially when the turbocharger spools, and you almost get pushed back into your seat. The gear ratios have been revised and the lower gears are shorter to reduce the turbo lag. However, this hasn’t worked too well and there is still noticeable turbo lag which is typical of the new diesels.  In our acceleration run test, the i20 raced to 100kph in 13.1 seconds and completed the quarter mile in 18.9 seconds. This time again, the i20 took more time to reach 100kph, as the older i20 diesel which we had tested did the 0-100kph close in 12.6 seconds.

The turbo kick is something you need to get used to, since the car is quite a rocket once you get the turbo spooled. You can’t lug the engine in a higher gear if you’re driving at low speeds below 1800 rpm. The sixth gear is the overdrive, meant for cruising and the fifth is now a direct drive gear.  In our in-gear runs, the i20 clocked the 30-50kph run in 6.6 seconds in the third gear and it took 13.2 seconds in the fourth. In the 50-70kph run the car took 16.0 seconds in the fifth gear and these timings were better on the older five-speed transmission, as it can be seen from our older road test figures. Drive this car in the correct gear and you won’t be disappointed at all with the sixth gear helping economy. This oil burner is fuel-efficient as it returned an overall fuel economy of 18.13kpl. The worst figure that we got was 12.83kpl during performance testing which involved pedal-to-metal driving.

This Korean hatchback hasn’t undergone any changes in its suspension, and still sports McPherson struts at its front and torsion beam at its rear. The suspension has been set-up for better ride quality, which doesn’t make it too much of a handler on twisty roads. The suspension-set-up suggests that the hatchback has been built to be driven in the city, and with so much power under the bonnet, it can be taken through small gaps with great confidence (more like point and shoot).  In our road test of the i20 CRDi five-speed manual transmission, we had mentioned about the brakes being inadequate for the power this oil burner can produce. But this time we were quite content with the braking on the six-speed as the car stopped in 29.1 metres before coming to a complete halt from a speed of 80kph in our braking test. Maybe our earlier press demonstrator had slightly faded brakes.

The Hyundai i20 Era six-speed CRDi (which is the basic variant) is available at Rs 6.03 lakhs (ex-showroom, Mumbai) is similarly priced as its European competitors. However, we do feel that Hyundai could price the car a little lower to grab a chunk of the market from the diesel hatches a segment below. Also, consumers today have more premium european badges to choose from which are similarly priced and specced and Hyundai could consider a more value price. The Hyundai i20 CRDi is a fun-to-drive car in the city but not so much when it comes to driving on twisty roads. The i20 is basically a car that would appeal to a younger audience who are looking for something stylish and at the same time looking for a stylish car that clubs economy, power and a hassle free ownership experience. If you commute within the city limits or out of town occassionaly and are looking for something that’s cheap to own and run, i20 CRDi is the car for you, as it is easy to drive with light pedals, a light steering wheel, and a peppy, efficient engine.  The Hyundai i20 with its sharp design and styling is popular among city dwellers and now with the six-speed manual transmission on the diesel, it’s truly Six in the City!

i20 models

1.Hyundai i20 Era 1.2 BS-IV
2.Hyundai i20 Magna 1.2
3.Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.2 (O)
4.Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.2 BS-IV
5.Hyundai i20 Era 1.4 CRDI
6.Hyundai i20 Asta 1.2
7.Hyundai i20 Magna 1.4 CRDI
8.Hyundai i20 Asta 1.2 (O) With Sunroof
9.Hyundai i20 Asta 1.2 with AVN
10.Hyundai i20 Asta 1.4 CRDI
11.Hyundai i20 Asta 1.4 CRDI with AVN
12.Hyundai i20 Asta 1.4 (AT)
13.Hyundai i20 Asta 1.4 AT with AVN

Price list(ex-showroom price)

Hyundai i20 Era 1.2 BS-IV                        /      Rs.4,64,875
Hyundai i20 Magna 1.2                              /      Rs.5,05,291
Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.2 (O)                        /      Rs.5,33,863
Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.2 BS-IV                   /      Rs.5,49,183
Hyundai i20 Era 1.4 CRDI                        /       Rs.5,77,217
Hyundai i20 Asta 1.2                                 /      Rs.5,91,152
Hyundai i20 Magna 1.4 CRDI                   /      Rs.6,17,762
Hyundai i20 Asta 1.2 (O) With Sunroof     /      Rs.6,36,626
Hyundai i20 Asta 1.2 with AVN                /      Rs.6,43,378
Hyundai i20 Asta 1.4 CRDI                      /       Rs.7,04,241
Hyundai i20 Asta 1.4 CRDI with AVN     /       Rs.7,56358
Hyundai i20 Asta 1.4 (AT)                       /       Rs.7,68695
Hyundai i20 Asta 1.4 AT with AVN         /       Rs.8,25,369

i20 colours
1.Crystal White
2.Black diamond
3.Sleek Silver
4.Silky Biege
5.Sparker Blue
6.Berry Red

7.Dark Grey Matellic

 Source:http://www.carwale.com/research/hyundai-cars/i20/

Hyundai eon

The details on Hyundai’s latest and most affordable car yet and one developed solely for the Indian market, the Eon, are finally out. And we have not only seen the production ready car but driven it as well.

So it’s clear that the Eon is one hell of a good looking car. And according to Hyundai it had to be, because looks of a car today - both inside and out – is one of top three considerations among new car buyers, especially in India.

Yes, it does resemble the Chevy Beat to an extent, but given that the Beat is one of sharpest looking hatchbacks in the country today, it’s not such a bad thing. You also won’t mistake it for anything but a Hyundai given the Eon embodies the Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy to the tee. So, it has the hexagonal grille and plenty of contradicting surfaces like the new Verna, all of which lend it a very modern, young and dynamic persona.

Inside too, the V-shape flowing dashboard design philosophy is similar to the Verna’s. And having a two-tone colour layout not only gives the Eon’s cabin an airy feel, but it also helps it look more expensive than the car’s pricetag suggests. The quality all round is impressive too, particularly when it comes to the plastics used for the dash top and the door inserts. These are pretty close to the i10 standard. So is the functioning of the indicator and light stalks.

Sadly though, the consistency in quality is missing. The plastics used for the centre console as well as for the central tray between the front seats, is tacky at best. Even the functioning of the air con controls lacks crispness and feel and takes away from the feel of quality.

Now our drive was a pretty short one, but we can tell you this – the Eon, like the i10 has high seating, decent visibility and very good seats, particularly at the front. It’s not exactly cramped inside either, especially given the competition it is against. And surprisingly, it has a sizable boot too.

As for the engine, it is the Santro’s engine minus a cylinder. So, it makes less power and torque and being a 3-cylinder, there are perceptible vibrations, even at idling.

The drive isn’t spectacular either, but given 56bhp and 75Nm of torque it was never going to be.

Wondering what’s the competition? Well given its looks, you’d be excused for thinking that the Eon is competition for the likes of the Wagon R, the i10 and the Chevy Beat -  the upper middle-class hatchbacks so to speak - and not one that will cost less than Rs 3 lakh!

But the fact is, it is almost exclusively gunning for the super successful Alto. And the base version of the Eon, will cost about Rs 2.95 lakh. This base version will do without power steering, AC or power windows and will sport black bumpers and ORVMs. This will also be the only sub-Rs 3 lakh offering. The most expensive version of the Eon will sport a two-tone dash, body coloured bumpers and ORVMs, an air con, power steering, front only power windows and even a stereo and should retail for Rs 3.45 lakh or thereabouts.


Hyundai Eon Models     Features
Hyundai Eon Base         The base variant Hyundai Eon will possibly be carrying all standard features of                                            this segment including body color bumpers, body color door handles and body q`colored OSVRMs (outside rear view mirrors), multi trip meter, remote fuel gaze opener, r1emot`e boot lease opener, adjustable steering column, seat belts for all seats, etc.

Hyundai Eon GL      On the other hand, the medium range Hyundai Eon GL will possibly be carrying a                     number of additional features including front power windows, Air Conditioner,engine immobilizer, etc.

Hyundai Eon GLS     The top end version of the car is expected to be blessed with a few additional                     premium features including Power steering, all four power windows, central locking, front fog lamps, designer wheel covers, rear spoiler and even a music system.


Hyundai Eon Colors:
- White
- Black
- Silver
- Grey
- Red


Hyundai Eon Price in India : 
- Hyundai Eon base - Rs. 2,50,000
- Hyundai Eon GL - Rs. 3,00,000
- Hyundai Eon GLS - Rs. 3,50,000

source : http://www.carkhabri.com/carmodels/hyundai/hyundai-eon

Chevrolet Cruze

GM India intends to change the perspective of the Indian consumers by setting up Chevrolet as a young brand. The Cruze is the first one with the distinct new Chevrolet family look. The current Chevrolet range in India has different origins from different brands owned by General Motors across the globe like the Subaru, Holden, Chevrolet, Daewoo etc. Does the Cruze have what it takes to give GM a brand new identity?

The Chevrolet Cruze is based on the new Global Delta Platform or the 300 series platform with the Cruze’s project name being J300. This is GM’s new platform for compact front-wheel drive sedans and hatchbacks. The Delta platform uses independent suspension for the front and torsion-bar type suspension at the rear. The upcoming Chevrolet Beat is also based on the 300 series platform.

The Chevrolet brand in North America retains a family look which is what GM India is trying to do for the Indian market also. The new family look will retain a similar front fascia with a dual port grille with a new bowtie logo.

The Cruze carries a very bold and modern hood with a high crown and prominent strakes led by a large bowtie Chevrolet logo. The front grille is a black honeycomb mesh separated by a body-coloured crossbar with chrome surrounds, and dual bezel headlamps which protrude till the front fenders. The headlamps aren't capable enough considering the speeds the car is capable of. They need improvement.

The roofline of the Chevrolet Cruze is very coupe-like and the crisp swage line makes the shoulder of the Cruze look low. The apparently low shoulder and large wheels give the Chevrolet sedan a sportscar-like look, and the C-pillar reminds us of the old Audi TT. The sedan’s long wheelbase of 2685mm with little overhang front and rear,  shallow greenhouse, flared wheelarches, seven-spoke alloys and the lightline above the rocker panels all make the Cruze look sporty.

The Cruze’s monocoque has a Body-Frame Integral structure made of high-strength steel. The Chevrolet Cruze has scored a 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP ratings. The Cruze scored well in both occupant and pedestrian safety. Look the EuroNCAP’s Chevrolet Cruze assessment video.

To enter the Cruze, all you have to do is walk up to the car with the key in your hand or pocket, and pull on the door handle. The PEPS system will detect the key and unlock the doors automatically! The Cruze's interior looks modern and eye-catching. The dashboard is clearly divided into sections for the driver and the passenger, with the passenger getting a clear two-tone light and dark blue expanse of plastic which looks good but doesn't feel so good to the touch. The instrument cluster is dominated by the speedometer and tachometer, which sandwich a multi-function display that gives the driver all the information he could require. Above the display are the temperature and fuel gauge.

From the driver's seat, everything feels good - the car doesn't feel big except for the long bonnet. The steering wheel feels meaty and is just as big as we'd like it to be. The mirrors are usefully large, but we'd have preferred them to be a little bit bigger for our crowded traffic conditions. We don't like the seats of the Cruze too much, because they seem to be bolstered a little too much at the sides - only thin people will not feel a little uncomfortable in these seats. However, the Passive Entry/Passive Start system makes the driver feel like a million bucks, with a button to start or stop the engine present on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. This feature is a segment first. There is an emergency slot in the cubbyhole behind the gear lever into which the key can be inserted, but getting that flap open can be quite a task, as we discovered when we tried it. We recommend keeping a flathead screwdriver handy if you own a Cruze.

The centre console is topped by the display for the audio system. This blue-on-black display is easy on the eyes, especially at night. The controls for the six-disc changer are situated underneath the display. The system plays clearly and loudly - however, we'd have liked more punch at the low frequencies. The audio system also has an auxiliary input in the centre armrest, but no USB or iPod connectivity. The design element that makes up the 'V' at whose centre the hazard button is is an eye-catching one. The door locks can be activated or deactivated with the button on the right and on the left the button is blank. We assume that it is for the ESP switch that other markets have. The last row houses the controls for the climate control, which is quite effective. It chills the cabin sufficiently in a reasonable period, but directing the airflow wasn't something easily achieved.

There is more than enough legroom and headroom for the front passenger, although a tall driver who likes to sit high might find his head quite close to the roof. It's a different story in the back, however - not only is getting in and out hard thanks to the car being low, the big wheel arch and dipping roofline contribute towards a shape which is not conducive to weak knees, bad backs or graceful exits. Once inside, things don't get much better - the roof is quite low, and the lack of legroom is quite shocking. This car will sell in a primarily chauffeur-driven segment in our market, which is something the Cruze needs to cater to as well if it needs to be popular. Boot space is reasonable, although the high sill can make putting heavy objects into the boot a task for short people.

A feature worth a special mention is the lighting: our test car's exterior color matched the ice-blue lighting of the dials, which looked good. The dashboard illumination looks good at night, and a nice touch are the backlit buttons on the steering wheel.

Versions

Chevrolet Cruze LT
Chevrolet Cruze LTZ
Chevrolet Cruze LTZ AT

Price List

Chevrolet Cruze LT          / Rs. 12,16,788

Chevrolet Cruze LTZ        / Rs. 13,74,629

Chevrolet Cruze LTZ AT  / Rs. 14,59,234

 Chevrolet Cruze Colours
Atlantis Bule
Olympic White
Velvet Red
Caviar Black
Diamond White
Sand Drift Grey
Switchblade Silver

source:http://www.carwale.com/research/chevrolet-cars/cruze/

Chevrolet Beat

General Motors launched the Beat hatchback in January 2010 and since then the company had been promising a diesel version. Now, a year and a half later since making that promise, it has now kept its word and is all set to launch the Beat’s diesel avatar.

The changes on the Beat diesel, apart from the engine of course, include a new electric power steering, a full-size USB port in place of the mini USB port in the petrol version, and a TCDi badge at the rear. The rest of the kit remains unchanged.

Under its sculpted bonnet the Beat TCDi has a three-cylinder 1-litre diesel engine that churns out a peak output of 58.5bhp and 150Nm of max torque. This engine has been derived from the 1.3-litre Fiat multijet, which powers various models of Fiat, Tata and Maruti Suzuki. The engine is fairly refined and despite being a three-cylinder unit is smooth at idle.

Power delivery on the Beat diesel is linear, but the engine does lack that extra punch to make those quick overtaking manoeuvres, especially on highways. The engine however does have a good mid-range and feels quite driveable in bumper-to-bumper city traffic. Also, unlike the petrol Beat, the diesel version of the car doesn’t stall when you try to accelerate at lower revs from standstill.

Speaking of gears, the shifts on the five-speed manual gearbox are slick and the throws positive. According to the company, the Beat diesel returned a fuel economy of around 24kmpl under ARAI’s test conditions. Now while it’s unlikely that you will see such a high figure in real conditions, it is nonetheless an indication of how fuel efficient the car is likely to be. As for the real fuel economy, we’d reserve our judgement until we have tested it ourselves.

Meanwhile there hasn’t been any major change on the ride and handling fronts despite the addition of gas-charged shock absorbers. The ride continues to be composed as the Beat irons out most of the bumps without letting much of the road shocks into the cabin.

Although pricing of the Beat, which will make or break Chevrolet’s game, is yet to be announced, the fact that the company is already touting it as the cheapest diesel hatchback sold in India hints at a competitive pricing. Nevertheless we will have to wait until Chevrolet announces prices to see how cheap the car really will be.

As for the car itself, it’s a good package with its offer of a trendy and youthful image, decent driveability and high fuel efficiency. To further sweeten the deal, Chevy has made it known that the car will get the same 3 years/1,00,000km warranty that is currently applicable on the petrol Beat, which will further endear the diesel version of the Beat to prospective buyers.

Beat Versions:

• Beat Diesel PS 
• Beat Diesed LS   
• Beat Diesed LT 
• Beat Diesed LT O 

Beat diesel prices - Delhi

• Beat Diesed PS - 429490 (ex-Showroom Price) 
• Beat Diesed LS - 459000 (ex-Showroom Price) 
• Beat Diesed LT -  499990 (ex-Showroom Price) 
• Beat Diesed LT O - 545000 (ex-Showroom Price)

Chevrolet Beat Colours
Chevrolet Beat is sold in the following colours in India.

• Linen Beige
• Green Cocktail
• Super Red
• Caviar Black
• Misty Lake
• Moroccan Blue
• Olympic White
• Sandrif Grey
• Switch Blade Silver

source: http://www.carwale.com/research/chevrolet-cars/beat/

Hyundai i10 Sportz 1.2 Kappa2

Today, Hyundai and its sister concern company Kia have one of the largest R&D centres in Asia. The Korean autogiant has been working hard to improve their current fleet and develop new products for their automotive markets worldwide. This effect can be seen in India as well. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has been giving facelifts to its current range of cars. So are the changes on the Hyundai i10 worth it? Dig deeper to get your answers.

The Hyundai i10 had won the CarWale Viewer’s Choice Award 2010 under the category of Small Family Car.  Just a minor facelift might have not helped Hyundai, so the company has done some major changes on the i10. Apart from the cosmetic changes, the Korean automaker with its manufacturing base in Chennai has gone about tweaking both the i10 engines. The first look itself can make you figure out the substantial changes on the outside of the i10. The hatchback gets a striking new front grille which gives it a more aggressive and masculine look. The lower front end gets a trapezoidal-shaped mesh grille. This combination is Hyundai’s new family face look which will be seen on all their new upcoming models.  This is accompanied with a sharper headlamp design, which gives it a more grown-up look. The fog lamp design has been changed and the top-of-the-line Asta version gets chrome surrounds around the fogs. The other changes include the new side-indicator mirrors with a defogger which prevents the mirrors from fogging. The other makeover on the exterior is the new rear bumper design with reflectors. The side profile of the i10 remains unchanged and to our dismay the alloys go missing even as standard on the top-of-the-line Asta variant. The alloys are available as an optional extra which can be fitted at the dealership.

We were astonished to see the number of changes the i10 has undergone, not just on the outside but even inside as well (even on the inside or inside as well). The old beige and black dash has now been changed to little brown and metal finish centre console. This new colour doesn’t reflect back into the windshield during the daytime unlike the beige, which was a problem that most consumers faced. The new dash colour reduces glare on the windscreen and helps to reduce the stress on the driver’s eyes especially in bright sunlight. The green interior lighting has been replaced with blue (like all the new Hyundais). There is a new instrument cluster and the in-dash system gets an auxiliary-input and USB connection along with bluetooth connectivity for your cellular phone. If that’s not enough, the steering wheel of the i10 now gets audio & telephony controls, and Hyundai has changed the colour of the seat fabric and the door pads as well. 

source:http://www.carwale.com/research/hyundai-cars/i10/

New Maruti Suzuki Swift 2011

The Maruti Suzuki Swift revolutionised the Indian car market. It was a watershed for the industry and from the Swift on car manufacturers started believing that they could launch contemporary cars that commanded a premium, that style was appreciated to such an extent that people were willing to pay for it. And now six years after its launch in India, the Swift becomes one of the few cars that move into their next generation without having reached the bottom of their sales charts and still being one of the leaders of their segments. Only a company like Honda has had the courage to do that repeatedly in the past while most of the others have succumbed to the temptation of selling two generations of the same car simultaneously.

For the Swift however this was not going to be a possibility even if Maruti-Suzuki wanted to retain the two generations. This because the new Swift looks so much like the old Swift that it takes only a well-versed eye to spot the differences. Suzuki thought not to fiddle around much with a winning formula and sought only to take care of the most glaring drawbacks that came through user and buyer feedback.

Thus the essential style of the car remains the same but there are a few crucial changes. Both the headlamps and the tail cluster are much larger, with both being wrap-around and the headlamps upswept design giving the Swift an even more distinctive look.

Maruti Suzuki Swift Versions
Maruti Suzuki Swift comes in following 6 versions with 2 engine and 1 transmission options.

Petrol engine

1. Maruti Suzuki Swift LXi  /  1197cc Petrol, Manual, 18 kpl  /  Rs. 4,41,308 (Ex-Showroom Price)
2. Maruti Suzuki Swift VXi  /  1197cc Petrol, Manual, 18 kpl  /  Rs. 4,81,255 (Ex-Showroom Price)
3. Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXi  /  1197cc Petrol, Manual, 17kpl   /  Rs. 5,65,742 (Ex-Showroom Price)

Diese engine

1. Maruti Suzuki Swift LDi  /  1248cc Diesel, Manual, 22 kpl  /  Rs. 5,26,311 (Ex-Showroom Price)
2. Maruti Suzuki Swift VDi  /  1248cc Diesel, Manual, 22 kpl  /  Rs. 5,70,967 (Ex-Showroom Price)
3. Maruti Suzuki Swift ZDi  /  1248cc Diesel, Manual, 20 kpl  /  Rs. 6,49,541 (Ex-Showroom Price)

Maruti Suzuki Swift Colors
Maruti Suzuki Swift is sold in the following colours in India.

1. Midnight Black
2. Arctic White
3. Silky Silver
4. Blazing Red
5. Torque Blue
6. Glistening Grey

Source : http://www.carwale.com/research/marutisuzuki-cars/swift/

Nissan Sunny first drive

After the Micra, the Sunny is probably the most important car for Nissan and its plans for the Indian market for it will compete in a segment where people are particularly finicky about the value they get from the money they spend. So, if the Sunny really has to shine then it must offer space, equipment, reliability, power and economy. But does Nissan’s new Sunny offer all these? AUTO BILD INDIA’s forthcoming issue has the answer to that one.

• The 1.5-litre petrol engine generates 99bhp and 134Nm of peak torque. Nissan is also developing a diesel variant.
• The 5-speed manual transmission slots in alright but is somewhat notchy.
• There’s sufficient grunt even from as low as 1500rpm so that the car is actually easy to drive without needing too many downshifts.
• Nissan has extended the V-platform to increase the wheelbase and with it, interior room. The Sunny also has a large boot.
• Like the Micra, the Sunny gets keyless entry and engine start/stop function. It shares other bits from the Micra as well, like the circular arrangement of the air con buttons.
• ABS, EBD, brake assist and airbags are standard kit, which is a big plus for the Sunny.
• The Sunny boasts a cushy and comfortable ride with the suspension ironing out most irregularities the road can throw at it.

Nissan Sunny Versions

Nissan Sunny comes in following 3 versions with 1 engine and 1 transmission options.

1. Nissan Sunny XE / 1498cc Petrol, Manual, kpl / Rs. 5,82,713 (Ex-Showroom Price)
2. Nissan Sunny XL / 1498cc Petrol, Manual, kpl / Rs. 6,93,610 (Ex-Showroom Price)
3. Nissan Sunny XV / 1498cc Petrol, Manual, kpl / Rs. 7,74,262 (Ex-Showroom Price)

Nissan Sunny Colours
Nissan Sunny is sold in the following colours in India.

1. Onyx Black
2. Brick Red
3. Sapphire Blue
4. Blade Silver
5. Storm White
6. Bronze Grey

Source : http://www.carwale.com/research/nissan-cars/sunny/