Spyker expressing its interest to launch its cars in India. A New Delhi based group have been appointed to begin their retailing and servicing in India by the end of this year. The world knows about the relationship of the brand name Spyker with Formula 1. Spyker has announced to conquer the Indian market, shortlisting two road-legal cars as their first target to be unveiled.

The Spyker C8 Aileron is powered by V8 engine capable of having a 300 km/hr top speed with 480 Nm torque producing 400 PS of power. An another mid-engined creature is the Spyker B6 Venator, powered by a V6 engine, weighs less than 1400 kgs and producing over 380 PS of power. The high performance super cars are anticipated to arrive with a heavy monetary value costing more than Rs. 2 crores in India.

Japanese two-wheeler maker Suzuki is all set to bring the Suzuki Inazuma 250 in India. Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd will launch the new 250cc segment motorbike in India in coming few months. The Inazuma 250 also known as GW250 in other countries is a naked street bike. It has taken some of its styling cues from the larger capacity vehicle B-King. Suzuki will bring the Inazuma into the country via CKD route.

The Inazuma 250 will carry a four-stroke engine of 248cc displacement. This motor is twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled and fuel-injected unit which is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. It produces max power of 23.7bhp at 8500rpm with peak torque of 21.96Nm at 6500rpm.

Bajaj Autos recently announced that they will be launching two new Pulsars in the market in this calender year. One of which will be the KTM Duke 390 based Pulsar 375 and other one will be the sub 200cc Pulsar. Now the news coming out is that BajajAutos may come up with an all new Pulsar 180. The revised version will come as Pulsar 180 NS. As the current 180 is losing its charm among the masses so Bajaj is planning 180 NS for the current generation bike fanatics.

Pulsar first came to India in 2001 with 3-spark plug 150cc and 180cc units. Since then after more than a decade, the Bajaj Pulsar is still among the most desirable motorcycles in India. Presently Pulsar holds almost half the share of the premium bike segment in India with Pulsar 150 and Pulsar 220 being their strong players. Also the375cc Pulsar based on KTM Duke 390 is expected to make its debut in the second half of this year

As we know BMW Motorrad and TVS Motors is into joint venture to develop motorcycles in the 200-650cc displacement space. Now the news is both the companies will bring a 250cc displacement motorcycle first. As TVS generally produces bikes below 200cc while BMW Motorrad above the 650cc space. Thus the 200-650cc segment becomes an unknown territory and crucial one from business point of view. The Indian automaker is already developing a 250cc motorbike which BMW Motorrad might further develop as per the need.

The possible launch of the 250cc co-developed vehicle is expected to be around next year. As of now both companies will sell the co-developed vehicle individually with different styling. Mechanically both the bikes will be same but the BMW badged bike will be more feature rich than that of TVS badged motorcycle. The 250cc engine will be a twin-cylinder unit that will generate between 25-30 bhp of max power.

KTM unveils its yet another Duke - 390

It looks more similair to its kid the Duke 200

The naked bike is a power packed feast for bikers

Link for KTM official page

VEHICLE SUMMARY Name: 390 Duke Type: Naked Top Speed: 170kph VERDICT FOR - AGAINST - ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS Displacement: 373.2cc Engine: Single-cylinder, 4-stroke Maximum Power: 44 BHP @ 9500 rpm Maximum Torque: 35 Nm @ 7250 rpm Gears: 6 Speed Clutch: Clutch in oil bath Bore: 89 Stroke: 60 No. of Cylinders: 1 Cylinder Configuration: NA Valve Per Cylinder: 4 Chassis Type: Tubular space frame Cooling Type: Liquid Cooling Carburetor: NA 100 to 0: 7.00 sec. DIMENSIONS Length: N/A Width: N/A Height: N/A OTHER SPECIFICATIONS Weight: 139.00 kg Ground Clearance: 170.00 mm Fuel Tank: 11.00 ltrs Wheelbase: 1367.00 mm Electrical System: NA Headlamp: 12V, 60/55W, H4 Battery Type: VRLA Battery Voltage: 12V Battery Capacity: 8Ah Battery Charger Type: NA Horn: Dual Wheel Type: Alloys Wheel Size: 110/70 x 17 - 150/60 x 17 mm Tubeless: Colors: Orange, White, Black

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY Suspension(Front): WP Suspension Up Side Down Suspension(Rear): WP Suspension Monoshock Brakes: 300mm Disc Brakes(Rear): 230mm disc Stand Alarm: COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE Fuel Guage: Digital Self Start: Tacho Meter: Digital Trip Meter: Digital-2 Alloys: Warranty: NA Speedometer: Digital Passenger Footrest: Passenger Backrest: Step-up Seat: Pass-light: Low Fuel Indicator: Low Oil Indicator: Low Battery Indicator: High Oil Temp. Indicator: Choked Air Filter Indicator:

KTM 390 Duke Review

Best mid-range naked bike in India

Friday, May 31, 2013

  

Overview

KTM has confirmed their plans to launch the 390 Duke in India. The bike will soon hit the Indian roads in the upcoming months of this year. We try to find out what to expect from this Austrian street boy.

KTM 390 Duke Exterior

Indians have already tasted the unique styling of KTM and it got a really warm reception in our market. This upcoming 390 Duke will also be one of the finest examples of naked bikes. The bike looks picture perfect from every angle. It has an oval shaped headlight which gets surrounded by a thick cowl with sporty graphics. The tiny but pointed clear lens indicators are placed on this cowl. Its small black colored rear view mirrors get mounted on its handle bar. Its wide front tyre, compact fender and beefy forks make this bike look macho. Its fender gets extended along its black colored forks.

KTM has opted for an eye catching 10 spoke alloy wheel design for this bike which complements the compact appearance of its tyre and fender. Move to the side of this bike and you will notice the act of mass centralization in this bike. Most of the bulk of this bike is placed in the center which includes its engine, orange painted side steel frame and aggressively styled fuel tank. It’s sharply pointed under cowl and fuel tank features aerodynamic style and graphics on it. You will have to search its silencer though which is placed just below its foot peg. The bike sports split seats and grab rail which sits on a rear cowl which looks much higher than the regular position. The gap between its rear fender and tyre gives the explicit naked look to this bike. Duke 390 has an extended yet compact fender which features its small LED tail light on its top.

Instrument Console of KTM 390 Duke

KTM 390 Duke has a similar instrument console to its younger sibling, 200 Duke. It has a square shaped orange colored LCD which displays its digital speedometer, odometer, tachometer, 2-trip meter and fuel gauge. The other essential LED indicators are placed around this LCD.

Engine and Gearbox

The bike is equipped with a single cylinder, 4-stroke 373cc engine. The power output of this liquid cooled, DOHC engine is of 44 bhp which arrives at 9500 rpm. Its utmost torque output of 35 nm comes at 7250 rpm. KTM has mated this engine with a six-speed manual gearbox with a gear shift pattern of one gear down and five gears up-shift.

Acceleration and Performance

The bike only weighs around 139kgs, thanks to its lightweight tubular frame which allows this bike to be a speed enthusiast. It has an incredible power to weight ratio which is quite noticeable when you rev this bike. It has a lightning fast throttle response which helps this bike to reach 0-100km/hr in 7 seconds. KTM has well matched the gear ratios of this bike for the proper power utilization. The gear transitions are very smooth and accurate. This engine is also very refined and feels vibration less as even at the speed of 150km/hr, the bike makes little noise. After getting the initial momentum, the heavy power production of this engine comes in to play which encourages you to take this bike on highways. It has an awesome mid-range which helps this bike to be faster than most of the naked bikes in India. The bike impresses you best when driven between 100km/hr- 150km/hr. The power packed performance of this bike is not limited to on road only; it has a superb off road ability which can be tested on any terrain.

KTM 390 Duke Mileage

You can expect this bike to return an overall fuel efficiency of around 22-25km/ltr.

Comfort while Driving KTM 390 Duke

Despite being on the faster side, 390 Duke is a very comfortable bike. It has a full size padded seat which offers you optimum comfort on long journeys. The compact design of this bike allows you a superb command over this bike. It has short, vibration free handle bar which gives you a firm palm grip. KTM has also placed its foot pegs really well as they not only give you a sporty riding posture but also allows you to frequently move your legs while doing off roading.

Storage Space and Safety Features

There is no standard storage space in this bike although it has significant safety features like radial mounted four piston front brake callipersand one brake calliper at the back while it also has a powerful headlight.

Suspension and Braking System

KTM has appointed up side- down front telescopic forks of 43mm and aluminium swing arm with rear mono shock absorber in this bike. 390 Duke sports a front disc brake of 300mm while it has a rear disc brake of 230mm. This bike will be offered with ABS which will make your driving safer.

Ride and Handling

KTM 290 Duke is a very enthusiastic bike which offers an extremely light and convenient handling. The bike can be steered easily and behaves like any other commuter bike in city traffic. High speed stability and cornering abilities are very impressive thanks to its racing inspired suspension system and broad tyres. It wheelbase of 1367mm brings stability to this bike while its high ground clearance of 170mm improves its off road ability. The bike astonishes you the way it handles off road. Its compact handle bar helps this bike to move frequently while its tyres provide commendable grip. Stunt riders are also going to love this bike as you can turn off its ABS and do all the stunting. Its light weight gives you tremendous confidence while performing stunts.

Tyre Size, Shades and Variants

The bike is fitted with R17 sizes of tyres. KTM is likely to offer this bike in two variants and three shades.

Verdict

Looking at the pricing of 200 Duke, we expect KTM to price this bike below INR 2 lakhs (expected, approx., may vary). If they manage to do so then this bike will certainly impress Indian buyers. It’s an extremely powerful bike which is fuel efficient as well. Moreover, it’s unmatchable in terms of ride and handling. We feel it’s a complete value for money bike and will have a bright future in India.

General motors- Chevrolet launches its new MPV Enjoy

Great features in a cheaper MPV 

It may hit the market of taxis

VEHICLE SUMMARY Name: Enjoy Diesel Model: LTZ Car Body Type: MUV Segment: C+ Segment Fuel Consumption: Highway 18.20 kmpl. Fuel Consumption: City 12.00 kmpl. Warranty: 3 years/100000 kms VERDICT FOR Fuel Efficient Engines< br/> Price Features AGAINST Build Quality (Interior) Boot Space OUR RATINGS Appearance: Comfort: Features: Performance: Value for money: ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS Displacement: 1248cc, Fiat's Diesel Engine Type: Diesel Maximum Power: 76 Bhp @ 4000 rpm Maximum Torque: 188 Nm @ 1750 rpm DIMENSIONS Length: 4305 mm Width: 1680 mm Height: 1750 mm OTHER SPECIFICATIONS Seating Capacity: 7 Tyre Size: 175/70 R14 Suspension: McPherson Strut, 5-link coil springs Turning Circle: 5.50 mtrs. Boot Space: 195.00 ltrs. Steering: Power Brakes: Front Disk, Rear Drum Gears: 5 Manual Ground Clearance: 161.00 mm Kerb Weight: 1345.00 kgs. Fuel Tank: 50.00 Body Color Bumpers: Tachometer: Alloys: ORVM Indicator: Xenon Headlamps: Trip Meter: 2 Headlamp Washer:

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY Airbag: 2 Parking Sensors: Fog Lamp: Traction Control: EBD: ABS: ESP: Rear Seat Belts: 5 COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE AC: AC without Climate Control Power Windows: Central Locking: Remote Remote Boot: Remote Fuel Filler: Rear Wiper: Rear Defogger: Rear Armrest: Streeing Adjustment (Rake/Reach): / Driver Seat Adjustment: Manual Music System: 1 DIN CD./MP3/RADIO/AUX/USB Leather Seats: Door Mirror: Both Side Electric Tinted Glass: Rear AC Vent: Folding Rear Seats: Sun Roof: Buttons/Controls on Steering: Auto Viper: Auto Headlamp:

Overview

Chevrolet India showcased all-new multi-utility vehicle 'MPV Concept' at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi. It will be sold as ‘Chevrolet Enjoy’ in India and will compete with the likes of other compact multi utility vehicles available in India like Maruti Ertiga and Mahindra Quanto. Chevrolet Enjoy is available in both petrol and diesel with prices starting from as low as INR 5.49 lakhs (ex-showroom) for the no-frills basic 8-seater petrol model. The base model of Chevrolet Enjoy diesel is priced at INR 6.69 lakhs and top model of diesel version is priced at INR 7.99 lakhs. It is expected that Enjoy MPV will sell in decent numbers as the company has managed to price it very competitively in the region of 5-6 lakh rupees for the base model of petrol version. Chevrolet Enjoy is basically an improved version of Chinese multi utility vehicle which is sold as Wuling CN-100 in other markets. Chevrolet Enjoy is available in 8 variants and 6 shades. Does it have the potential to become the best seller in its class? Let’s check out.

Fast Facts about Chevrolet Enjoy MPV

• Tagline of Chevrolet Enjoy is "FIND NEW ROADS"
• Launched in India as Chevrolet Enjoy MPV on 9th May, 2013
• Available in both petrol and diesel
• Base model of petrol is priced at INR 5.49 lakhs
• Base model of diesel is priced at INR 6.69 lakhs
• Available in eight variants: 4 of petrol and 4 of diesel
• Option of 7-seater and 8-seater in base (LS) variant
• Available in six shades: Red, White, Beige, Grey, Black and Silver
• Petrol engine is a 1.4 litre unit with power and torque of 103 bhp and 130 nm respectively
• Diesel engine is a Fiat sourced 1.3 litre unit with maximum power of 76 bhp and torque of 188 nm
• The main rivals of Chevrolet Enjoy are Maruti Ertiga and Mahindra Quanto
• Warranty of 3 years/100000 kms; whichever is earlier
• It has been positioned below the Tavera with competitive prices
• Assured low cost maintenance of 3 years/45000 kms

Chevrolet Enjoy Exterior

Chevrolet has designed this car to please everyone. The tall and wide stance of Enjoy certainly gives it a typical MPV look but few styling elements bring freshness to this car. The bonnet of Enjoy features V-shaped noticeable lines on it which leads to the wide front windshield of the car. The multi-layered chrome finished front grille of Enjoy also complements its front styling. The angular headlights gel well with the front grille of this car. The bulky front bumper of Enjoy comes with small air-dam and angular fog lights which make it look premium when seen from the front. The actual height of the car is noticeable when seen form either side. It features full size three windows on each side and comes with body colored ORVMs and door handles. The doors lack the style statement and look quite simple with 14 inch wheels. The boxy shape also continues at the back as it features square shaped rear glass and long boot gate. The clear lens tail lights and chrome bar though try to add premium touch to this car at the back. In terms of overall size Enjoy MPV is smaller than Mahindra Xylo, Toyota Innova and Nissan Evalia. At present, Innova is the segment leader and Chevrolet’s Tavera has never managed to surpass it in terms of sales. It is expected that Enjoy will help the company in boosting overall sales and grabbing some more market share in the MUV segment.

Chevrolet Enjoy Interior

Chevrolet Enjoy comes with beige and black colored dual tone interiors. The quality of the plastic material is not up to the mark but it’s quite acceptable. The car certainly looks up-market thanks to the usage of premium quality of fabrics and leather. They are quite soft to touch and enlighten the aura inside this car. Enjoy is available as seven as well as eight seater. The front bucket seats give you optimum under thigh and back support while you will enjoy good amount of knee and head room in its second row featuring captain seats. These seats don’t slide forward so you have to walk to reach its third row and it’s surely not as difficult as it sounds. The last row is quite spacious for three adults. The top model (LTZ) features dual tone beige and black interior. It comes equipped with 1 DIN music system, power windows, power steering, remote central locking, manual air-conditioning, 2 mobile chargers, cup-holders, silver surround triple instrument cluster, captain seats in second row (optional), large glove box, tilt steering and height adjustable driver seat. The second row of AC vents is standard across all variants of Enjoy MPV.

Comfort and Convenience

Chevrolet promises you to give very comfortable journeys as they have stuffed Enjoy with many comfort features. Even the standard variant of Enjoy comes with dual AC and rear AC vents, power steering and power windows. The top variant also features electrically powered ORVMs,keyless entry, rear wiper, defogger, individual arm rests, height adjustable driver seat and tilt steering.

Dashboard and Storage

Enjoy features a very simple but elegantly designed dashboard. This dashboard comes with three center AC vents in its central console. This dashboard also houses the instrument cluster of Enjoy which features three circular silver surround dials. The dashboard comes integrated with a roomy glove box and apart from this there is not much storage space in this car. Its door pockets are quite shallow and the cup holders in its floor console are also quite small. After double folding its third row seats, you get a boot capacity of 630 litres.

Music System of Chevrolet Enjoy

The top variants come with a single din music player. It’s a radio/CD/MP3 player with 4 speakers and USB and Aux-in ports. There are two 12V accessory sockets in Enjoy although it lacks Bluetooth connectivity and steering mounted controls.

Engine and Gearbox

Chevrolet offers two engines in Enjoy; one each of petrol and diesel. It’s powered by a 1.4L 4-cylinders petrol engine which churns out a maximum power of 103 bhp at 6000 rpm. The torque output of this liquid-cooled engine is of 131 Nm which arrives at 4400 rpm. The diesel unit is the Fiat sourced 1.3L 4cylinders turbo charged diesel engine which is capable of producing a peak power of 76 bhp at 4000rpm. The torque output of this DOHC engine is of 188 Nm which starts arriving at 1750 rpm. Both engines supply power to the rear wheels only and are mated with a five-speed manual gearbox.

Acceleration and Performance

The petrol unit is certainly faster than the 1.3L turbo charged diesel engine. The petrol engine reaches 0-100km/hr in less than 17 secondswhile its diesel engine takes more than 20 seconds to do so. Enjoy is surely not faster than its only rival, Ertiga but its predictable power delivery and minimal turbo lag makes it a quite tough competitor. The diesel engine shows high level of refinement and makes less noise at high rpms. If pushed hard both engines can reach the top speed of 150km/hr.

Chevrolet Enjoy Mileage

Chevrolet Enjoy is a very frugal MPV with company claimed mileage of 18.2 kmpl for the diesel version. Expect real-world figures to be less by 2-3 kmpl. You can expect 16 kmpl on highways and 11 kmpl in city, which is not bad for a MPV of this size.

Acceleration and Performance

In terms of acceleration and performance, Chevrolet Enjoy is not very strong; it takes 21.36 seconds (diesel version) to reach 100 kmph mark. It has a good amount of torque, which means that the pick-up in 1st and 2nd gear is reasonably good.

Dimension, Ground Clearance and Boot Space

The length of Chevrolet Enjoy MPV is 4305mm, width is 1680mm and it is 1750mm tall. The wheelbase of the vehicle is 2720mm with ground clearance of 161mm for the diesel version and 165mm for the petrol version. The boot space of Enjoy stands at 195 litres.

Safety Features

The top variant (LTZ) of Chevrolet Enjoy features dual front airbags, engine immobilizer, remote central locking with buzzer, front clear fog lamps, high mounted rear stop lamp, reverse parking sensors, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) plus EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution)

Suspension and Braking System

Enjoy features McPherson struts at its front and multi-link coil spring at the back. The car comes equipped with disc brakes at its front and drum brakes at the back. The optional ABS with EBD also gives you precise braking.

Ride and Handling

Despite having small tyres and tall stance, Enjoy stays quite confident around corners thanks to its soft suspension system and long wheelbase of 2720mm. It handles quite easily in city traffic and also gives you confidence on highways. With full load, the car takes major potholes easily and remains grounded at high speeds.

Chevrolet Enjoy Variants

Chevrolet Enjoy is available in eight variants: 4 of petrol and 4 of diesel. The nomenclature is LS for the base model, LT for mid-spec model and LTZ for the top models. The LS variant has option of 7-seater (2+2+3) and 8-seater (2+3+3) in both petrol and diesel versions. The LT and LTZ are only available with configuration of 7 seats (2+2+3).

Chevrolet Enjoy Price

Chevrolet has priced the Enjoy MPV very competitively at INR 5.49 lakhs for the base model of petrol and INR 6.69 lakhs for the base model of diesel. The fully loaded diesel variant (LTZ) is priced at INR 7.99 lakhs, which seems to be very reasonable considering the fact that it comes equipped with loads of comfort, styling and safety features.

Warranty of Chevrolet Enjoy

Warranty of Chevrolet Enjoy stands at 3 years/100000 kms; whichever is earlier. You also have option to extend the warranty by choosing the right warranty package for you. Chevrolet is also offering assured low cost maintenance of 3 years/45000 kms. It covers parts like clutch plate, pressure plate, release bearing, brake pads, wiper blades and bulbs.

Shades

Chevrolet Enjoy is available in six shades: Velvet Red, Caviar Black, Linen Beige, Switchblade Silver, Sand Drift Grey and Summit White.

Verdict

Enjoy ranges from INR 5.49-7.99lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). Undoubtedly, the pricing of Enjoy proves to be its biggest USP and it will surely give a tough competition to its only rival, Ertiga. Yes, it’s not as stylish and quick as Ertiga but it offers more space than Ertiga and feels equally powerful with its diesel engine. Enjoy is certainly an economical option as it’s cheaper than Ertiga by a big margin and comes with an unmatchable warranty program. We really feel Enjoy is a complete value for money car.

Genuine Chevrolet Accessories

Chevrolet is providing many official accessories for the Enjoy MPV. To improve the style of your MUV you can buy 14” machine-faced alloy wheels, body side moulding, body decal/stickers/graphics, ambient foot well lighting, B-pillar appearance, chrome handle, tail-lamp garnish, head-lamp garnish, tail gate chrome, license lamp garnish, dashboard trim, stainless steel sill plates, illuminated sill plates, hub cap, OSRVM with blinker, chrome mirror cover, roof rails, weather guards and wheel covers. As far as entertainment is concerned you have a 1 DIN CD/MP3/Radio/AUX/USB system with 4 speakers. For your convenience you can buy car refrigerator, mobile charger and roof carrier. For safety of you Enjoy MPV you can install front bumper guard, rear bumper guard, reverse parking system, reverse parking sensors and gear lock. Other official accessories for Enjoy include carpet floor mats, rubber mats, body cover, steering wheel cover and seat covers.