Maruti Suzuki Swift: an Indian Swift

Car Review, Car Sales | Maruti Suzuki Swift: an Indian Swift | Suzuki launched the Swift in India, as a joint venture product with Maruti and the car is known as Maruti Suzuki Swift. In the Indian auto market, Swift is available with seven variants four with petrol and three with diesel engine option. The petrol version of Maruti Suzuki Swift is powered by 1.2-litre K-series engine (with a 1.3-litre petrol engine available utill 2008). Maruti Suzuki Swift is endowed with five-speed manual transmission. However, the diesel version of Maruti Suzuki Swift is packed with 1.3-litre, DDiS engine with a displacement of 1,248 cc. The 1.3-litre diesel engine is fitted with a turbocharger and intercooler combination and is endowed with a five-step multi injection common rail system.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

• 1,197cc 16V DOHC petrol engine, rated at 63 kW (85 bhp) and 113 newton metres (83 lb·ft).
• 1,248cc 16V DOHC diesel engine, rated at 56 kW (75 bhp) and 190 newton metres (140 lb·ft).

Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire

Suzuki introduced a sedan based version of the Swift called the "Maruti Swift Dzire" in the Indian market. Launched on March 26, 2008, Swift DZire replaces Maruti Suzuki’s popular entry level sedan, Maruti Suzuki Esteem, production of which was discontinued in late 2007. Maruti Suzuki has introduced Swift DZire only in the Indian market. The Dzire has exactly the same wheelbase as the hatchback version and has an increased overall length due to the addition of the boot. It shares the same 1.3-litre engine from the hatchback.

Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire

Swift DZire is a result of an indigenous project started in 2005 to design a three-box notchback version of the Swift hatchback. Some changes have been made to the car’s overall styling to seamlessly integrate the boot. The wheelbase remains the same. The car weighs about 30–35 kilograms (66–77 lb) more than the hatchback. Few modifications in the rear suspension have been done to cope with the additional weight of the boot and improve the ride quality for the rear passengers. Adjustments in the rear seat inclination have been made to improve the rear seat comfort and legroom. - Car Review, Car Sales

Daihatsu Gran Max Van: Performance and Specifications

PACKAGE

Dimensions:

• The driver can easily get into and out of the vehicle thanks to a low floor height and hip points. Large openings for the sliding doors and back door are thanks to an upright pillar angle and an optimum shape for each pillar

Cargo Area Length:

• A long cargo space with a long wheelbase and short averhang design, and minimum wheelhouse intrusion

Cargo Area Floor Height:

• Lowered cargo area floor enhances loading and unloading ease

Driving Position:

• Comfortable passenger car-like driving position

Seat Slide:

• Assures personalised driving position for various drivers

Seat Arrangement:

• Versatile seat arrangement to accomodate various usages

2nd row seat in use

2nd row seat folded

Without 2nd row seat

Minimum Turning Circle:

• Minimised turning circle for cabover vehicle-like maneuverability

INTERIOR

Equipment:

• Instrument Panel: Simple design and user-friendly switch layout for straightforward operability

• Instrument Panel Shift: Mounted lever facilities smooth and sure shifting operations while keeping the driver's eyes on the road

Storage Space:

• Bottle Holder: the bottle holder on the driver's seat side makes for a more comfortable ride
• Glove Box: the glove box can easily store A4-size documents and delivery invoices

PERFORMANCE

Engine:

• Fuel efficient, high torque and output 1.5-litre petrol engine with DVVT technology

5-Link Coil Spring Suspension:

• Provides passenger car-like handling stability and riding comfort

MODEL VARIATION

• Panel Van:

• Front View:

• Rear View:

• Glass Van

• Front View:

• Rear View:

SPECIFICATIONS

2050: Cars banned from cities of EU

Cars will be banned from London and all other cities across Europe under a draconian EU masterplan to cut CO₂ emissions by 60 per cent over the next 40 years. The European Commission on Monday unveiled a "single European transport area" aimed at enforcing "a profound shift in transport patterns for passengers" by 2050.

The plan also envisages an end to cheap holiday flights from Britain to southern Europe with a target that over 50 per cent of all journeys above 186 miles should be by rail.

Top of the EU's list to cut climate change emissions is a target of "zero" for the number of petrol and diesel-driven cars and lorries in the EU's future cities.

Siim Kallas, the EU transport commission, insisted that Brussels directives and new taxation of fuel would be used to force people out of their cars and onto "alternative" means of transport.

"That means no more conventionally fuelled cars in our city centres," he said. "Action will follow, legislation, real action to change behaviour."

The European Commission on Monday unveiled a "single European transport area" aimed at enforcing "a profound shift in transport patterns for passengers" by 2050.

The plan also envisages an end to cheap holiday flights from Britain to southern Europe with a target that over 50 per cent of all journeys above 186 miles should be by rail.

Top of the EU's list to cut climate change emissions is a target of "zero" for the number of petrol and diesel-driven cars and lorries in the EU's future cities.

Siim Kallas, the EU transport commission, insisted that Brussels directives and new taxation of fuel would be used to force people out of their cars and onto "alternative" means of transport.

"That means no more conventionally fuelled cars in our city centres," he said. "Action will follow, legislation, real action to change behaviour."

By: By Bruno Waterfield, Brussels - The Telegraph

10 Most Reasonable Cars to Buy

10 Most Reasonable Cars to Buy - All the cars on the list are small — either compacts or subcompacts — because they tend to have the lowest market price, the best fuel economy, and reasonable insurance rates — since premiums tend to rise with horsepower.

Note that with the lower-price class, you may also have to pay extra for automatic transmission, air conditioning and sometimes even a radio — not to mention such safety features as anti-lock brakes. Most are equipped with six standard airbags but only half have standard stability control. (The market price is the average transaction cost and reflects rebates; all vehicles have manual transmissions, unless otherwise noted.)

1. Hyundai Accent GL 2dr hatch

Market price: $9,677
5-Year fuel cost: $8,085
5-Year insurance cost: $5,134
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $26,715

Depreciation: $7,748
Fees & taxes: $822
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,207
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $423
Maintenance: $1,795
Repairs: $1,500

For under $11,000, the Accent boasts killer fuel economy of 34 mpg on the highway and 28 in the city. Even on the base model, optional equipment includes an iPod hookup ($35) and Bluetooth ($325). Six airbags are standard, but there's no option for ABS.

2. Nissan Versa 1.6 Base 4dr

Market price: $10,922
5-Year fuel cost: $8,456
5-Year insurance cost: $4,851
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $26,233

Depreciation: $6,874
Fees & taxes: $905
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,371
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $452
Maintenance: $1,917
Repairs: $1,406

Nissan's subcompact hatch, which gets 26 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, hits the streets at a smidge over ten grand but offers a bigger interior than classmates Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. Six airbags are standard on even the lowest trim, but you'll pay $250 extra for ABS.

3. Chevrolet Aveo5 LS 4dr hatch

Market price: $11,038
5-Year fuel cost: $8,171
5-Year insurance cost: $5,446
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $26,958

Depreciation: $7,547
Fees & taxes: $919
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,385
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $451
Maintenance: $1,618
Repairs: $1,422

Chevy's smallest car will be replaced next year by the Sonic, but for 2011 the little hatchback offers good interior space and cargo room — 15 cubic feet with the 60/40 split rear seat up. Maintenance and repairs average just $3,000 for five years. Side airbags and six months of OnStar Automatic Crash Response are standard, but ABS and side-curtain airbags are not available. Mileage is 27 city, 35 highway.

4. Ford Fiesta S 4dr

Market price: $13,212
5-Year fuel cost: $7,576
5-Year insurance cost: $5,623
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,402

Depreciation: $8,919
Fees & taxes: $1,063
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,690
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $467
Maintenance: $1,564
Repairs: $1,500

The return of the Fiesta to Ford's lineup brings serious value — and premium-car amenities — to the compact category. A wallet-friendly price meets a peppy engine, an ultra-smooth manual transmission, and terrific handling. The SE trim offers Ford's SYNC system (to connect phones and music players) as a $665 option. Even the entry-level Fiesta boasts a full complement of safety equipment: seven airbags (including a driver's knee airbag), ABS, stability control and traction control. Mileage is 28 city, 37 highway.

5. Mazda2 Sport 4dr hatch

Market price: $14,625
5-Year fuel cost: $7,825
5-Year insurance cost: $5,630
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,593

Depreciation: $8,405
Fees & taxes: $1,139
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,864
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $490
Maintenance: $1,613
Repairs: $1,627

Its design is unmistakably Mazda, but the Mazda2 isn't just a downsized Mazda3. Built on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, this sporty hatch takes corners with ease, and it has a full line of standard safety equipment — ABS, stability and traction control, and six airbags. Mileage is 29 city, 35 highway.

6. Toyota Yaris 4dr

Market price: $13,818
5-Year fuel cost: $7,737
5-Year insurance cost: $5,163
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,616

Depreciation: $9,377
Fees & taxes: $1,089
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,757
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $463
Maintenance: $1,623
Repairs: $1,406

The Yaris's 1.5-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder engine pushes fuel economy to the max. The car gets 29 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway, giving it ultra-low fuel costs over five years compared with the competition. Good resale values give the car a leg up in our cost calculations. ABS and stability control are standard, as are six airbags.

7. Kia Rio 4dr

Market price: $11,824
5-Year fuel cost: $8,085
5-Year insurance cost: $5,447
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,157

Depreciation: $9,158
Fees & taxes: $966
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,500
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $458
Maintenance: $2,042
Repairs: $1,500

Kia keeps even low-budget customers happy by offering many standard goodies — auxiliary connections and USB ports for music, plus Sirius satellite radio (a subscription costs extra). Six airbags are standard on the base trim; stepping up to the LX ($15,690) gets you standard ABS. Mileage is 28 city, 34 highway.

8. Kia Soul 4dr hatch

Market price: $13,826
5-Year fuel cost: $8,771
5-Year insurance cost: $4,402
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,275

Depreciation: $9,305
Fees & taxes: $1,381
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $2,338
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $487
Maintenance: $1,956
Repairs: $1,500

Kiplinger's Best New Car for Teens makes boxy cool again. Along with its funky looks, the Soul has 19 cubic feet of cargo space and the most rear legroom in its class. It's also an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick. All the safety equipment you'll want is standard: six airbags, ABS, stability control and traction control. Mileage is 26 city, 31 highway.

9. Honda Insight 4dr hatch

Market price: $18,097
5-Year fuel cost: $5,955
5-Year insurance cost: $5,497
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,953

Depreciation: $11,145
Fees & taxes: $1,381
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $2,338
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $487
Maintenance: $1,727
Repairs: $1,422

Proving that hybrids don't have to break the bank, Honda's Insight boasts estimated service costs (maintenance plus repairs) of just $3,149 for five years. Low fuel costs are a given, with 40 miles per gallon in the city and 43 on the highway. Automatic transmission, ABS, stability control, traction control and six airbags are standard.

10. Ford Focus S 4dr

Market price: $13,643
5-Year fuel cost: $8,571
5-Year insurance cost: $5,484
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $30,290

Depreciation: $9,819
Fees & taxes: $1,101
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,741
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $490
Maintenance: $1,661
Repairs: $1,422

The Focus will get a redesign for 2012, but the 2011 version is already a solid value. The 2.0-liter engine puts out 140 horsepower but sips fuel politely — it gets 25 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. Stability and traction control, ABS, and six airbags are standard.

Source: Autos.Msn.Com

Nissan Livina, a Compact MPV from Nissan Motors

Nissan Livina is a compact MPV cars made ​​by Nissan Motors, assembled in China and Indonesia. The Grand Livina is an extended version 7-seater minivan-shaped, while the Livina is a 5-seater hatchback. Hatchback version is available in two variants: XR and X-Gear. In China, an extended version called the Livina Geniss.

The Grand Livina is equipped with 1.5-liter or 1.8-liter engine. Variant 1.5-liter coded with HR15DE while 1.8 liter coded with MR18DE. The transmission of Livina includes a 5 speed manual variant that available for 1.5 liter engines, 6 speed manual for 1.8 liter engines, and 4 speed automatic available for both variants. 

Series of Livina that available in Indonesia are 1.5 SV, 1.5 XV, 1.8 XV, and 1.8 Ultimate. Series 1.5 SV is the most standard variants among the variants that exist and are only available in an option of manual transmission. Series 1.5  XV, XV 1.8, and 1.8 Ultimate are available with manual and automatic transmission. The differences between variant SV, XV, and Ultimate is the completeness of its standards, where 1.8 Ultimate is the most comprehensive of which have been equipped with ABS brakes, BA, EBD, and the interior is more luxurious than other variants.

Nissan Livina Galleries

About Daihatsu Mira

The Daihatsu Mira (also known as the Cuore, Domino, and more recently Charade), is a kei car-type vehicle built by the Japanese car maker Daihatsu. It comes with a variety of options and chassis variations, with the latest variant having four models: "Mira", "Mira AVY", "Mira Gino" and "Mira VAN". 

The Mira is the latest successor to the line of cars begun with the Daihatsu Fellow of 1966 and was originally introduced as the commercial version of the Cuore. Outside of Japan, the Mira has also been offered with an 850 cc engine. In Australia, the two-seater version was known as the Handivan and was later renamed as just Handi.

In July 1980, the Daihatsu Mira and Cuore arrived to replace the Daihatsu Max Cuore. The second generation (L70) of the Mira/Cuore was introduced in 1985, and the third generation (L200) in 1990. The third generation of Mira also was identical in look to the 1986-1992 Daihatsu Leeza. The fourth generation (L500) was introduced in 1994 and was still based on the same chassis as the L200. October 1998 saw the fifth generation (L700) introduced, the sixth generation was introduced in 2002 (even though the Mira Gino (L700) remained in production until 2004), and in 2006 the seventh generation model was introduced.

The L200 variant (1990–92) had two engine sizes: a 3-cylinder 660 cc engine with 40–64 PS (29–47 kW) was available in Japan, while in Australia and other parts of the world, a bigger-hearted variant with a 847 cc and a 4-speed manual gearbox was in use from 1990–91. A 5-speed manual transmission became available in 1992. The L500 Mira is the first kei car from Daihatsu which offered a 4-cylinder 660 cc engine.

About Hyundai H-1

CARGO VAN New H-1: Plenty of space - and still room for more

There’s no denying the messages sent out by the muscular, purposeful looks. Along the country’s highways and byways, the latest Hyundai van is the lifeblood of commerce. Important packages to collect here and to deliver there, always against the clock, always with the utmost reliability. With a spacious cargo area, low running costs and high levels of refinement, this is the vehicle you told us you need. The H-1. A trusted business partner.

The two- or three-seater H-1 is not just a sensible business tool. While it is primarily a practical, hard-working loadcarrier, those seated up-front will appreciate the high degree of comfort and convenience that feature in a beautifully appointed passenger cabin. Behind, the cargo compartment is a giant box more than 2.37 metres long, 1.62 metres wide and 1.35 metres high. For added convenience, there are sliding cargo doors each side, double swing doors at the rear, a flat floor and a choice of solid or mesh bulkhead. Let's get to work!

WAGON People on the move... in style

The H-1 is also the answer when delivering people takes priority over packages. The eight-seater wagon is at home in a variety of business and leisure roles - as a hotel shuttle, for tourists on sight-seeing trips or for taking sports club members (and all their gear) to the big event. The strong, modern exterior is complemented by a comfortable, convenient and spacious interior. And because it’s a Hyundai, reliability and economy are part of the DNA.

The scene is typical of modern living. The H-1 effortlessly whisks a group of colleagues - or perhaps old friends - from the city to the airport. The travel arrangements are in order, bags are packed, and the excited chatter is about the developments the next few days will bring. The eight-seat wagon is in its element in these circumstances, so easy to get into and out of. It has all the space required by the travellers and their luggage and a superb interior enhanced by flush-fitting side windows for great visibility. In fact, every element of the up-to-the-moment design is like an assurance the journey will be a success.

Source: Hyundai Motor Company