Maruti Suzuki Swift DZiRE

Maruti Suzuki has been reborn as a make with a portfolio of global models. Way back in 1994 when Maruti Suzuki had introduced its first entry level sedan 'Esteem', it set a benchmark that continued to rule till late 2000. With the aging of Esteem, Maruti Suzuki scrapped the model from 2008 and has now introduced the new Swift DZiRE sedan. Swift DZiRE is the sedan version of the famous Swift hatchback and resembles its sibling in most aspects.



While designing the new sedan, Maruti Suzuki has made an effort to retain the original overall design theme of the Swift hatchback. But the rear of the car is a complete deviation from the Swift and resembles the recently launched Maruti Suzuki SX4 Sedan.



The Swift DZiRE comes in six variants - LXi, VXi, and ZXi (Petrol) and LDi, VDi, and ZDi (Diesel). The trims are packed with upscale accessories, quality interior materials and safety features that are a first for the segment. The new car certainly looks to be a good replacement for the Esteem. By incorporating the design of the Swift hatchback, Maruti Suzuki has saved heavily on design cost and has managed the project on a low budget.



The DZiRE provides a choice of the same two engines available on the hatchback version of Swift. The petrol engine is a 1298cc 16-valve In-line 4 that delivers 87 bhp@6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 113 Nm@4500 rpm. The diesel variants get a 1248cc turbocharged DDiS engine that generates 75 bhp@4000 rpm and a maximum torque of 190 Nm@2000 rpm.



The Swift DZiRE variants have lower kerb weight in their class with petrol variants ranging from 1010-1035 kg and Diesel variants ranging from 1090-1115 kg. The lower kerb weight advantage translates to good performance of the car. The gearbox is slick and the clutch is smooth. This makes driving the car a pleasure.



Overall, the DZiRE gives the driver good feel and performance that is similar to the Swift hatchback.



The Maruti Swift DZiRE retains the cheeky appeal of its hatchback sibling with a more premium look. Though the front fascia looks almost the same as the hatchback, it has got a flashy chrome grille and slightly sharper design headlamps.



From the side, the sedan has a complete redesign compared to the hatch, especially from the second pillar. It has bigger doors and larger window glass areas that make occupants feel roomier.



The DZiRE's back is entirely different from the hatchback. The trunk lid is raised and has a lip that merges with the shoulder line of the car. A thick chrome garnish on top of the rear number plate attempts to offset the heaviness of the oversized trunk lid. The rear also flaunts new clear-lens combination lamps.



The car's interior has a luxurious look and feel with the use of good materials. The steering wheel is the same unit that is offered with the Swift and SX4. The instrument cluster has round dials with chrome surround and features a white backlight.



Compared to the hatchback, the most notable changes in the sedan are in the top-end variants that now come with standard steering mounted controls for the music system and the new music system has been well integrated into the dashboard to add a lot of charm. The DZiRE also has a comfortable seating position for the rear occupants compared to the Swift hatchback. The rear seat backrests are angled at 27 degrees.



The VXi, ZXi, VDi, and ZDi come with quality fittings like integrated audio system, tachometer, and convenience features such as audible headlights-on reminder, centre and front cabin lights, vanity mirror, rear seat center armrest, and front electric power windows. The top-end ZXi and ZDi variants are equipped with more upscale features like front airbags, ABS with EBD brake assist, rear window defogger, adjustable tilt steering, and automatic climate control.

2012 Infiniti M35h

There's no doubt about it, in response to environmental concerns and new fuel economy regulations, hybrids are slowly taking over as the mainstream vehicle of choice. Although the luxury hybrid market is only starting to come alive—with the venerable Lexus offerings now standing alongside newer contestants like the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid—the entrance of the 2012 M35h marks something special: it's the world's first car to offer good fuel economy, incredible performance and decadent luxury in one package. Up to this point all luxury hybrids have been full of compromises—with fuel economy taking a back seat to performance.



Is the Infiniti 2012 M35h perfect? I recently had a chance to test drive the 2012 M35h ahead of its market availability in April 2011. The 2012 Infiniti M35h is the only car that gets better than 30 mpg on the highway and has 350 horsepower. The U.S. EPA estimates that the 2012 M35h will get 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg highway—resulting in a combined fuel economy of 29 mpg. In addition to coaching tools, many hybrids have an "Eco Mode"—or similarly named option—that will adjust the way the vehicle operates to prevent you from pushing too hard on the gas pedal or alter when the car shifts gears to help conserve fuel. The 2012 Infiniti M35h is no exception, proudly sporting an Eco Mode as a main feature.



After driving the Infiniti 2012 M35h for the better part of two hours in Eco Mode my right foot hurt from having to exert extra pressure on the gas pedal. To an 2012 M35h driver, the hybrid powertrain provides more power than the lesser-priced M37's V6 engine and is a better performing car. Ignoring the complexities of the argument, most new electric vehicle manufacturers have addressed this issue by including the option for drivers to turn on warning sounds. The Infiniti 2012 M35h can drive in EV mode at speeds up to 60 mph for distances as far as one mile at a time. As the luxury brand of Nissan, Infiniti took the sounds that were developed for the Leaf and incorporated them into the 2012 M35h—resulting in what Infiniti says is the first hybrid with built-in pedestrian alert sounds.



The audible warning system is dubbed Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP) and creates a variety of distinctive sounds to warn those outside the car that it's headed their way. The noise shifts from high to low frequency depending on the vehicle's speed, and it's loudest when the Infiniti 2012 M35h starts to move to alert those nearby. An intermittent sound is also emitted when the vehicle is reversing. Infiniti's VSP development team worked with cognitive and acoustic psychologists to study pedestrian-behavioral patterns and noise pollution in developing appropriate warnings.



With the Infiniti 2012 M35h, Infiniti copied Lexus' idea of designing a hybrid system for performance rather than all out fuel economy. As such, the hybrid uses Infiniti's 3.5-liter V-6 coupled to an electric motor to produce a combined 360 horsepower.



The hybrid system uses a single, 50-kW (67-horsepower) electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery to deliver motive power directly to the seven-speed automatic transmission. In addition to being Infiniti's first hybrid, the 2012 M35h is also the world's first hybrid to come standard with pedestrian alert technology. Infiniti is the first automaker to offer such a system, accurately dubbed Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians, as standard on its new hybrid.

When decelerating, the system kicks back in below 15 mph.

2011 Hyundai Tucson

The 2011 Hyundai Tucson is a winner by all means. You can take it on-road or off-road, buy a 1.6 Liter Gamma Turbo Inline-4 engine or a 2.4 Liter Theta II Inline-4 engine; but however you cut it, the 2011 Tucson is a stylish and smart choice.



Hyundai redesigned the Hyundai Tucson in 2010, and for 2011, little has changed. The 2011 Hyundai Tucson is very similar to the 2010 model. The Hyundai Tucson’s price is also hard to turn down. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4 can’t beat this price. Although it offers a lot of features at an affordable price, there are areas where the Hyundai Tucson falls short. Few affordable compact SUVs beat the Hyundai Tucson when it comes to fuel economy, but if you want a few more miles per gallon, the Chevrolet Equinox tops the Hyundai Tucson and averages 22/32 mpg city/highway.

The Hyundai Tucson has three trims: GL, GLS and Limited. The GLS and Limited models have a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and optional all-wheel drive. The upper trims receive a six-speed automatic transmission.



This new base model makes use of a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine instead of the previous 2.4-liter engine.



The 2011 Tucson is a five-passenger compact crossover SUV that is offered in three trim levels: GL, GLS and Limited.



The GLS adds 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels, roof rails, heated side mirrors, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leatherette vinyl door trim and seat inserts, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls and Bluetooth. All-wheel-drive GLS models also get heated front seats. The Limited trim goes the extra mile by adding 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels, outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, automatic headlights, foglights, upgraded suspension, front wiper de-icer, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver seat with lumbar adjustments, dual-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming rearview

The 2011 Tucson GL comes standard with a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that produces 165 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. Only front-wheel drive is available for the GL.

The automatic improves these figures to 23/31/26 mpg. The front-wheel-drive GLS and Limited models are expected to get 22 city/31 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined, while AWD models make slightly less at 21/28/23 mpg.



we found its acceleration to be just about average among other compact crossovers, with our test vehicle requiring 9.6 seconds to reach 60 mph.



Standard safety equipment for the "Hyundai Tucson" includes antilock disc brakes (with brake assist), stability and traction control, active front headrests, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, hill holder and hill descent control.



Unlike many of the humdrum interiors found in other crossover SUVs, the 2011 Tucson offers a contoured twin-cowl dash that's available in two-tone color schemes. The Hyundai Tucson provides a comfortable driving position for drivers of almost any size. The compact Hyundai Tucson also offers only 55.8 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity, while both the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 are rated at more than 70 cubic feet and even the Subaru Forester is rated at 63 cubic feet.



Many compact crossovers offer uninspired driving dynamics, but the Hyundai Tucson breaks from convention with a more lively spirit.



European-inspired suspension tuning and a well-weighted electric power steering system give the Hyundai Tucson a sportier feel, but unfortunately, it comes at the expense of ride quality.

2011 Toyota RAV4

Reviewers call the 2011 Toyota RAV4 one of the most practical and family-friendly SUVs you can buy. The 2011 Toyota RAV4, reviewers say, continues that tradition.



The optional third-row seat also helps the Toyota RAV4 stand out. While the Toyota RAV4 launched the segment, the competition is starting to catch up. If you like the 2011 RAV4, reviewers say you’ll likely be happy with it. The RAV4 is most often compared to the 2011 Honda CR-V. However, compared to a four-cylinder RAV4, the CR-V is tough competition.



It beats the Toyota RAV4’s base highway fuel economy and has a more up-to-date interior, with more standard features.



The 2011 Toyota RAV4 crossover SUV is available with a fuel-efficient 2.5 liter, four-cylinder engine that racks up a healthy 22 city/28 highway MPG and a slightly less gas stingy V-6 that still logs in an impressive 27 highway MPG.



Pricing should be around $22,750 MSRP for the base model Rav4--All RAV4s buyers can choose between either a front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The smaller engine has a four-speed automatic standard, while the larger engine has a five-speed automatic as standard and that is available on the smaller engine as an option.



The Base Model Toyota RAV4 has a suggested MSRP of $21,925 for the FWD version. The Toyota RAV4 has the most interior room-seating and storage-of any vehicle in its class.

Designed to blend comfort with performance, the 2011 RAV4 features four-wheel independent suspension, a rigid body structure, and enhanced power steering. The positives of the Toyota RAV4 are many.



That said, the 2011 RAV4 is one of the older designs in the compact crossover segment. The 2011 Toyota RAV4 is a mid size crossover SUV. There are three trim levels available: base, Sport and Limited. The base Toyota RAV4 comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, a limited-slip differential (front-drive models only), air-conditioning, cruise control, full power accessories, key less entry, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, height-adjustable driver seat and a six-speaker stereo with CD player and auxiliary audio jack. The base V6 4WD adds 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels.



The Toyota RAV4 Sport comes standard with 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels, color-keyed bumpers and sportier suspension tuning. The Sport Appearance package that is available on all four-cylinder and V6 4WD Sport models deletes the spare tire mounted on the rear cargo door (the model features run-flat tires instead) and adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated mirrors and chrome exterior details.



All V6 models add hill-start assist and hill-descent control, which are also standard for the Toyota RAV4 four-cylinder with the optional third-row seat.



An Upgrade Value package for the base Toyota RAV4 includes a sunroof, roof rails, privacy glass, 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels, six-disc CD changer, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, upgraded cloth upholstery and a cargo cover. The Premium package available on the Sport and Limited trim levels (though not with the third-row seat) adds leather upholstery and an eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar support. V6-powered models can be equipped with a tow package.

The Toyota RAV4 comes standard with a 2.5-liter in line-4 engine that delivers 179 hp and 172 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy for this model with front-wheel drive is 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined, and 21/27/24 with 4WD.



The V6 achieves an impressive 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined for the front-wheel-drive 2011 RAV4, and these ratings change only by 1 mpg less for EPA highway when the 4WD model is selected.



Every Toyota RAV4 trim level can be matched with either front-wheel or four-wheel drive.

Anti lock disc brakes, stability control, traction control, whiplash-reducing front headrests, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags are standard on every Toyota RAV4. The 2011 RAV4 also performs well in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests, earning the top rating of "Good" in both the frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests. The 2011 RAV4's interior boasts a clean design with large, simple controls and lots of storage space. Overall interior quality is acceptable, but the Chevy Equinox and Honda CR-V make the 2011 RAV's interior look too insubstantial and budget-oriented.



Nevertheless, the "Toyota RAV4" is a model of practicality. The rear seats recline and can slide fore and aft to optimize passenger space or cargo capacity. To configure the 2011 RAV4 for cargo, all you need to do is flip a lever on the second-row seats.

VW Golf Cabriolet R production decision coming soon

In recent news, it has been said that the R-badged Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet is more likely to get the green light than a sporty GTI version.

Both models were shown as concepts at the VW meet at Worthersee, but no production decision was announced.

The Golf Cabriolet R used the 261bhp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine found in the Scirocco R, while the GTI used the 207bhp TSI engine from the GTI hatch.

Since Worthesee, it has emerged that the more powerful soft-top R model is favored for production ahead of a GTI because it would generate bigger profits and better fits into the range above the 207bhp 2.0 TSI model, currently the range-topping Cabriolet model.

However, the clock is ticking for a decision because the EA113 engine that will power the R version is due to be phased out in 2014, ahead of new EU6 emissions regulations.

Sources have said that the EA113 won’t be re-engineered to pass EU6 and instead it will be replaced by a high-output version of the current EA888 Golf GTI engine.

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VW Golf Cabriolet R production decision coming soon

In recent news, it has been said that the R-badged Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet is more likely to get the green light than a sporty GTI version.

Both models were shown as concepts at the VW meet at Worthersee, but no production decision was announced.

The Golf Cabriolet R used the 261bhp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine found in the Scirocco R, while the GTI used the 207bhp TSI engine from the GTI hatch.

Since Worthesee, it has emerged that the more powerful soft-top R model is favored for production ahead of a GTI because it would generate bigger profits and better fits into the range above the 207bhp 2.0 TSI model, currently the range-topping Cabriolet model.

However, the clock is ticking for a decision because the EA113 engine that will power the R version is due to be phased out in 2014, ahead of new EU6 emissions regulations.

Sources have said that the EA113 won’t be re-engineered to pass EU6 and instead it will be replaced by a high-output version of the current EA888 Golf GTI engine.

Click for Full Size


Click title for the source

VW Golf Cabriolet R production decision coming soon

In recent news, it has been said that the R-badged Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet is more likely to get the green light than a sporty GTI version.

Both models were shown as concepts at the VW meet at Worthersee, but no production decision was announced.

The Golf Cabriolet R used the 261bhp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine found in the Scirocco R, while the GTI used the 207bhp TSI engine from the GTI hatch.

Since Worthesee, it has emerged that the more powerful soft-top R model is favored for production ahead of a GTI because it would generate bigger profits and better fits into the range above the 207bhp 2.0 TSI model, currently the range-topping Cabriolet model.

However, the clock is ticking for a decision because the EA113 engine that will power the R version is due to be phased out in 2014, ahead of new EU6 emissions regulations.

Sources have said that the EA113 won’t be re-engineered to pass EU6 and instead it will be replaced by a high-output version of the current EA888 Golf GTI engine.

Click for Full Size


Click title for the source