7 Amazing Alien Innovations in Automobiles

Vyrus Motorcycles

A small Italian Startup from Rimini. Vyrus was originally a part of the Tesi project for the better known Bimota motorcycles. Today Vyrus has two hub-center steered motorcycles in its portfolio namely the 984 and 985.

Ktm X-bow

This is what happens when motorcycle manufacturers turn to making cars. The KTM X-Bow is the first (and only??) car from the Austrian company. The X-bow has been realized with the help of chassis manufacturers Dallara and the German Luxury auotmobile marque Audi. This also make the fact obvious that the engine is sourced from the parent company Volkswagen which is not a bad thing. KTM didnt expect many to buy this car but they have since been forced to ramp up production to double the units from 500 to 1000.

Dodge Tomahawk

9 of them were left behind by aliens from Uranus. Built around the wet dreams of every auto enthusiast, Dodge plonked in their biggest engine... 500 hp (373 kW) 8.3 L V10 SRT10 engine from the Dodge Viper. The vehicle has two front wheels and two rear wheels, making it a kind of motorized quadricycle rather than a typical motorcycle.

(UNO) Dicycle

Welcome to the world of reduced moving parts. A genius from Canada decided to remove the first moving part he saw on a bike. Whooosh!! One o the tyres was gone. The Uno is an electric-powered vehicle that bears a resemblance to a motorized unicycle. Described in news reports as either a "one wheeled motorcycle" or "electric unicycle", it is more accurately a dicycle, created by placing two closely-spaced unaxial drive wheels side-by-side at the centre-point of the vehicle.

Segway

Aliens have not always thought on similar lines as humans when it comes to innovation. so while we designed 2-wheelers with wheels at the front and back, somewhere on a remote planted the segway was designed with wheels on the side. The Segway PT is a two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicle invented by Dean Kamen. Extremely useful and green I say.

Can-AM

With two front wheels and a rear wheel resembling an ATV this invention again hails from Canada.. Too many Alien sightings around the Canuck lands I say. But Bombardier has done a commendable job. Kudos! (or is it Koodo's!!)

Rinspeed Splash

If the fusion of car and bike turns into Tomahawk and if the fusion of motorcycle and ATV turns into Can-Am Spyder, what will the fusion of car and boat turn into? Yes you guess it right. The Rinspeed Splash.

TVS might buy stake in LML

TVS motors which is the third largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the country selling products such as the Apache RTR motorcycles and Scooty and Wego brand of scooterettes has been rumoured to be in talks for purchasing the Stake in LML.

LML which was once a scooter pioneer in the country selling the scooter range from Piaggio went out of business half a decade ago. The company has since restarted production with investment from Credit Suisse. The company has narrowed losses over the years selling scooters to exports markets and recently entered domestic markets in the northern circuits in and around Delhi and UP. The company is on its way to post a profit in the next couple of years looking to its constant growth.

TVS motors has found and excellent footing in the export market in LML. Also available is the huge idle capacity that TVS can utilize to increase volume and share in the 2-wheeler market. Since the assets of LML are highly undervalued it is a classic opportunity for TVS motors.

Let's hope TVS brings us the export oriented LML scooters with smaterings of chrome soon.

Racing Legends - The best and greatest racers

1. Dale Earnhardt (1951-2001)- The most celebrated name in North American stock car racing best known as NASCAR.  He won a total of seven championships during his lifetime tied up with Richard Petter for the top spot. The legend died in a crash during the last leg of 2001 Daytona. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the next Daytona race in 2001.

2. Richard Petty- is a reitred Nascar race driver. While his standing is much better at Nascar than Dale Earnhardt, he is not as well known. Nicknamed 'The King' he has won 200 races in his career. Richard Petty has won Daytona a record seven times and won 27 races during 1967 with 10 won consecutively. Petty is one of the few second generation drivers who has bettered their father's standings (Lee Petty). Richard Petty has been criticized for his comments against female drivers in Nascar (Danica Patrick).

3. Dan Gurney-  Winner of Indy Car, Nascar, Can-AM and Trans-AM races, Dan Gurney holds high ranks in the books of racing commuity. Gurney is the first driver to win races in Formula One (1962), NASCAR (1963), and Indy Car (1967). In 1967, after winning the 24 hours of Le Mans together with A.J. Foyt, he spontaneously sprayed champagne while celebrating on the podium. A tradition which has now become part of the racing world.

4. Ayrton Senna: Some say he was so good Formula racing limited his capabilities. A three-time Formula One world champion, he died in a crash while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. In 1988 along with Alain Prost they won a combined 15 of the 16 races with Senna eventually winning the championship. Additionally Senna also holds the record for most wins in Monaco Grand Prix (6).Where's his biography?

5. Juan Manuel Fangio:  Nicknamed 'El Maestro' when the Formula one racing was in its early stages, Juan Manuel Fangio was the name that ruled the roost. He won five Formula One World Driver's Championships — a record which stood for 46 years until eventually beaten by Michael Schumacher — with four different teams (Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Maserati), a feat that has not been repeated since.

6. Michael Schumacher: The most celebrated name in kart racing Michael Schumacher has just returned to Formula one racing grid. He is a seven-time World Champion and according to the official Formula One website is "statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen. Surprisingly Schumacher hasnt won a championship since FIA was questioned for Ferrari supporting initiatives. Schumacher announced retirement soon after but has since returned with Mercedez GP achieving a best fourth position and a career low fifteenth.

7. Tommi Makinen: Known as Turbo Tommi, Makinen is one of the most sucessful driver in WRC ranking second in championships (4), tied with Juha Kankkunen and behind Sébastien Loeb (6), and fifth in wins (24). He is a four-time World Rally Champion, continuously throughout 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, on all occasions driving the Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

 

8. Juha Kankunnen: is a Finnish former rally driver. His factory team career in the World Rally Championship lasted from 1983 to 2002. He won 23 world rallies and four drivers' world championship titles. Kankkunen's achievements outside the WRC include winning the Dakar Rally in 1988 and the Race of Champions in 1988 and 1991. Following his retirement from active rallying, he has worked in the fields of business and politics. Since 2007, Kankkunen holds the world speed record on ice in a Bentley Continental GT.

9. Sebastian Loeb: Sebastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroen World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He is a six-time world champion and holds the record for most wins in the series and most - and tied second most - consecutive wins in a rally season with 6 & 5 (multiple times) respectively.

10. Valentino Rossi:  Rossi is an Italian professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP World Champion. He is one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, with 9 Grand Prix World Championships to his name. Rossi is first in all time 500 cc/MotoGP race wins standings, with 78 victories, and second in all time overall wins standings with 104 race wins (behind Giacomo Agostini with 122). Needs a racing game in his name.

11. Giacomo Agostini: Giacomo Agostini is an Italian multi-time world champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Nicknamed Ago, he is the all-time leader in victories in motorcycle Grand Prix history, with 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championships titles

12. Carl Fogarty: Carl 'Foggy' Fogarty is the most successful World Superbike racer of all time in terms of the number of championships and number of race wins. Now retired, he is renowned for his high corner speed riding style, combined with an aggressive competitiveness, which netted him 59 victories and four World Superbike Championships (1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999).

13. Kenny Roberts: Kenneth Roberts is a former motorcycle racer and the first American to win the 500cc Road Racing World Championship.Roberts won two AMA Grand National Championships in 1973 and 1974, three consecutive 500 cc World Championships in 1978, 1979 and 1980 along with three victories at the Daytona 200. He is the father of the 2000 500cc World Champion, Kenny Roberts, Jr., the only father and son duo to have won the title. Roberts is regarded as being one of the first riders to use his knee to balance the bike on the track in corners.

14. N Leelakrishnan: six time INRC champion N Leelakrishnan is one of the drivers with a varied victory record.

15. Naren Kumar: V. R. Naren Kumar is a six-time INRC Rally Champion and Two time runner-up from Coimbatore, India. Currently driving (re-appeared after 4 years) in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship as a privateer (Team Rally India), he is again set to attack the WRC championship (in Groun N Category) driving a factory supported works Subaru Impreza World Rally Car for Team Sidvin India (supported by Four time WRC Rally Champion Tommi Makinen.

Information taken from http://www.wikipedia.com/ and other sources.

New hatches on their way to India

India is fast becoming the hatch capital. Here are some of the cars on their way.

1. Chevrolet U-VA update: A Daewoo designed by Giugiaro designs, the car currently on sale looks outdated and outsmarted by the competition. The beige treatment to the interiors havent exactly helped set the sales charts on fire. The new U-VA carries the GM corporate face with the front grille and bumper resembling GM cars. A diesel (to be shared with Chevrolet Beat) meeting the excise regulations is on the cards too. If positioned properly Indian buyers will find a car that is more comfortable than Ritz and straight into the Indica Vista territory with class leading rear seat comfort and ride. The interiors wont see much change but GM can do much better using Chrome lavishly(gearbox, Handbrake, AC vents, dials) and providing with a hi-end multimedia unit sporting bluetooth and USB connectivity. Carrying over the Aveo dashboard will certainly help.

2. Fiat Punto90:  Fiat is back riding on the subtle success of Punto and Linea. Since the Fiat has the option of a hotter 90bhp Multi-jet on hand (Linea) the company has decided to plonk the engine in the Punto's bay and give it muscle to compete with I20 CRDI heads on. The inerior plastic quality has gone up by a few notches and the car is now a better package overall for those looking to buy. A sport version was on display at the Auto Expo 2010 but dont expect much bells and whistles over the Emotion PK model currently available. Big brother Linea will be getting a t-jet as rumoured but dont expect it in Punto anytime soon.

3. Mahindra Logan: This one is not really a hatchback as per the news but a smaller version like the Indigo CS. An important platform for Mahindra bought from Renault SA, Mahindra has cut prices and increased features to make it sell and the gamble seems to be paying off but only a bit. Mahindra Engineers have been on the boards day and night to come up with the smaller Logan soon. The proven Diesel and petrol engines will remain unchanged but do expect some upgrades to the drab but comfortable interiors.The cheerful but overdone Logan play and the more contemprary Tourer editions seems to have been discontinued. (image courtest: Bsmotoring)

4. Maruti Swift: Yawnnnn!!!! Maruti has followed a path of refreshing its cars with new names every six months. Bad or good doesnt affect India's largest car maker but with the Zen Upgrade and WagonR upgrade Maruti is now bringing in the newer, bigger and smarter swift to the customers. swooped back headlamps, longer dimensions and a new interior will give this car a new life. A great step by Maruti since the swift has been selling well even though the competition is miles ahead.

5.  Mitsubishi Colt: Some cars never leave the drawing boards when it comes to the Indian market. GM Spark, Fiat Punto, Honda Jazz and Skoda fabia are some examples. But the awards for being late to the party goes to Mitsubishi Colt. Parent companies financial problems, Hindustan Motors baburaj operations and performance of Mitsubishi in India has kept this car at bay. Hindustan Motors have previously launched the Carisma or paper and I am sure the same can happen to the Colt which is otherwise an excellent car with the corporate front Mitsubishi grill. If all goes well you should see it by late 2010 or early 2011.

6. Nissan Micra:  Cheekier than the Beetle, Nissan's Micra is now Made in India. A 1.2 litre engine, remote keyless entry and push button start are some of the segment firsts. Dont be disappointed to see the lack of diesel in Nissan Showrooms. The 1.5 diesel (Logan) is supposed to be show up within a years time. Very few cars appeal to the ladies and I am sure this will.

7. Toyota Etios: I dont have any firsthand information on Toyota Etios but going by the Fortuner release (hasty but well implemented), the Etios might show up soon.  A sedan version might by launched first to bridge the gap between Corolla and the hatch (important for market positioning). No more details available at this point.

Five changes that will transform your vehicle

1. Synthetic oil- Synthetic oil is a lubricant consisting of chemical compounds which are artificially made (synthesized) from compounds other than crude oil (petroleum). Why this makes sense for Indian consumers is because Synthetic oil has a tendency to perform better than Mineral oil (regular oil) under extreme temperatures in India. Additionally while the low quality fuel and dust are hard on the engine, synthetic oil increases engine life through less wear and tear while reducing sludge problems at the same time. Cars with high mileage on their odometer might make more engine noise than usual due to high wear and tear. It is absolutely normal. Additionally while mineral oil lasts 10,000 kms on an engine, synthetic oil can last upto 20,000 kilometers. Other benifits include better mileage under certain conditions, improved cold starts and smooth power delivery and drive.

Ps: Many garage mechanics dont use flush before switching the car from mineral to synthetic oil. It is heaviliy recommended (not compulsary) to use flush.

2. Tubeless tyres and alloy wheels:  Tubeless tyres are tyres that does away with the need for the inner butyle tube. Most new cars and motorcycles now come with tubeless tyres. Tubeless tyres are safer as they dont burst upon puncture under most sever conditions. Additionally they lose air slowly so one can drive to a repair station quickly. Benifits are also noted in higher fuel efficiency, better handling and lesser road noise.

Alloy wheels first and foremost impart a beatiful look to the car if the right set of designs are used. They are lightweight and durable and heatup less than the standard steel wheels making them the choice of many. Merits include better handling and higher fuel efficiency.

Ps: Tubeless tyre self repair kits are an easy DYI for even the most unskilled people. Next time you see someone on the road with a flat tyre, you not its not you.

3. All weather light bulbs: Everyone prefers better illumination at night but one should remember that if your car has 8 fog lamps and 4 halogens, you would just look like a fool. All weather light bulbs are a great replacement for regular halogen lamps since most cars dont come equipped with Bi-xenon lights.

Ps: Keep away from the Cheap white light bulbs. They are bad for the eyes and roads too and cost a bomb.

4. Tint: Most new cars come with a lightly tinted glasses. But those are not enough to withstand the current heat levels. A nice and branded tint will go a long way in keeping the car cool while looking great at the same time. While total black tints are illegal, some shades will help to a certain extent in ensuring privacy.

Ps: It is possible to check how the tint will look on the car. Ask the retailer to show you a small sample before going ahead. Also make sure it is a government approved tint film.

5. Leather steering and gearbox covers: Getting burnt palm at 1pm in burning noon is the last thing we want. A decent leather steering and gearbox cover will go a long way in making sure your hands are not burnt. While leather does heat it, its much better to hold in the worst of seasons if its not polished. Also at the same time it imparts a nice look to the cars interiors. And many will also agree that its hood to hold and grips well providing confidence in the handling of the vehicle. some branded motorcycle grips are also available and from personal use I will totally recommend them.

Ps: Make sure its not faux leather and that the leather is not polished. Faux leather tears and wears pretty fast and doesnt make a good sight. At the same time polished leather wont give you any good heat conduction and you may still end up with burnt hands.

PS: Stereo will get a separate new link soon if all goes well

The return of the Trolls.

Troll: (in Scandinavian folklore) any of a race of supernatural beings, sometimes conceived as giants and sometimes as dwarfs, inhabiting caves or subterranean dwellings.

Most of the times, cars are given identity based on where the company is based. Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW are German and known for luxury and innovation. Toyota, Honda and Nissan are Japanese and known for efficiency and technology. GM, Ford and Chrysler are American and known for comfort and value. But apart from these three there are many other car makers hailing from other countries creating their own image. For e.g. Fiat is Italian and known for raw performance,style and oomph, Hyundai is Korean and known for value and reliability.

Saab has always been known for turbochrged performance and quirky handling. But somehow Swedes who are known to be the most honest crowd in Europe were never able to give their cars the luxury image similar to a BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz. But Victor Muller has experience owning a super car outfit (Spyker) and he is heading into the right direction with the new Saab 9-5.  with AWD and engine powered from 160 horses to 300 horses Saab is heading straight into the S80, A6, 5-Series and E-class territory. With all the right bells and whistles, it remains to be seen whether the world takes to this product from Trollhattan.

Here is a short video of what Saab's stand for.

Details and Specifications

2011 Saab 9-5 (now on sale)

Platform:        GM Epsilon II

Drivetrain:       FWD and AWD (XWD) options

Transmission:  6-speed Manual and Automatic options

Diesel, Petrol and Bio powered options

engines:          1.6 turbo Inline 4 making 180 horses

                      2.8 turbo V6 making 300 horses

                      2.0 turbo Inline 4 diesel making 400 nm of torque

                      various other engine options available

 

With Saab already on its way, Geely has made sure it makes news with Volvo too. Fresh off its hook from Ford, Volvo has learnt a lot about car making but shared even more helping Ford survive bankruptcy. Geely's new trump card for the moment is the new Volvo S60. Taking on the rivals such as 9-3, 3 series, A4 and C-class the 2010 Volvo S60 has a lot going for it. Not losing its strength in safety the new S60 boasts of  trendy designs the youth wont be ashamed of being seen in. Sharing Product designs and development for all this years Volvo has learnt to make their cars dynamic and more fun to drive which is a good thing. While not boasting a performance team like Saab, Volvo does have active participation in racing such as TOCA championships.

 

Specs and details

2010 Volvo S60

platform:       Volvo Y20 platform

Drivetrain:     FWD/ AWD

Transmission: 6 speed manual/automatic/ powershift

Petrol and diesel options

engines:         1.6L inline-4 turbo 150bhp

                     3.0L V6 turbo 305 bhp

                     2.5L diesel turbo 5 cyl 420nm torque.

PS: The current CEO of Saab Automobile, Mr. Jan Ake Jonsson, is one of several candidates considered for the CEO position at Volvo Cars.

When asked about the CEO position by the Swedish paper, Jonsson refused to comment. “I have promised [Spyker CEO] Victor Muller to stay at Saab for a while longer,” Jonsson was quoted as saying.

Ford makes a mistake and is happy about it.

Ford has just announced the fall of the axe on its Mercury brand. The board of directors rejoiced and happily congratulated each other on one wise decision over champagne. While most dealers in US are happy, quite a few are not.
While the brand was killed now it has been dead since a long time. Mercury was axed in Canada way back in 1999. So why would you ask is this a big mistake at Ford? I will try to put up some analysis and explain why.

Toyota is the mainstream brand for the Japanese giant. Additionally they have a Luxury marque under the name Lexus which has been giving the real luxury marques sleepless nights. Toyota Motor Corp. also has a third brand named Scion in the US which was founded in 2002.

General Motors recently survived bankruptcy last year and has made a respectable comeback to day. Their main strategy was to shed the numerous brands they bought aimlessly over the years and focus on four core brands. Chevrolet is the mainstream brand which sells vehicles to the mass. Cadillac as many know is the luxury marque which stands out on the road even against the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The third Brand is Buick. Buick is to GM similar to what Mercury is to Ford. Fortunately GM had better luck with Buick which has turned out to be a major comeback vehicles for the company. The fourth is the truck division of GMC.

Chrysler's helm is held by the Fiat Head Sergio Marchionne. The Canadian is a smart entrepreneur and he has been quick to Divide Dodge and Ram into difference brands. Thus Chrysler now has the mainstream Chrysler brand, the young Dodge, the truck and off roading division of Jeep and newly formed truck division named RAM.

Ford on the other hand has been quick to divest from Some major brands including Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. So from a personal viewpoint I see it as a great opportunity lost. While those at Ford see Mercury as a brand with a .8 percent market share, I see it as a huge opportunity for a recognized brand gone to waste due to negligence. Especially when a superb example of Buick is in front of our eyes. Wouldnt it be the right time to kick start Mercury when People have begin to start buying into Buick? Ford has definitely made a mistake selling Volvo and Mazda the reasons and results of which have been given by many at Wall Street.

While the smaller makes to the like of Honda and Nissan are finding it tough to fight the battle with two brands, its a surprise why Ford is walking the same route.  Rebuilding the Mercury brands will help push Lincoln in the higher price range (Lincoln is having trouble selling at higher price points)and give Ford a platform to fight the major players heads on.

Now is the time to rebuild Mercury as the Young, experimental, entry level luxury brands that dares to experiment.

Here are some of the half hearted efforts that ford took with Mercury before finally killing it alongwith the latest Buick counterparts.

Mercury Mariner

Buick Enclave

Mercury Milan

Buick Regal

Mercury Grand Marquis

Buick Lacrosse