Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Which Car? 2011 Ferrari California?

Feature, Price & Picture of 2011 FERRARI CALIFORNIA



2011 FERRARI CALIFORNIA(NEW FERRARI CONVERTIBLE)
MSRP: $192,000- $192,000






The 2011 California is a 2-door, 4-passenger luxury convertible, available in one trim only, the Convertible GT.Upon introduction, the California is equipped with a standard 4.3-liter, V8, 453-
horsepower engine that achieves 13-mpg in the city and 19-mpg on the highway. A 7-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard.The 2011 California is a carryover from 2010.

Source:http://autos.yahoo.com

Monday, September 19, 2011

Which Car? Honda Odyssey? Looking hot for a minivan?


My family owned the previous generation of the Honda Odyssey and I ‘m a bit of experienced in driving.
The 2005 model was a good vehicle, but there was no denying it was a minivan in the way it looked and felt.
But, the Odyssey has undergone quite a journey since then, with a complete overhaul for 2011.
My first impressions of the work of Honda engineers is nothing but positive.
2012 Honda Odyssey
They deserve kudos for making a minivan that really doesn't drive like one and looks pretty darn good.
Standing next to the redesigned Odyssey, I found myself being able to look at the van's roof at eye level, something I definitely was not able to do with the previous generation.
While I thought they had made the Odyssey shorter, The Honda in fact just made it sit lower to the ground.
It has the added benefit of making entry and exit much easier for passengers. In fact, it feels just like getting in and out of a car.
But the "car" has room for seven passengers and my tester was loaded with just about every bell and whistle you could think of.
The Honda Odyssey comes in five trims, starting with the LX at $29,999 and goes to $46,990 for the top-of-the-line Touring model I tested.
For that price, you get a luxurious family mover that is sure to make everyone happy.
It comes loaded with plenty of good features to make driving it easier, including a rear-view camera, Bluetooth mobile phone interface, fourwheel anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and a parking sensor system.
Some of the many convenience items include driver's seat with eight-way power adjustment, passenger's seat with four-way power adjustment, heated front seats, power sliding doors, power tailgate, 115-volt power outlet, automatic day/night rear-view mirror, leather-trimmed interior, a power moonroof with tilt feature, 18-inch alloy wheels and auto-levelling high-intensity discharge headlights.
The Touring is the only model where you can get what is perhaps one of the nicest DVD entertainment systems I've seen in a vehicle. Honda's DVD Ultrawide Rear Entertainment System features a 16.2-inch display, which takes up more than half of the Odyssey's ceiling. Coupled with the 650-watt audio system that has 12 speakers -including subwoofer - and you have a seriously fun entertainment package.
IT’S DESIGN
 Because of being a minivan, you might be shocked to hear this, but the Honda Odyssey looks darn good from just about every angle.
The new, wider front grille, narrowed headlights and reshaped bumper make the Odyssey look wider - which it in fact is.
Perhaps the best angle of the fourth-generation Odyssey is the profile shot.
It's got a distinctive wedge shape and the beltline that raises front to back enhances that look.
I also liked the handle treatment, which sees them indented somewhat, meaning they don't stick out as much as on previous generations.
At the back, wraparound taillights are joined across the tailgate by a chrome bar, making it look like one piece.
The spoiler at the top of the rear door also adds a sporty touch.
Inside, the Odyssey has also received many upgrades, including an improved gauge cluster and a much nicer centre stack, which is now split into several well-divided tiers that make operation easier.
At the top of the stack is the large display, followed immediately by controls for the ventilation system - and there are separate controls for the rear system.
The third tier has all your radio controls, as well as the control for the i-MID (intelligent Multi-Information Display.
The last piece of the centre stack is the shifter, which is something that has become fairly standard in minivans these days.
IT’S PERFORMANCE
The entire Odyssey lineup is powered by the same 3.5-litre i-VTEC V6 that offers 248 horsepower and 250 foot-pounds of torque.
All trims except the Touring are equipped with a five speed automatic transmission, but the Touring gets a six-speed automatic gearbox.
Honda says the Touring consumes fuel at a rate of 10.9 litres per 100 kilometers in the city and 7.1 L/100 km on the highway. The other trims are rated at 11.7 L/100 km city and 7.2 L/100 km highway.
The sixth gear makes a huge difference on fuel efficiency, but also on how well the Odyssey drives.
That fuel efficiency is also helped by Honda's Variable Cylinder Management system, which shuts down half the engine's cylinders when they are not needed for power.
When the system is activated, the only way the driver knows is by the ECO indicator that lights up in the dash.
DRIVING/UTILITY
I never thought I would say this, but I actually had fun driving a minivan.
The Odyssey is quite nimble for a vehicle of its size and it's easy to forget you are driving a minivan since its feel and driving characteristics are more in line with a car.
Acceleration off the line is excellent, corners can be taken with alacrity - something not all minivans can handle - and the ride is extremely smooth even on some of the bumpiest roads.
Of course, being a minivan, there is room for seven passengers and access to the rear-most bench is fairly easy.
And there is 38.4 cubic feet of cargo space available behind the rear bench, an amount that increases considerably with the easy stowage of one or both halves of the rear seats.
The Odyssey has been a popular model for Honda for some time and the newest generation should only enhance its popularity. It offers plenty of room, good cargo space, an excellent ride and it looks really good.
It's hard to make a minivan look good, but Honda designers have figured it out.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Which Car? Toyota Etios G SP?

 Toyota Etios is new small car by Toyota, now in India with excellent features and specifications. Toyota Etios having features petrol and diesel engine with 1200CC, seating capacity-5, power steering and other detail features are given below.  Toyota Etios Price is given here in Indian rupees.

Toyota Etios G SP


Toyota Etios G SP

The Toyota Etios G SP is 4265mm in length, 1695mm wide, has an overall height of 1510 mm, and its ground clearance is 170mm. With a kerb weight of 915 kg, the car can seat 5 persons comfortably. Toyota Etios G SP's engine can run at a maximum power of 90PS @5600rpm (PS@rpm) and a maximum torque of 132Nm @3000rpm (kgm@rpm). When it comes to mileage, it delivers N/A km/liter under optimal road conditions, while on city roads it offers N/A km/liter. The highest speed attained by this car is N/A km/hour. Some additional features of the car include Power Steering, Power Windows, Air Conditioner, Tubeless Tyres, Cup Holders, Child Safety Locks and Central Locking.



Toyota Etios Prices in India

Delhi-6,50,832, Chennai-6,62,752, Mumbai-6,92,552, Bangalore-6,86,592, Hyderabad-6,80,632, Pune-6,56,792, Jaipur-6,50,832, Chandigarh-6,56,792, Kolkata-6,68,712.
The price of the car is quite nominal for the incredible internal features what it corporate within this macho machine.  Still it highly depends upon the particular dealer from whom you are going to buy the vehicle, the locality to which you belong to and many more aspects as well. This could be evident from the chart shown out there in the top of this article displaying the prices for all the major regions in the Indian sub continent.  You might not find any big variation though.



Filled under Toyota Motors, Automobile India & toyotaetios.net.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Which Car? Toyota Etios V?

 Toyota Etios is new small car by Toyota, now in India with excellent features and specifications. Toyota Etios having features petrol and diesel engine with 1200CC, seating capacity-5, power steering and other detail features are given below.  Toyota Etios Price is given here in Indian rupees.



Toyota Etios V

Toyota Etios V 

The Toyota Etios V is 4265mm in length, 1695mm wide, has an overall height of 1510 mm, and its ground clearance is 170mm. With a kerb weight of N/A kg, the car can seat 5 persons comfortably. Toyota Etios V's engine can run at a maximum power of 90PS @5600rpm (PS@rpm) and a maximum torque of 132Nm @3000rpm (kgm@rpm). When it comes to mileage, it delivers N/A km/liter under optimal road conditions, while on city roads it offers N/A km/liter. The highest speed attained by this car is N/A km/hour.
Some additional features of the car include Power Steering, Power Windows, Air Conditioner, Tubeless Tyres, Cup Holders, Child Safety Locks and Central Locking.



Toyota Etios Prices in India


Delhi- 6,99,972, Chennai- 7,12,792, Mumbai- 7,44,842, Bangalore- 7,38,432, Hyderabad- 7,32,022, Pune- 7,06,382, Jaipur- 6,99,972, Chandigarh- 7,06,382, Kolkata- 7,19,202.

Filled under Toyota Motors, Automobile India & toyotaetios.net.



Which Car? Toyota Etios VX ?

Toyota Etios is new small car by Toyota, now in India with excellent features and specifications. Toyota Etios having features petrol and diesel engine with 1200CC, seating capacity-5, power steering and other detail features are given below.  Toyota Etios Price is given here in Indian rupees.
Toyata Etios VX
The Toyota Etios VX is 4265mm in length, 1695mm wide, has an overall height of 1510 mm, and its ground clearance is N/Amm. With a kerb weight of N/A kg, the car can seat 5 persons comfortably. Toyota Etios VX's engine can run at a maximum power of 90PS @5600rpm (PS@rpm) and a maximum torque of 132Nm @3000rpm (kgm@rpm). When it comes to mileage, it delivers N/A km/liter under optimal road conditions, while on city roads it offers N/A km/liter. The highest speed attained by this car is N/A km/hour. Some extra features of the car include Power Steering, Power Windows, Air Conditioner, Tubeless Tyres, Cup Holders, Child Safety Locks and Central Locking.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Which Car? 2012 Toyota Avensis?


One of the world largest motor manufacturers, Toyota makes its world debut for Toyota Avensis at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Toyota Avensis builds on the spaciousness, practicality and fuel efficiency as third generation models. It features a bolder and more refined exterior design, and interior improvements to finish quality, comfort and Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH). Driving dynamics have been enhanced, and also a revised grade structure offers even greater value for money.
The top-selling variant of the Toyota Avensis' six engine line-up, the 2.0 D-4D turbodiesel, has been revised to deliver significant improvements in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. A tax threshold set at 120 g/km and in almost a third of European countries, the 2.0 D-4D's 119 g/km brings generous tax benefits to both private and fleet buyers.
There are availably of two body styles, three diesel and three petrol engines, three transmissions and four model grades. The new Avensis has been specifically tailored to the European market. The D-segment demonstrates a 70% focus on diesel powertrains, a 64% bias in favour of fleet sales and a preference for the wagon body style with over 50% of customers.
The Toyota Avensis was designed, engineered and built in Europe which was first launched at the end of 1997 and has since firmly established itself in the European D-segment. It sold 70,585 units throughout the region in 2010, representing a 5.8% segment share.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Which car has recalled for faulty seat belts?

A leading Japanese auto-maker, Honda is recalling 310,773 Pilot SUVs from the 2009-2011 model years for faulty driver and passenger seat belts. View details.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Which car is the cheapest? Only $2500?


Obviously, it is the most common question of car buyers. Reports say Tata Motors today took the covers off the world’s cheapest car — the Nano
Photo-1: Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Motors,displaying the Nano in New Delhi on January,7 2008.(Photo by Money Sharma/EPA                                                                                  
Since 2007, Tata has been building hype for a car that would cost a mere 100,000 rupees (roughly $2,500) and bring automotive transportation to the mainstream Indian population. It has been nicknamed the “People’s Car.” Over the course of the New Delhi Auto Expo in January, 2008, anticipation had grown to fever pitch. With the theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey” playing, Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Motors drove the small white bubble car onto Tata’s show stage, where it joined two others. “They are not concept cars, they are not prototypes,” Mr. Tata announced when he got out of the car. “They are the production cars that will roll out of the Singur plant later this year.” The four-door Nano is a little over 10 feet long and nearly 5 feet wide. It is powered by a 623cc two-cylinder engine at the back of the car. With 33 horsepower, the Nano is capable of 65 miles an hour. Its four small wheels are at the absolute corners of the car to improve handling. There is a small trunk, big enough for a duffel bag. “Today, we indeed have a People’s Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions,” Mr. Tata added. “We are happy to present the People’s Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility.” The base price for the Nano will be 120,000 rupees, including road tax and delivery. Higher level models will cost more and come with air-conditioning. Sun visors and radios are extra. The nearest priced competitor is the Maruti 800, which costs roughly twice as much as the Nano. In comparing the Nano to the Maruti 800, Mr. Tata said, “It is 8 percent smaller — bumper to bumper — and has 21 percent larger seating capacity than Maruti 800.” The Hindustan Times reports reactions from a couple of Tata’s competitors, Maruti and Hyundai: Jagdish Khattar, a former head of Maruti 800 manufacturer Maruti Udyog Ltd., says it’s too early to say whether the Nano will overtake the original. “It’s a good product but it’s still too early to say whether it will overtake the 800 because it caters to a totally new market segment,” he said while watching a live telecast of Tata’s press conference after unveiling of the Nano. But clearly, at least one other manufacturer was worried. An official of Hyundai Motors, which unveiled an LPG version of its Santro Thursday, was more circumspect. “We definitely see it as impacting our sales,” he said in halting English, preferring to maintain anonymity. Anand Mahindra, managing director for Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors’ primary competitor, said before the unveiling, “I think it’s a moment of history and I’m delighted an Indian company is leading the way.”  Tata says “it will offer the Nano in other emerging markets in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa within four years.”
 Tata Nano: Advantage and disadvantage

Tata Nano
Photo 2: The Tata Nano could sell for around $2,500.
(Photo by Raveendran/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)
Tata Nano can be called the people’s car, car which middle class person can dream of and great engineering marvel from TATA. It is the cheapest car out in industry. Tata Nano avaliable to US by 2011 with $2300 price tag. Well what one can expect from 2300$ car even a second hand sport bike cost much more than that. Well it may sound exciting that company tata motors would provide full factory and service support, spare parts availability service etc. With 3 year warrenty, well i don’t know about US but its sure for ASIA. Well the car is also reliable it meet the EU crash norms. The only plastics you will find on the car’s exterior are the bumpers and  trim bits, else is sheet metal.
Advantages
Easy to drive, with less turning radius and easy to park.
Looks cute and good styling with large  interior space.
Fuel economy 61.1 mpg (US), 73.3 mpg (UK)
Lower overall pollution level than two wheelers
Price $2300
Disadvantage
Has a bit of odd sounding engine sound at idle.
Lack enough storage space and difficult to access boot, less legroom
Disappointing interior plastic, stiff ride quality,
Lacking good Brakes
With 33bhp @ 5250 rpm and 48nm of torque, too less
Less option in more price
would lead to extreme traffic specially in developing countries.
Specification
Speed of Tata Nano: Top speed – 105kmph
Dimension:
Length: 3.1meters
Height: 1.6 meters
Width: 1.5 meters
Engine specifications for Tata Nano:
Rear-wheel drive
2-cylinder, 624 cc
33 bhp
Multi point fuel injection petrol engine.
Engine is rear mounted.
Two cylinder petrol engine

Filed under:Hindustan Time Reports,www.iniatoday.digitaltoday.in, www.tatapeoplescar.com, www.wheels.blogs.nytimes.com.

Which Car Seat is The Safest?



It is not surprisingly the most common question by parents.  We all want the best for our precious little kids.  There is no good answer to this question and buying a seat which has placed “best in test” might not give any additional safety.  Lets start by saying rear facing is the absolute safest.  Regardless of seat, don’t turn your child forward facing until you have reached the limits of your seat by height or weight.
Truth is that most well known rear facing car seats offer equal safety.  It’s rear facing which is the huge advantage, not car seat model. Testing done by car seat manufacturers are never shown in public.  All tests are also different.  A different sled might be used, different speeds, different install, etc. Safety in a collision might vary depending on install and type of vehicle.  Those are factors which are always going to be there but knowing this might perhaps encourage parents to read the manual a little extra.

Guidelines, Installation and Challenges

In an effort to further reduce risks to young passengers, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have issued new child safety seat guidelines. The revised guidelines advise parents to keep children inrear-facing seats until they are 2 years old or until they are at the maximum height and weight for the seat, based on manufacturers' instructions.
The academy's previous policy suggested a child could be turned around to a forward-facing seat by age 12 months and 20 pounds.
The academy also says most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between ages 8 and 12. Children should remain in the backseat until they are 13, experts say.
Research on passenger safety triggered the new advice. For instance, a 2007 study in the journalInjury Prevention found that children under 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured if they ride in a rear-facing seat. The recommendation to keep children facing the rear while seated until they reach their second birthday is not a hard-and-fast rule, the academy notes. Some children will benefit by staying in the rear-facing seat even longer, while others might outgrow that position earlier.
In addition to recommending that children stay in rear-facing seats as long as possible, NHTSA and other organizations continue reminding parents that for child safety seats to be effective, they must be installed correctly. A recent NHTSA study says that this is easier said than done.
What's Your Installation IQ? 
According to the study, just 26.9 percent of parents installed a child car seat correctly. This means that three out of four parents could use some help.
Installation is not as complicated as it may seem, says Julie Vallese, a consumer safety expert for Dorel Juvenile Group, a manufacturer of car seats. Vallese also is certified as a child passenger safety technician (CPST). "It only feels like parents need a Ph.D. in car seat-ology in order to get it right," she says.
The first thing about car seats any parent should know, she says, is that "the right car seat for them to use is the one that fits their child and their car — and the one they will use correctly each time."
There are two types of child car safety seat systems. The first is LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. The second is the seatbelt system. In the U.S., you can use either system, Vallese says.
While some experts prefer one over the other, the two systems are generally considered equally effective.
"Both the LATCH system and the seatbelt system work equally well," says Lorrie Walker, the training manager and technical advisor for Safe Kids Worldwide, which certifies child passenger safety technicians. NHTSA agrees.
"LATCH was introduced as a way to make it easier to get it right," Vallese says. But people make mistakes with both systems, she says.
How To Install a Car Seat With the LATCH System
Here is information from NHTSA and Vallese about the way to install a car seat with a separate base and the LATCH system for an infant. For instructional videos for older children, visit NHTSA'schild safety page or the Web site of your car seat manufacturer:
·                                 For seat location, choose the backseat spot that has a LATCH connection. The middle seat is safest, provided it has LATCH, Vallese says.
·                                 If you are carrying an infant and a toddler, place the toddler seat in the LATCH-equipped middle seat and place the infant seat in one of the outboard seats, Vallese says. That is considered safest because of how the shell of the infant seat is constructed, she adds.
·                                 Identify the two anchors in the seat bight (where the seat front and back come together).
·                                 Pick up the car seat. Attach the straps on the car seat to the anchors.
·                                 Tighten the belt to secure the base to the car. Test it to be sure it's secure. It should move no more than an inch, side to side or front to back.
·                                 Position the harness, referring to the car seat manual. Adjust it until snug.
·                                 Place the chest clip at the child's armpit level.
·                                 Be sure the seat is rear-facing for an infant, and the seat is at a 35-45-degree angle. This is considered the best angle to prevent ''head drop.''
·                                 For older children, you'll use the tether with this system. Visit the NHTSA Web page and click the photo corresponding to your child's age. Then refer to the instructional video.
How To Install a Car Seat With the Seatbelt System
Here are the steps for installing a car seat that uses the seatbelt system for use by an infant, according to NHTSA and Vallese.
·                                 For one child, choose the middle seat in the backseat.
·                                 Pull out your seatbelt so it is fully extended. Feed the seatbelt through the belt path and put it into the locking mechanism.
·                                 Tighten the seatbelt system as far as it will go.
·                                 It might help at this point to put your weight on the car seat — such as placing your knee on the seat where the child would be sitting and then bearing down. This helps ensure the seat is tightly pressed against the vehicle seat.
·                                 At the same time, pull the seatbelt to make it as tight and taut as possible.
·                                 Then do the 1-inch test. The seat should move no more than 1 inch, side to side or back to back, when you try to move it.
·                                 Next, be sure the harness strap is adjusted correctly. When you're done, the harness should come out of the car seat as close to shoulder level as possible. Once you strap in your child, the harness clip should be at armpit level.
·                                 For older children, visit the NHTSA Web site and click the photo corresponding to your child's age. Then refer to the instructional video.
Do It Yourself or Hire Someone? 
Assistance choices abound. Plenty of help, much of it free, is available to make the installation process easier, to guide parents through it, or simply to check their work.
Whatever route you choose, know that a session with a professional is meant to be instructional. The expert you select is not installing the seat for you. Rather, he or she is teaching you how to do it, so you can reinstall it if need be and know the specifics of safety.
"You not only have to read the car seat instruction book, you have to know your car," says Cindy Crothers, a child passenger safety technician whose business, Kidzseatz is based in Somerville, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Take the car owner's manual and the car seat instructions along to the training.
You should seek someone who is certified as a child passenger safety technician. The program is run by NHTSA, the National Child Passenger Safety Board, State Farm and Safe Kids USA. Ask to see the technician's proof of current certification.
If you're a first-time parent, you should have a plan for how you're going to install the car seat — either by yourself or with a professional's help — by about the seventh month of pregnancy, Crothers says. This allows time for you to troubleshoot the installation. If you know you are having twins (or more), push that back to the sixth month, as multiples have a reputation for arriving early.
Among the options for assistance:
Hire a CPST: Some child passenger safety technicians (CPST) are in ''private practice." In general, a training session costs about $50-$150, according to Crothers' estimates. Safe Kids USA, which certifies technicians, offers a locator service on its site. You can search by location, language or special-needs training. The site also lists NHTSA inspection stations. You can go to these inspection stations and have a trained expert there check to be sure you've done the installation correctly.
Visit an installation clinic with CPSTs: As it has in the past, Dorel will team up this summer with the American Automobile Association, hosting installation clinics in 10 cities across the country, Vallese says. Check with your local AAA office for dates and times.
Get online help: Many manufacturers have installation videos on their Web sites. Once you have the car seat you're going to use, check out the company Web site and you are likely to find a video for your particular car seat model.
Get help in choosing an easy-to-use car seat: As any parent or parent-to-be who's shopped for car seats knows, the choices can be overwhelming. Before choosing a new seat, you may want to check out the Ease of Use ratings for various child seats provided by NHTSA. It has a five-star ease-of-use rating system that will allow parents to evaluate car seat features before making a decision.
Help on the Horizon From Car Manufacturers?
Choosing a car seat may soon get easier. NHTSA and carmakers are developing a voluntary program to help parents know which car seats work in which car models. But it's not expected to become reality for a year or more.
According to NHTSA's Karen Aldana, the agency plans to launch a program to provide consumers with information from auto manufacturers about the specific child safety seats it recommends for individual vehicles.
Under this plan, carmakers would recommend a minimum of three restraint system categories (rear-facing, forward-facing and booster) in a range of prices. Nissan is getting ahead of the curve by offering a guide that shows parents seats that fit with some of its models.