economy cars:
In order to make the Fiat 500 look even better, the well-known tuning company Novitec, specialised in Ferarri and Alfa Romeo cars, unveiled its new body kit for the small vehicle. Characterized by the front lip spoiler, 16 and 17 inch alloy wheels, rear roof spoiler and a double exhaust system, the small vehicle from the Italian manufacturer becomes car even more desirable. Novitec also re-programmed the ECU of the engines and now the 1.3 JTD turbodiesel develops 83 hp, with 13 hp more than the standard, while the 1.4-liter petrol engine is now capable of developing 131 hp. Press release after the jump! >> read Fiat 500 by Novitec Picture Gallery .
Big tuners also love small cars, not just V8 powered sports car with plenty of power. Hamann also love small cars and today unveiled their customization programme for the recently launched Fiat 500. The new programme includes 17” alloy wheels painted in black, a sport exhaust system that changes completely the sound of the engine but also a re-programming of the diesel ECU which improves the power from 75 to 90 hp and 230 Nm of torque.
For the exterior the Fiat 500 also received some stylish Hamann stickers while at the interior the aliminium pedal set which includes a footrest and a car mat set with an embroidered Hamann logo accentuate the sportivity of the car. Press release after the jump! >> read
This time it’s the Toyota Matrix. The headlines say that 660,000 Toyotas are being recalled. Over at GM, they must be smiling. Not because of Toyota’s problem. But because those headlines don’t include the word “Pontiac." You, see – that 660,000 figure also includes the Pontiac Vibe. The Matrix and Vibe are being recalled because of defects in the power windows of 2003 – 2004 model year vehicles which have lead to the windows cracking and even, reportedly, in some instances exploding. There have been 500 complaints and a few reported injuries. But, Toyota may be showing its true colors with the way it’s handling recall issues. With some level of class. (more after the jump) >> read
Poor crash test numbers might seem to be expected with a vehicle as tiny as the Smart Fortwo, but Daimler – its manufacturer – has consistently claimed the Smart was designed to get a four star safety rating on crash tests. However, in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing, as reported in the Detroit Free Press, the Smart’s front crash test rating was not four stars, nor five stars – the best possible rating. It was three stars. That’s one of the lowest ratings of any passenger vehicle on sale in America and a rating which equates to a 21% to 35% probability of serious injury in the test standard 35 mph collision. (Technically, the rating was four stars for the driver and three for the passenger.) (more after the jump) >> read
Tata Motors, the newest owner of Jaguar and Land Rover revealed its luxury options of the $2,500 Nano microcar. Although you expect the car to be as simple as it can due to its low price, the Indian manufacturer introduced some „luxury” options for the cheapest car in the world. Tata launched a customization website that allows its customers to choose between a standard and a luxury line, to decide wether they want or not alloy wheels. The clients can also choose the scoop trims, decals, fog lamps and seat covers. For all the fans of sport cars the bad news is that the 30 hp engine remains the same.
For Hyundai, it all started way back in 1998 with the 800 cc petrol engined Santro hatchback (Atos to our overseas friends). Even after the launch of its successor i10, Hyundai continues selling the Santro, indicating its strong presence and number filled sales charts. The diesel form of the Santro is set to enter the ever-hot Indian small car market in the month of May. With that said, there are no signs of the company seizing production of this aging wonder car for a long time to come. The diesel sipper will embrace a small 3 cylinder, DOHC, 1.1 litre CRDI engine having 75 ponies at its disposal. Torque wise 153Nm @ 1900-2750 RPM will address the pulling needs. The CRDI technology for Hyundai was developed by US-based Detroit Diesel, using Fiat’s technology back in 1997. (Just for your information!) Top speed of this car is estimated around 160 kph and a fuel economy figure of roughly 20 kilometres to the litre is expected. The diesel small car race is getting competitive by the day. Competitors like the Fiat Palio, Tata Indica, Suzuki Swift will give a tough time for this new Santro, but the reputation and reliability of its petrol sibling, will make it a shade easier for it to sell. And the brand image of Hyundai in India is equivalent to a Toyota or a Honda in the United States. Small, good looking, diesel heart and reliability are its plus points. Any car with those basic ingredients has more or less succeed in India. With an estimated price tag starting at Rs. 4.25 lakh (US $10,597) ex-showroom, we predict that there is a bee in Hyundai’s bonnet.
 smart cdi
Al of you know that Smart ForTwo is a successful car, but only in Europe. Looks like things changed and seems that the little car is enjoying the same success also on the North American market. According to Roger Penske, CEO of Penske Automotive Group, the dealers in America are quite desperate for more of the cars. Penske told to the press that the car is not bought for it’ s low price but because people are interested in its urban friendliness and its fuel economy. An average Smart ForTwo comes equipped with $1,600 in options, this representing 15% of the car’s base price while the fully loaded versions account for 10 percent of the cars sold, rather than the 4 percent the company predicted, added Penske. According to Penske’s CEO the dealers from Pittsburgh are dying for the cars. The car is begining to be popular also on special markets like the ones from Los Angeles and New York. As you probably know, Smart is considering taking out the hybrid variant of the ForTwo in two years and according to David Schembri, president of Smart USA, the car will see even a bigger success than the petrol powered version.
First a supercar, then a hybrid. Korean automaker Hyundai has announced that it will begin to mass produce hybrid cars next year to cater to the environmentally conscious market, and to get itself into the list of top five automakers. The Hyundai ‘Avante’ will arrive by the middle of next year and will be followed by a midsize hybrid model in 2010 and eventually a fuel-cell model in 2012. Daily Telegraph reports that Hyundai is predicting a large increases in demand for the green vehicles as consumers turn to fuel-efficient cars. The hybrid market is dominated by Toyota’s Prius and by mass-producing hybrids, the scales of economies might give Hyundai an edge over the others. But all this will depend on the pricing of the Avante, which is unknown at the moment. With other car manufacturers showing interest in alternate fuel vehicles, Hyundai’s entry was expected for a long time. A low-cost fuel cell car might just do the trick for them, but for now all eyes are on the Avante which is all set to give Toyota and Honda, a run for their money.
Earlier this week we were presenting you a fuel economy test between Bmw 520d and Toyota Prius, where the Bmw won. Today another vehicle of the Bavarian automaker, the Bmw 118d Advanced Diesel, showed its green capabilities and received the title as the 2008 World Green Car of the Year. Among Bmw 118d competitors were Smart ForTwo CDI and Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI but with its Efficient Dynamics features like the battery recharge when braking, good aerodynamics, low rolling resistance and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic the four-door hatchback powered by a 1.8-liter diesel engine simply smashed the other two cars. >> read
General Motors declared that they have no intentions in competing against Tata’s $2500 Nano. General Motors Asia Pacific president David N Reilly stated that they cannot compromise with the Chevrolet brand by making a competitor but are looking at making another small-car below the Chevrolet Spark’s price point. The Chevrolet Spark is at present, the entry-level model of GM priced at US $7564 (ex-showroom price, Delhi). But nothing about the cost aspect was revealed for this new car which is planned to enter the Indian market sometime in the next two years. GM will develop this car with other similar International markets in mind and will use it to attain its target of 10 per cent market share in India by 2010. At present, three-fourths of the cars sold in India are small cars which has evolved into a major small-car hub. Toyota, Renault, Ford, Hyundai and Fiat are all developing their own Nano versions cheaper than anything else in their product range. Rising crude oil prices is the reason why people not only in India, but all over the world prefer small, economical cars which are easy on the environment too. But crude oil prices are not ascending alone. The cost of raw materials which includes steel and aluminium, which are used to make vital components in a car, are also increasing. The big question remains to be safety. At such rock-bottom prices, will the safety factor be given adequate importance by car makers?
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