Tata Indica Vista Specifications, Price & Photo Gallery

The wait is finally over for all the people who have been putting off their car purchase because they’ve been waiting for the new Tata Indica Vista. It is not just a mere facelift but it has more powerful engines, bigger, better interiors and improved quality than the Tata’s flagship Tata Indica. First launched in 1998, the Tata Indica model becomes the leader in its segment and very sooner after its launch it was the second largest selling model in the segment. And after the huge success of older Tata Indica model Tata Motors launched the all new Tata Indica Vista model to target more market share in hatchback segment. Tata Indica Vista is not just the facelift of older Tata Indica model, in fact it shares nothing with the existing Tata Indica and it is builds on a completely new platform. The new Tata Indica Vista launched on August 23, 2011 offers complete sedan look and feel. The new Tata Indica Vista has the same powerful engine options. Besides the new stunning new looks, new Tata Vista also has new features apart from the segment leading interior space.

An all-new front chrome grill now steps up the front look of the new Vista coupled with the new triple barreled head lamps. A chrome package adorns the exteriors in addition to the sporty new alloy wheels. Tata Indica Vista is also available in a new color-Summer Sparkle. There is also a mirror polished garnishing below the rear windshield that gives the new Tata Indica Vista a distinct appearance among the hatchbacks. 

The interiors of the new Tata Vista have also received a good makeover. The dashboard and the door pads have a soft feel akin to a sedan. Besides, the four spoke steering now has audio controls to keep shuffling the numbers played on the 2-DIN music system. The audio system has USB, Aux and Bluetooth connectivity. The Bluetooth can connect to 5 mobile phones at a time. The ORVMs are now electrically adjustable with a joystick available inside. Besides, there HVAC controls are electrically controlled. To add to the comfort the new Vista has adjustable steering along with adjustable seats to give utmost comfort to the driver. The seating has a lumbar support. There is also ample room for luggage at the rear with the seats folded. 

The all new Vista has a new feature-Clutch-to-Start. This feature does not allow the car to crank unless the clutch pedal is fully pressed. There is also lower pedal clutch effort and smoother clutch operation, braking efficiency has been improved by 15%, steering is more responsive now, and the gear shift has also been made smooth. Safety & security features like ABS with EBD, dual airbags, crumple zones and side intrusion beams are now part of new Tata Indica Vista. Besides, engine immobilizer and remote keyless entry are also among security features of new Tata Vista. 

Tata has dropped the names Terra, Aqua, Aura and Aura+. The petrol driven new Tata Indica Vista trims are now named as new Tata Indica Vista GLS, new Tata Indica Vista GLX, new Tata Indica Vista GVX and new Tata Indica Vista GZX while the diesel variants are called new Tata Indica Vista LS, new Tata Indica Vista LX, new Tata Indica Vista VX and new Tata Indica Vista ZX. There are now four trim levels of the new Indica Vista viz. LS/ GLS which is the basic version, then LX/ GLX, then VX/ GVX and the high-end versions ZX/ GZX.

The all new Tata Indica Vista is 3,795mm in length, 1695mm wide and 1550mm high. It is available with four engines, a 1.3L, Quadrajet diesel engine that is able to produce 75PS of power at 4000rpm and 135.4Nm of torque at 2500rpm and a 1.2L, Safire90 MPFI VVT petrol engine that is able to produce 90PS power at 6000rpm and 116Nm torque at 4750rpm. There is also a Safire65 engine that produces 65 PS of power at 5500 rpm and 96Nm of torque at 3000 rpm. New Tata Indica Vista is also available in the 1.4L, TDI Turbo diesel engine which is manufactured at its Ranjangaon based manufacturing plant near Pune, as a joint venture with Fiat. This 1.4L, Turbo diesel engine produces 71PS of power at 4500rpm. 

Tata has intentionally retained the family look and the new Tata Indica Vista is a clear evolution of the Indica. A new central character line on the bonnet gives character to the car. The all-new chrome grille with a new striking four barreled headlamps gives the Indica vista a more stylish and trendy look. The all new Tata Indica Vista is much more stylish than the older version of Tata Indica. It comes with new stylish exterior features like aggressive front chrome grille, stylish and sporty headlamps, body colored ORVMs, body colored rub rails and body colored bumpers with strong bonnet. New Tata Indica Vista carries also the stylish interior features with lots of luxuries in it. New Tata Indica Vista is available in Indian market with twelve variants and with both petrol and diesel engine options. Out of these twelve variants, six variants are powered by Safire petrol engines, and six are powered by Quadrajet and TDI diesel engines.

Tata Indica Vista Mileage

New Tata Indica Vista is available in both petrol and diesel variants. For the diesel models of Tata Indica Vista there are two options one is the 1.4L, TDI diesel engine and another one is 1.3L, Quadrajet diesel engine. Its variants which are packed with 1.4L, 1405cc, TDI, Turbo Inter-cooled Diesel engine that offers 13kmpl mileage in urban roads while on highway it delivers 17kmpl mileage. Another diesel engine option is 1.3L, 1248cc, Quadrajet diesel engine which is well known for delivering high performance with increased fuel efficiency. This engine delivers mileage of around 15kmpl in city while on highway it gives 18.5 to 22.3kmpl .

The petrol variants of Tata Indica Vista which is equipped with 1.2L, 1172cc, Safire MPFI (Multi Point Fuel Injection) petrol engine offer bit lesser mileage in comparison to diesel engine. This Safire offers mileage of around 12kmpl in city while on highway it gives 16.7 kmpl mileage .

Power of Tata Indica Vista


new Tata Indica Vista is available with four engine options – first one is the Safire petrol that has capacity of 1.2L, 1172cc, Safire petrol engine with MPFI (Multi Point Fuel Injection) technology from Fiat product portfolio. This petrol engine comes with new C510 STAR gearbox and it produces 65PS of maximum power at 5500rpm with 96Nm of maximum torque at 3000rpm . 

Second one is the TDI diesel engine which has capacity of 1.4L, 1405cc, TDI, Turbo Inter-Cooled diesel engine with new TA65 gearbox. This engine produces maximum power of 71PS at 4500rpm with maximum torque of 135Nm at 2500rpm . This engine is more powerful in and offers better fuel efficiency in comparison to petrol variants of new Tata Indica Vista.

Third one is a Quadrajet diesel engine that has capacity of 1.3L, 1248cc, Quadrajet, SDE Common Rail Diesel engine from Fiat’s product portfolio. This engine comes with new C510 gearbox and it produces maximum power of 75PS at 4000rpm with maximum torque of 190Nm at 1750rpm . This engine delivers more power and better fuel efficiency in comparison to TDI engine equipped Tata Indica Vista variants. This engine is manufactured at Fiat’s Ranjangaon based manufacturing plat near Pune and it is well known for delivering high engine performance with excellent fuel efficiency. The fourth engine is the Safire 90 PS engine. The Safire90 engine is a BS4 compliant 4 cylinder, 16 valve MPFi Twin Cam Variable Valve Timing Technology. The engine displacement of Safire90 is 1368cc and it produces 90PS at 6000 rpm. It can produce a maximum torque of 116 Nm at 4750 rpm .

Acceleration & Pick-Up


The petrol engine equipped Tata Indica Vista that is powered by a 1.2L, 1172cc, Safire petrol engine with MPFI (Multi Point Fuel Injection System) that is able to produce maximum power of 65PS at 5500rpm and 96Nm of maximum torque at 3000rpm. This petrol engine delivers high engine performance with good acceleration to cross the 100kmph mark in 18.36 seconds and touches a top speed of 146kmph . Whereas the Safire90 engine which is BS4 compliant has 4 cylinder, 16 valve MPFi Twin Cam Variable Valve Timing Technology. The engine displacement of Safire90 is 1368cc and it produces 90 PS at 6000 rpm. It can produce a maximum torque of 116 Nm at 4750 rpm. The Safire90 reaches 100kmph well ahead of the Safire 65 PS engine powered new Indica Vista .  

The diesel variants of Tata Indica Vista are available with two different capacities engine. One is the 1.4L, 1405cc, TDI, Turbo Inter-Cooled Diesel engine that produces 71PS of maximum power at 4500rpm with 135Nm of maximum torque at 2500rpm. This diesel engine also delivers high engine performance and more power in comparison to petrol variants. It delivers excellent acceleration to cross the 100kmph mark in 16.4 seconds and to touch the top speed mark of 148kmph . Tata Indica Vista is also powered by new 1.3L, 1248cc, Quadrajet, Common Rail Diesel engine that produces 75Ps of power at 4000rpm with 190Nm of torque at 1750rpm.

Tata Indica Vista Exteriors


The all-new Tata Indica Vista comes with new stylish exterior looks in comparison to older version of Tata Indica. The front of Tata Indica Vista appears very aggressive and dynamic with its aggressive front chrome grille and large stylish four barrel head lamps with clear lens fog lamps . The stylish features that are available with the new Tata Indica Vista are Front Fog Lamps, Body Colored Bumpers, Chrome Plating for Exhaust Pipe, Stylish Full Wheel Covers, Body Colored Door Handles, Body Colored ORVMs, Rb Rail and roof Antenna.
Exterior Measurements
Tata Indica Vista is a five seater premium hatchback model with a spacious passenger room. The exterior dimensions of Tata Indica Vista are - its length is 3,795mm, width is 1,695mm, height 1,550mm and its wheelbase is 2,470mm with the ground clearance of 165mm and minimum turning radius of 5.0 meters.

Tata Indica Vista Interior


New Tata Indica Vista is packed with a very attractive dual tone-Ebony Black and Sahara Beige interiors with the dual tone beige dash board which is equipped with advanced instrument cluster. Other stylish features that adds more style in Tata Indica Vista interiors includes – Fully Fabricated Seats, Dual Tone Dashboard, Stylish Gear Shift Knob, Central Console Finish, etc.
Interior Comfort
New Tata Indica Vista is a luxurious hatchback model which is packed with lots of advanced luxurious and other convenient features that offers much comfortable driving experience. The comfortable features that are available with Tata Indica Vista are adjustable Hydraulic Power Steering, Powerful AC with HVAC (Heating Ventilation and AC ), Front and Rear Power Windows, Integrated audio System, Lumbar Support on Front Seats, Height Adjustable Driver Seat, 60:40 Spilt and Completely Folding Rear Seats, Light Intensity Adjustment for Instrument Cluster, Pen Holder, Coin Box and Card Holder, Power Outlets, Rear Wipers, Rear Wind Screen Demister etc. 

The interiors of the new Tata Vista have also received a prominent makeover. The dashboard and the door pads have a soft feel akin to a sedan. Besides, the four spoke steering now has audio controls to keep shuffling the numbers played on the 2-DIN music system. The audio system has USB, Aux and Bluetooth connectivity. The Bluetooth can connect to 5 mobile phones at a time. The ORVMs are now electrically adjustable with a joystick available inside. Besides, there is also electrically controlled HVAC controls. To add to the comfort the new Vista has adjustable steering along with adjustable seats to give utmost comfort to the driver. The seating has a lumbar support. There is also ample room for luggage at the rear with the seats folded.
Interior Measurements
Tata Indica Vista is an ultra spacious premium hatchback model which has the seating capacity of five passengers. Tata Indica Vista offers generous headroom of 960mm (Front) and 915mm (Rear) with the front legroom of 1180mm (max.) and 1015mm (min) with the rear knee room of 910mm (max.) and 705mm (min.) and it offers shoulder room of 1340mm. These offered dimensions are enough even for a six feet tall person. The boot capacity of this SUV is 232 liters.

 Engine and Performance


Tata Indica Vista is available with four different capacities engine with both petrol and diesel engine option. Six of the variants are powered by diesel while another six are petrol powered. The petrol variants of Tata Indica Vista are powered by the 1.2L, 1172cc, Safire65 petrol engine with MPFI (Multi Point Fuel Injection System) . This engine is to produce 65PS of maximum power at 5500rpm and maximum torque of 96Nm at 3000rpm. Another petrol engine is the 1.4L Safire90 engine which has 90 PS power and is BS4 compliant and has 4 cylinder, 16 valve MPFi Twin Cam Variable Valve Timing Technology in place. The engine displacement of Safire90 is 1368cc and it produces 90PS at 6000 rpm. It can produce a maximum torque of 116 Nm at 4750 rpm.

The diesel variants of new Tata Indica Vista are available with two different capacities engine. First one is a 1.4L, 1405cc, TDI, Turbo Inter-Cooled diesel engine which is capable to produce the maximum power of 71Ps at 4500rpm and maximum torque of 135Nm at 2500rpm. Another engine option for diesel variants of new Tata Indica Vista is a 1.3L, 1248cc, Quadrajet, SDE Common Rail Diesel engine that is able to produce maximum power of 75PS at 4000rpm with the maximum torque of 190Nm at 1750rpm. This refined Quadrajet engine is well known for delivering high engine performance with excellent fuel efficiency .

Wheels

new Tata Indica Vista is available with steel wheels with stylish full cover. All four wheels of new Tata Indica Vista are packed with puncture resistant radial tubeless tyres and offers great off-roading capability with it . The tyre size of this hatchback is 175/65 R14 for the Quadrajet powered trims viz. new Tata Indica Vista LS, Tata Indica Vista LX, Tata Indica Vista VX and Tata Indica Vista ZX and Safire65 engine powered Tata Indica Vista GVX. 165/65 R13 tyres are on the 1.4L TDI engine powered Tata Indica Vista LS and Tata Indica Vista LX and Safire65 engine powered Tata Indica Vista GLS, Tata Indica Vista GLX.

Braking & Handling

he all new Tata Indica Vista is equipped with Vacuum Assisted, Independent Dual Circuit Diagonal Split Hydraulic brakes that stops the car sooner and enhances safety. The front wheels of new Tata Indica Vista are packed with large Vacuum Assisted Independent Hydraulic Ventilated Disc Brakes while its rear wheels are equipped with Drum brakes that de-accelerate this car very quickly.

Handling & Safety

New Tata Indica Vista is equipped with so many safety features for both driver and pedestrians that ensures the safe driving with it. The safety features that are available on the new Tata Indica Vista models are Central Locking with Keyless entry, Three Point ELR Seat Belts, Warning Buzzers, Child Lock, Engine Immobiliser, ABS, EBD, dual front airbags and LED high mount rear stop lamp .

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Mahindra XUV 500 Specifications, Price & Photo Gallery

Mahindra & Mahindra has put India on to the global scenario with its newly design based SUV – the Mahindra XUV 500 . With this product, Mahindra now has 5 UV products in its portfolio.

The US $12.5 billion Mahindra Group has a fleet of UVs and it has given some of the sturdiest and rugged cars to India. Prominent among it was iconic Mahindra Jeep that had ruled Indian rural roads for decades. Later, not only did the Mahindra SUVs become more comfortable but powerful as well.

 The recent addition— the XUV 500— is an absolutely new car, built from scratch by the Mahindra design team. The Mahindra XUV 500 is a global standard SUV that is going to embark the company on a world-wide platform. Originally codenamed Mahindra W201, the XUV500 received its name recently before its launch on September 29.

Pronounced as Mahindra XUV500 with the last to ‘00’ pronounced as alphabet ‘OO’, it symbolizes activeness and the agility besides the quickness it has as an SUV. Mahindra has arrived at the design of this SUV after an intensive research and survey that is said to have been conducted in various western markets besides India. Apart from this, the SUV also has been tested to be perfect on many destinations including Europe, Australia and South Africa. After launch in India, the Mahindra XUV 500 will be marketed in South Africa.

Besides the design, Mahindra XUV 500 features a unique exterior styling, an array of technologies that is nowhere visible in the SUVs already in place by Mahindra. In addition, the global design brings with it the global standards as well in this SUV. Mahindra’s Research Valley engineers have burnt their midnight oil to make this happen and it is with the help of their efforts that XUV 500 is able to be developed on global standards.

This is the first car from the Mahindra brand that is based on a monocoque chassis. Contrary to the conventional design in which the car is made of a frame and then it is covered with lightweight metal sheets, the XUV 500 body is a single piece body in which the body and chassis are one piece.

It also has the first-ever transversely placed engine by Mahindra and this has increased the passenger space inside and has also improved safety in case of an impact besides a larger crumple zone. Thus Mahindra XUV is much safer and crash resistant than any of the other Mahindra SUV offering. Land Rover LR2 Freelander and Volvo cars employ transversely placed engine in their cars. Such first in class features make this SUV at par with global standards. Incorporating such features has made XUV500 to compete with global SUVs in terms of global norms, safety regulations and emission standards. In India, XUV500 will create its own unique space and is place above Mahindra Scorpio and the big SUV daddies from India.

Mahindra XUV 500 has 2179cc mHawk engine that also powers the Mahindra Scorpio and now even the Xylo. The common rail diesel engine produces 140bhp which is enough to cruise the XUV500 on road or off-road. Most noteworthy is the torque which is 330Nm that lets the new SUV to move around easily even in snail-paced city traffic. There is a six-speed manual gearbox in XUV 500 with a torque on demand mechanism. There are two variants on the XUV 500, one is a two-wheel drive model while the other is a four-wheel drive model. Micro-hybrid technology is also used in the XUV500 for better fuel efficiency.

Power of Mahindra XUV 500

A 2179cc mHawk diesel engine that currently powers Mahindra Scorpio powers the Mahindra XUV 500 as well. The CRDi engine is capable of producing 140 bhp of maximum power and a maximum torque of 330 Nm . The 2.2L engine is able to produce 140 Bhp (103kW) at just 3750 rpm and it produces the torque of 330 Nm at as low as 1600-2800 rpm. This low rpm makes Mahindra XUV 500 challenge any off-road and the city traffic as well. It has a 6-speed manual transmission and there is no automatic transmission option available on the XUV 500.

Acceleration & Pick-Up

With a 140bhp engine, XUV 500 has a top speed of 185kmph . The six-speed manual gearbox in the SUV coupled with the 4WD or All-wheel drive (AWD) enables the XUV 500 to take on any terrain with ease.

Mahindra XUV 500 Exteriors

The new SUV by Mahindra is based on monocoque construction which is a single frame unlike the traditional design version which is the body-on-frame. This ensures better handling and also makes the car safe and secure. The front face of the mighty looking SUV has a characteristic jaw-shaped honeycomb grille similar to a Cheetah’s face cuts. The honeycomb grille also finds its presence on the broad front bumper. The headlamps are two barrel shaped with side indicators in the same headlamp assembly. There are also daytime running lights placed horizontally just below the two barrels of the headlamp in the same assembly. Overall, the front has a shape of a pouncing Cheetah.

Moving on to the sides is much more rewarding than the front. The bold line that starts from just above the front side fender continues to the rear lamps. There is also much prominent and bold splash-guard on the front and the rear wheel that makes it look macho than other SUVs in India. The doors also have ‘paw’ shaped handles which are first in class and gives Mahindra XUV 500 a thematic look. The side outside rear view mirror also houses the side indicator and small parking light. The sides appear more like a fully built SUV with a high stance. Mahindra has however dealt beautifully with the side appearance and it does not look boxy from the sides. The roof rails have also be streamlined with the roofline.

The rear appearance of XUV 500 is in consonance with the overall Cheetah image and has been carved out well. In all, it has 50-50 ratio of the boot and the rear windscreen. The tail lamps have a unique three vertical compartments separated by molded reflectors. The tail lamp sweeps forward to the side and merges with the bold line that has come from front fender. The rear also has a rear wiper and high mounted stop lamp. There are also two stop warning indicators on both the sides. The spare wheel has been very intelligently hidden just below the boot. The Intellipark sensors are bumper colored and distinctly visible. The characteristic feature of Mahindra XUV500’s rear is the presence of twin exhausts.
Mahindra XUV 500 Exterior Measurements
The car has a look of a fully grown SUV and so the exterior measurements confirm. XUV 500 has an overall length of 4585mm, a width of 1890mm and it has an overall height measuring 1785mm. It has a wheelbase of 2700mm and it has an impressive turning radius of 5.6m. The gross weight of the SUV is 2450kg.

Mahindra XUV 500 Interior


Step inside the new XUV 500 and you will realize that there is something extraordinary in place inside it. On the inside there is a comfortable seating for seven people, two at the front, and three on the middle row and two at the rear. The passenger side bench type seat in the middle row is foldable. The two seats in the last row are also foldable and the space works as a boot with it in a folded state.  

The dash that houses a long central console is the one that grabs the attention of the person entering the SUV. On the central console, there is a 6-inch touchscreen monochrome/color display on the top besides audio controls and the AC controls below it.  

There are four AC vents on the front dash, two on the sides of the central console and one on either side. The steering wheel of the Mahindra XUV 500 is a mix of sporty looks and functionality. Its one half is a steering wheel and the other half is a remote control to the audio so that numbers keep shuffling while the SUV growls on-road and off-road. It also has cruise control buttons on it. Placed just behind the steering wheel is the sporty twin-pod shaped instrument cluster that combines, looks and functionality.

The interior is clad in beautiful two-tone shade with fabric/leather upholstery. Besides, the cabin is lighted to set the mood. There are also background lights that highlight the door handles. The internal rear view mirror has manual night view feature. Just above the internal rear view mirror there is sunglass holder box along with another small box for keeping some essentials. The dash also has a spacious glove box that can even accommodate a small laptop in it. The interior plastic quality is good and it is at par with the global standard that the Mahindra XUV 500 vouches.
Interior Comfort
Contrary to the image of an SUV, XUV 500 has unbeatably comfortable interiors. The material used inside has a comfort feel apart from a lot of functionalities that are there in this SUV. Overall, Mahindra XUV 500 takes care of even little comfort features viz. an umbrella holder that is no where seen in any of the SUVs and that is why the SUV has lots of features that make this car stand apart from others.

Interior comfort starts with the agile nature of the XUV 500 that is further complemented by the mHawk engine that gives a low NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) . Besides the new SUV has a seating for 7 people but the last row acts as a boot in a folded state. The front seats are ergonomically designed and have lumbar support. The driver seat is 8-way adjustable including height adjustment feature. The front seats have height adjustable seat belts in the front row.

There is a cool box between the front seats. There are also two cup holders between the gear knob and the cool box. The door handles have background lights and are highlighted so that these are accessible even in dark. Besides, the room lamp has the same shade lighting. Mahindra XUV 500 also has a sunglass holder just above the internal review mirror besides a conversation mirror just above it so that the driver can talk to the rear passengers without turning his head. The glove box in the dash is also spacious and even a laptop can be stored in it.

The central console is the key area where the comfort enhancements are controlled. It is well within the comfortable reach of the driver and houses a 6-inch color display with voice activated module that displays information regarding the navigation, music being played and some other information. There is also a music system on the central control with DVD player. The music system can be connected to an iPOD with the help of a USB port besides the Bluetooth connectivity for phone . The console also has AC controls. The air conditioner has fully automatic temperature control with dual HVAC . The central console also has a glove box on its top.

The leather clad, ergonomically designed tilt and telescopic adjustable steering has various controls on it including Cruise, audio, phone & voice command switches. In order to quickly open the driver side window screen, there is a driver side express down button. The tail gate is remote operated and locking and unlocking the SUV 500 is far easier with the flip key with remote central locking. The ORVMs are electrically foldable and adjustable. Mahindra XUV 500 takes care of all the three rows well with reading lamps for the all the three rows along with mobile charging points .

In order to avoid sunrays disrupting the vision through the front windscreen there is a tinted solar reflecting glass used in it. The rear windscreen has a wash and wipe feature besides a rear demister for better visibility. If it is SUV it is bound to access bad weather as well and for it, Mahindra XUV 500 has rain sensing wipers.

There are also array of lamps including Puddle lamps, Entry assist lamp, Door ajar lamps, Camping lamps on the XUV 500. There is also an umbrella holder in Mahindra XUV 500.
Interior Measurements
Being a big SUV, the XUV 500 interior space is also decent. There is very good headroom, legroom and shoulder room at the front and the middle row. However, the last row is a little cramped and only two people can fit in.

 Engine and Performance


Mahindra XUV 500 engine is a 2179cc mHawk type. It has the maximum power out of 140bhp at 3750 rpm besides a maximum torque capacity of 330Nm at 1600-2800rpm . The engine is based on a direct injection technology with Variable Geometry Turbocharger that makes it more powerful than the mHawk engine in Mahindra Scorpio. The XUV 500 has a six speed manual gearbox making it suitable for Indian conditions; an automatic version may come up on the international edition. The gearbox has been developed in house by Mahindra.

The engine has Micro Hybrid technology in place making it more fuel efficient than other Mahindra SUVs in India. The engine performs well on road and off the road equally and with the All-Wheel drive option, the XUV 500 is capable of challenging any terrain. A two-wheel drive model is also available on Mahindra XUV 500.

Stereo & Accessories 


The new Mahindra car keeps its passengers happy, safe and entertained well with its power, safety features and the advanced audio system. Besides the XUV 500 has a 6-inch monochrome DIS infotainment system (color touchscreen on the XUV 500 W8 4WD) that keeps all the information regarding the car, music and other stats. It is voice command activated.
The XUV 500 comes with CD/MP3 player on the base variant and there is a DVD Player on the W8 and W8 4WD. An iPod can also be connected to the music system. Volume control of the music system is also there on the steering. The car comes with integrated four speakers , one on each door apart from two tweeters on the dashboard.

Handling & Safety


Mahindra SUVs in India have brown much bigger, smarter, economic and safer in the yesteryears. With constant technological updations and introduction of new technologies in its cars, Mahindra has made its SUV to perform well and to keep its passengers safe.  

There are a lot of safety features on Mahindra XUV 500 that makes it almost invincible. The foremost is the monocoque design that has not only made the cabin more spacious but safe as well. Besides, there are dual airbags both for the driver and the front passenger . I addition to it there are also side & curtain airbags along with side impact beams to keep the occupants safe from side impacts. There is robust crumple zone to protect the car and the passengers from a crash. Tubeless tyres ensure that the SUV can handle any terrain. Furthermore, all disc brakes with ABS, EBD ensure efficient braking of the SUV .

For the XUV 500 big size is not a minus at times of parking thanks to the Intellipark system installed in it that helps park the vehicle with ease even in cramped parking lots. Furthermore, in order to ensure full visibility through the windscreen, the XUV 500 has smart wipers that wipe clean the windscreen whenever there is water on the screen or if there is rain. The headlamps too on Mahindra XUV 500 are intelligent and these turn on whenever it is dark or of the car enters a tunnel or a dark space.

In order to keep the SUV safe from unwanted visitors or thieves, XUV 500 has digital immobilizer that ensures that it starts only with a genuine key . So, contrary to sleepless nights of Mahindra Bolero users, XUV 500 owners can have sound sleep as it protects itself from thieves.

Mahindra XUV 500 steering has stereo (on the left) and cruise controls (on the right) mounted on it.

Braking & Handling


With a mammoth power underneath, styling and a torque rich engine, one will surely stretch it to its top-speed and knowing this, Mahindra has fitted a robust braking mechanism in the XUV 500. Both the front and rear brakes are disk & caliper type.

The suspension system is designed on the basis of a monocoque design and all the four wheels have independent suspension to give the occupants an untiring comfort and so that even the larger potholes on Indian roads do not worry XUV 500. The front has a McPherson type with anti-roll bar and the rear suspension is a Multilink type with anti-roll bar.

Handling the Mahindra XUV 500 is far easier that any of Mahindra’s SUVs. It has a turning radius of only 5.6m and with a high torque at low rpm engine, it works well in the city and with 140bhp power it runs well on the highways as well. The powerful engine also enables the 2450 Kg SUV to move around in an agile manner. In addition to an effective both disc braking system, the XUV 500 also has Anti-lock Braking system that ensures that the car brakes do not lock even in times of panic braking. There is also an Electronic Stability Program that keeps Mahindra XUV 500 on track even on curvy turns. Furthermore, XUV 500 also has Hill Hold and Hill Descent control making it suitable even for hilly areas. With the ESP in it, climbing or descending from a hill is no uphill task for XUV 500.

Wheels

Mahindra XUV 500 runs on all alloy wheels. The five-spoke 17 inch alloy wheels have a tyre size of P235/65 R17 which are radial and tubeless. There is a spare wheel that has been hidden just below the boot. Mahindra XUV 500 also has Tyre Tronics system that monitors the tyre pressure and warns if there is a significant decrease in tyre pressure thus ensuring perfect air in the tyres and greater mileage and safety.

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Renault Duster Specifications, Price & Photo Gallery

Renault Duster is a characteristic SUV with aggressive looks and power. With Renault Duster the French auto major is looking forward to change its fate in the Indian auto industry, where the auto majors like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata touching five to six digit sales figures, Renault is just able to touch the initial four digits.  The Duster is the first compact SUV being developed by Dacia, the Romanian automaker which is a fully owned subsidiary of Renault since 1999. Duster SUV made its official appearance in the year 2009 and the SUV became available in the European market in March 2010. Duster is sold under Dacia badging in Europe, Algeria, Turkey, Morocco, Ukraine, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon.

Built on Logan platform, Duster will have an overall length of 4.31 meters, just shorter than its big brother Renault Koleos, and a width of 1.82 meters. Considering its size and high ground clearance of 205 mm, Renault Duster is fit for city as well as the off roading and has the nature of a true 4x4 SUV, though India doesn’t have the 4x4 versions. Renault Duster’s front has a rugged and sturdy appearance. The front grille is clad in chrome. The side view in turn also enhances the SUV appearance of Renault Duster besides high ground clearance. Renault Dacia Duster is the one of the cheapest SUV. Dacia, a Romanian car maker happens to be a completely owned subsidiary of Renault.  The Renault Duster was tested aggressively in almost all the terrains round the globe before it was first launched in 2010. Together, they will form the most youthful line-up on the Indian market. The suspension system as well as the underside has been strengthened to handle any road including off-road. The low weight of the new Renault SUV as well as its compact size makes it agile on any piece of land.

Renault Duster made available in both petrol and diesel options. The petrol driven Renault houses a 1598cc I4 DOHC engine that produces 100.3bhp at 5850 rpm and a maximum torque of 145Nm at 3750 rpm . The diesel powered Renault Duster is powered by 1461cc Turbocharged Diesel I4 SOHC engine that is able to deliver two different power figures: 108.3bhp and 83.5bhp power and a torque of 248Nm and 200Nm respectively to the wheels. Duster has two transmission options- five-speed manual and another six-speed manual (108bhp).

Among the safety features Renault Duster comes equipped with engine immobilizer, door open warning lamp, central locking and engine protective under guard as standard features. Anti-lock Brake System, Emergency Brake Assist besides Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, stability control module, two front airbags and three-point seatbelt tensioners features are  incorporated as per the version.

Renault Duster Mileage

Renault Duster’s fuel efficiency in all likelihood is great since the SUV is lighter than other SUVs in India. The 1.5 diesel powered engine introduced with Duster in India is tuned to two different states putting out two different power outputs (83.8bhp and 108.5bhp).Renault Duster is capable to deliver 20.46kmpl for mileage for the 83.8bhp diesel engine and 19.01kmpl for the 108.5bhp powertrain. As it is apparent that the petrol variant of any car model offers a lesser mileage in comparison to the diesel ones; Duster’s case is no different as the petrol powered variants just ofRenault Duster Petrol RxL fers 13.24kmpl mileage in the thriving petrol price world.

Power of Renault Duster

The diesel powered Renault Duster is powered by a 1461cc common rail direct injection dCi  SOHC engine that is able to deliver 83.8bhp and 108.5bhp power . The 1.5-litre diesel machine has been taken from Nissan Micra. The engine delivering 108.5bhp is the Step 4 version of K9K engine. Both these versions are said to provide for high torque figures i.e. 200Nm and 248Nm and would be highly spirited to drive. The petrol driven Renault houses a 1598cc, Multi-point fuel injection system that produces 100.5bhp at 5850rpm and a maximum torque of 145Nm at 3750 rpm .

Renault Duster Colours

Renault Duster Specifications

Renault Duster Price

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Ford EcoSport Wins SUV of the Year Award in Brazil

Ford EcoSport has already brought so much appreciation and awards to the American auto major, now when the car is about to launch in India bags yet another award in Brazil. The car which is on sale in Brazil for quite a long now gets the SUV of the year award there.Expected to launch by March 2013, the EcoSport compact SUV will be introduced with the award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine. What makes the 1.0-litre EcoBoos so special is the fact that even being smaller in size with only three-cylinders, it is as powerful as a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine. It churns out the maximum of 118bhp at 6,000rpm along with the peak torque of 170Nm, proving it to be more powerful than its competitors.

The another engine option which is expected to house the upcoming EcoSport will be a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine that currently does its duty to the company's flagship sedan, the Fiesta. Except the impressive design, the upcoming Ford EcoSport impresses with its safety and comfort features like side curtain airbags along with the driver and front passenger airbags, push button start and keyless entry, Traction control, ABS, EBD, 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, Hill Launch Assist, 560-litre storage area with rear seats folded, under seat storage at the front, cooled glove box and various others. As far as the pricing is concerned, we are expecting the EcoSport to be priced even lesser than its closest competitor Duster, as the EcoSport contains about 80 per cent local content.

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Toyota shares rise on smaller-than-expected settlement news

Following news that Toyota has proposed a massive settlement to address the owners of vehicles effected by the unintended acceleration recall, shares for the automaker are up 2.6 percent. Over the course of this year, Toyota's stock has jumped 51.7 percent.

"My initiate reaction would be 'that's it'... $1 billion charge that covers recalls and everything else and you are looking at a $250 million compensation fund, that's nothing," said a senior trader at a foreign brokerage to Automotive News. This settlement has been set aside to cover class-action lawsuits from 16 million owners of Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles and is separate from other impending lawsuits – including one consumer protection suit in California and another unfair-business-practices case brought on by 28 attorneys general.

In other positive news for investors, the Japanese yen has weakened compared to the US dollar. That likely means improved financial performance from the big Japanese automakers, the largest of which is Toyota.

Autoblog

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EU formally questions French government assistance of Peugeot's finance arm

Recently, the finance arm of PSA/Peugeot-Citroën was in such debt trouble that it was pricing itself out of the car loan market. The rates it was paying to service its debt, which was rated one step above junk, were so high that it was forced to charge car-buying customers higher rates than they could find elsewhere. This was adding to Peugeot's already impressive woes by sending revenue out the door to competitors.

Two months ago a deal was worked out with the French government whereby the state would provide 7 billion euro ($9 billion USD) in bonds to guarantee the finance arm's loans. The French government could nominate someone to join the Peugeot board, Peugeot would guarantee more French jobs, and on top of that deal, other banks would provide non-guaranteed loans. The government would take no equity stake in the car company.

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Tech Cars of 2012

Automobile companies are leaving no stones unturned to upgrade dashboards with high-tech features be it navigation systems, built-in personal gadgets support systems, entertainment systems, speaker phone or just managing simple contacts, calendar and social media updates. Modern cars make your life easier and help you stay connected even while you are driving far. Most of the cars released in 2012, comes with certain high-end technical features though choosing one among the best will depend on your needs, budget and personal choice.

Dodge Dart

The super-stylish Dodge Dart, created with beautiful looks and wonderful performance. It is one of the most technically advance automobiles available in the compact segment. The gorgeous 8.4-inch colour touch infotainment system dubbed UConnect, delights the car drivers. Users can pair up a smartphone with Bluetooth seamlessly to enjoy their favourite songs through the car speaker.

Chevrolet Spark

The new Chevrolet Spark looks impressive with crisp build and elegant feel. More than its regular benefits such fuel-efficient, comfortable drive, stylish interior and sexy exterior. The Chevrolet Spark delights modern drivers with its high-tech features. Through the Spark’s MyLink system, the automobiles allow consumers to pair their smartphone with the built-in Bluetooth to run the navigation system. The reasonably priced auto car, took a step ahead by getting Apple’s Siri involved; wherein drivers can give voice command to Siri to do things – Calling, Information Research and Playing Music.

Lexus 350 GS

The new Lexus 350 GS, brings the ultimate combination of style, comfort, class, safety and technology. It is perfect for all-whether drive be it within city or longer distance; it never compromise on one thing – comfort. The Lexus 350GS, boasts of a 12.3-inch high-resolution split-screen media display, four power driving modes and a blind-spot monitor. This 3.5/litre luxury auto car brings a host of other tech-rich features such as – adaptive cruise control, radar-enhanced and climate control system. These cool high-end technical features are sure pointers to attract tech-savvy drivers.

Mercedez-Benz GL-Class

Mercedez-Benz GL-Class – symbolize with class, luxury and style. Its low-emission engine, superior material and high-sheen chrome trim add to the charm and elegance of the vehicle. The new GL-Class, automobile has loads of high-end tech that make each drive smooth, safe, comfortable and entertaining. It brings the high-performance DVD system, COMAND APS multimedia system, audio system and 4 GB memory on the hard-disc drive for audio files in MP3 or WMA format. This stunning SUV will delight you with its latest in-car technologies.

source : carazoo

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New Honda CR-V Coming in March 2013

Japanese auto giant, Honda that launched the new generation Honda CR-V in the UK in October is now all set to roll out the similar vehicle in India as well. We brought you the official images and details about the car back in September 2012, now it seems that the launch is quite near. Our sources have confirmed that the existing CR-V has been officially discontinued, and the 2013 CR-V will come in March 2013. And what has made us believe on this further is the fact that Honda Cars India has removed the current generation CR-V from its official website now, which means the car has already been discontinued and soon their will be the next generation Honda CR-V.

The next generation CR-V has certainly got better in most departments than its predecessor be it the quality, refinement or practicality. But there will still not be the diesel version of the vehicle in India, so India might have to wait for another year to get the diesel CR-V. Pricing too has not been announced by the company as of now, we are expecting it to be between Rs. 20 and 24 lakh, which will make it an ideal competitor of Outlander and BMW X1 Petrol.Dimension wise, the new Generation CR-V get shorter and lesser in length than the outgoing version. For the first time Honda CR-V will be available with a choice of two and four-wheel drive option. Moreover the new model takes on a more assertive and aerodynamic stance with a bolder nose section.The front bumper is joined by a horizontal three-bar grille and deep-set headlights. The lower front bumper is designed to convey SUV capability with a generous approach angle.

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